Underbody garment, especially for participation in sports, with a pocket

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sportswear, and in particular to the field of lower garments with a pocket. Previous technique

[0002] It is known to have sports pants, especially tennis pants, with a belt-type pocket, that is, a pocket extending along the waist opening of the pants.

[0003] Thus, US patent 2018 / 206567 describes a sports garment comprising a pocket positioned along the upper part of the garment and configured to hold stored items. In one embodiment, the pocket can be opened from the bottom and located at the back of the upper garment. The pocket opening can be positioned so that the athlete can insert and remove stored items, such as balls.

[0004] However, in document US 2018 / 206567, the design of the pouch, and in particular the front and rear panels, is particularly complex, notably to allow expansion of the pouch when one or more balls are positioned inside.

[0005] Other documents also exist describing similar trousers with a back pocket at the waist opening, for example, US patents 8,028,345 B2, 9,254,010 B2, and 2017,238,634. However, such trousers require an elaborate design to ensure the ball remains in the pocket and are not always aesthetically pleasing when the pocket is empty. US patent 2017,238,634 A1 describes the preamble to claim 1.

[0006] In all cases, a compromise seems to be found between the ease of inserting and removing the ball on the one hand, and keeping the ball in the pocket during play on the other. Similarly, from an aesthetic point of view, it is also preferable to have a pocket that lies flat against the garment when empty, especially in the case of clothing made of compressive material. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to solve the various technical problems stated above. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a lower garment, especially for playing tennis, comprising a pocket, particularly at the waistband, for holding one or more objects, especially balls, which is simple to manufacture and use while maintaining an aesthetic appearance when the pocket is empty. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a lower garment comprising a pocket that facilitates the insertion or removal of a ball from said pocket while ensuring that the ball remains securely in the pocket during play and that the pocket maintains its shape when empty. The invention is described in the attached set of claims.

[0008] Thus, in one respect, a lower garment is offered, specifically for playing sports, and more particularly for playing tennis. The lower garment includes: a waist section, forming a pair of shorts, made up of one or more panels and comprising: an upper end defining a waist opening, and a lower end defining at least one opening, preferably two, for the passage of the user's legs, and a pocket, for example configured to hold at least one object such as a tennis ball, formed by at least one upper panel mounted on said waist section and covering a portion, preferably rear, of said waist section, the pocket being accessible through an opening defined in particular by the free edge of said at least one upper panel and preferably positioned in a portion of the lower garment forming a waistband.

[0009] The pocket opening extends substantially parallel to said waist opening, i.e. substantially horizontally when the lower garment is worn by the user, and is oriented towards the lower end of the waist part, or on the opposite side to the waist opening, i.e. oriented downwards when the lower garment is worn by the user.

[0010] The at least one upper panel and the portion of the waistband covered by said at least one upper panel are made of compressive materials and exhibit a different elasticity, in particular a different strength at 50% elongation. Specifically, the at least one upper panel and the portion of the waistband exhibit a different elasticity in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, i.e., in the vertical direction when the lower garment is worn by the user.

[0011] Thus, the mechanical, and more specifically elastic, properties of the materials forming the pocket of the lower garment, including at least one upper panel and the panel(s) of the portion of the waistband covered by said at least one upper panel, are chosen to be different from one another. In particular, the pocket materials, that is, the upper panel and the portion of the waistband covered by said at least one upper panel, are chosen with different compressive properties, especially in their elastic properties, in order to obtain the deformation properties required to facilitate the insertion or removal of an object such as a ball, while ensuring that it remains securely in place during play.This results in a simply designed pocket, formed by adding at least one upper panel to the waist area, while offering the user improved ease of use and performance, particularly in keeping the ball in the pocket. Finally, the lower garment according to the invention allows for the retention of compressive materials and maintains a desired aesthetic appearance, even when the pocket is empty.

[0012] The lower garment can be trousers, for example leggings, capris, cropped trousers, shorts, bermuda shorts, or a skirt with or without built-in shorts.

[0013] Preferably, the ratio of the force at 50% elongation, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1:2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening and / or in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, of said at least one upper panel on that of the portion of said sized part, is between 1 and 5, preferably between 1.2 and 3.

[0014] Put another way, the ratio of the force at 50% elongation, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1:2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening and / or in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, of said at least one upper panel on that of the portion of said size part, is greater than 1 and less than or equal to 5, preferably greater than or equal to 1.2 and less than or equal to 3.

