Sheer Shorts Light Permeable Swimwear Garments

Abstract

Light permeable poolside attire that allows sunlight to channel through the fabric. Sheer shorts and sheer jersey are constructed from a light permeable fabric woven with tiny passages through which light is channeled through the fabric. At least some of the light channeled through the fabric is diffused, thus obscuring the object, or person, behind the light permeable fabric.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from, and incorporates by reference in its entirety, pending provisional U.S. patent application 62/670,026 filed May 11, 2018.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to apparel, and more specifically, to sportswear and swimwear apparel.

Description of Related Art

Clothing that is appropriate for a given situation is dictated by the prevailing fashion and customary norms. Bathing attire, for example, is appropriate within and around a swimming pool or beach, but may not be appropriate in the nearby businesses and restaurants. It may feel perfectly appropriate for a swimmer to wear a swimming suit while in the pool. But there are times when the same person resting nearby the pool would feel more comfortable wearing a bit more clothing.

Some swimmers opt to put on a robe made of terry cloth or other material, or simply wrap themselves in large beach towels. This works fine while resting, eating or chatting with friends. But a thick robe or beach towel tends to limit the person's mobility and doesn't look particularly stylish. Moreover, the person may want to catch a bit of sun while poolside. Thick robes and beach towels effectively block all sunlight, thus preventing the person from getting a suntan.

People sometimes put on a pair of gym shorts and a tee shirt while around the pool. Such conventional sports attire provides mobility to the user, while covering up a bit of skin. But conventional sports attire blocks most all sunlight, preventing the person from getting a tan beneath areas covered by the sports attire. Quite often this results in a farmer's tan with tan lines at unseemly places on the user's arms, legs and neck.

SUMMARY

The present inventor recognized the need for poolside attire that allows sunlight to channel through the fabric while at least partially obscuring the covered areas. Various embodiments disclosed herein achieve these goals and provide other advantages and attributes, as described below in the remainder of this document.

Various embodiments are drawn to a light permeable garment that has a waist opening and at least two appendage openings. The appendage openings are arm openings in the case of a sheer jersey, and are leg openings in the case of sheer shorts. Each of the appendage openings has a hem with two plies. The light permeable garment is made from garment fabric that has a first side (e.g., the outside) and a second side (e.g., the inside). The garment fabric is disposed between the waist opening and two appendage openings, and is made from light permeable fabric that, upon exposure to incident light hitting the outside, channels at least some of the incident light through the light permeable fabric to become emitted light coming through the inside. Typically, the light permeable fabric is characterized by a light permeability ratio of at least 30% but no more than 90%.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate various aspects of the invention. Together with the general description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A depicts a front view of light permeable shorts, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1B depicts a front view of a light permeable jersey, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1C depicts a piece of jersey like fabric with light rays passing through, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1D depicts a piece of light permeable fabric with light rays passing through, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1E depicts a front view of hems on a pair of light permeable shorts, according to various embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-B depict apparatus for measuring fabric light permeability according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method of practicing various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-B depict front views of light permeable garments. The various embodiments disclosed herein are drawn to light permeable garments such as sheer shorts, a novel new type of apparel suitable to be worn to the beach, swimming pools or sporting events. Various embodiments of sheer shorts may be worn over the top of conventional swimming apparel, sportswear or other types of apparel. The light permeable garments may be referred to as “sheer.” For example, FIG. 1A depicts a sheer jersey 110 and FIG. 1B depicts sheer shorts 100. Various embodiments of the sheer jersey 110 and sheer shorts 100 are constructed from light permeable fabric such as the light permeable fabric 205 discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-B. Various implementations have different grades of sheerness to accommodate the customers' various levels of modesty. Embodiments of the sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110 may be worn in the pool or other bodies of water. The light permeable fabric 205 tends to dry out more quickly than the cotton or cotton/poly blends used in most conventional sportswear and poolside garments.

