Fencing garments made from stretchable, electrically conductive fabric

• US 5,694,645 A
• Filed: 04/02/1996
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walter W. Triplette
• Original Assignee: Walter W. Triplette
• Inventors: Triplette, Walter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanatta, Amy B.
• Application Number:
  US08/627,676
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 2/102, 2/456, 2/466, 2/463, 2/69, 2/51, 2/108, 2/902, 2/2.5, 2/79, 2/93, 2/243.1, 273/DIG. 26, 273/454, 273/460, 273/57.3, 273/371, 463/47.1
• US Class Current: 2/102
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/18 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/02 for fencing , e.g. means for indicating hits
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/18 incorporating elastic threads
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/207 Wearing apparel or garment blanks
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive

Abstract

A garment for use in electrically-scored contact sports competitions is described. The garment is designed to cover at least the upper torso of a wearer, and is fabricated from electrically conductive yarns which cooperate with an electric sports implement to register a score when the implement contacts the electrically conductive garment. At least a portion of the upper torso portion is made from a stretchable, electrically conductive material. The garment is particularly adapted for use in fencing competitions, and can be made substantially entirely from the stretchable electrically conductive material or from a combination of stretchable and non-stretchable conductive materials.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive garment comprising:

an electrically conductive upper torso encircling portion for covering an upper torso of a wearer,

a crotch panel extending from a lower portion of said upper torso encircling portion for covering a lower abdominal and crotch region of a wearer, and

a strap for releasably securing said crotch panel between a wearer'"'"'s legs, wherein at least a portion of said electrically conductive upper torso portion is stretchable.

2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein substantially the entire upper torso portion is stretchable.

3. The garment according to claim 2, wherein said crotch panel is electrically conductive and stretchable.

4. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said crotch panel is electrically conductive.

5. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said upper torso portion comprises front and rear panels joined at opposite side panels, with each of said side panels including an arm opening, and

a stretchable panel of electrically conductive material forming a portion of said rear panel proximate each of said arm openings.

6. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said upper torso portion comprises front and rear panels joined at opposite side panels, and wherein a stretch panel of electrically conductive material is located proximate a lower end of each of said side panels.

7. The garment according to claim 1, further comprising first and second sleeves secured to opposite sides of said upper torso portion, and wherein a stretchable panel of electrically conductive material is located proximate a lower end of each sleeve remote from said upper torso portion.

8. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said upper torso portion comprises front and rear panels, and further comprising a fastener located proximate a lower end of said rear panel for releasable securement of said strap.

9. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said stretchable portion of said electrically conductive upper torso portion comprises a wireless, electrically conductive warp knit fabric.

10. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said stretchable portion comprises a silver-plated warp knit nylon fabric.

11. The garment according to claim 10, wherein said warp knit nylon fabric is knit from nylon yarns about 30-200 denier in size.

12. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said upper torso portion comprises front and rear panels joined at opposite side panels, with each of said side panels including an arm opening, and

stretchable panels of electrically conductive material are positioned on said rear panel proximate each of said arm openings and proximate a lower end of each of said side panels, while remaining portions of said upper torso portion are substantially non-stretchable.

13. The garment according to claim 12, further comprising first and second sleeves secured to opposite sides of said upper torso portion, and wherein a stretchable panel of electrically conductive material is located proximate a lower end of each sleeve remote from said upper torso portion.

14. An electrically conductive garment for use in electrically-scored contact sports competitions comprising:

an upper torso portion for covering at least an upper torso of a wearer, said upper torso portion being substantially entirely electrically conductive and at least a portion of said upper torso portion being stretchable, wherein said upper torso portion comprises a warp knit substantially wireless electrically conductive fabric comprising nylon and spandex yarns and which is silver plated to an extent sufficient to render it electrically conductive.

15. The garment according to claim 14, further comprising a crotch panel extending from a lower portion of said upper torso portion for covering a lower abdominal and crotch region of a wearer, and a strap for releasably securing said crotch panel between a wearer'"'"'s legs.

16. The garment according to claim 14, wherein said upper torso portion comprises front and rear panels joined at opposite side panels, with each of said side panels including an arm opening, and further comprising a stretchable panel located on said rear panel proximate each of said arm openings.

17. The garment according to claim 14, wherein substantially the entire upper torso portion is stretchable.

18. The garment according to claim 14, further comprising a pair of sleeves, each of said sleeves including a stretchable electrically conductive insert proximate its lower end.

19. The garment according to claim 14, wherein said upper torso portion includes a stretchable electrically conductive panel proximate its lower end.

20. An electrically conductive garment comprising:

an electrically conductive upper torso portion for covering an upper torso of a wearer, said upper torso portion including front and rear panels joined at opposite side panels, with each of said side panels including an arm opening,

a stretchable panel of silver-plated, warp knit electrically conductive material forming a portion of said rear panel proximate each of said arm openings,

a stretchable panel of silver-plated, warp knit electrically conductive material forming a portion of each of said side panels proximate a lower portion thereof,

a crotch panel extending from a lower portion of said upper torso encircling portion for covering a lower abdominal and crotch region of a wearer, and

a strap for releasably securing said crotch panel between a wearer'"'"'s legs.