Resilient band for article of apparel
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsNate Demarest, Travis Harvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resilient band for use with articles of apparel, the band is formed with a first fabric operably secured to a strip of more resilient material that is preferably a second fabric such as powermesh or the like. The band is formed by stretching the first fabric and resilient material into a stretched position and operably securing the two materials together with a fastening structure. Preferably, the fastening structure is a plurality of spaced-apart stitching line that are parrellely aligned with each other and substantially perpendicularly aligned with the longitudinal length of the band.
Claims32
A resilient band for an article of apparel that defines a longitudinal length and a cross section taken in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal length, the resilient band comprising:
- a first resilient fabric with a first resiliency, the first resilient fabric in the cross section being folded over upon itself at a fold to define a first portion, a second portion that overlaps the first portion, and a pocket between the first and second portions, the pocket being closed off at the fold and open at an end that is opposite the fold;
- a second resilient fabric with a second resiliency, the second resilient fabric in the cross section being disposed within the pocket, the second resilient fabric being operably secured to the first resilient fabric, said second resiliency greater than said first resiliency;
- a first fastening structure that extends in the transverse direction through the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric to attach the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric together, the first fastening structure extending in the transverse direction through each of the first portion of the first resilient fabric, the second resilient fabric, and the second portion of the first resilient fabric;
- and
- a second fastening structure that extends in the transverse direction through the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric to attach the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric together, the second fastening structure extending in the transverse direction through the first portion of the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric, and the second fastening structure terminating in the transverse direction inside the pocket to stop short of extending through the second portion of the first resilient fabric,
- wherein the resilient band defines a waistband for the article of apparel.
A resilient band for use on an article of apparel that defines a longitudinal centerline and a cross section taken in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal centerline, said resilient band comprising:
- an elongate first resilient fabric having a first end and an opposite second end, the first resilient fabric in the cross section being folded over upon itself at a fold to define a first portion, a second portion that overlaps the first portion, and a pocket between the first and second portions, the pocket being closed off at the fold and open at an end that is opposite the fold;
- an elongate elastic element, the elongate elastic element in the cross section being disposed within the pocket and aligned along said longitudinal centerline, the elongate elastic element extending substantially from said first end to said opposite second end;
- and,
- a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners operably securing said first resilient fabric to said elastic element, said fasteners aligned substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal centerline, said fasteners including:
- a first fastening structure that extends in the transverse direction through the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric to attach the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric together, the first fastening structure extending in the transverse direction through each of the first portion of the first resilient fabric, the second resilient fabric, and the second portion of the first resilient fabric;
- and
- a second fastening structure that extends in the transverse direction through the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric to attach the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric together, the second fastening structure extending in the transverse direction through the first portion of the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric, and the second fastening structure terminating in the transverse direction inside the pocket to stop short of extending through the second portion of the first resilient fabric,
- wherein the resilient band defines a waistband for the article of apparel.
An article of apparel with a lower portion and a waistband portion that is disposed above the lower portion, the waistband portion defining a longitudinal length and a cross section taken in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal length, the article of apparel comprising:
- a first resilient fabric with a first resiliency, the first resilient fabric defining the lower portion and a part of the waistband portion, the first resilient fabric in the cross section being folded over upon itself at a fold to define a first portion, a second portion that overlaps the first portion, and a pocket between the first and second portions;
- a second resilient fabric with a second resiliency, the second resilient fabric in the cross section being disposed within the pocket, said second resiliency greater than said first resiliency;
- a first stitch that extends in the transverse direction through the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric to attach the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric together, the first stitch extending in the transverse direction through each of the first portion of the first resilient fabric, the second resilient fabric, and the second portion of the first resilient fabric;
- and
- a second stitch that extends in the transverse direction through the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric to attach the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric together, the second stitch extending in the transverse direction through the first portion of the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric, and the second stitch terminating inside the pocket to stop short of extending through the second portion of the first resilient fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.