SHIRT SLEEVE WITH RESILIENT GUSSET

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/382,972, entitled “Shirt Sleeve With Resilient Gusset,” filed Sep. 2, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The present invention relates to an article of clothing or garment. More specifically, the present invention relates to shirts, blouses, and other types of garment tops that contain a sleeve with a placket, the placket including a resilient gusset.

Garment sleeves for garment tops are often equipped with plackets, where the plackets are in the form of a slit disposed in the end of the sleeve. The same end of the sleeve also often includes a cuff. When the cuffs are unbuttoned, a user wearing the garment can roll up their sleeves by rolling or folding the cuff upwards multiple times along the length of the sleeve. This enables a user to position the end of the sleeve farther up their arm and expose the lower portion of their arm. Rolling and unrolling sleeves is a cumbersome task, and repeated rolling and unrolling of the sleeves wears the fabric construction of the sleeve and the cuff. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an article of clothing or garment that is equipped with sleeve ends that are easily repositioned between a first position, where the sleeve end is disposed proximate to the wrist of the user, and a second position, where the sleeve end is slid up the arm of a user.

An article of clothing, or garment, disclosed herein includes a sleeve with a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the sleeve is coupled to the remainder of the garment, while the distal end of the garment includes a placket and a cuff. Disposed within the placket is a gusset constructed from a resilient material that enables the gusset to stretch and impart a compression fit. As the distal end of the sleeve is pushed up the arm of the user, the placket opening expands, which causes the resilient gusset to expand and impart a compression fit around the arm of the user. This compression force enables the distal end of the sleeve to remain in its placement along the upper portion of the arm. The compression force of the gusset also enables the sleeve to be quickly reconfigured so that the distal end is located down the arm of the user and around the wrist of the arm of the user.

Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and their equivalents may be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that any discussion herein regarding “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and that such particular feature, structure, or characteristic may not necessarily be included in every embodiment. In addition, references to the foregoing do not necessarily comprise a reference to the same embodiment. Finally, irrespective of whether it is explicitly described, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that each of the particular features, structures, or characteristics of the given embodiments may be utilized in connection or combination with those of any other embodiment discussed herein.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, illustrated is a first embodiment of a garment that can be worn by a person, where the garment illustrated is a shirt 100. The term shirt may refer to any type of garment top typically worn by people, including, but not limited to, shirts (e.g., dress shirts, T-shirts, etc.), blouses, sweaters, jackets, coats, etc. The shirt 100 contains a body 110 having a first (e.g., right) side 112, a second (e.g., left) side 114 oriented opposite the first side 112, a top side 116, and a bottom side oriented opposite the top side 116.

The shirt 100 further includes at least one sleeve 120. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the shirt 100 includes a first sleeve 120(1) and a second sleeve 120(2). As illustrated, first sleeve 120(1) is disposed on the first side 112 of the body 110 proximate to the top side 116 of the body 110. Disposed on the second side 114 of the body 110, opposite first sleeve 120(1), is second sleeve 120(2). Second sleeve 120(2) may be disposed on the second side 114 of the body 110 proximate to the top side 116. Each sleeve 120(1), 120(2) may include a proximal end 122(1), 122(2) and a distal end 124(1), 124(2). The sleeves 120(1), 120(2) may be coupled to the body 110 of the shirt 100 at their proximal ends 122(1), 122(2), while the distal ends 124(1), 124(2) are uncoupled to a portion of the body 110 of the shirt 100. As illustrated, when laying flat, the sleeve 120(1), 120(2) may extend down the length of the body 110 of the shirt 100, where the proximal ends 122(1), 122(2) of the sleeves 120(1), 120(2) are coupled to the body 110 of the shirt 100 proximate the top side 116, and the distal ends 124(1), 124(2) of the sleeves 120(1), 120(2) are disposed proximate to the bottom side 118 of the shirt 100.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, single distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 of the shirt is illustrated. The sleeve 120 includes an arm portion 210, a placket 220, a cuff portion 230, and a gusset 250. The arm portion 210 of the sleeve 120 may be substantially cylindrical, and may be constructed of a single piece of fabric. Arm portion 210 may be constructed from any suitable fabric including, but not limited to textile fabrics (e.g., breathable fabrics, mesh fabrics, synthetic fabrics), leather, synthetic leather, etc. In one embodiment, arm portion 210 may be constructed from a blend of nylon, cotton, and spandex. The arm portion 210 may include an exterior surface 212 (illustrated in FIG. 2) and an interior surface 300 (illustrated in FIG. 3). The arm portion 210 further includes a periphery 214 disposed at the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120.

