Jerseys Having Releasable Seams

Abstract

American football jerseys designed to enhance a player's safety are disclosed herein. Preferred jerseys are designed to prevent injuries caused from “horse-collar” tackles and have one or more releasable seams that begin in the collar.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments herein relate to sport jerseys designed for American Football having one or more releasable seams that begin in the collar area of the jersey and traverses downward to the torso area.

BACKGROUND

Under the National Football League (NFL), the Canadian Football League (CFL), and NCAA football rules, it is illegal for a player to “horse-collar tackle” another player. One particular type of “horse-collar tackle” is when a player grabs the collar of another player's jersey to bring him down. This type of tackle has been shown to be dangerous as it often traps one or both of the tackled player's legs under their own body weight as they fall down.

Most positions of players are horse-collar tackled from the back and these include running back, tail backs, wide receivers, and tight ends, for example. There are also instances when a player is horse-collar tackled from the front of the jersey, as can be the case with a quarterback in the pocket.

While “horse-collar” tackling will result in a penalty against the infringing team, there has been no recent changes to the football uniform to help prevent or alleviate the potential injuries to a player who is still either intentionally or inadvertently tackled this way.

Decades ago, “tear-away” jerseys made of very thin cotton were developed to make players harder to tackle, not for protecting the tackled player. When a player grabbed and pulled a “tear-away” jersey, the jersey would rip and tear randomly, and not along defined, releasable, seams. The problem with this jersey is that when grabbed with force it would completely tear; thereby ruining the jersey for future use, and making it look shabby. This design was wasteful and players would need to go to the sideline to obtain a new jersey if their jersey was destroyed during a game. This obviously delayed the game, and the tear-away jerseys were banned from the game.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide new and improved jerseys to alleviate or prevent injuries from “horse-collar” tackles, while allowing other parts of the jersey to be grabbed as part of a tackle. More specifically, new jerseys are needed that can be re-worn, and whose structural integrity is not damaged when grabbed with force. Additionally, there is a need to provide a safer and improved jersey depending on the position the player plays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments are directed to an American football jersey having a top, bottom, frontside, and backside and comprising a main body of tear-resistant fabric configured to be worn around the torso of a player; a collar positioned on the top of the main body of fabric; and a first seam having means for releasably sealing itself, that begins in the collar area and traverses down the main body of the jersey.

According to preferred embodiments, the first seam does not traverse the entire length of the main body. Even more specifically, the first seam can be shorter than the mid-length point on the main body of fabric.

Further embodiments include jerseys comprising a second seam having means for releasably sealing itself, and that begins in the collar area and traverses down the main body of the jersey. Preferably, the means for releasably sealing the first and second seam comprise hook and loop fasteners.

Advantageous embodiments include jerseys where the first and second seams are positioned on the backside or the frontside of the jersey. More specifically, the first and second seams can define sides of a downward folding flap having an upper side that constitutes part of the collar area. It is also preferred that the first and second seams diverge away from each other as they traverse down the main body of the jersey.

Alternative embodiments also include jerseys wherein the first and second seams are positioned on the frontside of the jersey and the backside comprises a third seam having means for releasably sealing itself, that begins in the collar area and traverses down the main body of the jersey.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed on illustrating the various aspects and features of embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective back view of a preferred jersey with the seams closed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective back view of a preferred jersey with the seams opened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of an alternative jersey with the seams closed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective front view of an alternative jersey with the seams opened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective back view of an alternative jersey with a closed seam.

FIG. 6 is a perspective back view of an alternative jersey with an open seam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the above-described Figures. It is, however, expressly noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments depicted in the Figures, but rather the intention is that modifications that are apparent to the person skilled in the art and equivalents thereof are also included.

Preferred embodiments are directed to a jersey configured to be worn on the upper body by a football player. In general a jersey can preferably include a collar, a front and back torso-covering portion, and sleeves for the arms. Current shapes and materials of jerseys in current use in the NFL and the NCAA can be used with the improvements provided below.

