U.S. patent application number 14/236197 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-19 for athletic short pocket.
This patent application is currently assigned to DashAmerica, Inc. d/b/a Pearl Izumi USA, Inc., DashAmerica, Inc. d/b/a Pearl Izumi USA, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Kelly Emich, Ron Rod, Jennie Yu. Invention is credited to Kelly Emich, Ron Rod, Jennie Yu.
Application Number | 20150074871 14/236197 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47629710 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150074871 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Emich; Kelly ; et
al. |
March 19, 2015 |
ATHLETIC SHORT POCKET
Abstract
An athletic garment having at least one pocket that allows the
wearer access to items stored within a pocket while the wearer is
exercising. Athletic shorts/pants are provided having at least one
pocket formed therein and configured to receive and secure an item
including, but not limited to a gel flask, a gel packet, a food
bar, water, ice packet, that remains in place within the pocket
during exercise.
Inventors: |
Emich; Kelly; (Boulder,
CO) ; Rod; Ron; (Durango, CO) ; Yu;
Jennie; (Boulder, CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Emich; Kelly
Rod; Ron
Yu; Jennie |
Boulder
Durango
Boulder |
CO
CO
CO |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DashAmerica, Inc. d/b/a Pearl Izumi
USA, Inc.
Louisville
CO
|
Family ID: |
47629710 |
Appl. No.: |
14/236197 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
August 3, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2012/049593 |
371 Date: |
May 14, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61514898 |
Aug 3, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 27/20 20130101;
A41D 1/089 20180101; A41D 1/08 20130101; A41D 2400/38 20130101;
A41D 2400/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/228 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/20 20060101
A41D027/20; A41D 1/08 20060101 A41D001/08 |
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An athletic garment, comprising: a short; a first pocket
located on the backside of the short, and having an opening set at
an angle of a from a waistline of the short; and a compressive
section of the short, wherein the first pocket is located on the
compressive section of the short.
16. The athletic garment of claim 15, further comprising: an
additional pocket located on the backside of the short at
approximately a midpoint of the short.
17. The athletic garment of claim 16, wherein the additional pocket
further comprises a closing mechanism selected from the group
consisting of a zipper, elastic material, at least one button, at
least one snap, overlay material, or a combination thereof.
18. The athletic garment of claim 16, wherein the additional pocket
comprises: a center pocket and a right pocket and a left pocket
each having an outer, inner, top, and bottom edge, wherein each top
edge is open, and each inner, outer, and bottom edges are closed; a
vertical centerline of the garment substantially aligns with a
user's spine, and the right pocket is located on the athletic
garment on one side of the vertical centerline, while the left
pocket is located on the garment on the other side of the vertical
centerline, wherein the right pocket and the left pocket are in a
substantially symmetrical configuration about the vertical
centerline, and the center pocket is substantially centered on the
vertical centerline the right pocket, the left pocket, and center
pocket are disposed entirely within a larger, outer pocket.
19. The athletic garment of claim 15, wherein the first pocket
comprises a closing mechanism selected from the group consisting of
a zipper, elastic material, at least one button, at least one snap,
overlay material, or a combination thereof.
20. The athletic garment of claim 15, further comprising: a second
pocket, wherein the second pocket is located on the backside of the
short on the opposite side of a vertical centerline to the first
pocket and wherein an opening of the second pocket is at an angle
of .beta. from a waist of the short.
21. The athletic garment of claim 20, wherein the second pocket is
positioned on the short in an approximate symmetrical position to
the first pocket about a vertical centerline of the short.
22. The athletic garment of claim 20, wherein the first pocket and
the second pocket are approximately the same shape.
23. The athletic garment of claim 20, wherein the first pocket and
the second pocket are approximately the same size.
24. The athletic garment of claim 20, wherein the second pocket is
located on the compressive section of the short.
25. The athletic garment of claim 20, wherein the first pocket and
the second pocket are located such that the first pocket and the
second pocket are substantially mirror images of one another about
the vertical centerline of the short.
