WO2008122873A1

WO2008122873A1 - Garment for assisting movement of the human body

Info

Publication number: WO2008122873A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/000846
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Cozzo
Original assignee: Specialities S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-04-05
Filing date: 2008-04-02
Publication date: 2008-10-16
Also published as: ITMI20070706A1

Abstract

A garment (1) for assisting movement of the human body, comprising portions (3, 4, 5, 6) adapted to be worn at upper and/or lower limbs of the human body, the portions being elastically tensionable to create reverse preloading torques with respect to the rotary torques of the joints of the human body.

Description

GARMENT FOR ASSISTING MOVEMENT OF THE HUMAN BODY Technical field

The present invention relates to a garment for assisting movement of the human body. More particularly, the invention relates to a garment which is capable of improving the movement performed by a human being both in normal everyday activities and in the sports field. Background art

The movements, all the movements of the human body, are provided by means of the muscular system, which by being connected to the supporting skeletal system induces therein, at the articulated joints, angular rotations which, when combined, originate said movements.

Therefore, we move by compound rotations, our interface members being constituted by elements which can be clearly approximated to articulated levers .

The muscles, similar to actuators, provide linear vector forces, which, connected to the skeletal system, always produce rotational torques at its joints.

Consider, in this regard, how many machines built by mankind attempt to reproduce the organs and movements of the human body: consider for example excavators, cranes, transfer systems, the "arms" of a suspension, industrial robots, et cetera.

The degrees of freedom, i.e., the possibilities of movement of human articulated joints, are truly many and provide, in their composition, an even greater number of resulting motions: this is perhaps the main reason for the difficulties in "reproducing" it, in "copying" it.

Consider merely the motor possibilities of the wrist for example when observing a ballerina's performance: on its own, it is capable of tracing trajectories which are so complex as to be almost a form of emotional communication. Gestural expressiveness is indeed such a form. Therefore, in the capacity of this amazing machine, which has such great freedom of motion, the intrinsic problem of stability (the more a system is free, the more it is unstable), is again entrusted to and solved by the muscular system, which for every contraction of the "agonist" muscle, i.e., the power muscle that generates a specific movement (articular rotation), induces a signal and a decontraction in an opposite muscle which is its "antagonist". The work of this last muscle is always more related to control and balance than the first one and to protection of the integrity of the joint, which is subjected, during movements, almost exclusively to states of compression. Thus one understands that despite everything, and even with a specific preparation for a specific "movement", the distribution of forces on the muscular system is inherently uneven in any kind of condition.

Therefore, the human body is as rich in possibilities of movement as in possible instabilities. The controls of such instability are, as occurs in the directional ailerons of jets, a continuous correction in the small force differentials between the "agonist power" muscles and the "antagonist control" muscles involved, for a given type of equilibrium condition. Therefore, we can now understand that all our movements are not at all damped and, for example, articular compressions are not constant and uniform but are more similar to continuous "impacts" and separations in the sense of overcoming in one direction and in the other the necessary "plays" that allow their movement.

In the same way in which the phenomenon of "damping", i.e., an oscillation which requires long damping times, is induced due to external intervention forces in a spring which is not preloaded, vice versa in a spring which is preloaded this phenomenon, in addition to being distinctly reduced, in view of the greater stiffness of the system, can occur only for loads which exceed such preloading.

In addition to voluntary force and motion actions, but not separately from them, the human body is further subjected to gravitational forces: consider, for example, when walking, the step of lifting the leg after the thrust step, the effort of standing "on attention" for a soldier by extending forcibly the arms along the back, of lifting in addition to his own weight the weight of the arm for a plate hammering worker, the difficulties in "expanding" the ribcage while we breathe, while the curvature of the backbone facilitates, "by gravity", its "contraction".

For example, in the case of the action performed by a cyclist, as is known, the stroke performed by a cyclist on the pedals of a bicycle entails a movement which tends to modify the angle between the foot and the leg, i.e., the portion of the lower limb that comprises the tibia and the calf.

