DECORATIVE SPORTS THEMED CLOTHING

Abstract

A decorative sports-themed garment is disclosed. The garment includes a surface of the garment a decorative raised pattern upon the surface configured to appear like stitches on a baseball, the decorative raised pattern configured as an hourglass shape upon the surface of the garment. The hourglass shape includes a first wide section corresponding to a hip portion of the garment, a second wide section corresponding to an arm portion of the garment, and a narrow section corresponding to a midriff portion of the garment. The decorative raised pattern can be on a front or a rear surface of the garment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure is claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/150,640 filed on Apr. 21, 2015 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is related to an article of clothing including sport themed decorative raised structures on the clothing. In particular, the disclosure is related to apparel with raised stitch patterns formed upon the apparel to imitate a baseball.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art.

Many articles of clothing have patterns on them. Patches of cloth can be sewn together. Printed materials can be provided through silk-screening or other methods known in the art. Sport themed clothing is known to provide images of balls, of balls being thrown, or balls flying through the air.

Clothing is known to fit the form of a female. Shirts for females are known to include an hourglass shape including wider sections at the arms and hips and a narrower section at the midriff.

SUMMARY

A decorative sports-themed garment is disclosed. The garment includes a surface of the garment a decorative raised pattern upon the surface configured to appear like stitches on a baseball, the decorative raised pattern configured as an hourglass shape upon the surface of the garment. The hourglass shape includes a first wide section corresponding to a hip portion of the garment, a second wide section corresponding to an arm portion of the garment, and a narrow section corresponding to a midriff portion of the garment. The decorative raised pattern can be on a front or a rear surface of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary tee shirt with a pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions sewn to other portions of the shirt including a raised stitched pattern on each of the arcuate stitch pattern portions, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates components to the tee shirt of FIG. 1 including a front panel, the two arcuate stitch pattern portions, and sleeve portions, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a first exemplary set of components of the shirt of FIG. 1 complimenting the components of FIG. 2, presenting two additional arcuate stitch pattern portions on a back of the shirt, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a second exemplary set of components of the shirt of FIG. 1 complimenting the components of FIG. 2 including a plain back of the shirt, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary interior of the shirt of FIG. 1, illustrating seams joining an arcuate stitch pattern portion to adjacent panel portions, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary alternative interior of the shirt of FIG. 1, illustrating a smooth panel sewn over a back side of an arcuate stitch pattern portion, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 photographically illustrates a first embodiment of a shirt including a pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 photographically illustrates an exemplary interior of a shirt, illustrating seams joining an arcuate stitch pattern portion to adjacent panel portions, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary alternative interior of a shirt, illustrating a smooth panel sewn over a back side of an arcuate stitch pattern portion, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 photographically illustrates a second embodiment of a shirt including a pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions, in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary tee shirt with a decorative raised pattern sewn directly upon the shirt, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fans of different sporting events look for ways to be involved in cheering for their team and ways of getting into the spirit of the game with other fans. Clothing with decorative themes related to sporting events is popular with consumers.

Methods are known to decorate a shirt or other piece of clothing. For example, silkscreen methods are known where a polymer film is deposited upon and adhered to a shirt surface to display a pattern or logo upon the shirt. Embroidery is known wherein a tight sewing pattern is provided upon clothing, with the stitches being immediately next to each other, and the resulting stitch pattern provides a graphic display upon the article of clothing.

A baseball has a characteristic stitch pattern upon it. Two figure-eight-shaped leather sleeves are wrapped around a core, and the leather sleeves are stitched together in a characteristic pattern. The baseball stitch pattern is frequently created with red thread or thin cord such that the stitches are easily visible against the white leather of the sleeves. Baseball fans readily identify with the baseball stitch pattern.

