U.S. patent application number 12/231935 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-11 for athletic training sleeve.
Invention is credited to Andrew M. Given.
Application Number | 20100059559 12/231935 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41798340 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100059559 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Given; Andrew M. |
March 11, 2010 |
Athletic training sleeve
Abstract
An athletic training sleeve includes a first piece of elastic
material forming a tube of elastic material and a second piece of
elastic material attached around a partial periphery thereof to the
tube of elastic material to define a pocket therebetween. An
opening of the pocket is defined between an unattached edge of the
second piece of elastic material and the tube of elastic material.
The opening of the pocket has a higher resistance to expansion than
does a portion of the pocket.
Inventors: |
Given; Andrew M.; (Chicago,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCCRACKEN & FRANK LLP
311 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2500
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
41798340 |
Appl. No.: |
12/231935 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/222 ;
224/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2200/0583 20130101;
A45F 2005/008 20130101; A45F 2003/006 20130101; A45F 5/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/222 ;
224/267 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/30 20060101
A45C013/30; A45F 5/00 20060101 A45F005/00 |
Claims
1. An athletic training sleeve, comprising: a first piece of
elastic material forming a tube of elastic material; and a second
piece of elastic material attached around a partial periphery
thereof to the tube of elastic material to define a pocket
therebetween, wherein an opening of the pocket is defined between
an unattached edge of the second piece of elastic material and the
tube of elastic material; wherein the opening of the pocket has a
higher resistance to expansion than does a portion of the pocket
spaced from the opening.
2. The athletic training sleeve of claim 1, wherein a closed end of
the pocket spans a longer arc length at rest around an exterior
surface of the tube than an arc length spanned at rest by the
unattached edge of the second piece of elastic material.
3. The athletic training sleeve of claim 1, wherein a third piece
of elastic material is attached to the unattached edge of the
second piece of elastic material between ends of edges that form
the partial periphery of the second piece, and the third piece of
elastic material has a higher resistance to expansion than does the
second piece of elastic material.
4. The athletic training sleeve of claim 1, wherein the second
piece of elastic material is a 2-way stretchable material with an
axis of elasticity oriented generally parallel to a centerline of
the pocket drawn between the opening of the pocket and a closed end
of the pocket.
5. The athletic training sleeve of claim 1, wherein the first piece
of elastic material includes two pieces of elastic material
attached to form the tube of elastic material.
6. The athletic training sleeve of claim 1, wherein each of the
first, second, and third pieces of elastic material is a type of
2-way or 4-way stretchable elastic material selected from the group
consisting of spandex, stretchable lace, polyester, nylon, rayon,
cotton, polyester blend, and combinations thereof.
7. The athletic training sleeve of claim 6, wherein a portion of
the athletic training sleeve includes a highly reflective
coating.
8. The athletic training sleeve of claim 1, wherein a closed end of
the pocket is generally parallel to an end of the tube.
9. The athletic training sleeve of claim 8, wherein the closed end
of the pocket is spaced from the end of the tube.
10. The athletic training sleeve of claim 1, wherein a closed end
of the pocket is generally parallel to a longitudinal extent of a
cylindrical wall of the tube.
11. The athletic training sleeve of claim 1, wherein a diameter of
the tube at a first end thereof is generally the same as a diameter
of the tube at a second end thereof.
12. An athletic training sleeve, comprising: a first piece of
elastic material; a second piece of elastic material attached to
the first piece of elastic material to form a tube of elastic
material; and a third piece of elastic material attached around a
partial periphery thereof to the second piece of elastic material
to define a pocket therebetween, wherein an opening of the pocket
is defined between an unattached edge of the third piece of elastic
material and the second piece of elastic material; wherein the
unattached edge defining the opening of the pocket has a higher
resistance to expansion than does a portion of the pocket spaced
from the opening and a closed end of the pocket is generally
parallel with an end of the tube.
13. The athletic training sleeve of claim 12, wherein a diameter of
the tube at a first end thereof is larger than a diameter of the
tube at a second end thereof.
