In general, this invention relates to a dress shirt such as one to be worn under a dress jacket or tuxedo jacket that will provide a wearer additional stretch and flexibility compared to an ordinary dress shirt, and that will better control moisture for an active wearer. The invention relates to a dress shirt constructed using two different fabric materials: a polyester/spandex blend, with fusing, for elements of the shirt requiring more stiffness, and a polyester 4-way stretch/mesh material for the rest of the shirt elements. The invention also includes the construction of those parts, and their interrelationships, and methods of manufacture of such shirts.
In certain formal situations, wearers need garments with certain specific formal elements that—while aesthetically necessary or perhaps just traditional—detract from the performance of the garment and cause discomfort for the wearer. The reason such elements detract from the performance is often related to the material (or materials) from which they are constructed, which may derive from structural characteristics desired for aesthetic reasons (such as to preserve formality). In addition, the detraction of the performance may also be related to the pattern of the stitching.
A particular example of such a garment is a traditional tuxedo shirt (typically but not exclusively worn by men, and generally under a coat). The tuxedo shirt traditionally includes certain elements that detract from its performance. One such element is a traditional sewing pattern having stitching that intersect at the shoulders (such a yoke collar, or standard sleeves). Thus, the front of the shirt body is attached to the rear of the shirt body approximately along the top of the shoulder, in a seam running from the collar to the sleeve. The sleeve is attached via roughly circular seam to both the body front and rear, with the seam aligned roughly vertically. Thus, there is a three-layer (“three-way”) intersection toward the outermost upper top of the shoulder, and another encircling the shoulder at its joint to the arm. The intersection of conjoining materials limit motion and restricts the wearer from wider range of movement at the shoulder area, one requiring the highest degrees of dimensional movement. Another element is the tuxedo pleats, which form a large structure across the wearer's chest, impeding motion. Another such element is french cuffs, which can impede motion of the arms due to bulk within the sleeve. Another is the fabric itself, which is traditionally a cotton, a cotton blend or ordinary polyester. These types of materials hold or trap body heat and perspiration. Consequently, body temperature tends to rise causing greater discomfort for the wearer. A related problem is the common practice of dry cleaning/starch treatment. Traditional shirts require heavy treatment to clean. In the process, traditional shirts are heavily starched which creates further limitations to movement.
For some persons wearing such garments, this can restrict bodily range of motion and affect their performance. One example is musicians (e.g. orchestral) who must wear a tuxedo, including a tuxedo-style dress shirt under the jacket, and also play an instrument while doing so. The shirt typically does not stretch, and can limit range of motion. Moreover, it can absorb perspiration, and leave it in contact with the skin. In addition, fabric exposed to the perspiration can become stained, unless subjected to the heavy treatments. Other examples of persons who may be required to wear dress or formal shirts for aesthetic reasons, but also benefit from performance improvements, are restaurant/bar waitstaff and as well as wedding grooms.
Thus, the need exists for a garment that meets requirements for aesthetic elements to be formal, but provides more function and comfort.
An embodiment of the invention is a dress shirt constructed using two different fabrics to permit a wearer additional stretch and flexibility and to facilitate wicking away or evaporating moisture from the wearer while maintaining the appearance of formality. One fabric is a polyester/spandex blend for elements of the shirt requiring more stiffness, including the placket, cuffs and collar. Fusing may be applied to obtain the stiffness. The other is a polyester 4-way stretch/mesh material for the rest of the shirt elements, including the sleeves, which are formed and attached using a raglan pattern.
An embodiment of the invention is a tuxedo shirt constructed using two different fabrics to permit a wearer additional stretch and flexibility and to facilitate wicking away or evaporating moisture from the wearer. One fabric is a polyester/spandex blend for elements of the shirt requiring more stiffness, including the placket, cuffs and collar. Fusing may be applied to obtain the stiffness. The other is a polyester 4-way stretch/mesh material for the rest of the shirt elements, including the sleeves, which are raglan-constructed, and the tuxedo pleats.
