FR3027195A1 - SPORT UNDERWEAR COMPRISING AN ELASTIC FABRIC PROVIDING COMPRESSION LEVELS ADAPTED TO MUSCLE TISSUE - Google Patents

Abstract

Undergarment intended for a sporting practice, comprising an elastic fabric which adjusts to the body by exerting a compression to limit the oscillations of the muscular tissues during the practice of the sport, characterized in that it comprises zones presenting different levels of elasticity, each of these zones providing compression levels adapted to the muscle tissue that they cover, including a higher compression when these muscle tissues initially have greater oscillations.

Description

The present invention relates to an undergarment for the practice of a sport, intended to improve comfort and performance. When practicing a sport, rapid and repeated movements cause an oscillation of muscle tissue throughout the body, including muscle, fat and skin. These oscillations are variable according to the muscles according to the practiced sport and the person, in particular his sex, his age, his size and his mass. The oscillations of the muscular tissues require the muscles, in addition to the effort necessary for the sports activity, an additional energy to sustain this material, which fatigues these muscles more rapidly, and limits the power dedicated to the sports performance. In addition one can obtain micro-lesions on the scale of the muscle, which fatigues them even more. To exert a tightening of the limbs for medical reasons, it is known to make compression underclothes, in particular stockings for the legs, comprising an elastic fabric which exerts a constant and uniform tightening on all the limbs. members. This tightening of the limbs makes it possible to compress the superficial venous network, and in particular to limit the formation of edema which can cause thromboses. However these underwear are not suitable for improving sports performance. Furthermore, a type of underwear known for the lower body, forming pants, presented in particular by US-Ai2014059741, comprises elastic vertical bands arranged along the legs, exerting complementary support in this direction which helps reduce muscle fatigue in the legs. However, this type of panty with elastic bands along the legs, does not adapt particularly to each type of muscle the tightening level that is adapted to optimize the performance of each of these muscles 30 . The present invention is intended to avoid these disadvantages of the prior art.

It proposes for this purpose an undergarment intended for a sporting practice, comprising an elastic fabric which adjusts to the body by exerting a compression to limit the oscillations of muscle tissue during the practice of sport, characterized in that it comprises zones having different levels of elasticity, each of these zones providing compression levels adapted to the muscle tissue that they cover, including a higher compression when these muscle tissues initially have greater oscillations. One advantage of this undergarment is that it is thus possible precisely to define different zones on the human body, each corresponding to ranges of oscillation of the muscle tissues during the practice of the sport, and then to adapt for each of these zones the level of lengthening and nervousness of the elastic tissue to reduce oscillations appropriately.

It is thus possible to constrain more the muscular masses presenting the greatest oscillations, with zones having forms freely adapted to these muscular masses, and less others, which ensures the comfort of the undergarment. These clothes improve the physical recovery, that is to say that one finds a good physical form more quickly, and thus indirectly the performance to the extent that one can resume the sport practice more quickly and thus one can practice plus which induces greater efficiency and hence better physical performance.) The undergarment according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which may be combined with each other. Advantageously, the zones of higher compression comprise a deposit of silicone on the elastic fabric. Silicone is a material having a high elasticity and a high degree of nervousness, which moreover is deposited and is easily fixed on the elastic fabrics. The compression can be provided by other methods, for example by the application of resins other than silicone, bonding or addition of material, or any other application, especially of the reinforcing material type, which strengthens the elasticity in the compression zones more high. In this case, advantageously the deposition, for example, of silicone on the zones of higher compression, constitutes a pattern comprising meshes preferably of hexagonal shape, or of any other known geometric shape, for example triangular. These meshes form a decor that allows at the same time to adjust the level of elasticity by adjusting their thickness. Advantageously, the silicone is deposited in a pattern made by a screen printing process. This process makes it easy to form various patterns. Advantageously, the elastic fabric is a jersey knit knit made from polyamide and elastane. This type of fabric has a good level of elasticity, and is comfortable to wear. In this case, the weaving width of the elastic fabric is advantageously arranged according to the height of the undergarments, but may also be arranged in the width direction provided that the elongation and the modulus are similar. This gives a greater compression in the direction of the height, which represents the direction of the strongest oscillations of the muscular tissues. In particular, the compression zones comprising the highest level have in the height direction of the undergarment an elongation of about 49%, especially between 40% and 60%, for a load of 15N, and in the of the width an elongation at about 66%, especially between 55% and 75%, for a load of 15N, these measurements being carried out according to BS 4952. These values provide a good level of compression of the muscle tissue presenting the oscillations the stronger. According to one embodiment, the undergarment forms a panty comprising on the legs a lower area of low compression, which is about knee-high, and above an upper area of high compression up to the top. There are thus areas adapted to the movements of the corresponding muscle tissue.

