SEAM-IN-PAD APPARATUS WITH CYCLING SHORTS APPLICATION

Abstract

A pad for use in clothing garments bonds to a garment seam to provide protection from chafing or irritation caused by the seam and provide support and strength to the seam. The seam may be embedded within the pad to integrate the seam into the padding to eliminate contact between the wearer's body and the seam stitching. The seam may be bonded to or embedded within the pad during manufacture of the pad or in a separate step using preformed pads and seams.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The technical field relates generally to pads with embedded seams to be used in the manufacture of clothing. In particular, the invention refers to cycling shorts incorporating two pads with embedded seams wherein the seams and pads rest under the perineal bones of the wearer.

2. Background of the Related Art

The juncture of two pieces of material, known generally as a seam, whether it be through stitching, glue, or any other means, alters the properties of the materials it joins. Elastic materials, such as rubber, will generally lose some elasticity when joined. Soft materials, such as silk, will generally feel rougher around the seam. When a manufacturer wants to put comfort above all else in their garment, the garments' seams are the areas of most concern. A need exists for a method of joining materials to eliminate or reduce the discomfort caused by seams. One segment of the populace which feels this need all too keenly are cyclists.

Cycling shorts incorporating a pad for comfort are ubiquitous in in the cycling community. The bicycle seat or saddle puts a large amount of pressure on the perineal or ischiatic parts of the body and can subject the cyclist to pain during intensive use. Pads located on or around the perineum are therefore necessary to enhance rider comfort and performance.

Current art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 9,526,277 B2 among others, describe a large pad which sits across the entire pelvic area. Such pads shall now be referred to as “chamois pads.” Chamois pads suffer from many deficiencies. One such deficiency is a lack of tactical stretch. Thin garments worn by today's athletes have the ability to expand and contract according to an athlete's movement. This elasticity saves energy because the athlete does not have to battle through the resistance of restrictive clothing. Such elasticity is most necessary in the most dynamic parts of the body. The pelvic area is constantly in flux when cycling as the cyclist churns their legs and shifts their weight on the saddle. Chamois pads have little tactical stretch to accommodate this movement and therefore cause the cyclist to expend more energy.

Chamois pads suffer from an excess of material which leads to poor thermodynamic and aerodynamic properties. The thicker the material an athlete wears, the more difficult it is to dissipate heat through that material. Such heat retention can negatively impact performance. Thick chamois pads also increase surface area and drag which negatively impact performance.

Chamois pads suffer from an imperfect pressure gradient. Chamois pads spread pressure imparted from the saddle across its entire surface. Ideally, pressure should be directed away from tender areas in the middle of the cyclists' perineal region and onto the skeleton where it can more comfortably be endured.

Current art attaches the chamois pad to the fabric either by direct stitching or placing the chamois pad in a sown-in pocket. Directly stitched chamois pads suffer from similar drawbacks of tactical stretch and pelvic discomfort as described above. Sown-in pockets leave room for the chamois pad to shift and move when cycling which is not preferred. Both methods have shortcomings which can be addressed.

Current art in the field of athletic shorts or trousers describe a seam running through the middle of the garment under the perineal region. From here on such a seam shall be referred to as a “center seam.” Center seams have specific deficiencies for cyclists. One such deficiency, as noted above, is a lack of tactical stretch. Flexibility of the garment along the direction of the seam is limited. For example, the garment has less ability to flex along its backside as the cyclist shifts between an upright and a forward position.

A center seam also causes discomfort. Male cyclists especially, but not solely, can experience distress in particularly tender areas of the perineum from rubbing contact with the seam. Center seams also tend to cause an uncomfortable bunching and tightening of material between the buttocks; more commonly referred to as a “wedgie.” For female cyclists, this effect occurs on the front of their pelvic region, causing physical discomfort and drawing unwanted attention to that region. For male cyclists, male genitals will often rest on one side of the seam. This can cause a misalignment of the shorts and further discomfort.

