U.S. patent application number 12/562531 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-22 for hockey short with integral garter.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shock Doctor, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jay N. Turkbas.
Application Number | 20100095433 12/562531 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42040238 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100095433 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Turkbas; Jay N. |
April 22, 2010 |
HOCKEY SHORT WITH INTEGRAL GARTER
Abstract
The present invention is a short member including garters that
extend through sleeves positioned on the front of the short member.
The integral jock support member may also include a pocket portion
attached to a front portion of the short, which is configured to
house a protective groin cup and support members positioned
adjacent to the pocket portion. A bib may be attached to the
waistband of the short member.
Inventors: |
Turkbas; Jay N.; (Orono,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAEGRE & BENSON LLP;PATENT DOCKETING - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
2200 WELLS FARGO CENTER, 90 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-3901
US
|
Assignee: |
Shock Doctor, Inc.
Plymouth
MN
|
Family ID: |
42040238 |
Appl. No.: |
12/562531 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61098436 |
Sep 19, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 1/08 20130101; A41D
1/089 20180101; A41F 11/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/228 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/08 20060101
A41D001/08 |
Claims
1. A short member comprising: front and rear leg portions; a waist
portion; first and second garter members attached to the short
member at respective proximal ends and including sock attachments
at respective distal ends; first and second sleeve members attached
to the front portion, the first and second sleeve members each
including a channel having an opening at a distal end of the sleeve
member; and wherein the first and second garter members are
configured to be positioned within the channels such that the sock
attachments extend from the distal end openings of the first and
second sleeve members.
2. The short member of claim 1 wherein the proximal ends of the
first and second garter members are attached to the short portion
at or adjacent to the waist portion, and wherein the first and
second garter members extend generally downwardly along the front
leg portion.
3. The short member of claim 1 further comprising third and fourth
garter members positioned on the rear leg portion.
4. The short member of claim 3 further comprising third and fourth
sleeve members within which the third and fourth garter members are
positioned.
5. The short member of claim 1 wherein the first and second sleeve
members are disposed generally vertically along a length of the
front leg portion.
6. The short member of claim 1 wherein the first and second sleeve
members are disposed on an outside surface of the front leg
portion.
7. The short member of claim 6 wherein the first and second sleeve
members each include a proximal opening, a distal opening and a
channel extending therebetween.
8. The short member of claim 1 wherein the first and second sleeve
members are disposed on an inside surface of the front leg
portion.
9. The short member of claim 8 wherein the front leg portion
includes first and second slits disposed at respective distal ends
of the first and second sleeve members.
10. The short member of claim 9 wherein the distal ends of the
first and second garter members are configured to extend through
the respective first and second slits such that the sock
attachments are disposed on an outer surface of the front leg
portion.
11. The short member of claim 1 wherein the first and second garter
members include adjustment members for adjusting a length of the
garter members.
12. The short member of claim 1 further comprising a bib member
integrally attached to the short member at the waist portion.
13. The short member of claim 1 wherein further comprising a pocket
member disposed on the front leg portion
14. The short member of claim 13 further comprising a protective
cup adapted to be positioned within the pocket member.
15. The short member of claim 1 further comprising an integral jock
support member including: a pocket portion attached to the front
portion of the short member for housing a protective cup adjacent
the groin of a user, and a support member attached to the short
member, which is positioned generally adjacent to the pocket
portion and extends along at least the front portion of the short
member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of U.S. provisional application 61/098,436 entitled
"Hockey Short With Integral Garter" filed Sep. 19, 2008, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventional hockey gear includes a jock strap with a
protective cup, shorts or pants, and socks that extend up a
significant portion of a player's legs. Garter straps connected to
the shorts or pants may be used to keep the socks fully extended
along the player's legs. Suspenders or similar straps may be used
to keep the shorts suspended around the player's waist.