An embodiment of the invention is a formalwear garment that combines formal as well as functional elements. Formal elements include a wing-tip (or wing) collar, tuxedo pleats, cuffs, and the placket (the latter two accommodating studs and accessories). Functional elements include a four-way stretch fabric that is moisture wicking and antimicrobial, which stretch fabric is used on the pleats, sleeves, and body of the shirt. Another element is a polyester/spandex blend fabric for some or all of the formal elements, which may require more stiffness. Another functional element is a shoulder formed using an open shoulder pattern.
An embodiment of the invention includes a dress shirt including formal elements, made of ordinary shirt material where required, and a stretch mesh in other locations to improve performance of the garment.
An embodiment of the invention includes a dress shirt including formal elements, including cuffs, turn-down collar and placket, including raglan-constructed sleeves, in which both the sleeves and shirt body are made of a stretch mesh to improve performance of the garment, and in which the formal elements are made of a polyester/spandex blend, and fused to provide additional stiffness to make them aesthetically appropriate for a dress shirt.
An embodiment of the invention is the steps of manufacturing a dress shirt constructed using two different fabrics. The steps include constructing a dress shirt by sewing together a shirt body to sleeves, where the body and sleeves are raglan-constructed and made of a polyester 4-way stretch/mesh material, sewing to the body and sleeves a heavily-fused turndown collar made of a polyester/spandex blend, sewing to the sleeves fused cuffs made from the same blend, sewing to the body a placket made from the same blend, forming button-holes and attaching buttons in the cuffs and placket.
An embodiment of the invention is the steps of manufacturing a formalwear shirt constructed using two different fabrics. The steps include constructing a formalwear shirt by sewing together a shirt body to sleeves, where the body and sleeves are raglan-constructed and made of a polyester 4-way stretch/mesh material, sewing to the body and sleeves a heavily-fused wing collar made of a polyester/spandex blend, sewing to the sleeves fused single cuffs made from the same blend, sewing to the body a placket made from the same blend, sewing to the left and right sides of the front of the body tuxedo pleats made from the stretch/mesh material, forming stud holes in the cuffs and placket.
Additional embodiments of the invention include tuxedo-style pleats on a shirt formed of a stretch or mesh fabric, facilitating a better and easier range of motion across the front of the body, a collar formed of a stretch or mesh fabric, facilitating a better and easier range of motion around the neck area. In each case this avoids the need for dry cleaning and heavy starching which makes collar or pleats hard and restrictive.
Additional embodiments of the invention include: tuxedo-style pleats on a shirt formed of a stretch/mesh, formalwear shirt including formal/aesthetic elements having raglan-constructed sleeves; and formalwear with a body and sleeves made of a stretchable mesh fabric having moisture-wicking and ant-microbial qualities.
The invention includes a garment constructed of two or more fabrics, which perform different functions or perform some better than others. Embodiments of the invention include formalwear garments and dress garments. These each include, respectively tuxedo shirts and dress shirts. Such shirts are frequently white but can be in a variety of colors (solid, such as black) or multiple colors, and may come in big and tall sizes. These embodiments include formal elements. Formal (or aesthetic) elements include a wing-tip (or wing) collar, which are typically aesthetically required to be crisp or stiff, a turndown collar, tuxedo pleats on the front portion of the shirt, cuffs (single or french, which may accommodate cufflinks), and the placket (accommodating studs and accessories). These embodiments also include functional elements. They include a stretch/mesh fabric that is preferably a four-way stretch, and preferably also moisture wicking and antimicrobial. Such as stretch fabric allows the fabric to move with the body, especially in the shoulders, in which the range of motion is higher than other shirt portions. Another fabric may be a polyester/spandex blend fabric for elements that, for aesthetic reasons must be more stiff. Fusing may be applied to obtain the stiffness. Another functional element is a shoulder formed using a raglan construction. A raglan sleeve construction allows a more optimal range of motion across shoulders, and reduces manufacturing efforts, and pieces needed to construct a shirt.