14. The athletic training sleeve of claim 13, wherein the second
and third pieces of elastic material are made of the same
material.
15. The athletic training sleeve of claim 14, wherein the closed
end of the pocket spans a longer arc length at rest around an
exterior surface of the tube than an arc length spanned at rest by
the unattached edge of the third piece of elastic.
16. The athletic training sleeve of claim 15, wherein a fourth
piece of elastic material is attached to the unattached edge of the
third piece of elastic material between ends of edges that form the
partial periphery of the third piece, and the fourth piece of
elastic material has a higher resistance to expansion than does the
third piece of elastic material.
17. An athletic training sleeve, comprising: a first piece of
elastic material forming a tube of elastic material; a second piece
of elastic material attached around a partial periphery thereof to
the tube of elastic material to define a pocket therebetween,
wherein an opening of the pocket is defined between an unattached
edge of the second piece of elastic material and the tube of
elastic material, and wherein a closed end of the pocket is
generally parallel with an end of the tube; and a third piece of
elastic material attached to the unattached edge of the second
piece of elastic material between ends of edges that form the
partial periphery of the second piece, wherein the third piece of
elastic material has a higher resistance to expansion than does the
second piece of elastic material.
18. The athletic training sleeve of claim 17, wherein the pocket
expands to hold an item and the opening securely holds the item
within the pocket and wherein the tube slides onto a straightened
human arm and is held in place over the biceps and triceps muscles
of a bent human arm.
19. The athletic training sleeve of claim 18, wherein each of the
first, second, third, and fourth pieces of elastic material is a
type of 2-way or 4-way stretchable elastic material selected from
the group consisting of spandex, stretchable lace, polyester,
nylon, rayon, cotton, polyester blend, and combinations
thereof.
20. The athletic training sleeve of claim 19, wherein a portion of
the athletic training sleeve includes a highly reflective coating
and wherein the closed end of the pocket spans a longer arc length
at rest around an exterior surface of the tube than an arc length
spanned at rest by the unattached edge of the second piece of
elastic material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
SEQUENTIAL LISTING
[0003] Not applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates generally to an athletic
sleeve for carrying items therein, and more particularly to a
flexible athletic sleeve for securely carrying fluid containers and
other athletic training aids.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Hydration is crucial for an athlete to achieve optimal
performance. In many athletic events an athlete may have the option
of rehydrating during a break between periods of exertion. For
example, a football or basketball player may rehydrate while on the
bench waiting to reenter a game. However, an endurance athlete such
as a triathlete, runner, or bicyclist typically does not get breaks
to rehydrate during an event. Because the event may be several
hours long and rest stops, if they exist at all, may be few and far
between, the endurance athlete preferably carries a hydration
device on their person.
[0006] Many types of devices for carrying fluids necessary for
hydration exist, for example, waist belts and jerseys that include
pockets for holding bottles or a bladder for holding fluid
encompassed by a backpack with shoulder straps. However, for an
endurance athlete, other considerations beyond hydration are
comfort and ease of access. Often, an endurance athlete must push
beyond a preconceived limit or substantial physical discomfort to
achieve a personal best in physical performance, and to do so
requires a heightened level of focus and concentration. An
uncomfortable, heavy, hot, difficult to access, or otherwise
bothersome device for carrying fluids may diminish the focus of an
endurance athlete and thereby detrimentally affect performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an
athletic training sleeve includes a first piece of elastic material
forming a tube of elastic material and a second piece of elastic
material attached around a partial periphery thereof to the tube of
elastic material to define a pocket therebetween. An opening of the
pocket is defined between an unattached edge of the second piece of
elastic material and the tube of elastic material. The opening of
the pocket has a higher resistance to expansion than does a portion
of the pocket.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, an
athletic training sleeve includes a first piece of elastic material
and a second piece of elastic material attached to the first piece
of elastic material to form a tube of elastic material. A third
piece of elastic material is attached around a partial periphery
thereof to the second piece of elastic material to define a pocket
therebetween. An opening of the pocket is defined between an
unattached edge of the third piece of elastic material and the
second piece of elastic material. The unattached edge defining the
opening of the pocket has a higher resistance to expansion than
does a portion of the pocket and the closed end of the pocket is
generally parallel with an end of the tube.
