Cycling upper garment

Abstract

A cycling upper garment is provided that enables the wearer's elbows to bend more readily while suppressing the resulting increase in air resistance. The cycling upper garment is provided with an upper garment main body and a pair of sleeves. The sleeves are attached to both sides of the upper garment main body with each of the sleeves having an expanded section that is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint and configured to expand from both adjacent sections.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-172619. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-172619 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention generally relates to an upper garment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cycling upper garment for a rider to wear when riding a bicycle. [0004] 2. Background Information [0005] Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the products that the rider uses during the bicycling. For example, there are many types of garments that are especially des...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] One object of the present invention is to provide a cycling upper garment that enables the wearer's elbows to bend more readily while suppressing the resulting increase in air resistance.

[0012] In this upper garment, the first expanded part of each sleeve is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint and configured to expand from both sections adjoining thereto. Since a first expanded part is provided in a portion of each sleeve corresponding to the wearer's elbow joint, only the portion corresponding to the elbow joint is made more roomy while the rest of the sleeve can be made to fit closely to the arm. Consequently, a cycling upper garment is obtained which enables the wearer to bend his or her elbows readily and operate the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle smoothly while also suppressing the increase in air resistance that results from making the elbow sections more roomy.

[0013] In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, each of the sleeves has a cuff with a second expanded part provided at the cuff. With this cycling upper garment, since second expanded parts are provided at the cuffs, the wearer's hands can easily pass through the cuffs and the upper garment is easier to put on. Also, the wearer can operate the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle smoothly because the cuffs are not excessively tight against the wearer's wrists.

[0015] In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, the sleeves are attached to the upper garment main body in such a fashion that the cuffs are oriented in a generally forward direction. Since the cuffs of the sleeves are oriented in a generally forward direction, when a wearer mounts a bicycle, it is more comfortable for the wearer to assume a riding posture and more difficult for wrinkles that adversely affect the air resistance to develop.

[0016] In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, provided with at least a pair of side ventilation arrangements, such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends from a corresponding one of the sleeves to a bottom hem of the upper garment main body such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends through an underarm portion formed between the upper garment main body and the corresponding sleeve. With this cycling upper garment, large ventilation arrangements can be obtained because the ventilation arrangements run from the sleeves to the bottom hem of the upper garment main body in such a fashion as to pass through the underarm portions. Consequently, a large quantity of air can be efficiently taken into the upper garment and discharged through the ventilation arrangements, thereby enabling sufficient ventilation performance to be obtained. Additionally, since the underarm portions are comparatively difficult to see from the front, the ventilation arrangements do not easily degrade the cosmetic appearance of the upper garment.

[0018] With the present invention, since a first expanded part is provided in a portion of each sleeve corresponding to the wearer's elbow joint, only the portion corresponding to the elbow joint is made more roomy while the rest of the sleeve can be made to fit closely to the arm. Consequently, a cycling upper garment is obtained which enables the wearer to bend his or her elbows readily so as not to inhibit operation of the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle and suppresses the resulting increase in the air resistance experienced when the cycling upper garment is worn.

Problems solved by technology

When an upper garment that fits the body closely or has a low degree of stretchiness is worn, it is sometimes difficult for the wearer to bend his or her elbows.

While wearing such an upper garment, it can be difficult for a rider to move freely during a bicycle race or the like and there is the possibility that the rider's ability to steer and change gears will be inhibited.

Moreover, even in cold weather, sometimes the rider gets too warm and wishes to cool off.

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