Apparel incorporating a protective element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9226533-B2
Application number	US-201414248091-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2014
Priority date	Sep 24, 2009
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

An article of apparel may include may include a garment portion and at least one protective element. The garment portion and the protective element have a configuration that forms a gap, separation, or pleat structure through, for example, folding or overlapping of a textile element of the garment portion. The gap, separation, or pleat structure may permit the protective element to move independent of other portions of the apparel, thereby enhancing a range of movement of the individual and the overall comfort of the apparel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article of apparel comprising:
a waistband that forms a waist opening and that is stretchable;
at least a first textile element joined to the waistband;
second textile element attached to at least part of the first textile element; and
a protective element formed from a compressible material and located between the first textile element and the second textile element, wherein the protective element is coupled to the first textile element, wherein a portion of the protective element overlaps the waistband, and wherein at least a portion of the portion of the protective element is unsecured and separate from the waistband.

2. The article of apparel recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective element includes a plurality of grooves that extend into a surface of the pad component and wherein at least one groove of the plurality of grooves is at least partially positioned proximate an edge of the protective element.

3. The article of apparel recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective element includes a plurality of voids that extend through the pad component.

4. The article of apparel recited in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of voids extends across a majority of the protective element.

5. The article of apparel recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective element extends to an area that is proximal the waist opening formed by the waistband.

6. The article of apparel recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective element extends beyond the waist opening formed by a waistband.

7. The article of apparel recited in claim 1 , wherein a single protective element is located between the first textile element and the second textile element.

8. The article of apparel recited in claim 1 , wherein the first textile element is secured to the second textile element around substantially an entire perimeter of the pad component.

9. The article of apparel recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective element has a first side and an opposite second side, and wherein the first side faces the first textile element and the second side faces the second textile element, and wherein the first side is at least partially secured to the first textile element and the second side is at least partially secured to the second textile element.

10. The article of apparel recited in claim 9 , wherein a first portion of the first textile element is coupled to the waistband and wherein a second portion of the first textile element overlaps with the waistband and is unsecured to the waistband, the second portion of the first textile element layered between the protective element and the waistband.

11. The article of apparel recited in claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the first textile element that is coupled to the waistband is also coupled to the second textile element.

12. The article of apparel recited in claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the first textile element is stitched to the second textile element.

13. An article of apparel comprising:
a waistband that forms a waist opening and that is stretchable to change a size of the waist opening;
a perforated textile material and another textile material, at least one of the perforated textile material and the other textile material being secured to the waistband;
a pad component formed from a compressible material, wherein the pad component is layered between the perforated textile material and the other textile material, wherein the pad component has a first side and a second side, and wherein the first side faces towards the perforated textile material and the second side faces towards the other textile material; and
a bonding layer between the pad component and the perforated textile material, the bonding layer coupling the first side to the perforated textile material, wherein a portion of the pad component overlaps the waistband, and wherein at least a portion of the portion of the pad component is unsecured and separate from the waistband.

14. The article of apparel recited in claim 13 , wherein the bonding layer includes a thermoplastic polymer material.

15. The article of apparel recited in claim 13 , wherein the bonding layer includes a thermally-activated adhesive.

16. The article of apparel recited in claim 13 wherein the a first portion of the perforated textile material is coupled to the waistband and wherein a second portion of the perforated textile material overlaps with the waistband and is unsecured to the waistband, the second portion of the perforated textile material layered between the bonding layer and the waistband.

17. The article of apparel recited in claim 13 , wherein a first portion of the other textile material is coupled to the waistband and wherein a second portion of the other textile material overlaps with the waistband and is unsecured to the waistband, the second portion of the other textile material layered between the bonding layer and the waistband.

18. The article of apparel of claim 13 , wherein the pad component includes a plurality of grooves that extends into a surface of the pad component.

19. The article of apparel recited in claim 18 , wherein the surface of the pad component faces towards and is bonded to the perforated textile material by the bonding layer.

20. An article of apparel comprising:
a waistband that forms a waist opening and that is stretchable to change a size of the waist opening;
at least a first textile element joined to the waistband;
a second textile element attached to at least part of the first textile element; and
a protective element formed from a compressible material and located between the first textile element and the second textile element, wherein the protective element is coupled to the second textile element, wherein a portion of the protective element overlaps the waistband, and wherein at least a portion of the portion of the protective element is unsecured and separate from the waistband.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Turner David
• Grogro Daniela

Classifications

• A41D13/0593

  in a sealed pocket · CPC title

• A41D13/015 Primary

  with shock-absorbing means (A41D13/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A41D13/0506 Primary

  Hip · CPC title