MXPA99002604A - Energy expenditure garment - Google Patents

Abstract

An energy expenditure garment (10) includes a body portion (12) and a pair of limb portions (16, 18), such as arms (16) and legs (18). At least one section of the garment (10) is made of closed loop circumferential form to completely surround a portion of the user and is made of elastic resilient material (24, 26) thereby applying a compressive force to that portion of the user. The garment also includes a plurality of elongated elements (20) made of elastic resilient material located on the garment and anchored across areas of the garment which would be subjected to back and forth movement during the performance of an activity by the user.

Description

CLOTHING THAT CONSUMES ENERGY Reciprocal Reference to Related Requests This request is based on the provisional application, Serial No. 60/026, ^ 69, filed on September 20, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Several garments have been suggested, which include elastic elements to provide a resistance to an activity, which will require the oscillation or bending of the arms or legs or the bending of various portions of the body. Examples of such garments are found in U.S.A., Nos. 5,109,546, 5,176,600, 5,186,701, 5,201,074, 5,306,222 and 5,570,472. Compression garments have previously been used to deal with various athletic problems, such as tense or tight muscles. Such compression garments include shorts or tight shorts made with LYCRA®. The use of compression-type garments has been taken into consideration to improve the level of performance of an athlete, for better muscle alignment and for less muscle fatigue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to combine and improve on the above suggestions to use a garment for energy consumption, for longitudinal strength elements and for a compression structure. A further object of this invention is to provide such garments in which the combination of the longitudinal strength elements and the compression loops are formed in the shirt portion and / or the portion of the pants of a garment. Yet another object of this invention is to provide such an article of clothing in which the longitudinal strength elements are anchored to the compression cuffs in the leg and / or leg portions or other parts of the garment. Yet another object of this invention is to provide such resistance elements in a garment, which are made of entirely compressive material.

The Drawings Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing an article of clothing that consumes energy, according to one embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment of this invention; Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing the anchoring of a wrist resistance element, in accordance with this invention; Figures 3A, 4 and 4A, are side elevation views, showing various ways of fixing the resistance elements, in accordance with this invention; Figure 5 is a front elevation view, showing yet another way of anchoring the resistance elements, in accordance with this invention; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2 of the modified form of this invention; and Figures 7 to 9 are front elevation views showing still other forms of this invention.

Detailed Description The aforementioned provisional application, and U.S. Patent Nos. 5,109,546, 5,176,600, 5,186,701, 5,201,074, 5,306,222 and 5,570,472, the complete details of which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose various techniques of providing elongated resistance elements in garments of wear. The present invention combines these techniques and other variants, which will be described below with the compressive structure, to provide a garment that consumes energy, which has improved performance. Attempts have been made to reduce energy consumption and fatigue through the use of compression garments. Generally, the compressive technique is intended to reduce muscle oscillation and, therefore, results in less fatigue. When the present invention uses elongated strength lines of resistance, such as resistive elements in the form of bands, strips or elastic cords, however, the opposite effect is desired, i.e. to increase muscle oscillation. A basic difference between compression and elastic resistance, it is in the direction of force. This can be generally thought about how the elastic resistance, being longitudinal by the parts of the body or transverse through the body parts, thus supplies a tensile force, while the compressive strength is perpendicular to the elastic resistance, i.e. It compresses the inside around the body part. In general, compression techniques have had application in the current participation of competitive sports where, for example, over a period of time fatigue can be reduced by 12%. This reduction results in the reduction of muscle oscillation and also the maintenance of the proper shape and the best balance (ie, the best alignment). In contrast, the resistance proposal will have, as a primary application, the training of a sport and not necessarily the competitive sport itself. However, it will be understood that the resistance (alone or in combination with the compressive force) can be used in a competitive sport, when it is desired to cause the limitation / restriction of the range of movement, in order to prevent an injury or aggravate an existing injury. In accordance with this invention, both compression and resistive techniques are combined. This can be done in several ways. For example, the compression technique can be achieved by having any suitable number of endless bands or rings placed around different portions of the body. Alternatively, all or some of the garments themselves can be made from a compressive material, such as LYCRA®. In any case, there will be a force, which circumscribes, completes or generally completes at least a portion of the body, which will impose an elastic force to the interior, in a compressive manner. The invention will be practiced by the use of elastic bands, strips or cords, or other elongate resistive element, which interconnects the compressive bands or is disposed above or below the compressive bands, so that there is a combination of both compressive and elongate resistive actions, that take place simultaneously. The present invention, which combines resistive elements and compression, can be advantageously used to prevent injury or rehabilitation during training. For example, the invention can be used during the rehabilitation of an injury during training, to avoid aggravating this injury. The compressive characteristics will reduce fatigue and give better muscle alignment. The elongated resistive elements will give strength, while requiring less training time. As will be described later, the compressive cuffs can be used as a means to fix the resistive bands in the preferred practice of this combination of techniques. The use of cuffs to fix the resistive elements is particularly advantageous because it takes the pressure displaced from part of the anchoring body (i.e., a hand, foot, knee, etc.) and produces additional resistance when the limb is extended. The cuffs also conveniently distribute the load. The compressive bands may cover, entirely or only partially, or circumscribe the hands or legs and / or the torso or may be in their spaced portions. According to this invention, the elongated resistance can be longitudinal (up / down) and / or transverse (through portions of the body) and / or compression (inside / outside). Thus the resistance can be unidirectional or multidirectional. When the entire garment is elastic, there may be a multidirectional resistance and ensure a sufficiently firm fit to create compression.

When the whole garment is elastic or compressive, compressive cuffs are optional. The invention will place the body in physical alignment. It is not enough that the garment has elements of resistance, it must also have the appropriate size of the garment to ensure the creation of a tension from the resistance and ensure a sufficiently firm fit to create the compression. Longitudinal and / or transverse elongate resistive elements, such as elongated elastic strips, strips or cords, may be permanently or removably attached to a cuff or glove or shoe / sock and / or assembled, permanently or removably, to the garment itself. The garment can be used for an autonomous development (that is, its own, not part of any other development / exercise / sport) or in conjunction with a specific exercise and / or piece of equipment, in order to increase the value of the exercise. Thus, the garment can be used to provide more exercise in the same period of time (ie, increase in activity) or the same exercise value in a shorter period of time. According to one aspect of the invention, the degree of resistance will progressively change. For example, a set of garments can be provided, each of which differs in its level or degree of resistance from the other garments. Thus, in an exercise program, a garment will employ, for example, lower strength, until the wearer is ready to find greater resistance after which he will wear a different garment. Conversely, it may be advisable to go for less resistance. One more possibility of varying the resistance is to use a single garment that has the ability to vary the resistive elements or resistive cords. This can be done in several ways, such as having sections of the same garment of different degrees of resistance. An example of this is when the upper and bottom portions of the garment have different degrees of strength. Additionally, various techniques can be used to adjust the specific amount of resistance / tension. Thus, a certain level of resistance can be used, which is also capable of having a more specific amount of resistance that varies within a range. Another level can then be used with its adjustable resistance range. The invention can be practiced using a type of resistance of connectors (such as elastic members) that join parts of the garment (for example the sleeves or legs of the pants) to gloves, shoes, etc., where the garment itself is elastic or not Elastic The connectors can be secured, permanently or detachably, and can be adjustable or non-adjustable. Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in which a garment 10 is provided in the form of a shirt portion 12 and a pant leg portion 14. The shirt portion 12 includes the sleeves 16, while the pant leg portion 14 includes the legs 18. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the entire garment itself is made of a compressive type material, to maximize wear and tear. surface area of the user who undergoes compressive strength. Any material can be used to obtain the shirt portion 12 and the pants portion 14. A suitable material is, for example, LYCRA®. Such material is elastic and resilient and thus applies a compressive force to the user. The garment will have a dimension so that there is superficial contact with the wearer through this garment. In other words, the garment must be close to the skin in order to apply at least some degree of compression. Figure 1 also illustrates the inclusion of a plurality of elongated resistance elements 20, secured to this garment 10. In the illustrated embodiment, a set of cords 20 extends from the ankle area to the wrist, while a set plus 20 extends from the wrist to the shoulders, with the elements intertwined. Yet another set extends from each wrist to the shoulders. Other locations may also be provided, such as by the extension of the various elements to the neck portion, rather than to the shoulders. Preferably, identical sets of elements will be provided on the back side of the garment. However, it will be understood that other locations for the elongated elements may also be provided. The elements will be made of an elastic resilient material, and will be located through the portions of the garment, where some form of movement will take place during the performance of an activity, such as carrying out an exercise or even in simple activities , such as walking, where you may have folded your arms in, for example, your elbows, or in an activity where there may be a bend in your waist. During the bending movement, a resistance force will be applied, which must be overcome by the user, in order to achieve the bending movement. Thus, the combination of such longitudinal resistance elements and the circumferential compressive elements cooperate to increase the energy consumption capacity of the garment. In order to supply the resistive force, the elongated resistive elements must be anchored in locations on each side of the bending action. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1, the leg elements are anchored to the ankle cuffs 26 and to a band of the waist or cuff 28. The elements of the body are anchored to a waistband 28 and to the shoulders or can be anchored to a band around the neck. Separate waistbands will be used for the shirt and pants, when the shirt and pants are separate items. When using a one-piece suit, the same waistband can provide the anchorage location or the elongated elements can extend completely from the ankle to the shoulder or neck area. The arm elements are anchored to the cuffs 24 of the wrist and to the shoulder or neck. According to one aspect of this invention, the wrist cuffs, ankle cuffs and waistbands are also made of an elastic resilient material, to apply a compressive force around that particular portion of the body. Preferably, these cuffs are made of a material that fits more tightly around the body than the rest of the garment. The use of compressive cuffs as the anchor members is a different departure from the suggestions in, for example, US Patents Nos. 5,186,701 and 5,306,222, which describe the possibility of using ankle bands or waistbands to fix the members, but then teaches to move away from such practice, noting that the use of these bands will have a greater tendency for some sliding movement, above or below the legs or arms. The present invention avoids this disadvantage by the formation of such ankle bands or bands of the wrist, like the waistbands, of a material which is elastic and resilient and will fit tightly enough around its body portion. to minimize the tendency of such sliding movement. Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate various ways of securing the elongate elements 20 to the various cuffs or bands. As shown in Figure 3, for example, the end of the element 20 is sewn to or permanently secured to the cuff 24. However, Figure 4 shows a removable fit securement by means of a VELCRO® 30 loop element, which secure the end of the elongate element 20 to the ankle cuff 26. Figure 5 illustrates the element 20, to be secured, to a loop 32, which, in turn, is secured to the cuff 24, for example, by a VELCRO® connecting member 30. It will be understood that these various ways of attachment can be used interchangeably by either of the cuffs. Figures 3A and 4A exemplify anchoring options that do not include compressive cuffs. In Figure 3A, the band 20 is secured to a stirrup 23 of the foot, while in Figure 4A, the band 24 is secured to a loop 25 by hand. Figure 4A shows the band 24 and the loop 25 of the hand, integral and made of an open mesh material. Figure 2 illustrates a variant of the invention, in that instead of or in addition to the shirt 12 and the pants 14 made of a compression material, a plurality of compression strips 34 is provided at spaced locations in the garment 10. These compressive bands 34 will apply a compressive force in the same manner as in Figure 1, except that it will be more located. Thus, in any version, there is a section of the garment which is circumferentially closed loop, to completely encircle a portion of the wearer and thus provide compressive force. As shown in Figure 2, other variants in the location of the elongated cords are possible, which include anchoring the cords to the various bands or passing the cords under or over the bands 34. This anchoring is achieved by the provision of the ties 36 in the desired locations.

Figure 2 also illustrates a transverse elongate resistive member 42, in addition to the longitudinal members 20. Although the use of compression cuffs is the preferred way of securing the elongate elements, the invention can also be practiced where fixation is achieved throughout of the lines of the aforementioned patents, such as by anchoring the elongated elements to the shoes or gloves or forming the elements as stirrups or connecting the elements to the stirrups. Where the compression characteristics are achieved, by having all the parts or the main parts of the garment made of the compressive material, the elongate resistive elements can be incorporated into the garment without some added specific anchorage structure. For example, the elongate resistive elements can be sewn to, or otherwise secured to, the garment itself and resist movement by the wearer. Thus, the anchorage is provided by the garment itself, which is the structure for restricting the elongated resistive elements.

Figure 6 illustrates a variant of the invention, in which a one-piece garment 10 is provided, similar to the type of garment worn by a fighter, in which there is a portion 14 of the pants that ends above the knees . The garment 10 will have a waistband 28 and suspender-like members 38. The braces 38 may be resistive elements or may include resistive elements. Figure 6 shows the use of compression grips 40 located above the knees. It will be understood that the invention, in its various embodiments, can be practiced when compressive cuffs are used to fix the longitudinal elements, in which the cuffs can be placed in any convenient portion of the body and not simply in the ankles, wrists and waist. Figure 7 illustrates a modified form of garment 10, which is in a pair of shorts that will be worn without a shirt. In this form, the compressive cuffs 40 above the knees and the cuffs 28 at the waist, will be used to anchor the elements 20.

Figure 8 illustrates a variant of the garment shown in Figure 7, in which the leg portions of the shorts extend below the knees. Figure 8 also illustrates mounting an elastic element 42 in a transverse direction. Such orientation for the elastic element is also shown in Figure 2. In both of these embodiments, both longitudinal and transverse resistive elements are used in combination with the compressive members. Such a combination of the longitudinal and transverse resistive elements can be used with compressive strips and / or the garments themselves made entirely of the compressive material or having sections, such as the portions of or all of the sleeves, legs, etc., made of the compressive material. Figure 9 shows a variant of the invention, in which the elongate elements are arranged in a spiral-like direction under the legs. This can be done by the provision of guide members, such as tunnels, ties, etc., to direct where the laces will be located or sewing the laces on the garment at preferred sites. Although Figures 7 to 9 illustrate a garment that includes only one section of pants, the invention can also be practiced when the garment is only a section of shirt or when the pants section and the shirt section are worn together as separate members or combine in a one-piece suit. So such a spiral direction can be in the arms or the body. It will be understood that the invention can be practiced when the resistive elements are completely separate and distinct from the portion of the garment having compression. So, for example, a team or vest or other structure that incorporates the resistive elements, it can preferably be used on the portion of the garment having compression. Similarly, portions of the garment having compression can be disposed or sandwiched between portions or layers of the garment having elongate resistive elements and vice versa. It will be understood that while various features are shown with respect to different modalities, these features may be incorporated into other embodiments within the spirit of this invention.

Claims (27)

1. A garment that consumes energy, which includes a body portion and a pair of limb portions, a plurality of endless resilient, elastic and compressive bands, at spaced locations of this garment, to encircle spaced portions of a garment. user and provide a compressive force against this user in these spaced portions. endless, elastic and compressive resilient webs, which have a compressive strength greater than any tension force applied by these endless, elastic and compressive resilient webs, a plurality of elongated elements spaced at spaced locations of the garment, each of these elongated elements is made of an elastic resilient material, the elongated elements are located through areas of the garment which will be subject to back and forth movements during the performance of an activity by the user, a structure anchored in spaced sites of each elongate element, to create a tensile force of resistance through the areas of movement of the garment, as opposed to the movement of the user, these elongated elements have a force-of tension in the areas of movement of the garment, which is greater than any compressive force provided by the elongated elements, and the bands if In order, elastic and compressive, they have a compressive force greater than the adjacent portions of the garment.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein each of the limb portions includes a circumferentially shaped, closed loop cuff, to completely encircle the tip of the user's extremity, this cuff is made of an elastic resilient material , which comprises resources for applying a compressive force to the tip of the extremity, these cuffs are of compressive bands and at least one of the elongated elements is fixed to a fist, whereby the cuffs are in the anchorage structure.

3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the elongate element is removably attached to the cuff.

4. The garment of claim 2, wherein the elongate element is mounted to the cuff in a permanent, non-detachable manner.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the entire body and the end portions are made of resilient elastic material.

The garment of claim 1, wherein the elongate elements are fixed to the bands.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the elongate elements pass along the side of the bands, without being connected there.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the elongate elements include longitudinally oriented elements and transversely oriented elements.

9. The garment of claim 1, wherein this garment includes a portion of pants, the end portions are leg sections of the pants portion, and the plurality of elongate elements are located over the pants and fixed portions. through areas of the pant leg, which will be subject to the movement back and forth during the performance of an activity by the user.

10. The garment of claim 9, wherein the trouser portion includes ankle cuffs, these ankle cuffs have the closed loop circumferential shape, to completely surround the wearer's ankle, these ankle cuffs comprise the compressive bands, and at least some of the elongated elements are attached to the ankle cuffs, whereby these ankle cuffs comprise the anchoring structure.

11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the article of clothing further includes a sleeve portion, having arm sections terminating in the wrist cuffs, each of the wrist cuffs being one of the sections of the form circumferential closed loop, and the compressive band further comprises these wrist cuffs.

12. The garment of claim 11, wherein the pants portion and the sleeve portion are connected together to form a one piece garment.

13. The garment of claim 9, wherein the leg sections terminate above the knees.

14. The garment of claim 9, wherein the leg sections terminate just below the knees.

15. The garment of claim 9, wherein the pants include a waist portion, and the straps are secured to this waist portion.

16. The garment of claim 15, wherein the straps are integral with the pants.

17. The garment of claim 1, wherein the elongate elements are arranged in a spiral orientation.

18. The garment of claim 1, wherein this garment includes a sleeve portion, the end portions are arm sections of the sleeve portion, and the plurality of elongate elements are located on the sleeve portion and are anchored through areas of the shirt portion, which will be subjected to the movement back and forth, during the performance of an activity by the user.

19. The garment of claim 18, wherein the sleeve portion includes wrist cuffs, these wrist cuffs are circumferentially closed loop, to completely encircle the wrist of the user, whereby the wrist cuffs comprise compressive bands and at least some of the elongated elements are anchored to the wrist cuffs, whereby these wrist cuffs also comprise the anchoring structure.

The garment of claim 1, wherein said garment includes a portion of a shirt having arms that terminate at the wrists and includes a portion of trousers that terminates at the ankles, and includes a waist portion, positioned where the portion of shirt and the portion of pants come together.

21. The garment of claim 20, wherein the compression bands include wrist cuffs and ankle cuffs and a waist band.

22. The garment of claim 21, wherein the wrist cuffs and the ankle cuffs and the waist band comprise the anchoring structure.

23. The garment of claim 20, wherein the anchoring structure comprises foot stirrups and hand loops.

24. A garment that consumes energy, in the form of a pair of trousers, which has a body portion and a pair of legs, this trouser is made of a resilient, elastic and compressive material, which has a greater compressive force than any other tension applied by the material, each of the legs ends in a compressive fist, the body portion ends in a waist compression band, this body portion has a front side and a back side, braces connected to the waist band and extending from the front side to the rear side, a plurality of elongated spaced elements, extending below the body portion and the legs, each of the elongated elements is made of elastic resilient material, these elongated elements are located at through areas of the pants, which will be subjected to the movement back and forth during the performance of any activity by the user, the elements elongated are anchored to the cuffs and waistband, to create a tensile strength of resistance through the areas of movement, as opposed to the movement of the user, and the elongated elements have a tension force in the areas of movement, which is greater than any compressive force provided by the elongated elements.

25. The garment of claim 24, further including elongate elements extending from the waistband to the front side and extending over the shoulder straps to the rear side.

26. The garment of claim 25, in which the elongated elements are also anchored to the waistband.

27. A method for consuming energy, comprising the supply of a garment, having a body portion and portions of limbs and having at least one of its sections made of a closed loop circumferential shape and made of a material resilient elastic, which provides a plurality of elongated elements, made of resilient elastic material, on the garment, the anchoring of the elements at sites through the areas of the garment, which are subjected to the movement back and forth , during the performance of an activity by the user, the placement of the garment on the wearer, the application of a compressive force in a circumferential form in a closed loop, in the section of the garment made of elastic resilient material , apply a strength of resistance that opposes the movement of the user by the elongated elements, to create linear forces of resistance during performance of an activity by the user, continue the performance to continuously apply the compressive force and repeatedly apply the resistance forces and alter the amount of the resistance force during the course of an exercise program by changing the garment.