Sleeve gusset for an apparel item

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10165813-B2
Application number	US-201514974280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 18, 2015
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A sleeve gusset for securing an exterior shell layer of an apparel item and an inner liner layer of an apparel item to a sleeve of an apparel item and a method of manufacturing a sleeve gusset is provided. The sleeve gusset comprises an interior facing with a sleeve edge and a body edge and an exterior facing with a sleeve edge and a body edge. The sleeve edge of the exterior facing is coupled to the exterior shell layer of the apparel item while the sleeve edge of the interior facing is coupled to the sleeve. The body edge of the exterior facing is coupled to the body edge of the interior facing. The body edge of the interior facing is further coupled to the inner liner layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bi-fold gusset system comprising:
a first interior layer that has a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the first interior layer having a first width at an upper portion of the first interior layer as measured between the first edge and the second edge; and
a second exterior layer that has a third edge and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, the second exterior layer having a second width at an upper portion of the second exterior layer as measured between the third edge and the fourth edge, the second exterior layer having a third width at a lower portion of the second exterior layer as measured between the third edge and the fourth edge, wherein the second width of the second exterior layer is greater than the first width of the first interior layer, and wherein the second width of the second exterior layer is greater than the third width of the second exterior layer, and further wherein at least a portion of the second edge of the first interior layer is coupled to at least a portion of the fourth edge of the second exterior layer to form a bi-fold pleat;
wherein at least a portion of the fourth edge of the second exterior layer is configured to be coupled to a sleeve opening of an exterior shell layer of an apparel item, at least a portion of the first edge of the first interior layer is configured to be coupled to a sleeve opening of an inner liner layer of the apparel item, and at least a portion of the second edge of the first interior layer is configured to be coupled to a sleeve.

2. The bi-fold gusset system of claim 1 , wherein the bi-fold pleat is adapted to be secured at a single portion of the exterior shell layer.

3. The bi-fold gusset system of claim 1 , wherein the first interior layer comprises an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface.

4. The bi-fold gusset system of claim 1 , wherein the first interior layer comprises a first curved circular shape.

5. The bi-fold gusset system of claim 4 , wherein the second exterior layer comprises a second curved circular shape.

6. The bi-fold gusset system of claim 1 , wherein the first interior layer and the second exterior layer comprise a single piece of material.

7. The bi-fold gusset system of claim 1 , wherein the first interior layer comprises a first piece of material, and wherein the second exterior comprises a second piece of material different from the first piece of material.

8. The bi-fold gusset system of claim 1 , wherein the second width at the upper portion of the second exterior layer is 5 millimeters to 15 millimeters greater than the first width at the upper portion of the first interior layer.

9. An enhanced mobility garment comprising:
an exterior shell layer having at least one sleeve opening and adapted to cover at least a portion of a wearer's torso when in an as-worn configuration;
an inner liner layer positioned adjacent and interior to the exterior shell layer, the inner liner layer having at least one sleeve opening circumferentially aligned with the sleeve opening of the exterior shell layer, the inner liner layer adapted to cover at least a portion of a wearer's torso when in an as-worn configuration;
at least one sleeve; and
at least one gusset comprising:
a first interior layer having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the first interior layer having a first width at an upper portion of the first interior layer as measured between the first edge and the second edge; and
a second exterior layer having a third edge and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, the second exterior layer having a second width at an upper portion of the second exterior layer as measured between the third edge and the fourth edge, the second exterior layer having a third width at a lower portion of the second exterior layer as measured between the third edge and the fourth edge, wherein the second width of the second exterior layer is greater than the first width of the first interior layer and wherein the second width of the second exterior layer is greater than the third width of the second exterior layer,
wherein at least a portion of the third edge of the second exterior layer is coupled to the exterior shell layer at the at least one sleeve opening of the exterior shell layer, at least a portion of the fourth edge of the second exterior layer is coupled to at least a portion of the second edge of the first interior layer to form a bi-fold pleat, at least a portion of the second edge of the first interior layer is further coupled to the inner liner layer at the sleeve opening of the inner liner layer, and at least a portion of the first edge of the first interior layer is coupled to the sleeve such that the sleeve is coupled to both the exterior shell layer and the inner liner layer via the gusset.

10. The enhanced mobility garment of claim 9 , wherein the gusset is constructed from one or more of a water-resistant material, a woven nylon, a knitted nylon, a woven polyester, and a knitted polyester.

11. The enhanced mobility garment claim 9 , wherein the bi-fold pleat is secured at a single portion of the exterior shell layer.

12. The enhanced mobility garment of claim 9 , wherein the first interior layer comprises an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface.

13. The enhanced mobility garment of claim 9 , wherein the exterior shell layer comprises a first width and the inner liner layer comprises a second width, wherein the second width of the inner liner layer is smaller than the first width of the exterior shell layer.

14. The enhanced mobility garment of claim 13 , wherein the gusset is configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position based on a difference between the first width of the exterior shell layer and the second width of the inner liner layer and a coupling of the exterior shell layer, the inner liner layer, and the at least one sleeve via the gusset with the bi-fold pleat.

15. The enhanced mobility garment of claim 9 , wherein the first interior layer comprises a first curved circular shape, wherein:
the first edge of the first interior layer corresponds to a circumference of the sleeve opening of the at least one sleeve; and
the second edge of the first interior layer corresponds to a circumference of the at least one sleeve hole of the inner liner layer.

16. The enhanced mobility garment of claim 15 , wherein the second exterior layer comprises a second curved circular shape, wherein:
the fourth edge of the second exterior layer corresponds to a circumference of the second edge of the interior facing; and
the third edge of the second exterior layer corresponds to a circumference of the at least one sleeve hole of the exterior shell layer.

17. A method of manufacturing a bi-fold gusset for use in an apparel item, the method comprising:
providing a sleeve portion of a material assembled in a tubular configuration to provide a garment sleeve, the garment sleeve having a proximal sleeve opening and a distal sleeve opening;
providing a body portion of a material assembled to provide a garment body, the body portion comprising an exterior shell layer having at least one sleeve opening;
providing a lining portion of a material assembled to provide an inner liner layer, wherein the inner liner layer is positioned adjacent and interior to the exterior shell layer and coupled to the exterior shell layer, further wherein the inner liner layer has at least one sleeve opening circumferentially aligned with the sleeve opening of the exterior shell layer;
fixing the garment sleeve to the

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Martin Lindsey V J

Classifications

• A41D27/10 Primary

  Sleeves; Armholes · CPC title

• A41D3/00

  Overgarments (fur garments A41D5/00; for children A41D11/00; professional or sporting protective garments A41D13/00) · CPC title

• A41D27/02

  Linings · CPC title

• A41D2200/20

  Hoods · CPC title

• A41D27/201

  Pocket closures · CPC title