[0009] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an
athletic training sleeve includes a first piece of elastic material
forming a tube of elastic material and a second piece of elastic
material attached around a partial periphery thereof to the tube of
elastic material to define a pocket therebetween. An opening of the
pocket is defined between an unattached edge of the second piece of
elastic material and the tube of elastic material. A closed end of
the pocket is generally parallel with an end of the tube and a
third piece of elastic material is attached to the unattached edge
of the second piece of elastic material between ends of edges that
form the partial periphery of the second piece. The third piece of
elastic material has a higher resistance to expansion than does the
second piece of elastic material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of an
athletic training sleeve;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a side of the athletic training
sleeve of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the
lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the athletic training sleeve of
FIG. 1 in use on an arm of an athlete;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a bottom isometric view of another embodiment of
an athletic training sleeve;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a side of the athletic training
sleeve of FIG. 5;
[0016] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the
lines 7A-7A of FIG. 6;
[0017] FIG. 7B is a plan view of a side of a further embodiment of
an athletic training sleeve;
[0018] FIG. 7C is a plan view of a side of yet another embodiment
of an athletic training sleeve;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a bottom isometric view of a further embodiment of
an athletic training sleeve;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a bottom isometric view of yet another embodiment
of an athletic training sleeve; and
[0021] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a side of a further embodiment of
an athletic training sleeve.
[0022] Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will
become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
description, wherein similar structures have the same reference
numerals throughout.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The present invention is directed to an athletic training
sleeve that allows an endurance athlete to stay hydrated during
exercise. While specific embodiments are discussed herein, it is
understood that the present disclosure is to be considered only as
an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure. Therefore,
the present disclosure is not intended to limit the disclosure to
the embodiments illustrated.
[0024] Illustrative examples of types of stretchy or elastic
material useful herein include spandex, stretchable lace,
polyester, nylon, rayon, cotton, polyester blend, and combinations
thereof. The elastic materials used in the present invention are
preferably lightweight and breathable and may also have very smooth
or silky surfaces to add to an athlete's comfort. Further, these
materials may also have wicking properties, such that the materials
wick moisture away from the skin of an athlete and the moisture
evaporates and leaves the material dry and cool and the athlete
comfortable. Endurance athletes often use the term of art
"technical materials" to refer to materials that are lightweight,
breathable, and include wicking properties. Thus, a "technical
material" generally describes a material that encompasses all of
the desirable properties of materials listed hereinabove, but
without reference to the specific type of material or blend of
material.
[0025] Each type of elastic material includes at least four
physical characteristics that are useful in describing the response
of a piece of the material to a force applied thereto. The four
physical characteristics are: (1) 2-way or 4-way stretchable; (2)
stretchability; (3) rest size; and (4) elastic modulus. A fifth
physical characteristic that is derived from a combination of the
four physical characteristics, as explained further hereinbelow, is
the resistance to expansion of the piece of the material.
[0026] Each type of elastic material discussed herein may be 2-way
stretchable or 4-way stretchable. An elastic material is said to be
2-way stretchable if the material stretches in response to force
applied thereto along at least one axis, referred to as an axis of
elasticity, within a plane of the elastic material. For example, a
2-way stretchable material may have a vertical axis of elasticity,
wherein the material stretches up and down along the vertical axis
of elasticity. An elastic material is said to be 4-way stretchable
if the material stretches in response to force applied thereto
along any two perpendicular axes of elasticity within a plane of
the elastic material. Thus, a 4-way stretchable material is also a
2-way stretchable material. For example, a 4-way stretchable
material may have a vertical axis of elasticity and a horizontal
axis of elasticity, wherein the material stretches up and down
along the vertical axis of elasticity and to the left and the right
along the horizontal axis of elasticity. Of course, such examples
are only for illustrative purposes, it being understood that the
axes of elasticity in 2-way or 4-way stretchable materials may be
disposed at any point within the materials.
