Posture improving garment

• US 9,414,954 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelliskin USA, LLC
• Original Assignee: Intelliskin USA, LLC
• Inventors: Brown, Timothy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Application Number:
  US14/733,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0543 Legs knee or foot A41D13/06; protectors for the legs of players or sportmen A63B71/1225
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/06 Knee or foot protectors for the legs of players or sportsmen A63B71/1225
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/322 Massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0104 without articulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/028 Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/30 Pressure-pads corn-pads, corn-rings A61F13/06; tourniquets A61B17/132

Abstract

The garment is adapted to be worn by a wearer. The garment includes a main body portion. The main body portion is configured to be worn over at least a portion of the wearer'"'"'s body. The main body portion includes first and second portions each defining a longitudinal axis and configured to extend toward a respective limb of the wearer so as to envelop a portion of a respective limb of the wearer. At least a portion of the first strap is releasably affixed to the main body portion, and at least a first grip layer is associated with the first portion. The first strap overlies the first grip layer. The first grip layer is configured to come into contact with a wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn.

Claims

1. A garment adapted to be worn by a wearer, the garment comprising:

a main body portion, wherein the main body portion is configured to be worn over at least a portion of the wearer'"'"'s lumbo-pelvic region, hips and at least a portion of the legs, wherein the main body portion includes first and second leg portions each defining a longitudinal axis and configured to extend toward a respective knee of the wearer so as to envelop a portion of a respective upper leg of the wearer;

a first grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the first grip layer is configured to come into contact with a wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn; and

the first grip layer has a strap shape; and

a second grip layer located inside the second leg portion, wherein;

the second grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the second grip layer has a strap shape; and

the second grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein:

the first grip layer is positioned such that it extends in a spiral about the longitudinal axis of the first leg portion; and

the second grip layer is positioned such that it extends in a spiral about the longitudinal axis of the second leg portion.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein:

the main body portion is made of a first elastomeric material; and

the first grip layer and the second grip layer are made of a second elastomeric material that is distinct from the first elastomeric material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the first leg portion;

the first grip layer starts from an outer side of the first leg portion and extends from the outer side of the first leg portion toward a front portion of the first leg portion and from the front portion of the first leg portion toward an inner portion of the first leg portion to a rear of the first leg portion;

the second grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the second leg portion; and

the second grip layer starts from an outer side of the second leg portion and extends from the outer side of the second leg portion toward a front portion of the second leg portion and from the front portion of the second leg portion toward an inner portion of the second leg portion to a rear of the second leg portion.

21. The garment of claim 5, wherein:

the first grip layer is terminated at the rear of the first leg portion; and

the second grip layer is terminated at the rear of the second leg portion.

4. A garment adapted to be worn by a wearer, the garment comprising:

a main body portion, wherein the main body portion is configured to be worn over at least a portion of the wearer'"'"'s lumbo-pelvic region, hips and at least a portion of the legs, wherein the main body portion includes first and second leg portions each defining a longitudinal axis and configured to extend toward a respective knee of the wearer so as to envelop a portion of a respective upper leg of the wearer;

a first grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the first grip layer is configured to come into contact with a wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn; and

the first grip layer has a strap shape;

a second grip layer located inside the second leg portion, wherein;

the second grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the second grip layer has a strap shape; and

the second grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer;

a third grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the third grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the third grip layer has a strap shape; and

the third grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer and the second grip layer; and

a fourth grip layer located inside the second leg portion, wherein;

the fourth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the fourth grip layer has a strap shape; and

the fourth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer.

6. The garment of claim 4, wherein:

the first grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the first leg portion;

the second grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the second leg portion;

the third grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the first leg portion; and

the fourth grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the second leg portion.

7. The garment of claim 6, further comprising:

a fifth grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the fifth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the fifth grip layer has a strap shape;

the fifth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, and the fourth grip layer; and

the fifth grip layer is located in a knee portion of the first leg portion; and

a sixth grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the sixth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the sixth grip layer has a strap shape;

the sixth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, the fourth grip layer, and the fifth grip layer; and

the sixth grip layer is located in a knee portion of the second leg portion.

8. The garment of claim 7, further comprising:

a seventh grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the seventh grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the seventh grip layer has a strap shape;

the seventh grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, and the fourth grip layer; and

the seventh grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the first leg portion; and

an eight grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the eight grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the eight grip layer has a strap shape;

the eight grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, the fourth grip layer, and the seventh grip layer; and

the eight grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the second leg portion.