The light permeable fabrics of the various embodiments are generally soft to the touch, breathable, and pass light through to some extent. In various embodiments a minimal amount of cloth is used in the hems of neck opening 115, arm openings 113, and bottom edge 117 of sheer jersey 110 and on the leg openings 102 of sheer shorts 100. Light permeable fabrics tend to pass light, air and water through them. Even though light passes through the light permeable fabrics, detailed images cannot be seen through them since the light passing through them is diffused to some extent by deflection of some of the incident light rays.

The area of fabric between the waistband 103 and leg openings 102 of sheer shorts 100 is called garment fabric 101. The area of fabric between the arm openings 113, and bottom edge 117 of sheer jersey 110 is called garment fabric 111. The types of garment fabrics 101 and 111 used to implement various embodiments of sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110 may include diaphanous weaves of either translucent or opaque fibers. Such weaves may include voile, batiste, cambric, muslin, organza, nylon fabrics, polyester fabric and other such translucent or diaphanous fabrics that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The sheer shorts 100 and sheer jerseys 110 are available in a wide variety of colors and textures, depending upon the weave of the fabric and the type of fibers used in its construction. The front side may, or may not be the same color as the back side of sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110.

The term “jersey like”, as used herein refers to the knit of the fabric. Jersey like fabrics tend to have larger holes or spaces between the fibers of the knit than sheer fabrics, thus allowing at least some light to pass directly through. Jersey like fabrics suitable for use in various embodiments may be made from cotton, silk, wool, polyester, nylon or other such non-translucent fibers that are woven from plant, animal, synthetic or semi-synthetic sources as are known by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Various types of jersey like weaves may be characterized by the weaving pattern (or type of weave) and the holes in the weave that allow light to pass unimpeded through the fabric. The holes in jersey like weave are themselves characterized by their two dimensional area as viewed from straight ahead. The holes may be of any size of up to 0.1 in² (square inches). A few of the typical implementations of jersey like weaves suitable for use with the various embodiments have holes with an area of no greater than 0.0157 in², other implementations have holes of no greater than 0.0040 in², other implementations have holes of no greater than 0.0010 in², and other implementations have holes of no greater than 0.00024 in², and yet other implementations have holes of no greater than 0.006 in². Some implementations have a combination of these different sized holes. Conventional garments may be made up of jersey like weaves with holes of up to 0.0625 in² in area (0.25 in. across).

At least some of the various embodiments are constructed from light permeable fabric that is not necessarily in a jersey like weave. Some of the various embodiments are made with fabric having a multilayer weave. Multilayer weaves tend not to have gaps or holes that allow light to pass directly through the fabric without being deflected. Instead, multilayer weaves have multiple layers of fiber with tiny passages in between them that allow at least some light to be deflected through the fabric. Since multilayer weaves are woven cloth weaves that may have some imperfections, in actual practice there may be some tiny holes in the fabric. Therefore, the term “multilayer weave” or “multilayer woven” fabric, as these terms are used herein, are defined to mean a weave of fabric of which at least 98% of the area does not have gaps or holes that would allow light to pass directly through the fabric without being deflected. The 2% accounts for imperfections or irregularities in the fabric that may have the occasional tiny hole or gap in it.

A light permeable fabric allows at least some light to be deflected by fibers of the fabric yet still pass through to the other side without being reflected back. Some light may be reflected back, and some light may be absorbed—but at least some light will pass through the light permeable fabric after being deflected by one or more fibers. Various embodiments of sheer shorts and sheer jerseys are light permeable and may be made with jersey like fabric, may be made with multilayer woven fabric, and/or may be made with a weave containing a combination of translucent and opaque fibers.

