US20080209610A1

US20080209610A1 - Player's Outfit

Info

Publication number: US20080209610A1
Application number: US11/910,827
Authority: US
Inventors: Arne Etzold
Original assignee: Puma AG Rudolf Dassler Sport
Current assignee: Puma SE
Priority date: 2005-04-08
Filing date: 2006-03-28
Publication date: 2008-09-04
Also published as: DE202005005692U1; EP1868458A1; JP2008534814A; ZA200709553B; WO2006105893A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a player's outfit for teams playing ball games, especially soccer, rugby, handball, or basketball. Said outfit comprises a top part and shorts, the top part and the shorts being embodied as a single piece. In order to obtain an increased level of comfort while making the outfit easy to handle and esthetically appealing, the player's outfit further comprises a piece that is worn over the shorts and is or can be joined to the shorts and/or the top part.

Description

The invention relates to sports clothing for team sports that use a ball, especially football, rugby, handball or basketball, which clothing has an upper part and a pair of shorts, with the upper part and the pair of shorts being designed as a single piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,963 discloses a one-piece sports suit with an upper part and a pair of trousers. An elastic band is incorporated in the hip region, in order that the sports suit lies against the body in this region. For putting on and taking off the sports clothing, a zip fastener extending from the neck region vertically downwards over the chest region is used.
A sports suit, or strip, of the generic type is also known for example from CH 515 693. Here, the garment is made up of two pieces, namely an upper part and a pair of shorts or trousers, the two parts being sewn together in the region of the belt line or waist.
To some extent, the previously known garments of the said type do not meet the requirements for wearing comfort and comfort during use in the way that is today required or desired.
The invention is based on the object of developing sports clothing of the generic type in such a way that it has an increased level of comfort and is nevertheless easy to handle. Another aim is for pleasing aesthetics of the garment. Finally, production of the garment should also be possible cost-effectively, and consequently at low cost.
The solution achieving this object as provided by the invention is characterized in that the sports clothing also has a shorts over-part, which is joined or can be joined to the shorts and/or to the upper part. It is preferred in this case that the shorts over-part is designed as a pair of over-shorts or as an over-skirt.
A preferred development provides that the join between the upper part and the pair of shorts is releasable. It is likewise provided with preference that the join between the shorts over-part and the upper part and/or between the shorts over-part and the shorts is releasable.
One effect achieved by this design is that putting on and taking off the sports clothing can be made easier if—by contrast with previously known solutions—no sewing is provided between the said parts.
It may be provided with preference that the joining means between the upper part and the shorts and/or between the shorts over-part and the shorts are designed as a zip fastener. A specific design in this respect provides a double or multiple zip fastener, with which the upper part can be joined to the shorts and the shorts over-part can be joined to the shorts. It is also possible to provide a double or multiple zip fastener with which the upper part can be joined to the shorts and the shorts over-part can be joined to the upper part.
An alternative design of the invention provides that the joining means between the upper part and the shorts and/or between the shorts over-part and the shorts are designed as a Velcro fastener.
Furthermore, it may be provided as a further alternative that the joining means between the upper part and the shorts and/or between the shorts over-part and the shorts are designed as a tie-up fastener.
As explained, therefore, with preference at least two of the total of three parts of the sports clothing, that is the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part, are joined or can be joined releasably to one another by the said joining means. It may be of advantage if this type of joining is restricted to two of the three parts and the third part is unreleasably fixed to one of the two other parts. Therefore, a development provides that two of the three parts, the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part, are permanently joined to one another. It is provided with particular preference in this respect that this permanent join is established by heat sealing or sewing.
A preferred design of this concept provides that two of the three parts, the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part, are joined to one another by heat sealing or sewing and the third part, which is not heat-sealed or sewn, is joined to the two heat-sealed or sewn parts by means of a releasable join. In particular, it is provided in this respect that the upper part and the shorts are joined to one another by the heat sealing or sewing and that the shorts over-part is joined to the upper part and the shorts by means of a releasable join.
An alternative design of the invention provides that the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part are permanently joined to one another by heat sealing. In this case, the sports clothing comprises just one piece. The heat sealing may extend in the hip region of the garment and join all three parts firmly to one another.
It is provided with preference for all the solutions mentioned that all the joining means between the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part extend right around the hip region.
A particularly good fit of the sports clothing can be ensured if it is provided as a development that an elastic band is arranged in the joining region between the upper part and the shorts.
The upper part may have at least one fastener, especially a zip fastener, a Velcro fastener or a tie-up fastener, for opening the neck opening in order to make it easier for the clothing to be put on and taken off. The at least one fastener may in this case extend in the shoulder region or along the spinal column. Furthermore, two fasteners, especially zip fasteners, may be provided such that they are arranged in the shoulder region to the sides of the neck opening.
An elastic band may be arranged in the neck region. With preference, the shorts may consist of elastic material and be cut in such a way that they lie against the thighs of the wearer. This achieves the effect in a particularly advantageous way that the thigh muscles of the player are supported and kept warm by exerting a slight compression. It also advantageously achieves the effect that it is made more difficult for an opposing player to take hold of the shorts.
The shorts over-part is designed with preference to be longer than the shorts, so the shorts do not protrude downwards beyond the shorts over-part. The upper part and/or the shorts or shorts over-part may be provided with at least one ventilation opening. This ensures optimum through-ventilation. The ventilation openings may be arranged in the upper part and extend substantially horizontally. For visual reasons, it is recommendable when arranging the ventilation openings in the shorts or in the shorts over-part for them to be arranged in the lateral region of the shorts or the shorts over-part and to extend substantially vertically.
A highly elastic material advantageously comes into consideration as the material for the upper part and/or the shorts or shorts over-part, which offers the advantage that the sports clothing lies closely against the body of the player and it becomes particularly difficult for opposing players to take hold of the sports clothing and pull on it. As a result of its elasticity, such a yarn material also increases the mobility of the player, because the sports clothing offers only low resistance to the movements of the player. Yarns with the preferred elastic behaviour are known for example under the trade name “Elasthan” or “Lycra”.
Although the sports clothing is designed according to the invention as one piece, in other words the upper part and the shorts/shorts over-part are joined to one another, there is the possibility of making the upper part and the shorts or shorts over-part different colours, and consequently creating the visual impression of classic sports clothing of a two-part design (upper part and shorts). Therefore, the advantageous functionality of the sports clothing according to the invention can be used without abandoning the known appearance.
In an advantageous way, the proposal of the invention makes it more difficult for the player to be held by the clothing, which is very good in the case of team sports that use a ball. Furthermore, the observance of existing rules for playing the game is made easier with respect to the regulations for wearing the sports clothing. The sports clothing remains in the prescribed position without the player having to pay any particular attention to it, in particular even under rough playing conditions. Furthermore, an optimum fit of the sports clothing is maintained under almost all conceivable conditions, which is of importance in conjunction with the sports clothing as an advertising medium.
With the proposal of the invention, increased wearing comfort and comfort during use of the sports clothing is achieved, since at least two of the parts (shorts, shorts over-part and upper part)—preferably all three parts—are releasably joined to one another. The provided shorts over-part also makes it more easily possible to maintain a high level of hygiene, since, for example, if need be only one of the parts (shorts, over-shorts or upper part) may be changed and cleaned.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the front view of a football strip,

FIG. 2 shows the side view of the football strip,

FIG. 3 shows the view of the football strip from behind,

FIG. 4 a shows the section A-B according to FIG. 1 for a detail of the strip, namely for the hip region, and

FIG. 4 b shows an alternative design to that of FIG. 4 a.

The sports clothing 1—see FIGS. 1 to 3—is designed in the exemplary embodiment as a football strip and comprises an upper part 2, a pair of shorts 3 and a shorts over-part 10, designed as over-shorts, which are joined to one another. The join is designed in the present case as a zip fastener 4, which extends in the hip region 5, to be precise in the form that the zip fastener 4 extends right around the hips. In this region 5 there is also—though not represented any more specifically—an elastic rubber band integrated into the sports clothing, for example sewn into it, which ensures that the sports clothing 1 is fixed in the hip region 5 of the player. Also arranged here—though it likewise cannot be seen in FIG. 1—is a tie-up cord for manual adjustment.
Putting on and taking off the sports clothing can be performed by putting on the parts that are separated from one another by a zip fastener (on the one hand the upper part 2 and on the other hand the shorts 3 together with the over-shorts 10), which are then joined on the body by means of the zip fastener.
An alternative procedure for putting on and taking off the sports clothing 1 is also to use two zip fasteners 6 and 7 extending to the sides in the shoulder region laterally of the neck opening 8. When the zip fasteners 6 and 7 are open, the wearer of the sports clothing 1 (with the upper part joined to the shorts 3/over-shorts 10) can put his/her feet into the sports clothing through the enlarged opening that is obtained in the region of the neck opening 8 and put on the sports clothing 1 in this way. Once the player has put on the sports clothing 1, the zip fasteners 6, 7 are closed and, as a result, the sports clothing 1 lies against the body of the player. An improved fit is achieved by an elastic band 9 being arranged in the neck region.
An important feature is that over the shorts 3 there is a shorts over-part 10—designed here as over-shorts. The over-shorts 10 are joined or can be joined to the shorts 3. With preference, a releasable join is provided between the shorts 3 and the over-shorts 10, in just the same way as a releasable join is provided between the shorts 3 or the over-shorts 10 and the upper part 2.
Zip fasteners, Velcro fasteners or tie-up fasteners are used with preference as releasable joins, although other releasable joins are also conceivable. Not intended, however, in the solution shown are permanent joins, i.e. that at least all three parts (shorts 3, over-shorts 10 and upper part 2) are sewn to one another. However, it may be provided that two of the parts (shorts 3, over-shorts 10 and upper part 2) are permanently joined to one another, in particular heat sealed or sewn, while the third part is then releasably fastened.
A combination of joins is also quite possible: for example, the over-shorts 10 may be fastened to the shorts 3 by means of a Velcro fastener, while the join between the unit then created by the shorts 3 and the over-shorts 10 is fixed to the upper part 2 by means of a zip fastener.
For improved through-ventilation of the sports clothing 1, ventilation openings 11, 11′, 11′, 11′″, 12 are provided. In the exemplary embodiment, the ventilation openings 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″ arranged in the upper part 2 extend substantially horizontally and are arranged on both sides of the upper part 2.
Arranged in the over-shorts 10, on each of the two sides of the shorts, there is a ventilation opening 12, these openings extending substantially vertically.
The ventilation openings 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″, 12 are designed in the present case as incisions or cut-outs in the upper part 2 or in the over-shorts 10, over which a thin material with good air-permeating properties is arranged.
The sports clothing 1 may have short or long sleeves 13, the exemplary embodiment showing the short-armed variant.
In FIG. 4, two designs are illustrated, showing how the joining of the upper part 2, the shorts 3 and the over-shorts 10 can be accomplished.
In FIG. 4 a it can be seen that a zip fastener 4, which is firmly arranged on the shorts 3 by means of sewing 14, is provided. The zip fastener 4 is designed as a double zip fastener. An upper zip fastener 4 a joins the shorts 3 to the upper part 2. A further, lower zip fastener 4 b joins the over-shorts 10 to the shorts 3.
It may equally also he provided that the double zip fastener is sewn to the upper part 2 and that the shorts 3 and the over-shorts 10 are fixed by means of the zip fasteners 4 a and 4 b.
The alternative embodiment according to FIG. 4 b provides that the zip fastener has altogether three component zip fasteners, namely the upper zip fastener 4 a, the lower zip fastener 4 b and a third zip fastener 4c. The upper zip fastener 4 a joins the upper part 2 to the zip fastener 4 itself. On the lower side of the zip faster 4, the lower zip fastener 4 b joins the upper-shorts to the zip fastener 4 and the third zip fastener 4 c joins the shorts 3 to the zip fastener 4.
As a result, a very flexible possible way of exchanging the individual parts of the sports clothing 1 is created.
It should be noted that it is also quite possible to provide a combination with other releasable joining means (Velcro fastener, tie-up fastener) or unreleasable joining means (heat sealing, sewing), which can be used as a substitute for some of the joins provided by zip fasteners according to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 sports clothing or strip
2 upper part
3 shorts
4 zip fastener
4 a upper zip fastener
4 b lower zip fastener
4 c third zip fastener
5 hip region
6 zip fastener
7 zip fastener
8 neck opening
9 elastic band
10 shorts over-part (over-shorts)
11 ventilation opening
11′ ventilation opening
11″ ventilation opening
11′″ ventilation opening
12 ventilation opening
13 sleeve
14 seam

Claims

1. Sports clothing for team sports that use a ball, which clothing comprises an upper part and a pair of shorts, with the upper part and the pair of shorts being designed as a single piece, wherein

the sports clothing also has a shorts over-part, which is joined or can be joined to the shorts and/or to the upper part.

2. Sports clothing according to claim 1, the shorts over-part is a pair of over-shorts or an over-skirt.

3. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the join between the upper part and the shorts is releasable.

4. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the join between the shorts over-part and the upper part and/or between the shorts over-part and the shorts is releasable.

5. Sports clothing according to claim 3, wherein the joining means between the upper part and the shorts and/or between the shorts over-part and the shorts are designed as a zip fastener.

6. Sports clothing according to claim 5, wherein a double or multiple zip fastener, with which the upper part can be joined to the shorts and the shorts over-part can be joined to the shorts.

7. Sports clothing according to claim 5, wherein a double or multiple zip fastener, with which the upper part can be joined to the shorts and the shorts over-part can be joined to the upper part.

8. Sports clothing according to claim 3, wherein the joining means between the upper part and the shorts and/or between the shorts over-part and the shorts are designed as a Velcro fastener.

9. Sports clothing according to claim 3, wherein the joining means between the upper part and the shorts and/or between the shorts over-part and the shorts are designed as a tie-up fastener.

10. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein two of the three parts, the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part, are permanently joined to one another.

11. Sports clothing according to claim 10, wherein two of the three parts, the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part, are joined to one another by heat sealing.

12. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein two of the three parts, the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part, are joined to one another by heat sealing or sewing and the third part, which is not heat-sealed or sewn, is joined to the two heat-sealed or sewn parts by means of a releasable join.

13. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the upper part and the shorts are joined to one another by the heat sealing or sewing and in that the shorts over-part is joined to the upper part and the shorts by means of a releasable join.

14. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part are permanently joined to one another by heat sealing.

15. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein all the joining means or joins between the upper part, the shorts and the shorts over-part extend right around the hip region.

16. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein an elastic band is arranged in the joining region between the upper part and the shorts.

17. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the upper part has at least one fastener, especially a zip fastener, a Velcro fastener or a tie-up fastener, for opening the neck opening.

18. Sports clothing according to claim 17, the at least one fastener extends in the shoulder region or along the spinal column.

19. Sports clothing according to claim 17 wherein two fasteners, especially zip fasteners, arranged in the shoulder region to the sides of the neck opening.

20. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein an elastic band is arranged in the neck region.

21. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the shorts consist of elastic material and are cut in such a way that they lie against the thighs of the wearer.

22. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the shorts over-part is designed to be longer than the shorts.

23. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the upper part and/or the shorts or the shorts over-part are provided with at least one ventilation opening.

24. Sports clothing according to claim 1, wherein the upper part and/or the shorts consist of highly elastic material.