[0003] The resulting gear therefore includes a series of straps,
which require separate manipulation and attachment by the wearer
prior to playing. Such straps are also subject to twisting and/or
tangling prior to or during competition. Moreover, because the
various parts of the gear are attached by straps, movement of one
part of the gear can result in the connected parts being moved out
of position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention in one embodiment is a short member
including a short member including first and second garter members
for connection to hockey socks. The garters extend through
respective first and second integrally attached sleeves positioned
on the front of the short member such that the distal end of each
garter extends outwardly from the sleeve. The sleeve members may be
disposed on the inside or outside of the short members and more
than two garters/sleeves may be used. In embodiments in which the
sleeves are attached to an inside surface of the short member,
slits may be formed in the short member to allow the distal ends of
the garter members to be exposed.
[0005] The short member may also include an integral jock support
member with a pocket portion attached to a front portion of the
short, either on the inside or outside, to house a protective groin
cup. A support member may be positioned adjacent to the pocket
portion along the front portion of the short, and may optionally
extend along a crotch portion and/or a rear portion of the short.
The support members help secure the pocket and protective cup
remains over a user's groin during athletic or other physical
activity. Suitable support members includes elongate straps that
are positioned on opposing sides of the cup pocket.
[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention further includes
a bib, which is integrally attached to the support short along the
waistband. The bib can be used in place of suspenders or similar
straps to suspend the shorts and socks once attached to the garter
straps.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a hockey short according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the hockey short shown in
FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the hockey short shown in
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a hockey short according
to another embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the hockey short shown
in FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a hock short according to
another embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a hockey short according
to another embodiment of;
[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a hockey short and
integrated bib according to another embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of a hockey short shown in
FIG. 7;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a short 5 of the present
invention which includes a short member 10 having a waistband 12
and a front portion 14 with leg portions 16. Garters 18, extend
from the waistband 12 through sleeves 20, which are positioned
along the front portion 14 portion and respective leg portions 16.
The garters include connectors 22, each of which can be attached to
a sock (not shown) and adjusters 24 for adjusting the length of the
garters 18.
[0017] The sleeves 20 are formed integrally with the front portion
14 and leg portions 16 to form channels through which the garters
18 extend. In this manner, the garters 18 are restricted from
moving freely, which may reduce the potential of the garters
twisting, catching on other gear and/or disconnecting from the
socks. In one embodiment, the sleeves 20 are sewn onto the front
portion 14 and leg portions 16.
[0018] In one embodiment, the garters 18 can be removed from the
sleeves 20 to, for example adjust the length of the garters 18
using the adjusters 24, which are optional. The garters 18 may also
be formed from an elastic material to provide adjustment
capability. The garters 18 as shown extend from the waistband 12 to
the leg portions 16. The garters 18 could be attached at a point
below the waistband and/or extend a greater or lesser distance
along the front portion 14 and/or leg portions 16. The position of
the sleeves 20 could be altered in a similar manner. In one
embodiment, more than two garters 18 are included on the front
portion 14.
[0019] Suitable connectors 22 includes clips, hooks, Velcro, snaps,
buttons and other means for providing a removable connection with
the socks. Suitable adjusters 24 include conventional strap
adjustment means. In one embodiment, no adjusters 24 are
included.
[0020] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a rear view of the short 10 including
waistband 12, rear portion 30 with leg portions 16, garters 18 and
sleeves 20. The additional garters 18 and sleeves 20 on the rear
portion 30 are optional and in one embodiment are only included on
the front portion 14, or alternatively. In another embodiment, the
garters 18 and sleeves 20 are only disposed on the rear portion 30.
FIG. 3 further illustrates in phantom an inner short 32 disposed on
the inside of short 10, and which includes a cup pocket 34 and
support members 36. Any one or all of the inner short 32, cup
pocket 34 and support members 36 are optional.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the present
invention, which includes support members 40 on the outside of the
short instead of, or in addition to, the support members 36 located
the inside as shown in FIG. 3. An inner short 30 and/or cup 34 as
shown in FIG. 3 are also optional in this embodiment. FIG. 5 shows
an underneath view of the short 10, including support members 40.
The support members 40 are generally positioned about the short 10
to pass between the user's legs and to follow the contours of the
user's groin and buttocks regions to increase the contact of the
cup pocket 34 (and therefore the protective cup) over the user's
groin region, particularly during body movement. In this manner,
the support members 40 function similarly to a jock strap. However,
because the support members 40 are integrally attached to the short
member 10, strap twisting and misalignment of the cup experienced
with conventional non-integrated straps is eliminated.
