Garment with Stretchable Section and Related Methods
Garments having one or more stretchable sections positioned in an otherwise relatively less stretchable (or “non-stretchable”) garment. Among other things, the one or more stretchable sections preferably provide improved wearability when worn by the user. The relatively more stretchable section or sections preferably are constructed of material that provides at least 4-way directional stretch capabilities to the stretchable material and are selectively shaped and/or positioned on an article of clothing in an area where the wearer's body movement may cause stress to the garment material. The relatively more stretchable material facilitates garment expandability, thus providing for improved garment wearability, increased wearer comfort, and extended garment life.
1 . A garment comprising:
a first portion fabricated from a less stretchable material, said first portion comprising the majority of said garment, and a second portion fabricated from a more stretchable material, said second portion configured and positioned in said garment to provide elastic stretching of the garment during movement of the wearer's body;
where the second portion extends in an arcuate path from the front of a first leg of the garment, upward along the first leg, around the side of the garment to the back of the garment, across the back of the garment, around the other side of the garment, downward along a second leg to the front of the second leg of the garment;
where the first portion comprises un upper ring configured to encircle the wearer's torso, the first portion extending continuously from a front section of said upper ring downwardly through a crotch portion and then upwardly to operatively join a lower edge of said second portion.
2 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment is a pair of shorts.
3 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment is a pair of pants.
4 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising between eighty percent and ninety-one percent polyester.
5 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising between nine percent and twenty percent spandex.
6 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising between eighty-nine percent and ninety-one percent polyester and between nine percent and eleven percent spandex.
7 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is a solid piece of material without any internal seams.
8 . A pair of shorts comprising:
a first portion fabricated from a less stretchable material, said first portion comprising the majority of said garment, and a second portion fabricated from a more stretchable material;
where the second portion extends in an arcuate path from a first leg of the shorts, upward along the first leg, around the side of the garment to the back of the shorts, across the back of the shorts, around the other side of the shorts, and downward along a second leg of the shorts;
where the first portion comprises un upper ring configured to encircle the wearer's torso, the first portion extending continuously from a front section of said upper ring downwardly through a crotch portion and then upwardly to operatively join a lower edge of said second portion.
9 . The pair of shorts of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising between eighty percent and ninety-one percent polyester.
10 . The pair of shorts of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising between nine percent and twenty percent spandex.
11 . The pair of shorts of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising between eighty-nine percent and ninety-one percent polyester and between nine percent and eleven percent spandex.
12 . The pair of shorts of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising eighty percent polyester and twenty percent spandex.
13 . The pair of shorts of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising eighty-nine percent polyester and eleven percent spandex.
14 . The pair of shorts of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising ninety-one percent polyester and nine-percent spandex.
15 . The pair of shorts of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is a solid piece of material without any internal seams.
16 . A pair of shorts comprising:
a first portion fabricated a first material, said first portion comprising the majority of said garment, and a second portion fabricated from a second material, where the second material is more stretchable than the first;
where the second portion extends in an arcuate path from the front of a first leg of the shorts, upward along the first leg, around the side of the shorts to the back of the shorts, across the back of the shorts, around the other side of the shorts, downward along a second leg to the front of the second leg of the shorts;
where the first portion comprises un upper ring configured to encircle the wearer's torso, the first portion extending continuously from a front section of said upper ring downwardly through a crotch portion and then upwardly to operatively join a lower edge of said second portion.
17 . The pair of shorts of claim 16 , wherein the second portion is an elongated strip of material connected at a majority of its edges to the first portion of the material.
18 . The pair of shorts of claim 16 , wherein the second portion is a solid piece of material without any internal seams.
19 . The pair of shorts of claim 16 , wherein the second portion extends to the edge of the first leg of the shorts and to the second leg of the shorts.
20 . The pair of shorts of claim 16 , wherein the second portion is fabricated from a material comprising eighty percent polyester and nine percent spandex.