[0027] Stretchability along a first axis of a material may be
quantified by stretching a piece of elastic material to a maximum
extent along the first axis and measuring a stretched size between
two points along the first axis. The stretched size is compared to
a rest size of the piece of material measured along the first axis
between the same two points used to measure the stretched size.
This comparison yields a stretchability ratio, which may be
expressed as a multiple, for example, the stretched size is 2.03
times the rest size, or as a percentage, for example, the stretched
size is 203% of the rest size. A first material is said to have a
greater stretchability than a second material if the stretchability
ratio of the first material is greater than the stretchability
ratio of the second material. For example, if the first material
and the second material have identical rest sizes along a
particular axis, and the first material has a greater
stretchability than the second material, the first material will
have a greater maximum stretched size than does the second
material. A 4-way stretchable material may have dissimilar
stretchability ratios along first and second perpendicular axes of
elasticity within a plane of the 4-way stretchable material.
[0028] Another characteristic to consider is the rest size of the
piece of elastic material. For example, consider two pieces of an
identical elastic material of different rest sizes, piece A and
piece B. Piece A is a circle of the elastic material with a 10 cm
radius and piece B is a circle of the same elastic material with a
15 cm radius. The elastic material has a stretchability ratio of
2.0 such that piece A may be stretched to a maximum radius of 20 cm
and piece B may be stretched to a maximum radius of 30 cm. Further,
because pieces A and B are made of the identical elastic material,
an identical force is necessary to stretch each piece to its
maximum extent. Logically, to stretch pieces A and B to less than a
maximum extent requires a lesser force than is required to stretch
each piece to its maximum extent. Therefore, piece A requires more
force to be stretched to 20 cm than piece B requires to be
stretched to 20 cm.
[0029] Elastic modulus of a material determines the force required
to elastically stretch a piece of material a given distance along a
particular axis of elasticity. For example, consider two pieces of
different 2-way stretchable material of identical rest sizes and
stretchabilities, piece C and piece D. Piece C is a circle of a
first type of elastic material with a 10 cm radius and a
stretchability of 2.0. Piece D is a circle of a second type of
elastic material with a 10 cm radius and a stretchability of 2.0.
Piece C has a higher elastic modulus along a first axis of
elasticity than does piece D along a second axis of elasticity.
Therefore, piece C requires more force to be stretched to a radius
of 11 cm along the first axis of elasticity than piece D requires
to be stretched to a radius of 11 cm along the second axis of
elasticity.
[0030] The resistance to expansion of a piece of material may be
described in light of the four above-described physical
characteristics. Generally, the resistance to expansion of a
particular piece of material is the force required to stretch the
particular piece of material and may be a function of any or all of
the direction of stretch relative to an axis of elasticity,
stretchability, rest size, and elastic modulus. For example, if a
piece of 2-way stretchable elastic material is stretched to a
maximum extent along an axis of elasticity, the resistance to
expansion of the piece of material along the axis is the tensile
strength of the piece of material along the axis. For a piece of
2-way stretchable elastic material, the resistance to expansion
perpendicular to an axis of elasticity is the tensile strength of
the piece of material perpendicular to the axis. If a first piece
of material has a first elastic modulus and a first rest size and a
second piece of material has a second higher elastic modulus and
the same rest size, the second piece of material requires more
force to stretch beyond the rest size and therefore has a greater
resistance to expansion than the first piece of material. Finally,
if a first piece of material has a first rest size and a second
piece of identical material has a second larger rest size and the
first and second pieces of material are each stretched to an
identical stretched size, the first piece of material requires more
force to reach the stretched size and therefore the first piece of
material has a greater resistance to expansion at the stretched
size.
[0031] The resistance to expansion of an opening is the force
required to enlarge the cross-sectional area of the opening.