In particular, during thrust on the pedals, as a consequence not only of gravity but also of the pressure applied to the pedal, the foot tends to reduce the angle that it forms with respect to the tibia. Considering as a reference system the plane on which the cyclist/bicycle system lies and as positive direction the direction of natural travel of the bicycle, it is noted that this reduction in the foot/leg angle tends to generate a backward rotation (movement) of the leg, i.e., in the opposite direction with respect to the direction required in this step of the stroke, which must see the leg advance. For this reason, the cyclist finds himself forced to apply maximum effort with the muscles of the thigh, particularly the vastus medialis muscle, i.e., the muscle that lies directly above the knee, and the rectus femoris muscle, so as to contrast the negative moment that would move backward the tibia and the calf, rendering useless the forward rotation of the lower limb. This entails on the part of the cyclist an effort which is indeed applied especially by means of the vastus medialis muscles, leading to a waste of energy which is not directly aimed at the pedaling stroke, and entails fatigue of the vastus medialis and lateralis muscles, which in the long term leads to a considerable reduction in the performance and to tiredness of the cyclist (lactic acid poisoning and phenomena correlated to DOMS ("delayed onset muscle soreness").

The above occurs in a mirror-symmetrical manner also during the traction step, i.e., the step of the pedaling stroke in which the pedal, after performing the stroke from 0 to 90°, with the 0 point indicated as the top dead center of the pedal and the 90° point as the point in which the pedal is in the furthest possible forward position, approaches the bottom dead center and must then rise, passing finally through the furthest backward position of the pedal at -90°. In this case also, the angle between the foot and the tibia tends to vary, inducing the leg to perform a rotation which is opposite with respect to the motion to be performed, so that the muscles of the cyclist must intervene, wasting energy, to restore the correct situation of equilibrium. Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a garment for assisting movement of the human body which allows a person to perform normal movements, both everyday movements and in sports, with greatly improved effectiveness.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a garment for assisting movement of the human body which allows behavior substantially like a "second muscular system integrated in a garment", to the advantage of the execution of movements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a garment for assisting movement of the human body which is highly reliable, relatively simple to provide and at competitive costs. This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a garment for assisting movement of the human body, characterized in that it comprises portions adapted to be worn at upper and/or lower limbs of the human body, said portions being elastically tensionable to create reverse preloading torques with respect to the rotary torques of the j oints of the human body. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the garment according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic front perspective view of the garment according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective rear view of the garment according to the invention, shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the garment according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the garment shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a variation of an embodiment of the garment according to the invention; Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the garment shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view of a third embodiment of the garment according to the invention, applied to a cyclist;

Figure 8 is a view of a fourth embodiment of the garment according to the invention, applied to a cyclist; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the garment shown in Figure 8.

Ways of carrying out the invention

The garment according to the invention comprises portions adapted to be worn at upper and/or lower limbs of the human body, such portions being elastically tensionable in order to create reverse torques, i.e., provide a preloading for the rotary torques of the joints of the human body.

With reference to the figures, the garment according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 in the first embodiment of

Figure 1 and Figure 2, comprises a sort of partial or complete pair of trousers 2, made of elastic fabric and adapted to be worn so as to cling to the body and which includes, on the outer (or inner) surface, rigid means for grip on an exposed portion of the skeletal system of the human body, such as the ankle, knee, pelvis, shoulders, elbows, metatarsal bones and heels of the feet and metacarpal bones of the fingers and of the toes.

Substantially, therefore, the garment according to the invention is a sort of pair of trousers, in the first embodiment, which is made of elastic fabric, and is provided with at least two rigid elements 3, 4 and preferably two pairs of rigid elements 3, 4 and 5, 6, which are respectively arranged at the thigh of the user and on the posterior part of the thigh and are fastened directly to a belt element 7 for fixing the rigid elements 3-6 to lateral and rear exposed parts of the pelvis.

The connection of the rigid elements 3-6 to the belt element 7 is adjustable in its position.

The rigid elements 3-6 are conveniently connected to respective inserts 8, 9 and 10, 11, which are arranged respectively on the anterior part of the leg and on the posterior part of the leg.