Current art describes athletic garments of this variety with only a single layer of fabric. This fabric must balance the requirements of flexibility (to increase performance) and strength (to increase longevity and appearance). Different parts of the garment prioritize different concerns. For example, the groin area of the garment would benefit from higher flexibility, while the backside of the garment would benefit from higher strength. The addition of another layer of material would allow for a separation of functions and thereby create a more optimized athletic garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The deficiencies in the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the technology described below. Generally, one embodiment describes a seam bonded to the inside of a compliant pad. This technique reduces discomfort caused by fabric seams in contact with a wearer. Specifically, embodiments of this technology describe a cycling garment comprising two separate pads with the structural seams of the garment embedded in the pads. This provides cushioning and avoids the discomfort associated from a seam trapped between a hard cycling saddle and the wearer's pelvic bones. The two-pad design is an improvement on the more traditional chamois pad by increasing tactical stretch and removing unnecessary material. The seams and pads are located under the ischial bones of the wearer, leaving the middle of the garment seamless to allow for maximum comfort and performance. The pads and seams are interposed between two layers of fabric to optimize functionality, comfort, and performance.

The above-discussed and other features and advantages of the garment and its method of manufacture will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures illustrate one or more embodiments of the disclosed seam-in-pad apparatus with cycling shorts being one possible application. These figures, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the aspects and implementations of the apparatus and its applications. Embodiments are described in conjunction with the appended figures.

FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a pad with an embedded seam and two pieces of connecting fabric.

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of one shape the pads may form.

FIG. 3 shows, in relation to a typical pair of shorts, where the pads could lie.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the garment.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the garment including wing sections.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the garment including a back section.

FIG. 7 shows an upward, front-facing view of one embodiment of the garment worn inside-out.

FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of the garment.

FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the garment.

While embodiments of the disclosure are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the scope of the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling with the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for describing selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. The following specification describes a seam-in-pad apparatus as applied to a cycling garment. However, the inventive seam-in-pad design may be used in any application in which a seam, stitch or other joint may benefit from or require cushioning or padding.

The seam-in-pad apparatus 100 comprises at least a pad 101, a seam 103, and at least two pieces of fabric-like material 105a, 105b as depicted in FIG. 1. The pad 101 may be made from any kind of polymer, such as rubber, silicone, or the like. A non-exhaustive list of possible materials includes: polydimethylsiloxanes (and other siloxane compounds with biocompatibility), dimethylamylmines, polypropylenes, polyurethanes, polyacetals, polysulfones, polycarbonates, polystyrene, polyamides, poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), and polyethylene terephthalate. In one embodiment, the pad 101 material is created with certain desired properties in mind, such as flexibility, hardness, comfort, and strength. The seam 103 may be stitched in any number of ways such as a chain stitch, lock stitch, zigzag stich, and the like. The preferred embodiment utilizes a four-thread overlock stitch to promote tensile strength and a strong bond between the pad 101 and seam 103. The fabric 105a, 105b may be made from wool, cotton, silk, leather, or any number of materials. One piece of fabric 105a may be made of the same or different material as the other piece of fabric 105b.

The pad 101 may be manufactured by molds (pour over molds, liquid injection molds, etc.), by direct fabrication techniques, by 3D printing, or other means. The seam 103 may be bonded to the pad 101 by any number of means. In one embodiment, the two pieces of fabric 105a, 105b are first stitched together to create the seam 103. The seam 103 is then embedded into the pad 101. If a pour-over mold is used to create the pad 101, then the seam 103 may be dipped into the still hardening pad 101 material. The pad 101 material seeps into or impregnates the seam 103. Wax paper, hangars, hooks, or other means to separate the fabric 105a, 105b from the pad 101 and to keep the seam 103 suspended at the preferred location in the pad 101 material may be used. If a liquid injection mold is used to create the pad 101, then a means of suspending the seam 103 inside the mold can easily be imagined. In this embodiment, if the pad 101 is manufactured by a direct fabrication technique, then the seam 103 may be suspended into the pad 101 while the pad 101 material is still hardening, post fabrication. The seam 103 may also be incorporated into the manufacturing technique to form the pad 101. The pad 101 may also be manufactured with a slit in the material for which the seam 103 may be pushed into.