Some embodiments of sheer jersey 110 are constructed as pullover shirts (not shown). Other embodiments have an open front with fabric fasteners of some sort. FIG. 1A depicts an open front, collarless jersey with snaps 119 to fasten the front together. Other open front implementations have buttons, a zipper, multiple ties, hook and link fasteners, or other such fabric fasteners as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The garment fabrics 101 and 111 of sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110 may be semitransparent due to the optical characteristics of the fibers in the case of shorts 100 made from translucent fibers, or may be light permeable due to the weave in the case of sheer shorts 100 made from jersey like material woven from oblique fibers or made from a light permeable multilayer woven fabric. For example, although cotton fibers themselves tend to be oblique, some embodiments are made from cotton fibers woven in a jersey like manner to provide tiny holes or gaps between the cotton fibers, and other embodiments are made from multilayer woven fabric that has tiny passages capable of channeling at least some diffused light through the fabric.

FIG. 1C depicts a piece of jersey like fabric 120 with light rays passing through, according to various embodiments. A jersey like weave allows at least some light to pass uninhibited directly through small holes in the fabric. The fabric 120 of FIG. 1C is both jersey like and light permeable. The light ray 121 passes through a hole in with weave of fabric 120 uninhibited, as is known for jersey like fabrics. The light ray 123 does not hit a hole in with weave of fabric 120. Instead, light ray 123 of FIG. 1C is incident upon an edge of a cloth portion of the fabric 120. The light ray 123 passes through the edge of a cloth portion but is defected from the incident angle of light ray 123 to a slightly different angle, as shown by light ray 125.

FIG. 1D depicts a piece of light permeable fabric 130 with light rays passing through, according to various embodiments. The light ray 123 passes through light permeable fabric 130, but is defected slightly in the direction of light ray 125. Similarly, light ray 127 passes through light permeable fabric 130, but is defected slightly in the direction of light ray 129. The deflection of the various light rays passing through light permeable fabric 130 serves to diffuse the aggregate sum of light passing through the cloth, thus obscuring the object behind the light permeable fabric 130. The emitted light passing through the light permeable fabric 130—that is, light rays 125 and 129—tend to be deflected in somewhat random directions.

Some of the sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110 embodiments are woven from fibers with semitransparent optical characteristics. Other embodiments may not be made from jersey like weaves with tiny holes that allow light to pass through uninhibited, but instead have small passages that allow the light to pass through upon being deflected. Some jersey like fabrics are not light permeable. Other jersey like fabrics may be woven to be light permeable in the cloth portions between its holes.

Some of the various embodiments of sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110 may be constructed to only partially obscure the user's body beneath the garment. Such embodiments are typically worn in public places in conjunction with an undergarment. For example, a user may opt to wear the sheer shorts 100 and/or the sheer jersey 110 over the top of underwear, sports apparel, or a swim suit. The garment worn underneath typically has a profile smaller than the sheer shorts 100 or sheer jersey 110.

FIG. 1E depicts a front view of hems on a pair of light permeable shorts, according to various embodiments. Sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110 are typically constructed in a manner that minimizes the seams and hems as much as is practical without unduly sacrificing strength. For example, various implementations may use a single stitch seam around the leg openings 102 of the sheer shorts 100, or around the arm openings 113 and bottom edge 117 of sheer jersey 110, as shown in FIG. 1A. Minimizing the seams helps to reduce tan lines due to the seams when the sheer shorts 100 or sheer jersey 110 are worn in sunlit environments. In various implementations the waistband 103 of sheer shorts 100 is made relatively narrow (e.g., 0.75 inch or less) to minimalize tan lines with elastic and/or a draw string to keep the shorts up and snugly fit to the waist.

Turning to FIG. 1E, leg opening 102 is shown sewed up with a hem while leg opening 112 of sheer shorts 100 is shown with the hem unfastened and the extra material hanging down unsewn. The hems of sheer jersey 110 are made in a similar manner. The hem is minimized by folding only a single flap of cloth below line 114 up into the leg opening 112, and sewing a hem 118 to complete the hemmed leg opening 102. A hem such as this with a single flap of fabric folded over and sewn is called a “two-ply hem”. The dotted line 116 shows the hem width—that is, how far the hemmed material extends up into leg opening 102. The hem width could be made as wide as 1.0 inch. However, such a wide hem width is not necessary, and is not consistent with efforts to minimize the hem. In various embodiments the different hem widths on the sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110 are no greater than 0.5 inch. In other embodiments the hem widths are no greater than 0.35 inch. In other embodiments the hem widths are no greater than 0.25 inch. In other embodiments the hem widths are no greater thin 0.2 inch. In yet other embodiments the hem widths are no greater than 0.125 inch. In some embodiments a three-ply hem may be used in place of a two-ply hem. A three-ply hem is has a tiny portion of the edge of the fabric folded over, and then a flap is folded over inside the appendage opening in order to sew the frayed edge inside the sewn flap portion. The three-ply hem has a narrow ring three layers (three ply) thick that is less light permeable than the rest of the hem which is only two layers (two ply) thick.