In this manner, the rigid elements are connected to these inserts, which are generally soft and internal and/or external with respect to the garment.

The rigid elements are provided with adjustment means 15, which allow to adjust the tension of the rigid elements and therefore to arrange the inserts in a position which is more or less close to the belt 7 by way of the elasticity of the trousers for individual morphological adaptation.

At the lower portion of the trousers there are elastic elements, for example a first elastic element and a second elastic element for each leg of the trousers, a first elastic element 20 which is connected at the rear insert

10 and passes below the metatarsus of the foot of the user, with means 21 for adjusting the tension of the elastic element, and a second elastic element

22, which likewise is connected at the soft insert 10 and passes under the heel of the foot and also is provided with tension adjustment means 23. Therefore, the first and second elastic means 20 and 22, in the form of ribbon-like or membrane-like elements, are connected in a fixed manner to the rear insert 10, which is therefore arranged at the region that lies above the knee, substantially proximate to the femoral bicep muscle, and extend under the foot of the user, with the possibility of being adjusted in their tension and in their specific grip position on the foot with respect to the metatarsal and heel regions.

Substantially, it has been shown that in the above description any movement is linked to a contraction of a muscle group, which is stabilized by a "decontraction" in another antagonist muscle group, and that this system is never in a condition of perfect distribution regarding the intensity of the forces involved, is not damped, is not stable despite the rotating "rigid" parts of the joint, since starting from a state of tension which is proximate to zero it requires continuous "modulations" of forces and, as regards gravitational phenomena, it is in some cases affected greatly by them.

The garment according to the invention in practice provides a second muscular system which is integrated in a garment and is superimposed on the "bare natural one" and, by preloading slightly with reverse torques (for the muscle group) the rotary torques of the joint with axial and membrane- like elements with variable stiffness, makes the muscular system perfectly balanced, without "rebound" effects on the articulated joints, which are stable, i.e., stabilized for the motion assigned thereto, and capable of assisting, with a low starting energy process, specific movements, relieving them, for the muscular system, of part of the gravitational weights to which the involved members are subjected.

The preloading for rotational torques corresponds to a preloading for the muscle groups which, in the normal activation of the torques, would be activated as "antagonists".

Once preloaded, the muscle groups become initially forced "agonists", compensating in motion the natural muscular unevenness, thus ensuring it. Only small preloadings, within a certain interval, ensure this result, otherwise the muscular imbalance would be greater and contrary to motion.

In the case for example of the garment such as the trousers described above, the rotational torque of the ankle is closely tied, in the walking and running motion, to the rotational torque of the knee and of the hip.

The muscle groups involved in this gesture are the ones that undergo contractions and decontractions "in front" and "behind" the legs, "above" the thigh, and "in front" and "behind" of the pelvis. In particular, in order to open the foot-leg angle, the "power" muscle groups are the ones "in front" of the leg and "below" the thigh, while in order to close it they are the ones "behind" the leg and "above" the thigh.

By tying the heel and the tarsus of the foot directly or by means of an appropriately provided shoe, with two axial elements which are elastic up to above the articulated joint of the knee and beyond this are rigid up to the posterior and lateral exposed bones of the pelvis, so that the new muscular system is crossed with the preceding one, the elastic element connected to the heel (opening torque of the foot-leg angle) passes behind the malleolus, over the knee and from there, over the leg, rigidly to the lateral exposed part of the pelvis, while the elastic element tied to the tarsus (closing torque of

, the foot-leg angle) passes in front of the malleolus, under the knee and from there, under the leg, rigidly to the rear exposed part of the pelvis.

By lightly loading the elastic traction segment, one thus achieves preloading for rotational torques of the ankle, knee and hip in the form of a torque which is the reverse of the one generated normally by the "bare natural" muscular system.

These rotational torques, induced in the superimposed muscular system of the garment according to the invention on the "bare" natural one, allow, in their slight preloading, to solve all four of the described limitations, achieving a perfect distribution of forces on all the muscle groups involved, with a consequent drastic reduction of their lactate "poisoning" under maximum efforts, integral protection of the ligaments and of the elements for containment and sliding of the articulated joints, stability and correctness of posture, and distinct control and assistance for anti-gravity weight relief, during recovery-lifting, of the articulated rods.