An embodiment of the invention is a formal wear garment that combines formal as well as functional elements. Formal elements include a wing-tip (or wing) collar, tuxedo pleats, cuffs, and the placket (the latter two accommodating studs and accessories). Functional elements include a four-way stretch fabric that is moisture wicking and antimicrobial, which stretch fabric is used on the pleats, sleeves, and body of the shirt. Another element is a polyester/spandex blend fabric for some or all of the formal elements, which may require more stiffness. Another functional element is a shoulder formed using a raglan style sleeve pattern.
An embodiment of the invention is a dress garment that combines formal as well as functional elements. Formal elements include a turndown collar, cuffs and the placket (the latter two with buttons and button-holes). Functional elements include a four-way stretch fabric that is moisture wicking and antimicrobial, which stretch fabric is used on the sleeves and body of the shirt. Another element is a polyester/spandex blend fabric for all of the formal elements, which may require more stiffness. Another functional element is a shoulder formed using a raglan style sleeve pattern.
Basic construction of an embodiment of the invention is a raglan sleeve design shirt, in which the sleeves are each made of a single piece extending toward the neckline and joined to an arc of the collar (on top edge of the sleeve) and then, leaving the collar, along a diagonally-aligned seam to the front of the body of the shirt, down under the arm forming the bottom of an armhole (on the bottom side of the sleeve), and then back along a diagonally-aligned seam to the back of the body of the shirt, returning to the arc of the collar. This leaves a diagonal seam (front and rear) stretching from the underarm to the two endpoints of an arc along the seam between the sleeve and the collar. A raglan sleeve covers the whole upper part of the shoulder without seams located in that part of the body. Raglan sleeves can provide a looser fit—such as compared to a yoke collar and ordinary or in-set sleeves, easing shoulder movements but without being baggy. In addition, a shirt having a raglan sleeve can be easier to construct than on having in-set sleeves because the front curves on the body and on the sleeves each match the corresponding rear curves. In addition, there are fewer parts to cut and assemble than using a yoke collar and in-set sleeves.
The first fabric is a stretch fabric and preferably a stretch mesh, and more preferably a four-way stretch fabric that is moisture wicking and antimicrobial. The first fabric is preferably strong and lightweight, and stretchable in various dimensions, and not just on the bias. An example of such a stretch fabric is a 100% polyester mesh, and a specific type is made by Eclat, of Taiwan, and may be found under the brand name BODY CARE.
The wicking behavior results from a fiber-based moisture management system. The stretch/mesh may have one or more components that can move perspiration away from the body, such as a hydrophobic fiber that wicks moisture into the fabric without absorbing it and distributes it through the garment, and a second component, that absorbs the perspiration and may also distributes it through the fabric, increasing the surface area through which evaporation can occur. The stretch/mesh may also have a component such as a primarily hydrophobic fiber, such as a polyester fiber treated with a silicone-based solution to make its slightly more receptive to water, but not hydrophilic. That fiber then can wick moisture into the fabric and distributes it throughout and toward the outer surface without absorbing very much moisture, thus increasing the surface area through which evaporation can occur. Thus, this fabric can move perspiration away from the body, and through the fabric, where it can evaporate quickly, allowing the wearer to feel cooler and more comfortable.
The antimicrobial characteristics are the result of an agent applied to the components of the mesh before, during or after weaving that repel microbes, especially bacteria. A sweaty garment often smells, which is a result of the bacteria growing in the garment. In addition, such grown can result in staining of a garment.
The second fabric is a woven fabric, and preferably a polyester/spandex blend fabric. The second fabric is preferably amenable to fusing so as to make structures formed with that material as stiff as needed for the formal elements, and provide a surface and structure that meets the aesthetic requirements for formal elements. The second fabric is preferably strong and lightweight, and stretchable in various dimensions, and not just on the bias. That second fabric is preferably a 90/10 blend of polyester micro fiber and spandex (a polyester-polyurethane copolymer). Such a fabric is made by TVF (Top Value Fabrics).
