The disclosed technology relates generally to modest athletic-wear, and specifically, the present disclosure relates to modest garments used for athletic sport such as bicycle riding, such that the garment maintains the appearance and qualities of a skirt while cycling, and covers a portion of the rider's upper thighs.
Our Society has come to understand that exercising our body is an important pathway to health. “Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional and mental states,” as said by Carol Welsh, a Neuromuscular Therapist. However, for women who desire to dress modestly and/or prefer to wear garments having skirt portions covering the thigh area, certain physical activities appear to be off limits, or, at the very least, challenge one's ability to maintain modest dress. Skirts and dresses bounce up while running, hitch or fly up when cycling or riding, revealing areas many women believe in shielding and protecting from public view. A skirt that maintains coverage and modesty for women while participating in athletic sports provides the opportunity to participate in exercise and athletic events with society while honoring their deep cultural and/or religious principles and values.
While there may be many athletic skirts on the internet, a comfortable, chic, sporty, long enough skirt that would also stay down while riding is nowhere to be found. I then set about designing a modest cycling skirt that would meet the above criteria. Additionally, more charity organizations are hosting events such as marathons and bike rides to raise funds for the valuable and meaningful charity work done.
In general, there are many women and girls who ride bikes, or would like to ride, but feel that they can't because they don't have a good skirt that works! A modest cycling or athletic skirt may empower traditionally modestly dressing Morman, Muslim, and Jewish, Ammish, Christian, Hindu or other such women to enjoy the benefits of cycling, running, or other athletic activities.
Embodiments of the disclosure include an athletic skirt that comprises a top end configured to be worn about the waist of a wearer and at least one panel of material extending downward from the top end of the skirt. A weighted material is coupled to a lower portion of the panel of material comprising the skirt. In embodiments, the skirt comprises pants extending downward from the top end. In an embodiment, the panel of material is configured to cover at least a portion of the pants when worn by the wearer.
In embodiments, the at least one panel of material includes a front portion that is configured to cover a front portion of the wearers body. In embodiments, the weighted material is coupled to a lower end of the skirt. In an embodiment, the panel of material is provided with a hem that extends along a lower end of the skirt, and the weighted material is secured to the hem. In an embodiment, the hem extends along an entire length of the lower end and the weighted material is sewn into the hem. In embodiments, the weighted material comprises at least one strand of weighted beads.
In an embodiment, the at least one panel includes a front portion that is configured to cover a front part of the wearers body, the at least one panel is provided with a hem that extends along a lower end of the at least one panel, and two strands of the at least one strand of weighted material are coupled to a portion of the hem that extends along a lower end of the front portion of the at least one panel. In an embodiment, the skirt further includes a first portion of a closure device coupled to an inside surface of the at least one panel, a second portion of the closure device coupled to an outer surface of the pants. The second portion of the closure device is configured to mate with the first portion of the closure device, and when positioned, the first and second portions of the device are secured, and when mated, the at least one panel is secured to the pants to cover at least a portion of the pants even when the wearer's legs are moved.
In an embodiment, the at least one panel includes a front portion that is configured to cover a front part of the wearer's body. In embodiments, the skirt further includes a first portion of a closure device attached to an inside surface of the at least one panel and a second portion of the closure device configured to mate with the first portion of the closure device and being attached to an outer surface of the pants. In embodiments, the first and second portions of the closure device are positioned so that when mated, the at least one panel is secured to the pants and covers at least a portion of the pants even when the wearer's legs are moved.
In embodiments, the pants are configured to extend below the wearer's knees, and the first and second portions of the closure device are positioned so that when mated, the at least one panel is secured to the pants to cover at least a portion of the pants that extends to below the wearer's knees. In embodiments, the closure device is a hook and loop closure device.
In embodiments, the first portion of the closure device attached to an inside surface of the at least one panel includes a loop portion of a hook and loop closure corresponding to a hook portion and the second portion of the closure device including a hook portion of a hook and loop closure and corresponding to the loop portion. In an embodiment, the second portion of the closure device is configured to mate with the first portion of the closure device and is attached to an outer surface of the pants, the first and second portions of the closure device being positioned so that when mated, the at least one panel is secured to the pants to cover at least a portion of the pants even when the wearer's legs are moved.
In an embodiment, the first portion of the closure device and the second portion of the closure device are from a group of coupling methods including, but not limited to hooks, snaps, magnets, buttons, adhesives, ball and socket, tie, or hook and loop. In embodiments, the weighted material is detachable from the skirt via a coupling method. In embodiments, the weighted material is detachable from the skirt via a coupling method from a group of coupling methods including, but not limited to hooks, snaps, magnets, buttons, stitching, adhesives, ball and socket, tie, or hook and loop.
In an embodiment, a skirt includes a top end configured to be worn about the waist of a wearer, a bottom end, and at least one panel of material extending downward from the top end. The skirt further includes pants having an upper portion and a lower portion, extending downward from the top end, and a coupling material coupled at one end to the at least one panel of material, and coupled to the pants at a second end. In embodiments, the coupling material is weighted. In embodiments, the coupling material is elastic. The term elastic as used herein is defined as flexible.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various, non-limiting, examples, inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure:
The below illustrated embodiments are directed to a modest athletic skirt. It is to be appreciated that the below illustrated embodiments are not limited in any way to what is shown, as the illustrated embodiments described below are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which can be embodied in various forms, as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that any structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the certain illustrated embodiments. Also, it is contemplated herein that the illustrated embodiments may be implemented in any combination that is practicable.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art relating to the below illustrated embodiments. Although any materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the below illustrated embodiments, exemplary methods and materials are now described.