An article of clothing is disclosed displaying a baseball stitch pattern provided as decorative raised structures on the surface of the clothing. In one exemplary embodiment, a thick cord, similar to an exemplary shoe string or in another example including a decorative lace thread, can be threaded upon the surface of the clothing to imitate a baseball stitch pattern, the resulting cord pattern upon the garment being raised from the surface of the garment. In another exemplary embodiment, an embroidered pattern in exemplary red thread can be provided upon the garment, the resulting embroidered stitch pattern imitating a baseball stitch and being raised from the surface of the garment. In another exemplary embodiment, a polymerized dedicated panel or polymerized inset can be sewn and connected to other panels of the garment, the dedicated panel including a material that can include formed indentations which result in raised sections upon the garment. Such exemplary dedicated panels could, for example, be constructed of a rubberized polymer material molded with a baseball stitch pattern thereupon or a Spandex-type material configured to create a raised pattern upon the Spandex according to methods known in the art. In another embodiment, an adhesive, decorative material known in the art as “puffy paint” could be applied to the clothing to create the raised stitch pattern on the garment. A number of cloth and secondary material configurations are envisioned to create decorative raised structures upon a piece of clothing to imitate baseball stitches, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein.

Baseball stitches could be displayed upon a shirt, dress, leggings, baseball cap, or other piece of clothing according to a number of different patterns according to the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a stitch pattern imitating a particular orientation of a baseball can be represented upon a shirt including an hourglass shape in the stitching, with the hourglass shape being centered upon a front of the shirt, with the wider portions of the hourglass shape being near the arms and hip section of the shirt, and with the narrower portion of the hourglass shape being near a midriff portion of the shirt. Sports fans will recognize such a pattern immediately as imitating a baseball. Such a shape on a shirt or dress for a female can be configured to correspond to a desired style corresponding to an anatomical shape of a woman's body, thereby increasing marketability of the clothing.

Utility is provided enabling enhanced advertising or team logo display, for example, with the name of a famous team or ball manufacturer being displayed upon the front or rear panel of the shirt between the realistic stitch patterns disclosed herein, enhancing the visual affect of the advertising with realistic ball stitching not previously available. Utility is further provided, providing a shirt in the shape of a woman's body profile with plain pieces of cloth cut into the component shapes of FIGS. 2-4, whereas form fit single piece or modified tube shirts can be more difficult and costly to weave into shape. Utility is further provided by the smooth panel of FIG. 9, permitting use of a form fitting shirt including exemplary embroidery which could be irritating to the body of the wearer, however, with the smooth panel covering the back of the embroidery pattern and preventing the irritation.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary tee shirt with a pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions sewn to the other portions of the shirt including a raised stitched pattern on each of the arcuate stitch pattern portions. Shirt 100 is illustrated including arcuate stitch pattern portions 10 and 12 providing a baseball theme upon the shirt. Shirt 100 is configured for an exemplary female wearer. Arcuate stitch pattern portions 10 and 12 are configured to present an hourglass shape presented upon a front surface of the garment. The hourglass shape includes a first wide section 18 corresponding to a hip portion of the garment, a second wide section 14 corresponding to an arm portion of the garment, and a narrow section 16 corresponding to a midriff portion of the garment. It will be appreciated that the particular shape of the shirt can change for different sizes of garment while maintaining an hourglass/baseball stitch coordination theme exemplified by shirt 100. While FIG. 1 illustrates the decorative pattern on a front surface of the shirt, it will be appreciated that the pattern can be on a rear surface of the shirt instead.

FIG. 2 illustrates components to the tee shirt of FIG. 1 including a front panel, the two arcuate stitch pattern portions, and sleeve portions. Front panel 20 is illustrated. Two arcuate stitch pattern portions 10 and 12 are illustrated configured to be sewn against or joined with matching arcuate sections 22 and 24 of front panel 20, respectively. First sleeve portion 50 and second sleeve portion 52 are illustrated configured to be joined with arm holes created by joining the other components of the shirt. The illustrated sleeve portions are exemplary, and can take the form of any short or long sleeve design known in the art for use with a woman's shirt. Neck trim piece 60 and arm trim pieces 70 are illustrated configured to be joined with a neck hole and sleeve portions 50 and 52 according to methods known in the art. Each of the illustrated components in the disclosure are illustrated with dotted lines representing extra material portions 5 that are needed to create sewn seams joining parts together or hem lines finishing an edge of the shirt, in accordance with methods known in the art.

Arcuate stitch pattern portions 10 and 12 each include raised stitch patterns 15. Raised stitch patterns 15 can include embroidered stitches, laces or thick threads, polymerized portions, puffy paint, or any other structure known in clothing arts to create a raised stitch pattern on a swatch of cloth. Any color or combination of colors can be used for the stitch patterns.