9. The garment of claim 6, further comprising:

a ninth grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the ninth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the ninth grip layer has a strap shape;

the ninth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, and the fourth grip layer; and

the ninth grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the first leg portion; and

a tenth grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the tenth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the tenth grip layer has a strap shape;

the tenth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, the fourth grip layer, and the ninth grip layer; and

the tenth grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the second leg portion.

10. The garment of claim 4, wherein:

the first grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the first leg portion;

the second grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the second leg portion;

the third grip layer is located in a knee portion of the first leg portion; and

the fourth grip layer is located in a knee portion of the second leg portion.

11. The garment of claim 10, further comprising:

an eleventh grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the eleventh grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the eleventh grip layer has a strap shape;

the eleventh grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, and the fourth grip layer; and

the eleventh grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the first leg portion; and

a twelfth grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the twelfth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the twelfth grip layer has a strap shape;

the twelfth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, the fourth grip layer, and the eleventh grip layer; and

the twelfth grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the second leg portion.

12. The garment of claim 4, wherein:

the first grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the first leg portion;

the second grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the second leg portion;

the third grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the first leg portion; and

the fourth grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the second leg portion.

13. A method comprising:

donning a garment that includes;

a main body portion, wherein the main body portion is configured to be worn over at least a portion of the wearer'"'"'s lumbo-pelvic region, hips and at least a portion of the legs, wherein the main body portion includes first and second leg portions each defining a longitudinal axis and configured to extend toward a respective knee of the wearer so as to envelop a portion of a respective upper leg of the wearer;

a first grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the first grip layer is configured to come into contact with a wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn; and

the first grip layer has a strap shape; and

a second grip layer located inside the second leg portion, wherein;

the second grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the second grip layer has a strap shape; and

the second grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the first grip layer is positioned such that it extends in a spiral about the longitudinal axis of the first leg portion; and

the second grip layer is positioned such that it extends in a spiral about the longitudinal axis of the second leg portion.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

moving the respective upper leg of the wearer so that a respective grip layer in contact with the respective upper leg of the wearer pulls the wearer'"'"'s skin in a spiral direction.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the main body portion is made of a first elastomeric material; and

the first grip layer and the second grip layer are made of a second elastomeric material that is distinct from the first elastomeric material.

17. A method comprising:

donning a garment that includes;

a main body portion, wherein the main body portion is configured to be worn over at least a portion of the wearer'"'"'s lumbo-pelvic region, hips and at least a portion of the legs, wherein the main body portion includes first and second leg portions each defining a longitudinal axis and configured to extend toward a respective knee of the wearer so as to envelop a portion of a respective upper leg of the wearer;

a first grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the first grip layer is configured to come into contact with a wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn; and

the first grip layer has a strap shape;

a second grip layer located inside the second leg portion, wherein;

the second grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the second grip layer has a strap shape; and

the second grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer;

a third grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the third grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the third grip layer has a strap shape; and

the third grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer and the second grip layer; and

a fourth grip layer located inside the second leg portion, wherein;

the fourth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the fourth grip layer has a strap shape; and

the fourth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the first grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the first leg portion;

the second grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the second leg portion;

the third grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the first leg portion; and

the fourth grip layer is located in an upper leg portion of the second leg portion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the garment also includes:

a fifth grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the fifth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the fifth grip layer has a strap shape;

the fifth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, and the fourth grip layer; and

the fifth grip layer is located in a knee portion of the first leg portion; and

a sixth grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the sixth grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the sixth grip layer has a strap shape;

the sixth grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, the fourth grip layer, and the fifth grip layer; and

the sixth grip layer is located in a knee portion of the second leg portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the garment also includes:

a seventh grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the seventh grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the seventh grip layer has a strap shape;

the seventh grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, and the fourth grip layer; and

the seventh grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the first leg portion; and

an eight grip layer located inside the first leg portion, wherein;

the eight grip layer is configured to come into contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin when the garment is worn;

the eight grip layer has a strap shape;

the eight grip layer is distinct and separate from the first grip layer, the second grip layer, the third grip layer, the fourth grip layer, and the seventh grip layer; and

the eight grip layer is located in a lower leg portion of the second leg portion.