U.S. patent application number 12/723684 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-15 for exercise attire with removable joint pads.
Invention is credited to THOMAS NUZZO.
Application Number | 20110219510 12/723684 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44558481 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110219510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NUZZO; THOMAS |
September 15, 2011 |
EXERCISE ATTIRE WITH REMOVABLE JOINT PADS
Abstract
An exemplary embodiment provides for exercise attire that
includes removable joint pads insertable at knee portions for a
pair of exercise attire or at elbow portions if the article is an
exercise shirt. Advantageously, the claimed embodiments provide for
comfort at the joints when certain types of exercise, such as yoga,
are performed. Specifically, exercise that involves being on one's
knees or contact of elbows to the floor. Since the removable joint
pads are removable, the associated exercise attire can easily be
laundered without damaging the removable joint pad.
Inventors: |
NUZZO; THOMAS; (San
Francisco, CA) |
Family ID: |
44558481 |
Appl. No.: |
12/723684 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/16 ; 2/115;
2/227; 2/24; 2/250; 2/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/0575 20130101;
A41D 13/08 20130101; A41D 13/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/16 ; 2/24;
2/227; 2/115; 2/250; 2/252 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/08 20060101
A41D013/08; A41D 13/06 20060101 A41D013/06; A41D 1/06 20060101
A41D001/06; A41B 1/00 20060101 A41B001/00; A41D 27/20 20060101
A41D027/20 |
Claims
1. A pair of exercise pants comprising: left and right leg
portions; a left pocket located at a left knee portion of the left
leg portion; and a right pocket located at a right knee portion of
the right leg portion.
2. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 1 wherein the
exercise pants may be used for a variety of sports.
3. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 1 wherein the
left and right pockets are located at an interior side of the left
and right leg portions.
4. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 1 wherein the
left and right pockets are located at an exterior side of the left
and right leg portions.
5. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 1 further
comprising two removable joint pads wherein each are individually
insertable into the left pocket or the right pocket.
6. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 5 wherein the two
removable joint pads are sewn into the left or right pocket.
7. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 5 wherein the two
removable joint pads are adhesively-attached.
8. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 5 wherein the two
removable joint pads are Velcro-attached.
9. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 1 wherein the
left pocket and the right pocket each further comprises a flap that
ensures a left removable joint pad is held in the left pocket and
that a right removable joint pad is held in the right pocket.
10. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 2 wherein the
left pocket and the right pocket each further comprises a flap that
ensures that a joint pad inserted into the left or right pocket is
held in place.
11. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 2 wherein the
two removable joint pads each include side cutout portions.
12. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 2 wherein the
two removable joint pads each include top and bottom cutout
portions.
13. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 2 wherein the
two removable joint pads each include side cutout portions and top
and bottom cutout portions.
14. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 2 further
comprising: a left patch on a left exterior knee portion of the
left leg portion; and a right patch on a right exterior knee
portion of the right leg portion.
15. The pair of exercise pants as recited in claim 2 wherein the
left and right pockets are sized to minimize movement of the two
removable joint pads.
16. An exercise shirt comprising: left and right arm portions; a
left pocket located at a left elbow portion of the left arm
portion; and a right pocket located at a right elbow portion of the
right arm portion.
17. The exercise shirt as recited in claim 16 wherein the left and
right pockets are located at an interior side of the left and right
arm portions.
18. A removable joint pad operable to be inserted into a pocket of
an elbow portion of an exercise shirt or a pocket of a knee portion
of a pair of exercise pants comprising: an inner layer of neoprene;
and outer layers of nylon above and below the inner layer of
neoprene.
19. The removable joint pad as recited in claim 18 wherein the
inner layer is gel foam.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Manufacture and sale of specialized exercise attire is a
rather large market. These clothing items are popular as they are
comfortable and stretchable. Due to this, they contribute to the
overall enjoyment of an exercise session.
[0002] However, for certain types of exercise there are aspects of
exercise attire that are not optimal for the given activity.