First Embodiment

According to an advantageous first embodiment, non-exclusively designed for players who are commonly tackled from behind (e.g., running backs, tail backs, wide receivers, and tight ends), the frontside of the jersey does not include any releasable seams, and the backside of the jersey 2 includes first and second releasable seams 10 and 12 that begin in the collar area 7 and traverse down the backside 4 of the jersey 2. The first and second releasable seams 10 and 12 define sides of a flap 8 configured to fold downward when grabbed and pulled. The upper side 6 of the flap 8 preferably defines part of the collar area 7 when the flap 8 is in a closed position (FIG. 1), and thus leaves an opening in the collar area 7 when the flap 8 is folded downward in the open position (FIG. 2). The width of the flap's 8 upper side 6 is preferably, but not exclusively, more than 4 inches and is less than 18 inches, depending on many factors, including the size of the player, for example.

The flap 8 is configured such that it will fold downward when the upper section 6 that defines part of the collar 7, or another portion of the flap 8, is grabbed with force. Additionally it is advantageous if the shoulder area of the jersey 2 detaches from the flap 8 when a section of the collar 7, besides the upper side 6 of the flap 8, is grabbed and pulled from the side. Accordingly, a pull on the collar area 7 or 6 will cause one or both of the releasable seams 10 and 12 to open up, without causing a sudden jolt to the player wearing the jersey 2. This in turn will prevent or at least lessen the chances that a player will be injured from a “horse-collar” tackle.

The first and second releasable seams 10 and 12 can include any suitable means for releasable fastening such that they can be readily opened and closed. Preferably the first seam 10 comprises means for releasable fastening 18 on the inner side of the flap 8 that are configured to fasten with complementary means for releasable fastening 20 on the outer side of the back 4 of the jersey 2. Likewise it is preferred that the second seam 12 comprises means for releasable fastening 14 on the inner side of the flap 8 that are configured to fasten with complementary means for releasable fastening 16 on the outer side of the back 4 of the jersey 2. One preferred means for releasably fastening that can be used with the seams 10 and 12 include complementary hook and loop fasteners, such as those sold under the trademark VELCRO®. Accordingly, the means for fastening 18 and 14 on the inner side of the flap 8 can include a strip of hook fasteners while the complementary means for fastening 20 and 16 on the outside of the back 4 of the jersey 2 can include a strip of loop fasteners, or vice versa.

Hook and loop fasteners, such as VELCRO®, are preferred because it allows a player to quickly close their opened seams 10 and 12 before the next play. As the play clock for most collegiate and NFL games is currently 40 seconds, there is not a lot of time for a player to get up after being tackled, return to the huddle and/or line up and reseal open seams 10 and 12. Although not preferred because they will most likely be slower to close, other means for releasably opening and closing the seams 10 and 12 can be used instead of hook and loop fasteners, including complementary snaps, for example.

Preferably the seams 10 and 12 begin in the collar area 7 of the jersey 2 and diverge down the backside 4 of the jersey 2. In alternative, non-preferred embodiments, the seams 10 and 12 can traverse straight downward from the collar 7, or converge towards each other also. While not shown, the topside 6 of the flap 8 can define the entire backside of the collar 7, half of the entire collar area 7, in addition to portions thereof. The releasable seams 10 and 12 are preferably about 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16 inches in length, but can be longer or shorter depending on many factors, including the size of the player, for example. As the jerseys herein are not intended to be used as a reversible jersey, allowing a wearer to alternate between dominant colors, it is highly preferred that the seams 10 and 12 do not traverse the entire length of the jersey 2. According to non-preferred embodiments, the seams 10 and 12 can transverse the entire length of the jersey 2. In other embodiments, the seams 10 and 12 traverse downward to the middle of the jersey 2, or are shorter than the middle of the jersey 2.

Second Embodiment

While the above-described first embodiment is directed to a jersey 2 having two releasable seams 10 and 12 on the backside 4 and no releasable seams on the frontside, a second preferred embodiment is contemplated for players who are likely to get tackled from the front of their jersey, such as a quarterback in the pocket. The second embodiment of jersey 2a, and as depicted in FIGS. 3-6, includes two releasable seams 10a and 12a positioned on the frontside 5a of the jersey 2a. It is expressly noted that the above detailed description, non-exclusively including the positioning, length, means for releasably fastening, and different embodiments of releasable seams 10 and 12 on the backside 4 of the first embodiment jersey 2 is also applicable to the frontside 5a of a second embodiment jersey 2a.

More specifically, it is preferred that the second embodiment jersey 2a includes first and second releasable seams 10a and 12a that begin in the collar area 7a and traverse down the frontside 5a of the jersey 2a. The first and second releasable seams 10a and 12a define sides of a flap 8a configured to fold downward when grabbed with force. The upper side 6a of the flap 8a preferably defines part of the collar area 7a when the flap 8a is in a closed position (FIG. 3), and thus leaves an opening in the collar area 7a when the flap 8a is folded downward in the open position (FIG. 4).