The seam-in-pad apparatus 100 may be used for a number of applications where one is looking to avoid the discomfort of a seam and/or an impact absorbing and vibrational damping pad is needed. In one embodiment, the seam-in-pad apparatus 100 is used to create a cycling garment (“garment”) 210 as seen in FIG. 2-9. There may be any number of seam-in-pad apparatuses 100 in the garment 210.

The pads 101 may take any number of shapes. In one embodiment, there are two pads 201a, 201b that sit directly under the ischial bones of the wearer. The general location of these pads 201a, 201b can be seen in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 2, the pads 201a, 201b are shaped to trace the contours of the ischial bones. This allows for a minimal amount of pad 201 material, which increases airflow and thermodynamic properties of the garment 210. In one embodiment the pad 201 thickness and/or width taper from large posteriorly to small anteriorly. The exact dimensions of the pad 201 may depend upon a specific cyclist's pelvic dimensions as well as the dimensions of their preferred cycling saddle. Rapid customization of these pads 201a, 201b and garment 210 is made easier with the recent advances in 3D printing.

In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 4, the garment 210 comprises pads 201a, 201b, seams 203a, 203b, and a center section 207. In one embodiment the seams 203a, 203b are embedded in the pads 201a, 201b as described above. In one embodiment, the pads 201a, 201b sit underneath the ischial bones and the center section 207 lies underneath the mid-sagittal plane 350, as seen in FIG. 10, of the cyclist. The location of the seams 203a, 203b lateral to the mid-sagittal plane 350 allows the cyclists genitals to rest in the elastic pocket created by the center section 207 increasing comfort for the rider. In one embodiment, the center section 207 is made of a separate material to the rest of the garment 210. This material may be tailored to fit the manufacturer's particular interest in that area. Since the center section 207 covers a particularly delicate area, it can be imagined that comfort would be the highest priority. It can be imagined that material around the outside of the garment 210 described above and seen in FIG. 4 can be stitched at the seams 203a, 203b, as well as other places necessary, in order to make a garment suitable for cycling.

In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 5, the garment 210 comprises pads 201a, 201b, seams 203a, 203b, a center section 207, and one or more wing sections 209a, 209b situated lateral to the pads 201a, 201b respectively. In one embodiment, the wing sections 209a, 209b are made of a separate material to the rest of the garment 210. This material may be tailored to fit the manufacturer's particular interest in that area. Since the wing sections 209a, 209b cover a very mobile part of the cyclist (between the inner thigh and pelvis) it can be imagined that elasticity would be the highest priority. It can be imagined that material around the outside of the garment 210 described above and in FIG. 5 can be stitched in order to make a garment suitable for cycling.

In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 6, the garment 210 comprises pads 201a, 201b, seams 203a, 203b, a center section 207, one or more wing sections 209a, 209b, and a back section 211. In one embodiment, the back section 211 is made of a separate material to the rest of the garment 210. This material may be tailored to fit the manufacturer's particular interest in that area. Since the back section 211 covers an area more likely to tear than other areas (across the backside) it can be imagined that strength would be the highest priority. It can be imagined that material around the outside of the garment 210 described above and in FIG. 6 can be stitched in order to make a garment suitable for cycling.

One depiction of the garment 210 described above can be seen in FIG. 7. This would be one embodiment of the invention if worn by a cyclist inside out from an upward front facing perspective. Depicted in the figure are the two seams 203a, 203b between the center section 207 and the two wing sections 209a, 209b. It should be noted that the seams 203a, 203b and the wing sections 209a, 209b are mirrored versions of previous figures. This is due to a reverse perspective. In FIG. 4-6 the garment 210 is back facing. In FIG. 7 the garment 210 is front facing. The garment 210 looks inside out due to the lack of pads 201a, 201b shown in the figure. It appears that the pads 201a, 201b are on the inside of the garment 210 in contact with the wearer. In the preferred embodiment the pads 201a, 201b would be on the outside of this embodiment of the garment 210 to maximize comfort.

FIG. 8 shows another back facing perspective of the garment 210 with all elements in view.

In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 9, the garment 210 comprises pads 201a, 201b, seams 203a, 203b, a center section 207, one or more wing sections 209a, 209b, and an outer section 213. In one embodiment, the outer section 213 is made of a separate material to the rest of the garment 210. This material may be tailored to fit the manufacturer's particular interest in that area. Since the outer section 213 covers an area more likely to tear than other areas (across the backside) it can be imagined that strength would be the highest priority.

