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US 11,969,031 B2Granted
Hybrid article of apparel
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorJohn Luong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid article of apparel is provided. The article comprises a form-fitting inner layer and a looser, more freely-fitting outer layer joined together at various locations to provide an aerodynamic article with improved modesty, among other benefits.
Claims10
An article of apparel, comprising:
- a first layer comprising at least a first form-fitting leg portion and a second form-fitting leg portion that together define a pair of tights,
- the first form-fitting leg portion adapted to encompass a first leg of a wearer when in an as-worn configuration,
- the second form-fitting leg portion adapted to encompass a second leg of the wearer when in the as-worn configuration;
- and
- a second layer comprising a first front panel, a second front panel, a first back panel, and a second back panel,
- the first front panel and the second front panel coupled along an anterior midline of the article of apparel, wherein the first front panel and the second front panel together comprise a first panel portion,
- the first back panel and the second back panel coupled along a posterior midline of the article of apparel, wherein the first back panel and the second back panel together comprise a second panel portion,
- the first panel portion and the second panel portion directly coupled between the first form-fitting leg portion and the second form-fitting leg portion thereby forming at least in part a pair of shorts having a first leg opening and a second leg opening, the first leg opening circumscribing at least a front, a back, and a medial side of the first form-fitting leg portion, and the second leg opening circumscribing at least a front, a back, and a medial side of the second form-fitting leg portion,
- a first edge of the first panel portion secured to the first layer at a first location in a first lateral area of the first form-fitting leg portion of the first layer,
- a first edge of the second panel portion secured to the first layer at least at a second location in the first lateral area such that a first gap is formed between the first panel portion and the second panel portion in the first lateral area, wherein the first layer is exposed in the first gap,
- a second edge of the first panel portion secured to the first layer at a first location in a second lateral area of the second form-fitting leg portion of the first layer,
- a second edge of the second panel portion secured to the first layer at a second location in the second lateral area of the second form-fitting leg portion of the first layer such that a second gap is formed between the first panel portion and the second panel portion in the second lateral area, wherein the first layer is exposed in the second gap,
- wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel comprises an upper margin terminating at a waistband of the article of apparel,
- wherein the first panel portion and the second panel portion are coupled together with a crotch seam, and
- wherein the first form fitting leg portion and the second form-fitting leg portion each comprise a stretch characteristic.
12 more elements
A method of manufacturing an article of apparel, the method comprising:
- forming a first layer comprising a first form-fitting leg portion and a second form-fitting leg portion that together define a pair of tights,
- the first form-fitting leg portion adapted to encompass a first leg of a wearer when in an as-worn configuration, and
- the second form-fitting leg portion adapted to encompass a second leg of the wearer when in the as-worn configuration;
- forming a first panel portion by coupling a first front panel to a second front panel along an anterior midline, the first panel portion having at least a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite to the first lateral edge;
- forming a second panel portion by coupling a first back panel to a second back panel along a posterior midline, the second panel portion having at least a third lateral edge and a fourth lateral edge opposite to the third lateral edge;
- coupling the first lateral edge of the first panel portion and the third lateral edge of the second panel portion to a first lateral area of the first form-fitting leg portion such that the first form-fitting leg portion is exposed in a first gap between the first lateral edge and the third lateral edge;
- coupling the second lateral edge of the first panel portion and the fourth lateral edge of the second panel portion to a second lateral area of the second form-fitting leg portion such that the second form-fitting leg portion is exposed in a second gap between the second lateral edge and the fourth lateral edge;
- coupling each of the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel to a waistband of the article of apparel such that upper margins of each of the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel terminate at the waistband;
- and
- coupling the first panel portion to the second panel portion between the first form-fitting leg portion and the second form-fitting leg portion by forming a crotch seam, thereby forming at least in part a pair of shorts having a first leg opening and a second leg opening, the first leg opening circumscribing at least a front, a back, and a medial side of the first form-fitting leg portion, and the second leg opening circumscribing at least a front, a back, and a medial side of the second form-fitting leg portion,
- wherein the first form fitting leg portion and the second form-fitting leg portion each comprise a stretch characteristic.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.