26. The athletic garment of claim 20, wherein the short comprises a
material selected from the group consisting of a stretch material,
an elastic material, a mesh material and combinations thereof.
27. The athletic garment of claim 15, wherein the first pocket is
configured to receive an item selected from the group consisting of
at least one gel pack, at least one flask, at least one block, at
least one bar, a nutritional item and combinations thereof.
28. The athletic garment of claim 15, wherein the first pocket is
trapezoidal in shape, having a first edge 0.11 meters, a second
edge about 0.12 meters, a top side is about 0.067 meters and a
bottom side smaller than the top side.
29. The athletic garment of claim 20, wherein the second pocket is
about the same size as the first pocket.
30. The athletic garment of claim 20, wherein the second pocket is
configured to receive an item selected from the group consisting of
at least one gel pack, at least one flask, at least one block, at
least one bar, a nutritional item and combinations thereof.
31-35. (canceled)
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/514,898, filed Aug. 3, 2011, the
entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to athletic garments having one or
more pocket(s) designed and/or located to secure items when the
wearer is actively exercising.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Advances in the understanding of human sports physiology
have made clear the performance advantage of maintaining liquid and
nutrition intake during athletic events. In races, training, and
games that occur without outside support, athletes have learned to
carry their own hydration and nutrition. Replacing water and
minerals lost to sweat production prevents dehydration and the
associated risk of muscle cramping, rising core temperature, and
reduction in metabolic energy production. In addition, intake of
carbohydrates is critical for replacement of muscle glycogen used
in cellular energy production.
[0004] Sport, travel and general merchandise stores commonly sell
articles for holding water and hydrating fluids for use during a
variety of activities to enable the user to keep one's body
hydrated, ward off thirst and improve sports performance. These
fluid-carrying articles are used for, and during, activities from
leisurely walking and everyday use to hiking and endurance sports
or activities such as running, in-line skating, cycling and
triathlons. These articles, depending on their configuration,
provide varying levels of comfort and convenience relative to the
intended activity and unique/varying activity variables.
[0005] Originally, day hikers used small to large frame-less and
internal/external frame, backpacks with shoulder straps, to carry
bottles of water or other containers for holding fluids and/or
supplements in a hands-free fashion. With the increased popularity
of running, packs which included shoulder straps presented an
uncomfortable means of carrying fluid bottles for activities, such
as running and fitness walking, due to the chafing of the shoulder
straps, bouncing, large surface area coverage trapping sweat, and
general inaccessibility to fluids and/or supplements while in
motion (without stopping to take off and open the pack). Bottles,
flasks, bars, gel packs and blocks have been strapped to hands, or
placed in or on belts, packs and pockets. However, hand carrying
items becomes cumbersome, tiring on the hand and arm, and may
hinder competitive performance levels over longer periods of
strenuous activity and is therefore generally undesirable for many
athletes. To improve the "hand-free" options for carrying fluids
and/or supplements and further address the unique hydration
carrying needs of more active sports enthusiasts, waist packs with
a receiving holster or outside pocket for a water bottle have
become available. These types of packs are similar to a basic
general use fanny pack available currently at most general
merchandise stores. The water bottle holding packs are similar to
general use fanny packs in that they attach around one's waist with
two waist straps which usually buckle in the center front of the
waist and include a rear "pack" portion for holding articles, are
commonly made of fabric such as denier nylon (backpack style
material), which rests just above, or partially on, the buttocks.