Therefore, the resistance to expansion of an opening is a function
of the resistance to expansion of the elastic material that defines
the opening.
[0032] An athletic training sleeve 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.
The training sleeve 100 includes a first piece 102 of elastic
material attached to a second 104 piece of elastic material to form
a tube 106 of elastic material when disposed in a usable state. The
training sleeves herein will be described as being in the form of a
tube, it being understood that, due to the inherent flexibility of
the athletic training sleeves, such sleeves are collapsible when
not in use such that opposing arced segments of the sleeves are
adjacent one another. A third piece 110 of elastic material is
attached around a partial periphery thereof, for example, via edges
112, 114, and 116 thereof to the tube 106 of elastic material. The
third piece 110 of elastic material may be attached over the first
piece 102 of elastic material, the second piece 104 of elastic
material, or portions of both the first and second 102, 104 pieces
of elastic material. A pocket 118 is defined between the third
piece 110 of elastic material and the tube 106 and an unattached
edge 120 of the third piece 110 of elastic material defines an
opening 122 for access into the pocket 118. As explained
hereinbelow, the unattached edge 120 forming the opening 122 of the
pocket 118 has a higher resistance to expansion than does a closed
end 124 of the pocket 118.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the third piece 110 of elastic
material is, for example, generally trapezoidal in shape such that
the smaller of the generally parallel sides of the trapezoid
defines the unattached edge 120. The closed end 124 of the pocket
118 spans a longer arc length 121 at rest around an exterior
surface 125 of the tube 106 than an arc length 135 spanned at rest
by the unattached edge 120 of the third piece 110 of elastic
material. Due to the generally trapezoidal shape of the third piece
110 of material, the arc length 135 at rest of the unattached edge
120 is smaller than an arc length 123 at rest of any other portion
of the third piece 110 of elastic material measured generally
parallel to the unattached edge 120, for example, the arc length
123 at rest of the third piece 110 of elastic material as
illustrated in FIG. 1. The smaller arc length 135 at rest of the
unattached edge 120 results in a greater force required to stretch
the unattached edge 120 to a stretched size than is required to
stretch the arc length 123 to the same stretched size along an axis
generally parallel to the unattached edge 120. Therefore, the third
piece 110 of elastic material has a greater resistance to expansion
along the unattached edge 120 than the arc length 123 of the third
piece 110 of elastic material along an axis generally parallel to
the unattached edge 120. Further, the opening 122 defined between
the unattached edge 120 of the third piece 110 of elastic material
and the tube 106 has a higher resistance to expansion than does a
portion of the pocket 118 defined between the arc length 123 and
the tube 106.
[0034] The pocket 118 may be oriented at any angle with respect to
a longitudinal extent 126 of a cylindrical wall 127 forming the
tube 106. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
2, the closed end 124 of the pocket 118 is coincident with a first
or bottom end 128 of the tube 106 and the pocket 118 is symmetrical
about a centerline 129 of the pocket 118, wherein the centerline
129 is aligned with the longitudinal extent 126 of the cylindrical
wall 127 forming the tube 106. Optionally, the closed end 124 of
the pocket 118 may be spaced from the bottom end 128 of the tube
106, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B. In another embodiment, the
closed end 124 of the pocket 118 may be parallel to the
longitudinal extent 126 of the cylindrical wall 127 forming the
tube 106, as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. Further, the pocket 118
need not be symmetrical about the centerline 129 thereof. The
pocket 118 may be defined by the third piece 110 of elastic
material such that one or more of the edges 112, 114, 116, and 120
is curvilinear. In fact, the third piece 110 of elastic material
may have a perimeter having an entirely curvilinear shape, may be
formed of any polygonal shape such that any number of edges is
formed, or may be any other desired shape that includes curvilinear
edges and straight edges.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, the first and second pieces 102, 104 of
elastic material are illustrated as separate pieces of material.
