Pants configured for enhancing worker mobility
The present invention provides pants, such as pants that are worn as work uniform pants, which are configured to provide significant improvements in a wearer's comfort, performance, and mobility over a predefined range of motions. Embodiments of the pants comprise one or more stretch panels that are configured to provide for stretching of the pant at an identified micro site in order to provide a wearer with enhanced mobility. Additionally, the manner in which the various portions of the pant are connected together may be adjusted in order to provide a wearer with enhanced mobility.
1 . A pant configured for enhanced mobility, comprising:
a first leg portion and a second leg portion, each of the first leg portion and the second leg portion including a front panel and a rear panel;
a waistband;
at least one stretch panel located on the rear panel of the first leg portion; and
at least one stretch panel located on the rear panel of the second leg portion,
wherein the rear panels of the first leg portion and second leg portion are each respectively divided into an upper region and a lower region by a substantially diagonal seam, each substantially diagonal seam extending from a point at a rear seam of the pant downward to a point at an outer seam of the respective first leg portion and second leg portion,
wherein a bottom edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion coincides, respectively, with each substantially diagonal seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion, and extends, respectively, along the entire length of the substantially diagonal seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion,
wherein at least a portion of a top edge of each of the stretch panels coincides with a bottom edge of the waistband,
wherein an outer edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion coincides, respectively, with the outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion, and
wherein each of the stretch panels provides a wearer with enhanced mobility when performing one or more of the following motions: (a) bending over, (b) squatting, (c) kneeling and twisting, (d) reaching forward and up, and (e) big step.
2 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein the point at the rear seam of the pant is located between 6 inches and 10 inches below the bottom edge of the waistband.
3 . The pant of claim 2 , wherein the point at the outer seam of each of the first leg portion and the second leg portion is located between 12 inches and 24 inches below the bottom edge of the waistband.
4 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein at least another portion of a top edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion extends, respectively, substantially diagonally from an upper point coinciding with the bottom edge of the waistband to a lower point at the outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion.
5 . The pant of claim 4 , wherein the portion of the top edge of each of the stretch panels that extends substantially diagonally from the upper point coinciding with the bottom edge of the waistband to the lower point at the respective outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion extends substantially downward from the bottom of the waistband a distance before extending toward the respective outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion.
6 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein the outer edge of each of the stretch panels spans a vertical distance between 8 inches and 18 inches.
7 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein an inner edge of each of the stretch panels coincides with the rear seam of the pant.
8 . The pant of claim 7 , wherein the inner edge of each of the stretch panels spans a vertical distance between 5 inches and 10 inches.
9 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein the front panels of the first and second leg portions do not contain any stretch panels.
10 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein the pant is configured to withstand industrial laundering.
11 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein each of the stretch panels have a four-way stretch of at least 25%.
12 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein the pant is a segment of a coverall.
13 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein the stretch panels are effective to provide at least a 12% reduction in yoke travel.
14 . The pant of claim 1 , wherein the stretch panels are effective to provide at least a 10% reduction in ankle travel.
15 . A pant configured for enhanced mobility, comprising:
a first leg portion and a second leg portion, each of the first leg portion and the second leg portion including a front panel and a rear panel;
a waistband;
a stretch panel located on the rear panel of the first leg portion; and
a stretch panel located on the rear panel of the second leg portion,
wherein the rear panels of the first leg portion and second leg portion are each respectively divided into an upper region and a lower region by a substantially diagonal seam, each substantially diagonal seam extending from a point at a rear seam of the pant downward to a point at an outer seam of the respective first leg portion and second leg portion,
wherein the point at the rear seam of the pant is located below a bottom edge of the waistband,
wherein a bottom edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion coincides, respectively, with each substantially diagonal seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion, and extends, respectively, along the entire length of the diagonal seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion,
wherein a first portion of a top edge of each of the stretch panels coincides with the bottom edge of the waistband and a second portion of a top edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion extends, respectively, substantially diagonally from an upper point coinciding with the bottom edge of the waistband to a lower point at the respective outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion,
wherein an outer edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion coincides, respectively, with the outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion, and
wherein an inner edge of each of the stretch panels coincides with the rear seam of the pant.
16 . The pant of claim 15 , wherein the portion of the top edge of each of the stretch panels that extends substantially diagonally from the upper point coinciding with the bottom edge of the waistband to the lower point at the respective outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion extends substantially downward from the bottom of the waistband a distance before extending toward the respective outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion.
17 . The pant of claim 15 , wherein the outer edge of each of the stretch panels spans a vertical distance between 8 inches and 18 inches.
18 . The pant of claim 15 , wherein the front panels of the first and second leg portions do not contain any stretch panels.
19 . A pant configured for enhanced mobility, comprising:
a first leg portion and a second leg portion, each of the first leg portion and the second leg portion including a front panel and a rear panel;
at least one stretch panel located on the rear panel of the first leg portion; and
at least one stretch panel located on the rear panel of the second leg portion,
wherein the rear panels of the first leg portion and second leg portion are each respectively divided into an upper region and a lower region by a substantially diagonal seam, each substantially diagonal seam extending from a point at a rear seam of the pant downward to a point at an outer seam of the respective first leg portion and second leg portion,
wherein a bottom edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion coincides, respectively, with each substantially diagonal seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion and extends, respectively, along the entire length of the substantially diagonal seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion,
wherein an outer edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion coincides, respectively, with the outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion,
wherein an inner edge of each of the stretch panels coincides with the rear seam of the pant, and
wherein each of the stretch panels provides a wearer with enhanced mobility when performing one or more of the following motions: (a) bending over, (b) squatting, (c) kneeling and twisting, (d) reaching forward and up, and (e) big step.
20 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein the inner edge of each of the stretch panels spans a vertical distance between 5 inches and 10 inches.
21 . The pant of claim 19 , further comprising a waistband.
22 . The pant of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of a top edge of each of the stretch panels coincides with a bottom edge of the waistband.
23 . The pant of claim 21 , wherein the point at the rear seam of the pant is located between 6 inches and 10 inches below a bottom edge of the waistband.
24 . The pant of claim 21 , wherein the point at the outer seam of each of the first leg portion and the second leg portion is located between 12 inches and 24 inches below a bottom edge of the waistband.
25 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein at least another portion of a top edge of each of the stretch panels of the first leg portion and the second leg portion extends, respectively, substantially diagonally from an upper point coinciding with the bottom edge of the waistband to a lower point at the outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion.
26 . The pant of claim 24 , wherein the portion of the top edge of each of the stretch panels that extends substantially diagonally from the upper point coinciding with the bottom edge of the waistband to the lower point at the respective outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion extends substantially downward from the bottom of the waistband a distance before extending toward the respective outer seam of the first leg portion and the second leg portion.
27 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein the outer edge of each of the stretch panels spans a vertical distance between 8 inches and 18 inches.
28 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein the front panels of the first and second leg portions do not contain any stretch panels.
29 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein the pant is configured to withstand industrial laundering.
30 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein each of the stretch panels have a four-way stretch of at least 25%.
31 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein the pant is a segment of a coverall.
32 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein the stretch panels are effective to provide at least a 12% reduction in yoke travel.
33 . The pant of claim 19 , wherein the stretch panels are effective to provide at least a 10% reduction in ankle travel.