Athletic pants with integral knee support
AssigneesGayle L. D. Jewel, Russell G. Kitteringham
InventorsGayle L. D. Jewell, Russell G. Kitteringham, Robert G. Dickie, Steven Copeland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An athletic pant that includes an area of compressive fabric disposed in a position on either pant leg that will surround the athlete's knee when the pants are worn. The area of compressive fabric in each pant leg also includes a pair of pockets positioned to lie on either side of the athlete's knee. The pockets can be opened to receive a support and closed to secure the support therein, whereby the support restricts lateral movement of the athlete's knee. If the athletic pants are to be used for ice hockey, the pants may also include connectors disposed on the outer surface of the pant legs for the connection of hockey socks.
Claims17
Athletic pants for providing support to an athlete's knees, the pants comprising:
- a waistband adapted to encircle the athlete's waist;
- a body extending from the waistband and adapted to receive the athlete's abdomen and buttocks therein;
- a pair of pant legs extending outwardly from the body;
- each pant leg terminating in a first annular region configured to be disposed substantially mid-thigh on the athlete's leg;
- and wherein said body and pant legs are manufactured from an elastic material;
- a tubular knee support region extending outwardly from the first annular region of each of the pant legs;
- each knee support region terminating in a second annular region configured to be disposed substantially mid-calf on the athlete's leg;
- said knee support regions being manufactured entirely from a compressive, elastic material;
- at least one pocket formed in each knee support region in an area adapted to be laterally adjacent the athlete's knee;
- and
- a supporting member retained within each pocket;
- wherein the entire supporting member is enveloped within said pocket so that no part of the supporting member is visible;
- and wherein the pants are free of straps that would compress the knee support region and the supporting member therein against the knee of the athlete.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.