GB2347067A

GB2347067A - Sports garment, for example shorts or a shirt, having integrally formed grips

Info

Publication number: GB2347067A
Application number: GB9904435A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sportswear Limited Halbro; Robert John Moores
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-26
Filing date: 1999-02-26
Publication date: 2000-08-30
Also published as: GB9904435D0

Abstract

A sports garment, which may be a pair of shorts (10) or a shirt, has integral grips (11) which may be formed by a loop of material sewn onto the garment. Preferably, the grips extend along the full length of opposite side edges of the garment and a strip of non-slip material (14) is applied to the front (16) and rear (17) of the grips. When the garment is a pair of shorts, further grips (18, 19) may be attached to the outer surface of the bottom part of the legs. The grips allow team mates to easily grasp the garment during a line-out when playing Rugby Union.

Description

SPORTS GARMENT This invention relates to a sports garment and more particularly sports shorts.

It has become customary when playing rugby union for at least one other player, and usually two, to assist a player in a line-out who is jumping in an attempt to catch or play the ball. The assistance usually takes the form of lifting the player to enable to reach a greater height or to hold him in a raised position. The assistance is provided by the gripping of the player's leg or by taking a grip on a part of the player's clothing, usually the shorts.

A problem arises with gripping on the shorts where with conventional rugby shorts insofar as it would be quite difficult to retain the grip on the shorts when lifting the weight of the player. This arises due to the fact that there is nothing to grip onto other than the material of the shorts and the strength of the grip may be affected by the fit of the clothing on the player. Of course, if the grip fails during lifting of the player, it is not likely that the player will be in a position to catch or play the ball.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a sports garment in which the problems associated with conventional such garments are overcome or at least minimised.

Thus in accordance with the present invention there is provided a sports garment, said garment including grip means formed integrally therewith.

With this arrangement it is possible for a strong grip onto the garment to be allowed which is not affected by the fit of the garment on the player.

Preferably the grip comprises a projecting member which extends along opposite side edges of the garment. Most preferably the grip extends substantially along the entire extent of each side opening.

Preferably at least a part of the grip means may be coated with, or has applied thereto, a non-slip material.

Preferably the non-slip material comprises a polymeric material and most preferably comprises a polymeric material mixed with a non-slip enhancing additive.

Preferably the polymeric material comprises a mixture of polydimethylthiloxanes and preferably the non-slip enhancing additive comprises a solid inorganic material, for example silica.

Preferably the grip means is formed from a textile material and may comprise an acrylic, cotton or polyester knitted material The garment may comprise a shirt or shorts.

Where the garment comprises shorts, a further grip may be provided attached to one or each of the legs. The further grip may comprise a further piece of textile material sewn onto the outer surface of the leg at the bottom thereof. The further grip may be similarly coated with, or have applied thereto, a non-slip material to facilitate gripping.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, the single figure of which shows one form of sports garment, in the form of shorts, in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown one form of sports garment in accordance with the present invention in the form of rugby shorts.

The shorts 10 are in most material respects conventional rugby shorts having a drawstring waist.

However, a knitted grip 11 is sewn onto each side edge of each of the legs of the shorts.

Each grip 11 is formed as a loop of material sewn onto the edge of the legs. The material can be an acrylic, cotton or polyester material or any other suitable material. The loop is sewn onto the edge of the legs using a conventional lock stitch and ends 12,13 of the loop are sewn together to increase strength by conventional bar tacking. A strip 14 of a non-slip material is coated onto both front 16 and rear 17 surfaces of the grip or is otherwise applied thereto. The non-slip material comprises a mixture of polydimethylthiloxanes with an inorganic solid additive which acts as a non-slip enhancer. The material also inclues a curing agent to set the material is position once applied. The non-slip enhancement additive preferably comprises a silica although it is believed that other inorganic solids will perform the same function.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, further grips 18,19 are also provided which comprise a patch of similar material to the grips 11 and are sewn onto the front and rear surfaces of the bottom of the leg adjacent to the grip 11. Likewise these further grips 18,19 also have at least one, and preferably two, strips 21 of non-slip material coated thereon or otherwise applied thereto.

In use, when in a line-out players can be assisted in jumping by one or more other players taking a grip on one of the grips 11 and/or further grips 18,19 and lifting the player. The positive grip allowed by the projecting grips 11 and the use of the non-slip material renders it very much easier and simpler to take, and maintain, a strong grip on the player for lifting or holding in position once lifted.

Of course, it will be realised that considerable strain is placed on the seam of the shorts over which the grips are sewn during lifting. In order to protect the integrity of this seam, woven tape (not shown) can be sewn over the top of the seam internally of the shorts.

It is, of course, to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A sports garment, said garment including grip means formed integrally therewith.
2. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein the grip comprises a projecting member which extends along opposite side edges of the garment.
3. A sports garment according to claim 2, wherein the grip extends substantially along the entire extent of each side opening.
4. A sports garment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the grip means is coated with, or has applied thereto, a non-slip material.
5. A sports garment according to claim 4, wherein the non-slip material comprises a polymeric material.
6. A sports garment according to claim 5, wherein the non-slip material comprises a polymeric material mixed with a non-slip enhancing additive.
7. A sports garment according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the polymeric material comprises a mixture of polydimethylthiloxanes.
8. A sports garment according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the non-slip enhancing additive comprises a solid inorganic material.
9. A sports garment according to claim 8, wherein the solid inorganic material comprises silica.
10. A sports garment according to any proceeding claim comprising a shirt.
11. A sports garment according to any proceeding claim comprising a pair of shorts.
12. A sports garment according to claim 11 further comprising a further grip attached to one or each of the legs.
13. A sports garment according to claim 12, wherein the further grip comprises a further piece of textile material sewn onto the outer surface of the leg at the bottom thereof.
14. A sports garment according to claim 13, wherein the further grip is coated with, or has applied thereto, a-non-slip material to facilitate gripping.
15. A sports garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.