GB2550482A

GB2550482A - Sports apparel

Info

Publication number: GB2550482A
Application number: GB1706088.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eronghot-Oteng Anthony
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-18
Filing date: 2017-04-18
Publication date: 2017-11-22
Also published as: GB201706088D0; GB201608700D0

Abstract

A sports garment having means to attach a personalized panel 18 to the garment, whereby the panel is removable to be replaced by a different panel; preferably the garment includes a pocket 15 in which the panel can be located; wherein the pocket has a front formed integrally to the garment so as to be flush thereto, where indicia (e.g. a name or number) on the panel are visible therethrough. Preferably the front of the pocket is made of fine mesh. Further preferably the pocket has a back wall including fastening means 17 and one side of the panel has complementary fastening means 20 to attach the panel to the back surface of the pocket. Also claimed is a garment having a removable panel 10 on which indicia can be carried, the panel sitting flush with the surface of the garment in use, preferably attached to the garment using a zip arrangement 9 (figure 3).

Description

Sports apparel

Field of invention

The present invention relates to sports apparel. More especially, the invention relates to amateur sports apparel, most notably a sports t-shirt, shirt or jersey, that includes a removable and replaceable panel with personalised indicia.

Background to the invention

Whilst the foregoing description refers to amateur football apparel, the present invention has equal applicability to sports apparel in general, amateur or professional, where there may be a desire to have a personalised garment. Furthermore, the invention has equal applicability to any clothing (not necessarily sports clothing) that is shared amongst more than one wearer and each wearer wishes to have their own personalisation on the occasion they were it. Even if it is not the intention for the garment to be shared or transferred to an alternative person, the wearer may wish to alter or change the personalised indicia on the garment. A person may, for example, wish to personalise a shop-brought jacket.

Moreover, whilst the foregoing description refers to football shirts, the present invention has equal applicability to other apparel such as shorts for example, which have a visible surface that can be personalised in some way.

The majority of amateur football clubs have a relatively high turnover of players. For this reason, the shirts do not carry personalisation, such as the name of the player. If a player joins a team at the beginning of the season in August or September there is no guarantee that the player will stay or play for the team and so the shirt with their name would be unusable once the player has left. The club would have to discard the shirt and incur cost to replace it, a cost which many amateur clubs on tight budgets are loathed or simply unable to afford.

Moreover, in amateur football it is common practice for players to share a pool of shirts on a weekly basis and to not have their own personal shirts at all.

The present invention seeks to overcome this problem by providing a football shirt which has a removable and replaceable panel which has been, or is capable of being, personalised.

The idea of providing a removable panel on a sports shirt is known, for example in US 20110047669 A1. In the applicant's opinion, this solution would not be suitable for a contact sport such as football.

Grabbing and pulling of football shirts has become part of the modern game to large extent and, as such, it is becoming important for players to wear a sports kit that does not offer any easy opportunity for the shirt to be grabbed by an opponent.

Moreover, any raised or exposed edges that could lead to the personalised panel being ripped off during the game must be avoided.

The issue of a raised surface or exposed edge is not a problem recognised in the prior art.

The solution provided by the present invention is to provide a removable and replaceable panel that sits flush with the garment when in place.

By the term "flush" it is meant that the edges of the panel and the edged formed by the boundary of the shirt are connected together to provide a seamless or level transition between the panel and the shirt when the panel is in place.

Statement of invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sports garment having means to attach a personalised panel to the garment, whereby the panel is removable to be replaced by a panel carrying different personalisation.

Preferably, the garment includes a pocket formed in at least one of its surfaces in which can be located a separate panel carrying personalised indicia and/or imagery, wherein the pocket has a front which is formed integral with the surface of the garment so as to be flush thereto, wherein the indicia/imagery is visible through said front of the pocket when the panel is located therein, and wherein the panel is removable from the pocket and to be replaceable with another panel carrying different indicia/imagery.

Preferably the panel is formed from the same material and colour as the garment in the area of the garment where the pocket is located.

Preferably the pocket has a back wall which includes fastening means and one side of the panel has complimentary fastening means to attach the panel to the back surface of the pocket and maintain the panel extended across at least a substantial part of the back surface so to display the indicia/imagery.

Preferably the front of the pocket is formed as a fine mesh.

Preferably the pocket is closable. Preferably no connection or attachment means are visible when the pocket is closed.

Preferably the garment forms the back the surface of the pocket.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a sports garment having a removable panel on which personalised indicia can be carried, the panel sitting flush with the surface of the garment when the panel is attached to the garment.

Preferably the panel is attached to the garment using at least one zip arrangement.

Brief description of the drawings

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a sports shirt having a removable and replaceable panel constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a corner of the panel of figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 4(A) to (C) illustrate a further alternative embodiment of the invention, where 4 (A) illustrates the back of a sports shirt and 4 (B) and (C) illustrate side views of a panel for use with the shirt.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Referring first to figure 1, the present invention comprises a sports shirt 1 which includes a panel section 2 on its back surface 3. The panel section 2 is provided near the top of the shirt 1 and extends across the shirt 1 in a location that is generally recognised as providing a player's name in the professional game.

As can be seen in figure 2, the panel section 2 comprises a back panel 4 sewn into the shirt 1 and a complimentary front panel 5 that is connectable to the back panel 4. The front panel 5 is removable from the back panel 4 to be replaceable with an alternative front panel 5.

The back panel 4 may be of the same material and colour as the back of the shirt 1 such that, when the front panel 5 is removed, the appearance of the back of the shirt 3 appears generally unchanged or blends in to the overall shirt appearance.

Alternatively, or additionally, the back panel 4 may be formed of a different material than the back of the shirt 1. The back panel 4 may for example be made from a lighter material to reduce the overall weight of the garment. Under such circumstances it is likely that the colour of the back panel 4 will be different.

The front panel 5 has printed thereon a name, or other personalised indicia, indicating the intended wearer of the shirt 1. The name and/or indicia may be transferred onto the shirt in other ways. For example, the name and/or indicia may be embroidered, adhered or sublimated onto the back panel 5.

The replaceability of the front panel 5 means that the shirt can be used by a different wearer on a different occasion and still be personalised for that wearer. This means that the main shirt body 1 is not made redundant should a player leave the club. It can, effectively, be recycled for use by a new player. Indeed, a player may retain their panel 5 when not playing and can simply and easily connect their panel to any shirt provided, or made available to them before the game.

It is important that the front panel 5 is connected to the back panel 4 in a seamless manner so that it cannot be pulled off or grabbed onto during play.

The back and front panels 4, 5 are connected together through four zip arrangements 6A-D. Each zip 6 is stitched into the lining of the panels 4, 5 to extend along the periphery of an edge of the front panel 5 and back panel 4. A zip stop 7A-D and zip slider 8A-D are provided discretely in each corner.

Four straight zips arrangements 6 (two horizontal and two vertical) are provided due to the restrictions and limitations found by the applicant in the ability of a zip to extend around a corner at an acute angle. It is however recognised that other connecting arrangements or any number of arrangements may be used, the criteria being that they locate the back panel 4 onto the shirt 1 in a seamless way.

As can be seen in figure 2, each zip slider 8 has an associated puller which may be customised. For example the pullers may be shaped and/or extend at an angle, to provide additional stylisation to the back of the shirt 3, when the front panel 5 is in place and all the zips 6 are shut. The appearance of the zip pullers may, for example, provide their own brand identity.

Alternatively or additionally, a small fabric cover strip (not shown) may be extendible over each zip puller 8 to hide the puller 8. The strip may be attached, for example using Velcro ™ or a snap fastener.

In an alternative embodiment shown in figure 3, a single zip 9 extends around the entire periphery of the panels 10 and the zip puller 11 is formed as snap fastener.

Figure 4 illustrates a sports shirt constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. This embodiment uses alternative fastening means rather than zip arrangements.

The back of the shirt 14 includes a generally rectangular window pocket 15. The front of the pocket 15 is formed of a light mesh material 16. The base of the mesh 16 is sewn onto the shirt 14 so not to leave any protruding ridges or edges .

The front cover of the pocket 15 may be made of an alternative material provided the material is see through to the extent that indicia and/or imagery displayed on an item within the pocket 15, though not necessarily the item itself, is visible to a third party. A snap fastener 17 is located on the back surface of the pocket, which is also the back of the shirt 14, in each corner .