[0015] The applicant observed that the strength at 50% elongation constituted a measure of material elasticity that allowed for the characterization of the panels best suited to forming a pocket meeting the desired criteria. Specifically, choosing a difference in strength at 50% elongation between the material of the waist section and the material of the top panel allows for adjusting the pocket's behavior in use to achieve the desired effect.

[0016] According to the invention, the ratio of the force at 50% elongation of said at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1:2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, to that in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is greater than 1, preferably between 1 and 2.

[0017] Put another way, the ratio of the force at 50% elongation of said at least one top panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1:2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, to that in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is greater than 1, preferably greater than 1 and less than or equal to 2.

[0018] Therefore, the strength at 50% elongation of the top panel material, along a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, is chosen to be greater than that along a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening. Indeed, it has been found that the elasticity of the top panel, along a direction parallel to the pocket opening, allows for or improves the retention of objects placed in the pocket, particularly during play, while the elasticity of the top panel, along a direction perpendicular to the pocket opening, facilitates the insertion and / or removal of objects, especially balls, from the pocket. Thus, the mechanical properties of the pocket materials also vary along the spatial direction.

[0019] In particular, with woven materials, the top panel can be positioned so that the warp threads are oriented perpendicular to the waist opening, i.e. vertically, and the weft threads are oriented parallel to the waist opening, i.e. horizontally.

[0020] Preferably, the force at 50% elongation of said at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1:2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, is between 7N and 15N.

[0021] Put another way, the force at 50% elongation of said at least one top panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1:2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, is greater than or equal to 7N and less than or equal to 15N.

[0022] Such a range of force values ​​at 50% elongation of the top panel, along the direction parallel to the pocket opening, allowed for the observation of proper retention of objects in the pocket, including balls during play.

[0023] Preferably, the force at 50% elongation of said at least one top panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1:2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is between 5N and 12N.

[0024] Put another way, the force at 50% elongation of said at least one top panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1:2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is greater than or equal to 5N and less than or equal to 12N.

[0025] Such a range of force values ​​at 50% elongation of the top panel, along the direction perpendicular to the pocket opening, allowed for easy placement or removal of objects from the pocket, including balls.

[0026] Preferably, said at least one top panel includes, or is made of, mesh fabric.

[0027] Mesh fabric adds an aesthetic touch to the lower garment, particularly at the waist. It allows for easy identification of the pocket in relation to the waistband, while remaining discreet.

[0028] Preferably, the pocket includes or lacks an elastic means mounted along the free edge of said at least one upper panel.

[0029] The pocket may or may not include an elastic means, such as an elastic band, along the free edge of at least one upper panel. Such an elastic means may improve the retention of the ball in the pocket during play, or the retention of at least one upper panel along the waistband when the pocket is empty, for aesthetic purposes. However, such an elastic means is not necessary to the extent that the elastic properties of the panels forming the pocket have been specifically chosen to allow a ball to be retained in the pocket or to allow the empty pocket to remain pressed against the waistband.

[0030] Preferably, the pocket includes at least one, for example three, stitching points connecting the free edge of said at least one upper panel and the waist portion.

[0031] The stitching reduces the length of the free edge between the attachment points to the waistband. This facilitates the correct placement of at least one top panel relative to the waistband, which also improves the ball's retention in the pocket or the empty pocket's hold on the waistband.

[0032] Preferably, the stitching points connecting the free edge of said at least one upper panel and the waist portion are positioned symmetrically with respect to a sagittal plane of the lower garment.

[0033] This results in a symmetrical pocket on the user's back, allowing them to use it interchangeably with their right or left hand.

[0034] According to the invention, said at least one upper panel is mounted, for example sewn, on the waist part along three edges: one upper edge and two lateral end edges.

[0035] The pocket then opens only along the lower edge, that is to say from the bottom.

[0036] Preferably, said at least one upper panel has a top edge mounted along the waist opening of the lower garment, and / or side end edges mounted in the front plane of the lower garment or on the front part of the lower garment.

[0037] The upper panel, and therefore the pocket, can form, together with the waistband, the waist opening of the lower garment. The pocket is thus positioned at the upper end of the lower garment, at the level of the waistband.

[0038] Preferably, said pocket is positioned in a portion of the lower garment forming a waistband. Brief description of the drawings

[0039] [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a rear view of a lower garment according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 is a front view of the lower garment of the figure 1 , [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 is a close-up, rear view of the lower garment of the figure 1 , [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 is a close-up, front view of the lower garment of the figure 1 , And [ Fig. 5 ] There figure 5 represents an illustration of the lower garment of the figure 1 , when the user inserts a ball into the pocket. Description of the implementation methods

[0040] THE Figures 1 And 2 illustrate, from the back and front, a lower garment 1, in this case a pair of trousers 1, conforming to the invention.

