SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Abstract

The sports apparel (100) comprising: an outer shell (102); an inner supporting structure; wherein the inner support structure when worn by a user is capable of forming a space around at least part of a human body and the outer shell (102) which provides improved ventilation (136).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports apparel. More particularly, the present invention relates to ventilated sports apparel and a method of ventilating sports apparel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During sporting activities, sports persons may become too hot and over-heat. This can become a serious problem during endurance activities and hot climates. Sports apparel may also become saturated with sweat meaning that the sports person cannot cool properly and their efficiency and sporting performance may dramatically decrease.

It is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one or more of the aforementioned problems.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide improved sports apparel.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide ventilated sports apparel.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a method of ventilating sports apparel.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a method of naturally ventilating sports apparel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports apparel comprising:

an outer shell;

an inner supporting structure;

wherein the inner support structure when worn by a user is capable of forming a space around at least part of a human body and the outer shell which provides improved ventilation.

The present invention therefore relates to a sports apparel which provides a space between a worn garment and at least part of a human body which allows the human to remain cooler during exercise such as running, play football etc. The space may be formed by any suitable type of strapping, pads (e.g. cotton wool pads) and the like.

For example, the space may extend around all of the torso, substantially all of the torso or at least part of the torso. The ventilation may therefore be naturally occurring. By naturally ventilated is meant that the sports apparel has a flow of air moving through the sports apparel as a user moves during a sporting activity. The space is therefore defined as the displacement between the outer shell and the body of user. The garment is therefore held away from the body of a user by the inner support structure which is worn tightly around a user. The space may be constant or substantially constant around the sports apparel.

The sports apparel may therefore be naturally ventilated by the user moving in, for example, a forward or substantially forward direction.

The sports apparel may, for example be a running vest, a football shirt, a gym vest, a cycling vest and the like.

On the front of the sports apparel there may be means for allowing an air flow to occur. Typically, there may be a means for allowing air to enter the space between the outer shell and the inner supporting structure. In particular embodiments, the means may be a perforated area comprising a series of apertures that allow air to enter the space between the outer shell and the inner supporting structure. The perforated area may be of any suitable shape such as disc-like. The apertures may be of about 0.1-2 mm in diameter which allow air to flow through during use. The sports apparel may also comprise a crease down the front or any other aerodynamic structure which may be used to improve the aerodynamics of the sports apparel.

The rear of the sports apparel may also comprise means for allowing an air flow to occur. Air may therefore enter the front of the sports apparel and then exit through the rear of the sports apparel using the means for allowing an air flow to occur from the front through to the rear. The sports apparel may therefore be capable of providing a flow of air through the space between the outer shell and the inner supporting structure. The space may be about 0.1-1 cm.

The outer shell structure may be made from any suitable structure which may be woven or non-woven and may be made from a breathable or non-breathable fabric.

The inner supporting structure may comprise of a tight-fitting elastic arrangement which may comprise of a series of straps such as a series of substantially vertical straps and/or substantially horizontal straps which may elastically form a snug fit around a user. The inner supporting structure may be made from breathable material.

Around the outer surface of the inner structure there may be a plurality of mounting pegs. The mounting pegs may be securely attached to the straps and may be used to form a space between the outer shell and the body of a user. This allows air to flow through the sports apparel from the front of the sports apparel and between the outer shell and the body of a user and exit through the rear of the sports apparel through the means allowing air to flow. The flow of air can be used to both cool an exercising athlete and to dissipate sweat. The mounting pegs may have a length of about 0.1-1 cm which therefore creates a space of between about 0.1-1 cm between the outer shell and the body of a user.

The mounting pegs may be connected to the outer shell using any suitable means such a snap-fit arrangement and/or hook and loop mechanism such as Velcro (Trade Mark).

The mounting legs may be made of a soft elastomeric material to provide good comfort for a user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing ventilation through a sports apparel, said method comprising:

providing a sports apparel with an outer shell;

providing an inner supporting structure;

wherein the inner support structure when worn by a user is capable of forming a space around at least part of a human body and the outer shell which provides improved ventilation.

The sports apparel may be as defined in the first aspect which provides for perforated means on the front and/or rear of the sports apparel to allow air to flow through the space formed between the inner support structure and the outer shell. This provides for improved ventilation and cooling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sports vest according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an expanded view of part of the sports vest shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an inner structure of the sports vest shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is the same view as shown in FIG. 3 but shows the air circulation;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a sports vest shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is an expanded view of the sports vest shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the inner structure of the sports vest shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and also shows the air circulation;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional front view of the sports vest shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 showing the air circulation;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional rear view of the sports vest shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 showing the air circulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, the present invention resides in the provision of sports apparel which is naturally ventilated. By naturally ventilated is meant that the sports apparel has a flow of air moving through the sports apparel as a user moves during a sporting activity.

FIG. 1 shows that there is a sports apparel (e.g. a sports vest) generally designated 100. The sports apparel 100 comprises a substantially centrally mounted ventilation disc 110. The ventilation disc 110 may be of any suitable shape and size and may be located on any position on the front of the sports apparel 100. The ventilation disc 110 comprises a series (e.g. a plurality) of small apertures 112 of about 0.1-2 mm in diameter which allow air 114 to flow through during use. The air flow 114 is shown entering the apertures 112 of the ventilation disc 110. In alternative embodiments the apertures 112 may be microporous. Although not shown the sports apparel 100 may also comprise a crease down the front or any other aerodynamic structure which may be used to improve the aerodynamics of the sports apparel 100.

