GB2520071A - Sports Garment - Google Patents

Abstract

A sports garment with fitted ball pocket layers, comprises an extra panel of fabric that extends across the whole back width of the sports garment. The panel is stitched into the seams of the garment, the centre back seam 9 creating two ball pockets 7 each with an opening along the lower edge in use. The bottom edges may be bound with an elastic trim binding 8 which helps prevent the ball 10 from falling out. The construction of the pocket 7 gives the buttocks of the wearer additional support and lift. The garment may be made of a stretch jersey fabric, with the double inside construction of the garment area controlling and supporting the lower hip and thigh area. The garment may include a leg panel 2 with a hem 5.

Description

Sports garment

Background

This invention relates to a sportswear garment with fitted ball pockets, for fema'e sports players.

When engaged in practicing tennis or playing a match, female players often face the problem of not having enough space, in the pockets of their tennis garments, to fit in their tennis balls in a convenient and secure way.

Also, when engaged in tennis practice and match playing, female players are often confronted to the problem of not being able to find some undergarment that gives sufficient support to their behind.

A similar issue could be occurring when playing squash or any other type of ball sports, where the ball is of a size small enough to fit into the pockets of sports garments.

Statement of invention

To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes a cut and sew garment, with layered fabric sections, which offers the combined advantages of a secure and spacious carriage of several sports balls, as well as additional support of the behind, for the female wearer.

The present invention proposes a tight garment, covering the lower torso, hips, crotch and behind of the female wearer. Sometimes, the fitted garment also covers the thighs. It can be worn on its own, or under a skirt or under a dress.

Some new types of pockets are fitted on either side of this sports garment in which the player can store, and retrieve, the sports balls, whether she is left or right-handed.

The highly supportive inside layer construction, in the pants' thigh area, gives the wearer additional control in such body part.

The invention is primarily for the use of tennis balls, but it is envisaged for other sports balls such as squash balls. The list of sports balls is not deemed to be an exhaustive list.

This invention is primarily for the use on tennis shorts, skirts and leggings, but it is envisaged for other types of sports garments such as squash shorts, skirts and leggings, yoga, pilates, cycling, running or fitness pants. This list of sports garments is not deemed to be an exhaustive list.

Advantages The ball pockets are constructed from a panel of self-fabric (i.e. the same material from which the rest of the garment is made, which is jersey fabric] that extends across the entire width of the back of the sports garment. Therefore, the pockets are larger and easier to access to, and can contain more than one sports ball.

Preferably, the panel of stretch fabric is intersected in two, by a vertical seam line located at the centre of the back of the garment, so that the balls stay either on one side, or the other side, of that panel of stretch fabric. Thus, the wearer of the sports garment can easily and quickly access the balls, on each side of the panel of stretch fabric, regardless of the fact that she is either left-handed or right-handed.

Due to the fact that the ball pockets spread evenly across the entire behind of the sports garment, no lines or ridges caused by usual pocket fittings are visible, when such sports garment is worn as an undergarment.

These "ball compartments" don't look like pockets, but look rather like a supporting and flattering seam-line.

In addition, the ball pockets are aesthetically pleasing and do not alter the shape of the sports garment, when they are empty.

The second layer of material on both sides, constituted by the panel of stretch fabric that equally extends across the entire width of the sports garment, provides greater support to the wearer as well as increased opacity. As a result, the sports garment will also be very useful for non-ball sports, such as yoga, pilates and fitness, where opaque and supportive garments are essential.

Preferably, the high stretch and high-support inside layer of the thigh area of the sports garment provides additional control to the wearer, in this part of the body) and has a lifting effect of the wearer's behind, without extending the layer into the crotch area. It is therefore more confortable for the wearer and allows for better breathability of the skin in the crotch area.

Introduction to drawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: -Figure 1 shows the front view of the sports garment when worn on a female's body; -Figure 2 shows the back view of the ball pockets, one of which is illustrated with a tennis ball retained therein; -Figure 3 shows the side view of one ball pocket with a tennis ball retained therein; -Figure 4 shows the inside front view of the thigh support layer construction; -Figure 5 shows the inside back view of the thigh support layer construction; -Figure 6 shows the inside side view of the thigh support layer construction, and -Figure 7 shows the side view illustrating one empty ball pocket as well as the thigh support layer appearance and construction when not worn on a body.

Detailed description

Referring to drawings, wherein like reference numbers identify like parts: Referring to several figures of the drawing, general reference number 1 depicts the elasticated style seam of the sports tights, which curves around the body in a continuous line from the front to the back of the garment, wherein the front inside support panel, as well as the back pocket panels, are attached by a flat-lock machine stitch.

Referring to several figures of the drawing [figures 1 to 3], general reference number 2 indicates the front and back leg panels of the sports tights.

Referring to several figures of the drawing, general reference number 3 indicates the front bodice panel, which is unlined.

Referring to several figures of the drawing, general reference number 4 indicates the small breathable gusset panel of the sports tights, which adds to the wearer's movability and comfort by preventing the pocket opening from running all the way into the crotch, which would result in bulkiness and friction between the legs.

Referring to several figures of the drawing, general reference numberS indicates the leg opening, wherein the inside thigh support layer attaches to the outer shell of the sports tights at the hem.

Referring to figures 3 and 6, the general reference number 6 depicts the elasticated flat-locked side seam, wherein both, the ball pocket panels as well as the inside thigh support layer panels attach.

Referring to figures 2 and 3, the general reference number 7 illustrates the large ball pockets made of extra layers of stretch-jersey fabric that extends across the entire back width of the garment, in which balls can easily be inserted or retrieved, the pocket opening towards the bottom and its bottom edge being bound with an elastic trim binding which prevents the balls from falling out.

Referring to figure 2, the reference number 8 indicates the elastic trim binding) which is attached to either bottom edge of the two ball pockets, to ensure secure carriage of sports balls, i.e. tennis balls, by pulling the pocket opening firmly against the body.

Referring to figure 2, the reference number 9 illustrates the flat-locked centre back seam, dividing the extra layer of self-fabric to create two separate pockets.

Referring to figure 2, the reference number 10 indicates how a tennis ball can easily be inserted into one of the large ball pocket.

Referring to figures 4, 5 and 6, the general reference number 11 indicates the inside thigh control panels, which are cut smaller and tighter than the outside panel, being made of a highly supportive stretch material and anchored into seams 1 and 13 and the hem 5.

Referring to figure 5, the reference number 12 indicates the backside panels, which are completely covered by the large ball pockets made of extra layers of stretch-jersey fabric that extends across the entire back width of the garment.

Referring to figures 5 and 6, the reference number 13 depicts the flat-lock seam which connects the backside panels, to the back leg panel, and also secures the inside thigh support panel to the sports tights.

Referring to figure 7, the reference number 14 depicts the imaginary line of the inside thigh control layer, indicating by a dotted line that such layer is cut tighter and closer to the body for better support, which results in an uneven leg shape when off the body.