The outer section 213 surrounds the pads 201a, 201b to effectively create three layers. There is the inner layer comprising the hidden seams 203a, 203b, the center section 207, and the wing sections 209a, 209b that make contact with the wearer. There is the middle layer comprising the pads 201a, 201b. And there is the outer layer comprising the outer section 213. One of the many benefits of having these separate layers is to compartmentalize material to fit specific purposes of the garment. The inner section can be softer to increase comfort and more flexible to increase performance. The outer garment can be stronger to increase durability. The dual layers also have aesthetic appeal. If the garment would become wedged in an uncomfortable area of the pelvis (such as wedgies, camel-toe, etc.), such a situation will not be visible to the public because the existence of an outer layer would cover up those displays.

This technology is not limited to cycling gear and can be applied to any number of other applications. One possible application includes any supplemental protective pad or alternative pad design which provides protection for the pelvic area. A number of possible applications are associated with sporting activities such as: athletic cups, sports bras, combat shorts (boxing, kick-boxing, Ultimate Fighting Championship), rowing seats, padding for the hip or femur bones for activities such as biking, roller skating, ice skating, skateboarding, or the like, and rock climbing harness pads (for interfaces between the harness and the rock climber). A number of possible applications are associated with medical devices such as skin-device interfaces for prosthetic limbs, and medical recovery garments/devices for burns, hemorrhoids, surgery, giving birth, road rash, compression, icing, or warming.

Claims

1. A cycling garment comprising: a pad; andat least two fabric sections joined at a seam, at least a portion of the seam being bonded to the pad.

2. The cycling garment of claim 1, wherein the pad is comprised of a polymer material.

3. The cycling garment of claim 2, wherein the polymer is silicone.

4. The cycling garment of claim 2, wherein the polymer is rubber.

5. A cycling garment comprising: a first fabric section;a second fabric section joined to the first fabric section to form a first seam; anda first pad disposed along the first seam, at least a portion of the first seam bonded to the first pad.

6. The garment according to claim 5 further comprising: a third fabric section joined to the first fabric section to form a second seam; anda second pad disposed along the second seam, at least a portion of the second seam bonded to the second pad.

7. The garment according to claim 6 further comprising a back fabric section attached to a posterior of at least the first fabric section.

8. The garment according to claim 6 further comprising a front fabric section attached to an anterior of at least the first fabric section.

9. The garment according to claim 6 further comprising an outer fabric section attached to the cycling garment so as to dispose at least the first pad between the first section and the outer section.

10. The garment of claim 5 wherein the first pad is positioned lateral to a mid-sagittal plane in a first direction.

11. The garment according to claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the first pad is positioned beneath an ischial pelvis bone of a person wearing the garment.

12. The garment according to claim 6 wherein the first pad is positioned lateral to a mid-sagittal plane in a first direction and the second pad is positioned lateral to the mid-sagittal plane in in a second direction.

13. The garment according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the first pad is positioned beneath a first ischial pelvis bone of a person wearing the garment and the second pad is positioned beneath a second ischial pelvis bone of a person wearing the garment.

14. A method for manufacturing a cycling garment comprising at least the steps of: providing a first fabric section;providing a second fabric section;providing a first pad;joining the first and second fabric sections to form a first seam;bonding the first seam to the inside of the first pad;

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of bonding the first seam into the first pad comprises the steps of: positioning at least a portion of the first seam within a pad mold;filling the pad mold with a pad material; andcuring the pad material to bond the at least a portion of the first seam to the first pad.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a third fabric section;providing a second pad;joining the first and third fabric sections to form a second seam;bonding the second seam to the inside of the second pad.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising attaching a back fabric section to a posterior of at least the first fabric section.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising attaching a front fabric section to an anterior of at least the first fabric section.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising attaching an outer fabric layer to the cycling garment so as to dispose the first pad between the at least first fabric section and the outer fabric layer.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second pads are positioned to rest directly under the wearer's ischial pelvis bones.