However, these active sports water bottle packs differ from the
above described general use waist (fanny) packs due to the unique
jostling and body movement and activity related variables and
physics. With the more recent active sports water bottle carriers,
the rear pack portion, which rests on or above the buttocks and
sides, provide one or more vertical or partially angled mounted
receiving holster(s) or bottle sleeves with an opening at the top,
in which the holster and opening is sized and shaped primarily to
receive or hold "sports" (round cross section sports type) water
bottles. To use such a bottle-holding waist pack one reaches ones
arm around and pulls out the bottle, drinks and then replaces the
bottle. A "sports" water bottle is commonly a semi-durable plastic
round cross section type bottle often utilizing a screw or press-on
cap and a pop-top nipple or the like for drinking Water or fluid
may be expressed through the opening or nipple by squeezing the
bottle with one's hand or and with some by holding the bottle
upside down using gravity. Many of these packs are offered and
constructed to carry up to two or more standard water bottles
(holding volumes of about 20 oz. of water/fluid). These pack/bottle
configurations are not optimal for running and other similar
jarring types of activities: with such packs both with the bottle
holster vertically configured, and slanted versions which the
bottle rests at roughly a 45.degree. angle to one side there is
considerable bouncing due to the in-optimal position of the bottle
relative to the waist strap angle producing torsional movement
"about" (around) the waist strap plane causing localized chafing of
the bottle onto the user's body, and poor (distant) positioning of
the weight (mass) of the water relative to the user's body's center
of mass resulting in bouncing, sloshing of fluid in the water
bottle due to the bottle position and bottle's cross sectional
geometry, and ergonomic discomfort due to lack of integration of
the components relative to the user's body.
[0006] In other designs, pockets are sewn into apparel are
typically constructed from one or more pieces of fabric that create
a pouch. This pouch is attached along its upper edge, or part of
its side edge, to the fabric of the garment. The resulting
container hangs from this connection or is sewn to the outer
material of the apparel along three sides. To date, all of these
have proven inadequate and unsatisfactory due to bouncing and
swinging of contents and the resulting friction and irritation, and
due to interference with the swinging motion of the arms while
running.
[0007] Compression shorts are garments worn by individuals for a
variety of purposes, but are primarily worn by active individuals
and athletes engaged in athletic activities. Essentially, a
compression short serves as a type of girdle, providing compressive
support to various areas of the wearer's body, including the back,
hips, pelvis, abdomen, groin and thigh areas. Compression shorts
are particularly helpful to those who have suffered some type of
injury to those areas of the body, either for additional support of
those areas permanently weakened by injury, or for temporary
support of those areas while an injury heals.
[0008] Compression shorts are often manufactured using stretchable
or elastomeric fabrics such as LYCRA.TM. or SPANDEX.TM.. Typically,
a compression short is constructed such that this elastomeric
fabric is placed in tension when the short is pulled onto the
wearer's body, thereby providing some degree of compressive support
for the wearer. The particular part of the body receiving this
compressive support depends upon the nature of the construction of
the garment.
[0009] Some athletic shorts and skirts designed for running and
other sports are comprised of an inner brief or compression short
that provides stabilization and coverage of the genitalia and an
outer short designed to provide style and camouflage the shape of
the body. Typically, these two layers are designed to connect at a
shared waistband resulting in a single apparel piece. In addition,
past products have had pockets, supported by the outer fabric, the
waistband, or some combination, for carrying hydration, nutrition
and/or personal electronics. Attempts have been made to connect the
pocket to the inner short where it can be stabilized by the
compression fabric with an opening in the outer short, but design,
construction and production have been too difficult.
[0010] Thus, there is a need, especially in the field of running,
for an athletic garment incorporating a manner of holding items
securely and without impeding the movement of the athlete wearing
these garments. The garments of this invention achieve these and
other advantages discussed more fully below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is therefore a primary object of the subject invention to
provide athletic garment having at least one pocket formed therein
and configured for receipt of an item including, but not limited
to, a gel flask, gel packet, food bar, water, or other energy
supplement, that is held both securely and easily-accessible during
exercise. Furthermore, the pocket is placed such that the pocket
and its contents do not interfere with the athlete engaged in
exercise, such as running, cycling, hiking, or walking.
