Lower body article of apparel having dynamic vent-slit structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016338435-A1
Application number	US-201514719894-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 22, 2015
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dynamic vent-slit structure for a lower body article of apparel is provided. The article includes a pelvic portion for covering a pelvic area of a wearer when the article is in an as-worn position, and a plurality of slits in a repeating fashion, wherein a spacing between two adjacent slits in linear alignment is less than a length of a slit in non-linear alignment with the two slits and that is offset from the two slits such that the slit in non-linear alignment overlies the spacing between the slits in linear alignment, and the slit in non-linear alignment is parallel to the slits in linear alignment. The slits may be positioned in one or more groupings or aligned in different directions to open in response to different directions of stretch or movement, to provide dynamic or motion activated venting in the article.

First claim

1 . A lower body article of apparel comprising:
a pelvic portion for covering a pelvic area of a wearer when the article is in an as-worn position, the pelvic portion having a waist opening; left and right leg portions extending outward from the pelvic portion opposite the waist opening, the left and right leg portions having respective left and right leg openings, the left and right leg portions covering at least a portion of respective left and right legs of the wearer; and a plurality of slits in a repeating fashion, wherein a spacing between two adjacent slits in linear alignment is less than a length of a slit in non-linear alignment with the two slits and that is offset from the two slits such that the slit in non-linear alignment overlies the spacing between the slits in linear alignment, and the slit in non-linear alignment is parallel to the slits in linear alignment.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slits in a repeating fashion form at least two columns in parallel configuration, each of the columns having at least two slits in linear alignment.

3 . The article of claim 2 , wherein a spacing between slits in linear alignment in any of the columns is shorter than a length of a slit in an adjacent column that overlies the spacing.

4 . The article of claim 3 , wherein the slits in each of the columns are the same length and separated by a first spacing.

5 . The article of claim 4 , wherein a length of the first spacing is shorter than the length of the slits.

6 . The article of claim 5 , wherein the columns are separated by a second spacing that is shorter than the length of the slits.

7 . The article of claim 2 , wherein a slit in each column is aligned perpendicular from a portion of a long axis of a slit in an adjacent column.

8 . The article of claim 2 , wherein a position of slits along the long axis of adjacent columns is staggered.

9 . The article of claim 2 , wherein the article comprises at least one of:
a woven fabric; and a knit fabric.

10 . The article of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the slits are skewed with respect to a vertical axis of the article.

11 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the slits are skewed from the groin area of the article towards the right and left sides of the article and form a direct path between a wearer's skin and an outside environment of the article.

12 . A vented lower body article of apparel comprising:
a pelvic portion for covering a pelvic area of a wearer when the article is in an as-worn position, the pelvic portion having a waist opening; left and right leg portions extending outward from the pelvic portion opposite the waist opening, the left and right leg portions having respective left and right leg openings, the left and right leg portions covering at least a portion of respective left and right legs of the wearer; and a plurality of slits oriented substantially parallel to each other, wherein at least two of the plurality of slits are in linear alignment, wherein a spacing between the at least two slits is less than a length of a slit positioned adjacent to the at least two slits and in non-linear alignment with respect to the at least two slits, and wherein the slits are positioned in two or more distinct groupings on the article, the slits within each grouping aligned in the same direction.

13 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the slits are positioned on a groin area of the article.

14 . The article of claim 12 , wherein a first grouping is formed along a left side of the article and a second grouping is formed along a right side of the article.

15 . The article of claim 12 , wherein a first grouping is formed on the left leg portion of the article and a second grouping is formed on the right leg portion of the article.

16 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the slits extend from a groin area of the article upward at approximately a 45-degree angle from the vertical axis of the article across a front and a back side of the article.

17 . A modified lower body article of apparel comprising:
a pelvic portion for covering a pelvic area of a wearer when the article is in an as-worn position, the pelvic portion having a waist opening; left and right leg portions extending outward from the pelvic portion opposite the waist opening, the left and right leg portions having respective left and right leg openings, the left and right leg portions covering at least a portion of respective left and right legs of the wearer; and a plurality of slits forming a plurality of columns in parallel configuration, wherein a spacing between two slits in linear alignment in a first column is less than a length of a slit positioned in an adjacent second column, wherein the spacing in the first column is aligned at least partially with the slit positioned in the adjacent second column, and wherein when the article is stretched perpendicular to the orientation of the slits, the slits open to provide a direct path through the article to a body of the wearer.

18 . The article of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the slits are positioned proximate to one or more seams of the article.

19 . The article of claim 17 , wherein the columns extend from an inside of the left leg portion to an inside of the right leg portion across a groin area of the article.

20 . The article of claim 17 , wherein the article is made from at least one of:
a woven fabric; and a knit fabric.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Aihara Yuki

Classifications

• A41D27/285 Primary

  with closure adjustment · CPC title

• A41D1/08 Primary

  specially adapted for sporting purposes · CPC title

• A41D27/28 Primary

  Means for ventilation · CPC title