[0041] Alternatively, the bottom garment can be leggings, capris, cropped trousers, shorts, boy shorts, Bermuda shorts, or a skirt with or without built-in shorts.

[0042] The trousers 1 comprise a waist section 2 and two leg sections 4 and 6. The waist section 2 is shaped like shorts. It has an upper end defining a waist opening 8 and a lower end defining, in this case, two openings 10 and 12 for the user's legs. The leg sections 4 and 6 are tubular in shape and are attached to the openings 10 and 12 of the waist section 2.

[0043] Leg part 4 thus includes an upper end corresponding to the opening 10 of the waist part 2, and a lower end corresponding to a first leg opening 14. Leg part 6 includes an upper end corresponding to the opening 12 of the waist part 2, and a lower end corresponding to a second leg opening 16.

[0044] The lower garment 1 may be made of one or more panels and is preferably made of compressive materials, particularly compression fabrics. This means that the lower garment 1 is stretchy and designed so that, when not worn, it appears narrower than when worn by the user. Such a compression garment allows the user to better feel the different parts of their body that are covered and compressed by the garment 1.

[0045] Trousers 1 are specifically designed for playing sports, and more particularly for playing tennis, thanks to the presence of a pocket 18 configured to hold one or more balls.

[0046] As illustrated on the figures 3 and 4 , pocket 18 is formed by at least one upper panel 20, in this case a single upper panel 20, covering a portion 22 of the waist part.

[0047] The upper panel 20 may have a general rectangular shape with an upper edge 20a, a lower edge 20b, and two side edges 20c and 20d. The upper panel 20 is mounted on the waistband section 2, along and parallel to a portion of the upper end of the waistband section 2. The upper panel 20 is attached, for example by sewing, to the waistband section 2 along the upper edge 20a and the two side edges 20c and 20d. In other words, the upper edge 20a of the upper panel 20, and therefore of the pocket 18, extends along the waistband opening 8 of the trousers 1.

[0048] Thus, pocket 18 extends substantially parallel to the waist opening 8 and opens from the bottom, that is, on the side opposite the waist opening 8 of trousers 1, via the lower edge 20b of the upper panel 20, which is a free edge. The opening 24 of pocket 18 therefore extends parallel to the waist opening 8 but is oriented downwards, that is, towards the lower openings 10 and 12. Pocket 18 is thus positioned at the waistband of trousers 1 and is visually integrated into it.

[0049] The upper panel 20, and therefore the pocket 18, can extend only in the rear part of the trousers 1, or can extend, at its ends, over the front part of the trousers 1. Thus, the side edges 20c and 20d of the upper panel 20 can be fixed on the waist part 2, on the front side of the trousers 1, that is to say beyond the front plane of the trousers 1.

[0050] Furthermore, to improve the attachment of the upper panel 20 to the size 2 section, as well as the retention of the balls in the pocket 18, the lower edge 20b of the upper panel 20 can also be attached to the size 2 section by stitches 26, for example, a stitch 26a placed equidistant from the side edges 20c, 20d of the upper panel 20. Alternatively, and as illustrated in the figures 3 and 4 , the lower edge 20b can be fixed by three stitching points: a central stitching point 26a arranged equidistant from the lateral edges 20c, 20d of the upper panel 20, and two stitching points 26b arranged laterally on each side of the central stitching point 26b, between it and the lateral edges 20c, 20d of the upper panel 20.

[0051] The pocket 18 may also include an elastic means 28, for example an elastic band, mounted along the lower edge 20b of the upper panel 20, i.e. along the free edge of the pocket 18. The elastic means 28 can improve the fit and hold of the pocket 18.

[0052] However, such an elastic means 28 is optional and the pocket 18 may be without it. Indeed, since the upper panel 20 is made of compressive material, it can, by itself, exert pressure on the objects positioned in the pocket 18 in order to hold them in place.

[0053] The top panel 20 is also made of compressive material, for example, compression fabric. Preferably, the top panel 20 is made of mesh fabric.

[0054] In the following description, we will consider that the fabric of the covered portion 22 of the waist part 2 and the upper panel 20 are mounted on the pants 1 so that the warp threads are oriented vertically when the pants 1 are worn by the user, and the weft threads are oriented horizontally.

[0055] As previously mentioned, and to ensure the objects stay in pocket 18, the upper panel 20 is made of a compressive material, preferably compressive mesh. Therefore, the mesh fabric of the upper panel 20 can be chosen with specific elasticity properties to improve the hold of pocket 18.

