Patent Application
20150237921
This invention relates to an upper body garment, particularly relating to an improved upper body undergarment utilizing new structures and technologies for the garment field. In particular, the invention relates to a sweat protecting upper body garment with a unique pattern-lay.
A strong market exists for an alternative upper body undergarment to traditional t-shirts, V-necks, sweat deterrent shirts or posture improvement undergarments that can be worn invisibly underneath a wearer's exterior shirt and that provide specific all-encompassing functionality, particularly pertaining to men. Traditional undershirts, when being worn under a normal button down shirt, are visible where the top couple of buttons are unbuttoned. This leaves the wearer sacrificing the style of having only their skin show where the buttons are undone.
There are choices the wearer has in the marketplace such as V-necks or deep cut neck lines that “scoop” under the top few buttons of outerwear. There are “sweat blocking” shirts that provide additional padding under the arm to absorb moisture for those with medical conditions with abnormal perspiration levels such as Hyperhidrosis. There are posture improving shirts in the market as well. However, each one is only mono-functional.
These others shirts do not simultaneously guard against sweat protection, support posture and are not manufactured in a unique pattern-lay to stay 100% invisible even if the wearer were to completely unbutton his shirt, all the way down to the belt.
Additionally, these other shirts are full-length. No matter what “cooling” mechanism is applied to these fabrics, there still exists a layer of fabric between the wearers flesh and the air. All too often a traditional undershirt is worn to block perspiration from “bleeding” through their outer-shirt. In the summer months, the wearer may wear an undershirt to block his underarm sweat, but then the rest of his upper body is too hot. Further, other types of exterior shirts are desirable in summer months. These alternative undershirts listed above are full length shirts themselves and could potentially show at the bottom and/or at the neck-line of the exterior summer-worn t-shirt. The present invention is cut, around back, horizontally much further up and open-chested around the front, designed to remove as much fabric as possible while still performing its functional duties.
The present invention encompasses all of the above i.e., posture improvement functionality due to the design and fit, a unique “half-shirt” design removing as much fabric as possible, simultaneously staying hidden and keeping the wearer cool, and specific sweat reducing fabric applications concentrated in strategic spots designed to cut fabric cost in the manufacturing process.
Consequently, consumers are in need of an improved upper body undergarment that remains hidden when worn and reduces visible perspiration. Moreover, garment manufacturers are in need of an economically designed upper body undergarment that meets consumer demand. Consequently, an improved upper body undergarment that remains hidden when worn and reduces visible perspiration is desirable for both consumers and garment manufacturers.
The invention aims to provide an upper body garment with reduced perspiration visibility and improved cooling abilities. The upper body garment is comprised of a body 410, a neck 421, a lower hem 432, at least one sleeve 445, and at least one underarm section 457. The body 410 and the neck 421 cover the back of the wearer and extend partially around the sides such that the front of the neck and the chest of the wearer are left uncovered. The lower hem 432 terminates above the lower hem of an exterior garment. The sleeves 445 at least partially cover the wearer's arms. The underarm sections 457 at least partially cover the underarms of the wearer.
Additionally, the underarm section 657 is made of at least two layers. The interior-most layer is moisture absorbent and the exterior-most layer is moisture repellent. Alternatively, the underarm section 657 is made with an anti-microbial finish that reduces the amount of microbes present in the fabric. Further, the shape of the upper body garment encourages the improvement of the wearer's posture during normal wear.
Accordingly, several advantages are to provide an upper body garment, to provide an interior moisture absorbent layer and an exterior moisture repellent layer, and to provide an anti-microbial finish. Still further advantages will become apparent from a study of the following descriptions and the accompanying drawings.
The upper body garment is encompassed in a plurality of preferred embodiments that shall be discussed in the present section. The upper body garment is unique in structure due to specific cuts and hems that enable the shirt to stay hidden underneath exposed outerwear while providing distinct functionality.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the upper body garment is an undergarment that is worn beneath another upper body garment, referred to as an outer-garment. If the user is wearing an outer garment (i.e., a button down shirt) with the top buttons undone, or any outer-shirt leaving the top of the chest exposed, the wearer of this upper body garment is seemingly bare-chested. The unique design of this upper body garment is patterned such that it wraps up under the underarm of the wearer and the seam begins to climb approximately where the underarm touches the far left section of the wearer's left pectoral muscle at about a 45 degree angle toward the back of the wearer's neck, wraps around, then back down at the same 45 degree angle on the other side of the wearer's right side of his right pectoral muscle where it touches his other underarm. Essentially, the upper body garment cuts straight across your mid to upper back region, below the neck, leaving the bottom half or more exposed to as much air as possible.
The upper body garment incorporates several different fabrics depending on the functionality the wearer desires. In some embodiments, the material is a cotton blend. In some other embodiments, the material is a polyester blend. Additionally, there is a plurality of other potential fabrics that it could embody, including: Spandex, LYCRA, Nylon, Silk, Modal and others. These fabrics were picked with specific blended ratios to move with the body and to form fit the shape of a human.
