Reversible running shorts

Disclosed is a pair of reversible, wrap-around shorts particularly suited for use by runners or joggers. The shorts have two panels sewn together so that the outer surfaces of the panels are finished surfaces. The outer edges of the panels are folded over toward the opposed panel and are sewn so that the edges of the panels are both disposed inwardly and are captured between the panels thus producing a finished appearance to both sides of the garment. When spread out on a flat surface, the shorts have an hourglass shape. The upper and lower edges comprise the waistband while the narrow inner portion comprises the crotch. Each panel comprises at least two sections. In the preferred embodiment, the panels are produced by sewing together the respective U-shaped inner edges of a pair of horseshoe-shaped sections. The resulting hourglass-shaped panel has a contoured fit when worn. The waistband is typically provided with an adjustable, quick release fastener. This allows a wide degree of adjustability to suit the individual's particular anatomy and snugness of fit. Also provided is a reversible liner which is sewn at the waistband and captured between the abutting panels.

This invention relates to wraparound reversible shorts, particularly of a 
type suited for runners or joggers. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Reversible clothing is designed and constructed to be worn with either side 
facing out. To be reversible, the clothing should provide a finished 
appearance no matter which way it is worn. The main advantage of 
reversible clothing, such as reversible vests, is that the two sides can 
be made of different color or patterned material. Thus, a single garment 
expands the owner's wardrobe at almost half the cost. 
Reversible shorts are known, although they are not common. In particular, 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,142,922 and 3,317,923 disclose reversible shorts. Most 
shorts, like other garments, are made to be worn loosely, such as the 
straight-leg boxer type shorts, or have darts to provide a more contoured 
fit. It is often desired that the garment fit snugly about the body and 
yet not restrict the wearer's freedom of movement. For example, runners 
often prefer shorts which are not baggy, to reduce the chafing effect 
which such garments may produce, but which are also loose enough as to not 
hinder their running movements. However, the prior art fails to disclose 
shorts which are both reversible and suitable for use by persons engaging 
in athletic activities such as running or jogging. 
Other patents which may be of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,431,571; 
3,317,923; and 4,051,854. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing a 
pair of running shorts which is reversible and form-fitting and yet is 
readily adjustable to fit persons of various sizes. The shorts only 
minimally restrict the movement of the user, are relatively simple to make 
and are expensive to produce. 
The reversible, wrap-around shorts of the present invention have two panels 
sewn together so that both sides, i.e. the outer and inner sides, are 
finished in appearance. The sides may be made of different material and so 
may be coordinated with the rest of the user's attire. The shorts are 
constructed so that the outer edges of the opposed panels are both 
disposed inwardly toward one another and are captured between the interior 
sides of the panels, such as by sewing, thus producing a finished 
appearance regardless which side is worn on the outside. 
When the garment is spread out on a flat surface, the shorts have an 
hourglass shape. The upper and lower generally straight edges comprise the 
waistband segments while the narrow inner portion comprises the crotch. 
Each panel includes at least two sections, each section having a horseshoe 
shape. In the preferred embodiment, the panels are produced by sewing 
together the respective U-shaped inner edges of a pair of the 
horseshoe-shaped sections. The resulting hourglass-shaped panel has a 
proper contoured fit in the crotch area without the need for darts. 
The horseshoe-shaped sections further provide a wrap-around adjustable 
garment which both fits the contours of the body and allows freedom of 
movement while being worn. The generally elastic waistband is typically 
provided with a quick release fastener, such as that manufactured under 
the trademark "Velcro." This allows a wide degree of adjustability to suit 
the individual's particular anatomy. Also provided is a reversible liner 
which is sewn between the upper and lower edges of the abutting panels. 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a pair of shorts 
which are reversible. This object is accomplished by sewing or binding two 
panels, each panel being made from at least two sections, the edges of the 
panels are folded inwardly so that when sewn together the panels produce a 
finished appearance when viewed from either side. 
The shorts of the present invention are adaptable to fit people of varying 
sizes. This is accomplished through the use of an hourglass-shaped, 
wrap-around design in conjunction with adjustable waist fasteners, such as 
"Velcro" tabs. Because fewer sizes are needed, the manufacturer can 
produce the shorts at a lower cost thus resulting in a saving to the 
consumer. Further, the wrap-around configuration allows the wearer a great 
deal of individuality in how the garment is worn. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a pair of generally 
form-fitting running shorts which can be produced from a minimal number of 
cloth panels and which does not require darts in its construction. Because 
each panel can be made from as few as two sections, each section requiring 
only one pattern piece, a garment which generally follows the contour of 
the user's body can be produced at a lower cost. The absence of darts and 
the reduction in the number of sections required by the instant invention 
further adds to the ability to match segments of a patterned material. 
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will 
appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment 
has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings 
.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in the Figures, shorts 2 are made from two panels 4, 6 which are 
typically sewn together along their inwardly folded outer edges, thereby 
producing a garment which has a finished appearance viewed from either 
side and is therefore reversible. Each panel is made from at least two 
sections. A typical pattern 18 for such sections is illustrated in FIG. 2. 
For clarity, the sections will be discussed first. The way in which the 
sections are sewn together to produce a panel will then be addressed. 
Finally the combination of panels 4 and 6 will be described. 
Individual sections 10, 12, 14 and 16 all have the shape depicited by 
pattern 18 in FIG. 2. Pattern 18 is generally horseshoe-shaped having 
widened extensions 20, 21 and a relatively narrow connecting portion or 
strap 22. The interior edges 24, 25 define a slot between extensions 20, 
21, the slot completed by the generally arcuate interior edge portions 26, 
27. The upper edges 28, 29 which terminate extensions 20, 21, are straight 
and generally normal to inner edges 24, 25. The outer edges 30, 31 of the 
extensions are also generally normal to their respective upper edges 28, 
29 and extend between upper edges 28 and respective outer edges 32, 33 of 
connecting portion 22. Edges 32, 33 are generally straight and extend at 
an angle from the lower ends of edges 30, 31 where they intersect 
centrally below interior edge portions 26, 27. 
The hourglass-shaped panel 4 shown in FIG. 4 is produced from two sections 
10, 12, cut according to pattern 18. Sections 10, 12, after being cut from 
a suitable length of material, are arranged as shown in FIG. 3 so that 
their interior surfaces are opposed. Section 10 is a mirror image of 
section 12. The reason for this will become apparent in light of the 
discussion which follows. 
In the manufacture of clothing, it is well known that fabrics often have a 
finished side and an unfinished side. This is especially true if the 
material is a print. Because extension 20 of the pattern shown in FIG. 2 
is usually not the same size as extension 21, if sections 10 and 12 were 
not mirror images, when the interior or unfinished surfaces of the cloth 
are opposed as in FIG. 3, the edges of the sections would not be aligned. 
Of course, if both sides of the material from which the panel sections are 
cut are the same, that is both sides finished, the panel sections can all 
be cut in the same manner. In either case, the mirror image property will 
not be lost. 
Panels 4 and 6 are formed from sections 10 and 12 and sections 14 and 16, 
respectively, by sewing or otherwise binding the respective interior edges 
24, 25 and the respective interior edge portions 26, 27 of the panels. To 
ensure that a finished appearance is produced, edges 24-27 are folded 
inwardly towards the opposed panel section prior to being sewn. FIG. 5 
discloses such a seam. 
After sections 10, 12 are bound along their inner edges thus producing 
panel 4, panel 6, having been previously constructed in a like manner, is 
inserted between the opposed sections 10, 12 of panel 4 as shown in FIG. 
3. The opposed surfaces of panels 4 and 6 are the unfinished sides of the 
fabric. Corresponding edges 28 through 33 of sections 10 and 14 and of 
sections 12 and 16, after being aligned, are bound, typically by sewing. 
Again, to produce a finished appearance, the opposed respective edges are 
turned inwardly prior to being sewn so that a finished appearance is 
produced. Prior to sewing the respective upper edges 28, 29, an elastic 
band 40 is inserted between such opposed upper edges so that when the 
edges are sewn together, the band is also sewn between the layers of 
fabric. The band is sewn while in a stretched or tensive state so that 
waistband 8 is elastic and adjustable. 
"Velcro" tabs are attached to waistband. "Velcro" pile segments 34 and 
"Velcro" hook segments 35 are attached along the waistband as by sewing. 
As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of spaced pile segments 34 are attached to 
panel 4 at both ends of waistband portion 44 and a hook segment 35 is 
attached to panel 6 at both ends of waistband portion 46. The use of two 
pile segments at each end of waistband portion 44 provides adjustability 
of fit. If desired, a greater number of cloth segments 34 or of hooks 35 
can be used. Other attaching means, for example a button with a plurality 
of button holes, can also be used. 
If desired, a liner 36 can be used in conjunction with the shorts. Turning 
to FIG. 5, an edge 48 of liner 36 is captured between the inwardly folded, 
opposed upper edges of panels 4, 6, typically by sewing. The liner also 
has a generally hourglass shape and is sized so that when the shorts are 
worn, the liner does not generally show. 
The shorts, when sewn together and laid out on a generally flat surface, 
have an hourglass shape. The center line 23 shown in FIG. 4, is the edge 
of intersection of the bound interior edges 24 through 27. 
The shorts are worn with the narrow crotch portion 50 of the garment 
between the legs and the waistband 8 wrapped around the person's waist and 
secured by pile segments 34 and hook segments 35. The user places narrow 
crotch portion 50 between the legs and brings the waistband portions 44, 
46 up around the waist and attached hook segments 35 to the appropriate 
pile segments 34 thereby securing the garment to the body. If a liner 36 
is used and covers segments 34 and 35 as in FIG. 5, the user slips the 
ends of waistband portion 44 between liner 36 and panel 6 so that pile 
segments 34 engage hook sgments 35. The wrap-around design of the shorts 
of the present invention allow the wearer a great deal of individuality as 
to the closeness of the fit of the shorts. The wrap-around feature 
provides for significant freedom of movement while running or engaging in 
other physical activity. The horseshoe-shaped pattern allows the shorts to 
be both form-fitting and yet easy to produce because there is no need for 
darts in the fabric. If desired the panel sections could be produced from 
two or more subsections. 
Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention 
has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification 
and variations may be made without departing from what is regarded as the 
subject of the invention.