WO2009149747A1

WO2009149747A1 - Swim suit, particularly for competition swimming

Info

Publication number: WO2009149747A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/057200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cristiano Portas
Original assignee: Arena Distribution S.A.
Priority date: 2008-06-10
Filing date: 2008-06-10
Publication date: 2009-12-17

Abstract

A swim suit (1) for competition swimming comprises an outer shell (2) suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk and of the legs of a swimmer, wherein the outer shell (2) is made of a single continuous panel (3) of elastically stretchable fabric, said single piece panel (3) comprising connecting edges (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) which are connected to one another along connecting seams (9, 10, 11) to form said outer shell (2).

Description

"SWIM SUIT, PARTICULARLY FOR COMPETITION SWIMMING"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates, in general, to the field of sports garment. More particularly, it relates to swim suits or swim garments for water sports activities and particularly for competition swimming.

In the past years, in competitive swimming, very high levels of performance have been achieved thanks to evolved training methods and a specific nutrition which increasingly meet the requirements of the individual physical constitution of the athletes and of the swimming exercise to be performed.

On the other hand, in nearly all fields of sports and particularly in swimming, where the body of the athlete moves across a liquid, the efforts to enhance the performances increasingly focus on the development of sports garment which positively influences both the interaction of the athletes body surface with the environment and the physical conditions of the athlete during the competition or sports exercise and training. The development of swim suits and garments focuses mainly on two principal goals, i.e. the reduction of friction between the external surface of the swim suit and the water and a hoop-compression of the muscular structure of the athlete in the region of arms, legs and body trunk .

In order to reduce the friction between the swimmer and the water, several stretchable fabrics with an extremely smooth and water repellent external surface texture (e.g. PTFE coated elastic textiles) have been proposed and successfully used. Moreover full-body swim suits have been developed in order to extend the beneficial hydrodynamic features of the smooth and water repellent fabric over nearly the entire body surface of the athlete.

The hoop-compression of the muscular structure of the swimmer has been aimed to by using swim suits made of stretchable garment material with a comparatively high coefficient of elasticity and by dressing the swimmer with such a small size of swim suit that the consequent stretching of the garment and resulting reaction hoop force result in a radial compression of the swimmer's body trunk, arms and legs. Of course, also to this end, the tendency towards full body swim garments contributed to extend the beneficial effect of the muscular compression (prevention of loose muscle totter and of the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles) throughout the entire body of the swimmer. Even though the known swim suits provide generally satisfactory results, they still have some drawbacks with regard to hydrodynamic performance, to fabrication of the swim suit, and to the position and configuration of certain discontinuities of the swim suit shell, which do not positively influence muscle compression, glide and "second skin" feel. This is mainly due to the specific number and shape of the single fabric panels of which the swim suit is composed and to the number, shape and position of the seams which connect the edges of adjacent fabric panels. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a swim suit which obviates at least some of the drawbacks cited with respect to the prior art. These and other objects are achieved by a swim suit according to the annexed claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the object of the dependent claims .

According to the invention, a swim suit, particularly for competition swimming, comprises an outer shell suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk and of the legs of a swimmer, wherein the shell is made of a single continuous panel of elastically stretchable fabric, said single panel having one or more connecting edges which are connected to one another along connecting seams to form said outer shell. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a first connecting seam extends along the internal side of both legs from a bottom aperture of a first leg through the crotch region to a bottom aperture of a second leg and a second connecting seam extends from a first junction point with the first seam in the crotch region along the back rise to a second junction point at the back. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the outer shell is reversibly closable in the region of the upper back by a zip which extends from the second junction point of the second connecting seam upward between shoulder blade regions to a neck aperture of the shell.

The outer shell of the swim suit may comprise two leg openings formed on the bottom of each of two tubular leg portions, two shoulder openings formed in lateral upper regions of a substantially tubular body trunk portion and a neck opening formed in an upper neck region of said body trunk opposite the leg openings. Apart from possible seams extending along the edges of the leg openings, shoulder openings and neck opening in order to stabilize these edges, an entire frontal side of the outer shell is completely free from any connecting seams, preferably the entire frontal side together with both external lateral sides are completely free from any connecting seams. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention two third connecting seams are provided to join the adjacent connecting edges of respectively two suspender portions in an upper shoulder region of the shell, wherein the third connecting seams extend from opposite lateral external points of the neck opening to upper points of the shoulder openings .