Disposed within the arm portion 210 is a placket 220. Placket 220 may be in the form of a slit or elongated cut that begins at the periphery 214 and traverses up the arm portion 210 of the sleeve 120. The placket 220 includes a first edge 222 and a second edge 224 opposite first end 222. First edge 222 and second edge 224 are spaced from one another a distance D1 at the periphery 214 of the arm portion 210, and converge towards one another until they meet at point 226. As illustrated, point 226 is disposed on arm portion 210 a distance L away from the periphery 214 of the arm portion 210, where distance L represents the length of the placket 220. As further illustrated, the placket 220 is widest (i.e., the largest distance between first edge 222 and second edge 224) at the periphery 214 of the arm portion 210. Thus, the placket 220 may by substantially triangular.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the cuff portion 230 is coupled to the periphery 214 of the arm portion 210. Cuff portion 230 may be a substantially rectangular strip of fabric with a first end 232 and a second end 236 opposite of first end 232. Cuff portion 230 may be constructed from any suitable fabric including, but not limited to textile fabrics (e.g., breathable fabrics, mesh fabrics, synthetic fabrics), leather, synthetic leather, etc. In one embodiment, cuff portion 230 may be constructed from a blend of nylon, cotton, and spandex, which is the same as that of the arm portion 210. In another embodiment, the cuff portion 230 and the arm portion 210 may be constructed from different fabrics. In yet another embodiment, cuff portion 230 may be constructed from multiple layers of fabric, giving the cuff portion 230 and thicker construction than that of the arm portion 210.

Cuff portion 230 may further include a distal edge 240 and a proximal edge 242 opposite distal edge 240. The cuff portion 230 may have a width W, which is the distance between distal edge 240 and proximal edge 242. Proximal end 242 of the cuff portion 230 may be coupled to periphery 214 of arm portion 210 via any conventional means, including, but not limited to stitching, bonding, adhesives, etc. Furthermore, cuff portion 230 may be coupled to the arm portion 210 such that the first end 232 of cuff portion aligns with the first edge 222 of the placket 220 and the second end 236 aligns with the second edge 224 of the placket 220.

As further illustrated, cuff portion 230 includes an exterior surface 244 (illustrated in FIG. 2) and an interior surface 310 (illustrated in FIG. 3). Disposed on the exterior surface 244 of the cuff portion 230 proximate to the first end 232 is a button 234. Button 234 may be coupled to the exterior surface 244 of the cuff portion 230 via any conventional means, such as, but not limited to, stitching, thread, bonding, adhesives, etc. Disposed on the cuff portion 230 proximate to the second end 236 is an opening 238. Opening 238 extends through the cuff portion 230 from the exterior surface 244 to the interior surface 310. Furthermore, opening 238 is sized and shaped to receive button 234. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cuff portion 230 is in the open configuration. The cuff portion 230 may be placed in a closed configuration, however, when button 234 is inserted through the opening 238 to secure the first and second ends 232, 236 of the cuff 230 in a position where the second end 236 overlaps the first end 232. When button 234 is inserted through the opening 238, the first end 232 of the cuff portion is disposed adjacent to and abuts the second end 234 of the cuff portion 230. More specifically, because the button 234 is disposed on exterior surface 244 proximate to the first end 232, the button 234 is configured to be inserted through the opening 238 in a direction spanning from the interior surface 310 to the exterior surface 244. Thus, when inserted through the opening 238, the button 234 is disposed on the portion of the exterior surface 244 of the cuff 230 proximate the second end 236, while the portion of the interior surface 310 of the cuff 230 proximate the second end 236 at least partially overlaps the portion of the exterior surface 244 proximate the first end 232. In this closed configuration, the cuff portion 230 is cylindrical or in the shape of a barrel.

