Apparel – Body garments
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-18
2002-09-10
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Body garments
C002S067000, C002S002150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06446264
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention has to do with articles of clothing which incorporate elastic stretch fabric and fit tightly to the body, for sports use or for general muscular support. Particular examples are described in relation to swimsuits, which are a preferred application, but the concepts described here can be applied to other kinds of specialised support or athletic wear.
2. Background
A variety of known sports garments, particularly swimsuits, but also athletic shorts and long johns, are made from elasticated stretch fabric which fits closely and tightly against the body. In recent years use has been made of various fabrics with high elastane content which, according to the knit used, combine various degrees of elastic stretch with a high stretch constant to press more firmly against the body surf ace for a given degree of stretch. In racing swimsuits this reduces the entry of water between the suit and body—a source of drag—and avoids the sliding of the fabric over the skin. It can also reduce muscle vibration which is believed to be a cause of fatigue and body drag in swimming.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We now propose novel structures for articles of clothing of the kind described enabling improvements in achieving a highly-tensioned fit over the body, especially lower back and abdominal fit, and also preferably taking account of the disposition of muscles over the body.
In general terms, we have found that useful tensioned fit effects can be achieved by a special disposition of seams joining panels of elasticated stretch fabric in an article of clothing of the kind described. We have combined intensive investigation on the desired tensile elastic properties of various parts of the garment, in relation to athletic activities, with the observation that these elastic properties can be modified using the seams. In simple terms, introduction of a seam across a span of stretch fabric reduces the stretchability, i.e. potentially increases a degree of tensioning, in a direction transverse to the seam. In one particular development, we have found a novel positioning of seams which can be specifically used to improve tensioned lower back or abdominal fit in an athletic garment e.g. a racing swimsuit, covering the torso. In another, overlapping development we have found a disposition of seams providing an improved tensioned fit extending from the waist down onto the legs.
In one aspect of the invention we provide an article of clothing of stretchable elasticated fabric which covers at least the torso, having a waist region which surrounds the abdomen and is dimensioned and constructed to fit closely and under high tension around the wearers waist or lower back relative to the tension around the broader and stiffer chest and pelvic regions above and below. To achieve this we propose a particular arrangement of panel seams. In this arrangement the front or back of the suit, and preferably both has at each side (right and left) a pair of tensioning panel seams. From a convergence at the respective side of the waist, a lower one of these tensioning panel seams extends inwardly (medially) and downwardly onto the pelvic region and an upper one extends inwardly (medially) and upwardly to the neck region. We have found that these seams converging towards the sides at the waist provide a good structure for achieving a close tensioned fit of the suit.
At the waist side convergence the upper and lower panel seams preferably meet, are continuous or are linked by a connecting seam. Additionally, they preferably meet or are continuous with corresponding panel seams extending around to the opposite face (front or back) of the body. Most preferably these latter are tensioning panel seams in an arrangement as described above. The seams constitute a high-strength, relatively low extensibility feature. By having them meet top-to-bottom and/or back-to-front, tension which can be sustained in the fabric panels at this region is increased.
Note that this controlled distribution of tension for close fit is achievable using the same fabric stretch characteristics in the fabric of the different panels joined by the seams, unlike the suits described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,122 in which—for different reasons—panels of particularly stretch-resistant fabric are incorporated along selected axes of the suit. Likewise it can be achieved with a single layer of the fabric over the suit, by contrast with U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,847 which resorts to incorporating strapping beneath fabric panels to provide muscular support.
In terms of the shape of the fabric panels, the arrangement of tensioning seams described above may manifest itself as a generally rhomboidal or guadrilobed fabric region cantered on the abdomen (front) and/or lumbar region (back). Left and right side lobes correspond to the above-mentioned convergence of upper and lower panels seams. A top lobe extends up between the upper panel seams towards, and preferably reaching, the neck opening of the suit. A bottom lobe extends down towards the groin where it may terminate, or continue further if the suit has legs. Such an abdominal or lumbar panel may optionally have a vertical central seam for ease of manufacture, and this may incorporate a zip fastener for the suit.
It should be appreciated that the upper tensioning seams described here are distinct from the conventional sleeve-joining seams of a known sleeved suit. The latter pass closely under the armpit and do not approach the waist region. In our proposal the upper seams extend right down to the waist region, preferably from at or adjacent the front or back of the neck rather than from the adjacent shoulder joint. There is a close convergence or coincidence of the upper and lower panel seams at each side of the waist. Furthermore, even in a legless suit we generally provide a fabric panel to each side of the pelvis, laterally outside the lower tensioning seam(s), because these seams serve a distinct function in tensioning the adjacent fabric.
A further aspect of the present proposals applies generally to articles of clothing comprising panels of stretchable elasticated fabric fitting closely to the body. In this aspect, for at least one and preferably more than one different kind of the following active muscle areas;
shoulder girdle front;
shoulder girdle rears
gluteus maximus;
hamstring muscles;
quadriceps femoris;
gastrocnemius,
tibialis posterior, and
tibialis anterior;
(for each of which the left and right areas are separate but of the same kind), muscle area-specific fabric islands or zones are provided, bordered by panel-joining seams extending, preferably convexly curved, in surrounding or conformal relation to the respective muscle area. Preferably within the island or zone is a single uninterrupted fabric region. This has been found to improve tensioned fitting over the muscle groups concerned, and contrasts with previous swimming suits in which the provision of seams has been minimised, generally being restricted to the simplest centre lines, side lines and sleeve/leg attachments, and regarded as a necessary evil.
For the shoulder girdle, front or rear, the corresponding seam may join the shoulder panel to an abdominal or lumbar fabric region of the article and extend downwardly from adjacent the neck, curving laterally towards the waist. The specific front and rear muscle groups which may be affected are described later. As will be appreciated, this seam may also constitute an upper tensioning seam of the first aspect of our invention discussed above.
For each gluteal region (left and right) a respective panel island or zone can be provided. Preferably left and right gluteal zones are separated by a medial posterior fabric portion, or similar fabric. The characteristic seam for each gluteal zone can have a medial portion which curves up and out laterally towards the waist (for articles of clothing having a waist/torso part) and/or down and out laterally towards the outside of the upper leg (for articles of clothing having legs). The gluteal zon
Cappaert Jane
Fairhurst Fiona
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Hale Gloria M.
Hoey Alissa L.
Speedo International Limited
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