In addition, the pants may have between the low compression zone and the high compression zone, substantially at the knees, a medium compression zone forming a band that goes inwardly between the legs.

According to another embodiment, the undergarment forms a swimsuit having in the upper part extending substantially to the middle of the thorax, and on the arms, an upper zone of weak compression, and below one or more lower zones of compression higher. In this case there are also zones adapted to the movements of the corresponding muscle tissues. In addition, the jersey may comprise a lower zone comprising in the center of the face and the back, and at the height of the middle of the thorax a substantially horizontal band, which is completed on each side by a descending portion, providing an average level of compression. or high.

The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will emerge more clearly on reading the following description given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIGS. 1a and 1b show the muscles of the human body respectively front and back; - Figures 2a and 2b show on the human body respectively front and back, areas corresponding to three levels of oscillation of muscle tissue during the practice of running; FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b respectively show front and back, panties or "leggings" and a jersey or "tee-shirt" according to the invention, comprising three levels of elasticity; - Figure 5 shows a silicone coating pattern applied to the elastic fabric to adjust its elasticity level; and FIGS. 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b show, respectively front and back, pants or "leggings" and a jersey or "T-shirt" according to a variant comprising two levels of elasticity. Figure la presents the human body seen from the front, comprising on each leg starting from the bottom the fibular short 2, the anterior tibial 4, the vast medical 6, the vast lateral 8, the right femoral 10, the adductor length 12, the sartorius 14, the tensor of the fascia lata 16, and towards the inside of the leg the great adductor 18, the gracile 20, the pectin 22 and the ilio-psoas 24. The human body comprises in the upper part, from the bottom the outer oblique of the abdomen 26, the right of the abdomen 28, the anterior serrated 30, the pectoralis major 32 and the deltoid 34. It comprises on each arm starting from the hand, the ulnar flexor of the carpus 36, along the palmar 38, the brachio-radial 40, the brachial 42 and the brachial biceps 44. Figure 1b shows the human body seen from behind, comprising on each leg from the bottom the soleus 50, the long fibular 52, the gastrocnemius 54, the plantar 56, the semi-membranous 58, the semi-tendinous 60, the femoral biceps 62, the granular gluteus 64 and gluteus medio 66. The upper part of the human body and from the bottom, the large dorsal 68, the infra-spinous 70, and the trapezium 72. It has on each arm 15 starting from the hand , ulnar extensor of carp 80, anconé 82, triceps brachial 84, large round 86 and small round 88. Figures 2a and 2b show different levels of oscillation of muscle tissue during the practice of the race on foot, which were measured by sensors on a sample of people representing different sexes, ages, sizes and masses. The displacements are measured in the three dimensions, they are in the case of this sport generally more important in the vertical direction. These displacements depend on the contraction of the muscles, they are more important when the muscles are relaxed. Low oscillations of less than 15 mm are obtained on the back of the legs below the knees 80, and on the center of the back 82. Average oscillations between 15 and 25 mm are obtained on the lower thorax and the center of the lower leg. abdomen 84, on the lower back 86 and on the upper arms 88, and on the back at the top of the legs inward 98. High oscillations greater than 25 mm are obtained, for the face, on the upper part legs including the pelvis 90, and on the sides of the abdomen 92, and for the back on the side of the legs 94, and on the sides of the back 96.

Figures 3a and 3b show a panty 100 made of an elastic fabric, which compresses the lower body both by the material and the making of this fabric, and by the application of silicone on certain areas of this fabric. The fabric alone provides a low level of compression, the silicone combined with the fabric brings in its pattern, a medium level and a high level of compression. The fabric is a mail jersey knit made of polyamide and elasthane, comprising in particular 78% of polyamide and 22% of elasthane. The specific weight is 200g per square meter. It has 77% elongation in the direction of the weaving length for a load of 15N, and a modulus of 233cN for a force of 30%. It presents in the direction of the weaving width an elongation at 59% for a load of 15N, and a modulus of 107cN for a force at 30%. These measurements are carried out according to BS 4952. Since the oscillations of the muscle tissues are greater in the direction of the height, advantageously, the width of the fabric in the direction of the height of the panty 100 will be available for the garment, in order to benefit from a stiffness of this fabric more important in this sense. In addition we obtain a greater elasticity in the direction of the width, which allows a threading of the product which is more comfortable.