In one embodiment, the specific fabric used for this undergarment is a Polyester/Spandex blend of 85% Polyester and 15% Spandex 58″/60″ 245 gm. The underarm section and potentially the middle of the back section warrant a fabric that holds more functionality than the rest of the shirt. Men tend to perspire more heavily in these areas, so the underarm section will incorporate a fabric that combines two technologies into one application. From the outside to the middle of the fabric, the fabric is moisture repellent. From the inside to the middle, the fabric is moisture absorbent. This application will enhance the functionality of the shirt in the most heavy perspiration areas to be as functional as possible. One example of this fabric is developed by Schoeller® Technologies AG, called 3XDRY®. Further options exist to accomplish the function of this fabric in the form of finishes, fabrics, and other applications.
This specific application used embodies two functions: Hydrophilic (attraction or acceptance of water) and Hydrophobic (little or no affinity to water) onto separate sides of the 3XDRY® fabric. The inside layer being Hydrophilic that absorbs the sweat, and the outside layer Hydrophobic that pushes the sweat away. Accordingly, when a human sweats, he wants that sweat absorbed quickly into the fabric, so it does not sit atop his skin and feel wet in the underarm. If enough moisture collects, the moisture could drip down the sides of his body if the wearer perspires heavily. Additionally, once the moisture is absorbed into the fabric, the wearer does not want the visual progression of perspiration on the outer garment, thus the repellent layer pushes that moisture away from the outer garment. This configuration causes the sweat to disperse and evaporate with the natural movement of the wearer. Accordingly, a cooling effect is experienced by the wearer. Collectively, this embodiment serves to eliminate perspiration marks on the outer garment and leaves the wearer with the comfort and confidence level he desires in an upper body garment.
Referring now to
Referring to
Accordingly, the way the sleeves wrap around the underarms and the shoulders extending down several inches of the arm gives the upper body garment (given it's unique “half-shirt” pattern-lay) an ability to be substantially retained by the wearer's body. Since the front chest section of the shirt is cut out and instead wraps around the back of the neck—and since the upper body garment holds onto the front of the wearer's shoulders and underneath the armpit instead of lying over the body and hanging—the upper body garment provides a gentle tightening sensation around both the shoulders and the neck. This tightening sensation reminds the wearer to pull his shoulders back and improve his posture. The fit has to be appropriate as to not be too tight, as this could become uncomfortable.
Referring now to
The upper middle of the back is also a common area men develop heavier perspiration. The same fabric used in the underarm section 557 can be used to layer the middle section of the back, the posture-improvement section 563, to guard against perspiration. The posture-improvement section 563 is also be used in conjunction with tightening properties to hold or pull the shoulders back. Additionally, a denser material may be used for the posture-improvement section 563 such as a heavier Spandex to cotton or Spandex to Polyester ratio—up to 25% Spandex 75% of either cotton or Polyester.
Referring now to
There are several sweat/odor reduction applications that could apply to the underarm section 657. Dual layered sweat absorption/repellent, anti-microbial and other sweat wicking or odor reducing fabrics, amongst others that can be sewn into more common sweat producing sections of the upper body and/or used over the entire garment. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the underarm section 657 comprises an anti-microbial finish. Common anti-microbial finishes include brominated phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds, organo-silver and tin compounds, which can be applied as solutions or dispersions. These anti-microbial finishes can also be incorporated in a polymeric film deposited on the surface to achieve controlled release. One embodiment of the anti-microbial finish is the active>silver™ application produced by Schoeller® Technologies AG, which is based on a Silver Chloride listed in the EU Biocidal Product Regulations. This anti-microbial finish is different than classic anti-bacterial agents because classic anti-bacterial agents use toxic substances that kill off all the bacteria, including the “good” bacteria. This anti-microbial finish only hampers the growth of “bad” bacteria.
Incorporating this anti-microbial and/or anti-sweat functionality will allow the wearer to wash his outer garments less due to less sweat, dirt and bacteria from the wearer, thus prolonging the life of an expensive outer garment. Accordingly, the wearer saves money over the life of the upper body garment.
In some embodiments, the upper body garment further comprises non-rolling edges that are incorporated in at least the lower hem, neck and edges of the body. The non-rolling edges are configured to fit the wearer and prevent the edges of the upper body garment from rolling over on them. The non-rolling edges provide a means to prevent the edges of the upper body garment from showing when worn as an undergarment beneath and outer garment.
It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are not limited in their application to the details of the teachings and descriptions set forth, or as illustrated in the accompanying figures. Rather, it will be understood that an upper body garment, as taught and described according to multiple embodiments disclosed herein, is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “e.g.,” “containing,” or “having,” and variations of those words is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, and equivalents of those, as well as additional items.
Accordingly, the descriptions herein are not intended to be exhaustive, nor are they meant to limit the understanding of the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that modifications and variations of these embodiments are reasonably possible in light of the above teachings and descriptions.
