Resistance-applying garment, connector for use in garment, and method of forming garment

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to improvement of athletic performance through improved application of increased resistance to muscular action and, more particularly, is related to a resistance-applying garment having a plurality of connectors and a method of forming the garment to productively fit an arm, a leg and/or a torso of a user's body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pursuit of improved athletic performance often involves the precise application of increased resistance to muscular action of selected parts of a user's body. Various garments have been devised heretofore that utilize elastic or resilient elements to provide resistance to an activity that requires swinging or bending of limbs and/or torso of the user's body. Typically, such elastic elements are elastic cords, bands or straps that are separate from the remainder of the garment or are integral with the garment.

Garments utilizing these elastic elements separate from the remainder of the garment only offer generalized external resistance that ordinarily will interfere with rather than enhance precise athletic performance. Garments utilizing these elastic elements integral with the garment have incorporated them in intertwined weaves that are complex to manufacture and assemble and create pressure points on muscles that with time and repeated motion will create discomfort and have deleterious effects.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a garment construction that will overcome these deficiencies of the known art and the problems that remain unsolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the known art and the problems that remain unsolved by providing a resistance-applying garment, a connector for use in forming the garment, and a method of forming the garment to tailor the garment to productively fit the arms, legs and/or torso of a user's body so as to increase resistance of any athletic or work-out activity in multiple simultaneously acting planes. The garment is constructed to add resistance through the arms, legs and/or torso without preferentially over- or under-using any muscle or group, which could disrupt the timing of resistance to the body part. The garment actually permits tailoring simultaneously in three ways: weight, air resistance and elastic resistance. The resistance-applying garment of the present invention thereby enables the successful pursuit of improved athletic performance through the precise application of increased resistance uniformly to muscular action of selected parts of the user's body.

In one aspect of the present invention, a resistance-applying garment includes:

• • a line of elastic material arranged in a zigzag pattern; and
  • a plurality of connectors connecting side-by-side pairs of portions of the line of elastic material so as to form an assembled tubular mesh netting structure having an endless sidewall and open opposite ends in which none of the portions of the line of elastic material cross over one another and the connectors are disposed about the exterior of the endless sidewall.

In another aspect of the present invention, a resistance-applying garment includes:

• • a tubular body having a circumference and a height extending in a transverse relationship to the circumference, the tubular body being formed by:
    • at least one line of elastic material arranged in a zigzag pattern so as to define a succession of elongated line portions and a succession of looped line portions between the elongated line portions such that the elongated line portions are oriented side-by-side to one another extending along the height of the tubular body and the looped line portions are oriented side-by-side to one another in two opposing rows spaced apart by the elongated line portions and extending about the circumference of the tubular body such that the looped line portions in one of the rows are in staggered relationship to the looped line portions in the other of the rows; and
    • a plurality of connectors connecting side-by-side pairs of the elongated line portions at multiple spaced locations thereon along the height of the tubular body so as to orient each of the elongated line portions in a sinuous pattern such that the looped line portions, and the pairs of elongated line portions connected by the connectors, provide the tubular body in the form of an assembled tubular mesh netting structure having an endless sidewall and open opposite ends in which none of the elongated line portions cross over one another, none of the looped line portions cross over one another and the connectors are disposed about the exterior of the endless sidewall.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming a resistance-applying garment includes the steps of:

• • arranging at least one line of elastic material laid out in a substantially zigzag pattern so as to define a succession of elongated line portions and a succession of looped line portions between the elongated line portions such that the elongated line portions are oriented side-by-side to one another, the looped line portions are oriented side-by-side to one another in two opposing rows spaced apart by the elongated line portions, and the looped portions in one of the rows are in a staggered relationship to the looped portions in the other of the rows;
  • connecting side-by-side elongated line portions to one another in pairs at multiple spaced locations thereon so as to orient each of the elongated line portions in a sinuous pattern such that the looped line portions and the connected pairs of elongated line portions provide a partially assembled mesh netting structure in which none of the elongated line portions and looped line portions cross over one another;
  • rolling the partially assembled mesh netting structure into a tubular body having a circumference and a height extending in a transverse relationship to the circumference such that the elongated line portions lie along the height of the tubular body, the rows of looped line portions lie about the circumference of the tubular body, and each of an opposite end pair of the elongated line portions of the tubular body remain unconnected to one another; and
  • connecting the opposite end pair of the elongated line portions at multiple locations spaced thereon to provide the tubular body in the form of an assembled tubular mesh netting structure having an endless sidewall and open opposite ends in which none of the elongated line portions cross over one another and none of the looped line portions cross over one another.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a connector for connecting a pair of elongated portions of an elastic line arranged in a zigzag pattern in a garment includes:

• • a connector body having top and bottom sides, front and rear faces, a pair of opposite outer end portions, and an inner middle portion disposed between and spaced from the outer end portions, the inner middle portion and outer end portions also disposed between the top and bottom sides and the front and rear faces; and
  • a pair of arcuate surfaces defined between the opposite outer end portions and the inner middle portion, the pair of arcuate surfaces defining a pair of passageways extending through the connector body between the front and rear faces thereof and spaced from the top side and having respective openings at the bottom side of the connector body through which each of a pair of elongated portions of an elastic line can be received and removably retained in the passageways;
  • wherein opposite ends of the top side of the connector body are configured for gripping the connector to assist in engaging the connector upon, and removing the connector from, the pair of elongated portions of the elastic line.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 presents a front isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a resistance-applying garment in the form of an assembled tubular mesh netting structure having an endless sidewall and open opposite ends;

FIG. 2 presents a foreshortened side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a line of elastic material that can be employed to form the garment originally introduced in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 presents an enlarged isometric view of a fragmentary portion of the line of elastic material of FIG. 2, showing a cross-section thereof taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 presents an enlarged isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a connector of a plurality thereof employed in the garment originally introduced in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 presents an enlarged sectional view of a fragmentary portion of the garment originally introduced in FIG. 1, showing side-by-side portions of the line of elastic material connected by the connector of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 presents a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of forming the garment originally introduced in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 presents a front elevation view of the line of elastic material of FIG. 2, laid out in a substantially zigzag pattern during performance of the method of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 presents a front isometric view of the garment in a partially assembled form during performance of the method of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 presents a front isometric view of the partially assembled form of the garment rolled into a tubular body during the performance of the method of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 presents a front isometric view of the garment originally introduced in FIG. 1, illustrating the garment being worn on a leg of a user;

FIG. 11 presents a front isometric view of the garment originally introduced in FIG. 1, illustrating the garment being worn on an arm of a user;

FIG. 12 presents a front isometric view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a resistance-applying garment, illustrating the garment being worn on a torso of a user; and

FIG. 13 presents an isometric view of another exemplary embodiment of a resistance-applying garment constructed from two of the partially assembled structure shown in FIG. 8.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

An exemplary embodiment of a resistance-applying garment 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. At least one line 102 of elastic material (hereinafter termed “elastic line”) and a plurality of connectors 104 are employed in forming the garment 100, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The garment 100, the elastic line 102, and the connector 104 constitute aspects of the present invention.

The garment 100 utilizes only one elastic line 102 in an overall arrangement of a tubular body 106 having a circumference 108 and a height 110 extending in a transverse relationship to the circumference 108, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The single elastic line 102 of a given length end to end (being not connected to one another) is shown in FIG. 2 prior to being formed into the pattern it assumes in the tubular body 106. The term “line of elastic material” or “elastic line” is used herein in a generic sense to encompass other more specific terms, such as an elastic string, cord, rope, cable, band, etc. The elastic line 102 may have a substantially rounded configuration in cross-section, such as a circular or oval-shaped cross-sectional configuration, as seen in FIG. 3. The construction of the elastic line 102 may include an inner elastic core 112 and an outer protective casing or sheath 114, such as an inner rubber band and an outer casing as in the case of an ordinary bungee cord or rope. The outer casing may be made of any suitable material, such as nylon, cotton, rayon, polypropaline, and polyster, by way of example but not of limitation. The outer sheath 114 may have a woven tubular construction which accommodates stretching or elongating of the inner core 112. The thickness and elastic modulus of the elastic line 102 will vary depending upon the elasticity of the garment 100 that is desired. By way of example but not of limitation, the selected thickness of the elastic line 102 may range from about 6 mm to 14 mm.