The back of each fastener 17 (facing inwards) may have a protective cover or some other means to prevent it from abutting against the skin of the wearer during use, causing irritation. A separate panel 18 is provided for location within the pocket 15. The panel 18 is generally rectangular and is made from the same material, and colour, as the back of the shirt such that the panel 18 blends into the shirt 14 when the panel 18 is located within the pocket 15. At least one face of the panel 18 has printed indicia and/or imagery 19, such as, for example, the name of the player who will be wparina the shirt. The indicia anrl/nr imaaeru 19 may be applied to the panel 18 by other means. It may for example be sewn or woven into the panel 18. The indicia/imagery 19 may be permanent because the panel 18 remains personal to the intended wearer and is independent of the sports garment worn.

The mesh 16 of the pocket is sufficiently fine that the indicia/imagery on the panel 18 is visible to third parties when the shirt is being worn, giving the impression that the shirt has been personalised with the name of the wearer. The pocket 15 itself blends into the back of the shirt 14 to the extent that it is not easily visible, particularly to a crowd of supporters on the touchline .

The underside of the panel 18 (not carrying indicia/imagery facing inwards in use) has four complimentary snap fasteners 20 to attach the panel 18 to the back surface of the pocket 15 and keeping the panel 18 stretched across that surface to ensure that the indicia/imagery 19 remains displayed properly across the back of the shirt. The use of corner fastenings 20 also avoids the need to provide a stiffening element to the panel 18 which may otherwise cause irritation to the wearer.

The top of the mesh 16 is formed with a fabric panel 21 that extends longitudinally across the top of the mesh 16.

The panel 19 includes six snap fasteners 22. It is appreciated that any number of fasteners, or other standard fastening means may be used. The top of the back surface of the pocket 15 includes a fabric lip 23 that folds downwardly over the panel 21 and fastens over the nanel 21 nsinrr a further set nf rnmnl impntarv snan fasteners 24. The fact that the lip 23 extends over the panel 21 for fastening hides the fasteners 22, 24 from view to help ensure the pocket 15 blends in to the back of the shirt 14, leaving only the indicia/imagery 19 easily visible.

The fasteners 22, 24 may be replaced by a zip fastener to simplify the closure of the pocket 15 once the personalised panel 18 is in place.

The invention allows the sports shirt to be retained by the club whilst only the panel 18 element is personal to the player. Consequently, should the player leave the club, or not play on a particular day, the shirt can still be used by a different player. All that is required is for the new wearer to place their personalised panel 18 in the pocket 15. If the player does not have their own personalised panel then a blank panel can be located within the pocket instead. As the panel is made from the same material and colour as the back of the shirt 14, the presence of the pocket or panel would not be immediately apparent to third parties watching the game.

Alternatively, no panel at all is placed in the pocket 15, as the back surface of the pocket 15 is the same as the back of the shirt 14, and suitable covers for the fasteners 17 may be provided to hide their presence.

It will be appreciated that a pocket can be alternatively or additionally located in the front surface of the sports top. Similarly, pockets could be located on one or each arm.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing are merely an examples of embodiments of a sports shirt and just some examples of their use. The skilled reader will readily understand that modifications can be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the inventions.

Claims

1. A sports garment having means to attach a personalised panel to the garment, whereby the panel is removable to be replaced by a panel carrying different personalisation.

2. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment includes a pocket formed in at least one of its surfaces in which can be located a separate panel carrying personalised indicia and/or imagery, wherein the pocket has a front which is formed integral with the surface of the garment so as to be flush thereto, wherein the indicia/imagery is visible through said front of the pocket when the panel is located therein, and wherein the panel is removable from the pocket and to be replaceable with another panel carrying different indicia/imagery.

3. A sports garment according to claim 2, wherein the panel is formed from the same material and colour as the garment in the area of the garment where the pocket is located.

4. A sports garment according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the pocket has a back wall which includes fastening means and one side of the panel has complimentary fastening means to attach the panel to the back surface of the pocket and maintain the panel extended across at least a substantial part of the back surface so to display the indicia/imagery.

5. A sports garment according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the front of the pocket is formed as a fine mesh.

6. A sports garment according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the pocket is closable.

7. A sports garment according to claim 6, wherein no connection or attachment means are visible when the pocket is closed.

8. A sports garment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the garment forms the back the surface of the pocket.

9. A sports garment having a removable panel on which personalised indicia can be carried, the panel sitting flush with the surface of the garment when the panel is attached to the garment.

10. A sports garment according to claim 9, wherein the panel is attached to the garment using at least one zip arrangement.