A second embodiment of the garment according to the invention is shown in Figures 3 and 4, in which the garment in this case is a sort of jacket, designated by the reference numeral 50, which must be worn by the user. In this case, the garment according to the invention takes into account the condition of the upper limbs, which under the effect of gravity, and being articulated in their three components from the shoulder, the elbow and the wrist, fluctuate by being moved by the accelerations of motions, representing in this case masses which require control, or in a state of simple upright posture, by internal condition, become fatigued in a state of unnatural "distension" which requires the continuous seeking of "support" and multiple changes in position.

In this case, one acts with elastic tension members, which being fixed like a fingerless glove to the metacarpal protrusions of the back and palm of the hand and being elastic up to the elbow and then becoming from there rigid around the scapula, allow to provide rotary preloading torques which are reversed with respect to the motions to be privileged and protected, on the upper limbs as well.

Therefore, the garment 50 is provided with an elastic portion 51 which passes, like a fingerless glove, around the hand of the user, and remains elastic up to the elbow joint, with tension adjustment means 52, and then a rigid portion up to the scapula, with the rigid portion designated by the reference numeral 53, which is connected at one end to an insert 54 which is arranged at the elbow, and, at the opposite end, to an insert 55 which is arranged at the shoulder of the garment 50. The above is of course repeated for each arm of the garment 50.

As regards the contractions and decontractions of the pectorals and trapezius muscles regarding the motor action of breathing, the jacket described above receives the addition of rigid elements 56 and 57, which are respectively crossed at the front by connecting them to the inserts 55 and 58, arranged at the shoulders, and to inserts 59 and 60 arranged at the breast of the jacket, and by using a given pair of rigid and crossed elements 61 and 62 arranged at the rear part (back) of the jacket, which also are connected respectively to inserts 63 and 64 arranged at the central region of the back, and to the inserts 55 and 58 provided at the shoulders.

A variation of the garment is shown in Figures 5 and 6, which illustrate an upper part provided with rigid elements 76 and 77 which are extended in a substantially parallel direction from the inserts 55, 58 until they are connected to the belt element 7. The rear upper part is provided with two elastic elements 71, 72, which extend from the inserts 55, 58 and cross each other on the back of the user and are then connected to the belt element 7.

The calibration of the elastic elements, of the fixing points of the elastic elements and of the rigid elements depends also on any kinematic conditions and on the need for particular postures and performance typical of a highly specialized activity.

Therefore, the garment according to the invention can be limited to the lower part of the trunk, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or can relate to the upper part, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, or also can be the complete garment that wraps around the entire body, using therefore the garments of Figures 1,

2, 3, 4 and 5, 6.

Figures 7-9 are views of two further embodiments of the garment according to the invention, specialized for assisting the pedaling stroke and therefore to be used in the cycling field. With reference therefore to the above cited Figures 7-9, the garment for assisting the pedaling stroke, generally designated in this case by the reference numeral 100, comprises in a third embodiment a portion of a belt element 200 which is substantially provided by the ribbon-like element and is adapted to be wrapped around the waist of a cyclist, designated by the reference numeral 300.

The ribbon-like element 200 is connected, at each thigh of the cyclist, to a second portion 400, which is contoured so as to adapt around the knee of the cyclist and ends with a slot-like configuration 500 which allows to pass around the shoe 600 of the cyclist, particularly for example at the heel of the shoe.

Substantially, the portion 400 forms a closed loop around the shoe 600 of the cyclist, arranging itself around the heel of the shoe or an extension tab thereof, and passing appropriately within a U-shaped element 700 which is defined at the heel of the shoe 600 and is arranged longitudinally along the axis of said shoe, or the like.

The connection between the first portion 200 and the second portion 400 of the garment 100 according to the invention is provided by means of a coupling with a buckle 800 and Velcro 900, so that it is possible to adjust the tension of the second portion 400, which is arranged around the shoe 600 of the cyclist, with respect to the first portion 200 which is arranged like a belt around the waist of the cyclist.

