ATHLETIC PANTS

Abstract

An article of clothing having an outer layer, an inner layer connected to the outer layer and a cushioning insert. The inner layer is connected to the outer layer by at least two side seams. The cushioning insert is fixedly secured and is sandwiched within a predetermined area between the inner layer and the outer layer such that the cushioning insert is located between the two side seams without contacting them.

Description

BACKGROUND

The invention generally relates to the field of athletic legwear.

A person's knee marks the meeting place of three bones: the shinbone (tibia), the thighbone (femur), and the kneecap (patella). Two crescent-shaped pads of cartilage, each called a meniscus, sit between the shinbone and the thighbone and act as cushions between the bones and shock absorbers during movement. Two sets of ligaments—the cruciates and the collaterals—strap all three bones in place. The cruciates crisscross below the kneecap; the collaterals run alongside the outside of the kneecap. The leg's substantial muscles help these ligaments keep the bones properly aligned.

During physical exercises, for example, yoga, a substantial pressure may be applied to the kneecap and shin areas. It would be desirable to protect the kneecap and shin areas during exercises or other routine activities when damaging pressure may be applied to the knee and shin area.

U.S. Pat..No. 7,194,770 discloses work pants with built-in knee pads. The work pants include a leg member extending to above a knee and a knee section having a cushioning material housed therein. The knee section is secured to a worker's leg by a plurality of straps which may be releasably attached to the worker's shoes.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,598 discloses infant pants having knee pockets and replaceable knee pads. The knee pads are permanently or removably mounted to an inner surface of the pants or to an infant pants inner liner. Either the pants or the liner has an internal pocket to secure a replaceable protective pad within the pocket.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,408 discloses pants for use when performing work in which sitting and kneeling take place frequently, as in roofing work. The pants include padding in the seat and knee areas.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect of the invention, an article of clothing is provided. The article of clothing has an outer layer, an inner layer connected to the outer layer and a cushioning insert. The inner layer is connected to the outer layer by at least two side seams. The cushioning insert is fixedly secured and is sandwiched within a predetermined area between the inner layer and the outer layer such that the cushioning insert is located between the two side seams without contacting them.

In another general aspect of the invention, athletic pants are provided. The pants have an outer layer, an inner layer having an area smaller than the area of the outer layer, and a cushioning insert. The inner layer is connected to the outer layer at two side seams. The cushioning insert is secured to a predetermined area between the inner layer and the outer layer such that the cushioning insert is sandwiched between the inner layer and the outer layer and is located between the two side seams without contacting them.

The above aspects, advantages and features are of representative embodiments only. It should be understood that they are not to be considered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims. Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation and the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references denote like or corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the athletic pants;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the athletic pants;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the athletic pants;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cushioning section of the athletic pants;

FIGS. 5a-5b are a front and side view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of the athletic pants;

FIGS. 6a-6b are front views of a childwear having cushioning inserts; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a shirt having cushioning inserts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND THE DRAWINGS

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of knee and shin protecting athletic pants 10 is provided in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each pair of pants preferably has leg portions 12, each having an outer layer 14, an inner layer 16 and two side seams 18. The inner layer 16 is preferably smaller than the outer layer 14 and is secured to the outer layer at the two side seams 18. Alternatively, the inner layer 16 may be secured to the outer layer by an adhesive or by a hook and loop fastener.

Pants 10 further include a cushioning insert 20 positioned within a predetermined area 56 of the pants. In the preferred embodiment, this predetermined area is the knee and shin area of the pants. The cushioning insert 20 is preferably secured within the predetermined area 56 such that the cushioning insert 20 is sandwiched between the inner and outer layers and is located between the two side seams 18 without contacting either of the seams. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the cushioning insert 20 is fixedly attached to the inner and outer layers by additional seams surrounding the cushioning insert. Alternatively, the cushioning insert can be removable from and re-attachable to the predetermined area 56 of the athletic pants. In such alternative embodiment, the cushioning insert 20 can be removably attached to the inner side or the outer side of the outer layer 14 with an adhesive, a hook and loop fastener or a snap-on fastener. Any other means of removable attachment may also be utilized. the fastener may also be adjustable to allow the cushioning insert to move to be properly positioned on the wearer's knee and shin.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, cushioning insert 20 is made of a foam material or a gel or gel-like material to provide adequate protection and cushioning for the wearer. Other suitable materials may also be utilized.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, cushioning insert 20 is positioned in the knee and shin area of the pants 10 such that the insert covers at least the knee cap and adjacent area of the wearer's tibia. To accomplish this protection, the gel insert may be trapezoid, rectangular, triangular or semi-circular in shape. Other shapes may also be utilized. To allow for more freedom of movement, as well as for aesthetic purposes, it is preferred that the cushioning insert 20 is not attached to the outer layer 14 so that neither the cushioning insert 20 nor its attachment seams are visible from outside when the wearer wears pants 10.

