# US 2017/0280792 A1 · Aquatic sport performance garment with arms-up construction and method of making same

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2017/0280792 A1
- Document ID: US20170280792A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/471,895
- Filed: 2017-03-28
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30
- Assignees: Roka Sports, Inc.
- Applicants: ROKA Sports, Inc.
- Inventors: Kurt R. SPENSER; Robert A. CANALES; Mark C. STEPHENS; Nathan TRACY
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280792A1

## CPC

- A41D 13/012: for aquatic activities, e.g. with buoyancy aids
- A41D 7/00: Bathing gowns; Swim-suits, drawers, or trunks; Beach suits
- A41D 13/0015: {Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088}
- A41D 27/02: Linings
- A41D 27/10: Sleeves; Armholes
- A41D 27/18: Cloth collars
- A41D 31/00: Materials specially adapted for outerwear
- A41D 31/04: characterised by special function or use (protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes A62B17/00; composition of materials for coverings or clothing affording protection against harmful chemical agents A62D5/00)
- A41D 31/18: Elastic
- B63C 11/04: Resilient suits
- A41D 2400/24: Reducing drag or turbulence in air or water
- A41D 2500/52: in sheet form
- A41D 2600/10: for sport activities
- B63C 2011/046: {Wet suits, or diving vests; Equipment therefor}
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52)

## Abstract

An aquatic sport performance garment configured to improve a user's performance, enhance a user's speed and ease with which the wearer moves through water, provide better control of body temperature in diverse environments and reduce overall fatigue while wearing the garment. A garment having an upper-torso portion, a free-floating, sealing collar and sleeves biased in an arms-up configuration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aquatic sports performance garment comprising:
an upper torso portion comprising;
an aquatic sports performance garment material;
a left sleeve portion having a left shoulder region, a left armpit region and a left sleeve outer edge;
a right sleeve portion having a right shoulder region, a right armpit region and a right sleeve outer edge;
a neck region comprising a single free-floating flexible collar with a neck opening;
wherein the aquatic garment material in the left shoulder region, the left armpit region, the right shoulder region, the right armpit region comprises a multi-directional liner having a multi-directional flexibility configured to reduce fatigue of a user,
wherein the left sleeve portion of the garment is biased in an arms-up configuration, such that the left sleeve outer edge extends out generally anteriorly from a coronal plane of the garment at an angular range from about −15.0° to at least about +100.0° relative to a transverse plane transecting the upper torso at or about a top of the left shoulder region and a top of the right shoulder region, and wherein the left sleeve portion of the garment is further positioned approximately parallel to a sagittal plane of the garment, when the garment material is at rest, prior to being worn by the user,
wherein the right sleeve portion of the garment is biased in an arms-up configuration, such that the right sleeve outer edge extends out generally anteriorly from the coronal plane of the garment at an angular range from about −15.0° to at least about +100.0° relative to the transverse plane, and wherein the right sleeve portion of the garment is further positioned approximately parallel to the sagittal plane of the garment, when the garment material is at rest, prior to being worn by the user, and
wherein the collar portion comprises a multi-directional liner in the aquatic garment material that is patterned and configured to move with and improve flexibility in the left shoulder region, left armpit region, right shoulder region and right armpit region, and
wherein the single free-floating flexible collar comprises flexible garment material configured to seal around a neck of the user to reduce or prevent water from entering the garment through the neck opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, wherein the garment material in the left shoulder region, left armpit region, right shoulder region and right armpit region comprises a material thickness from about 0.5 mm to about 7.0 mm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, wherein the garment material in the left shoulder region, left armpit region, right shoulder region and right armpit region comprises a modulus of elasticity from 0.31 kg/cm2 at 50% elongation to 4.14 kg/cm2 at 300% elongation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, wherein the upper torso portion further comprises:
a chest (pectoralis) region;
an upper back (trapezius) region;
an upper (latissimus dorsi) region,
an abdominal region;
a lateral oblique (oblique abdominal) region; and
a mid-to-low back (thoraco-lumbar) region.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 4, wherein the chest (pectoralis) region, and upper back (trapezius) region further comprise a material thickness from about 1.0 mm to about 7.0 mm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 4, wherein the abdominal region, the lateral oblique (oblique abdominal) region or the mid-to-low back (thoraco-lumbar) region further comprise a material thickness from about 1.0 mm to about 7.0 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 4, wherein the garment material of the upper back (trapezius) region; the upper (latissimus dorsi) region, the chest (pectoralis) region; the abdominal region; or the mid-to-low back (thoraco-lumbar) region comprises an embedded liner that inhibits elongation of the garment material therein more than the garment material in the left shoulder region, the left armpit region, the right shoulder region or the right armpit region.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, wherein the left sleeve portion and the right sleeve portion comprise:
short sleeves terminating between an elbow and a biceps region; or
long sleeves terminating between an elbow and a wrist.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, further comprising:
a lower torso portion having an aquatic sports performance garment material, the lower torso portion comprising
a waist region,
a pelvic girdle region, including a crotch region; and
a left leg portion and a right leg portion below the crotch region.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, wherein the garment material of the left shoulder region, the left armpit region, the right shoulder region and the right armpit region comprises multi-directional elasticity comprising elongation having a range from:
about 50% to about 400%;
about 100% to about 350%;
about 100% to about 300%;
about 100% to about 250%;
about 100% to about 200%; or
about 100% to about 150%.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 10, wherein the left leg portion and the right leg portion comprise:
a short leg portion terminating at or above a knee; or
a long leg portion extending below the knee.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The wetsuit of claim 8, wherein the left sleeve portion and the right sleeve portion have material thicknesses in a range comprising:
about 0.5 mm to about 7.0 mm;
about 1.0 mm to about 6.0 mm;
about 1.0 mm to about 5.0 mm;
about 1.0 mm to about 4.0 mm;
about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm;
about 1.0 mm to about 2.0 mm;
about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm;
about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm;
about 1.0 mm to about 1.5 mm; or
about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 7, wherein the material for constructing the upper back (trapezius) region comprises multi-directional elasticity comprising elongation having a range from:
about 50% to about 400%;
about 100% to about 350%;
about 100% to about 300%;
about 100% to about 250%;
about 100% to about 200%; or
about 100% to about 150%.

### Claim 15 (depends on 4)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 4, wherein the material for constructing the upper (latissimus dorsi) region, the chest (pectoralis) region, the abdominal region, the lateral oblique region or the mid-to-low back (thoraco-lumbar) region comprises uni-directional elasticity comprising elongation having a range from:
about 50% to about 400%;
about 100% to about 350%;
about 100% to about 300%;
about 100% to about 250%;
about 100% to about 200%; or
about 100% to about 150%.

### Claim 16 (depends on 4)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 4, wherein the material for constructing the upper (latissimus dorsi) region, the chest (pectoralis) region, the abdominal region, the lateral oblique region or the mid-to-low back (thoraco-lumbar) region comprises multi-directional elasticity comprising elongation having a range from:
about 50% to about 400%;
about 100% to about 350%;
about 100% to about 300%;
about 100% to about 250%;
about 100% to about 200%; or
about 100% to about 150%.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, wherein the aquatic sports performance garment material comprises:
neoprene;
a rubber;
a nylon;
a polyester;
a polypropylene;
Lycra; or
Spandex.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, further comprising a quick opening feature;
wherein the quick opening feature is positioned;
on an anterior aspect of the garment;
on a lateral aspect of the garment; or
on a posterior aspect of the garment; and
wherein the quick opening feature comprises:
a zipper;
a Velcro attachment
a hook;
a loop;
a rail, or
a lip.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The aquatic sports performance garment of claim 1, wherein the aquatic sports performance garment material comprises a configurable embedded liner that limits the percentage and direction of elongation of the garment material,
wherein the percentage of elongation of the garment materials is from at least 50% at least 400%, and
wherein the direction of elongation of the garment materials is either uni-direction or multi-directional.

### Claim 20

A method of manufacturing an aquatic sports performance garment comprising:
providing an aquatic sports performance material;
patterning an upper torso portion comprising;
a neck region;
a chest (pectoralis) region;
an upper back (trapezius) region;
an upper (latissimus dorsi) region,
an abdominal region;
a lateral oblique (oblique abdominal) region; and
a mid-to-low back (thoraco-lumbar) region;
wherein the neck region comprises a single free-floating flexible collar with a neck opening,
patterning a left sleeve portion having a left shoulder region, a left armpit region and a left sleeve outer edge;
patterning a right sleeve portion having a right shoulder region, a right armpit region, and a right sleeve outer edge;
wherein the aquatic garment material in the left shoulder region, the left armpit region, the right shoulder region, the right armpit region comprises a multi-directional liner having a multi-directional flexibility configured to reduce shoulder fatigue of a user,
wherein the left sleeve portion of the garment is biased in an arms-up configuration, such that the left sleeve outer edge extends out generally anteriorly from a coronal plane of the garment at an angular range from about −15.0° to about +100.0° relative to a transverse plane transecting the upper torso at or about a top of the left shoulder region and a top of the right shoulder region, and wherein the left sleeve portion of the garment is further positioned approximately parallel to a sagittal plane of the garment, when the garment material is at rest, prior to being worn by a user,
wherein the right sleeve portion of the garment is biased in an arms-up configuration, such that the right sleeve outer edge extends out generally anteriorly from the coronal plane of the garment at an angular range from about −15.0° to about +100.0° relative to the transverse plane, and wherein the right sleeve portion of the garment is further positioned approximately parallel to the sagittal plane of the garment, when the garment material is at rest, prior to being worn by the user,
wherein the collar portion is configured to move with and improve flexibility in the left shoulder region, left armpit region, right shoulder region and right armpit region, and
wherein the single free-floating flexible collar is configured to seal around a neck of the user to reduce or prevent water from entering the garment through the neck opening.