Substantially, the cyclist wears the garment 100, inserting the shoe within the slot 500 of the second portion 400 of the garment, so that the second portion 400 enters the U-shaped element 700 of the shoe 600. At this point, the cyclist applies tension to the second portion 400 by acting on the buckle 800 and on the Velcro 900, so as to apply the correct tension to the garment 100, so that during the pedaling action one avoids the problem of the tendency of the part of the tibia to tilt backwardly and therefore to form an acute angle with respect to the foot of the cyclist, applying a reaction force against the movement of the leg which replaces the effort normally performed by the vastus muscles.

The tension of the garment 100 around the foot and the leg of the cyclist in fact helps to keep the portion of the tibia substantially always perpendicular to the foot, so as to maintain, between the foot and the tibia, during the thrust step, an angle which is not excessively smaller than 90°, and in any case ensure also for smaller angles a better distribution of muscular load, thus reducing the overload of the vastus medialis and rectus femoris muscles of the cyclist, with the the advantage of reducing fatigue caused by lactic acid poisoning and thus improving performance significantly.

In a fourth embodiment, designated by the reference numeral 110 and shown in Figure 8, in which reference numerals identical to Figure 7 correspond to identical elements, the garment according to the invention has, in addition to what has been described above and shown in Figure 7, a third garment portion 111, which is arranged below the first portion 200 of the garment and is connected thereto.

The third portion 111 of the garment is provided to be arranged below the thigh of the cyclist, therefore in contrast with the first portion 200 of the garment. The third portion 111 also ends with a slot 112 which allows the insertion of the tip of the shoe 600 of the cyclist.

Substantially, in the fourth embodiment the garment according to the invention arranges itself both around the heel of the shoe and at the tip of the shoe, then extending itself respectively along the tibia and thigh of the cyclist and along the calf and femoral bicep of said cyclist.

Therefore, in this fourth embodiment the leg of the cyclist is interposed between two portions of the garment 110, i.e., between the portion 200, which continues with the second portion 400, and the portion 111 in the opposite position. The third portion 111 of the garment 110 is provided with tension adjustment means, which are constituted conveniently for example by a buckle 150 and corresponding Velcro 160 to adjust the portion under the leg, i.e., the tensioning of the third portion 111.

Moreover, the third portion 111 of the garment, adapted to be arranged under the leg of the cyclist, has a pair of rings 130 which are arranged substantially at the posterior region of the knee, and is connected to the second portion 400 by means of a ribbon-like or membrane-like element 140 which engages in the rings and is connected, for example by sewing, to the second portion 400 of the garment 110. The fourth embodiment, thanks to the presence of the third portion

111, allows the cyclist to obtain, by means of the reverse preloading torques, an optimized distribution both in the thrust step and in the traction-recovery step.

In practice it has been found that the garment according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to apply preloadings with reverse torques with respect to the rotary torques of the joints, so as to perfectly stabilize the muscular system of the human body of the user.

The garment thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

Thus, for example, the material of which the garment according to the invention is made must be a material with inherent elasticity and therefore can be provided by means of any one of the materials currently known which have elasticity properties and are suitable for direct contact with human skin.

Optionally, as an alternative, instead of adjustments using a buckle and Velcro, it is possible to provide a ratchet or the like which allows to perform a graduated adjustment of the tension of the garment. Although for reasons of clarity in exposition the garment has been described and illustrated in its fundamental elements in order to allow comprehension of the inventive principle, the person skilled in the art understands without effort that the described structure can be inserted and/or integrated easily within classic sports garments, particularly suits, either full-body suits or suits separated into a jacket and trousers, cycling shorts, cycling body suits and others, so as to give the traditional sports garment the functional characteristics according to the present invention, and within "classic" type garments not intended for sports use. In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. MI2007A000706, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A garment for assisting movement of the human body, characterized in that it comprises portions adapted to be worn at upper and/or lower limbs of the human body, said portions being elastically tensionable to create reverse preloading torques with respect to the rotary torques of the joints of the human body.