The second embodiment of jersey 2a also preferably includes a single releasable seam 22a on the backside 4a of the jersey 2a, as shown in FIG. 5. The releasable seam 22a preferably starts in the collar area 7a, more preferably in or near the middle of the back collar 7a and traverses straight, or approximately straight, down the backside 4a of the jersey 2a. In alternative, non-preferred embodiments, the seam 22a can slant downward at an angle. The single releasable seam 22a is preferably about 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16 inches in length, but can be longer or shorter depending on many factors, including the size of the player, for example. It is highly preferred that the seam 22a does not traverse the entire length of the jersey 2a. In other embodiments, the seam 22a traverses downward to mid-length of the jersey 2a, or shorter than mid-length of the jersey 2a.

As shown in FIG. 6, the single releasable seam 22a defines a first and second flap 24a and 26a when opened. Preferably, the first flap 24a includes a first means for releasably fastening 28a that is complementary to the second means for releasably fastening 30a positioned on the second flap 26a. More specifically it is preferred that the first means for releasably fastening 28a is positioned on the inner side of the first flap 24a and the second means for releasably fastening 30a is positioned on the outer side to the second flap 26a, or vice versa. Preferred means for releasably fastening include those discussed above including hook and look fasteners, such as those sold under the trademark VELCRO®.

As a main objective of the teachings herein is to maintain the structural integrity of the jerseys after they are grabbed with force, such as by an NFL linebacker, preferred jerseys are made of strong and tear-resistant fabric. More specifically, preferred jerseys can be made of thick polyester, such as the polyester sold under the registered trademark PRO-BRITE. Other synthetic and natural fabrics suitable for American football jerseys, that are not susceptible to tearing when grabbed and pulled, can also be used for making the jerseys herein. The collared area of the jerseys herein can be made of the same materials described above, including spandex, such as lycratalic spandex, for example. It is additionally preferred that the releasable seams and the bottom side of the flaps described herein can be double-stitched, or otherwise reinforced to prevent tearing.

It is expressly contemplated that the frontsides and backsides of the jerseys provided herein can include any combination of the above-described releasable seams. These include jerseys having any of the following variations: only two releasable seams on the backside and no releasable seams on the frontside, only two releasable seams on the frontside and no releasable seams on the backside, two releasable seams on the frontside and two releasable seams on the backside, two releasable seams on the frontside and one releasable seam on the backside, two releasable seams on the backside and one releasable seam on the frontside, only one releasable seam on the frontside and no releasable seams on the backside, only one releasable seam in the backside and no releasable seams on the frontside, and one releasable seam on the backside and one releasable seam on the frontside.

In addition to being designed for offensive players, the jerseys herein can also be worn by defensive and special teams players as they are also susceptible to being tackled if they intercept, recover a fumbled ball, return a kickoff, or recover an onside kick, for example.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms besides and beyond those described herein. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. An American football jersey having a top, bottom, frontside, and backside and comprising:

a main body of tear-resistant fabric configured to be worn around the torso of a player;

a collar area positioned on the top of the main body of fabric;

and a first seam having means for releasably sealing itself that begins in the collar area and traverses down the main body of fabric.

2. The jersey of claim 1, wherein the first seam does not traverse the entire length of the main body of fabric.

3. The jersey of claim 2, wherein the first seam is shorter than the mid-length point on the main body of fabric.

4. The jersey of claim 1, wherein the means for releasably sealing the first seam comprise hook and loop fasteners.

5. The jersey of claim 1, further comprising a second seam having means for releasably sealing itself and that begins in the collar area and traverses down the main body of fabric.

6. The jersey of claim 5, wherein the means for releasably sealing the first and second seams comprise hook and loop fasteners.

7. The jersey of claim 5, wherein the first and second seams are positioned on the backside of the jersey.

8. The jersey of claim 5, wherein the first and second seams are positioned on the frontside of the jersey.

9. The jersey of claim 8, wherein the backside of the jersey comprises a third seam having means for releasably sealing itself, that begins in the collar area and traverses down the main body of fabric.

10. The jersey of claim 5, wherein the first and second seams diverge away from each other as they traverse down the main body of fabric.

11. The jersey of claim 5, wherein the first and second seams traverse the same distance down the main body of fabric.