The elastic line 102 in the tubular body 106 is arranged in a serpentine or zigzag pattern, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In such pattern, the elastic line 102 defines a succession of elongated line portions 116 and a succession of looped line portions 118 between the elongated line portions 116. The elongated line portions 116 are oriented side-by-side to one another extending along the height 110 of the tubular body 106. The looped line portions 118 are oriented side-by-side to one another in two opposing rows 120, 121 spaced apart by the elongated line portions 116 and extending about the circumference 108 of the tubular body 106 such that the looped line portions 118 in one of the rows 120 are in staggered relationship to the looped line portions 118 in the other of the rows 121.

The connectors 104 respectively connect side-by-side pairs of the elongated line portions 116 of the elastic line 102 at multiple spaced locations thereon, for example four in number, along the height 110 of the tubular body 106 so as to orient each of the elongated line portions 116 in a sinuous (undulating, wavy or winding) pattern. The looped line portions 118, and the pairs of elongated line portions 116 connected by the connectors 104, provide the tubular body 106 in the form of an assembled tubular mesh netting structure having an endless sidewall and open opposite ends in which none of the elongated line portions 116 cross over one another, none of the looped line portions 118 cross over one another, and the connectors 104 are disposed about the exterior of the endless sidewall. (The assembled tubular mesh netting structure of the tubular body 106 forms the endless sidewall notwithstanding that the two opposite ends of the elastic line 102 do not connect with one another as can be seen in FIG. 9 in view that the elastic line 102 is not a continuous loop.)

Each connector 104 is constructed to include a connector body 122 having top and bottom sides 124, 126, front and back faces 128, 130, a pair of opposite outer end portions 132, 134, and an inner middle portion 136 disposed between and spaced from the opposite outer end portions 132, 134, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The outer end portions 132, 134 and inner middle portion 136 are also disposed between the top and bottom sides 124, 126 and front and back faces 128, 130. Each of the outer end portions 132, 134 together with the inner middle portion 136 have mirror-imaged arch-shaped configurations defining a pair of arcuate surfaces 138, 140 substantially identical to one another in a spaced side-by-side relationship with one another within the connector body 122. Thus, the arcuate surfaces 138, 140 are disposed between the outer end portions 132, 134 and the inner middle portion 136, thereby being separated only by the inner middle portion 136 of the connector body 122. The pair of arcuate surfaces 138, 140, in turn, define a pair of passageways 142, 144 extending through the connector body 122 between the front and rear faces 128, 130 thereof. The passageways 142, 144 are spaced from the top side 124 of the connector body 122 and have respective openings 142A, 144A at the bottom side 126 of the connector body 122 through which each of a pair of the elongated line portions 116 of the elastic line 102 is received and removably retained in the passageways 142, 144. Each of the arcuate surfaces 138, 140, in defining one of the passageways 142, 144, circumscribes a portion of cylinder within a range of from about 220° to 250° and thereby with a diameter greater than the breadth of each of the openings 142A, 144A for engaging and retaining each of the pair of elongated line portions 116 of the elastic line 102 therein. The connector body 122 at the bottom side 126 thereof defines substantially flat co-planar surfaces 146, 148, 150 on the respective outer end portions 132, 134 and the inner middle portion 166, the surfaces 146, 148, 150 thereby being spaced from one another by the openings 142A, 144A of the passageways 142, 144. The connector body 122 at the top side 124 thereof defines a substantially flat surface 152 and a pair of oppositely protruding lips 154, 156 formed thereon at the opposite ends of the flat surface 152 on the top side 124. The lips 154, 156 are provided for gripping the connector 104 to assist in engaging the connector 104 upon and removing it from the pair of elongated line portions 116 of the elastic line 102. Alternatively, the surfaces 146, 148, 150, 152 may be more rounded than flat so as to avoid providing sharp edges on the connector 104. Also, the connector 104 may be made of any suitable material, such as by way of example but not of limitation a suitable plastic, and manufactured using any conventional technique such as molding.

