WO2017118902A1

WO2017118902A1 - A garment

Info

Publication number: WO2017118902A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/058097
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renato CHIARI
Original assignee: Errea' Sport S.P.A.
Priority date: 2016-01-08
Filing date: 2016-12-30
Publication date: 2017-07-13
Also published as: ITUB20169875A1

Abstract

A garment comprising: -a first portion (21) made of a textile material; -a second portion (22) made of a stretch fabric not derived from a manufacturing process using a seamless tubular textile machine; the joining of the first and the second portion (21, 22) defines an internal surface (11) that faces the wearer and an external surface (12) that is externally visible when the item of clothing is worn; -at least one elastic strip (3) located on the internal surface (11) and that is suitable for adhering to a wearer's skin to a greater degree than the adjacent fabric; The strip (3) is afforded at least partly on said second portion (22).

Description

DESCRIPTION

A Garment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a garment and to a method for making the garment. The garment is advantageously made to simulate the effect of taping.

Taping is a known technique which includes application, by specialised personnel and in specific ways, of sticking plasters on a person's skin.

Prior Art

The use of taping is known, for example, in the physiotherapeutic sector for muscular pain; taping is also much used by sportsmen and women. Also known is the realising of garments that simulate the effect of taping and which are obtained by assembling portions of fabric in turn deriving from a manufacturing by a seamless tubular machine. In particular, application is known on these portions of fabric, by means of screen printing, of strips of resin destined to come into contact with a user's skin. Though these garments give appreciable results for the users, the manufacturing thereof involves a certain complexity.

Aim of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a garment and a manufacturing method of the garment which facilitate production while also offering a maximum of comfort to the user.

The technical task set and the objects specified are substantially attained by a garment and a method for making it, comprising the technical characteristics as set out in one or more of the accompanying claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more fully emerge from the indicative, and thus non-limiting, description of a garment and a method for manufacturing the garment, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: -figures 1 and 2 show a front and a rear view of a garment according to the present invention, respectively;

-figures 3, 4 and 5 show a front view, a rear view and a lateral view of a garment according to the present invention, respectively.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In the accompanying figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a garment. The garment 1 might be for example a shirt, a pair of shorts or a sock.

The garment 1 is preferably an article of underwear.

The garment 1 comprises:

-a first portion 21 made of a textile material; the first portion 21 is advantageously made of a seamless tubular textile material (this type of fabric is well-known in the technical sector and is connected with the production of fabric by machines generating a tubular textile body without seams);

-a second portion 22 made of a stretch fabric (preferably circular) not derived from a manufacturing process using a seamless tubular textile machine. By way of example the second portion 22 is made of a synthetic fibre, for example a combination at least of polyester and elastomer. In a non-limiting solution the percentage of polyester might be 82% and the percentage of elastomer might be 18% (the above percentages might be evaluated in weight or volume).

The first portion 21 is also advantageously made of a synthetic fibre, for example polyamide and polyester. In a non-limiting solution the percentage of polyamide might be 94% and the percentage of elastomer might be 6% (the above percentages might be evaluated in weight or volume).

The first and second portions 21 , 22 are made of different textiles. The first portion 21 of the garment advantageously involves at least 30% of the extension of the garment; it preferably involves at least 50% of the extension of the garment. The second portion 22 advantageously involves at least 10%, preferably at least 20% of the extension of the garment. The first portion 21 is also advantageously made of a stretch fabric. The elasticity of the first and second portion 21 , 22 is different (advantageously the first and the second portion 21 , 22 have a different Young modulus). In particular, the first portion 21 has a smaller Young modulus than the second portion 22 (this means that a sample of the material of the first portion 21 , given a same deformation, requires a smaller extension force than a sample of the second portion 22).

