Patent Publication Number: US-2016235129-A1

Title: Exercise Garment

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an exercise garment for use during exercise, sports or other vigorous activity. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     It is recognised that many women require support for their breasts during exercise. Currently-available garments designed to fulfil this need do, however, have their drawbacks. 
     One such garment is a compression sports bra. Compression sports bras are worn by pulling over the wearer&#39;s head, and act to compress the breasts of a wearer in order to support them. This design, although simple, can be uncomfortable. 
     An alternative sports bra encapsulates rather than compresses the breasts and is fastened at the front or back. While this type of sports bra is more comfortable to put on and to remove, wearers may experience “nappy rash” from pooling of sweat in the bra during exercise. 
     A still further alternative garment that at least partially addresses these problems is a sports top with a sewn-in shelf bra, or bandeau bra; that is, a vest or a t-shirt with a horizontal strip of elastic that compresses the breasts to reduce discomfort during exercise. This design, however, also suffers from the disadvantages of rashes or irritations due to sweat build-up on the body during exercise, resulting in the garment chafing the skin and/or giving the wearer an uncomfortable rash. Furthermore, these tops can also be awkward or uncomfortable to put on and to take off, particularly as the elasticated band for compressing the breasts can be tighter than the remainder of the garment. 
     There is therefore a need in the art to provide a garment for use in exercise or sports that addresses at least some of the drawbacks associated with known exercise garments. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present inventor has designed an exercise garment that addresses at least some of the problems encountered in the prior art. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an exercise garment comprising an upper portion comprising a support element arranged to support, in use, breasts of a wearer of the exercise garment and defining a first opening arranged to receive the neck of the wearer. The exercise garment further comprises a lower portion arranged to substantially cover, in use, the abdomen of the wearer of the exercise garment and defining a second opening arranged to receive the abdomen of the wearer. The exercise garment further comprises a third opening extending from at least one of the first opening and the second opening and through at least part of the upper portion and/or the lower portion. The exercise garment further comprises a closure element for at least partially closing the third opening. 
     The exercise garment may be suitable for use in any exercise or sports-related activity when the generation of sweat is likely, such as running, cycling, tennis, brisk walking, yoga, pilates, etc. In providing a support element arranged to support, in use, breasts of a wearer of the garment, the exercise garment may reduce discomfort that may be experienced by women during exercise caused by the movement of their breasts. In addition, the provision of a second portion arranged to substantially cover, in use, the abdomen of the wearer of the garment may provide increased warmth and support when compared to a traditional sports bra which are traditionally cropped just beneath the breasts. In addition, as the exercise garment may be formed as single unitary piece of clothing, it is simpler than a sports bra worn beneath a full-length top. By extending to substantially cover the abdomen, the sweat which builds up on the abdomen during exercise may be absorbed by the lower portion rather than pooling around the user&#39;s waistline, which can be uncomfortable. The lower portion may cover at least a portion of the user&#39;s midriff, may extend below the user&#39;s navel, and may extend to the hips of the wearer. The third opening may provide for increased ease of removal and putting on of the garment. 
     The closure element may be arranged on at least part of an edge of the exercise garment, the edge defining at least part of the third opening. The closure element may comprise any suitable device for closing, at least partially, the third opening such that the exercise garment may not easily detach during use. For example, the closure element may comprise a zip, at least one snap-fit button, at least one hook, at least one button, Velcro, ribbon, and/or lace. Other types of closure elements known to those of skill in the art are envisaged. 
     The third opening may be a longitudinal opening. In other words, the third opening may be arranged to extend, in use, substantially parallel to the axis of a wearer of the garment. The third opening may extend from the first opening, through the upper portion and at least partway through the lower portion. The third opening may extend from the second opening, through the lower portion and at least partway through the upper portion. The third opening may extend fully through the first and/or the second portion. The third opening may extend through the support element, in which case the first portion comprising the support element may be more easily pulled over the head of the wearer. The third opening may be arranged to extend, in use, between the breasts of the wearer. In embodiments in which the third opening extends from the first opening to the second opening, the exercise garment is easier to put on and to remove since it can be put on or removed like a jacket; that is, over the arms and shoulders first, and not over the head. The third opening may extend along the front of the exercise garment. The garment may thus be opened and closed at the front, making it easier for the user to put on and remove the garment, especially if the third opening runs from the first opening to the second opening. The third opening extends along a longitudinal centreline of the exercise garment; that is the line of symmetry running longitudinally through the centre of the garment. 
     The support element may comprise first and second cup-shaped elements for supporting the breasts of the wearer. Each cup-shaped element may be shaped substantially to follow the contour of at least part of the breast. Each cup-shaped element may be arranged to lift, in use, a breast of a wearer of the garment. Thus, discomfort and damage to breasts caused by exercise may be further reduced, since a cup-shaped support is generally more effective at reducing total breast motion during exercise than a purely compressive support. This feature combines advantageously with the third opening since separately-moulded cups are generally more difficult to remove over the head than a single, elastic, compressive support. 
     The cup-shaped elements may each comprise padding. The padding may be arranged to support, in use, breasts of the wearer. The padding may also be arranged to push up, in use, breasts of the wearer. The padding may be removable. Each of these features, in providing increased support for the breasts of the wearer, may contribute to increased comfort and decreased risk of damage to the breasts while exercising. 
     The support element may further comprise a band of elastic material arranged substantially to encircle, in use, the body of the wearer of a garment below the breasts of the wearer, and thereby to support the breasts. The exercise garment may further comprise a fastener for fastening, in use, the third opening below the breasts of the wearer. The fastener may be arranged on or adjacent the band of elastic material. The fastener may be positioned to fasten, in use, the third opening below the breasts of the wearer. The fastener may comprise a clip, a button, a hook and eye, a zip or a popper, or any other suitable fastening device. More than one such fastener may be provided. 
     At least the lower portion may comprise elastic material arranged to compress, in use, the abdomen of the wearer. The elastic material may be embodied in one or more panels of elastic or compressive material. Each panel may be arranged to be at a side of the garment, such that, in use, the sides of the abdomen of a wearer are compressed. This compression may provide increased comfort for the wearer of the garment. The compression may allow the wearer to appear more streamlined, which can be more aesthetically pleasing. The elastic material may comprise elastane (“spandex”, in American English). The upper portion of the exercise garment may also comprise elastic material. In embodiments in which the upper portion also comprises elastic material and in which the third opening extends from the first opening to the second opening, the configuration of the third opening makes the garment easy to remove, since the compressive area need not be taken off over the shoulders. The compressive material may comprise polyester and elastane. In one embodiment, the compressive material may comprise about 85% to about 87% polyester (preferably about 86% polyester) and about 13% to about 15% elastane (preferably about 14% elastane). The compressive material may comprise a lining of about 91% to about 93% polyester (preferably 92% polyester) and about 7% to about 9% elastane (preferably 8% elastane). 
     The exercise garment may comprise absorbent material. In particular, the absorbent material may be a relatively highly absorbent material. The first portion of the garment may comprise at least some of the absorbent material. The second portion of the garment may also comprise at least some of the absorbent material. The absorbent material may be arranged to be proximate, in use, the skin of a wearer of the garment. The garment may comprise a lining of absorbent material. The absorbent material may comprise brushed fabric. The absorbent material may comprise plush fabric. The absorbent material may comprise microfibre fabric. The absorbent material may comprise polyester and elastane, and in one embodiment may comprise about 94% to about 96% polyester (preferably 95% polyester) and about 4% to about 6% elastane (preferably 5% elastane). The provision of a lining of absorbent material may help to absorb sweat from the wearer of the garment. This may reduce the risk that a wearer of the garment will experience skin irritation during exercise. 
     The support element may comprise at least some of the absorbent material. In particular, the support element may comprise a lining of absorbent material which may be arranged, in use, proximate the skin of a wearer of the garment. In embodiments in which the support comprises first and second support elements, they may be substantially completely lined with the lining. In embodiments in which the support element comprises a band of elastic material, the band of elastic material may comprise a lining of absorbent material. In embodiments in which the lower portion comprises elastic material arranged to compress, in use, the abdomen of the wearer, the elastic material may comprise a lining of the absorbent material. The lining may help to absorb sweat from the breasts of a wearer of the garment. In embodiment with the above-described band of elastic material, an absorbent lining provided on the band may help to prevent sweat from pooling beneath the breasts of a wearer of the garment. 
     The garment may comprise at least one strap for adjusting a position of the support element relative to the wearer. Each strap may be arranged to define the position of the support element relative to the wearer, for example relative to a shoulder of the wearer. Each strap may be adjustable in length. Such adjustable straps therefore allow a wearer of the garment to determine how high they wish the support element to be positioned on their body. This allows a wearer to adjust the fit of the garment so that it is comfortable for their body shape. This also allows the wearer to adjust the level of support provided by the support element to their breasts, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the breasts during exercise. 
     The garment may comprise fabric configured to allow moisture vapour to pass through. The garment may comprise breathable fabric. The fabric configured to allow moisture vapour to pass through may be breathable fabric. The fabric configured to allow moisture vapour to pass through and/or the breathable fabric may be arranged to be, in use, at sides of a wearer of the garment. The fabric may be arranged to be, in use, at a back of a wearer of the garment. The fabric may comprise mesh or a mesh-like structure. Thus, sweat from a wearer of the garment may be able to more easily pass through the garment. This helps to keep the wearer cool and also reduces the risk of skin irritation, thereby increasing the comfort provided by the garment. 
     In embodiments, the first and second portion may be integral. The garment may comprise other features for example at least one pocket (sized for instance to receive a key or a mobile device). The garment may be a jacket in which case the garment comprises sleeves. The sleeves may be arranged to extend substantially to a wrist or no further than an elbow of a wearer of the garment. The garment may be without sleeves in which case it may be a vest. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described below by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1 a    is a front view of an exercise garment according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 1 b    is a back view of the exercise garment of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2  is a further front view of the exercise garment of  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    with one side open in order to show its interior configuration; 
         FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are front and back views of an exercise garment without compression panels, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are front and back views of an exercise garment comprising sleeves, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    are front and back views of an exercise garment comprising short sleeves and without compression panels, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    are front and back views of an exercise garment, according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    are front and back views of an exercise garment without compression panels, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention seeks to provide an improved exercise garment. Whilst various embodiments of the invention are described below, the invention is not limited to these embodiments, and variations of these embodiments may well fall within the scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1 a    shows an exercise garment according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the exercise garment is in the form of a vest  10 . The vest  10  has an upper portion  11  having a support element for breasts of a wearer in the form of a built-in bra  21 , as will be described further below. The vest  10  also has a lower portion  12 . This lower portion  12  extends below the upper portion  11  substantially to the hips of a wearer of the vest  10 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 a   , the vest  10  is arranged to cover the breasts and abdomen of a wearer of the vest  10 . The vest  10  also has straps  19  for supporting the vest  10  on the shoulders of a wearer of the vest  10 . Thus, the vest  10  defines arm-holes  2 . The vest  10  defines a first opening in the form of a neck  13 . The neck  13  is a substantially elliptical hole formed in the upper portion  11  of the vest  10 , arranged to encircle the neck of the wearer of the vest  10 . The vest  10  also has a second opening, defined by a bottom edge  14  of the vest  10 . The bottom edge  14  is arranged to encircle the hips of a wearer of the vest  10 . The vest  10  has a third opening in the form of a placket  15 . The placket  15  extends between the neck  13  and the bottom edge  14 . It is arranged at the front of the vest  10 . It therefore extends from the neck  13  at a point between the two straps  19 . The placket  15  has a closure element in the form of a zip  16  along the length of placket  15 . Thus, the placket  15  can be opened to allow a user of the vest  10  to put on the vest  10  (with their head through the neck  13  and arms through the arm-holes  2 ), fastened to close the vest  10  about the torso of the wearer, and re-opened to remove the vest  10 . A sealable pocket  16 ′ is located on the back of vest  10 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , which shows the vest  10  opened along the placket  15  with one of the straps  19  depicted as being cut away to aid understanding, the built-in bra  21  will now be described in more detail. The built-in bra  21  comprises two cup-shaped element in the form of cups  22 , a band of elastic material in the form of a band  23 , a fastener in the form of a clip  24  and a lining of absorbent material  25 . Each cup  22  is concave in shape. Each cup  22  is also sized so that a breast of the wearer fits into the cup  22 . The built-in bra  21  is therefore an encapsulation-type bra. The band  23  is positioned beneath the cups  22 , when the vest  10  is oriented with the straps  19  uppermost, and specifically when the vest  10  is being worn by a wearer. The band  23  is of a fabric comprising elastane. It is thus elastic. The band  23  further comprises an absorbent material. The clip  24  on the band  23  has two mating parts (not shown). One part is arranged at each edge of the placket  15 , opposite the other, so that the clip  24  can be fastened to hold the band  23  in place around the chest of the wearer. The band  23  holds, in use and when the clip is fastened, the built-in bra  21  against the body of the wearer, beneath their breasts. Thus, in use, the band  23  supports the cups  22  to carry a substantial amount of the weight of the breasts of the wearer. 
     The vest  10  is made from an absorbent material. In this embodiment, the absorbent material is 95% polyester, 5% elastane fabric  18 . The yarn of the fabric  18  has a cross-section which draws moisture from the inside to the outside via capillary action, and allows it to evaporate on the surface. In this embodiment, the weight of the 95% polyester, 5% elastane fabric  18  is 247 g/m 2 . 
     The cups  22  are lined in plush material  25 . A region around the cups  22  also has plush lining  25 . The region extends from an upper edge of each cup  22  to a side of the vest  10  and down to the band  23 . The band  23  also has plush lining  25 . This helps to prevent sweat from pooling beneath the breasts of the wearer of the vest  10 . 
     The vest has two panels of elastic material in the form of compression panels  17 . Each extends from the bottom edge  14  of the vest  10  to an edge of the garment defined by an arm-hole  2 . Each compression panel  17  is formed of 86% polyester, 14% elastane fabric (with a weight of 275 g/m 2 ) with a lining of fabric that is 92% polyester and 8% elastane (with a weight of 150 g/m 2 ). Both the fabric used for the compression panel and the fabric used for its lining are absorbent. In this embodiment, the yarn of both fabrics has a cross-section which draws moisture from the inside to the outside via capillary action, and allows it to evaporate on the surface. Since each compression panel  17  comprises elastane, each compression panel  17  is elastic and, in use, acts to support the sides of a wearer of the vest  10 . This increases the comfort and support provided by the vest  10 , as well as allowing the wearer to appear more streamlined. 
     In use, the vest  10  is put on by the user inserting arms through arm-holes  2 . The user then fastens the mating parts of the clip  24  to each other. The placket  15  is then closed by using zip  16  as known in the art. When fully closed, each breast of the wearer is supported in one of cups  22 . When exercising, support is provided to the breasts, and sweat is absorbed by the absorbent material of the vest  10   
     In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the exercise garment also comprises panels of fabric configured to allow moisture vapour to pass through it, such as a 100% polyester mesh fabric, known as “airtech”. In one such alternative embodiment, the fabric is at the back of the garment (that is, on an area shown in  FIG. 1 b   ). This airtech fabric therefore allows sweat of the wearer of the garment to pass through it, providing a breathable back for the garment. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the exercise garment is a jacket (for example as shown in  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   ). The garment is substantially as described in relation to the vest  10 , except that the straps  19  and the arm-holes  2  are replaced by sleeves which, in certain embodiments, extend to the wrists of the wearer, or may be ¾-length sleeves. The neck  13  of the jacket may also be shaped to extend higher up the neck of the wearer of the garment than the neck  13  of the vest  10 , in order to keep the wearer warmer in cold conditions. 
     Further embodiments of the exercise garment are shown in  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b   ;  5   a ,  5   b ;  6   a ,  6   b ; and  7   a ,  7   b . Like features are numbered using the reference numbers of  FIGS. 1 a , 1 b    and  2 . The embodiments of  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b   ;  5   a ,  5   b ; and  7   a ,  7   b , are examples of the exercise garment but without the compression panels  17 . 
     Whilst the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, and that alterations, modifications, and variations of these embodiments may be carried out by the skilled person without departing from the scope of the invention.