Material used to create front panel 10, sleeve sections 50 and 52, and any other cloth sections of the shirt can be made from any material known in the art, including but not limited to cotton, a polyester blend, and spandex. Any color or combination of colors can be used for the cloth sections.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first exemplary set of components of the shirt of FIG. 1 complimenting the components of FIG. 2, presenting two additional arcuate stitch pattern portions on a back of the shirt. A back of shirt 100 of FIG. 1 can include matching stitch patterns as presented upon a front of shirt 100. Arcuate stitch pattern portions 54 and 56 are illustrated configured to be joined with rear panel 30. Side panels 40 are illustrated, configured to be joined to the exposed, inner curvature of the arcuate stitch pattern portions connected to the front and rear panels. According to one embodiment as presented by FIGS. 2 and 3, as the four arcuate stitch pattern portions 50, 52, 54, and 56 are joined to the front and rear panels, respectively, the arcuate stitch pattern portions can each be sewn to the long sides of side panels 40, thereby creating the circumference of a body of shirt 100. In another embodiment, side panels 40 need not be rectangular in shape, for example, including a concave or convex long side pattern, accommodating alternative fits, sizes, or body shapes for the shirt.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second exemplary set of components of the shirt of FIG. 1 complimenting the components of FIG. 2 including a plain back of the shirt. A back of shirt 100 of FIG. 1 can include a plain shirt surface, with rear panel 130 including incorporated arcuate portions 132 and 134 making up for omission of arcuate stitch panel portions 54 and 56 on the equivalent configuration of FIG. 3. Side panels 40 are illustrated, configured to be joined to the exposed, inner curvature of the arcuate stitch pattern portions 50 and 52 of FIG. 2 connected to the front panel and the arcuate sides presented by arcuate portions 132 and 134 of rear panel 130.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary interior of the shirt of FIG. 1, illustrating seams joining an arcuate stitch pattern portion to adjacent panel portions. Arcuate stitch pattern portion 10 is illustrated, sewn to each of front panel 20 and side panel 40 by seams 212 and 214, respectively. Seams 212 and 214 can include any seam known in the sewing art. In the particular embodiment of FIG. 5, the stitch pattern 216 on arcuate stitch pattern portion 10 includes embroidered stitches, which are known to include threading on the back of the portion matching or similar to the embroidered pattern on the front of the portion.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary alternative interior of the shirt of FIG. 1, illustrating a smooth panel sewn over a back side of an arcuate stitch pattern portion. FIG. 6 illustrates an optional step or optional construction of the shirt of FIG. 5. A rear stitch pattern of an embroidered design can include scratchy or otherwise irritating stitches on the inside of the shirt. A smooth panel 310 can be sewn over the back side of the arcuate stitch pattern portion, thereby covering the potentially irritating stitches formed on the inside of the shirt. Exemplary seams 312 and 314 are illustrated connecting the smooth panel 310 to the seams connecting the arcuate stitch pattern portion to front panel 20 and side panel 40. Seams 312 and 314 can be sewn at a same time as seams 212 and 214 of FIG. 5, seams 312 and 314 can be sewn at a later time as seams 212 and 214, or seams 312 and 314 can be sewn ahead of time, with the arcuate stitch pattern portion and the smooth panel 310 being pre-joined prior to be being joined to the other panels.

FIG. 7 photographically illustrates a first embodiment of a shirt including a pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions. The stitch patters of FIG. 7 are embroidered according to one exemplary configuration of the disclosure. FIG. 8 photographically illustrates an exemplary interior of a shirt, illustrating seams joining an arcuate stitch pattern portion to adjacent panel portions. FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary alternative interior of a shirt, illustrating a smooth panel sewn over a back side of an arcuate stitch pattern portion.