[0012] The athletic garment construction of the present invention
makes possible the efficient and economical attachment of stable
pockets to the inner liner by moving the attachment of the outer
layer down to expose a section of liner. The attachment seam may
follow a straight, angled, or curved path to expose as much or as
little of the liner as needed to anchor the pocket. The pocket may
also be positioned to avoid the path of the athlete's arm swing and
be easily assessable. Through prototyping, testing, and athlete
evaluation, the present inventors have determined that a preferred
position for the pocket to be in the hollow, at the side of the hip
muscle. Other positions, such as the center of the back and the
front on the hip are also functional.
[0013] The construction of the pocket itself may be further refined
through the use of elastic fabrics that aid in compressing articles
in the pocket against the body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a back prospective view of an embodiment
of an athletic pant of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a back view of an embodiment of an
athletic pant of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an
athletic pant of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates the opposite side view of an embodiment
of an athletic pant of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a back prospective view of an embodiment
of an athletic pant with a side pocket on the right side of the
athletic pant;
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a back view of an embodiment of an
athletic pant with a side pocket on the right side of the athletic
pant;
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an embodiment the athletic
pant with a side pocket on the right side of the athletic pant;
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates a back prospective view of an embodiment
of an athletic pant with a side pocket on the left side of the
athletic pant;
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a back view of an embodiment of an
athletic pant with a side pocket on the left side of the athletic
pant; and
[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of an athletic pant with a
side pocket on the left side of the pant.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, an athletic garment is illustrated,
where the athletic garment is an athletic pant and more
specifically a short. Though reference is made to a short
throughout the specification, it is understood that the present
invention is suitable for use with other athletic garments such as
skirts, pants, tights and the like. The shorts 100 of the present
invention are shown in a prospective view of the back of an
individual. The shorts 100 illustrated are knee length, though it
is to be understood that the shorts could be shorter or longer,
depending on the comfort of the wearer and the activity of the
wearer, including full-length athletic pants. The short may be a
compression short, or it may be a looser material, containing a
compressive section around the pockets 104 and 106. The shorts may
also comprise loose material over and/or affixed to a compressive
undergarment. In addition, the short may also be connected to an
upper portion such as a shirt, tank top, suspenders or the like. In
some embodiments, the athletic garment may be a skirt or skorts,
which may also be connected to an upper portion.
[0025] In one embodiment, the garment has two sections stitched
together to make the shorts 100. It is understood that additional
seams and sections may be used without deviating from the present
invention. The garment may also have only one seam and may be a
single piece of fabric. Two pockets 104 and 106 are shown in FIG.
1, though it is understood that either of these pockets may be used
individually without deviating from the claimed invention, or they
may be used together as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, any number of
pockets may be added to the garment in any location on the garment
without deviating from the invention. In some embodiments, the
pockets are located on the posterior side of the short 100. In some
embodiments, pocket 104 and pocket 106 are located between the
compressive undergarment or compressive section of an athletic
garment and a loose material over the compressive undergarment or
section. In some embodiments, the compressive undergarment or
section and an exterior material (such as a loose material) are
sewn in such a way that the seam between the compressive
undergarment or section and the exterior material recedes below the
lip of the pocket 104 and/or pocket 106 to make it easier to access
the pocket contents.
[0026] The attachment seam between pocket 104 and/or pocket 106 may
follow a straight, angled, or curved path to expose as much or as
little of the liner as needed to anchor the pocket 104 and/or
pocket 106.
[0027] The present invention also includes optional pocket 102. The
optional pocket may be located anywhere on the shorts 100, but in a
preferred embodiment, the optional pocket is located at
approximately the midpoint on the back of the short. In some
embodiments, optional pocket 102 is a pocket located between the
compressive undergarment or compressive section of a short and a
loose material over the compressive undergarment or section.