Referring now to the figures,
Wing collar 5 is attached to shirt 1 at collar seam 9. Collar seam 9 goes around the wearer's neck, and joins wing collar 5, preferably along an arc, to the each of the upper edges of raglan sleeves 14. Collar seam 9 also joins wing collar 5, preferably along an arc, to the rear face 4 of body 2, and to the front side 3 of body 2 (also joining part of the top of pleats 40 to body 2). Wing collar 5 is a standup collar with folded-over points also referred to as a tuxedo collar. A button 8 is supplied to close wing collar 5, or optionally snaps may be used (not shown) to close wing collar 5. An edgestitch may be used for wing collar 5.
Wing collar 5 is preferably made of a woven material that is somewhat stretchy, but as a formal element, must meet the aesthetic requirement to be crisp and smooth and to retain its shape. Wing collar 5 is preferably made of a 90/10 blend of polyester micro fiber and spandex. Wing collar 5 is subjected to fusing, preferably heavy fusing, to form and retain the upright structure and the wings 7.
Cuffs 20 are preferably ordinary single cuffs, but may optionally be french cuffs, which extend beyond wrist and folding outwardly back to form doubled cuff with interior surface exposed (see
Cuffs 20 are preferably made of a woven material that is somewhat stretchy, but as a formal element, must meet the aesthetic requirement to be crisp and smooth and to retain its shape, and are preferably made of the same polyester blend as wing collar 5. Cuffs 20 are subjected to fusing, preferably heavy fusing, to form and retain the stiff shape.
Details of the cuffs 20 are depicted in
Optional french cuff 70 (shown in
Placket 30 is attached to shirt 1 along one edge of front 3 of body 2, by placket stitching 31 and placket stitching 32 (as shown in detail in
Placket 30 is preferably made of a woven material that is somewhat stretchy, but as a formal element, must meet the aesthetic requirement to be crisp and smooth and to retain its shape, and preferably is made of the same polyester blend as wing collar 5. Placket 30 may be subjected to fusing to facilitate a smooth surface and to have sufficient rigidity to retain studs 36 in stud holes 34.
Tuxedo-style pleats 40 may be formed of two panels, one on each side of placket 30. Each panel is attached to front 3 of body 2 of shirt 1 by top pleat stitching at 41 (along part of raglan seam 41 and part of collar seam 9), and bottom pleat stitching 42. For the panel on the side with placket 30, side pleat stitching 43 attaches outer edge, and placket stitching 31 (or placket stitching 31 and placket stitching 32) (as shown in detail in
with studholes 34), side pleat stitching 44 attaches outer edge, and side pleat stitching (not shown, obscured by placket 30) attaches the final side. Pleats 40 preferably reach the top of the front 3 of body 2, and extend downward to approximately the last stud hole 34. Alternatively, hem stitching 11 may attach pleats 40 if they extend to the bottom edge of body 1 (not shown). Exemplary pleat sections 50 (see
Pleats 40 are preferably made of a strong and lightweight stretch/mesh fabric, and more preferably a 100% polyester four-way stretch/mesh fabric that is moisture wicking and antimicrobial. As a formal element, pleats 40 must meet the aesthetic requirement to be crisp and smooth and to retain their shape.
Details of the attachment of one panel of pleats 40 is depicted in
Other, non-formal elements of shirt 1 include sleeves 14 and body 2.
Each of sleeves 14 is attached to shirt 1 at cuff 20, by cuff seam 22, to body 2 by raglan seam 16 and part of collar seam 9. Sleeves 14 are made of a single piece, preferably tube-formed, extending toward the neckline. That extending portion is joined to an arc of wing collar 5 and runs downward along diagonally-aligned raglan seam 16 joining sleeve 14 to front 3. As raglan seam 16 approaches the wearer's underarm, it preferably turns downward and then loops under the arm, forming the bottom of an armhole (on the bottom side of the sleeve). Sleeve 16 takes a corresponding shape along raglan seam 16 on rear 4, before returning to the arc of wing collar 5. The use of a raglan-constructed sleeve is especially beneficial because sleeves 14 encompass the wearer's shoulders and arm, which each have very high potential ranges of motion. The looser raglan sleeve structure and larger armhole facilitate larger ranges of motion and easier motion than would a yoke collar/in-set arms typically used for formalwear.