FIG. 2 is an expanded view of the ventilation disc 110 and more clearly shows the air flow 114 entering the apertures 112 of the ventilation disc 110. As a sports person is running in a forward direction there will therefore be strong flow of air through the apertures 112 of the ventilation disc 110.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the sports apparel 100 where an outer shell structure 102 of the sports apparel 100 has been removed. The outer shell structure 102 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and may be made from any suitable structure which may be woven or non-woven. The outer shell structure 102 may be made from a breathable or non-breathable fabric. FIG. 3 shows the inner structure of the sports apparel 100. The inner structure may therefore be a strap-like arrangement comprising a series of substantially vertical straps and/or substantially horizontal straps which may elastically form a snug fit around a user. However, any form of strap-like structure may be used. The inner structure is made from breathable material. Around the outer surface of the inner structure there is a plurality of mounting pegs 124. The mounting pegs 124 are securely attached to the straps and are used to form a space between the outer shell 102 and the body of a user. This allows air to flow through the ventilation disc 110 on the front of the sports apparel 100 and between the outer shell 102 and the body of a user. The flow of air can be used to both cool an exercising athlete and to dissipate sweat. The mounting pegs 124 may have a length of about 0.1-1 cm which therefore creates a space of between about 0.1-1 cm between the outer shell 102 and the body of a user.

FIG. 4 shows air flow 114 entering the ventilation disc 110 and then flowing as shown by reference numerals 126 between the outer shell 102 and the user.

FIG. 5 shows that there are two ventilation discs 130, 132 located on the rear of the sports apparel 100. Air flows 128, 134 are shown exiting the ventilation discs 130, 132, respectively. Although two ventilation discs 130,132 are shown in the rear any number of ventilation discs may be used.

FIG. 6 is an expanded view of the rear of the sports apparel 100.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the sports apparel 100 which shows the inner structure and more mounting pegs 124. As mentioned previously the mounting pegs 124 are used to create a space between the outer shell 102 and the body of a user. Air flow 136 is shown circulating from front to the rear of the sports apparel 100 and then exiting via the two ventilation discs 130, 132.

FIG. 8 is a further view of the air circulation. Air flow 114 is shown entering the front ventilation disc 110 and then circulating with an air flow 126 around a user between the space formed between the outer shell 102 and the body of a user.

FIG. 9 shows air flow 128,134 exiting the rear ventilation discs 130, 132 and also circulating with an air flow 136 around a user.

The sports apparel 100 according to the present invention may be any type of sporting garment such as a running vest, football shirt, gym vest, a cycling vest etc.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, any suitable type of material may be used to form the sports apparel. Moreover, any suitable type of means may be used to form a space between the outer shell of the sports apparel and that of a user.

Claims

1. A sports apparel comprising:

an outer shell;

an inner supporting structure;

wherein the inner support structure when worn by a user is capable of forming a space around at least part of a human body and the outer shell which provides improved ventilation.

2. A sports apparel according to claim 1, wherein the space between the sports apparel and at least part of a human body allows the human to remain cooler during exercise such as running, playing football, cycling etc.

3. A sports apparel according to claim 1, wherein the sports apparel is a running vest, a football shirt, a gym vest, a cycling vest and the like.

4. A sports apparel according to claim 1, wherein on the front of the sports apparel there is means for allowing an air flow to occur and to enter the space between the outer shell and the inner supporting structure.

5. A sports apparel according to claim 4, wherein the means for allowing an air flow to occur comprises a perforated area with a series of apertures.

6. A sports apparel according to claim 5, wherein the apertures are of about 0.1-2 mm in diameter.

7. A sports apparel according to claim 1, wherein on the rear of the sports apparel there is means for allowing an air flow to occur and to exit the space between the outer shell and the inner supporting structure.

8. A sports apparel according to claim 1, wherein an air flow is capable of entering the front of the sports apparel and then exiting through the rear of the sports apparel using the means for allowing air flow to occur from the front through to the rear.

9. A sports apparel according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell structure is made from any breathable or non-breathable fabric which is woven or non-woven.

10. A sports apparel according to claim 1, wherein the inner supporting structure comprises of a tight-fitting elastic arrangement.

11. A sports apparel according to claim 10, wherein the tight-fitting elastic arrangement comprises a series of straps such as a series of substantially vertical straps and/or substantially horizontal straps which elastically form a snug fit around a user.

12. A sports apparel according to claim 10, wherein the tight-fitting elastic arrangement is made from breathable material.

13. A sports apparel according to claim 1, wherein around the outer surface of the inner structure there is a plurality of mounting pegs which are used to form a space between the straps and the outer shell and hence the body of a user.

14. A sports apparel according to claim 13, wherein the mounting pegs have a length of about 0.1-1 cm which is therefore capable of creating a space of between about 0.1-1 cm between the outer shell and the body of a user.

15. A sports apparel according to claim 13, wherein the mounting pegs are connected to the outer shell using any suitable means such a snap-fit arrangement and/or hook and loop mechanism such as Velcro (Trade Mark).

16. A sports apparel according to claim 13, wherein the mounting legs are made of a soft elastomeric material to provide good comfort for a user.

17. A method of providing ventilation through a sports apparel, said method comprising:

providing a sports apparel with an outer shell;

providing an inner supporting structure;

wherein the inner support structure when worn by a user is capable of forming a space around at least part of a human body and the outer shell which provides improved ventilation.

18. (canceled)