Ventilated athletic support garment

• US 6,401,250 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toolshed Sports International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Toolshed Sports International, LLC
• Inventors: McNabb, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hale, Gloria M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TAJASH D
• Application Number:
  US09/771,318
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 222/7, 222/8, 2 7/9, 2 7/81, 2 7/82, 240/0, 240/3, 450/100-104
• US Class Current: 2/78.2
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/06 Trousers
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/28 Means for ventilation

Abstract

An athletic garment including an open mesh resilient strip in the crotch and inner leg area incorporated in an elastic form fitting body material cooperating to embrace the buttocks, hips and upper legs of an athlete.

Claims

1. A ventilated athletic support garment to be worn by an athlete, comprising:

a thick stretch form fitting body material forming a pant body to stretch about and support the buttocks, hips and upper outer legs of the athlete and configured in the crotch area and inner thigh areas with edges spaced apart to form a vent opening;

an elongated gusset in the opening, affixed to the body and constructed of a relatively thin stretchable mesh material formed with 5 to 20% spandex and 80 to 95% polyester or nylon and, in the relaxed condition including between 75 and 125 ventilation openings per square inch spaced throughout for flow of air and cooperating with such body to form tubular leg sections to support such hips and legs and to provide ventilation to the athlete'"'"'s crotch and inner leg area.

2. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said mesh is constructed of polyester and spandex fiber.

3. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said mesh is woven.

4. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said mesh is constructed of nylon and spandex fiber.

5. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the pant body is formed with a vent opening having a width of from two to five inches; and

the gusset fills the entire width of the open strip.

6. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the mesh is knitted.

7. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the mesh is formed, in the tensioned condition, with such openings spaced thereabout at between 40 and 60 such openings per square inch.

8. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the mesh is formed with 64 threads per square inch.

9. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the mesh is formed with between 55 and 75 threads per square inch.

10. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the body material weighs 10 to 12 ounces per square yard.

11. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the mesh weighs 4 to 6 ounces per square yard.

12. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the body material is 80% to 93% cotton.

13. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a waist band at least one inch wide to closely hug the top of the hips of the wearer and cooperate with the body material to hold such garment tight on the wearer'"'"'s profile.

14. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the body material is formed with such edges spaced about three inches apart to define such opening and such gusset fills the entire opening.

15. A ventilated athletic support garment comprising:

a thick woven or knitted stretch form fitting body material forming a pant body to stretch about and support the buttocks, hip and upper/outer legs of the athlete and configured in the crotch area and inner thigh areas with edges spaced apart to form a vent opening;

an elongated gusset in the opening, affixed to the body and constructed of relatively thin stretchable mesh material of no more than 20% spandex and having, in its stretched condition, at least 40 ventilation openings per square inch, said mesh cooperating with said body to form tubular leg sections to cooperate in support and accommodate flexure and movement of the athlete while providing for ventilation in the inner thigh and crotch area through such ventilation openings.

16. The ventilated athletic support garment as set forth in claim 15 wherein:

said mesh includes at least spandex.

17. The vented athletic support garment as set forth in claims 15:

said mesh weights substantially 10 ounces per square yard.

18. A ventilated athletic garment comprising:

a thick stretch form fitting body material forming a pant body to stretch about and support the buttocks, hips and outer legs of the athlete and configured in the crotch area and inner thigh areas with edges spaced apart to form a vent opening; and

an elongated gusset in such vent opening constructed of spandex material and constructed of interwoven or knitted threads and further formed with ventilation openings in the weaving or knitting and having a population of at least 40 per square inch in the stretched condition of such mesh.

19. A ventilated athletic support garment comprising:

a form fitting stretch body material forming a pant body to stretch about and support the buttocks, hips and upper legs of an athlete and configured in the crotch and inner thigh areas with edges spaced apart to form a vent opening;

an elongated gusset in the vent opening affixed to the body and constructed of stretchable mesh material including means forming ventilation openings having a relaxed state formed with at least 75 ventilation openings per square inch.