Biographics: apparel that has moving graphics and patterns

• US 6,279,161 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven E. Johnston
• Original Assignee: Steven E. Johnston
• Inventors: Johnston, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LINDSEY, RODNEY M
• Application Number:
  US09/487,698
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 2 6/9, 2 7/9, 2 2/2, 223/9, 227/5, 211/5
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/08 Trimmings; Ornaments
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/18 Elastic

Abstract

Garments and apparel that animate subsurface muscles, joints and tendons. The garments can include athletic wear such as leggings that conform to both the thigh and calf of a user and arm coverings that conform over the arm, and even over the torso of the body. Other applications can include dancewear, theatrical costuming, medical and therapeutic products. The garment can include seams about slits, each slit being parallel to one another running down the exterior sides of the leggings and arm coverings. Sewn to the edges of the slits, beneath the slits can be a sublayer elastic material having a different color and/or texture than the surface color and/or texture of the garment. Alternatively, instead of seams, the material can be formed from a chemically or another technically produced fabric that has designated stretch and non-stretch areas engineered at selected locations.

Claims

1. A method of causing animation effects of muscles, tendons and joints with body garments, comprising the steps of:

forming a slit having a variable appearing sublayer portion in a garment, the sublayer portion being a different color than a surrounding surface portion on both sides of the slit, the slit positioned over a body part that is chosen from at least one of a body muscle, joint and tendon

moving the body part; and

simultaneously opening and closing the slit, wherein the variable appearing sublayer portion animates the body part being moved.

2. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the body muscle includes:

a side thigh muscle.

3. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the body muscle includes:

a side calf muscle.

4. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the body joint includes at least one of:

a kneecap and an elbow.

5. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the body muscle includes:

a side thigh muscle and a side calf muscle.

6. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the body muscle includes at least one of:

a forearm muscle and a biceps muscle.

7. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the body part includes:

a forearm muscle, an elbow and a biceps muscle.

8. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the sublayer portion includes:

elastic material having side portions joined to the garment by being sewn to a dual seam.

9. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the sublayer includes:

angled sublayer portions substantially parallel to one another, each arranged within slits along an exterior side of the garment.

10. The method of causing animation effects of claim 1, wherein the body muscle includes:

arm muscles and leg muscles.

12. The biographic apparel of claim 1, wherein the garment includes:

a legging covering.

13. The biographic apparel of claim 12, wherein the slit includes:

parallel angled slits along the legging covering.

11. Biographic apparel for animating body joints, muscles and tendons, comprising in combination:

a garment for being fit over a body portion;

a non vertical slit on the garment positioned over at least one of a muscle, a joint, and a tendon; and

a sublayer having a different color than the garment positioned underneath the slit that only becomes visible in varying dimensions while the body portion is being moved causing an animation of the at least one of the muscle and the joint, on the surface of the garment.

14. The biographic apparel of claim 11, wherein the sublayer includes:

an elastic material.

15. The biographic apparel of claim 11, wherein the slit includes:

a seam connected to each side of the sublayer.

16. The biographic apparel of claim 11, wherein the garment includes:

an arm covering.

17. The biographic apparel of claim 11, wherein the slit include:

parallel angled slits along the arm covering.

18. The biographic apparel of claim 11, wherein the garment includes:

parallel angled slits along a legging covering; and

parallel angled slits along an arm covering.

19. Biographic apparel for animating body joints, muscles and tendons, comprising in combination:

a garment adapted to be fit over a body portion;

a slit on the garment for being positioned over at least one of a muscle, a joint, and a tendon; and

a sublayer having a different color than the garment positioned underneath the slit that only becomes visible in varying dimensions while the body portion is being moved causing an animation of the at least one of the muscle and the joint, on the surface of the garment.