U.S. patent application number 12/167023 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-07 for sports compression shirt.
Invention is credited to Craig Dossman.
Application Number | 20100000005 12/167023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41463203 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100000005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dossman; Craig |
January 7, 2010 |
Sports Compression Shirt
Abstract
A sports jersey/shirt suited for athletic participation, and
particularly suitable for playing football, rugby, and the like
where carrying a leather ball is involved. The shirt has several
features that enhance the wearer's ability to firmly carry the ball
with minimal slippage while improving the comfort of the shirt. The
jersey includes a tactified surface on the outside surface of the
sleeve where the ball contacts the arm as the player carries the
ball in a tucked position. The surface is tacky to the touch to
improve the connection between arm, shirt, and ball, thereby
promoting enhanced ball security.
Inventors: |
Dossman; Craig; (Long Beach,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULWIDER PATTON LLP
HOWARD HUGHES CENTER, 6060 CENTER DRIVE, TENTH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90045
US
|
Family ID: |
41463203 |
Appl. No.: |
12/167023 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/122 ; 2/115;
2/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 2400/80 20130101;
A41D 13/0015 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/122 ; 2/125;
2/115 |
International
Class: |
A41B 1/08 20060101
A41B001/08; A41B 1/00 20060101 A41B001/00 |
Claims
1. An improved athletic shirt having a torso and first and second
arm sleeves, the improvement comprising: non-slip material
selectively applied to opposing surfaces of said first and second
arm sleeves when the jersey is positioned for carrying a
football.
2. The improved athletic shirt of claim 1 further comprising
non-slip material on said torso opposite said non-slip material on
said first and second arm sleeves.
3. The improved athletic shirt of claim 2 further comprising means
for preventing the first and second arm sleeves from sliding up a
user's arm.
4. The improved athletic shirt of claim 3 wherein said means for
preventing the first and second arm sleeves from sliding up a
user's arm comprises a non-slip material applied to an inner
surface of said first and second arm sleeves.
5. The improved athletic shirt of claim 3 wherein said shirt
includes a mesh material.
6. The improved athletic shirt of claim 5 wherein said mesh
material wicks moisture away from a surface of the shirt.
7. The improved athletic shirt of claim 3 wherein the non-slip
material is a latex blend.
8. The improved athletic shirt of claim 3 further comprising a skid
guard at respective elbow areas of said first and second arm
sleeves.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to sports apparel,
and more particularly to a shirt or jersey that is particularly
suited for football players due to the built-in features that
enhance ball security.
[0002] Football is a game that is often decided by the team that
commits the fewest turnovers. In particular, a costly fumble can
make the difference between a close victory and a defeat. While
most coaches preach ball security to their players every day, even
the most skilled players have the ball stripped from their
possession from time to time. A fumble that results in a change of
possession is at the least a momentum changer, and at most a game
changing event. A ball carrier with a reputation for fumbling the
ball will find himself the focus of even greater attention from
defenders who will try to strip the player of the ball. As young
players seek to move up to the next level, from high school to
college, and college to the pros, the ability to avoid fumbling is
critical to achieving the highest level. Even high school programs
and recreational leagues would take any legal measures to prevent
their players from fumbling the ball.
[0003] Football, however, is a contact sport that is usually played
outdoors. The elements, moisture, grass, sweat, and humidity
combine to make the surface of the ball and the player's hands
slippery. This, coupled with the fact that defenders try to
violently separate the ball from the ball carrier on virtually
every play, make the task of maintaining a firm grasp of the ball
very challenging. Rib pads, shoulder pads, wrist guards, and the
like often come in contact with the ball at disadvantageous angles
and contribute to reduced contact that the player needs to control
the ball. Moreover, arm pads and wristbands that help protect the
ball carrier's forearms and wrists from injury can slide up and
down the player's arms during play and may further contribute to an
unstable contact with the ball. These devices can also interact
disadvantageously with the player's jersey to create an uneven
contact surface. The foregoing all contribute to the problem of
fumbling, and underscores the unmet need in the industry for a
device that can aid in the prevention of fumbling and resist
movement while positioned on the player's arm.