The third piece 110 of elastic material is also a separate piece of
material that is attached to the first and second pieces 102, 104
of elastic material by stitching 130 disposed through edges of the
first, second, and third pieces 102, 104, 110 of elastic material.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stitching 130 extends along
each of the edges 112, 114, and 116 to attach the third piece 110
of elastic material to the tube 106. Other methods of attachment as
known to one having skill in the art may be used to attach the
first, second, and third pieces 102, 104, 110 of elastic
material.
[0036] Each of the first, second, and third pieces 102, 104, 110 of
elastic material may be made of the same or a different type of
material as the other of the first, second, and third pieces 102,
104, 110 of elastic material. Further, each of the first, second,
and third pieces 102, 104, 110 of elastic material may have the
same physical characteristics as or different physical
characteristics from the other of the first, second, and third
pieces 102, 104, 110 of elastic material. For example, the third
piece 110 of elastic material may have a greater stretchability
than the first and second 102, 104 pieces of elastic material.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 4, an athletic training sleeve, for
example, the athletic training sleeve 100, is adapted to hold an
item 132, for example, a container of liquid refreshment or other
training aid and to be worn, for example, on an upper arm 134 of an
endurance athlete. When the item 132 to be carried by the endurance
athlete is placed in the pocket 118, the third piece 110 of elastic
material expands outwardly away from the upper arm 134 to increase
the volume of the pocket 118 in response to the item 132 placed
therein. The unattached edge 120 of the third piece 110 of elastic
material also expands sufficiently to allow the item 132 to be
passed through the opening 122. As discussed above, the unattached
edge 120 of the third piece 110 of elastic material has a lesser
arc length 135 (see FIG. 1) at rest around the exterior surface of
the tube 106 than does the closed end 124 of the pocket 118, or in
fact, than any portion of the pocket 118 that is parallel to the
unattached edge 120. Therefore, the unattached edge 120 restricts a
maximum cross-sectional area of the opening 122 to be smaller than
a maximum cross-sectional area taken at any point along the pocket
118 and parallel to the opening 122.
[0038] The athletic training sleeve 100 with the item 132 placed
within the pocket 118 is slid over the endurance athlete's hand and
up a straightened arm thereof. The athletic training sleeve 100 is
comfortably positioned around the upper arm 134 over biceps 136 and
triceps 138 muscles. Upon positioning of the athletic training
sleeve 100 over the biceps 136 and triceps 138 muscles, the
unattached edge 120 inhibits the item 132 from being easily removed
from the pocket 118. Further, bending of the arm of the endurance
athlete accentuates the biceps muscle 136 and may further inhibit
the item 132 from being removed from the pocket 118. To access the
item 132, the endurance athlete need only straighten his or her arm
and slide the athletic training sleeve 100 off of the arm.
[0039] The tube 106 may have a diameter that is smaller at the
bottom end 128 thereof than at a second or top end 140 thereof, as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In another embodiment (not shown),
the diameter of the tube 106 may be smaller at the top end 140
thereof than at the bottom end 128 thereof. In a further
embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the diameter of the
tube 106 is about the same at the bottom end 128 thereof as at the
top end 140 thereof.
[0040] The athletic training sleeve 100 described hereinabove may
be worn over clothing or outerwear for outdoor use in cold weather
or may be worn over bare skin for use in excessive heat indoors or
outdoors. The elastic material may be made of a silky material as
described hereinabove to feel cool against the skin of the
endurance athlete. An outer surface of the athletic training sleeve
100 may be coated or otherwise impregnated with a highly reflective
material such that the athletic training sleeve 100 may be seen in
headlights of vehicles at night. Further, positioning the item 132
on a back side of the upper arm 134 over the triceps muscle 138 and
proximate to a shoulder of the athlete minimizes the sensation of
carrying extra weight during periods when the upper arm 134 is
swinging back and forth and during periods when the upper arm 134
is not swinging.