The joining of the first and the second portion 21 , 22 defines an internal surface 1 1 that faces the wearer and an external surface 12 that is externally visible when the item of clothing is worn. The first and second portions 21 , 22 are assembled to one another by means of seams 4. The fact that the first portion 21 is seamless tubular (i.e. without sewn seams) is linked to the particular way the first portion 21 is produced; this does not exclude the possibility for it to be assembled by seams 4 to other textiles. The localisation of the seams 4 advantageously follows the arrangement of intermuscular septa of connective fasciae. The seams 4 are arranged at the portions of the garment 1 which overlap zones of lower mobility of the wearer's body. This is so that the wearer does not notice the presence thereof if not only minimally. Further, the seams do not impede movement, but instead provide an anchoring for the action of the garment. The seams 4 collimate with selected connective septa of the body in such a way that when the user performs a motor activity, the seams modify the overall length thereof by an insignificant amount (for example less than 5%) with respect to the overall length assumed when the user's body is in the rest condition.

The garment 1 advantageously comprises at least one elastic strip 3 located on the internal surface 1 1 and that is suitable for adhering to a wearer's skin to a greater degree than the adjacent fabric (i.e. it has a greater coefficient of friction). In the accompanying figures the strip 3 is represented using broken lines to highlight that it is located on the internal surface 1 1 . The elastic strip 3, with the garment worn by the user, will adhere to the skin, thus simulating the effect of taping. The elastic strip 3 thus defines an elastic reinforcement made on the body of the garment which traces the extension of the connective tissue fasciae to which the effect is directed. The garment 1 advantageously enables stabilising the intra- and peri-muscular connective fasciae.

The strip 3 is afforded at least partly on first or second portion 21 , 22, but preferably it is applied at least in part on the second portion 22. The strip 3 is advantageously made of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

Said at least a strip 3 advantageously comprises a plurality of strips 3. The present description, made with reference to a strip, can be repeated also with reference to the strips 3.

The strips 3 can join in one or more branching points. A plurality of joined strips can define a skeletal shape. The strips 3 have a preponderantly longitudinal direction.

In the preferred embodiment the strip 3 is exclusively placed on the second portion 22 and/or on parts of stretch fabric not derived from a manufacturing process using a seamless tubular textile machine. The strip/s 3 is/are not present on the first portion 21 .

The strip 3 can have a thickness of less than 2 millimetres. The strip 3 preferably has a width comprised between 1 and 5 centimetres (the width is measured perpendicularly to the preponderant extension line of the strip 3).

The strip 3 advantageously comprises a plurality of holes. The holes are advantageously distributed along the extension of the strip 3. They enable facilitating transpiration.

The first portion 21 makes the garment 1 comfortable for the user. In fact it enables maximum flexibility in the choice of the material. The second portion 22 facilitates application of the strip 3.

The strip 3 is not externally visible. In particular, at the strip 3, the external surface 12 of the garment 1 is visually uniform if compared to the surrounding zones. The first portion 21 is advantageously monochromatic, at least from the external side (i.e. the side visible with the garment worn). The second portion 22 is also advantageously monochromatic, at least from the external side (i.e. the side visible with the garment worn). The first and second portions 21 , 22 can be of different colours.

If the garment 1 is a shirt, the first portion 21 can involve at least a lower part of the chest, while the second portion 22 involves the shoulders and possibly the sleeves of the garment 1 .

In this matter the second portion 22 can be considered a shoulder wrap assembled to the first portion 21 .

The garment 1 advantageously comprises a third portion 23 made of a seamless tubular fabric that overlaps the axillary cavity and is sewn to the first and the second portion 21 , 22. The absence of seams at the axillary cavity increases the wearer's comfort by eliminating the seams in a sensitive zone.

In a case where the garment is a shirt it might include a zip fastener. It can cross a front part of the shirt entirely or might involve only an upper portion of the shirt (near the neck).

As previously indicated, the garment 1 can be a shirt. As shown by way of example in figures 1 and 2, the strip/s 3 extend at least along the portions of the shirt that are designed to overlap with the fibres of the connective fascia that on a wearer extend from the scapula towards the upper limb and from the clavicle frontally towards the upper limb.