FIGS. 2A-B depict an apparatus 200 for measuring fabric light permeability according to various embodiments. The light permeability of a fabric is the light that is channeled from the front side of the fabric through and out the back side of the fabric. The apparatus 200 includes a light source 207 and light sensor 209 set up a given distance apart. The light sensor 209 may be a photodetector, a photosensor or any other like type of device known to those of ordinary skill in the art that can detect an amount of light that reaches the sensor. The light sensor 209 may make measurement in candelas, Lux, or any other standard unit of light measurement known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The light source 207 can be an incandescent light, an LED light or any other type of light known to those of ordinary skill in the art that produces a beam of light capable of being measured by the light sensor 209.

Translucent materials and transparent materials are both able to pass light through themselves to a certain extent. Translucence differs somewhat from transparency. A perfectly transparent material passes light through itself without diffusing the light. The image of whatever is beneath the transparent material can be seen through it. A semitransparent material passes some light without diffusing the light of the object. Thus, a semitransparent material discloses a muted image of the object beneath itself to a certain extent—showing a reduced intensity version of the object. By contrast, a translucence material passes light through it but diffuses the light to a certain extent. By diffusing the light that passes through it, a semi-translucent material further obscures the image of an object beneath it as compared to a semi-transparent material that passes the same amount of light. Frosted shower doors are an example of a translucent material. Clear glass windows are an example of a transparent material. A tinted glass window is an example of a semi-transparent material.

Light permeable materials are similar to translucent materials inasmuch as they diffuse the light passing through them to aid in obscuring objects behind the light permeable material. Certain sheer fabrics and woven fabrics are light permeable. Typically, the strands or thread used to weave a sheer fabric are not translucent. That is, light does not pass through the strands or threads themselves. Instead, light permeable materials are woven in a loose weave that allows light to pass through tiny holes and passages through the fabric. Light permeable fabrics also tend to be air permeable and water permeable to some extent, depending upon how tightly the fabric is woven.

Four things can happen to light rays hitting a light permeable fabric. Some of the light passes directly through tiny holes in the fabric to the object beneath. Some light is reflected back from the fibers, and other light is absorbed by the fibers, and thus does not pass through the light permeable fabric. Some of the incident light is deflected by one or more fibers without being reflected back. It passes through the light permeable fabric in a diffused manner by virtue of being deflected from its incident path.

Light permeable materials differ from translucent materials in that translucent materials do not have small holes or passages that allow light to pass through. Light passes through the translucent material itself. For example, a translucent shower door allows light to pass through the glass itself, not through small holes or passages in the glass. A light permeable fabric allows light to pass through small holes and passages in the weave of the fabric, not through the thread or fibers that make up the fabric. Some of the light passing through a light permeable fabric may be diffused by being deflected from its incident path as it reflects off the fibers and threads of the fabric as it passes through the light permeable fabric.

Turning again to FIG. 2A the light sensor 209 takes a reading of incident light beam 201 passing uninhibited from the light source 207 to the light sensor 209. This reading is assumed to be consistent with the light incident on the fabric to be put in place for testing. In FIG. 2B a sample of the fabric 205 to be tested is placed between light source 207 and the light sensor 209. Typically, the fabric 205 is hung loosely, as it would be if part of a sheer jersey 110 or sheer shorts 100, rather than being stretched taut. This results in a more realistic reading for the conditions in which the fabric will be used. For the sake of illustrative ease FIGS. 2A-B show the distance between light source 207 and light sensor 209 as being rather large in comparison to the size of the sensor aperture. In practice, the sensor aperture is positioned fairly close to the back side of fabric 205 so as to catch the large majority of light rays that might be deflected and dispersed as they pass through the fabric 205. In some implementations of the test apparatus a hollow tube with reflective inner walls may be placed between the back side of fabric 205 and the aperture of light sensor 209 to redirect deflected light rays into the aperture.

Once the initial reading of FIG. 2A has been taken, a second reading is taken with the fabric 205 in the path of incident light beam 201. The light beam in FIG. 2B on the back side of fabric 205 is referred to in the figure as emitted light beam 203 since it generally has a lower intensity than light beam 201 incident on the front side of fabric 205 which shines directly from light source 207. Further, at least part of the light passing through the fabric 205 is deflected by fibers of the fabric. So at least the emitted light beam 203 is at least partially diffused as compared to incident light beam 201, thus partially obscuring an object adjacent to the back side of fabric 205.

The light permeability ratio for light channeled across the fabric 205—that is, the ratio of light passing through the fabric 205—is determined with the following equation:

$\mathrm{Light}\mathrm{Permeability}\mathrm{Ratio}\text{:}\frac{L_F}{L_S}$

where L_F is the amount of light channeled through the fabric 205 as measured by light sensor 207 (FIG. 2B), and L_S is the amount of incident light from light source 207 shining uninhibited to light sensor 207 (FIG. 2A).

The materials used in the cloth and/or tightness of the weave can be altered in various embodiments to produce fabrics with a wide range of light permeability ratios. Some embodiments may have a light permeability ratio as high as 97%, passing nearly all the light incident upon the fabric. At the other end of the spectrum some embodiments may have a light permeability ratio as low as 3%, blocking nearly all the light incident upon the fabric. The construction of light permeable fabric—that is, the choice of fiber type and tightness of weave—can be tailored to provide virtually any value or range of light permeability ratios between 3% and 97%. For a given type of light permeable fabric the value of light permeability ratio tends to be within a fairly tight range, depending upon the consistency of materials (fiber) and quality control of the weave. However, changing one of the construction variables by only a slight amount can affect the light permeability ratio considerably. Therefore, it is desirable to categorize the light permeable fabrics within a number of somewhat broad ranges of light permeability ratios.

Some light permeable fabric embodiments have a range of light permeability ratios at 50% +/−10% (that is, from 40% to 60%). A number of other embodiments have a light permeability ratios including ranges of from 25% to 55%; of from 30% to 60%; of from 30% to 70%; of from 30% to 90%; of from 40% to 70%; of from 35% to 60%; of from 40% to 80%; of from 50% to 80%; of from 60% to 90%; or of from 65% to 97% (each range being a different embodiment). Other permeable fabric embodiments may be categorized as having a light permeability ratio that is: equal to or greater than 30%; equal to or greater than 40%; equal to or greater than 50%; equal to or greater than 60%; equal to or greater than 70%; equal to or greater than 80%; or equal to or greater than 90%. Of course it's understood that the upper theoretical range of all these “equal to or greater than” ranges is slightly less than 100%.

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart 300 of a method of practicing various embodiments. The method begins at block 301 and proceeds, to block 303 where the user selects a type and style of light permeable clothing. For example, the user may choose to make sheer shorts 100 or sheer jerseys 110 as depicted in FIGS. 1A-B, or the user may choose to make another type of clothing such as a wrap, a hat, or other piece of clothing. Once the type and style of clothing have been selected in block 303 the method proceeds to block 305.