Optional pocket 102 may be closed in any suitable manner, for
example with a zipper, elastic material, buttons, snaps, overlay
material or the like, or combinations thereof. The optional pocket
102 may comprise any number of internal pockets. In some
embodiments, the optional pocket forms a pocket system including a
center pocket and a right pocket and a left pocket each having an
outer edge, inner edge, top edge, and bottom edge. The top edges
are open, while the inner edge, outer edge, and bottom edge are
closed. In some embodiments, one edge of the right pocket may be
adjacent with an edge of the center pocket. In some embodiments,
one edge of the right pocket may be joined to one edge of the
center pocket. Similarly, one edge of the left pocket may be
adjacent with an edge of the center pocket. In some embodiments,
one edge of the left pocket may be joined to an edge of the center
pocket.
[0028] A vertical centerline of the garment substantially aligns
with a user's spine, and the first pocket is located on the
athletic garment on one side of the vertical centerline, while the
second pocket is located on the garment on the other side of the
vertical centerline. The vertical centerline is located at
approximately the midpoint of the short. In some embodiments, the
entirety of the right pocket is located on one side of the vertical
centerline, while the entirety of the left pocket is located on the
other side of the vertical centerline. The right and left pockets
may be in a substantially symmetrical configuration about the
vertical centerline, and the center pocket is substantially
centered on the vertical centerline. The right, left, and center
pockets may be disposed entirely within one or more larger, outer
pocket(s).
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a back view of the shorts 100. Pockets
104 and 106 may be set at an angle on the shorts 100. With
reference to the waist 108 of the shorts 100, the top side of
pocket 110 may be parallel with the waist 108 such that angle
.alpha. is at approximately 0.degree.. Alternatively, angle .alpha.
may be any angle. In some embodiments, angle .alpha. is at an angle
from approximately -90.degree. to approximately 90.degree.. In
preferred embodiments, angle .alpha. is not 0.degree., but rather
is set at an angle, preferably about -45.degree. as shown in FIG.
2. Pocket 104 may also be a mirror image of itself such that the
angle of pocket 104 is about 45.degree.. Similarly, top side pocket
112 may be parallel to waist 108 such that angle .beta. is at
approximately 0.degree.. Alternatively, angle .beta. may be any
angle. In some embodiments, angle .beta. may be between
approximately -90.degree. to approximately 90.degree. (though may
be any angle). In preferred embodiments, angle .beta. is not
0.degree., but rather is set at an angle, preferably around
45.degree. (or about -135.degree. C.) shown in FIG. 2. Angle
.alpha. and angle .beta. may be at the same angle, but may be at
different angles. Angles .alpha. and .beta. may be chosen
independently for optimization of functionality and
performance.
[0030] In the preferred embodiments, the pockets 104 and 106 as
shown in FIG. 2 are advantageously angled such that when the shorts
are worn by a user, the pockets 104 and 106 are positioned in front
of the gluteus maximus/minimus muscle in the concave part of the
body for maximum comfort. In some embodiments, the pockets 104 and
106 are located on the outer surface of a backside of the
compressive portion of the short. In some embodiments, the pockets
104 or 106 are located in the hollow at the side of the hip.
Pockets 104 and 106 may also be substantially a mirror image of
themselves about the vertical centerline. In some embodiments,
pockets 104 and 106 may be similar shapes and sizes, and in some
embodiments, the pockets 104 and 106 are approximately the same
shape and/or size. In some embodiments, the pockets 104 and 106 are
positioned on the shorts symmetrically about the vertical
centerline. Furthermore, the pocket 104 and/or pocket 106 may also
be positioned to avoid the path of the athlete's arm swing and be
easily assessable.