The panty 100 has on the legs a lower zone 102 having a silicone-free fabric providing a low level of compression, which goes up to knee upwards inwards, and which substantially covers on the face the short fibular 2 and the tibial anterior 4, and on the back the soleus 50, the long fibular 52 and the gastrocnemius 54.

The panty 100 then comprises above an intermediate zone 104 forming a band also rising inwardly between the legs to reach almost to the crotch, having a tissue with silicone providing a medium level of compression, which substantially covers the plantar 56 , semi-membranous 58 and semi-tendinous 60.

The panty 100 finally has above an upper zone 106 up to the waist, having a tissue with silicone providing a high level of compression, which substantially covers the face of the vastus medialis 6, the vast lateral 8, the femoral right 10, the adductor length 12, the sartorius 14, the adductor adductor 18, the slender 20, the pectin 22 and the ilio-psoas 24. This upper zone 106 substantially covers on the back the femoral biceps 62 and the gluteus maximus 64.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show a jersey 110 made of the same elastic fabric, which compresses the upper part of the body in the same way by the material and the manufacture of this fabric, and by the application of silicone to certain areas in order to 'bring the three levels of compression. It is also available for making the width of the fabric in the direction of the height of the jersey 110 to have a greater stiffness in this direction, and facilitate the threading of this product. The jersey 110 has on the upper body to the middle of the thorax, and on the sleeves, an upper zone 112 having a silicone-free fabric providing the low level of compression, which substantially covers the large pectoral 32, the deltoid 34 , the infra-spinous 70, the trapezium 72, the large round 86, the small round 88, and all the muscles of the arm. The jersey 110 then comprises below an intermediate zone 114 comprising in the center of the face and the back, and at the height of the middle of the thorax a thin substantially horizontal band, which is completed on each side by a descending part coming down from this thorax, presenting a tissue with silicone bringing the average level of compression. The intermediate zone 114 substantially covers the right of the abdomen 28 and the anterior serrated 30. The jersey 110 finally comprises below each side a lower zone 116 up to the waist, having a tissue with silicone 25 bringing the level of high compression, which substantially covers the outer oblique face of the abdomen 26, and on the back the large dorsal 68. Figure 5 shows the pattern made with the silicone for the areas of medium and high compression, comprising meshes in a hexagonal shape 120 having a width L which is of the order of 10mm, and a height H which is of the order of 15mm. Advantageously, the zones of medium and high compression are differentiated by adapting the thickness E of this pattern, which is 2 mm for the average compression and 3 mm for the strong compression, which makes it possible to preserve an appearance and manufacturing means which remain similar. A two-component silicone having a Shore A hardness of from 10 to 40 is preferably used, which is advantageously a medical-grade material to avoid reactions with the skin. It is possible in particular to deposit the silicone by screen printing on the textile to obtain the desired design, this process permitting an impregnation of the silicone in the textile, which increases its nervousness, that is to say the restoring force in its initial position. .

It will be noted that the elongation before rupture of the silicone to reinforce the elastic fabric being greater than that of this fabric, there is therefore no risk of damaging this silicone during a major stretching. For the medium compression zone, an elastic fabric having an elongation of 54% for a load of 15N and a modulus of 560cN for a force of 30% is obtained for the mean compression zone. It has a 72% elongation in the width direction for a load of 15N, and a modulus of 420cN for a force of 30%. These measurements are carried out according to BS 4952. It is noted that this medium compression zone has a reduced elongation and a greater stiffness in both directions, as well as a better nervousness of the fabric. For the high compression zone, an elastic fabric having an elongation of 49% for a load of 15N and a modulus of 640cN for a force of 30% is also obtained for the high compression zone. It has an elongation of 66% for a load of 15N, and a modulus of 420cN for a force of 30%. These measurements are carried out according to BS 4952. This high compression zone has an even greater stiffness.

Figures 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b show a panty 100 and a jersey 110 having only two compression zones, a weak compression zone with the elastic fabric alone, and a high compression zone with the silicone receiving tissue, for achieve the highest compression shown above. It is also available for making the width of the fabric in the direction of the height of the pants 100 and the jersey 110, to have a greater stiffness in this direction, and facilitate the threading of these products. FIGS. 6a and 6b show a panty 130 comprising on each leg a lower zone 132 presenting a silicone-free fabric providing a low level of compression, which goes approximately to the knees included, going back a little towards the outside, and covers substantially on the face the short fibular 2 and the anterior tibial 4, and on the back the soleus 50, the long fibular 52 and the gastrocnemius 54. The panty 130 has above an upper zone 134 which goes up to the waist, presenting a tissue with silicone providing a high level of compression, which substantially covers the medial vastus 6, the lateral vastus 8, the femoral right 10, the adductor length 12, the sartorius 14, the adductor 18, the slender 20, the pectin 22 and the ilio-psoas 24, and which covers on the back the plantar 56, the semi-membranous 58, the semi-tendinous 60, the femoral biceps 62 and the gluteus maximus 64. FIGS. 7a and 7b present a jersey 140 featuring on the top of the body extending to the middle of the thorax, and on the sleeves, an upper zone 142a having a silicone-free fabric providing the low level of compression, which substantially covers the pectoralis major 30, the deltoid 34, the infra- thorny 70, the trapezium 72, the big round 86, the small round 88, and all the muscles of the arm.

The jersey 140 also has two lower central areas 142b of silicone-free fabric providing the low level of compression, in the middle of the abdomen and back to the bottom. The jersey 140 finally has a lower zone 144 comprising in the center of the face and back, and at the height of the middle of the thorax a thin strip 30 substantially horizontal, which is completed on each side by a downward portion coming down, presenting a fabric with silicone bringing the high level of compression. This lower zone 144 substantially covers on the face the external oblique of the abdomen 26, the right of the abdomen 28 and the anterior serratus 30, and on the back the large dorsal 68. In a practical way, similar measures performed on the same people with and without this type of underwear, showed a gain on the level of muscle tissue oscillation which is between 20 and 40%. We have with these underwear a clear reduction in muscle movements that reduces the energy consumed, improves comfort, and increases sports performance. In a general manner, according to the invention it is possible to produce on the undergarments a number of varied zones corresponding to different levels of compression of the fabric, greater than three, as well as contours of zones adapted particularly to the muscles to be covered. In particular, it is possible to make underwear intended for different categories of people, depending in particular on their gender, age, size and mass, to specifically optimize comfort as well as sports performance.

Claims (4)

CLAIMS1 - Underwear intended for a sporting practice, comprising an elastic fabric which adjusts to the body by exerting a compression to limit the oscillations of the muscle tissues during the practice of sport, characterized in that it comprises zones ( 102, 104, 106, 112, 114, 116, 132, 134, 142a, 142b, 144) exhibiting different levels of elasticity, each of these zones providing compression levels adapted to the muscular tissues they cover, comprising a compression higher when these muscle tissues originally have larger oscillations. 2 - Undergarment according to claim 1, characterized in that the higher compression zones comprise a deposit of material on the elastic fabric. 3 - Undergarment according to claim 2, characterized in that the deposition of material is a silicone deposit on the higher compression zones, in a pattern comprising meshes (120). 4 - Undergarment according to claim 3, characterized in that the silicone is deposited in a pattern made by a screen printing process. Undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic fabric is a jersey knit fabric based on polyamide and elastane. 6 - Undergarment according to claim 5, characterized in that the weaving width of the elastic fabric is arranged according to the height of the undergarments. 7 - Undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression zones comprising the highest level have in the direction of the height of the undergarment an elongation between 40 and 60% for a load. 15N, and in the width direction an elongation between 55 and 75% for a load of 15N, these measurements being made according to BS 4952. 8 - Undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it forms a panty (100, 130) comprising on the legs a lower area (102, 132) of low compression, which is approximately knee-high, and above an upper region (106, 134) of high compression going to the top. 9 - Undergarment according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises between the low compression zone (102) and the high compression zone (106), substantially at the knees, a medium compression zone forming a band ( 104) that goes inward between the legs. - Undergarment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it forms a jersey (110, 140) having in the upper part substantially to the middle of the thorax, and on the arms, a zone upper (112, 142a) of low compression, and below one or more lower zones (114, 116, 144) of higher compression. 11 - Undergarment according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a lower zone (114, 144) comprising in the center of the face and the back, and at the height of the middle of the thorax a substantially horizontal band, which is completed on each side by a descending part, bringing a medium or high level of compression.