Therefore a need exists to improve on those aspects.
[0003] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations
related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not
exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become
apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the
specification and a study of the drawings.
SUMMARY
[0004] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described
and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods
which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in
scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described
problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments
are directed to other improvements.
[0005] The claimed embodiments provide for exercise attire that
includes removable joint pads insertable into pockets at knee
portions for a pair of exercise pants or pockets at elbow portions
if the article is an exercise shirt. In one embodiment, the point
pad may be sewed into the exercise pants or exercise shirt. Also,
the joint pad may be attached via an adhesive or velcro or other
means. Advantageously, the claimed embodiments provide for comfort
at the joints when certain types of exercise, such as yoga, are
performed. Specifically, exercise that involves being on one's
knees or contact of elbows to the floor. Since the joint pads are
removable, the associated exercise attire can easily be laundered
without damaging the removable joint pad.
[0006] One embodiment provides for, by way of non-limiting example,
a pair of exercise pants that includes left and right leg portions,
a left pocket located at a left knee portion of the left leg
portion and a right pocket located at a right knee portion of the
right leg portion.
[0007] Another embodiment provides for, by way of non-limiting
example, an exercise shirt that includes left and right arm
portions, a left pocket located at a left elbow portion of the left
arm portion and a right pocket located at a right elbow portion of
the right arm portion.
[0008] Also, various embodiments provide for removable joint pads
to be stitched into elbow or knee portions of exercise pants or an
exercise shirt.
[0009] Yet another embodiment includes, by way of non-limiting
example, a removable joint pad operable to be inserted into a
pocket of an elbow portion of an exercise shirt or a pocket of a
knee portion of a pair of exercise pants. The removable joint pad
includes an inner layer of neoprene and outer layers of nylon above
and below the inner layer of neoprene. The joint pad could also be
made of gel foam. The claimed embodiments are not limited to these
two listed materials, for the joint pad, and other materials can
potentially be utilized.
[0010] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments
described above, further aspects and embodiments will become
apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following
descriptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures
of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures
disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than
limiting.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a removable joint pad, in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional isometric view of the removable
joint pad, of FIG. 1, as viewed along line 4-4, in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of exercise pants, turned inside
out, that includes pockets, at knee sections, to insert the
removable joint pad, in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates the removable joint pad being inserted
into a pocket located at the interior knee section of the pair of
exercise pants, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates an exterior of the pair of exercise pants
that includes patches at the knee sections, in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] As indicated in the Summary section, the claimed embodiments
provide for exercise attire that includes interior pockets at joint
portions that accommodate insertion of a removable joint pad. In
terms of the claimed embodiments, a pocket is defined as a small
pouch on a garment for insertion of small articles. However, the
claimed embodiments are not limited to this definition. An example
removable joint pad 2 is shown in FIGS. 1-2. More specifically,
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a removable joint pad 2 and FIG. 2 is a
cross-sectional isometric view of the removable joint pad 2, of
FIG. 1, as viewed along line 2-2, both figures in accordance with
exemplary embodiments. Removable joint pad 4 includes cutout
portions 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d. The cutout portions (6a, 6b, 6c and 6d)
are included as they promote flexibility for the removable joint
pad from getting bunched up in a pocket (to be illustrated in FIGS.
3-4). It should be understood that cutout portions 6a, 6b, 6c and
6d incorporate one embodiment of cutout portions of a removable
joint pad 2. Other cutout portion patterns can also be utilized to
prevent the removable joint pad 2 from getting bunched up in a
pocket.
[0018] Turning to FIG. 2, which illustrates the cross-sectional
isometric view of the removable joint pad 2 along line 4-4 of FIG.