One side-by-side pair of the elongated line portions 116 of the elastic line 102 at corresponding locations thereof are shown tightly captured within the respective passageways 142, 144 of, and thereby connected by, the connector 104, as illustrated in FIG. 5. When each of the connectors 104 is in its connecting relationship with the one side-by-side pair of the elongated line portions 116 of the elastic line 102, small portions 116A of the elastic line 102 still protrude through the openings 142A, 144A of the passageways 142, 144 away from the connector 104 a sufficient distance to make contact with a surface of a wearer and at the same time to space the surfaces 140, 142, 144 on the bottom side of the connector 104 away from the skin surface of the wearer or the surface of an article of clothing on the wearer over which the garment 100 is worn.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a flow diagram 200 which shows the steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method of forming the garment 100. As per block 202 of the diagram 200, the elastic line 102 of FIG. 2 is arranged into a substantially zigzag pattern, as shown in FIG. 7, in which the elongated line portions 116 are oriented side-by-side to one another and the looped line portions 118 are oriented side-by-side to one another in two opposing rows 120, 121, being spaced apart by the elongated line portions 116. As can be readily observed in FIG. 7, the looped line portions 118 in one of the rows 120 are in a staggered relationship to the looped line portions 118 in the other of the rows 121. As per block 204 of the diagram 200, either contemporaneously with or following after the arrangement of the elastic line 102 in the zigzag pattern of FIG. 7, by using the connectors 104 the side-by-side elongated line portions 116 are connected to one another in pairs at the multiple spaced locations thereon so as to orient each of the elongated line portions 116 into a sinuous pattern. The looped line portions 118, together with the pairs of elongated line portions 116 connected by the connectors 104, provide a partially assembled mesh netting structure, as shown in FIG. 8, in which none of the elongated line portions 116 cross over one another and none of the looped line portions 118 cross over one another. As per block 206 of the diagram 200, either contemporaneously with or following after the connection of the side-by-side line portions 116 in pairs thereof as shown in FIG. 8, the partially assembled mesh netting structure of FIG. 8 is rolled into the configuration of the tubular body 106 shown in FIG. 9 wherein the elongated line portions 116 lie along the height 110 of the tubular body 106, the rows 120, 121 of the looped line portions 118 lie about the circumference 108 of the tubular body 106, and each of an opposite end pair of elongated line portions 116B of the tubular body 106 remain unconnected to one another. As per block 208 of the diagram 200, lastly, the unconnected opposite end pair of elongated line portions 116A are connected together by the connectors 104 at the multiple locations spaced thereon to provide the tubular body 106 in the form of the assembled tubular mesh netting structure of FIG. 1, having an endless sidewall and open opposite ends in which none of the elongated line portions cross over one another, none of the looped line portions cross over one another and the connectors 104 are disposed about the exterior of the endless sidewall.

Referring to FIGS. 10-13, the garment 100 in FIGS. 10 and 11 is respectively shown worn on, or about, a leg of a wearer and on, or about, an arm of a wearer. Depending upon the comparative circumference sizes of the lower leg and the forearm of the wearer, the garment 100 may utilize an elastic line 102 having the same or different lengths depending on which application it is to be used for. Alternatively, a garment 300 can be worn on, or about, a torso of the wearer, as illustrated in FIG. 12. It is readily apparent that the torso is greater in circumference size compared to either the lower leg or forearm; thus, the garment 300 utilizes an elastic line 102 of greater length, or utilizes several elastic lines 102 forming several partially assembled mesh netting structures as shown in FIG. 8, to form the garment 400 in the manner shown in FIG. 13.

In summary, as mentioned earlier, the garment 100 actually permits tailoring simultaneously in three ways to improve athletic performance during training: weight, air resistance and elastic resistance. First, the garment 100 provides the desired additional weight, uniformly distributed, over the body part, which will increase proximal muscle demand and therefore more resistance to those proximal muscles. Second, during fast moving athletic activities like running or biking, the garment 100 adds wind resistance or drag on the extremity in any plane of motion. Third, the garment 100 provides elastic resistance to muscles of the body part in all directions of movement, which resists muscle thickening during contraction while not interfering with performance of any sport. Finally, the garment 100 embraces the concept of exercise specificity, in that the closer the workout, while using the garment properly applied to the particular body part, represents the particular athletic activity the better the results attained.

The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.