In this way, it is possible to achieve very good hydrodynamic performance, enhanced muscle support and compression as well as a cost-effective fabrication of the swim suit.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. Fig. 1 illustrates a frontal view and a rear view of a swim suit according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 illustrates, in a reduced scale, a sew paper pattern of a single piece fabric panel for the fabrication of a swim suit according to fig. 1, Fig. 2A illustrates a sew paper pattern of an exemplary slip insert for a swim suit according to fig. 1, Fig. 3 illustrates a frontal view and a rear view of a swim suit according to a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 illustrates a frontal view and a rear view of a swim suit according to a yet further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5 illustrates a sew paper pattern of a single piece fabric panel for the fabrication of a swim suit according to fig. 3 or 4, Fig. 6 illustrates a frontal view and a rear view of a swim suit according to a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 7 illustrates a frontal view and a rear view of a swim suit according to a yet further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 8 illustrates a sew paper pattern of a single piece fabric panel for the fabrication of a swim suit according to fig. 6 or 7,

Fig. 9 illustrates a frontal view and a rear view of a swim suit according to a yet further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 10 illustrates a sew paper pattern of a single piece fabric panel for the fabrication of a swim suit according to fig. 9. With reference to the figures, figure 1 shows a swim suit 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The swim suit 1 is particularly suitable for competition swimming and comprises an outer shell 2 suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk and of the legs of a swimmer, wherein the outer shell 2 is made of a single continuous panel 3 of elastically stretchable fabric. The single piece panel 3 comprises one or more connecting edges 4, 5, 6, 8, 8' which are connected to one another along connecting seams 9, 10, 11 to form the outer shell 2.

In accordance with an embodiment, a first connecting seam 9 extends along the internal side of both leg portions 12 from a bottom aperture 13 of a first leg portion through the crotch region 14 to a bottom aperture 13 of a second leg portion and a second connecting seam 10 extends from a first junction point 15 with the first seam 9 in the crotch region 14 along the back rise to a second junction point 16 at the back. The outer shell 2 can be reversibly closable in the region of the upper back by a zip 17 which extends from the second junction point 16 of the second connecting seam 10 upward between shoulder blade regions to a neck aperture 18 of the shell 2. The outer shell 2 of the swim suit 1 may generally comprise two leg openings 13 formed on the bottom of each of two tubular leg portions 12, two shoulder openings 19 formed in lateral upper regions of a chest portion 20 and a neck opening 18 formed in an upper neck region of said chest portion 20 opposite the leg openings 13, wherein between the leg portions 12 and the chest portion 20 there is a substantially tubular body trunk portion 22.

Apart from possible seams 23 extending along the edges of the leg openings 13, shoulder openings 19 and neck opening 18 in order to stabilize these edges, an entire frontal side of the outer shell 2 is free from any connecting seams, preferably the entire frontal side together with both external lateral sides are completely free from any connecting seams (In the context of the disclosure of the present invention, the expression "connecting seam" denotes a line along which edges of the outer shell 2 single piece fabric panel 3 are connected to one another in a tension resistant manner) . Third connecting seams 11 can be provided to join the adjacent connecting edges 8, 8' of respectively two suspender portions 24 on an upper shoulder region of the chest portion of the outer shell 2, wherein these third connecting seams 11 extend from opposite lateral external points of the neck opening 18 to upper points of the shoulder openings 19. In this way, the single piece fabric panel forms an outer shell which achieves very good hydrodynamic performance and enhanced muscle support and compression and which can be produced in a cost-effective and material saving manner.

In accordance with an embodiment, the connecting seams 9, 10, 11 can comprise bonded, e.g. glued or heat sealed seams or, alternatively, the connecting seams 9, 10, 11 may comprise multiple, preferably quadruple, stitched seams .

The edges of the two leg openings 13, shoulder openings 19 and neck opening 18 are advantageously stabilized by means of multiple, preferably triple, stitched circumferential stabilizing seams 25 (three needles seams, compare figs. 3 and 6) or, alternatively, these edges are stabilized by means of bonded, e.g. glued or heat sealed circumferential seams 26, as illustrated in exemplary figs. 1, 4 and 7. In accordance with an embodiment, the outer shell 2 comprises discrete supporting areas, in which a stiffening coating 27 is applied on the external or, alternatively, internal side of the fabric of the single piece panel 3, such that in these discrete areas, the outer shell 2 can apply an increased supporting and compressive force on the swimmer's muscles (figures 3, 4 ) .