The seams 4 extend at least along the portions of the shirt that in a wearer extend:

-along the anatomical directions of the medial border of the scapula and of the latissimus dorsi muscle and then on towards the upper limb along the posterior border of the deltoid muscle, continuing along the external margin of the triceps brachii and ending in the proximity of the elbow; and/or

-from the superomedial angle of the scapula forward, adhering at the base of the neck and joining the contralateral scapula; and/or -from the manubrium sterni laterally passing over the anterior margin of the deltoid muscle and the medial margin of the biceps brachii muscle, and ending at the elbow.

As previously indicated, the garment 1 can be a pair of pants. As shown by way of example in figures 4, 5, 6, the strip/s 3 extend along portions of the pair of pants which on a wearer are destined to follow:

- the extension of the quadriceps femoris enveloping the belly of the vastus medialis; and/or

- the extension of the adductor muscles and of the biceps femoris enveloping the flexor muscles of the leg that are located in the posterior compartment of the thigh.

By way of non-limiting example, the seams 4 extend along the portions of the pair of pants that on a wearer are designed to overlap with the medial septum interposed between the adductor muscle groups and the quadriceps femoris and the posterior lateral septum interposed between the flexor muscles and the vastus externus muscle.

In the case of a pair of pants the seams are advantageously absent at the crotch. This improves the comfort and also reduces the tendency of the pair of pants to drop while the wearer is walking.

The present invention further relates to a method of realising a garment. Conveniently, this garment 1 has one or more of the characteristics described hereinabove.

The method comprises a step of predisposing a first portion 21 made of a textile material. The step of predisposing the first portion 21 comprises a manufacturing process using a textile machine for seamless tubular manufacturing. This enables obtaining a first portion of seamless tubular fabric (well-known in the technical sector). The step of obtaining the first portion 21 can possibly also comprise the step of cutting a tubular element obtained with said circular-operating machine.

The method further comprises a step of predisposing a second portion 22 made of a textile material, appropriately elasticated. The step of predisposing the second portion 22 comprises a manufacturing process using a textile machine (preferably circular), excluding the use of a seamless tubular textile machine.

The method advantageously comprises a step of assembling the first and second portion 21 , 22. This is advantageously done by sewing perimeter flaps.

The method further comprises a step of applying on an internal surface 1 1 of the second portion 22 at least one elastic strip 3 suitable for adhering to a wearer's skin to a greater degree than the adjacent fabric (possibly, in a non-preferred solution, instead of being applied on the second portion 22, the strip 3 might be applied on an internal surface of the first portion 21 ). By internal surface 1 1 of the second portion 22 is meant a surface that when the garment is worn is facing towards the wearer. The internal surface 1 1 is opposite the external surface. The strip 3 is advantageously made of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or in any case of a material having a coefficient of friction with human skin greater than that of the surrounding fabric.

The step of applying the strip 3 on said surface is done by means of hot pressing.

The method includes applying the strip 3 exclusively on the second portion 22 made of textile and/or on parts of stretch fabric not derived from a manufacturing process using a seamless tubular textile machine. This is done without the step of applying, on the first portion 21 , strips 3 having a coefficient of friction with human skin greater than that of the surrounding fabric. The strip/s 3 is/are thus not applied on the first portion 21 .

The strip 3 is preferably applied on the second portion 22 before the assembly of the first and the second portion 21 , 22. The application of the strip 3 takes place on the second portion 22 by maintaining the second portion 22 resting on a support without any need to be placed in traction. During use, the first and second portions 21 , 22 and also the strip 3 deform (lengthening or shortening), with different levels of friction, determining a localised stabilising effect on the underlying connective fasciae.

In particular, the first and second portions 21 , 22 and also the strip 3 have differentiated elastic moduli. They are destined to collimate with respective sectors of the body in such a way that when the user exerts a motor action, all thereof modify, according to the localisation thereof, their overall surface extension, offering different resistances corresponding to the value of their own elastic modulus with respect to the respective overall surface extension with the body of the user in rest condition.

The invention thus conceived makes it possible to achieve multiple advantages.

Firstly it enables making available a garment able to simulate taping and which can be easily made, thus improving production rate. In particular, the application of the strips 3 is done extremely rapidly at the second portion 22. The first portion 21 , on the other hand, offers and excellent dressability and comfort for the user.

