U.S. patent application number 12/363564 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-05 for tear away athletic jersey and undergarment.
Invention is credited to Todd A. Anderson.
Application Number | 20100192276 12/363564 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42396332 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100192276 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anderson; Todd A. |
August 5, 2010 |
TEAR AWAY ATHLETIC JERSEY AND UNDERGARMENT
Abstract
A novelty clothing piece, an athletic jersey, having a front
side which is readily detached to expose an undergarment with
vertical black and white stripes indicating the shirt worn by a
referee or official of an athletic contest. The observer or
participant in an athletic contest may then call a penalty or rule
infraction to the entertainment of fellow observers of the athletic
contest.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Todd A.; (Aurora,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VEDDER PRICE P.C.
222 N. LASALLE STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60601
US
|
Family ID: |
42396332 |
Appl. No.: |
12/363564 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/115 ; 2/247;
2/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 2400/70 20130101;
A41D 13/0015 20130101; A41D 2400/72 20130101; A41D 1/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/115 ; 2/69;
2/247 |
International
Class: |
A41B 1/00 20060101
A41B001/00; A41D 1/00 20060101 A41D001/00; A41D 27/20 20060101
A41D027/20 |
Claims
1. An athletic jersey comprising: (a) a first body portion having a
front side and a second side and an inside and outside having a
uniform first color, (b) the first and second sides being readily
detachable, (c) a second body portion having stripes of a second
and third color attached to the second side of the first body
portion, and (d) the first side of the first body portion attached
to the second side wherein the second body portion is placed
between the first and second sides of the first body portion.
2. The athletic jersey according to claim 1 wherein the front side
of the first body portion is attached to the second side of the
first body portion by connecting devices that readily separate and
the second body portion placed between the front and second sides
of the first body portion.
3. The athletic jersey according to claim 2 wherein the connecting
devices are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop
fasteners, snap fasteners, zippers and paired, aligned,
magnets.
4. The athletic jersey according to claim 1 wherein the second and
third colors of the second body portion are white and black.
5. The third colors of the second body portion are oriented in
alternatively spaced stripes of black and white color.
6. The athletic jersey according to claim 1 wherein one or more
pockets are placed on the second body portion.
7. The athletic jersey according to claim 6 wherein the one or more
pockets hold a penalty flag.
8. The athletic jersey according to claim 3 wherein the connecting
devices are placed on a periphery of the first and second sides of
the first body portion.
9. The athletic jersey according to claim 8 wherein the hook and
loop fasteners, snap fasteners and paired, aligned magnets are
placed intermittently on the periphery of the first and second
sides of the first body portion for releasably engaging the
sides.
10. The athletic jersey according to claim 3 wherein the hook and
loop fasteners are placed continuously on the periphery of the
first and second sides of the first body portion for releasably
engaging the sides.
11. The athletic jersey according to claim 1 wherein the second
body portion is attached to the second side of the first body
portion by conventional means.
12. A method of observing a sporting contest and ruling on plays in
the contest as an official or referee comprising the steps of: (a)
wearing an athletic jersey having: (b) a first body portion having
a front side and a second side and an inside and outside having a
uniform first color, (c) the first and second sides being readily
detachable, (d) a second body portion having a first side, said
body portion having stripes of a second and third color attached to
the second side of the first body portion, (e) wearing a hat with
bi-directional bills with first and second portions, with the first
portion matching the first color and identifying indicia of the
first body portion of the athletic jersey oriented forward and the
second portion matching the stripes of a second and third color of
the second body portion, (f) observing a play in the contest that
would be subject to a foul or penalty, removing the first side of
the first body portion, exposing the second body portion with the
stripes of a second and third colors, (g) changing the orientation
of the hat so that the portion of the hat matching the second body
portion with stripes of a second and third color is oriented
forward, and (h) removing a flag from a pocket on the second body
portion and throwing it indicating a foul or penalty in the contest
has occurred.
13. A kit for observing an athletic contest comprising: (a) an
athletic jersey having a body portion having a front side and a
second side and an inside and outside having a uniform first color,
(b) the first and second sides being readily detachable, (c) a
second body portion having stripes of a second and third color
attached to the second side of the first body portion, and (d) the
first side of the first body portion attached to the second side
wherein the first side of the second body portion is placed between
the first and second sides of the first body portion.
14. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the front side of the
first body portion is attached to the second side of the first body
portion by connecting devices that readily separate and the second
body portion placed between the front and second sides of the first
body portion.
15. The kit according to claim 14 wherein the connecting devices
are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners,
snap fasteners, zippers and paired, aligned, magnets.
16. The kit according to claim 14 wherein the second and third
colors of the second body portion are white and black.
17. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the second and third
colors of the second body portion are oriented in alternatively
spaced stripes of black and white.
18. The kit according to claim 13 wherein one or more pockets are
placed on the second body portion.
19. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the one or more pockets
hold a penalty flag.
20. The kit according to claim 15 wherein the connecting devices
are placed on a periphery of the first and second sides of the
first body portion.
21. The kit according to claim 15 wherein the hook and loop
fasteners, snap fasteners and paired, aligned magnets are placed
intermittently on the periphery of the first and second sides of
the first body portion for releasably engaging the sides.
22. The kit according to claim 18 wherein the hook and loop
fasteners are placed continuously on the periphery of the first and
second sides of the first body portion for releasably engaging the
sides.
23. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the second body portion
is attached to the second side of the first body portion by
conventional means.
24. The kit according to claim 13 including a hat having first and
second portions, the first portion with a bill and first color and
identifying indicia of the first body portion of the athletic
jersey and the second portion matching the stripes of a second and
third color of the second body portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to clothing, and more particularly,
to novelty clothing wherein the front side of an athletic jersey is
detached to expose a shirt with vertical stripes indicating a shirt
worn by a referee. The novelty clothing is utilized to change the
role of a player or observer of an athletic contest to that of a
referee upon removing the front of the jersey thereby revealing the
striped referee's shirt. A kit comprising the jersey, a two-sided
hat and flags is also disclosed.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Fans of sports teams often observe games in person or on
television. They may dress in the clothing of their favorite team,
often wearing jerseys having numbers of favorite players. These
sports are particularly team sports such as football, hockey,
soccer, basketball, etc. Many fans are so involved in game they
critique the coaches, players and the playing of the game as well
as the officiating of the game by the officials or referees. An
observer may disagree with the call of the rule infraction, or may
witness a rule infraction that the official or referee misses.
[0005] There is a need for an article of clothing, for example, a
jersey that can be quickly changed into a referee's uniform so that
the fan observing an athletic contest may make the proper call or
at least his/her interpretation of a rule infraction or challenge
the penalty called by an official. This could be accomplished live
at a sporting contest, or watching a sporting contest on
television. This action is mainly performed for the fan's
entertainment value, and not to be regarded as interference with
the athletic contest. There is a need for an athletic jersey with a
tear away front portion which exposes a striped referee's jersey as
an undergarment, as well as a hat with two portions, one portion
having the color and indicia of the fan's favorite team facing
forward, and an opposite portion having the color and indicia of a
referee's hat so that the fan wearing the hat may switch the hat
accordingly and tear off the front portion of the jersey exposing
the striped referee's garment to play the role of the referee by
calling a rule infraction.
[0006] The related art does not show the above-described tear off
athletic jersey. U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,848 discloses an athletic
jersey comprising a body portion, having an outside that is
generally uniform color, with a color changing panel secured to the
outside of the body having a different color than that of the first
color. A flap or panel covers the color changing panel so that it
may be removed without removing and reversing the jersey to show a
different color. Jerseys of different colors are required for
practicing team sports so that an opposing team may be
identified.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,274 discloses an athletic jersey having
an inner shell and an outer shell. The outer shell comprises front
and rear panels, having one color on the outside and another color
on the inside, which is the same as the color of the inner shell.
The panels may be attached together over the shoulders when the one
color is exposed and the panels may be detached so as to hang down
from a midriff section of a garment, when the other color is to be
exposed. This type of garment, similar to the garment described on
the above reference, allows for the segregation of opponents in the
practice of team sports.
