Engineered surface for increased drag on article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11284651-B2
Application number	US-201715402873-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2017
Priority date	Jan 11, 2016
Publication date	Mar 29, 2022
Grant date	Mar 29, 2022

Abstract

An article having a panel and a trim piece. The panel may have at least a first panel edge, an outer surface, and a plurality of integrally-formed flaps that extend from the outer surface. The trim piece may be affixed to the panel proximate the first panel edge and may secure an end portion of at least one of the plurality of integrally-formed flaps between the trim piece and the outer surface of the panel. A plurality of panels may form, or be secured to, a garment in different orientations. Each of the plurality of panels may be separated by one or more trim pieces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An upper-body article comprising:
a front panel located on a torso portion of the upper-body article, the front panel having at least a front panel first edge, a front panel second edge, and a front panel outer surface, the front panel comprising a first plurality of integrally-formed flaps that extend from the front panel outer surface and longitudinally extend between the front panel first edge and the front panel second edge, wherein each flap of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps includes a first flap edge and an opposite second flap edge, the second flap edge being movable away from the front panel outer surface;
a side panel located on the torso portion of the upper-body article and positioned adjacent to the front panel, the side panel having at least a side panel superior edge, a side panel inferior edge, and a side panel outer surface, the side panel comprising a second plurality of integrally-formed flaps that extend from the side panel outer surface and longitudinally extend between the side panel superior edge and the side panel inferior edge, wherein each of the second plurality of integrally-formed flaps includes a first flap edge and an opposite second flap edge; and
a first trim piece affixed to the front panel proximate to the front panel first edge and securing a first end portion of at least one of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps between the first trim piece and the front panel outer surface, the first trim piece extending vertically with respect to a neckline opening and a torso opening of the upper-body article;
wherein the first flap edge of each of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps is oriented such that the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps form an acute angle with respect to the first trim piece, and wherein the first flap edge of each of the second plurality of integrally formed flaps is oriented parallel to the first trim piece such that the second plurality of integrally-formed flaps are parallel with respect to the first trim piece; and
wherein the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps and the second plurality of integrally formed flaps are adjacent to the first trim piece, such that the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps and the second plurality of integrally-formed flaps are both located on the torso portion of the upper-body article.

2. The upper-body article of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps extends from the first flap edge that extends along the front panel outer surface to the second flap edge.

3. The upper-body article of claim 2 , wherein the second flap edge of a first integrally-formed flap of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps overlaps the first flap edge of a second integrally-formed flap that is adjacent to the first integrally-formed flap.

4. The upper-body article of claim 2 , wherein the first flap edge of each of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps is offset from the first flap edge of other integrally-formed flaps.

5. The upper-body article of claim 4 , wherein the first flap edge of each of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps extends across the front panel outer surface in parallel with the other integrally-formed flaps.

6. The upper-body article of claim 4 , wherein the first flap edge of each of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps is concentrically aligned with the first flap edge of the other integrally-formed flaps.

7. The upper-body article of claim 1 , wherein one or more air pockets that create drag are formed on the upper-body article between one or more pairs of adjacent flaps of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps.

8. The upper-body article of claim 1 , wherein the first trim piece comprises a zipper tape.

9. The upper-body article of claim 1 , wherein the front panel first edge is opposite the front panel second edge.

10. The upper-body article of claim 1 , wherein the front panel comprises at least one of:
a woven fabric; or
a knit fabric.

11. A method of manufacturing an article comprising:
providing a front panel forming a torso portion of the article, the front panel comprising at least a front panel first edge, a front panel second edge, a front panel outer surface, and a first plurality of integrally-formed flaps extending from the front panel outer surface and longitudinally extending between the front panel first edge and the front panel second edge, wherein the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps further comprise a first end portion located proximate to the front panel first edge, wherein each flap of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps includes a first flap edge and an opposite second flap edge, the second flap edge movable away from the front panel outer surface;
providing a side panel positioned adjacent to the front panel such that a portion of the side panel is located on the torso portion of the article, the side panel comprising at least a side panel superior edge, a side panel inferior edge, a side panel outer surface, and a second plurality of integrally-formed flaps extending from the side panel outer surface and longitudinally extending between the side panel superior edge and the side panel inferior edge, wherein each of the second plurality of integrally-formed flaps includes a first flap edge and an opposite second flap edge;
providing a first trim piece affixed to the front panel on the torso portion of the article; and
securing the first end portion of at least one of the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps between the front panel outer surface and the first trim piece proximate to the front panel first edge;
wherein the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps form an acute angle with respect to the first trim piece, and
wherein the second plurality of integrally-formed flaps are oriented parallel to the first trim piece, and further wherein the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps and the second plurality of integrally-formed flaps are adjacent to the first trim piece, such that the first plurality of integrally-formed flaps and the second plurality of integrally-formed flaps are both located on the torso portion of the article.

12. An upper-body garment comprising:
a front panel having a front panel outer surface and at least a front panel first edge and a front panel second edge, the front panel adapted to cover a right front portion of a wearer's torso when the upper-body garment is in an as-worn position;
a side panel positioned adjacent to the front panel, the side panel adapted to cover a side portion of the wearer's torso when the upper-body garment is in the as-worn position, the side panel and having a side panel outer surface and at least a side panel superior edge and a side panel inferior edge;
a first plurality of overlapping flaps formed integral to the front panel and positioned on the front panel outer surface between the front panel first edge and the front panel second edge, wherein each of the first plurality of overlapping flaps includes a first integrated edge along which the first plurality of overlapping flaps extend distally away from the front panel outer surface and an opposite second edge that overlaps the first integrated edge of an adjacent flap of the first plurality of overlapping flaps, and wherein each of the first integrated edges are offset from one another;
a second plurality of overlapping flaps formed integral to the side panel and positioned on the side panel outer surface between the side panel superior edge and the side panel inferior edge, wherein each of the second plurality of overlapping flaps includes a second integrated edge along which the

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Parkinson Adam

Classifications

• A63B21/4007

  to the chest region, e.g. to the back chest · CPC title

• A41D27/10

  Sleeves; Armholes · CPC title

• A63B21/4011

  to the lower limbs (means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057) · CPC title

• A63B21/4005

  to the shoulder · CPC title

• A41D13/0015 Primary

  Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088 · CPC title