2. The garment according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises portions made of elastic fabric which are adapted to be worn in contact with the limbs of the human body, said portions of elastic fabric being provided with inserts which constitute adjustable fastening points for a first end of rigid elements, a second end of said rigid elements being connected to an element which is adapted to rest against exposed bone parts of the skeletal system.

3. The garment according to claim 2, characterized in that said limbs are the lower limbs of the human body.

4. The garment according to claim 2, characterized in that said limbs are the upper limbs of the human body.

5. The garment according to claim 2, characterized in that said limbs are the upper and lower limbs of the human body.

6. The garment according to claim 2, characterized in that said rigid elements comprise, for each lower limb, a pair of rigid elements which are adapted to be arranged on mutually opposite sides of the thigh of the user, said inserts being adapted to be arranged at the region of the leg above the knee, at the front and at the rear, said rigid elements being connected to said inserts and to a belt element which is adapted to rest against said exposed bone part.

7. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said portions adapted to be worn in contact with the lower limbs end with first and second elastic elements which pass under the foot of the user and can be tensioned by way of adjustment means.

8. The garment according to claim 2, characterized in that said rigid elements comprise, for each upper limb, a pair of rigid elements which are adapted to be arranged at the front and at the rear of the arm of the user and to be connected to inserts which are arranged at the region of the joint between the forearm and the arm, said rigid elements being tensionable at said inserts, said rigid elements being connected to said elastic portion at a region which is adapted to rest against a protruding bone part.

9. The garment according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises an additional pair of rigid elements which are adapted to be arranged in a crossed position at the chest of the user and are connected at one end to a respective pair of inserts and at the opposite end to said portion which rests against the protruding bone portion.

10. The garment according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises two additional rigid elements which are adapted to be arranged in a crossed position at the back of the user and are connected at one end to a respective pair of inserts and at the opposite end to said portion which rests against the protruding bone portion.

1 1. The garment according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, for each lower limb, a first substantially ribbon-like or membrane like portion, which is suitable to be arranged around the waist of a cyclist, said first portion being connected to a second portion which is suitable to pass around the shoe of the user, said first portion being extended along the thigh of the user and said second portion passing around the knee of the user and being tensioned around the shoe.

12. The garment according to claim 1, characterized in that said second portion is adapted to pass under the heel of the shoe at an extension tab thereof.

13. The garment according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the tension of said second portion with respect to said first portion of the garment.

14. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tensioning means comprise buckle and Velcro adjustment means.

15. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tensioning means comprise a ratchet.

16. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second portion is provided with a slot which is adapted to allow the insertion of the shoe and the passage of the tibia.

17. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot of each portion in the garment is formed by a ribbon-like or membrane-like element which is adapted to be arranged in a closed configuration around the heel of said shoe, a U-shaped element being provided at the heel of said shoe, for the passage and retention of said closed ribbon-like element.

18. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third portion which is adapted to be arranged under the user's leg, opposite said first and second portions, said third portion being adapted to be extended around the tip of the shoe and to be connected, after providing a slot, to said first portion and said second portion.

19. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third portion is provided with buckle and Velcro adjustment means.

20. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third portion is provided with a pair of rings which are arranged in a mutually opposite configuration along said slot, said rings being connected by an additional ribbon-like element which is adapted to be connected to said second portion of the garment.

21. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of inherently elastic material.

22. The garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is integrated or inserted within a sports garment of a traditional type.

23. The garment according to claim 22, characterized in that said sports garment is selected from the group that comprises: a suit, trousers of a suit, cyclist shorts, cyclist body suits, body suits in general.

24. A cycling shoe particularly for use with the garment according to one or more of claims 11 to 23, characterized in that it comprises at least one U-shaped element which is adapted to be arranged at the sole of said shoe, in a position which coincides substantially with the longitudinal axis of said shoe.

25. The shoe according to claim 24, characterized in that said at least one U-shaped element is arranged at the heel of the shoe at an extension tab thereof.

26. The shoe according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that said

U-shaped element is arranged at the tip of said shoe.