Garments
This application describes garments ( 2 ), for example swim suits or other sports or athletic garments, in which a plurality of panels ( 10 - 22 & 30 - 44 ) are laminated on the outer surface of a base layer ( 4 ) of stretchable elasticated fabric to offer (in the case of a swim suit) improved performance for competitive swimmers through a reduction in surface drag, a reduction in form drag and/or improved stability in the water.
1. A garment having:
a base layer of stretchable elastic fabric having a torso portion that covers at least part of the torso of a wearer;
a plurality of panels laminated on the outer surface of the base layer, the panels formed of a material having an outer surface that exhibits lower surface drag in water than the underlying base layer,
each of the panels separated from the other panels by an exposed portion of the base layer,
said panels including an abdominal panel covering the abdomen of the wearer and extending upwardly centrally to the wearer's sternum region, and a pair of chest panels which are generally triangular and which are located laterally one on each side of the abdominal panel and which extend downwardly to a level lower than the uppermost end of the abdominal panel, and
wherein the panels cover at least 50% of a front side of the torso portion of the garment.
2. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the panels cover 50% or more of the torso portion of the garment.
3. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the panels cover 20% or more of a rear side of the torso portion of the garment.
4. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the panels cover 50% or more of a rear side of the torso portion of the garment.
5. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the panels cover more of a front side of the torso portion of the garment than of a rear side of the torso portion of the garment.
6. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the garment has a pair of leg portions that cover at least a part of a person's legs when worn, each leg portion having one or more panels laminated on their outer surface.
7. A garment according to claim 1 , the garment comprising a pair of arm portions for covering at least part of a person's arms when worn, the arm portions being free of any laminated panels.
8. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the panels applied to the base layer are formed of a material having a higher stretch constant than that of the underlying base layer.
9. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the panels comprise polyurethane sheet material.
10. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the panels have different material properties than one another.
11. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a zip fastener, the zip fastener being fastened to the garment with what would normally be the underside of the zip facing outwards, so that the flat underside of the zip teeth is facing externally.
12. A garment having:
a base layer of stretchable elastic fabric having a torso portion that covers at least part of the torso of a wearer;
a plurality of panels laminated on the outer surface of the base layer, the panels formed of a material having an outer surface that exhibits lower surface drag in water than the underlying base layer,
each of the panels separated from the other panels by an exposed portion of the base layer,
said panels including a combined lumbar and buttocks panel covering the lumbar region and the buttocks of a wearer, and rear quadriceps panels extending over the hamstring muscle groups of each of the wearer's legs at the rear of each of the wearer's thighs, the lumbar and buttocks panel being separated vertically from the quadriceps panels by an exposed portion of the base layer, and wherein the upper ends of the quadriceps panels do not cover the wearer's buttocks, and
wherein the panels cover at least 50% of a front side of the torso portion of the garment.
13. A garment according to claim 12 , wherein the panels cover 50% or more of the torso portion of the garment.
14. A garment according to claim 12 , wherein the panels cover 20% or more of a rear side of the torso portion of the garment.
15. A garment according to claim 12 , wherein the panels cover 50% or more of a rear side of the torso portion of the garment.
16. A garment according to claim 12 , wherein the panels cover more of a front side of the torso portion of the garment than of a rear side of the torso portion of the garment.
17. A garment according to claim 12 , wherein the garment has a pair of leg portions that cover at least a part of a person's legs when worn, each leg portion having one or more panels laminated on their outer surface.
18. A garment according to claim 12 , the garment comprising a pair of arm portions for covering at least part of a person's arms when worn, the arm portions being free of any laminated panels.
19. A garment according to claim 12 , wherein the panels applied to the base layer are formed of a material having a higher stretch constant than that of the underlying base layer.
20. A garment according to claim 12 , wherein the panels comprise polyurethane sheet material.
21. A garment according to claim 12 , wherein one or more of the panels have different material properties than one another.
22. A garment having:
a base layer of stretchable elastic fabric having a torso portion that covers at least part of the torso of a wearer;
a plurality of panels laminated on the outer surface of the base layer, the panels formed of a material having an outer surface that exhibits lower surface drag in water than the underlying base layer,
each of the panels separated from the other panels by an exposed portion of the base layer,
said panels including an abdominal panel covering the abdomen of the wearer and extending upwardly centrally to the wearer's sternum region, and a pair of chest panels which are generally triangular and which are located laterally one on each side of the abdominal panel and which extend downwardly to a level lower than the uppermost end of the abdominal panel, and
wherein the garment comprises a zip fastener, the zip fastener being fastened to the garment with what would normally be the underside of the zip facing outwards, so that the flat underside of the zip teeth is facing externally.
23. A garment having:
a base layer of stretchable elastic fabric having a torso portion that covers at least part of the torso of a wearer;
a plurality of panels laminated on the outer surface of the base layer, the panels formed of a material having an outer surface that exhibits lower surface drag in water than the underlying base layer,
each of the panels separated from the other panels by an exposed portion of the base layer,
said panels including an abdominal panel covering the abdomen of the wearer and extending upwardly centrally to the wearer's sternum region, and a pair of chest panels which are generally triangular and which are located laterally one on each side of the abdominal panel and which extend downwardly to a level lower than the uppermost end of the abdominal panel, and
wherein the garment comprising a pair of arm portions for covering at least part of a person's arms when worn, the arm portions being free of any laminated panels.