GB2345432A

GB2345432A - Garment with overlapping cuffs

Info

Publication number: GB2345432A
Application number: GB9900089A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karin Broeksmit
Original assignee: DDSA INT Ltd
Current assignee: DDSA INT Ltd
Priority date: 1999-01-05
Filing date: 1999-01-05
Publication date: 2000-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-05
Also published as: GB2345432B; GB9900089D0

Abstract

An article of clothing such as sports trousers (10) comprising body portion (11) from which two limb portions (20b) extend with their distal ends each terminating in an overlapped cuff (24b). The overlapped cuff can move freely between a first position in which its inner diameter is essentially a continuation of that of the limb portion and a second position in which its inner diameter is substantially expanded relative to the first position. The article has an image concealed under the cuff which is exposed when the limb is moved. In another embodiment (see figure 4) there is provided an overlapping region in the body portion of a sweatshirt to allow a concealed image to be shown as the wearer moves.

Description

TROUSER GARMENT WITH OVERLAPPED CLFFS The present invention relates to an article of clothing. Although it is not so limited, it will hereafter be described with reference to a preferred embodiment in the form of trousers adapted in a way that allows the trousers to be put on and/or removed with ease whilst wearing footwear.

It is often desirable for persons undertaking sporting and/or leisure activities to be able to put on and/or remove from themselves a pair of sporting trousers in a quick and easy manner without also having to remove footwear. This often causes a problem since, due to the shape of the opening at the lower end of the trouser leg, typically of a relatively narrow cross-section, an individual's feet wearing footwear do not easily, or do not at all, fit through the lower end of the trouser leg opening. The problem is often exacerbated by the presence of spikes or studs on the under-surface of certain footwear. This problem is often overcome by taking the footwear off before putting on and/or removing the trousers.

In order to increase the ease, and therefore the speed, with which a pair of sporting trousers are put on and/or removed whilst wearing footwear, it is known to provide a slit at the bottom of each trouser leg which runs along the outer and/or inner seam of each trouser leg and which is closable by e. g. a zip fastener, to enable an enlarged opening to form through which each foot with footwear may pass more quickly and easily.

According to the present invention, there is provided an article of clothing comprising a body portion from which two limb portions extend with their distal ends each terminating in an overlapped cuff permitting the overlapped cuff to move freely between a first position in which its inner diameter is essentially a continuation of that of the limb portion and a second position in which its inner diameter is substantially expanded relative to the first position.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an article of clothing comprising a body portion to which is attached a piece of material which overlaps a section of the body portion permitting the said overlapped piece of material to move freely between a first position in which the overlapped piece of material is in contact with the external surface of the body portion and a second position in which it is substantially not in contact with the surface of the body portion.

It will be seen that a preferred form of the present invention provides a trouser garment, such as a pair of sports trousers, where the lower portion of each trouser leg comprises an overlapped band or cuff of material adapted to form an outer flap of material overlapped with an inner flap of material. Spreading of the respective flaps broadens the cross-section through which a foot wearing footwear may pass, and thus increases the ease, and therefore the speed, with which an individual may put on and/or remove the trousers. In addition, this preferred form enables an individual to put on and/or remove the trousers whilst wearing footwear in a faster and easier manner than when an individual uses trouser garments that have slits which are closeable by e. g. a zip fastener or studs.

It is a further purpose of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to display a logo or other image on the external surface of the inner flap and a different logo or image on the external surface of the outer flap, of the overlapped band or cuff of material, such that when an individual takes a stride whilst wearing the trousers, the outer flap unflaps to display the logo on the external surface of the inner flap and then falls back into its original position. Repetitive striding (i. e. walking or running) thus causes the two different logos to be displayed alternately.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sports trouser garment according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the left portion of a sports trouser garment according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an overlapped band or cuff of material comprising the lower portion of the left trouser leg of a sports trouser garment according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a front elevation of a sports sweatshirt garment according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a sports trouser garment 10 having a body portion 11 from which extend left and right upper leg portions 20a, 20b which are joined at seam 30. At the upper end of the body portion 11 there is a waist band 12 through which runs a cord 14. Joined to the respective lower end 36a, 36b of each upper leg portion 20a, 20b is a lower leg portion 24a, 24b which comprises an overlapped band or cuff of material.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown the overlapping arrangement for the band or cuff of material forming the left lower leg portion 24b which is the mirror image of the arrangement for the right lower leg portion 24a. The upper end 34b of the band or cuff of material forming the lower leg portion 24b is joined to upper leg portion 20b such that one vertical side edge of the band 40 overlaps with the other vertical side edge of the band 42, thereby forming two flaps, an outer flap 28 and an inner flap 30, where the outer flap 28 overlaps the inner flap 30.

The outer flap 28 and the inner flat 30 are free to move between a first position shown in figure 2 in which the inner diameter of the band or cuff of material is essentially a continuation of the diameter of the upper leg portion 20b and a second portion in which the inner diameter of the band or cuff is substantially expanded relative to the first position. This expansion enables a person to put on and/or take off the sports trouser garment 10 in a quick and easy manner without having to physically open or close a cuff and without having to remove footwear.

Although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the outer flap 28 and the inner flap 30 are free to move as described above, it will be appreciated that, if required, it can be arranged that the outer and inner flaps be secured in a non-expandable position by a variety of fastening means such as, for example, buttons, clasps and VELCRO (trade mark) strips, however these alterations are considered to be self evident and are therefore not illustrated.

The vertical height of the band or cuff of material forming lower leg portion 24a, 24b and the width of overlap of outer flap 28 over inner flap 30 will depend to some extent on the amount of circumferential expansion required; but it is found that, for the vertical height, a preferred range is from 19 cm to 34 cm, and that, for the width of overlap, a preferred range is from 10 cm to 16 cm.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention a logo or other image 44 is displayed on the external surface of the outer flap 28 and a different logo or image 46 is displayed on the external surface of the inner flap 30. This has the effect that when an individual walks or runs whilst wearing the trouser garment 10 the outer flat 28 unflaps to display the logo or image 46 on the external surface of the inner flap 30 and then falls back into its original position, thus causing the two different logos or images 44,46 to be displayed alternately.

Referring to figure 4, there is shown a further embodiment of the present invention which provides a sports sweatshirt garment 50 having a main body portion 52 from which extend two arm portions 54a, 54b. At the upper end of body portion 52 there is a collar 56. Attached to the upper section of the body portion 52 is an overlapped portion of material 60 which overlaps the upper section of body portion 52, such that the lower end 64 of overlapped portion 60 remains unattached to the body portion 52 and thereby allows the overlapped portion 60 to move away from the surface of the body portion 52 and then back to its rest position with movement.

In another preferred embodiment, there is displayed a logo or other image 68 on the external surface of body portion 52. The overlapped portion 60 displays a top section 70 of the logo or other image 68 displayed on body portion 52, such that when the overlapped portion 60 moves away from the surface of the body portion 52 the entirety of the logo or other image continues to be displayed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 An article of clothing comprising a body portion from which two limb portions extend with their distal ends each terminating in an overlapped cuff permitting the overlapped cuff to move freely between a first position in which its inner diameter is essentially a continuation of that of the limb portion and a second position in which its inner diameter is substantially expanded relative to the first position.
2 An article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the said article of clothing is a pair of trousers.
3 An article of clothing according to claim 1 or 2, where in the said cuff has an outer and inner flap portion which are positioned facing away from the other leg portion.
4 An article of clothing according to claim 3, wherein the cuff forms part of a pair of trousers and has a vertical height of between 19 cm and 34 cm.
5 An article of clothing according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the width of overlap of the outer flap portion over the inner flap portion has a range between 10 cm and 16 cm.
6 An article of clothing according to claim 3 or any claim appendant therefrom, wherein the external surfaces of both the inner and the outer flap portions display an image.
7 An article of clothing substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.