[0008] In view of the foregoing and other related art, there is no
disclosure of a jersey having a first body portion and first color,
with first and second sides that are readily detachable from each
other and a second body portion having a first side with stripes of
a second and third color attached to the second side of the first
body portion so that the first side of the first body portion can
be readily detached to expose the striped colors of a referee.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention provides an athletic jersey having a first
body portion with a front side and second side wherein the front
side is detachable for quick release. The first body portion has a
first color. A second body portion is disposed between the front
side and the second side of the first body portion and has second
and third colors which are typically black and white with
vertically oriented stripes, indicating the clothing of a referee
or an official of an athletic contest. The wearer of the jersey is
an observer or participant in the athletic contest and may, for
entertainment value, react to a penalty or rule infraction in the
athletic contest by imitating a referee and tearing off the front
side of the jersey exposing the black and white vertically striped
referee's shirt and then announce the penalty or rule infraction,
including throwing a penalty flag as a referee in a football game.
The jersey is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended
to be used as interference in the athletic contest. A method is
disclosed as well as a kit including a bidirectional hat that is
worn by the observer or participant in the athletic contest, the
tear away jersey and pocket flags that can be thrown by the
observer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will be
appreciated and be more readily understood by reference to the
following detailed description of several embodiments of the
invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2A is a close-up view of fasteners of FIG. 1 of one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2B is a close-up view of fasteners of FIG. 2 of one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2C is a close-up of one view of fasteners of the FIG. 2
shown in one embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2D is a close-up of view of fasteners in FIG. 2 running
the continuous periphery of a garment in one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a first body portion having
first and second sides and a second body portion in one embodiment
in the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a front view of the garment in the present
invention with a first body portion partially removed from the
second body portion exposing a referee's shirt, pockets and flags
in the pockets that can be removed by the observer.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a view of a referee throwing a flag which was
removed from a pocket of a second body portion of one embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an athlete wearing a jersey
to which an upper body garment in accordance with the present
invention is shown. Jersey 2 has a first body portion 4 having a
front side 6 and second side 8. Typically, jersey 2 will have
numbers on the front side 6 and second side 8 and a first color.
Jersey 2 includes a neck hole 10 through where the head of the
wearer extends and arms or sleeves 12 and 14 on the front side 6
and arms or sleeves 16 and 18 on the second side 8, respectively.
Jersey 2 can be fabricated without distinct sleeves 12, 14, 16 and
18. Further, jersey 2 can be configured to be of different designs
and neck openings, for example, jersey 2 may resemble a jersey worn
in team sports other than football, which is depicted herein.
Soccer, rugby and basketball jerseys may be worn or a jersey for
any sport wherein the official or referee in the sport wears a
distinctive shirt, that is diverse from the first color of jersey
2.
[0021] Devices for attaching the front side 6 and second side 8 are
shown in FIGS. 1-3. The devices, while attaching the front side 6
and second side 8 allow for quick detachment or tearing away of the
front side 6 from second side 8.
[0022] A second body portion 20 is shown in the exploded view of
one embodiment of the invention in FIG. 3. The second body portion
20 is designed as a referee or official's jersey having second and
third colors that are typically white and black oriented in
vertical stripes. Second body portion 20 may have one or more
pockets 22 and is worn with a defined neck hole 24. Front side 6
has an inside 26 and outside 28 of the jersey. Further, second side
8 has inside 30 and outside 32. Insides 26 and 30 contact second
body portion 20 including sleeves 34 and 36 of second body portion
20.
[0023] Body portion 4 is separated into substantially two halves
having front side 6 and second side 8. First body portion 4 is
separated on the inside and outside of sleeves 12, 14, 16 and 18,
on the part of body portion 4 that rests on the shoulder of the
wearer and underneath the sleeves running the length of body
portion 4 to its end 38. When divided, each half, the front side 6
and second side 8 have peripheries 40 and 42. Optionally periphery
41 runs at the waist level of front side 6, parallel and above end
38, if it is desired, to remove front side 6 at the location of
periphery 41, which is typically placed at the level of the waist
of the wearer. Second body portion 20 has backside 43 attached to
inside 30 of second side 8. It is attached by conventional means,
for example, by sewing.
[0024] Accordingly, front side 6 and second side 8 are attached
together with front side 6 covering second body portion 20.