[0004] There have been other attempts to solve the problem of
overcoming perspiration using garments and the like. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,318 to McMahon discloses a wrist band that has
a fabric cover with an anti-slip powder on the inner surface that
can be transmitted through the wrist band when it is rubbed by a
hand, racket handle, or other object. U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,926 to
Kaminstein discloses a non-slip material which is useful as a
handle grip covering, and includes a curved surface coated with a
tackifier resin. U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,628 to Herrmann et al.
discloses a glove having patterned polyurethane coating adhered to
an outer surface. Detty, U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,577, discloses an
elbow brace with the horizontal seam worn on the medial side of the
elbow or knee and a vertical seam worn on the lateral side of the
joint disclosed. The seams' locations are said to prevent bunching
of material on the medial side opposite the knee or elbow when the
limb is bent. The elbow brace is made of a double laminate with an
elastomeric material such as neoprene on the outside and a polymer
material such as nylon on the inside. Kelly, U.S. Pat. No.
5,418,980, discloses a friction enhancing wristband, particularly
suitable for athletic use, comprising an elastic moisture absorbing
sleeve having a high friction surface located over a major portion
of the wristband. Coalter, U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,519, discloses an
arm pad for use by a contact sports player, such as a football
player and provides a protective pad which improves the ability of
the wearer of the sports pad to hold on to a ball, such as a
football. While each of these devices seeks to solve a problem
faced by athletes relating to unsure gripping surfaces, they are
unsuitable or ill-suited to the problem at hand and do not overcome
the shortcomings discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is a sports jersey/shirt suited for
athletic participation, and particularly suitable for playing
football, rugby, and the like where carrying a leather ball is
involved. The shirt has several features that enhance the wearer's
ability to firmly carry the ball with minimal slippage while
improving the comfort of the shirt. The present invention has
particular benefit to ball carriers and receivers in that improved
ball security is enhanced. The jersey includes a tactified surface
on the outside surface of the sleeve where the ball contacts the
arm as the player carries the ball in a tucked position. The
surface is tacky to the touch to improve the connection between
arm, shirt, and ball, thereby promoting enhanced ball security.
[0006] The tactified surface in a preferred embodiment can take the
form of an outwardly radiating pattern, such as a spider web
pattern, emanating just above the bicep and forearm where the point
of a football is held in a normal carrying motion. The radiating
pattern may alternate degrees of tactile response for heightened
responsiveness. The sleeves of the jersey preferably include
non-slip surfaces in the form of arches or rings on the inside
surface at the wrist to resist the sleeve from riding up or down
the arm, creating a more stationary point of contact for the ball.
The elbow crease is formed to prevent binding or bunching of
material when the arm is folded in the ball-carrying position,
ensuring a smoother surface for better contact with the ball. The
jersey also includes skid guards on the back of the sleeve and a
closed-hole mesh under the arms for maximum ventilation, moisture
transport, and heat dissipation. The jersey utilizes brilliant
colors and eye-catching designs to garner notice and acceptance
with a younger market.
[0007] Other features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way
of example, the features of the invention
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment with tactified portions removed and the sleeve
cut away to reveal frictional surfaces on the interior of the
sleeve;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1
showing the sleeve of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is an embodiment showing a radiating pattern of
tactile sections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The present invention is a sports jersey 10 that may be worn
in connection with various team sports, and in particular rugby,
football, and sports where a player is carrying a ball 11. As shown
in FIG. 1, the jersey 10 will typically have an open-ended torso
section and first and second arm sleeves 12, and a neck hole 14.
The jersey 10 will also have an inner surface 16 that is adjacent
the player's body and an external surface 18 that comes in contact
with, among other things, a ball 1 1. The majority of the jersey 10
is preferably made of a synthetic material selected for high
ventilation, moisture transport, and heat dissipation, although
other forms of robust, lightweight material such as nylon, and
nylon blends can also be used. Other possible fabrics include
polyester blends, and fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin
to create a dry touch and dry fit.
[0013] Each sleeve 12 includes a tactified section 20 that extends
from the upper bicep to the forearm of the user, or two separate
patches including the bicep and the forearm such that the material
is in opposition when the arm is folded in a position for carrying
a football. The tactified section 20 is positioned along an upper
surface (when the palms are held face up) so that the tactified
surface 20 is adjacent a ball when it is carried under the arm like
a running back. The tactified surface 20 can be natural or
synthetic, but is selected to increase the friction coefficient
between the ball and the jersey to enhance control. PBC or
polyurethane are two preferred materials, as are silicone,
neoprene, pad printing, excalibur jelly print ink, silicone ink,
and Cleartex.TM.. The tactified material must be durable,
expandable, remain tacky when wet, maintain the same gripping
characteristics in all climates, be washable, and preferably
dyeable to match the other parts of the shirt.