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the pocket 106. The
dimensions of the pockets 104 and 106 may be any suitable size and
any suitable shape. In a preferred embodiment, pocket 106 is a
trapezoidal shape, such that the opening 112 is slightly larger
than the bottom of the pocket 118. In a specific embodiment the
first edge 116 is approximately 0.11 meters. In some embodiments,
the second edge 114 is approximately 0.12 meters. The top edge 112
is approximately 0.067 meters and, the bottom edge 118 is slightly
smaller than top edge 112. The dimensions may be the same for
pocket 104, however, pocket 104 and 106 may be different sizes
and/or shape on the shorts 100. FIG. 4 illustrates another side
view of the shorts 100, further illustrating pocket 104. In a
preferred embodiment, pocket 104 is a trapezoidal shape, such that
the opening 110 is slightly larger than the bottom of the pocket
120, the first edge 122 is approximately 0.11 meters, the second
edge 124 is approximately 0.12 meters, the top edge 110 is
approximately 0.067 meters and the bottom edge 120 is slightly
smaller than top edge 110. In this embodiment, the dimensions may
be the same for pocket 106, however, pocket 104 and 106 may be
different sizes and/or shapes on the shorts 100.
[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the shorts 200. In
this embodiment, only one side pocket is attached to the shorts
200. Pocket 204 is located on the back of the short 200 and off to
one side. The pocket 204 may comprise four edges, the top edge 210,
the bottom edge 220, the first edge 222, and the second edge 224.
The pocket 204 may be similar dimensions as the pocket 104. The
pocket 204 may be set at an angle .alpha. with relation to top edge
of the short 208. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a may be at any
suitable angle. In preferred embodiments, a is at an angle between
the top of the shorts 208 and the top edge 201. Angle .alpha. is
between about 0.degree. to about -90.degree. (about 0.degree. to
about 90.degree.). Shorts 200 may include optional pocket 202. FIG.
6 illustrates the back view of shorts 200. Pocket 204 is
illustrated with pocket 202. The top edge 210 of pocket 204 is at
an angle .alpha. with relation to top edge 208 of the shorts 200.
FIG. 7 illustrates a side profile view of shorts 200. Pocket 204 is
illustrated in FIG. 7, along with a partial view of optional pocket
202. The pocket 204 may also be positioned to avoid the path of the
athlete's arm swing and be easily assessable.
[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the shorts 300. In
this embodiment, only one side pocket is attached to the shorts
300. Pocket 306 is located on the back of the shorts 300 and is off
to one side. Optional pocket 302 is also illustrated. FIG. 9
illustrates a back view of shorts 300. Pocket 306 and optional
pocket 302 are shown. Pocket 306 may be the same dimensions as
pocket 106. FIG. 10 is a side profile view of shorts 300. Pocket
306 and optional pocket 302 are shown.
[0034] The pockets may be made of any suitable material, including
a stretch or elastic material such as LYCRA.TM., SPANDEX.TM., mesh,
and the like, or any combination thereof. A portion of the pocket
may also be the same material as the short. The pockets are located
on the shorts such that they do not impede the wearer when the
wearer is active. For example, the wearer is free to run without
her elbows coming into contact with the pockets. However, the
pockets are also positioned such that the wearer has access to the
pockets to remove items from the pockets while active. For example,
the wearer may store at least one gel pack or flask, at least one
block, at least one food bar, or other nutritional need, or
personal belongings of the wearer such as a personal electronic
device, a cellular phone, keys, or the like or combinations
thereof, within the pockets. Additionally, the material of the
pocket stabilizes the stored item, allowing the wearer to carry
heavy items without it flapping or moving during the activity of
the wearer. Optionally, the top of the pockets may include an
elastic band or another mechanism to seal the pocket, such as a
zipper, elastic material, at least one button, at least one snap,
additional material flap, button, snap or the like, or combinations
thereof.
[0035] In some embodiments, the athletic garment may contain
marking material. The marketing material may be a company logo, a
race number, an identification mark or combinations of the same.
The foregoing examples of the present invention have been presented
for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, these
examples are not intended to limit the invention to the form
disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications
commensurate with the teachings of the description of the
invention, and the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are
within the scope of the present invention. The specific embodiments
described in the examples provided herein are intended to further
explain the best mode known for practicing the invention and to
enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such,
or other, embodiments and with various modifications required by
the particular applications or uses of the present invention. It is
intended that the appended claims be construed to include
alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior
art.
* * * * *