[0022] As further shown in FIGS. 4-5, the support members 40 may
form an "X" configuration around the short member 10, with front
legs 42, 44 attached to the waistband 12, front portion 14 and/or
the leg portions 16, and the rear legs 46, 48 attached to the rear
portion 30, leg portions 16 and/or waistband 12. The legs 42, 44,
46 and 48 meet, pass and/or intersect at the crotch region of the
short to complete the "X" configuration. The support members 40 may
take on other configurations as well. In one embodiment, for
example, rear legs 46, 48 are not included and the front legs 42,
44 terminate at or around the crotch region of the short.
[0023] The support members 40 may be formed in several ways. In the
illustrated embodiment, the support members 40 are formed by two
discrete straps, which may be integrally attached to the short
member 10 by a conventional zigzag stitch. The straps may be formed
from a variety of materials. In one embodiment, the straps are
formed from a material having suitable elasticity and/or resiliency
to apply tension to the user's body when worn. In another
embodiment, the elongate members are formed by elastic or tension
threads along a similar path as described herein. In a further
embodiment, a material exhibiting a different elasticity that than
the primary short member material is integrally stitched or formed
into the short member 10.
[0024] In yet another embodiment, the support members 40 are formed
from a non-fabric material, which is coated, printed, applied onto
(or otherwise embedded into) the short member 10. Suitable
materials for the support members 40 according to this embodiment
can adhere to (or can be embedded in) the material of the short
member 10, and have physical properties (e.g., elasticity,
flexibility, tensile strength) that differ from the physical
properties of the short member 10. Such materials may also be
lighter than fabric- or elastic-type members that are sewn onto the
short member 10. Suitable materials include a variety of polymers
including silicone.
[0025] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4
except that the cup pocket 34 is disposed on the outside surface of
the front portion 14. The cup pocket 34, whether disposed on the
inside or outside of the short, may house a protective cup disposed
within a space formed between a front panel and a rear panel, which
are secured together to form the cup pocket 34. The cup pocket 34
may include a padding layer disposed between the cup and a user's
groin. The cup pocket 34 is adapted to house a variety of
protective cups. An example of a suitable protective cup is
reported in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/034,235
entitled "Impact Protection Device," which is hereby expressly
incorporate by reference in its entirety.
[0026] FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 1, except that sleeves 20 are
formed on the inside of the short and the garters 18 extend through
slits 50 in the leg portions 16. The embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 8 and 9 is similar to FIG. 4 except that the short 5 is
integrally connected to a bib 60 at or near waistband 12. The bib
60 provides additional support to suspend the short at the waist of
the user because the socks tend apply a downward force when
connected to the garters 18.
[0027] The short member 10 and/or bib 60 may be formed from a
variety of materials. In one embodiment, the short member 10 and/or
bib 60 may be at least partially formed from a compression-type
material in order to fit snugly to the user's body. Suitable
materials of this type include various mixtures of nylon,
polyester, cotton and spandex. Suitable materials may also have
moisture wicking capabilities, and/or may be formed partly or
completely into a mesh to provide improved ventilation to the user.
In one embodiment, particular panels of material, particularly the
bib, are formed from mesh material. The short member 10 and/or bib
60 may also be formed at least partially from a low compression,
loose fitting material, for example, a loose fitting mesh material.
The short member 10 could also include protective padding along the
sides or rear is desired.
[0028] The waistband 12 may be formed from a variety of suitable
materials, and may include an elastic strip to provide a tension
fit about the waist of a user. In an alternate embodiment, the
waistband may include a drawstring or the like. In a further
embodiment, the waistband may include adjustment members such as
Velcro-type flaps to manually tighten or loosen the waistband 12
about a user's waist. The various components of the short 5 and bib
60 may be sewn together in a conventional manner.
[0029] Although embodiments various features have been described,
it will be appreciated that many of these features can be included
or eliminated to achieve various combinations of features.
* * * * *