[0014] The sleeves may also include a skid guard 26 on the elbow
area that may be padded to reduce shock to the arm during contact
with the ground. The skid guard 26 is preferably of a reduced
friction material to resist injury when a player contacts the
ground, such as a plastic or nylon material that is smooth and has
a lower friction coefficient than the surrounding portion of the
jersey. Alternatively, the skid guard can be made of the same
material as the tactified section 20.
[0015] Between the skid guard 26 and the tactified section 20 at
the elbow crease 32 is a strip of lightweight material 30 such as a
mesh material that resists bunching, binding, and collecting in the
elbow crease. The lightweight material 30 can be positioned at the
arm pits in addition to the elbow crease to promote heat
dissipation, wick moisture from the player, and permit air to enter
and cool the player. The lightweight material 30 preferably
includes a narrow strip that between the skid guard 26 and
tactified section 20 and creates enough spacing to prevent the skid
guard and the tactified section from inhibiting free movement of
the elbow joint, particularly when flexed as is the case when a
football is carried as shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment the jersey 10
has a plurality of non-slip strips 34 of material along an inner
surface 16 that promote adherence of the sleeve to the player's arm
38. The strips 34 cooperate to adhere the jersey to the player's
arm and, more particularly the player's wrist to resist movement of
the sleeve 12 up and down the player's arm during motion. The
security of the sleeve and the resistance to movement of the sleeve
with respect to the player's arm provides a more consistent surface
with fewer wrinkles, bunching, and twisting. If the sleeve 12 is
smoothly held against the player's arm, the contact of the ball 11
to the player's arm through the jersey 10 will be increased and
control will be enhanced. The strips can be adhesive, but more
preferably constructed of a smooth but non-slip material that
naturally resists sliding across the skin. The interaction of the
strips 34 to the arm 38 or wrist will be further promoted by a
tight fit, further increasing the frictional relationship between
the strips 34 on the interior surface 16 of the jersey 10 and the
player's skin 38. Alternatively, the sleeve can include elastic
loops (not shown) at the wrist that accommodates the player's
fingers to keep the shirt sleeve taught and prevent the sleeve from
sliding up the player's arm.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the sleeve, where the
tactified portion 20 is opposite the skid guard 26, and strips 34
are located along the inner surface 16. The number, position, and
shape of the strips 34 can be altered to suit the needs of the
player, where juniors may require fewer strips while college and
pro players could require five or more strips to maintain the
sleeves in position. The most optimal position for the strips is at
the wrist, although other positions are also possible.
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a pattern of the tactified material 20'
and skid guard 26' in the form of a spider web pattern. Each
pattern can comprise a series of radiating lines 50 intersected by
circumferential lines 55 to create a series of radially extending
areas 60 as shown. The pattern can include alternating areas 60 in
the radial or circumferential directions (or both) that have
different levels of tactified response. This can cause tactile
feedback for subtle movements of the ball, increasing the awareness
and focus of the player on the position of the ball 11. This
heightened sensitivity to movement and contact with the ball
promotes greater reliability in handling the ball and prevents
fumbling that can occur otherwise.
[0019] To apply the tactified material to the shirt, a latex
material such as Cleartex.TM. sold by Zeller International is
applied to a transfer sheet such as that used in iron-on
applications and dried to form laminated sheets. The laminated
sheets are then cut into specific shapes or a stencil may be used
to form the correct shapes. The shaped sheets are then applied to
the jersey and heated or pressurized to transfer the Cleartex.TM.
material to the jersey in the desired pattern. The Cleartex.TM.
material can also be dyed using a screen printing dye to create the
desired look and appearance of the tactified material.
[0020] The foregoing description is intended to be illustrative of
the concept of the present invention, but not limit the scope of
the invention to the just described embodiments. For example, other
uses of the just described shirt or jersey could include non-slip
material on the shoulders to prevent movement of shoulder pads, and
shirts worn below vests such as those worn by police officers so
that the vests do not slip over the surface of the shirt. Thus, one
of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that there are
many modifications and substitutions that can be made to the just
described invention without departing from the spirit of the
present invention, and said modifications and substitutions are
intended to be incorporated into the scope of the invention.
Therefore, the scope of the invention is intended to be limited
only by the ordinary and customary meaning of the words and terms
of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *