Abstract:
A support shirt is provided with round sleeve holes located on a front portion of the shirt body and a notched sleeve design which spreads the stress on the fabric during lifting along the length of the sleeves as opposed to prior art shirt designs in which stress occurs in the very narrow chest plate of the shirt and at the point where the sleeves are attached to the shirt body. The notched sleeve design also results in the sleeves tilting downwardly and curving inwardly to provide additional support during lifting. As a result of the notched sleeve design, the support shirt is more durable and aids in reducing erratic bar movement during lifting, thrusting, or pushing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The subject matter described herein relates to a shirt or garment which covers the upper torso of a wearer. Specifically, embodiments are directed to a support shirt providing support along the chest and shoulder regions of the wearer. The support shirt can be used for sporting activities where support of the chest and shoulders is desired. One such application of the support shirt is a bench press shirt for support in weightlifting activities. 
         [0002]    Bench press shirts provide an increase in the amount of weight a bench presser can lift as well as increased safety to the bench presser. Typically, bench press shirts are made of high strength materials, such as double knit polyester, canvas or denim which are designed to fit the wearer tightly. Such bench press shirts have portions covering the upper arms and chest which typically provide a taut fit during lifting. Bench press shirts can also be made of spandex type fabric and be effective for support. As distinguished from ordinary shirts or t-shirts, bench press shirts have at least one area of increased support/strength, designed to augment movement of a body part by increased strength of material and/or compression. 
         [0003]    In a bench pressing exercise, a weightlifter lies substantially flat on his back, with arms upraised. The weightlifter lowers a weight to the chest, and then pushes it vertically upward until the arms are straight. The tautness in a typical bench press shirt provides assistance and increased support for the underlying muscles, thereby allowing the weightlifter to lift more weight. 
         [0004]    Bench press shirts rely on the tautness of the fabric across the chest of a user for support during lifting. It is desirable for a bench press shirt to have forward tilted sleeves, corresponding with the position of the arms during lifting. In some bench press shirts, the patterns for the front and back of the shirt, when sewn together, form arm holes. Other bench press shirts utilize a round hole sleeve pattern in the front of the shirt. In such a pattern, the shirt has two straight sleeves sewn into round holes in the front of the shirt body. Such round hole shirts may result in erratic bar movement during lifting because a great amount of stress occurs in the fabric along the very narrow chest plate between the sleeves and at the seams where the sleeves are attached to the shirt body. The entire forward sleeve tilt in round hole shirts depends on a very narrow chest plate in the design of the shirt. Therefore, a need exists in this art for a bench press shirt which spreads the stress on the fabric over a larger area while still utilizing a round hole shirt design. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    That need is addressed by embodiments of the present invention which provide for a bench press shirt with round sleeve holes located on a front portion of the shirt body and a notched sleeve design which spreads the stress on the fabric during lifting along the length of the sleeves as opposed to prior art shirt designs in which stress occurs in the very narrow chest plate of the shirt and at the point where the sleeves are attached to the shirt body. In some embodiments, the notched sleeve design also results in the sleeves tilting downwardly and curving inwardly to provide additional support during lifting. In other embodiments, the sleeves may be tilted upwardly and/or have no inwardly curvature. As a result of the notched sleeve design, the support shirt is more durable and aids in reducing erratic bar movement during lifting. Additionally, the notched sleeve design provides the ability to adjust the tilt of the sleeves and improve performance during lifting, thrusting, pushing, and the like. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a support shirt is provided and comprises a shirt body and a pair of shirt body sleeves positioned adjacent to an upper portion of the shirt body. The sleeves are attached to the shirt body at round sleeve body holes located on the front of the shirt body. Each of the sleeves has a first end adapted to be attached to a respective sleeve arm hole, and opposite end, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The first end of the sleeve includes a notch portion which may take the form of a groove, a recess, a channel, or the like in the fabric. The notch is located between opposing edges of the first sleeve end. In some embodiments, the notch may comprise a curvilinear surface. The first and second edges of the sleeve are joined together by a coupling seam such that when the sleeves are attached to the sleeve body holes, the sleeves can be made to tilt upwardly or downwardly from the support shirt body. Additionally, the sleeves may be straight, or may curve inwardly from the support shirt body. 
         [0007]    The notch portion of the sleeve may be located at any position along the first end of the sleeve. For example, in one embodiment, the notch portion is located approximately midway between the first and second edges of the sleeve. In another embodiment, the notch portion is located on opposing first and second edges of the sleeve such that when the sleeve is formed by joining the opposing edges along a coupling seam, the notch is formed. By adjusting the location of the notch on the sleeve, the amount of and direction of the tilt of the sleeve may be controlled. 
         [0008]    The shirt body and sleeve portions of the support shirt may comprise a single or multiply fabric comprised of canvas, polyester, spandex, nylon, or cotton. As used herein, the term “fabric” is meant to include not only woven fibrous materials but also non-woven materials such as, for example, substantially continuous sheets of polymeric material. The shirt body and sleeve members may be the same or of different material. Either the shirt body or sleeves may be of stretchable or non-stretchable material. Preferably, the fabric will have a tensile strength of at least about 90 up to about 1000 psi, although fabrics having differing strengths may be used so long as the fabrics resist tearing and maintain their tautness during lifting. The type of fiber, denier, and weight of the fabric will affect tensile strength. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the sleeve portions of the support shirt extend forward of a frontal plane extending across the support shirt body at an angle of from about 60° to about 180°. In an embodiment, the sleeve portions of the support shirt extend from a transverse plane extending substantially perpendicular to said frontal plane at an angle of from between about +45° to about −45°. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a support shirt having a round sleeve hole design with notched sleeves which spread the stresses on the shirt fabric resulting in a durable shirt which aids in eliminating erratic bar movement during lifting. It is a further feature of the invention to adjust the position of the notch on the sleeves to adjust the upward and downward tilt of the sleeves. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the support shirt design depicting a pattern for assembly of the front and back shirt body and sleeves; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts an enlarged side view of a sleeve of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , showing the notch located on a first end of the sleeve approximately midway between the first and second edges; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts an exploded view of another embodiment of the support shirt design depicting a pattern for assembly of the front and back shirt body and sleeves; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts an enlarged side view of a sleeve of the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , showing the notch located on opposite edges of a first end of the sleeve; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts a side view of the sleeve of  FIG. 4 , with opposing edges joined together at a coupling seam; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the notch sleeve support shirt; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  depicts an enlarged perspective view of a sleeve of the support shirt of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  depicts a front view of the notch sleeve support shirt of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  depicts a back view of the notch sleeve support shirt of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  depicts a side view of the notch sleeve support shirt of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  depicts a top view of the notch sleeve support shirt of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    According to one embodiment, the support shirt  10  comprises a shirt body  11  worn over the torso of an individual. The shirt body  11  comprises an upper shirt body  13  and a lower shirt body  15  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1, 3, and 6-11 . Shirt body  11  has a shirt front  51  and a shirt back  52  joined together at body seams  53 . 
         [0024]    The shirt body  11  is comprised of a supporting fabric extending across at least the upper shirt body  13 . The support shirt is sized so that the supporting fabric is taut against the wearer&#39;s body when worn, providing support across the upper torso of the individual. The tautness of the fabric provides increased pressure exerted across the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles of the wearer. During an exercise such as a bench press, the shirt body  11  provides support as the bar is raised through a bar path (i.e., the path a weighted bar traverses as the user lifts the weight above his torso). The fabric may be comprised of stretchable or non-stretchable material. Additionally, the fabric may be single ply or multi-ply and may be comprised of: canvas fabric; polyester; spandex type fabric; nylon fabric; cotton; or any kind of fabric that holds tautness. Shirt body sleeve holes  17  are positioned on the front portion  51  of the shirt near the upper shirt body  13 , corresponding with the area of traversal of the wearer&#39;s arms. The fabric comprising shirt body  11  has a tensile strength which will withstand the stresses and strains of lifting without fabric tearing. In some embodiments, the fabric has a tensile strength of from at least about 90 psi to about 1000 psi, although fabrics having differing strengths may be used so long as the fabrics maintain their tautness during lifting and resist tearing. 
         [0025]    Sleeves  19  are attached to the shirt body  11  at the shirt body sleeve holes  17  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . The sleeve portions  19  provide compression across the shoulders of the wearer, corresponding with the anterior deltoid, coracobrachialis, scapulae fixer, biceps, and triceps of the wearer. The sleeves  19  are sized such that the fabric is taut when worn, providing support for the shoulders during lifting. The fabric may be comprised of stretchable or non-stretchable material. Additionally, the fabric may be single ply or multi-ply and may be comprised of: canvas fabric; polyester; spandex type fabric; nylon fabric; cotton; or any kind of fabric that holds tautness and has sufficient tensile strength. 
         [0026]    The sleeves  19  may be arranged in differing positions according to embodiments of the invention. For example, sleeves  19  can be placed in a more downward tilted position (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10 ), or less downward position (see, e.g.,  FIG. 6 ), to accommodate different bench pressing styles. Some lifters bench with a “flat back” on the bench which gives them a more vertical upward bar path in relation to their torso. Many lifters arch their back, which makes the bar path closer to that of a decline-bench press bar path where the lifter&#39;s knees are higher than his shoulders. In one embodiment, the sleeves  19  extend in a forward direction relative to a frontal plane  4  of the shirt body  11  and a downward direction relative to a transverse plane  6  of the shirt body  11  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , in one embodiment sleeves  19  have a first central angle  37  of approximately 95° relative to the frontal plane  4 . However, angle  37  may vary over a broad range depending on the desired use for the shirt. For example, angle  37  may vary between about 60° to about 180°. As shown in  FIG. 10 , in one embodiment sleeves  19  have a second central angle  39  of approximately 30° relative to the transverse plane  6  of the shirt body  11 . However, angle  39  may vary over a broad range depending on the desired use for the shirt. For example, angle  39  may vary between an upwardly-directed angle of about 45° to a downwardly-directed angle of about 45° relative to transverse plane  6 . In one embodiment, the fabric comprising the sleeves  19  has a tensile strength of about 90 psi, although fabrics of different tensile strengths may be used so long as the fabric has sufficient strength to maintain tautness during lifting. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a pattern for the fabric used to make support shirt  10 . Sleeves  19  include sleeve body portions  31  at a first end thereof and a sleeve lower portion  32  at an opposite end of the sleeve. Typically, the sleeves are from about 10 to about 14 inches, preferably about 12 inches in length, depending on the size of the shirt as designed to fit various body sizes and types. In one embodiment, the width of the fabric across sleeve body portion  31  is greater than the width across lower sleeve portion  32 . The opposing edges  34 ,  35  of the sleeves  19  are folded onto one another and joined at coupling seam  45  (see  FIG. 6 ). Sleeve body portions  31  of sleeves  19  are attached to sleeve body holes  17  for example, by stitching one to the other. Typically, the sleeve holes are from about 5 to about 7 inches, preferably about 6 inches, in diameter. As shown, sleeve body portion  31  extends a distance  38  which corresponds to the circumference of the sleeve. Sleeve body portion  31  includes a notch  33 . As shown, notch  33  extending in a curvilinear configuration at approximately the mid-point of sleeve body portion  31 . While shown as a curved surface, notch  33  may also be configured as a groove, a channel, or a recess in the fabric. 
         [0029]    Support shirt  10  is fabricated by joining each sleeve  19  together at coupling seam  45  and then attaching each sleeve  19  to respective shirt body holes  17 . The distance  38  across sleeve body portion  31  is substantially equal to the circumference  39  of sleeve body holes  17 . Typically, the distance  38  will be from about 15 to about 20 inches, depending on the size of the shirt to fit various body sizes and types of wearers. Because of the shape of body sleeve portion  31 , which includes notch  33 , when the sleeves are attached to the shirt body, the sleeves gradually curve or tilt inwardly (see  FIGS. 6, 7, and 11 ) toward upper shirt body  11 . 
         [0030]    In an alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , where like elements are represented by like reference numerals, the notch in sleeve body portion  31  has been relocated such that complementary portions of the notch  31   a,    31   b  are adjacent opposing edges  34 ,  35  of sleeve  19 . When the opposing edges of the sleeve are joined together along coupling seam  45  as best seen in  FIG. 5 , the portions of the notch fit together to form sleeve  19 . Again, typically, the length of the sleeves will be from about 10 to about 14 inches, preferably about 12 inches, and the sleeve holes will be from about 5 to about 7 inches, preferably about 6 inches, in diameter. The distance across the body portions of the sleeves is substantially equal to the circumference of the sleeve body holes. 
         [0031]    Although certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in considerable detail, other embodiments within the scope of the invention are possible. For example, notch  33  may be located elsewhere along sleeve body portion  31 . Sleeve body holes  17  may be positioned at other locations on upper shirt body  13 . Support shirt  10  may also exist without a lower torso area or without a shirt back. The spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the descriptions of specific embodiments as described herein. 
         [0032]    It is noted that terms like “preferably,” “commonly,” and “typically” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0033]    For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the term “substantially” is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The term “substantially” is also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. 
         [0034]    Unless the meaning is clearly to the contrary, all ranges set forth herein are deemed to be inclusive of all values within the recited range as well as the endpoints. 
         [0035]    Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of the present invention are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the present invention is not necessarily limited to these preferred aspects of the invention.