[0025] Devices 44 for attaching front side 6 and second side 8 may
include any device that can join the two garments so that front
side 6 and second side 8 can be quickly detached or separated so
that front side 6 is removed thereby exposing second body portion
20 having second and third colors in a vertically striped design
indicating clothing of a referee or game official. Devices 44, for
example, can be fasteners shown in FIG. 2A wherein the head of one
base snap-fits into the receptacle of a second base for secure
attachment while allowing detachment by pulling or tearing of front
side 6. Devices 44 are placed intermittently along the peripheries
40 and 42 of front side 6 and second side 8. Additional attachment
devices include hook and loop fasteners 48 as shown in FIG. 2B and
magnets 50 inserted in holders 52. The hook and loop fasteners may
run the entire length of peripheries 40 and 42 as shown in FIG. 2D
at meeting 53 of the peripheries or may be spaced intermittently.
The magnet holders placed on front side 6 are aligned with magnets
and holders placed on second side 8. As shown in FIG. 2C, the
magnets attract each other and therefore the front side 6 and
second side 8 are attached. The paired, aligned, magnets are simply
pulled apart for separation. The magnets are inserted in pockets
which are sealed or readily opened by conventional devices, such as
hooks and loop fasteners. Another attachment device is one or more
zippers which are not shown, that runs along periphery 40 and 42
for securing the front side 6 and second side 8 together. When two
zippers are employed, the zipper track may end at neck hole 10. One
zipper may be employed wherein the track is positioned around neck
hole 10. Neck holes 10 and 24 may be any shape or designed as
desired.
[0026] Hat 54 is an accessory to jersey 2. Hat 54 has two portions,
56 and 58 respectively that are opposed to each other. Hat 54 has
two forward facing bills 60 and 62 matching the color of the
portion of the hat where each bill is attached. One portion of hat
54 has the same color and identifying indicia of jersey 2, which is
typically the fan's or wearer's favorite team. The second, opposed
portion of the hat has the color, typically black or white, or
combination thereof to match second body portion 20, the referee's
black and white striped shirt. Hat 54 and jersey 2 are placed
together in kit 64 and are worn for entertainment value while
observing or participating in an athletic contest.
[0027] The kit, comprising hat 54 and jersey 2 is typically worn by
a sports fan or even participant in a team sport such as football,
hockey, soccer, basketball, etc. An observer of a game, whether at
the athletic field or observing the game on television, may follow
the game and his or her favorite team and object to a rule
violation in the game or announce a rule violation if the referee
or official working the athletic contest does not. In calling a
rule infraction or penalty, the observer tears off front side 6 of
jersey 2 by detaching fasteners 44 thereby exposing second body
portion 20, which is a portion of a shirt having second and third
colors, typically white and black stripes indicating the clothing
of a referee. Upon removing front side 6, the observer or
participant may change the orientation of hat 54 from a position
wherein a portion 56, having the observer's favorite team colors
and indicia of identification is reversed so that portion 58 having
the colors and indicia of identification of a referee is facing
forward. Therefore, the observer would then have a striped shirt
and matching hat, similar to that of a referee so that the observer
may then call the penalty or rule infraction to the delight of
friends and bystanders as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. Pockets 22 on
second body portion 20 may hold a flag 66 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5
so that the observer may drop or throw the flag to the ground
indicating a rule violation or indicating a challenge to an
official's ruling in the athletic contest. The novelty kit may
contain other devices, for example, a whistle and lanyard, and a
notebook and writing instrument for recording infractions. The
components of the kit, the jersey, hat and flags, allow the fan or
observer to become involved in an interactive manner thereby
increasing the interest, enthusiasm and enjoyment of the observer
and friends observing the contest.
[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, the
observation of a sporting contest and ruling on plays in the
contest are formulated in a method wherein an observer or
participant wears athletic jersey 2 as described herein. The
observer also wears hat 54 having bidirectional bills 60, 62 and
first and second portions 56 and 58 matching the bills accordingly
with the color of the observer's favorite team. When the observer
or participant notices a play or procedure in the athletic contest
that would be subject to a foul or penalty, the observer then
removes the first side of the first body portion exposing the
second body portion with the stripes of second and third colors
similar to a shirt worn by a referee or official. The observer
changes the orientation of the hat so that the forward facing
portion of the hat matches the stripes of the second and third
color of the second body portion. The observer may then remove a
flag or flags from one or more pockets on the second body portion
and throw the flag indicating a foul or penalty in the contest has
occurred. The observer may then entertain friends and onlookers
with the explanation of a penalty and why it is being called on the
play in the athletic contest.
[0029] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principals of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *