RU2481776C2 - Clothing articles - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal use articles.

SUBSTANCE: described in this application are bathing suits. The bathing suit has: a main layer (4) made of a stretchable elastic textile material and having a torso part (6) that covers at least part of the torso of the user wearing the suit, and multiple panels (10, 12, 14) laminated onto the main layer (4) top surface, the top surface of each panel forming the suit top surface while the main layer (4) external surface has areas free of panels; the panels (10, 12, 14) are made of a material the external surface whereof has hydraulic resistance in water that is less than that of the underlying main layer (4); the panels (10, 12, 14) cover 10% or more of the suit torso part (6), a pair of spaced panels (12, 14) covering the breast; the panels (30, 32) pass along the quadriceps muscles ground on the thigh front part while the panels (34, 36) pass along the biceps muscles ground on the thigh rear part. Additionally described in the application is a version of the bathing suit having a main layer (4) made of a stretchable elastic textile material and having a pair of leg parts (8) that cover at least part of the legs of the user wearing the suit, and multiple panels (30, 32, 34), the top surface of each panel forming the suit top surface while the main layer (4) external surface has areas free of panels; the panels (30, 32, 34) are made of a material the external surface whereof has hydraulic resistance in water that is less than that of the underlying main layer (4); the panels (30, 32, 34) covering at least 50% of each leg part (8); the panels (30, 32) pass along the quadriceps muscles ground on the thigh front part while the panels (34, 36) pass along the biceps muscles ground on the thigh rear part.

EFFECT: ensuring improved operational capabilities for swimmer sportsmen by way of reducing surface hydraulic resistance, shape-conditioned hydraulic resistance and/or increasing stability in water.

18 cl, 34 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to articles of clothing containing elastic tensile textile material and close to the body, commonly used in sports. As specific examples, swimwear is described, the use of which is preferred. However, the described concepts can be applied to other items of clothing for sports and physical education, for example, for beach volleyball, water polo and triathlon.

A number of well-known sportswear items, especially swimwear for high-speed swimming, are made of elastic tensile textile material that fits snugly to the body and fits it. In recent years, they began to use various textile materials with a high content of elastane, which has a high tensile constant, for a more tight hold to the body surface at a given degree of stretching. Its use in swimsuits for high-speed swimming allows to reduce the ingress of water between the suit and the body - a source of hydraulic resistance - and to prevent slipping of textile material on the skin (swimmer). Its use also allows you to reduce muscle vibration, which, according to experts, is the cause of fatigue and hydraulic resistance of the body when swimming.

In earlier patents EP-A-1110464 and EP-A-1250858 of the authors of this application, swimwear is described, which provides improved body fit with a strong pulling of the swimsuit, especially in the lower back and abdomen, thanks to the use of specially located seams, which panels connected from elastic tensile textile material from which swimwear is made. The introduction of a seam from edge to edge of the span of the extensible textile material showed that extensibility can be reduced, i.e. potentially increase the degree of tension in the direction transverse to the seam.

As an additional measure to minimize the ingress of water between clothing and the body, EP-A-0411351 proposes the use of paintings of airtight and waterproof material for limited areas of the swimsuit located near the openings (for example, for arms and neck). It is said that this helps to prevent the penetration of water through the openings and through the swimsuit material directly next to the openings.

The present invention, in General, relates to the design of swimwear (and other tight-fitting items of outerwear, especially to sportswear), with which it can be provided improved performance properties for swimmers-athletes, by reducing surface hydraulic resistance, reducing hydraulic resistance due to the shape and / or increase of stability in water. Another general proposal of the present invention is the offer of swimwear, the design of which is specifically designed for certain swimming styles and when used, athletes can accurately perform the appropriate movements.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a garment is provided comprising:

- the main layer made of tensile elastic textile material that covers at least the torso; and

- many panels layered on the upper surface of the base layer.

Preferably, the panels cover 10% or more of the surface of the torso.

More preferably, the panels cover 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or even 50% or more of the surface of the torso. In some preferred embodiments, the panels cover 20% or more of the surface of the rear side of the torso and can cover up to 30%, 40%, or even 50% or more of the surface of the rear side of the torso. It is particularly preferred that the panels cover at least 50% of the surface of the front side of the torso, and in some embodiments, cover 60%, 70% or 80%, or more of the surface of the front side of the torso. In some embodiments, the panels cover more the front side of the torso than the back side of the torso.

Swimwear for competitions (and some other items of sportswear) often also cover either all the legs of the athlete, or part of them. Applying the principles of the present invention to such suits, the leg parts of the costume are preferably also provided with one or more panels superimposed on their upper surfaces. The panels may cover 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50% or more of the surface of each leg part, and in some embodiments, may cover 75% or more of the surface of each leg part.

Although the principles of the invention can also be applied to the sleeves of the suit (where available), it is usually more preferable to provide as much freedom as possible for the athlete's arms to move. Thus, it is preferable, in cases where the suit is equipped with sleeves, to make the sleeves of the suit made of light textile material (either from the same textile material from which the torso of the suit is made, or from a lighter textile material) and not to lay the panels on the sleeves.

More generally, a swimsuit (or other sportswear) can cover, for example:

(i) the whole body, including the entire length of the arms and legs;

(ii) in the same way as in paragraph (i), but except for the hands;

(iii) in the same way as in paragraph (i) or paragraph (ii), but except for the legs, or legs can be covered only to the knees;

(iv) only the torso, i.e. except arms or legs;

(v) only the waist and legs, either the full length (“Long John”), or the length of the shorts, or the length of the shorts to the knees.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a garment is provided comprising a base layer of stretchable elastic textile material that covers at least the legs and a plurality of panels superimposed on the upper surface of the base layer.

The panels may cover 20% or more of the surface of the leg portion of the garment.

According to this aspect, the panels preferably cover 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50% or more of the surface of each part for the legs of the suit, and in some embodiments, cover 75% or more of the surface of each part for the legs of the suit.

The panels overlaid on the torso of the suit and / or the sleeves and leg parts of the suit according to the present invention are preferably made of a material having a higher tensile coefficient than the material of the base layer located below them, and they are layered on the torso part of the suit, where it is desirable that the suit be more tight-fitting when worn to provide more support and / or to reduce the volume of the athlete’s torso (eg, swimmer) located below them, to reduce hydraulic resistance corruption in water due to body shape.

The panels are preferably made of a material having an upper surface that is more “slippery” (that is, a surface that causes less hydraulic resistance in water) than the base layer below them. Thus, the surface hydraulic resistance of the entire suit is reduced by applying panels, especially in cases where the panels cover a substantial part of the surface of the suit.

The panel material is preferably selected so that both of the above advantages are combined.

Suitable materials for the manufacture of panels include a web of polyurethane material. The properties of the polyurethane material (or other equivalent material) can be selected in such a way as to provide the desired tensile properties.

For currently studied applications, preferred properties are: surface density of the material in the range from 70 g / m ² to 110 g / m ² , more preferably from 80 g / m ² to 100 g / m ² , even more preferably from 85 g / m ² up to 95 g / m ² , for example 90 g / m ² . The web thickness of the material is preferably in the range of 50 microns to 100 microns, more preferably 60 microns to 90 microns, and even more preferably 70 microns to 80 microns, for example 75 microns or 76 microns.

Exemplary polyurethane materials include two-layer polyurethane films with a layer of glue (for gluing to the textile material of the garment located beneath them) and a front layer of thick film, which may have a matte finish. The adhesive layer may be 2/3 of the entire thickness of the canvas. Adhesive preferably has a softening temperature in the range of 60 ° C to 80 ° C, for example 72 ° C (softening start temperature according to thermomechanical analysis - TMA). The operating temperature of the adhesive is preferably in the range of at least -20 ° C to + 60 ° C, and more preferably from -40 ° C to + 75 ° C.

Although all panels may have the same properties, in some applications they can advantageously have different properties (for example, different tensile factors, for example, due to different surface density and / or thickness) to allow better fitting of the suit to the body athlete.

The elastic tensile textile material used to make the costume may be of any suitable kind. Textile materials with a high tensile coefficient, for example, of polyester elastanes, which are usually used for the manufacture of swimwear with high performance properties, are well known to specialists in this field.

The larger the surface of a swimsuit (or other sportswear) covered with a material with low hydraulic resistance, the greater the improvement (decrease) in the surface hydraulic resistance. However, the authors of the present invention found that materials with low hydraulic resistance very often have very high tensile ratios and / or very low permeability. It is important, especially for competition swimwear, that they have sufficient “suppleness” to enable the swimmer to effectively perform the appropriate movements. If the suit is too tight in the body, the athlete expends energy to overcome the resistance of the suit when performing movements when swimming. It is also important that water can escape from the interior of the suit to exclude the possibility of its accumulation between the suit and the swimmer’s skin, resulting in increased hydraulic resistance.

The inventors have thus proposed to leave specific areas of the swimsuit free of panels to allow water to escape from the interior of the suit and / or to efficiently perform movements when swimming. In other words, the panels are preferably located in specific areas of the base layer to maximize the benefits of reducing surface hydraulic resistance and hydraulic resistance due to shape, increasing support and / or tightening muscles to increase strength, while minimizing the resistance created by the suit, limb movements and bending or torsion torso required to perform movements when swimming. Similar principles can be applied to the design of articles of clothing for other sports where specific movements are required and where specific forms are required.

Although some optimization of the positions of the panels is possible to balance these potentially conflicting requirements in general-purpose suits (i.e., in one suit designed for all types of swimming), the authors found that more optimal results can be achieved by laying the panels on the surface of the suit depending from the requirements of a particular swimming style.

One or any combination of two or more of the following panel arrangements is preferred (the proposed function of each panel is complementary to the potential reduction in surface hydraulic resistance and hydraulic resistance due to the shape that all panels can create):

- To maintain the swimmer’s body, it is advisable to use a panel on the front of the suit, which covers the swimmer’s stomach. The panel can be, in general, diamond-shaped, passing down to the seam-fork and up to the sternum.

- It is also advisable to use one or more panels extending over the area of the swimmer’s lumbar to support the swimmer’s body. A single strip extending over the lumbar region may be sufficient, although it may be necessary to provide a central incision extending from the upper edge of the strip at least along part of the way down to accommodate the lower end of the zipper, usually located below the middle of the swimmer’s back.

- To compress the buttocks, to reduce the hydraulic resistance due to the shape, it is advisable to use one or more panels located on top of the buttocks. It is convenient when the lumbar panel, if used, extends down over the buttocks to provide a predetermined compression.

- To compress the chest, especially swimmers, it is advisable to use the panel or panels that cover the chest. The configuration of the panel (s) is chosen in such a way as to change the shape of the chest without restricting the functioning of the lungs to any significant degree. It is preferable to use two panels, one on each side of the sternum. They can extend from the neckline down to approximately the lower rib of the chest. If a panel is used in the abdomen, then they can pass respectively to the left and right middle sides of the panel in the abdomen.

- For swimming in styles in which they kick and in which the legs usually remain straightened (when freestyle, on the back, butterfly), to maintain the legs, it is advisable to use a panel that runs over the quadriceps muscle (muscle group) from the front of the thigh; a panel extending over the hamstring (muscle group) from the back of the thigh, upper legs; and panels on the front and back of the lower part of each leg (on the shin and calf side); it is preferable in each case to cover about 80% or more of the surface of the corresponding muscle group. Preferably, the strip around each knee in the suit remains free of any panels to allow some bending of the leg at the knee.

- For brass swimming, in order to maintain a kick with the brass, it is preferable to use a series of panels on the parts for the legs, similar to those described above. However, the panels in the calf area are preferably shaped in such a way as to wrap them further forward around the side of the leg below the knee and near the ankle than in the middle of the calf. The panel on the front side of the lower leg is correspondingly shortened laterally so that there is space between the panel in the calf area and the panel in the region of the lower leg on its front side. The panels in the region of the quadriceps muscle are preferably terminated near the thigh so as not to impede the movement of the femoral joint. The lower lateral angle of each panel in the hamstring is also preferably wrapped around the front of the leg just above the knee. In some cases, it is preferable to cut off the parts for the legs of the suit above the knees to provide greater freedom of movement for the lower parts of the legs of the swimmer when performing kicks when swimming with a brass.

- To maintain the back without obstructing movements when swimming in a style that requires torsion of the upper torso (for example, when freestyle and swimming on the back), it is advisable to use a pair of panels, preferably on the back, from the middle of the back in the lumbar region up to the shoulders. The panels can be made in the form of stripes and can be arranged at an angle so that they diverge to the sides up along the back, so that their upper ends diverge. It is convenient that these panels for supporting the back can be made in one piece together with the lumbar panel, if the latter is used. It is advisable to leave the sides of the torso of the suit below the armpits free from panels.

- To maintain the back without obstructing movements when swimming in a style that requires back bending without lateral movements (for example, when swimming with braces and butterfly), it is advisable to use a pair of panels located on the back of the suit, at a distance from each side of the spine so that the panels were wrapped around the torso from the back to the sides of the torso of the suit below the openings for the arms. This provides good support, minimizes movement to the sides, while at the same time leaving a relatively wide area around the spine, free from panels, so as not to create excessive resistance to bending of the back.

In embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to use panels in one or any combination of two or more of the locations indicated above.

One notable source of surface flow resistance in a well-known competition swimsuit is a zipper. Typically, the zipper is positioned vertically along the middle of the back of the leotard from the neck opening down to the lumbar region. An additional improvement according to the present invention is the creation of a zipper having a smaller thickness than conventional zippers. In order to provide a smaller thickness, the zipper can be attached to the suit (or to another garment) with that side, which is usually the inside of the zipper, facing outward so that the flat inner side of the teeth of the zipper is facing outward, while teeth with a large height are turned inside the suit. The adjacent textile material of the suit preferably also extends close to the midline of the zipper so that only a small strip (for example, less than 5, 4, 3, 2, or even 1 mm) of the zipper tape protrudes on each side of the line of attachment of the zipper . The edges of the textile material of the suit next to the zipper are preferably cut with a laser to form a clear edge. The zipper tape is preferably glued to the textile material of the suit, eliminating the possibility of additional hydraulic resistance that may be caused by the seam.

This arrangement of the zipper can be successfully used in other swimwear (and other sports garments), especially where minimizing the surface flow resistance is an important factor, regardless of other aspects of the invention discussed above.

It is also important to ensure that the edges of the suit are in openings, for example, in the neck opening, openings for the ankles, shoulders, wrists, etc. comfortably fit to the body of the athlete. Typically, the openings of swimsuits and other sportswear are edged by flashing to ensure a desired fit. However, they form higher regions on the outer surface of the suit, increasing the hydraulic resistance. In swimsuits (or other garments) according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, a fringing tape is attached that is attached around the openings to the inside of the suit. The fringing tape is preferably glued to the inside of the suit. Suitable edging materials include neoprene. The surface density and thickness of the material of the fringing tape can be selected in such a way as to ensure a snug fit of the suit to the body of the consumer.

These fringing tapes can be successfully used in any swimsuit (or other garment), regardless of other aspects of the invention presented above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described here by way of example, applied to swimsuits for speed swimming, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a suit over the entire body without sleeves, especially adapted for freestyle;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the suit of FIG. one;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the suit of FIG. one;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a suit over the entire body without sleeves, especially adapted for swimming with brass;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the suit of FIG. four;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the suit of FIG. four;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a suit over the entire body without sleeves, especially adapted for swimming on the back;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the suit of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the suit of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a suit over the entire body without sleeves, especially adapted for swimming butterfly stroke;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the suit of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the suit of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a low-height zipper used in the suits shown in the previous drawings;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the fringing tapes used in the costume openings of FIG. 1-12;

FIG. 15 is a front view, a side view, and a rear view of a full-body suit including sleeves, especially adapted for freestyle swimming for male swimmers;

FIG. 16 is a front view, a side view, and a rear view of another full-body suit, including sleeves, especially adapted for freestyle swimming for male swimmers;

in FIG. 17 is a front view, a side view and a rear view of a full-body suit, without sleeves, especially adapted for freestyle swimming for male swimmers;

in FIG. 18 is a front view, a side view and a rear view of another suit for the whole body, without sleeves, especially adapted for freestyle for male swimmers;

FIG. 19 is a front view, a side view and a rear view of a legskin suit, particularly suited for freestyle swimming for male swimmers;

FIG. 20 is a front view, a side view and a rear view of a jammer style suit, especially suited for freestyle swimming for male swimmers;

FIG. 21 is a front view, a side view and a rear view of a Niskin suit, especially adapted for swimming with a brass for male swimmers;

FIG. 22 is a front view, a side view, and a rear view of another Niskin suit, especially adapted for brass swimming for male swimmers;

FIG. 23 is a front, side, and rear views of a front view of a full-body suit including sleeves, especially adapted for swimming freestyle for swimmers;

FIG. 24 is a front view, a side view and a rear view of another full-body suit, including sleeves, especially adapted for swimming freestyle for swimmers;

FIG. 25 is a front view, a side view, and a rear view of a full-body sleeveless suit, especially adapted for freestyle swimming for swimmers;

FIG. 26 - front, side and rear views of another suit for the whole body without sleeves, especially adapted for swimming freestyle for swimmers;

FIG. 27 is a front, side, and rear views of a record holder style suit, especially adapted for freestyle swimming for swimmers;

FIG. 28 is a front, side, and rear views of another “record holder” style suit especially adapted for freestyle swimming for swimmers;

FIG. 29 - front, side, and rear views of the Niskin record holder suit, especially suited for swimming for swimmers;

FIG. 30 - front, side, and rear views of another Niskin record-holder suit, especially suited for freestyle swimming;

FIG. 31 - front, side and rear views of the record holder style suit, especially suited for freestyle swimming for swimmers;

FIG. 32 - front, side and rear views of another “record holder” style suit, especially adapted for freestyle swimming for swimmers;

FIG. 33 - front, side and rear views of a Niskin-style suit, especially adapted for swimming with a brass for swimmers; and

FIG. 34 is a front view, a side view and a rear view of another Niskin suit, especially adapted for swimming with a brass for swimmers.

In general terms, the authors of the present invention found that, in comparison with prototype swimsuits made from one layer of textile material, higher results can be achieved by layering or applying (laminating) panels of less elastic (with a higher stretch coefficient) and / or more “slippery” (i.e., with lower surface hydraulic resistance to reduce resistance to movement in water) of material in special places on the main layer of textile material, through which Wow swimsuit give its general shape.

This may be somewhat unexpected for specialists in this field, as there is a trend in this area, which consists in the use of a suit of one layer of textile material with seams of small thickness to minimize surface hydraulic resistance. The authors of the present invention, however, found that there are limits to the improvement of operational properties that can be achieved using a single layer. More specifically, the authors found that although performance can be improved, as described, for example, in the earlier patent EP-A-1110464 of the authors of this application, by increasing the tension in the suit when worn to provide a more snug fit swimmer's body, there is the point at which the increase in tension begins to make it difficult for swimmers to perform their movements when swimming, as the suit limits their movements. By selectively overlaying the panels on the upper surface of the regions of the base layer of the swimsuit textile material, as is now proposed by the authors of the present invention, it is possible to improve the performance compared to single-layer suits, while retaining many of the advantages of such single-layer suits, by properly positioning the panels so that restrain the movement of the limbs and torso of the swimmer, necessary for a particular swimming style.

The present inventors have identified three distinct potential functional benefits that can be achieved by such localized paneling (i.e., by overlaying panels on the site of the suit corresponding to selected, localized areas of the body when wearing the suit).

The first advantage is the overall reduction in surface hydraulic resistance by using panels that are more “slippery” in water than the textile material of the base layer below them.

A second potential advantage is to reduce the flow resistance due to the shape by overlaying the panels on the “protruding” areas of the body, such as the buttocks and chest, to create an area of increased tensile coefficient, resulting in a higher tension in the suit when worn, through which apply large compressive forces to the protruding places to reduce their volume. Preferably, the panel material itself has a higher tensile coefficient than the textile material of the base layer below them. A slight increase in tension in the area of the suit on which the panel is applied is noticeable, however, even when the panels are made of a material having the same or lower coefficient of stretching than the main layer (the total tension is equal to the sum of the forces created in the main layer and in the panel).

A third potential advantage is to contribute to the creation of increased muscle strength through the use of panels to form more tight-fitting areas in the suit next to (preferably around) special muscles or muscle groups to apply compressive forces to them.

Preferably, two or all three of these advantages can be achieved by using a single panel. For example, if the panel is made of a material with low hydraulic resistance, high tensile coefficient, then it can be used to reduce the surface hydraulic resistance in the area of the suit where it is applied, as well as to apply compressive forces to the muscles and / or protruding parts of the body .