Alternatively, the discrete supporting areas can be embodied by providing internal linings 28 in these areas, constituted e.g. by panels of the same fabric as the outer shell or by panels made of a different fabric

(figures 6, 7), such as to locally increase the stiffness of the swim suit in the supporting areas. The internal fabric panels can be connected to the single piece panel by means of e.g. stitching, gluing, heat sealing.

In accordance with a yet further aspect, the discrete supporting areas are separated by movement enabling regions 29 of the stretchable basic fabric of the single piece panel 3, thereby reconciling the contrasting requirements of muscle support and compression on one hand and of freedom to move on the other hand. In accordance with a general aspect of the invention, the sew paper pattern of the single piece fabric panel 3 can be preferably axial-symmetric and comprises: - two opposite symmetric leg portions 12 with substantially convex lower leg portions 30 and substantially concave upper leg or thigh portions 31, each leg portion 12 having a lateral connecting edge 4 and a medial connecting edge 5 destined to be connected along an internal side of the legs from the lower leg opening 13 defined by lower leg edges 32 to a crotch region 14, a trunk portion 22 having two opposite lateral symmetric concave edges constituted of a lower curved concave edge 6 and an upper straight edge 7 separated by a transition step which allows for the application of a zip 17,

- two opposite symmetric lateral cusps 32 defining the crotch region 14, formed by the convergence of the concave external edge 4 of the upper leg or thigh portion 31 and the lower curved concave edge 6 of the trunk portion 22,

- a chest portion 20 having a central chest part 33 and two lateral symmetric suspender parts 24, in which: - the chest part 33 comprises an upper concave throat edge 34 and two adjacent lateral neck connecting edges 8' , the suspender parts 24 comprise a lateral straight connecting edge 7 for the application of the zip 14 extending along the back, an upper neck connecting edge 8 to be connected with the lateral neck connecting edges 8' of the central chest part 33, a concave neck edge 38 formed between the lateral straight connecting edge 7 and the upper neck connecting edge 8 and a concave shoulder edge 39 facing towards the upper side of the sew paper pattern and formed between the upper neck connecting edge 8 of the suspender part 24 and the lateral neck connecting edge 8' of the chest part 33, so that the neck connecting edges 8', 8 of the chest part 33 and suspender parts 24 can be connected such that the shoulder edges 39 form a shoulder opening 19 and the neck and throat edges 38, 34 form a neck opening 18 of the outer shell 2 of swim suit 1. Figure 2A illustrates a sew paper pattern of an exemplary slip insert 40 adapted to be fixed inside the outer shell 2 of the swim suit in order to hide the nudity of the athlete which, due to the very tight and adhering configuration of the outer shell, could otherwise be imagined from the profile of the swim suit. Turning again to the muscle supporting areas, in accordance with an embodiment (fig.3, 4 and 5), the supporting areas comprise at each leg portion 12 two elongate, substantially triangular, lower leg supporting areas 41, 42 in the region of the lower leg front side and of the lower leg rear side. In the sew paper pattern, these areas are provided one laterally adjacent to the other in a lower leg portion 30 and separated by a stripe of stretchable base fabric. An upper base 43 of the lower leg frontal supporting area 41 is substantially concave (to provide free movement in the adjacent knee region 45) whereas an upper base 44 of the lower leg rear supporting area 42 is substantially convex to support and compress the soleus and gastocnemius muscles of the lower leg until close to the popliteal space.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the supporting areas comprise at each upper leg or thigh portion 31 a thigh supporting area 46 formed in the leg portion 12 of the single piece panel 3 in the thigh region. The thigh supporting area 46 is defined, in the sew paper pattern, by a lower edge 47 adjacent to the knee region 45, two opposite lateral edges 48 extending at a short distance from two connecting edges 4, 5 connected to each other at the inside of the thigh, a concave lateral upper edge 49 extending adjacent to a buttocks zone and a substantially straight medial upper edge 50 extending adjacent to an abdominal region. Advantageously, a medial portion of the lower edge 47 comprises e pronounced concavity above the frontal knee region 45 such as to assure free bending movement to the knee of the swimmer.

In this way, the thigh supporting area 46 is configured to support and hoop - compress the rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscle as well as the biceps femoris and adductor magnus muscle of the athlete.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the supporting areas comprise, in a transition zone between the leg portions 12 and the trunk portion 22, two buttocks supporting areas 51 defined by a convex lower edge 52 extending at a short distance from and approximately

(but not necessarily) parallel to the lateral upper edge

49 of the thigh supporting area 46, a concave upper edge

53 opposite the lower edge 52 and extending at a short distance from and parallel to the lower concave connecting edge 6 of the single piece fabric panel 3, destined to be connected with a corresponding opposite connecting edge 6 to form the above mentioned second (crotch - back rise) connecting seam 10. The buttocks supporting areas 51 are shaped such that they cover and support the gluteus muscles from a lateral and rear side .