It should be understood by a person skilled in the art that, although the present application describes the cushioning insert as being positioned between the two layers of fabric, it may simply be positioned directly on the wearer's knee and shin.

As shown in FIGS. 5a- 5b, in addition to protecting the knee and shin areas of the pants wearer, pants 10′ may be provided with further cushioning inserts 24-28 to protect the wearer's side leg areas (cushioning inserts 24), pelvic bone area (cushioning insert 26) and seat area (cushioning inserts 28).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6a-6b, cushioning inserts may be applied to children clothing. For example, a pair of infant overalls 30 may be provided with knee and shin cushioning inserts 32 and seat cushioning inserts 34. Each leg portion 36 of the overalls 30 preferably includes an inner layer 38, an outer layer 40 and a pair of side seams 42. As shown in FIG. 6a, cushioning inserts 32, 34 may be fixedly secured to the inner layer 38 and side seams 42 such that the cushioning inserts are immovably sandwiched between the inner and outer layers. An additional thermal or cushioning layer 44 may be provided between the inner layer 38 with the cushioning inserts and the outer layer 40. Although, the drawings illustrate application of the cushioning inserts to children's overalls, a person skilled in the art would understand that the inserts may be applied to any other type of children clothing, for example, pants, shirts, creepers, etc. Further, it should be understood that the cushioning inserts may also be applied to other areas of children clothing, e.g., elbows and forearms.

Moreover, in an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6b, the cushioning insert 46 shaped as a decorative element may be fixedly attached to the outside of the outer layer 40.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, cushioning inserts 48 may be applied to a shirt 50. Specifically, shirt 50 may'include an inner layer 52 and an outer layer 54. Each cushioning insert 48 is preferably fixedly secured to the inner layer 52 in the rib cage area such that the cushioning insert is immovably sandwiched between the inner layer and the outer layer. Cushioning insert 48 is preferably not attached to the outer layer 54 so that neither the cushioning insert nor its attachment seams are visible from outside of the shirt.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An article of clothing comprising:

an, outer layer;

an inner layer connected to the outer layer at two side seams; and

a cushioning insert fixedly secured to a predetermined area between the inner layer and the outer layer such that the cushioning insert is sandwiched between the inner layer and the outer layer and is located between the two side seams without contacting them.

2. The article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is a pair of pants.

3. The article of clothing according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined area corresponds to a wearer's knee and shin area.

4. The article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein, the cushioning insert comprises a foam material.

5. The article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning insert comprises a gel material.

6. The article of clothing according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of insert seams securing the cushioning insert within the predetermined area.

7. Athletic pants comprising:

an outer layer;

an inner layer having an area smaller than an area of the outer layer, the inner layer being connected to the outer layer at two side seams; and

a cushioning'insert secured to a predetermined area between the inner layer and the outer layer such that the cushioning insert is sandwiched between the inner layer and the outer layer and is located between the two side seams without contacting them.

8. The athletic pants according to claim 7, wherein the cushioning insert is removable from and reattachable to the predetermined area.

9. The athletic pants according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of insert seams fixedly securing the cushioning insert within the predetermined area.

10. The athletic pants according to claim 7, wherein the cushioning insert comprises a gel material.

11. The athletic pants according to claim 7, wherein the cushioning insert comprises a foam material.

12. The athletic pants according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined area corresponds to a wearer's knee and shin area.