Abstract:
In a garment element, for example a cuff for a sleeve, an access opening is defined between an overlap section extending between two attachment sections, the overlap section being formed of interleaving fabric ends suitable stiffened to provide a self-sealing function in both a use mode in which a body member extends there through and a non-use mode with the opening closed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is related to US provisional application for patent Ser. No. 60/627,948 filed on Nov. 16, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates in general to garments, and in particular to self-closable access openings provided in garments and the like, such as an opening for the thumb of the wearer to selectively extend outside a garment element such as a sleeve cuff.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Cuffs are well known in the art of clothing manufacture and are commonplace in the form of arm, wrist and ankle apertures in most garments. These cuffs may come in a variety of forms and can be sealed in several ways including button closure, elastic band closure, lateral zipper closure, rivet snap closure, etc. The main function of all these closure systems is to create a seal around the arm, wrist or ankle of the wearer without covering their respective extremities, the objective being to offer some protection to the arms and legs of the wearer. In the event of inclement weather or where insect presence proves problematic, it would be advantageous to have a cuff which could be extended over the palm of the hand and being provided with an aperture through which the thumb would protrude, thus allowing the wearer full use of the hand as well as affording a greater degree of protection from the elements and/or insects. Such a cuff would additionally be provided with an elastic band closure system at the cuff&#39;s distal extremity for maximal protection. The thumb aperture or opening, when unused, is typically not sealed and leaves the area of the cuff unprotected against rain, wind, insects and the like which may prove undesirable.  
         [0004]     Obviously, such openings could also be found at different locations on garments to serve different purposes, all having the same non-protective drawbacks against all or some of the above elements.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved garment element with a self-closable through-access opening.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved garment element with an access opening.  
         [0007]     An advantage of the present invention is that the garment element has an access opening that is readily accessible without any dedicated closure and/or seal mechanism for selective use whenever required.  
         [0008]     Another advantage of the present invention is that the garment element has an access opening that can be located adjacent to provide for a thumb port allowing the wearer full use of his partially covered hand.  
         [0009]     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the garment element with an access opening provides for, by virtue of a unique overlapping design and stitching pattern or the like, an easy access for the thumb and is maximal in its capacity of deflecting water and wind as well as excluding insects from accessing the interior of the garment, in both used (all around the interface with the thumb extending there through) and unused configurations.  
         [0010]     Another advantage of the present invention is that the garment element has an access opening that is substantially self-closable and self-sealable when the thumb or the like is withdrawn there form or extending there through, thereby providing further maximal protection from weather and insects, and its construction orientation prevent accumulation of water there around and infiltration of wind there through in normal use configuration of the garment.  
         [0011]     Still a further advantage of the present invention is that the garment element with an access opening used adjacent a cuff can have its construction fabric extending there from to cover the palm side surface of the cuff as a reinforcement fabric, especially when the garment is destined for labor or sport-related activity.  
         [0012]     Another advantage of the present invention is that the garment element with an access opening is simple and inexpensive of construction, and substantially almost invisible to the eye when unused.  
         [0013]     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment element comprising first and second fabric ends extending in generally opposite first and second directions; an elongate access opening defined by the fabric ends and including: an overlap section extending between two attachment sections longitudinally opposite to one another, said overlap section having a first fabric end unfolded portion extending transversely into the first direction and a first fabric end folded portion folded inwardly into the second direction and a second fabric end unfolded portion extending transversely into the second direction and a second fabric end folded portion folded outwardly into the first direction, whereby the folded portion of the first fabric end is at least partially sandwiched between the unfolded and folded portions of the second fabric end and the folded portion of the second fabric end is at least partially sandwiched between the unfolded and folded portions of the first fabric end, said first and second fabric ends being selectively separable from one another at said overlap section to allow a protrusion to transversely extend there between, said first and second fabric ends being attached to one another at said attachment sections.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment, the folded portions of the first and second fabric ends have free edges terminated in seam finishes.  
         [0015]     Typically, both seam finishes are substantially rigid to ensure self-closing of the access opening when in an unused configuration.  
         [0016]     Conveniently, both rigidified seam finishes are adapted to allow self-sealing of the access opening around a protrusion member transversely extending therethrough when in a used configuration.  
         [0017]     Typically, each seam finish includes an edge cover folded over and stitched to the free edge of the corresponding fabric end. Conveniently, the edge cover is made out of a stretchable material.  
         [0018]     Typically, both seam finishes are adapted to substantially partially grip to one another when the first and second fabric ends are pulled transversely away from each other.  
         [0019]     In one embodiment, the garment element is a cuff and the access opening is a self-closable thumb port.  
         [0020]     Typically, the cuff is adapted in use selectively and partially to cover the palm and back of a hand, the cuff having an extreme distal edge providing a sealing means.  
         [0021]     Conveniently, the sealing means includes an elasticized band.  
         [0022]     Typically, the cuff is provided with a palm surface formed of reinforced fabric.  
         [0023]     In one embodiment, the attachment sections are stitched into the element to locate the access opening correctly.  
         [0024]     In one embodiment, first and second fold regions are defined at intersections between the unfolded and folded portions of the first and second fabric ends, respectively.  
         [0025]     Typically, the fold region is rigidified and reinforced by stitching.  
         [0026]     Typically, the overlap section defines an overlap transversal distance between the first and second fold regions, an aspect ratio of a length of the access opening to the overlap transversal distance being in the range of 2 to 7, and preferably in the range of 3 to 5.  
         [0027]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment including at least one garment element as defined hereinabove.  
         [0028]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein:  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a garment element with an access opening in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, shown adjacent a cuff and in a used open configuration with a left-hand thumb extending through the access opening;  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in an unused closed configuration;  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a perspective section view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a partially broken enlarged top perspective view taken along line  4  of  FIG. 3 , showing details of the overlap section of the access opening; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing the palm side of the cuff with reinforced fabric. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]     With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation.  
         [0036]     Referring now in more detail to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a garment element  10  with an access opening  11  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention typically located adjacent a cuff  12  of an attendant sleeve portion  14  of the garment. The cuff  12  includes at its distal end an elastic cuff band  16  through which the wearer inserts his forehand F in the process of donning the garment. The access opening or aperture  11  is shown herein as a thumb port in an open used configuration through which the wearer selectively inserts his thumb T in the process of donning the garment. Although the present description focuses on a thumb port  11 , one skilled in the art would easily understand that the access opening of the garment element  10  of the present invention could be located on any piece of garment for different uses such as providing selective access to a pocket (not shown) of an underlying garment or the like without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  depicts the garment element  10  with the access opening  11  in a closed unused configuration in which it is substantially invisible to the garment wearer while being generally obstruction less.  
         [0038]     As shown more specifically in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the access opening  11  is typically elongate and is located at a location wherein the garment has first 18 and second 20 fabric ends extending in generally opposite first and second directions. The opening  11  includes an overlap section  22  extending between two opposite longitudinal attachment sections  24 . The overlap section  22  has a first fabric end  18  exterior unfolded portion  26  extending transversely into the first direction and a first fabric end  18  folded portion  28  folded inwardly into the second direction, and a second fabric end  20  interior unfolded portion  30  extending transversely into the second direction and a second fabric end  20  folded portion  32  folded outwardly into the first direction, whereby the folded portion  28  of the first fabric end  18  is at least partially sandwiched between the unfolded  30  and folded  32  portions of the second fabric end  20  and the folded portion  32  of the second fabric end  20  is at least partially sandwiched between the unfolded  26  and folded  28  portions of the first fabric end  18 . The first and second fabric ends  18 ,  20  are selectively separable from one another at the overlap section  22  to allow a protrusion such as a thumb T or the like to transversely extend there between. The first and second fabric ends  18 ,  20  are attached to one another at the attachment sections  24  using stitching, snaps, buttons, rivets or the like.  
         [0039]     Typically, the stitching of attachment sections  24  secures both the exterior fabric end  18  and the interior fabric end  20  in the above described overlap configuration in the proper place on the cuff  12 . Although the stitching  19  of the attachment section  24  located adjacent the free end of the cuff  12  is typically spaced apart inwardly from interior edge of the elastic band  16  by a distance of between about zero and about one inch, preferably about ½ inch.  
         [0040]     As illustrated more specifically in  FIG. 4 , a first fold region  34  defined at an intersection between the unfolded  26  and folded  28  portions of the first fabric end  18  is typically rigidified, and also reinforced, by a stitching  36 , permanent fold line or the like that extends at least partially there along, preferably all along the overlap section  22 . Similarly, a second fold region  38  defined at an intersection between the unfolded  30  and folded  32  portions of the second fabric end  20  is typically rigidified by a stitching  40 , permanent fold line or the like. The rigidifying stitching  36 ,  40  help in keeping the access opening  11  closed when in the unused configuration by keeping the folding or “sandwich effect” thereof. To a certain extent, they also help ensuring a self-sealable opening  11  in the open used configuration by keeping the first and second fabric ends  18 ,  20  tight against the thumb T when the later extends there between through the access opening  11 .  
         [0041]     The free edges  42 ,  44  of the respective folded portions  28 ,  32  of the first and second fabric ends  18 ,  20  are typically nicely terminated and rigidified using conventional seam finishes in the art to prevent deterioration, for example by fraying, tearing or defibering thereof. The seam finishes typically give some rigidity to ensure proper self-closing of the opening  11  and self-sealing thereof in the open used configuration by keeping the first and second fabric ends  18 , tight against the thumb T (or other protrusion) when the later extends there between through the access opening  11 , because of their resiliency or “shape memory” effect. The rigid free edges  42 ,  44  also help keeping the opening  11  closed by having their seam finishes substantially partially gripping to one another when the two fabric ends  18 ,  20  are being pulled transversely away from each other. Typically, each seam finish includes an edge cover  46  folded over and stitched to the free edge  42 ,  44  of the corresponding fabric end  18 ,  20 , via stitches  48 . The edge cover  46  could be made out of a similar material than the corresponding fabric or a different material such as but by no means as of limitation a stiffer or reinforced material, and eventually a resilient or stretchable material that could provide a certain seal against water or the like such as rubber, neoprene or the like for more specific use by sailors and/or bikers.  
         [0042]     The overlapping orientation of the inwardly folded exterior first fabric end  18  over the outwardly folded interior second fabric end  20  are patterned in such a manner as to provide maximal deflection capabilities when the cuff  12  is positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation (such as during cycling or the like), in a substantially vertical orientation (such as during walking or the like) or anywhere in between. The orientation opposes vertically gravitationally-induced weather intrusions and/or similarly opposes horizontally (in a rearward direction) windward penetration induced weather intrusions, respectively. The overlapping configuration is also effective in preventing insects egress into the access opening  11  and serves to efficiently and securely close the thumb port  11  once the thumb T is inwardly retracted there from by making the access opening  11  generally self-closable.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 3 and 4  also disclose the downward orientation of the exterior first fabric end  18  overlapping the interior second fabric end  20  to further illustrate the self-sealable characteristic of the access opening  11  in the closed unused configuration.  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a depiction of the palm side of the cuff  12  illustrating that the second fabric end  20  is part of a typically reinforced fabric  50  extending over the palm surface of the cuff  12  intended to make said cuff  12  more durable and protective to the wearer in the event that the garment is destined for recreational use, use in sport, or labor or the like related application.  
         [0045]     Obviously, the self-closable and self-sealable features of the access opening  11  depend on the aspect ratio of the opening length of the overlap section  22  over an overlap transversal distance between the first and second fold regions  34 ,  38 . Typically, the aspect ratio is between about two to seven (2-7), preferably about three to five (3-5).  
         [0046]     Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.