In accordance with a further embodiment, the supporting areas comprise, in a lower part of the trunk portion 22 of the single piece fabric panel 3, an abdominal supporting area 54 having a substantially triangular shape with the apex close to the crotch zone and the larger basis in a medial intermedium or upper region of the abdomen. The abdominal supporting area 54 is configured to support and compress principally the rectus abdominis muscle of the swimmer.

In accordance with a yet further embodiment, the supporting areas further comprise, in the chest portion 20 of the single piece fabric panel 3, a single chest supporting area or a group of discrete chest supporting areas configured to support and compress the pectoralis major and the external abdominal oblique muscles. The group of chest supporting areas may comprise one medial area 55 having two opposite lateral concave edges 56 so that the width of medial chest support area 55 decreases from an upper and lower edge thereof towards a central region. The upper edge 57 of the medial chest supporting area 55 extends substantially parallel and close to a frontal edge of the neck opening 18 of the single piece fabric panel 3 and a lower edge 58 of the medial chest supporting area 55 extends substantially parallel with the upper edge of the abdominal supporting area 54. On both lateral sides of the medial chest supporting area 55 there is arranged a lateral chest supporting area 59 having an approximately rhomboidal shape with a medial edge 60 adjacent and parallel to the lateral edge 56 of the medial chest supporting area 55, an upper lateral edge 61 substantially parallel with an anterior edge of the shoulder opening 19 of the panel 3 and a substantially straight lower lateral edge 62 which can be aligned with the lateral edge of the abdominal supporting area 54.

In accordance with a further embodiment (e.g. figs. 6, 7 and 8), the group of chest support areas comprises only two lateral chest supporting areas 63, each having a concave upper edge 64 extending in the vicinity and approximately parallel to the frontal edge of the neck opening 18, a concave lateral edge 65 extending in the vicinity and approximately parallel to the anterior edge of the shoulder opening 19, a convex medial edge 66 and a convex lower edge 67 extending at least partially approximately parallel with an upper edge 69 of an abdominal support area 68. In this embodiment and also in other possible embodiments, the abdominal and anterior thigh supporting areas can be configured as one single continuous anterior thigh and abdominal supporting area 68 having e.g. a concave upper edge 69, approximately straight lateral edges 70 and a lower edge 71 with two straight lateral segments 72 and a concave segment 73 at the medial connecting edges 5 of the leg portions 12. Analogously, also the rear thigh supporting area can be connected with the buttocks supporting area to form one single continuous (with the exception of connecting seams and, if provided, a zip) rear thigh and buttocks supporting area 74, which can be obtained by two lateral supporting zones 75 (in the sew paper pattern) at approximately the same height of the anterior thigh and abdominal supporting area 68, which extend laterally until the lateral connecting edges 4 of the panel 3 such as to form, when the lateral connecting edges 4 are joint together, the above said continuous rear support area 68. Moreover, the two lateral supporting zones 75 can extend laterally and downward until the medial connecting edges 5 forming the inside leg connecting seams (first connecting seam 9) in order to form a continuous supporting area also with the above described anterior thigh and abdominal supporting area 68.

