Aerodynamic Garment With Applied Edge Treatments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018360139-A9
Application number	US-201213399742-A
Country	US
Kind code	A9
Filing date	Feb 17, 2012
Priority date	Jun 24, 2009
Publication date	Dec 20, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aerodynamic garment may comprise zones with applied textures. Each zone may be associated with properties and characteristics based on the movement of the garment associated with each zone through air during an athletic activity. The texture in each zone may be applied using a variety of methods such as printing. Terminal edges of the garment may be treated with silicone or other elastomers to prevent fraying, eliminate stitching, and provide a snug, aerodynamic fit. The resulting aerodynamic garment improves the performance of an athlete wearing the aerodynamic garment by reducing the aerodynamic drag experienced during the performance of the athletic activity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An aerodynamic athletic garment comprising:
at least one fabric panel that covers a portion of an athlete's body when the garment is worn; at least one cut edge that terminates the at least one fabric panel of the garment without stitching; and a printed elastomer along the exterior of the at least one cut edge, the printed elastomer having an elasticity that secures the at least one cut edge to the athlete's body when the garment is worn.

2 . The aerodynamic athletic garment of claim 1 , wherein the printed elastomer comprises silicone.

3 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first zone having a first applied texture having a property that gives rise to a first aerodynamic characteristic, the first zone covering a portion of an extremity of the wearer; and a second zone having a second property that gives rise to a second aerodynamic characteristic, the second zone substantially covering the torso of the wearer.

4 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 3 , wherein the first applied texture comprises a first plurality of printed elastomeric nodules and the second applied texture comprises a second plurality of printed elastomeric nodules.

5 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cut edge forms a wrist opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.

6 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cut edge forms an arm opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.

7 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cut edge forms a shoulder opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.

8 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cut edge forms an ankle opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.

9 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cut edge forms a leg opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.

10 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cut edge forms a neck opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.

11 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cut edge forms a waist opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.

12 . An aerodynamic athletic garment comprising:
a plurality of fabric panels joined together to form the garment, such that the garment covers at least a portion of an athlete's body when the garment is worn; a cut edge that terminates the garment on an extremity of the athlete when the garment is worn, the cut edge lacking stitching; and an elastomeric edge treatment printed on the exterior side of the cut edge, the elastomeric edge treatment varying in width along the cut edge.

13 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 12 , wherein the elastomeric edge treatment was printed on the cut edge after making the cut through the fabric to form the cut edge.

14 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 12 , wherein the elastomeric edge treatment was printed on a fabric panel before making a cut through the fabric to form the cut edge.

15 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 12 , wherein the cut edge comprises a wrist opening.

16 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second cut edge that comprises second wrist opening; and a second elastomeric edge treatment printed on the exterior side of the second cut edge, the second elastomeric edge treatment varying in width along the second cut edge.

17 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 16 , further comprising:
a first thumb hole that receives an athlete's left thumb when the garment is worn, the first thumb hole being cut through a fabric panel and lacking stitching; a second thumb hole that receives an athlete's right thumb when the garment is worn, the second thumb hole being cut through a fabric panel and lacking stitching; and wherein: the elastomeric edge treatment extends to cover the first thumb hole and the second elastomeric edge treatment extends to cover the second thumb hole.

18 . An aerodynamic athletic garment comprising:
a plurality of fabric panels joined together to form the garment, such that the garment covers at least a portion of an athlete's body when the garment is worn; a cut edge that terminates the garment on an extremity of the athlete when the garment is worn, the cut edge lacking stitching; and an elastomeric edge treatment printed on the outside face of the cut edge, the elastomeric edge treatment varying in thickness along the cut edge.

19 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 18 , wherein the cut edge comprises a wrist opening.

20 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 18 , wherein the elastomeric edge treatment further varies in width along the cut edge.

21 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 19 , further comprising:
a second cut edge that comprises second wrist opening; and a second elastomeric edge treatment printed on the outside face of the second cut edge, the second elastomeric edge treatment varying in width along the second cut edge.

22 . The aerodynamic garment of claim 21 , further comprising:
a first thumb hole that receives an athlete's left thumb when the garment is worn, the first thumb hole being cut through a fabric panel and lacking stitching; a second thumb hole that receives an athlete's right thumb when the garment is worn, the second thumb hole being cut through a fabric panel and lacking stitching; and wherein: the elastomeric edge treatment extends to cover the first thumb hole and the second elastomeric edge treatment extends to cover the second thumb hole.

Assignees

• Nordstom Matthew D
• Carbo Jr Jorge E
• Brownlie Leonard W
• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Nordstom Matthew D
• Carbo Jr Jorge E
• Brownlie Leonard W

Classifications

• A41D13/0015 Primary

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

• A41D2400/24

  Reducing drag or turbulence in air or water · CPC title

• A41D31/185

  using layered materials · CPC title