In block 305 the user selects the type and thickness of fiber to be used in the clothing to be made. The fiber may be any of a number of types within the broad categories of opaque fibers, translucent fibers or light permeable fibers, as discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 1A-B. Once the type and thickness of fiber have been selected the method proceeds to block 307 to select the type and size of weave. That is, the user selects the style of woven pattern for the fabric as well as the size of the holes—if any—in the pattern. If the selected pattern is a jersey like pattern it will have small holes that allow light to pass uninhibited through the fabric. However, not all patterns are jersey like patterns. Some patterns of fabric are non-jersey like, and therefore do not have small holes in the pattern. For example, the piece of light permeable fabric 130 shown in FIG. 1D has passages that some deflected light can get through, but does not have holes that allow light to pass through uninhibited.

Once the type and size of weave have been selected in block 307 the method proceeds to 309 to select a type of fastener. The fastener may be snaps, buttons, hook and latch fasteners (Velcro™), a zipper, or other like type of fastener. Block 309 also entails selecting the details of the fastener, e.g., the size and number of buttons or snaps, the size of the zipper or Velcro™ strip, etc. Once the fastener, and details of the fastener, have been selected the method proceeds to block 311 to select the size and quantity of clothing to be made. The size is based on standard clothing sizes: small, medium, large, tall, short, waist size, or the like. The quantity is the number of pieces to be made. Upon determining the size and quantity of the clothing to be made the method proceeds to block 313.

In block 313 the user obtains piece patterns based on the previously made selections for type, style and size of the clothing. The piece patterns allow the user to cut out the correct sized pieces in block 315 for making the garment. Once the pieces have been cut in block 315 the method proceeds to block 317 to sew the hems, sew on the fastening parts (e.g., buttons, zippers, Velcro™ strips, etc.), and sew the pieces together to make the selected type and style of garment. Once the sewing is completed the method proceeds to block 319 for inspection and quality control. The inspection and quality control of block 319 may entail reworking stitches that do not meet the applicable standards or discarding certain items that cannot be reworked.

Once inspection and quality control has been completed in block 321 the method proceeds to block 321 to determine whether more light permeable clothing is to be made. If it is determined in block 321 that more clothing is to be made the method proceeds along the “YES” branch back to block 303 to begin the process again. If no more garments are to be made the method proceeds from block 321 to block 323 where the method ends.

Some of the activities of the method may be included or excluded as described above or may be performed in a different order than shown in the flowchart as is known by those of ordinary skill in the art, while still remaining within the scope of at least one of the various embodiments. For example, the inspection and quality control of block 319 may be performed throughout the process or at various stages, e.g., after each of blocks 305-309 and 315-317. As another example, the size and quantity of clothing (block 311) may be performed at the same time as the type and style of clothing is selected (block 303). One of ordinary skill in the art would know that other activities may either be omitted or performed in a different order than that depicted in FIG. 3.

The term “appendage openings” refers to the arm openings 113 of sheer jersey 110 and leg openings 102 of sheer shorts 100. The term “waist openings” refers to the bottom edge 117 of sheer jersey 110 and the waistband 103 of sheer shorts 100. As such, the bottom edge 117 circumscribes the waist opening of sheer jersey 110. Similarly, the waistband 103 of circumscribes the waist opening of sheer shorts 100. The term “garment openings” refers to the appendage openings and the waist openings of sheer shorts 100 and sheer jersey 110. The term “channels across” means passes through. For example, saying “fabric that channels light across it” means the same things as saying “fabric that passes light through it”. The term “channels through” means the same as channels across. Light incident upon one side of the light permeable fabrics disclosed herein is channeled through the fabric and out the other side of the fabric. In some embodiments the channeled light is diffused, or at least partially diffused, as it passes through the fabric. If a hem is said to be “associated” with a leg or arm opening, it means the hem is sewn around the edge of the leg or arm opening.

In the pages above the descriptions have concentrated on sheer shorts and sheer jersey. However, other types of light permeable swimwear and sportswear garments may be in accordance with the various embodiments. For example, the pieces of clothing that may be made include: pants, long sleeved shirts, skirts, wraps, capes, hats, shawls, and other such pieces of clothing known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including” used in this specification, including the claims, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The terms “obtaining” or “providing”, as used herein and in the claims, means to retrieve an article or device to be assembled as part of the apparatus at issue. Further, the terms “obtaining” or “providing” may be defined to mean fabricating, or adapting another part to operate as the article or device. For example, bending up the ends of a bottom panel to form side panels can be interpreted as providing side panels attached to a bottom panel. The term “plurality”, as used herein and in the claims, means two or more of a named element. It should not, however, be interpreted to necessarily refer to every instance of the named element in the entire device. Particularly, if there is a reference to “each” element of a “plurality” of elements. There may be additional elements in the entire device that are not included in the “plurality” and are therefore, not referred to by “each.”

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of any means plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or gist of the invention. The various embodiments included for discussion herein were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A light permeable garment, further comprising:

a waist opening;

at least two appendage openings;

at least two hems, each of the at least two hems being associate with a respective one of the at least two appendage openings, wherein the at least two hems each comprise at least two plies; and

garment fabric comprising an outside surface and an inside surface, said garment fabric being disposed between the waist opening and the at least two appendage openings, said garment fabric comprising light permeable fabric that, upon exposure to incident light hitting the outside surface, channels at least some of the incident light through the light permeable fabric as emitted light coming out the inside surface; and

wherein at least some of the emitted light is diffused, at least partially obscuring an object adjacent the inside surface of the garment fabric.

2. The light permeable garment of claim 1, wherein said at least two plies consist of no more than two plies.

3. The light permeable garment of claim 2, wherein the light permeable fabric has a light permeability ratio of at least 30% but no more than 90%.

4. The light permeable garment of claim 3, L F L S

wherein the light permeability ratio is at least 40% but no more than 80%; and

wherein the light permeability ratio is calculated using:

wherein LS is the incident light hitting the outside surface and LF is the emitted light coming out the inside surface.

5. The light permeable garment of claim 4, wherein the light permeable fabric is a multilayer woven fabric.

6. The light permeable garment of claim 5, wherein all of the emitted light passing through multiple layers of the multilayer woven fabric is diffused.

7. The light permeable garment of claim 3, wherein the light permeable fabric is a jersey like fabric.

8. The light permeable garment of claim 1, further comprising:

a waistband that circumscribes the waist opening;

wherein the at least two appendage openings are leg openings;

wherein the light permeable garment are sheer shorts; and

wherein the light permeable garment is a pair of sheer shorts.

9. The light permeable garment of claim 1, further comprising:

a neck opening; and

a bottom edge that circumscribes the waist opening;

wherein the at least two appendage openings are arm openings;

wherein the light permeable garment is a sheer jersey; and

wherein the light permeable garment is a sheer jersey.

10. A light permeable garment of claim 9, further comprising:

one or more fabric fasteners.

11. A method of making a light permeable garment, the method further comprising:

selecting a clothing style for the light permeable garment with at least two appendage openings;

selecting a type and size of weave for garment fabric

selecting a clothing size and providing a waist opening based on the clothing size;

selecting a type and thickness of fibers for the garment fabric, said garment fabric being disposed between the waist opening and the at least two appendage openings and comprising an outside surface and an inside surface,

cutting pieces for the clothing style selected; and

sewing the pieces together and sewing at least two hems on the pieces, each of the at least two hems being associate with a respective one of the at least two appendage openings, wherein the at least two hems each comprise at least two plies;

wherein said garment fabric is made from light permeable fabric that, upon exposure to incident light hitting the outside surface, channels at least some of the incident light through the light permeable fabric as emitted light coming out the inside surface; and

wherein the light permeable fabric is characterized by a light permeability ratio of at least 30% but no more than 90%.

12. The method of claim 11, L F L S

wherein the light permeability ratio is at least 40% but no more than 80%; and

wherein the light permeability ratio is calculated using:

wherein LS is the incident light hitting the outside surface and LF is the emitted light coming out the inside surface.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the light permeable fabric is a multilayer woven fabric; and

wherein all of the emitted light passing through multiple layers of the multilayer woven fabric is diffused.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the light permeable fabric is a jersey like fabric.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least two plies consist of no more than two plies.