According to a preferred embodiment (fig. 9, 10) the muscle supporting areas comprise at each leg portion 12 two elongate, substantially triangular, lower leg supporting areas 41, 42 in the region of the lower leg front side and of the lower leg rear side. In the sew paper pattern, these areas are provided one laterally adjacent to the other in a lower leg portion 30 and separated by a stripe of stretchable base fabric. An upper base 43 of the lower leg frontal supporting area 41 is substantially concave (to provide free movement in the adjacent knee region 45) whereas an upper base 44 of the lower leg rear supporting area 42 is substantially straight to support and compress the soleus and gastocnemius muscles of the lower leg until close to the popliteal space but without interfering with the latter. The supporting areas may further comprise at each upper leg or thigh portion 31 a thigh supporting area 46 formed in the leg portion 12 of the single piece panel 3 in the thigh region. The thigh supporting area 46 is defined, in the sew paper pattern, by a lower edge 47 adjacent to the knee region 45, two opposite lateral edges 48 extending at a short distance from two connecting edges 4, 5 connected to each other at the inside of the thigh, a concave lateral upper edge 49 extending adjacent to a buttocks zone and a substantially straight medial upper edge 50 extending adjacent to an abdominal region. Advantageously, a medial portion of the lower edge 47 comprises e concavity above the frontal knee region 45 such as to assure free bending movement to the knee of the swimmer. In this way, the thigh supporting area 46 is configured to support and hoop - compress the rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscle as well as the biceps femoris and adductor magnus muscle of the athlete. In accordance with a further embodiment, the supporting areas comprise, in a transition zone between the leg portions 12 and the trunk portion 22, two buttocks supporting areas 51 defined by a convex curved internal edge 52', the lower portion thereof extending at a short distance from and approximately (but not necessarily) parallel to the lateral upper edge 49 of the thigh supporting area 46, a concave curved external edge 53' opposite the internal edge 52' and extending at a short distance from and parallel to the lower concave connecting edge 6 of the single piece fabric panel 3, destined to be connected with a corresponding opposite connecting edge 6 to form the above mentioned second (crotch - back rise) connecting seam 10. The concave curved external edge 53' and the convex curved internal edge 52' converge at an upper junction point and at a lower junction point to give the buttocks supporting area 51 a substantially halve moon shape. The buttocks supporting areas 51 are shaped such that they cover and support the gluteus muscles from a lateral and rear side .

The supporting areas may further comprise, in an anteriour part of the trunk portion 22 of the single piece fabric panel 3, an abdominal-chest supporting area 54' having a lower zone with a substantially rhomboidal shape with the lower apex close to the crotch zone and the upper apex in a medial chest region and an upper narrow stripe 55' extending from the upper apex of the rhomboidal lower zone between two chest supporting areas which will be described below. The abdominal-chest supporting area 54' is configured to support and compress principally the rectus abdominis muscle of the swimmer and, secondarily, it's medial chest region. The supporting areas may further comprise, in the chest portion 20 of the single piece fabric panel 3, a group of discrete chest supporting areas configured to support and compress the pectoralis major and the external abdominal oblique muscles. On both lateral sides of the upper stripe 55' of the abdominal-chest supporting area 54' there is arranged a lateral chest supporting area 59 having an approximately rhomboidal shape with a medial edge 60 adjacent and parallel to a lateral edge 56 of the upper stripe 55' , an upper lateral edge 61 substantially parallel with an anterior edge of the shoulder opening 19 of the panel 3 and a substantially straight lower lateral edge 62 which may but need not be aligned with the lateral edge of the lower zone of the abdominal-chest supporting area 54' . A further external chest supporting area 76 may be provided on both sides of the swim suit between the lateral chest supporting area 59 and the upper edge of the buttocks supporting area 51 in order to compress and support the external abdominal oblique muscles. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the swim suit according to the present invention contributes to a better hydrodynamic performance (glide) of the swimmer, provides a quasi perfect "second skin" feeling and obtains improved muscle support and compression, thereby preventing muscle totter and accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles of the athlete during training and competitions.

Last but not least, the swim suit according to the invention can be produced in a cost-effective and material saving manner. While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications may readily appear to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Swim suit (1), particularly for competition swimming, comprising an outer shell (2) suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk and of the legs of a swimmer, wherein the outer shell (2) is made of a single continuous panel (3) of elastically stretchable fabric, said single piece panel (3) comprising connecting edges (4, 5, 6, 8, 8') which are connected to one another along connecting seams (9, 10, 11) to form said outer shell 2.

2. Swim suit (1) according to claim 1, wherein:

- a first connecting seam (9) extends along the internal side of two leg portions (12) from a bottom aperture (13) of a first leg portion through a crotch region (14) to a bottom aperture (13) of a second leg portion and

- a second connecting seam (10) extends from a first junction point (15) with the first seam (9) in said crotch region (14) along the back rise to a second junction point (16) at the back and - third connecting seams (11) are provided to join adjacent connecting edges (8', 8) of respectively two suspender portions (24) on an upper shoulder region of said outer shell (2), said third connecting seams (11) extending from opposite lateral external points of a neck opening (18) to upper points of shoulder openings (19) of the outer shell (2) .

3. Swim suit (1) according to claim 2, wherein said outer shell (2) is reversibly closable in the region of the upper back by a zip (17) which extends from said second junction point (16) of the second connecting seam (10) upward between shoulder blade regions to said neck aperture (18) of outer shell (2) .

4. Swim suit (1) according to claim 3, wherein an entire frontal side of said outer shell (2) is substantially free from any connecting seams.