FIG. 10 photographically illustrates a second embodiment of a shirt including a pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions, illustrating a more dense stitch pattern as compared to the shirt of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary tee shirt with a decorative raised pattern sewn directly upon the shirt. Shirt 1000 is illustrated including decorative raised patterns 1010 and 1012 providing a baseball theme upon the shirt. Shirt 1000 is configured for an exemplary female wearer. Decorative raised patterns 1010 and 1012 are configured to present an hourglass shape presented upon a front surface of the garment. The hourglass shape includes a first wide section 1018 corresponding to a hip portion of the garment, a second wide section 1014 corresponding to an arm portion of the garment, and a narrow section 1016 corresponding to a midriff portion of the garment. It will be appreciated that the particular shape of the shirt can change for different sizes of garment while maintaining an hourglass/baseball stitch coordination theme exemplified by shirt 1000.

It will be appreciated that a similar shirt and similar decorative raised pattern can be utilized with a unisex or male shirt with a straight shirt profile.

Particular stitch patterns and decorative arrangements are provided on a number of exemplary garments. The provided patterns and arrangements are provided as examples, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular examples provided.

The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications of those embodiments. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A decorative sports-themed garment comprising a shirt, the garment comprising:

a surface of the garment comprising one of a front surface of the garment and a rear surface of the garment; and

a decorative raised pattern upon the surface configured to appear like stitches on a baseball, the decorative raised pattern comprising an hourglass shape upon the surface of the garment, the hourglass shape comprising: a first wide section corresponding to a hip portion of the garment; a second wide section corresponding to an arm portion of the garment; and a narrow section corresponding to a midriff portion of the garment.

2. The garment of claim 1, further comprising:

a front panel of the garment comprising two arcuate vertical side sections matching the hourglass shape;

a pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions each comprising half of the decorative raised pattern, the pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions each joined to one of the two arcuate vertical side sections.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the decorative raised pattern comprises a segment of cord sewn to the garment.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the decorative raised pattern comprises embroidered stitches.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the decorative raised pattern comprises puffy paint.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the decorative raised pattern comprises a polymerized inset.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the surface of the garment comprises the front surface of the garment; and

further comprising: a second decorative raised pattern upon the rear surface configured to appear like the stitches on the baseball, the decorative raised pattern comprising a second hourglass shape upon the rear surface of the garment, the second hourglass shape comprising: a third wide section corresponding to the hip portion of the garment; a fourth wide section corresponding to the arm portion of the garment; and a second narrow section corresponding to the midriff portion of the garment.

8. The garment of claim 7, further comprising:

a rear panel of the garment comprising two additional arcuate vertical side sections matching the second hourglass shape;

a second pair of arcuate stitch pattern portions each comprising half of the second decorative raised pattern joined to the two additional arcuate vertical side sections of the rear panel.

9. A decorative sports-themed garment comprising a shirt, the garment comprising:

a front panel of the garment comprising two arcuate vertical side sections forming an hourglass shape comprising: a first wide section corresponding to a hip portion of the garment; a second wide section corresponding to an arm portion of the garment; and a narrow section corresponding to a midriff portion of the garment;

two arcuate stitch pattern portions, each joined to one the two arcuate vertical side sections and the two arcuate stitch pattern portions together matching the hourglass shape, each of the arcuate stitch pattern portions comprising a raised stitch pattern configured to imitate stitches on a baseball.

10. The garment of claim 9, further comprising:

a rear panel of the garment comprising two additional arcuate vertical side sections forming a second hourglass shape comprising: a third wide section corresponding to the hip portion of the garment; a fourth wide section corresponding to the arm portion of the garment; and a second narrow section corresponding to the midriff portion of the garment;

two additional arcuate stitch pattern portions, each joined to one the two arcuate vertical side sections of the rear panel and the two additional arcuate stitch pattern portions together matching the second hourglass shape, each of the additional arcuate stitch pattern portions comprising a second raised stitch pattern configured to imitate stitches on the baseball.

11. A decorative sports-themed garment comprising a shirt, the garment comprising:

a rear panel of the garment comprising two arcuate vertical side sections forming an hourglass shape comprising: a first wide section corresponding to a hip portion of the garment; a second wide section corresponding to an arm portion of the garment; and a narrow section corresponding to a midriff portion of the garment;

two arcuate stitch pattern portions, each joined to one the two arcuate vertical side sections and the two arcuate stitch pattern portions together matching the hourglass shape, each of the arcuate stitch pattern portions comprising a raised stitch pattern configured to imitate stitches on a baseball.