[0056] In the example described here, the upper panel can be a D201 mesh fabric, for example when the lower garment 1 is a legging, or a D331 mesh fabric, for example when the lower garment 1 is a capri.

[0057] In the case of leggings, for example, the mesh fabric can exhibit a force at 50% elongation, in the direction of the warp threads, greater than or equal to 8N and less than or equal to 9N, for example with an average value of 8.3N.

[0058] Similarly, mesh fabric can exhibit a force at 50% elongation, in the direction of the weft yarns, greater than or equal to 12.5N and less than or equal to 13.5N, for example with an average value of 13.1N.

[0059] In the case of capri for example, the mesh fabric can exhibit a force at 50% elongation, in the direction of the warp yarns, greater than or equal to 7.2N and less than or equal to 8.2N, for example with an average value of 7.7N.

[0060] Similarly, mesh fabric can exhibit a force at 50% elongation, in the direction of the weft yarns, greater than or equal to 7.5N and less than or equal to 9.5N, for example with an average value of 8.9N.

[0061] The choice of such elastic properties is intended, in particular, to facilitate the insertion and removal of a bullet from pocket 18, as illustrated in the figure 5 , while ensuring it stays in pocket 18 during play.

[0062] The material of the lower garment 1 is also chosen so as to obtain the desired properties for the pocket 18.

[0063] Thus, the panel(s) of the size 2 part of the legging or capri may have a force at 50% elongation, in the direction of the warp threads, greater than or equal to 5.6N and less than or equal to 6.6N, for example with an average value of 6.1N.

[0064] Similarly, the panel(s) of the size 2 part of the legging or capri may have a force at 50% elongation, in the direction of the weft yarns, greater than or equal to 7.7N and less than or equal to 9.2N, for example with an average value of 8.6N.

[0065] Thus, thanks to the lower garment according to the present invention, and in particular thanks to the different materials, with specific elastic properties, for the pocket panels, it is possible to obtain a comfortable and compressive garment suitable for the practice of a sport, comprising an easy and easy-to-use pocket which guarantees good support for the objects which are placed in it during the practice of the sport.

Claims

1. A bottom clothing (1), in particular for the practice of a sport and more particularly for the practice of tennis, comprising: - a waist part (2) formed by one or several panels and including: an upper end delimiting a waist opening (8), and a lower end delimiting at least one preferably two openings (10, 12) for the passage the user's legs, and - a pocket (18), for example configured to retain at least one tennis ball, formed by at least one upper panel (20) mounted on said waist part (2) along an upper edge (20a) and two side end edges (20c, 20d), and covering a portion (22) of said waist part (2), the pocket (18) being accessible through an opening (24) delimited in particular by a free edge (20b) of said at least one upper panel (20) and positioned in a portion of the bottom clothing forming a waistband, wherein the pocket opening (24) extends substantially parallel to said waist opening (8), and is oriented towards the lower end of the waist part (2), wherein said at least one upper panel (20) and the waist part portion (22) covered by said at least one upper panel are made of compressive materials and have an elasticity, particularly a 50% elongation force, which is different, preferably in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening (24), characterized in that the ratio of the 50% elongation force of said at least one upper panel (20), measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, on that in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is greater than 1.

2. The bottom clothing (1) according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the 50% elongation force, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening and / or in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening of said at least one upper panel (20) over that of the portion (22) of said waist part, is comprised between 1 and 5, preferably between 1.2 and 3.

3. The bottom clothing (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ratio of the 50% elongation force of said at least one upper panel (20), measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, on that in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is comprised between 1 and 2.

4. The bottom clothing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 50% elongation force of said at least one upper panel (20), measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, is comprised between 7N and 15N.

5. The bottom clothing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 50% elongation force of said at least one upper panel (20), measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is comprised between 5N and 12N.

6. The bottom clothing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one upper panel (20) comprises a mesh fabric.

7. The bottom clothing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pocket (18) comprises or is devoid of elastic means (28) mounted along the free edge (20b) of said at least one upper panel (20).

8. The bottom clothing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pocket (18) comprises at least one for example three stitches (26a, 26b) connecting a portion of the free edge (20b) of said at least one upper panel (20) and the waist part (2).

9. The bottom clothing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one upper panel (20) is sewn, on the waist part along an upper edge (20a) and two side end edges (20c, 20d).

10. The bottom clothing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one upper panel (20) includes an upper edge (20a) mounted along the waist opening (8) of the bottom clothing, and / or side end edges (20c, 20d) mounted in the front plane of the bottom clothing or on the front part of the bottom clothing.