5. Swim suit (1) according to claim 4, wherein the entire frontal side together with both external lateral sides are completely free from any connecting seams.

6. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting seams (9, 10, 11) comprise seams selected from the group including:

- bonded, e.g. glued or heat sealed seams,

- multiple, preferably quadruple, stitched seams.

7. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein edges of two leg openings (13), shoulder openings (19) and a neck opening (18) are stabilized by means of circumferential stabilizing seams (25) , selected in the group comprising:

- multiple, preferably triple, stitched seams, - bonded, e.g. glued or heat sealed seams.

8. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said outer shell (2) comprises discrete muscle supporting areas having a higher stiffness than the surrounding base material, such that in said discrete muscle supporting areas, the outer shell (2) can apply an increased supporting and compressive force on the swimmer's muscles.

9. Swim suit (1) according to claim 8, wherein in said muscle supporting areas a stiffening coating (27) is applied on the fabric of said single piece panel (3) .

10. Swim suit (1) according to claim 8, wherein in said muscle supporting areas an internal lining (28) of panels of fabric is applied on the fabric of said single piece panel (3) .

11. Swim suit (1) according to claim 8, wherein said discrete supporting areas are separated by movement enabling regions (29) of the stretchable basic fabric of the single piece panel (3) .

12. Swim suit (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein said muscle supporting areas comprise:

- at each leg portion (12) two elongate, substantially triangular, lower leg supporting areas (41, 42) in the region of the lower leg front side and of the lower leg rear side. - at each upper leg portion (31) a thigh supporting area (46) formed on the single piece panel (3) in the thigh region, wherein a medial portion of a lower edge (47) of the thigh supporting area (46) comprises e pronounced concavity above a frontal knee region (45) and an upper edge of said lower leg frontal supporting area (41) comprise a concavity, such as to assure free bending movement to the knee of the swimmer.

13. Swim suit (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein said muscle supporting areas comprise, in a transition zone between the leg portions (12) and a trunk portion (22), two buttocks supporting areas (51) shaped such that they cover and support the gluteus muscles from a lateral and rear side.

14. Swim suit (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein said muscle supporting areas comprise, in an anterior part of the trunk portion (22) of the single piece fabric panel (3) , an abdominal-chest supporting area (54') having a lower zone with a substantially rhomboidal shape with the lower apex close to the crotch zone and the upper apex in a medial chest region and an upper narrow stripe (55' ) extending from the upper apex of the rhomboidal lower zone between two chest supporting areas such as to support and compress principally the rectus abdominis muscle of the swimmer.

15. Swim suit (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein, in a chest portion (20) of the single piece fabric panel (3) , a group of discrete chest supporting areas configured to support and compress the pectoralis major muscle.

16. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a sew paper pattern of said single piece fabric panel (3) is axial-symmetric and comprises: two opposite symmetric leg portions (12) with substantially convex lower leg portions (30) and substantially concave upper leg or thigh portions (31), each leg portion (12) having a lateral connecting edge (4) and a medial connecting edge (5) destined to be connected along an internal side of the legs from the lower leg opening (13) defined by lower leg edges (32) to a crotch region (14), a trunk portion (22) having two opposite lateral symmetric concave edges constituted of a lower curved concave edge (6) and an upper straight edge (7) separated by a transition step which allows for the application of a zip (17),

- two opposite symmetric lateral cusps (32) defining said crotch region (14), formed by the convergence of the concave external edge (4) of an upper leg or thigh portion (31) and the lower curved concave edge (6) of the trunk portion (22),

- a chest portion (20) having a central chest part (33) and two lateral symmetric suspender parts (24), in which: - the chest part (33) comprises an upper concave throat edge (34) and two adjacent lateral neck connecting edges (8'), the suspender parts (24) comprise a lateral straight connecting edge (7) for the application of the zip (17) extending along the back, an upper neck connecting edge (8) to be connected with the lateral neck connecting edges (8') of the central chest part (33), a concave neck edge (38) formed between the lateral straight connecting edge (7) and the upper neck connecting edge (8) and a concave shoulder edge (39) facing towards an upper side of the sew paper pattern and formed between the upper neck connecting edge (8) of the suspender part (24) and the lateral neck connecting edge (8') of the chest part (33), so that the neck connecting edges (8', 8) of chest part (33) and suspender parts (24) can be connected such that the shoulder edges (39) form a shoulder opening (19) and the neck and throat edges (38, 34) form a neck opening (18) of the outer shell (2) of swim suit (1) .