It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a weighted material” may include a portion of or a plurality of such weighted material and reference to “the panel of material” may include reference to one or more panels of material and equivalents thereof as known to those skilled in the art.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,
In embodiments, the skirt panel of material 1 includes a front portion 10 that is configured to cover a front part of the wearer's body. The weighted material 42 can be coupled to a lower portion 11 of the panel of material 1, in embodiments. In an embodiment, the panel 1 extends toward a lower end 2, and the weighted material 42 is secured to the lower end 2. In embodiments, the weighted material 42 can be secured to either the lower portion 11, or in embodiments, to the lower end 2 of the panel of material 1, for example, but not limited to, adhesively, fastened with hook and loop closures, hook and eye closures, snaps or other means of coupling known in the art. In an embodiment shown in
In embodiments, a closure 4 is situated above the lower end 2. The closure 4 (See
In an embodiment, the closure portions 4 and 24 include hook and loop closures. In embodiments, the skirt closure 4 comprises a flap 33 on the inner surface 15 of the panel of material 1 the flap 33 having a top surface 13, which can be an outer and exposed surface of the closure component 4. In an embodiment, the top surface of the flap 13 covers the hook portion 6, shown slightly open in
In an embodiment, the panel of material 1 can extend from the waistband 14 until or about a lower portion 21 of the pants 20. The panel of material 1 can extend from the panel of material's 1 top end 14, until a minimum of at least 5 inches above the wearer's knees, in an embodiment. In embodiments, the panel of material 1 can extend until the wearer's knees, and anywhere in between 5 inches above the knees until the wearer's knees. In embodiments, the panel of material 1 can extend 0-2 inches right below the knees, or 3-5 inches below the knees. In embodiments, the skirt can extend to any length between, at minimum, from the midpoint of the wearer's thigh area, and at maximum, to the rider's ankles. In an embodiment, the panel of material 1 extends from the top end 14 up to the bottom end 2 and reaching right above or below the wearer's knee area. The closure 4, in embodiments, can be located above the knee, at the knee, or below the knee. In an embodiment, the closure 4 can be located below the wearer's knee, ensuring that the skirt covers farther below the knee.
In embodiments, the pants 20 are configured to extend until or below the wearer's knees, and the first and second portions 4, 24 of the closure device are positioned so that when mated, the panel of material 1 is secured to the pants 20 to cover the lower portion 21 of the pants 20. In embodiments, the lower portion 21 of the pants 20 includes at least a portion of the pants 20 that extends from the second third of the wearer's thigh area to the bottom end 22 of the pants 20. In embodiments, the lower portion 21 of the pants 20 include at least a portion of the pants 20 that extends from the midpoint of the wearer's thigh area to the bottom end 22 of the pants 20. In embodiments, the lower portion 21 of the pants 20 includes at least a portion of the pants 20 that extends from the midpoint of the panel of material 1 length to the bottom end 22 of the pants 20. The terms “until the wearer's knees” or “below the wearer's knees” refers to the pants 20 reaching right above the knees, or right below the knees, within two inches of the knees in either direction.
The pants 20 provides more coverage for a wearer, and also provides a medium to secure the skirt 100 in place, so that the skirt 100 doesn't hitch up or fly up with the wind while walking, riding or performing another physical activity. In embodiments, closures 24 can be located at or above the location of the wearer's knees in the pants 20. The closures can be positioned at any location between the area on the pants 20 corresponding to the wearer's thighs, and the area of the pants 20 corresponding to the wearer's shins or ankles. Some women may want the skirt 100 to be secured up to the knee, and the closure would be located below, at or above the knee. Other wearers prefer additional coverage, and would therefore prefer the closure to be placed at or below the knee, or even closer to the shin or ankle of the wearer, in embodiments.
In the embodiment shown in
The term weighted material 42 as used herein is defined as matter used to weigh down and maintain the position of the panel of material 42. Many different variations and configurations of weighted material 42 can be employed in embodiments. The hem 2 is shown in embodiments of
In embodiments, the weighted material 42 may be formed of natural plant fibers, natural inorganic matter, synthetic fibers, plastics, metals, glass, ceramic, wood, liquid filled bead, and any other material found in the art. The weighted material 42 can comprise of cubes, spheres, or otherwise shaped matter, sand or other powdered or liquid filled casing. The weighted material 42 can comprise one or more strands of weighted material 42 such as in embodiments shown in
Skirts used for activities such as cycling, may only necessitate weighted material 42 in the front portion 225 of the skirt, as the back portion 125 shown in
The skirt 100 can have additional weighted material 42, such as two strands of beads shown in
The skirt includes a closure device 4 in embodiments, removably coupling the panel of material 1 to the pants 20. A first portion of the closure device and a second portion of the closure device, in embodiments, are from a group of coupling methods including hooks, snaps, magnets, buttons, adhesives, ball and socket, tie, hook and eye or hook and loop.
In embodiments, the coupling material 824 is weighted. In an embodiment, the coupling material 824 comprises a lightweight material. In embodiments, the coupling material 824 is elastic. The term elastic as used herein is defined as flexible and stretchable. The coupling material 824 is coupled at each end by a coupling method for example but not limited to, sewing, adhesive, snap, snap fit, hook and loop and/or hook and eye. The elastic coupling material 824 allows for athletic movement by the wearer, by stretching and having “give” and elasticity, while still accommodating the wearer's desire for at least an upper portion of the skirt 100 to remain in place covering the wearer's upper thighs.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210251311 A1 | Aug 2021 | US |