When shirt 100 is worn by a user such that distal end 124 and cuff portion 230 of sleeve 120 is disposed proximate to the wrists of the arm of the user, the cuff portion 230 is typically in the closed configuration. When in the closed configuration, the cuff portion 230 wraps and around and encloses the wrists of the user wearing the shirt 100. Furthermore, when the cuff portion 230 is in the closed configuration, the maximum distance between the first edge 222 and the second edge 224 of the placket 220 is minimized. In some instances, by placing the cuff portion 230 in the closed position, the first edge 222 and the second edge 224 may also overlap each other.

As further illustrated, a gusset 250 is disposed within the placket 220 between the first edge 222 and the second edge 224. Gusset 250 may be constructed from a resilient or elastomeric fabric. In one embodiment, gusset 250 can be constructed of any suitable elastomeric fabric materials, including elastomeric fabrics that provide two-way stretch or four-way stretch characteristics. Elastomeric fabrics can be formed from yarns, fibers and/or filaments using any suitable types of elastomeric and/or non-elastomeric components. An example of an elastomeric material for use in forming the fabric materials for the pants are polyester-polyurethane copolymers used to form synthetic yarns, fibers or filaments and commonly referred to as spandex or elastane. Fabrics formed from yarns or fibers comprising spandex or elastane provide significant elasticity to the fabric so as to achieve a desired form or compression fit to the user's body. In one embodiment, the gusset 250 may be constructed from a woven polyester/stretch blended fabric that contains 86% polyester and 14% elastane.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, gusset 250 includes a first end 252 disposed between the first edge 222 and the second edge 224 of the placket 220 proximate to the periphery 214 of the arm portion 210. Gusset 250 further includes a second end 320 that is opposite the first end 252 and is disposed proximate to point 226 of the placket 220. Gusset 250 further includes a first side 330 and a second side 340. Similar to the placket 220, first side 330 and second side 340 are spaced from one another a distance D2 at the first end 252, and converge towards one another until they meet at the second end 320 proximate to the point 226 of placket 220. Thus, gusset 250 is also substantially triangular. As illustrated best in FIG. 3, gusset 250 covers the area or portion of the arm portion 210 that is occupied by the placket 220.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the first and second sides 222, 224 of the placket 220 both contain an inner flap 400 on the interior surface 300 of the arm portion 210. Inner flap 400 may be folded inward along the first and second sides 222, 224 of the placket 220 so that the inner flap 400 is only visible when viewing the interior surface 300 of the arm portion 210 of the sleeve 120. While not illustrated, the inner flap 400 may extend along the entire lengths of both the first and second sides 222, 224 of the placket 220. As further illustrated in FIG. 4, the gusset 250 is disposed on the arm portion 210 of the sleeve 120 in the area occupied by the placket 220 by being coupled to the inner flap 400 via first stitching 350 and second stitching 360. The first and second stitching 350, 360 may couple the first side 330 of the gusset 250 to the inner flap 400 proximate to the first side 222 of the placket 220, while also coupling the second side 240 of the gusset 250 to the inner flap 400 proximate to the second side 224 of the placket 220. First stitching 350 is disposed along the first and second edges 330, 340 of the gusset 250, while the second stitching 360 is disposed within the first stitching 350, but is disposed proximate to both the first and second sides 330, 340 of the gusset 250. In one embodiment, the first stitching 350 may be, but not limited to, a flatlock stitch, an overlock stitch, a blindstitch, a hemming stitch, etc., while the second stitching 360 may be, but not limited to, a running stitch. In yet another embodiment, the gusset 250 may be coupled to the arm portion 210 in the area of the placket 220 by means other than stitching, such as, but not limited to, bonding, adhesives, etc.

The gusset 250 serves to retain a sleeve 120 in place on the arm of a user wearing the shirt 100 when the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is pushed or slid up the arm of the user. As previously explained, when the shirt 100 is worn by a user, the sleeve 120 has a first or lowered position, where the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is positioned proximate to the wrist of a users arm. In this lowered position, the cuff portion 230 of the sleeve 120 is disposed around the wrist of the user such that the cuff portion 230 encircles the wrist of the user. In this lowered position, the cuff portion 230 may be, as previously described, in the opened configuration or the closed configuration. Thus, when the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is in the lowered state, the distance D1 in which the first and second sides 222, 224 of the placket 220 are spaced from one another is minimized. In this lowered position, the gusset 250 is also in a relaxed state, where the gusset 250 may not be imparting resilient or compression forces on the sides 222, 224 of the placket 220 or the arm of the user wearing the shirt 100.

When the cuff portion 230 is placed in the open configuration, the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 may be pushed up the arm of the user to a raised position, where the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is positioned around the forearm, elbow, or upper arm (i.e., biceps and triceps) of the user wearing the sleeve 120. Because the forearm, elbow, and/or upper arm of a user's arm have a larger diameter or circumference of that of the wrist of a user's arm, as the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is pushed up the arm, the portions of the first and second edges 222, 224 of the placket 220 proximate the periphery 214 of the arm portion 210 are spread farther apart from one another. Thus, the distance D1 is larger when the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is in the raised position than when the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is in the lowered position. Because the first and second ends 232, 236 are aligned with the first and second edges 222, 224, respectively, the first and second ends 232, 236 of the cuff portion 230 are also spread farther apart from one another as the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is moved into the raised position.

The increase in the distance D1 from the lowered position to the raised position causes the gusset 250 to be in a stretched state, where the gusset 250 imposes resilient and compression forces. The resilient and elastomeric nature of the gusset 250 enables the gusset 250 to impart a snug or tight compression fit against the upper part of the arm in which the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 encircles when the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is placed in the raised position and the first and second sides 222, 224 of the placket 220 are spread farther away from one another. The compression force imparted on the arm by the gusset 250 is of a force that enables the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 to remain in place on the upper part of the arm (i.e., the forearm, elbow, upper arm, etc.) while still being comfortable to the user. Thus, the inclusion of the gusset 250 in the area of the placket 220 of the arm portion 210 enables the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 to remain in the location in which the distal end 124 is placed on the upper part of the arm without sliding back down the arm. In addition, because the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is held in place on the upper part of the arm (i.e., the forearm, elbow, upper arm, etc.) via the compression force imparted by the gusset 250, the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 may be easily repositioned to the lower position by the user pulling the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 down the arm. Thus, the compression fit imparted by the gusset 250 enables the sleeve 120 to be quickly transitioned between the lowered position and the raised position when desired by the user wearing the shirt 100.

Furthermore, with the gusset 250 being coupled to the first and second sides 222, 224 of the placket 220, and not being directly coupled to the first and second ends 232, 236 of the cuff 230, the cuff 230 may folded up the sleeve 120 when the cuff 230 is placed in the open configuration. The cuff 230 may be folded up the sleeve 120 both when the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 is placed in the raised position and when placed in the lowered position. For example, the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 may be placed in the raised position, where the resilient and compression nature of the gusset 250 retains the distal end 124 of the sleeve 120 in the raised position around an upper part of the arm, and, simultaneously, the cuff 230 may be folded up the sleeve 230 such that the distal edge 240 of the cuff 230 at least partially overlaps a portion of the exterior surface 212 of the arm portion 210.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “side”, “height”, “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “interior”, “exterior”, and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration.

Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.