Sleeves 14 are preferably a strong and lightweight stretch/mesh, and more preferably the same stretch/mesh fabric as pleats 40.
Body 2 includes front 3 and rear 4, is connected as described above for sleeves 4, placket 30 and wing collar 5. Body 2 may be formed of a fabric tube, making front 3 and rear 4 unitary, or front 3 (left side and right side) and rear 4 may be joined by seams (not shown) extending downward underneath the armholes joining the two on both sides. Left and right edges of body 2 are joined at front 3 by placket 30 and studs 36. The bottom hem formed by hem stitching 11 be longer front and back than the sides, or may be cut straight across (not shown).
Body 2 is preferably a strong and lightweight stretch/mesh, and more preferably the same stretch/mesh fabric as pleats 40 and sleeves 14.
The use of the stretch/mesh fabric is especially beneficial for pleats, sleeves and the body because the latter two encompass the wearer's shoulders and arm, which each have very high potential ranges of motion, and the former covers a large portion of the wearer's torso. Thus stretch/mesh fabric facilitates larger ranges of motion and easier motion than typical fabrics used for formalwear. In addition, it is beneficial as it allows the wicking behavior to encompass the wearer's torso, shoulders, arm and underarm. Thus stretch/mesh fabric facilitates wicking to parts of the shirt covering a large area of the wearer's body, facilitating evaporation.
Another embodiment is dress shirt 101, shown in
Turndown collar 105 is attached to shirt 101 at collar seam 109. Collar seam 9 goes around the wearer's neck, and joins wing collar 5, preferably along an arc, to the each of the upper edges of raglan sleeves 14. Collar seam 109 also joins turndown collar 105, preferably along an arc, to the rear face 104 of body 102 (shown in
Cuffs 120 are preferably ordinary cuffs and are attached to sleeve 14 by cuff seam 22. Cuffs are preferably joined using button/button-hole combination 128. Cuffs 120 are preferably about 3″ long and cuff seam 122 may use a ¼″ topstitch.
Cuffs 120 are preferably made of a woven material that is somewhat stretchy, but as a formal element, must meet the aesthetic requirement to be crisp and smooth and to retain its shape, and preferably of the same polyester blend as turndown collar 105. Cuffs 120 are subjected to fusing, preferably heavy fusing, to form and retain the stiff shape.
Placket 30 is attached to shirt 101 along one edge of front 3 of body 2, by placket stitching 31 and placket stitching 32, and at its top to wing collar 5 along a portion of collar seam 9. Placket 30 is used to join the left and right sides of front 3 of body 102, preferably using buttons 136 passing through buttonholes 134.
Placket 30 is preferably made of a woven material that is somewhat stretchy, but as a formal element, must meet the aesthetic requirement to be crisp and smooth and to retain its shape, and preferably is made of the same polyester blend as turndown collar 105. Placket 30 may be subjected to fusing to facilitate a smooth surface.
Other, non-formal elements of shirt 101 include sleeves 14 and body 102, which do not differ in construction from the corresponding elements in
An embodiment of the invention is the steps of manufacturing a formalwear shirt constructed using two different fabrics. With reference to
An embodiment of the invention is the steps of manufacturing dress shirt 101 constructed using two different fabrics. With reference to
Additional embodiments include steps of manufacturing the disclosed shirts by reference to carrying out the individual steps of creating the previously-disclosed seams, hems or other connections between disclosed shirt components, and creating such elements as studholes, button-holes, affixing buttons, etc.
Additional embodiments include the process of making formal elements of the second material, which in one embodiment is the previously-disclosed polyester blend, and in which one or more of those elements is fused to improve the element's stiffness.
Additional embodiments include a panel of tuxedo pleats formed of a mesh, preferably a stretch/mesh, including the panel being affixed as disclosed to a shirt.
Additional embodiments include a tuxedo jacket including one or more of the polyester blend or stretch/mesh fabrics, breathable dress pants with an athletic waist band including one or more of the polyester blend or stretch/mesh fabrics, bow ties with four-way stretch and improved latch system.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62198679 | Jul 2015 | US |