1, joint pad 2, in one embodiment, includes an inner portion 8 and
outer portions 10a and 10b. In one embodiment, inner portion 8 is
neoprene and in an additional embodiment, the neoprene is about 6
millimeters thick. As previously stated, the joint pad can be made
of gel foam and the claimed embodiments are not limited to these
two materials. Also, in an embodiment, outer portions 10a and 10b
are nylon and are about 1 millimeter thick. Outer portions 10a and
10b advantageously help to promote ease of insertion and extraction
into a pocket of a piece of exercise attire. Also, in one
embodiment, a company logo may be printed on an outer surface of
layers 10a or 10b or both.
[0019] Sheets of neoprene, with or without outer portions of nylon,
can be obtained from numerous sources and then cut into a desired
shape. One such source is FoamOrder.com
(http://www.foamorder.com/index.html) of San Francisco, Calif.
Furthermore, the claimed embodiments are not limited to sheets of
neoprene with or without outer portions of nylon.
[0020] Next up is FIG. 3 which illustrates a pair of exercise pants
12, turned inside out, that includes pockets (14a, 14b) at knee
sections (15a, 15b) each operable to receive a removable joint pad
2 (not shown), in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Pockets
14a and 14b also include flaps 16a and 16b which overlap pockets
14a and 14b, respectively. Flaps 16a or 16b advantageously keep a
removable joint pad 2 in a pocket 14a or 14b. If flaps 16a or 16b
are not present, the removable joint pad 2 may slip out of pocket
14a or 14b during use of exercise pants 12. FIG. 4 illustrates the
removable joint pad 2 being inserted into the pocket 14a or 14b
with flap 16a or 16b flipped up, accordingly, to allow the
removable joint pad 2 to be inserted into pocket 14a or 14b.
[0021] The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3-4 may also, in
another embodiment, be applied to an exercise shirt such that
pockets (14a, 14b), that includes flaps (16a, 16b), are located at
elbow portions.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 illustrates an exterior of the
pair of exercise pants 12 that includes patches (18a, 18b) at the
knee sections (15a, 15b), in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment. The patches (18a, 18b), in one embodiment, are made
from nylon. The patches (18a, 18b) are employed to reduce wear on
fabric of the exercise pants 12 at the knee sections (15a,
15b).
[0023] The exercise pants 12 may be made, in various embodiments,
from a number of different fabrics. Some examples include, but not
limited to, a spandex/cotton combination fabric and a bamboo
fabric.
[0024] In another embodiment, exercise pants 12 may include pockets
at a buttocks portion/rear section and pads may be inserted into
those pockets. Also, the pockets, at the rear section, may also
have flaps similar to flaps 16a and 16b that are shown in FIG. 3.
Rear section pockets and associated pads may be used in a pair of
exercise pants 12 alone or in combination with pockets 14a, 14b and
associated removable joint pads 2.
[0025] In yet another embodiment, pockets (14a, 14b and/or rear
pockets) may be located on an exterior portion of the exercise
pants 12. Similarly, pockets at elbow portions of an exercise shirt
may also be located at an exterior side of the exercise shirt.
[0026] It should be noted that exercise pants 12, or an exercise
shirt, with a joint pad 2, can be used for various types of
exercise. Examples include, but are not limited to, are yoga,
biking, pilates, aerobics and skiing.
[0027] In another embodiment, pockets (14a, 14b and/or rear
pockets) may be located in-situ. That is, a joint pad 2, for
example, may be sewn into a knee or elbow portion such that they
are non-removable. In addition to sewing, a joint pad 2 may be
attached to an article of clothing via velcro, an adhesive, heat
bonding, etc.
[0028] In still another embodiment, pockets joint pads may be
located at other body regions such as a forearms, thighs, etc.
Other embodiments envision pads to be included in various types of
fabric such as denim, cotton and other fabrics, at various body
locations.
[0029] While pad 2 is referred to as a `joint pad 2,` it should be
understood that the pad may be located at various sections of the
body, via an article of clothing, not just a joint section such as
a knee or elbow.
[0030] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have
been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize
certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations
thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended
claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include
all such modifications, permutations, additions and
sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.
* * * * *
References