This enables making available a high-performance technical garment. A further important advantage is the possibility of using textiles of various types which can ensure maximum comfort for the user.

The invention as it is conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept characterising it. Further, all the details can be replaced with other technically-equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to requirements.

Claims

1 . A garment comprising:

-a first portion (21 ) made of a textile material;

-a second portion (22) made of a stretch fabric not derived from a manufacturing process using a seamless tubular textile machine;

the joining of the first and the second portion (21 , 22) defines an internal surface (1 1 ) that faces the wearer and an external surface (12) that is externally visible when the item of clothing is worn;

-at least one elastic strip (3) located on at least a part of the internal surface (1 1 ) and that is suitable for adhering to a user's skin to a greater degree than the adjacent fabric;

characterized in that the strip (3) is afforded at least partly on said second portion (22).

2. The garment according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one strip (3) exclusively affects some parts in stretch fabric not derived from a manufacturing process using a seamless tubular textile machine; along said first portion (21 ), there being no elastic strips located on the internal surface (1 1 ) and that are suitable for adhering to a user's skin to a greater degree than the adjacent fabric.

3. The garment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first portion (21 ) is made of a seamless tubular textile material.

4. The garment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip (3) is made of thermoplastic polyurethane and is of a thickness of less than 2 millimetres and a width within the range of 1 to 5 centimetres.

5. The garment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists in a shirt; said first portion (21 ) is designed to overlap a wearer's chest and said second portion (21 ) is a shoulder wrap joined to the first portion (21 ).

6. The garment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third portion (23) made of a seamless tubular material that overlaps the axillary cavity and is sewn to the first and/or the second portion (21 , 22).

7. The garment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists in a shirt; said at least one strip (3) comprising a plurality of strips (3) that extend at least along the portions of the shirt that are designed to overlap with the fibres of the connective fascia that on a wearer extend from the scapula towards the upper limb and from the clavicle at the front towards the upper limb;

the first and the second portion (21 , 22) are assembled one to the other by means of seams (4), the seams (4) extending at least along the portions of the shirt that on a wearer extend:

-along the anatomical directions of the medial border of the scapula and of the latissimus dorsi muscle and then on towards the upper limb along the posterior border of the deltoid muscle, continuing along the external margin of the triceps brachii and ending in the proximity of the elbow;

-from the superomedial angle of the scapula forward, adhering at the base of the neck and joining the contralateral scapula;

-from the manubrium sterni laterally passing over the anterior margin of the deltoid muscle and the medial margin of the biceps brachii muscle, and ending at the elbow.

8. The garment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it consists in a pair of pants; said at least one strip (3) comprising a plurality of strips that extend along portions of the pants that on a wearer are designed to follow:

- the extension of the quadriceps femoris enveloping the belly of the vastus medialis;

- the extension of the adductor muscles and of the biceps femoris enveloping the flexor muscles of the leg that are located in the posterior compartment of the thigh;

the first and the second portion (21 , 22) are assembled one to the other by means of seams (4), the seams (4) extending along the portions of the pants that on a wearer are designed to overlap with the medial septum interposed between the adductor muscle groups and the quadriceps femoris and the posterior lateral septum interposed between the flexor muscles and the vastus externus muscle.

9. A method for manufacturing a garment, comprising the steps of:

-preparing a first portion (21 ) made of textile material; the step of preparing the first portion (21 ) comprising a manufacturing process using a textile machine for seamless tubular manufacturing;

-preparing a second portion (22) made of textile material; the step of preparing the second portion (22) excluding the use a seamless tubular textile machine;

-assembling the first and the second portion (21 , 22);

-applying on a part of the surface (1 1 ) of the second portion (22), which faces the wearer when the item of clothing is worn, at least one elastic strip (3) suitable for adhering to a wearer's skin to a greater degree than the adjacent fabric.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that strips (3) suitable for adhering to a wearer's skin to a greater degree than the adjacent fabric are applied exclusively on parts of the garment obtained without using a seamless tubular textile machine, by means of hot pressing.