In addition, by carefully studying various swimming styles, the authors of the present invention found that the configuration of the overlay panels can be created not only to prevent excessive restriction of the swimmer’s movements, but also to actually support the swimmer during swimming, providing improved body stability and contributing to the accuracy of the movements during swimming by creating less resistance to the movements of the limbs and the torso of the swimmer to perform the movements required to accurately perform the techniques of swimming vania. This led the authors of the present invention to create a series of swimwear specifically adapted for various swimming styles, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

All presented costumes contain the main layer of textile material made of elastane, which has a high tensile constant of a known type.

The base layer may be formed of many parts connected to each other. The parts can be joined by crosslinking, as described, for example, in patent EP-A-1110464 of the authors of this application. More preferably, however, the adjacent parts of the base layer are joined by gluing them together. It has been found that such glued joints have a particularly small thickness, resulting in a low hydraulic resistance in water.

As usual, suits contain zippers to allow them to be donned and undressed by the swimmer. It is preferable that the zipper has a small thickness and is glued to the parts of the suit, which are connected with it to minimize flow resistance. As shown in FIG. 13, in order to achieve a small thickness on the outside, the zipper is glued to the suit with that side, which is usually the inside of the zipper, facing outward so that the flat inner side of the zipper teeth is facing outward, while the teeth themselves having large height, turned inside the suit. The adjacent textile material of the suit preferably extends close to the midline of the zipper so that only a small portion (not more than about 2 mm) of the zipper tape protrudes from each side of the zipper connection line.

In suits intended for swimming freestyle, brass and butterfly, the zipper passes below the middle of the back of the suit in the usual way. In a back suit, the zipper may alternatively be located on the front of the suit (for example, below the middle between the chest and stomach). However, due to the small thickness of the zipper, it can be located on the swimmer’s back, even in a swim suit, without a significant increase in water resistance.

It is common to use a fringing tape at the edges of the leotard in the area of the openings (for example, in the neck, openings for the hands, ankles). In the presented costumes, a thin polyurethane tape is preferably used to fringe openings to ensure that the edge has a small thickness. Alternatively, the edging can be made of neoprene. Preferably, the tape is glued to the inside of the suit adjacent to the openings, as shown schematically in FIG. fourteen.

The suits contain panels of polyurethane material superimposed on the upper surface of the base layer at selected locations according to the present invention.

In this example, the polyurethane material is a two-layer polyurethane film with a layer of glue (for gluing to the textile material of the garment located below it) and a layer of thick film on the front side, which may have a matte finish. The surface density of the material is about 90 g / m ² and the total thickness is about 76 microns, where the adhesive layer is 2/3 of the total thickness. The adhesive has a softening point of 72 ° C (softening start temperature according to thermomechanical analysis - TMA) and an operating temperature ranging from -40 ° C to + 75 ° C.

Costumes in various examples differ in the configuration of the panels to be applied, and the configuration in each case is chosen so that it meets the requirements of a particular swimming style, as discussed in more detail below.

In FIG. 1-3 depict costume 2, the main layer 4 of which covers the entire torso 6, as well as legs 8 to the ankles, and it fits snugly against them. In this example, the costume does not contain sleeves, but the principles illustrated in this example also apply to suits with sleeves. The suit is especially suited for use by swimmers for freestyle.

A distinctive feature of the suit is the unusual arrangement of many panels of a special shape superimposed on the upper surface of the suit, by means of which they provide areas of reduced surface hydraulic resistance and / or areas of greater compression and / or support for the swimmer's body without restraining his movements. In fact, selective support provided through superimposed panels can help keep the swimmer in shape while swimming.

The torso region 6 of suit 2 contains three panels on the front side: a panel 10 in the abdomen and panels 12, 14 on the left and right sides of the chest. On the back of the torso 6 there are left and right lumbar panels 16, 18 and a left and right back panel 20, 22, which in this example come from the lumbar panels 16, 18 and which are made in one piece with them.

The panel 10 on the abdomen usually has a diamond shape. The lower corner 101 of the panel 10 extends down to the seam-fork area 61 of the suit. The upper corner 102 of the panel extends upward towards the sternum region 62. The left and right corners 103, 104 of the panel extend sideways to the side regions of the torso 6 and end just near the middle line 63 of the side of the torso. Through the panel 10 on the abdomen provide an area of small surface hydraulic resistance, and also provide a tight-fitting area to give greater stability to the body.

Panels 12, 14 on the chest are symmetrical to each other with respect to the midline of the front of the suit. The panel 14 on the right side of the chest usually has a triangular shape. It has a median lateral edge 141, which extends from the neck opening 24 down to a point at the lower end 142 of the panel adjacent to / but distant from the left corner 104 of the panel 10 on the stomach. The lateral edge 141 is slightly concave in shape. The lateral edge 143 of the chest panel 14 extends typically vertically from the lower end of the chest panel 142 to a position close to the lower edge of the suit’s right-hand opening 26. The upper lateral edge 144 of the panel 14 on the ribcage runs along a concave curve from the upper end of the lateral edge to the neck opening 24 near a point close to the upper end of the middle lateral edge 141, but located outside the side of the upper end of the middle lateral edge 141. Panel 12 on the left side of the chest is a mirror image of the panel 14 on the right side of the chest.

Panels 12, 14, located on the chest, are made to exclude restrictions on the functioning of the swimmer's lungs. This can be achieved by shaping the panels and / or by selecting a material having an appropriate tensile constant. The material may be the same as that used to make other costume panels. However, if required, the panels located on the chest can be made of material with a lower tensile constant than the panel 10 located on the stomach (and the other panels discussed below), as a result of which they are less stretched when wearing the suit, so that they don’t limit the swimmer’s breathing too much. Panels 12, 14, located on the chest, are used to flatten the swimmer’s chest, reduce the hydraulic resistance due to the shape, and also to provide additional areas of small surface hydraulic resistance.

The lumbar panels 16, 18 usually have a trapezoidal shape, and they usually contain (if we take the right panel as an example) the vertical middle and side edges 181, 182, and the upper and lower edges 183, 184, which rise upward along the torso in the lateral direction. The lower part of the lumbar panel 18 extends downward over the gluteal region 28. The lower edge 184 is slightly concave and usually follows the lower edge of the swimmer’s buttocks (gluteus maximus). The upper edge 183 is usually aligned with the lowest edge. The left lumbar panel 16 is a mirror image of the right panel 18.

Two lumbar panels 16, 18 converge one at the other at the lower end of their respective median lateral edges, in the area of the seam-fork 61. The median lateral edges slightly diverge from each other towards the upper edge of the panels.

Using lumbar panels 16, 18 provide highly stretched areas to maintain the lumbar region, improve the stability of the body. With their help, they also press the buttocks of the swimmer, reducing the hydraulic resistance due to the shape, and providing large surface areas of the suit with low surface hydraulic resistance.

The right panel 22 on the back is in the form of a narrow elongated strip extending from the midline of the back of the suit near the upper edge of the lumbar panel 18 diagonally outward along the back to the opening 26 for the arm, usually near the lower edge of the shoulder blade. The upper end 221 of the panel 22 on the back is laterally distant from the midline of the back of the suit by a distance of about one third of the distance between the midline of the back and the midline 63 of the right side of the suit. This leaves a relatively large surface of the torso portion of the suit 66, free of panels, under the arm opening 26 between the upper edge 183 of the lumbar pad, the side edge 143 of the right panel 14 on the chest and panel 22 on the back. When used with this design, the upper back is maintained, while at the same time, the relatively free torsion of the upper back and the shoulder girdle of the swimmer is necessary to perform movements when swimming in the freestyle (rabbit). This, in turn, contributes to the correct execution of movements when swimming.

The left panel 20 on the back is a mirror image of the right panel 22 on the back.

The presented costume also contains a pair of panels superimposed on each part for the legs. On each leg part there is a panel in the region of the upper leg, which is wrapped around the inner part of the leg from the front side to the back, containing part 30, 32 of the panel, which is wrapped in the quadriceps muscle (“four”) from the front of the thigh (upper leg), and a panel 34, 36 on the hamstring from the back of the upper leg. On each leg part there is also a lower leg plate, which is also wrapped around the inside of the leg, comprising the calf panel part 38, 40 from the back of the lower leg, and the shin panel part 42, 44 from the front of the lower leg. The panels on the left side for the foot are a mirror image of the panels on the right side for the foot.

Looking at the right part for the leg, we see that part 30 of the panel for the “four” has a side edge 301 extending along a concave gentle curve line from the inside of the leg just above the patella outward to the side of the leg and up to point 302 near the hip, in generally following the contour of the quadriceps muscle (muscle group). The upper edge 303 of the panel portion for the Quartet extends from the upper point 302 to the inner region 68 of the leg portion adjacent to the region of the seam-fork 61. Part 30 of the panel for the Quartet covers essentially the entire quadriceps muscle (muscle group), applying compressive force to the muscles to increase the force created by them. Using this panel, they also contribute to the reduction of surface hydraulic resistance in the area of the front side of the upper leg.

Part 36 of the panel in the hamstring usually has a trapezoidal shape. It runs across the entire width of the back side of the upper leg and down just above the back side of the knee joint on the inside of the leg and up just below the buttocks. The upper edge 361 of the panel portion 36 has a concave curvilinear shape and is distant from the line of the lower edge 184 of the lumbar panel 18, but extends close to it. The lower edge 362 of the panel in the hamstring region is slightly curved (concave) and rises up to the side of the leg, where it is connected to the side edge 363, which also extends along a slightly concave curve and converges with the lateral end of the upper edge 361 at an acute angle.

Using a portion of the panel in the hamstring, a compressive force is applied to the popliteal muscles when used to increase the force generated by these muscles. Using this part also helps to reduce the surface hydraulic resistance in the area of the back side of the leg.

Parts 30, 36 of the panels in the quadriceps and hamstring area wrap the inner side of the leg and connect them to each other, forming one continuous panel wrapped around the inner side of the upper leg. Opposite edges of the panels terminate on the outside of the leg, where they are spaced apart from each other on each side of the seam extending down the outside of the leg.

Panel 40 in the calf and panel 42 in the calf area cover most of the lower leg just below the knee and to the ankle. As with the upper leg panels, these panels wrap the inside of the leg to form a continuous panel, the opposite edges of which end on the outside of the leg on each side of the seam on the leg part.

Both panels 40, 42 in the region of the lower leg extend slightly higher on the side of the leg than on the median side of the leg. The upper edge 401 of the panel in the calf region runs along a concave curve, in general, repeating the shape of the calf muscles located beneath it (more specifically, the muscles of the back region of the leg). The upper edge 421 of the panel 42 in the lower leg region, on the other hand, extends along a concave curve to provide clearance around the lower portion of the anterior side of the knee joint. The lower edges 402, 422 of the panels 40, 42 in the area of the calf and lower leg are usually horizontal and aligned along one line with each other.

Using the panel 40, a compressive force is applied to the calf muscles (to the calf and soleus muscles) in the calf area, and using the panel 42, the tibial anterior muscle is covered in the calf region and a compressive force is applied to it. Using this compressive force, you can increase the force created by the muscles. Using panels 40, 42 also reduce the surface hydraulic resistance in the lower legs.

The strip 69 around each knee <in the leg portion> is left free of any panels to allow some freedom of flexion of the knee.

In FIG. Figures 4-6 show a suit especially suited for swimming with a brass. The main layer of the suit, located below, is identical to the suit for swimming freestyle, described above. The arrangement of panels superimposed on the upper surface of the base layer, however, is different.

Some of the panels are common to both suits. For example, a brass suit contains the same panels 10, 12, 14 in the abdomen and chest area as a freestyle suit, with which they provide body stability, an improved shape (to reduce the hydraulic resistance caused by the shape) of the chest and reducing the surface hydraulic resistance of the front side of the torso of the suit in the same manner as described above. The suit also contains the same general layout of the panels as the suit for swimming freestyle, but the special shape of the panels is adapted to perform movements when swimming in brass.

For example, it can be seen (see FIG. 5) that although the lumbar panels 16 ′, 18 ′ have the same shape as the panels of the freestyle swimming suit described above, the back panels 20 ′, 22 ′ made in one the whole with lumbar panels 16 ', 20', are very different in shape from the panels of a suit for swimming freestyle. Specifically, the right panel 22 'on the back extends from the upper edge of the lumbar panel 18' up the side of the back to the arm opening 26 and is wrapped around the side of the torso so that it is close to the midline of the side of the torso. The left panel 20 'on the back is a mirror image of the right panel 22' on the back.

A wide strip 70 is provided, free from panels, extending down the middle of the back from the neck opening 24 of the suit to the upper edge of the lumbar panels 16 ', 22'.

Thanks to such a special configuration of the panels on the back, they help maintain the swimmer’s torso in a line in the water, torsion resistance while at the same time allowing the swimmer’s back to bend to perform movements in this swimming style.

The panels 30 ′, 32 ′, 34 ′, 36 ′, 38 ′, 40 ′, 42 ′, 44 ′ in the legs area in the brasun suit are also different in shape from the panels in the freestyle swim suit shown in FIG. 1-3. Looking at the right part for the leg (the left part for the leg is a mirror image), we see that the panel 40 'in the calf region is shaped so that it is wrapped further forward around the side of the leg below the knee and at the ankle than in the middle of the calf . The panel 42 'in the tibia region is accordingly shortened laterally to save space between the panel 40' in the calf region and the panel 42 'in the tibia region. Panel 30 'in the area of the "four" does not extend as far up as in a suit for swimming freestyle. It ends at the thigh so as not to impede the wider movements in the hip joint required when swimming with brass. The lower lateral angle of the panel 36 'in the hamstring is also wrapped around to the front of the leg just above the knee.

As best shown in FIG. 4, a combination of the upper, middle part 428 of the panel 42 'in the tibia region, the upper side part 408 of the panel 40' in the calf region, the lower middle part 308 of the panel 30 'in the "four" region and the lower side part 368 of the panel 36' in the hamstring allows you to provide support for the front side of the knee joint to better maintain its movement during swimming brass.

In another suit adapted for swimming with a brass, (not shown) parts for the legs are cut just above the knees. This provides greater freedom of movement of the swimmer's legs when performing jerks with his legs when swimming with a brass. Otherwise, the costume is identical to the costume shown in FIG. 4-6.

In FIG. 7 to 9 show another suit according to an embodiment of the invention, especially adapted for swimming on the back. The panels 10-22, 30-44 superimposed on the main layer of the suit are the same as the panels used in the freestyle swimming suit of FIG. 1-3. In this backstroke suit, however, unlike the freestyle suit, the zipper 80 extends down the middle of the front side of the suit.

In FIG. 10-12 shows another suit according to an embodiment of the invention, especially adapted for swimming butterfly stroke. Panels 10, 13, 14, 30-44 in the abdomen, chest and legs are the same as in the suits for swimming and freestyle swimming on the back described above. The lumbar panels 16 ', 18' and the panels 20 ', 22' on the back are the same as in the brasmess suit of FIG. 4-6.

In FIG. 15-34 show further examples of swimming suits of various styles comprising panels superimposed on the outer surface of the base layer according to embodiments of the invention. In these figures, the regions of white color indicate the base layer of textile material, the regions of light gray indicate overlays, and the regions of dark gray show sleeves made of a material different from that of the base layer.

As shown in the drawings, the costumes shown in FIG. 15-34, differ in style and / or in the number of panels superimposed on the base layer.

For example, when comparing FIG. 15 and 16, which depict costumes of the same style for the whole body (with sleeves), it can be seen that while the costume shown in FIG. 15 contains panels mainly those described above (there are no panels in the lower legs), the suit shown in FIG. 16 does not contain panels on the back or lumbar panels and does not contain a panel in the abdomen.

Similarly, it is shown that the costumes shown in FIG. 18, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34, also do not contain panels on the back, lumbar panels and a panel in the abdomen. The costumes shown in FIG. 22, 30 and 34, in addition, do not contain panels in the region of the hamstrings.

In FIG. 19 and 20 depict costumes containing only parts for the legs for male swimmers. In FIG. Figure 19 shows a suit that runs the full length of the swimmer's legs (the so-called "skins"). Panels in the upper legs are shown along with truncated (at the upper edge) panels in the abdomen and lower back. In this example, there are no panels in the region of the lower legs, but in other embodiments, lower panels in the region of the lower legs, for example, of the kind shown in FIG. 1-3. The suit in FIG. 20 is a so-called “jammer” suit, extending down only to the knees.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the suits presented in the drawings and described above are examples in which the concepts of the invention described in this application are embodied and that many different modifications of the specifically described suits can be made, including a different number of superimposed panels, differently located and having a different shape, without departing from the essence of the invention. The principles cited above as an example can also be applied to other special sports garments, especially for water sports, such as water polo, triathlon, and beach sports, such as beach volleyball.

Claims (18)

1. A bathing suit having: a base layer (4) of stretchable elastic textile material and having a torso part (6) that, when worn, covers at least part of the user's torso; and a plurality of panels (10, 12, 14) layered on the upper surface of the base layer (4), the upper surface of each panel forming the upper surface of the suit, and the outer surface of the main layer (4) having areas free of panels, the panels ( 10, 12, 14) are made of a material having an external surface, in which the surface hydraulic resistance in water is less than that of the underlying layer (4) located below it, panels (10, 12, 14) cover 10% or more of the torso part ( 6) a suit, characterized in that a pair of panels (12, 14) covers g ore with a distance between them, panels (30, 32) pass through the muscle group of the quadriceps muscle on the front of the thighs, and panels (34, 36) pass through the muscle group of the biceps on the back of the thighs. 2. A bathing suit according to claim 1, characterized in that the panels (10,12,14) cover 50% or more of the torso part (6) of the suit. 3. Bathing suit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the panels (10, 12, 14) cover 20% or more of the back side of the torso part (6) of the suit. 4. Bathing suit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the panels cover 50% or more of the rear side of the torso part (6) of the suit. 5. Bathing suit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the panels (10, 12, 14) cover at least 50% of the front side of the torso part (6) of the suit. 6. Bathing suit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the panels (10, 12, 14) cover more the front side of the torso part (6) of the suit than the back side of the torso part (6) of the suit. 7. A bathing suit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a pair of parts (8) for the legs, which when worn, cover at least part of the user's legs, with each part for the legs containing one or more panels ( 30, 32, 34, 36), layered on their upper surface. 8. The bathing suit according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a pair of sleeves that cover, when wearing, at least part of the user's hands, while the sleeves are free from any superimposed panels. 9. A bathing suit according to claim 1, characterized in that the panels superimposed on the base layer (4) are made of a material having a higher tensile coefficient than the base layer (4) located below them. 10. Bathing suit according to claim 1, characterized in that the panels are a material of polyurethane fabric. 11. A bathing suit according to claim 8, characterized in that one or more panels contain materials having properties that differ from each other. 12. A bathing suit according to claim 8, characterized in that the panels are superimposed in one location or in any combination of two or more of the following panel locations:
a) on the front of the suit covering the swimmer’s stomach;
b) over the swimmer's lower back;
c) over the buttocks;
d) over the shin;
e) on top of caviar;
f) on the back from the middle of the back in the lumbar region up to the shoulders; and
g) on the back, at a distance on each side of the spine, to wrap around from the back to the sides of the torso under your arms. 13. A bathing suit having a base layer (4) of stretchable elastic textile material and having a pair of parts (8) for the legs, which when worn, covers at least part of the user's legs; and a plurality of panels (30, 32, 34) layered on the upper surface of the base layer (4), the upper surface of each panel forming the upper surface of the suit, and the outer surface of the main layer (4) having areas free of panels, the panels ( 30, 32, 34) are made of a material having an external surface, in which the surface hydraulic resistance in water is less than that of the underlying layer (4) located below it, panels (30, 32, 34) cover 50% or more of each part ( 8) for the legs, and the panels (30, 32) pass through the muscle group of the quadriceps m shtsy on the front of the thighs, and panels (34, 36) pass through the biceps muscle group on the rear of the thighs. 14. Bathing suit according to item 13, containing a pair of sleeves, covering when wearing at least part of the hands of the user, while the sleeves are free from any superimposed panels. 15. Bathing suit according to item 13, in which the panels superimposed on the main layer (4) are made of a material having a higher tensile coefficient than the main layer (4) located below them. 16. Bathing suit according to item 13, in which the panels are a material of polyurethane fabric. 17. Bathing suit according to item 13, in which one or more panels contain materials having properties that differ from each other. 18. Bathing suit according to item 13, in which the panels are superimposed in one location or any combination of two or more of the following panel locations:
a) on the front of the suit covering the swimmer’s stomach;
b) over the swimmer's lower back;
c) over the buttocks;
d) over the shin;
e) on top of caviar;
f) on the back from the middle of the back in the lumbar region up to the shoulders; and
g) on the back, at a distance on each side of the spine, to wrap around from the back to the sides of the torso under your arms.

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