[0041] Another embodiment of an athletic training sleeve 200 is
illustrated in FIGS. 5-7A. This embodiment is similar to the
embodiment described hereinabove with regard to FIGS. 1-3, wherein
like reference numerals refer to like elements, except for the
following differences. The athletic training sleeve 200 includes a
single piece 201 of elastic material forming the unitary tube 108,
rather than the first and second pieces 102, 104 of elastic
material forming the tube 106 as described hereinabove with respect
to FIGS. 1-3. The single piece 201 of elastic material may be
permanently in the shape of a tube, by manufacture or permanent
stitching, or may be in the shape of a strip of elastic material
that has a cooperating releasable fastener element disposed on
opposite ends of the strip such that the strip is folded over and
the cooperating releasable fasteners elements are fastened to form
a tube. The cooperating releasable fastener elements may be hook
and loop type elements, meshing zipper type elements, or any type
of fastener elements as known to one having skill in the art.
[0042] A fourth piece 202 of elastic material is attached to the
unattached edge 120 of the third piece 110 of elastic material
between ends 207a, 207b of the edges 112, 116 that form the partial
periphery of the third piece 110. Still referring to the embodiment
of FIGS. 5-7A, opposite ends 206a, 206b (FIG. 7A) of the fourth
piece 202 of elastic material are also attached to the single piece
201 of elastic material forming the unitary tube 108 of elastic
material via the attachment between the third and fourth pieces
110, 202 of elastic material, either by the stitching 130 as
illustrated in FIG. 7A, or by another method of attachment as known
to one having skill in the art. Optionally, the third and single
pieces 110, 201 of elastic material may be attached by separate
stitching or other method known to one having skill in the art,
wherein the stitching is disposed through the edges 112, 114, 116
of the third piece 110 of elastic material and the single piece 201
of elastic material.
[0043] Still referring to FIGS. 5-7A, the fourth piece 202 of
elastic material is attached to an exterior surface 203 of the
unattached edge 120 of the third piece 110 of elastic material, as
illustrated in FIG. 7A. Optionally, the fourth piece 202 of elastic
material may be attached to an interior surface 205 of the third
piece 110 of elastic material or folded over the unattached edge
120 of the third piece 110 of elastic material to form a hem. As
best seen in FIG. 7A, the fourth piece 202 of elastic material is
attached along a length thereof by stitching 204 to the third piece
110 of elastic material. In other embodiments, other methods of
attachment as known to one having skill in the art may be used to
attach the third and fourth pieces 110, 202 of elastic material
together.
[0044] The fourth piece 202 of elastic material has a greater
resistance to expansion than the third piece 110 of elastic
material, and the greater resistance to expansion may be achieved
in a number of ways. For example, the fourth piece 202 of elastic
material may have a greater elastic modulus along a length thereof
than the third piece 110 of elastic material along an axis
generally parallel to the fourth piece 202. The fourth piece 202 of
elastic material may have a lesser stretchability along a length
thereof than the third piece 110 of elastic material along an axis
generally parallel to the fourth piece 202. Further, the fourth
piece 202 of elastic material may be made of the same elastic
material as the third piece 110 of elastic material, but may have a
smaller rest size along a length thereof than the third piece 110
of elastic material along an axis generally parallel to the fourth
piece 202, as illustrated in FIG. 7C. The fourth piece 202 of
elastic material may be made of a 2-way stretchable material that
has an axis of elasticity perpendicular to a length thereof. The
greater resistance to expansion of the fourth piece 202 of elastic
material relative to the third piece 110 of elastic material can be
achieved by using any one of these physical characteristics, or a
combination thereof. Further, the opening 122 that is defined by
the fourth piece 202 of elastic material has a higher resistance to
expansion than the closed end 124 of the pocket 118.
[0045] Another embodiment of an athletic training sleeve 250 is
illustrated in FIG. 7B. The athletic training sleeve 250 is similar
to the athletic training sleeve 200 described hereinabove with
regard to FIGS. 5-7A, except that the closed end 124 of the pocket
118 is spaced from the bottom end 128 of the tube 106.
