Athletic garment

• US 4,625,336 A
• Filed: 05/30/1985
• Issued: 12/02/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Derderian, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, H. Hampton
• Application Number:
  US06/739,120
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 2/79, 2/80, 2/78 R, 2/78 B, 2/78 C, 2/227, 2/239, 2/409, 2/408, 2/2 R, 2/22
• US Class Current: 2/79
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 2400/38 Shaping the contour of the body or adjusting the figure
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/08 specially adapted for sporting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088

Abstract

The present invention relates to athletic garments and, in particular, to tight, form-fitting athletic garment with panels to simultaneously warm preselected small, fragile muscles and tendons and provide ventilation for preselected large, hard-working and heat-generating muscles. In a preferred embodiment, the garment is a runner'"'"'s tight with relatively open mesh panels covering the quadraceps and calf muscles and tightly knit panels covering the hamstring muscles, the front of the leg, the achilles tendons region and the groin area. The open mesh panels and the knit panels are preferably joined at their adjacent edges by relatively broad, four-needle flat seams which provide a proprioceptive effect.

Claims

1. A form-fitting athletic garment to simultaneously warm preselected tendons and fragile muscles while allowing excess heat to escape preselected large, hard-working muscles, comprising:

first fabric panels having relatively open mesh to cover preselected large, hard-working muscles;

second fabric panels having relatively closed mesh to cover preselected tendons and fragile muscles; and

said first and second fabric panels being joined at their adjacent edges by seams so that the garment form-fits a wearer and said first fabric panels cover the preselected large, hard-working muscles and the second fabric panels cover the preselected tendons and fragile muscles.

2. A form-fitting garment according to claim 1 wherein said first fabric panels extend substantially from the waist to immediately below the knee to cover the quadracep muscles and from immediately below the knee to just above the achilles tendons to cover the posterior calf muscles;

and said second fabric panels extend substantially from the waist to immediately below the knee to cover the posterior thigh region including the hamstring muscles, from immediately below the knee to the top of the foot to cover the anterior leg including the extensor muscles, over the achilles tendon region, and from the waist across the adductor muscles to the quadracep muscles to cover the groin area.

3. A form-fitting garment according to claim 1 wherein said first fabric panels ar made of nylon mesh and said second fabric panels are made of a tight knit stretch material.

4. A form-fitting athletic tight to simultaneously warm preselected tendons and fragile muscles of a performing athlete while allowing excess heat to escape preselected large, hard-working muscles, comprising:

a waistband;

first fabric panels formed of relatively open-mesh material to cover preselected large, hard-working muscles of the legs;

second fabric panels formed of relatively tight knit material to cover preselected fragile muscles and tendons of the legs; and

said first and second fabric panels being joined at their adjacent edges by seams so that the athletic tight form-fits the lower body of a wearer and said first fabric panels cover the preselected large, hard-working muscles and the second fabric panels cover the preselected tendons and fragile muscles.

5. A form-fitting athletic tight according to claim 4 wherein said first fabric panels are nylon lycra mesh and said second fabric panels are knit spandex.

6. A form-fitting athletic tight according to claim 4 wherein said waistband includes a drawstring.

7. A form-fitting athletic tight according to claim 4 wherein said first fabric panels extend substantially from said waistband to immediately below the knee to cover the quadracep muscles and from immediately below the knee to just above the achilles tendons to cover the posterior calf muscles;

and

said second fabric panels extend substantially from the waistband to immediately below the knee to cover the posterior thigh region including the hamstring muscles and from immediately below the knee to the top of the foot to cover the anterior leg including the extensor muscles, over the achilles tendon region, and from the waistband across the adductor muscles to the quadracep muscles to cover the groin area.

8. A form-fitting athletic tight according to claim 7 wherein said first fabric panels are nylon lycra mesh and said second fabric panels are knit spandex.

9. A form-fitting athletic tight according to claim 4 further comprising:

a stirrup of knit material to secure the lower edge of each leg of the tight to the foot.

10. A form-fitting athletic tight according to claim 4 wherein said first and second fabric panels are joined at their adjacent edges by relatively broad flat seams which move against the skin of a performing athlete enabling the wearer to feel his own movements.

11. A tight, form-fitting athletic garment providing a proprioceptive function comprising:

separate fabric panels for covering predetermined muscle and tendon groups of an athlete in a tight, form-fitting manner; and

said separate fabric panels joined at their adjacent edges by relatively broad flat seams which move against the skin of a performing athlete enabling the wearer to feel his own movements.

12. A tight, form-fitting athletic garment according to claim 8 wherein said separate fabric panels comprise:

lightweight mesh panels to ventilate preselected large, hard-working muscles; and

tightly knit panels to warm preselected tendons and fragile muscles.