Fitness wear with hidden back support

• US 7,241,252 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victor W. Gagliardi
• Original Assignee: Victor W. Gagliardi
• Inventors: Gagliardi, Victor W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow; Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHHABRA, ARUN S
• Application Number:
  US11/010,690
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 482/124, 602/19, 602/23, 602 75- 77, D02/731
• US Class Current: 482/124
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/001 Underpants or briefs specially adapted for men A41B9/02; specially adapted for ladies A41B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/028 Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/02 using resilient force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A tapered elastic back support is situated in a fabric tube formed at the top edge of a variety of shorts and pants suitable for use during athletics, exercise or rehabilitative therapy. Unlike traditional back braces, the portion of the back support encircling the front of the wearer'"'"'s abdomen is tapered to pass well beneath the wearer'"'"'s navel, permitting low cut garment designs that expose significant portions of the wearer'"'"'s abdomen. The rear portion of the back support increases in height to cover at least the lower three vertebrae (L5–L3). The front portion of the back support allows the wearer to tighten the appliance such that a continuous elastic stabilizing pressure is exerted across the lower back. Branched drawstring portions or tapered belt portions are secured to the elastic back support material and extend through the fabric tube at the front of the garment.

Claims

1. An article of fitness wear comprising:

a garment portion configured to completely surround and cover a pelvic region and thighs of a wearer from the back to the front of the wearer, said garment portion comprising material having elasticity in one of a warp or a weft direction of the material, said material formed into a tube surrounding an upper edge of said garment portion; and

a back support within said tube, said back support comprising;

a tapered body including one or more bands of elastic material connected to extend around the wearer, said body having a rear portion with a maximum height H_MAX extending between the sacrum and approximately lumbar vertebra L3 and tapering from the lower back, around the wearer to a front portion below the navel with a minimum height H_MIN, said maximum height H_MAX being at least approximately twice said minimum height H_MIN, said body having an outside surface and an inside surface,

wherein said body rear portion comprises a plurality of stays extending between an upper and lower edge of said rear portion; and

means for tightening said body around the wearer, said means for tightening comprising two draw strings, each draw string having at least an upper branch and a lower branch, said upper and lower branches of each draw string being secured to the rear portion of said body against said plurality of stays at spaced apart locations of said outside surface,

whereby each drawstring portion wraps around the lower back of the wearer and meets at each side of the wearer to form a central drawstring portion wherein each central drawstring portion includes a free end opposite said upper and lower branches, said free end extending towards the front and through the material of said tube so said free ends are exposed outside said tube,

wherein said upper branch is secured at the sacrum and said lower branch is secured at the L3 lumbar vertebra against the lower back of the wearer so that pressure is applied to the lower back of the wearer to stabilize the lower three lumbar vertebrae L5–

L3 during exercise by tying the central drawstring portions together.

2. The article of fitness wear of claim 1, wherein said body has an outside surface and an inside surface, said means for tightening comprises two tapered belt portions secured to the outside surface of said body rear portion at laterally spaced apart locations, each said tapered belt portion extending to hook and loop fasteners attached to overlapping end portions of said belt portions.

3. The article of fitness wear of claim 2, wherein said end portions extend through the fabric of said tube so said end portions are exposed outside the tube.

4. An article of fitness wear comprising:

a garment portion configured to completely surround and cover a pelvic region and thighs of a wearer from the back to the front of the wearer, said garment portion comprising material having elasticity in one of a warp or a weft direction of the material, said material formed into a tube surrounding an upper-edge of said garment portion; and

a back support within said tube, said back support comprising;

a tapered body including one or more bands of elastic material connected to extend around the wearer, said body having a rear portion with a maximum height H_MAX extending between the sacrum and approximately lumbar vertebra L3 and tapering from the lower back and around the wearer to a front portion below the navel with a minimum height H_MIN, said maximum height H_MAX being at least approximately twice said minimum height H_MIN said body having an outside surface and an inside surface

a plurality of stays in said body rear portion and said plurality of stays extending between an upper and lower edge of said rear portion at spaced apart locations of said outside surface;

two tapered belt portions along the outside surface of said body and extending from the rear of said body and wrapping around the wearer to the front of said body and extending through laterally spaced openings in said tube of material, each of said tapered belt portions including means for adjustable

connection to the other of said tapered belt portions, said connection being made

outside said tube of material and in front of the wearer,

wherein said support is free to move inside said tube and said tapered belt portions apply tension to said plurality of stays along a majority of the height H_MAX of the rear portion of the back support during exercise as said means for adjustable connection are tightened or secured together.

5. The article of fitness wear of claim 4, wherein said means for adjustable connection comprises hook and loop fasteners.

6. The article of fitness wear of claim 4, wherein said means for adjustable connection comprises a belt and buckle.