[0046] Yet another embodiment of an athletic training sleeve 275 is
illustrated in FIG. 7C. The athletic training sleeve 275 is similar
to the athletic training sleeve 200 described hereinabove with
regard to FIGS. 5-7A, except that the third piece 110 of elastic
material is generally trapezoidal in shape such that the smaller of
the generally parallel sides of the trapezoid defines the
unattached edge 120.
[0047] A further embodiment of an athletic training sleeve 300 is
illustrated in FIG. 8. The athletic training sleeve 300 is similar
to the athletic training sleeve 200 described hereinabove with
regard to FIGS. 5-7A, except for the following differences. The
tube 106 of the athletic training sleeve 300 of FIG. 8 is depicted
as including first and second separate pieces of material 102, 104,
but may otherwise include a single piece 201 of elastic material
forming a unitary tube 108 of elastic material, as described with
respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7A. The pocket 118 has also
been rotated such that the closed end 124 of the pocket 118 is
generally parallel to the longitudinal extent 126 of the
cylindrical wall 127 forming the tube 106.
[0048] A further athletic training sleeve 400, as illustrated in
FIG. 9, is similar to the athletic training sleeve 100 as described
hereinabove with regard to FIGS. 1-3, except for the following
differences. The tube 106 of the athletic training sleeve 400 is
illustrated as having a single piece 201 of elastic material
forming a unitary tube 108 of elastic material, but may otherwise
include first and second pieces 102, 104 of elastic material, as
described hereinabove with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.
The pocket 118 of FIG. 9 has been rotated such that the closed end
124 of the pocket 118 is generally parallel to the longitudinal
extent 126 of the cylindrical wall 127 forming the tube 106.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 10, a still further embodiment of an
athletic training sleeve 500 is similar to the athletic training
sleeves 100, 200, 250, 275 as described hereinabove with regard to
FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7A-7C, except for the following differences.
The athletic training sleeve 500 includes either a single piece 201
of elastic material forming a unitary tube 108 of elastic material,
or the first and second pieces 102, 104 of elastic material
attached to form the tube 106 of elastic material, as described
hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 1-3 and FIGS. 5-7A, respectively.
The third piece 110 of elastic material is a 2-way stretchable
material, with an axis of elasticity oriented generally parallel to
the centerline 129 of the pocket 118. As described hereinabove, the
tube of elastic material 106, 108 and the unattached edge 120
define the opening 122. A portion of the opening 122 defined by the
tube 106, 108 would expand in response to an item placed into the
pocket 118; however, due to the orientation of the 2-way elastic
material, the unattached edge 120 does not expand much, if at all,
in response to an item placed into the pocket 118. Therefore, the
opening 122 that is defined by the tube of elastic material 106,
108 and the unattached edge 120 has a higher resistance to
expansion than the closed end 124 of the pocket 118.
[0050] The orientation of the third piece 110 of elastic material
110 described with regard to FIG. 10 may be utilized separately
from or in combination with any of the hereinabove described
athletic training sleeves 100, 200, 250, 275, 300, 400. Further,
the embodiments of athletic training sleeves of FIGS. 5-10 are
utilized by an athlete and function in a similar manner as
described with respect to FIG. 4.
[0051] Although the athletic training sleeves as described herein
may be described with respect to particular orientations, such
orientations are for descriptive purposes only. It should be
understood that such athletic training sleeves need not be
positioned in a particular orientation or on a particular limb of
an athlete.
[0052] Although various specific embodiments have been shown and
described herein, this specification explicitly includes all
possible permutations of combinations of the features, structures,
and components of all the embodiments shown and described.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0053] Athletic training sleeves that hold training aids are
presented herein. The athletic training sleeves allow an endurance
athlete to carry one or more training aids, such as a liquid
refreshment, during long periods of continuous strenuous activity.
The athletic training sleeves are lightweight and breathable and
securely hold one or more training aids therein when worn over an
upper arm of an endurance athlete.
[0054] Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing
description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as
illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling
those skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure and to
teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to
all modifications which come within the scope of the appended
claims are reserved. All patents, patent publications and
applications, and other references cited herein are incorporated by
reference herein in their entirety.
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