American football training garment

Abstract

An American football training garment of the present disclosure comprises a collar; a left sleeve having a left upper arm portion; a right sleeve having a right upper arm portion; a torso portion extending between the left and right sleeves and adjacent to the collar; and a left shoulder flap between the collar and the left sleeve and a right shoulder flap between the collar and the right sleeve. Accordingly, the left and right shoulder flaps extend over a front and back of the torso portion, where the left and right shoulder flaps having a lip area on its perimeter that is able to be gripped during a training session. To aid in effective training of American football fundamentals, the American football training does not include plastic shell materials.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. provisional application entitled, “American Football Training Garment,” having application No. 63 / 673,249, filed Jul. 19, 2024, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] In order to limit injuries that may occur in American football practices and drills, practices and drills often are carried out without wearing football protective equipment, like shoulder pads, during non-contact practices and drills (e.g., no tackling and significant strikes or blows occur during these types of practices / drills), in order to decrease the amount of physical contact among participants and resulting injuries. However, it is difficult to teach or practice proper football techniques & fundamentals without the use of such protective equipment, like shoulder pads, during these non-contact practices and drills.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present disclosure presents various embodiments of an American football training garment. The garment has shoulder flaps that mimic shoulder pads and has an area on its perimeter that is available to be gripped in the same manner as actual shoulder pads and can provide the same grip points that can be used to teach and practice proper football techniques.

[0004] For example, FIG. 1A is a diagram showing protective equipment used for American football in the form of shoulder pads 100 that are required to be worn by participants during an American football game. Traditionally, shoulder pads 100 have been worn during football practices and drills in order for participants to learn and improve the requisite football skills, such as proper blocking, pass rushing, and tackling skills. However, in order to reduce injuries during football practices and drills, the wearing of shoulder pads and other forms of protective equipment have been reduced in modern practices in order to reduce physical contact and resulting injuries.

[0005] In general, American football shoulder pads are worn by players to safeguard their shoulders, chest, and upper back during games and practices. They consist of a hard outer shell made of plastic or similar durable material, which disperses the impact from collisions. Shoulder pads are designed to fit snugly over the shoulders and upper torso, typically secured with straps and buckles, allowing for mobility while providing essential protection. They are an essential part of a football player's equipment, aiming to prevent injuries from tackles, falls, and other physical contact inherent to the sport. In American football, certain techniques may involve grabbing or using the shoulder pads. Here are some common techniques associated with them:

[0006] Blocking—Offensive linemen use their hands and arms to block defenders in which they aim to maintain inside hand placement on the chest or shoulders of the defender, and grabbing the shoulder pads outside the framework of the body (holding) is illegal and can result in a penalty;

[0007] Pass Rushing—Defensive players, especially pass rushers, might use moves that involve getting a grip on an offensive lineman's shoulder pads to shed blocks. However, they must avoid holding or pulling, which can result in a penalty; and

[0008] Jamming—Defensive backs might use their hands to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage. They can push against the receiver's shoulder pads within the first five yards but must release after that distance to avoid a penalty for illegal contact.

[0009] Accordingly, within American football, offensive linemen are allowed to use their hands and grab the inside of a defender's jersey or shoulder pads as long as they maintain proper hand placement within the defender's body frame and do not impede the defender's movement in a way that violates the rules. Correspondingly, defensive players may grab the shoulder pads of offensive players to gain leverage and control, but also need to adhere to the rules of American football that regulate such techniques. The goal is to use quick, controlled grabs to gain an advantage without committing a penalty.

[0010] As discussed and shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, shoulder pads have a series of protective plates 110 at a top of the shoulder pads that protect a wearer's shoulders. Further, the outer edges 112 of these plates 110 are used by participants as points of leverage or areas to be gripped by an opposing player's hands, even when the shoulder pads are worn under a football jersey (uniform top), to be able to control the movement of the wearer. Accordingly, there are various techniques that can be taught by a wearer of the shoulder pads to disengage an opposing player from being able to grip the wearer's shoulder pads. And, there are techniques to be taught to the opposing player on the most effective ways to grip and push / pull / twist the wearer of the shoulder pads to make the wearer lose leverage and / or balance. However, by not utilizing shoulder pads during practices and drills, a wearer or an opposing player is unable to effectively be taught these techniques when they are simply wearing workout clothing, like t-shirts and shorts, during such practices and drills.

[0011] Thus, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, an American football training garment (e.g., training jacket (e.g., “Attack Jacket”)) is provided that has shoulder flaps that mimic shoulder pads (without actually providing protective pads / plates) and provide the same grip points that can be used to teach and practice proper football techniques.

[0012] Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2B, front and back views of an exemplary training garment 200 is provided in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. Correspondingly, FIGS. 3A-3B show a prototype version of the training garment 200. In this particular embodiment, a jacket version of the training garment 200 is shown (that is also referred to as an “Attack Jacket”). In this version, a closure element 250 is part of the garment and may feature fastener(s), such as buttons, clasps, hook and loop fastener, zipper, etc., or may be worn without any fasteners. In such embodiments, the fasteners may extend a length of a center of a front of the torso portion 225 and may be configured to fasten two front halves of the torso portion 225 of the American football training garment.

[0013] In other embodiments, the training garment 200 may be a jersey-type garment, as shown in FIG. 4, that does not have a closure element extending a length of the garment such that the garment can be worn by pulling the jersey over the head of the wearer.

[0014] The training garment 200 includes sleeves 220 having upper arm portions (e.g., short sleeves), a collar 230 (e.g., a crew neck collar, V-neck collar, a raised collar, etc.) at a top of the garment 200, a torso 225 portion extending between the left and right sleeves and adjacent to the collar 230; and a bottom hem 240. Additionally, unlike traditional garments, the training garment 200 includes left and right shoulder flaps 210 that mimic shoulder pads and has an area 212 (e.g., lip area) on its perimeter that is available to be gripped in the same manner as actual shoulder pads and can provide the same grip points that can be used to teach and practice proper football techniques, such as separation and control techniques and skills, year-round. Mastering these techniques in the training garment 200 translates seamlessly to game day where game participants will be wearing their football uniforms that include shoulder pads 100. To do so, in various embodiments, the left and right shoulder 210 flaps extend over a front and back of the torso portion and / or comprise a layer of fabric that is stitched onto a fabric layer of the torso portion 225 of the training garment 200.

[0015] Separation and control are crucial for both offensive and defensive players, but replicating these drills without full pads can be difficult. The training garment 200 solves this problem. Accordingly, by using the training garment 200 in training drills that focus on proper leverage, hand placement, and hand fighting technique, a user will be able to stay ahead of their competition. Further, the training garment 200 introduces a gaming mentality to one's training. Every training rep that is completed by a user will feel like progress as the user refines their technique and masters separation and control. Given that American football is a game where consistent effort leads to visible skill advancement, a user can level up their abilities in training, translating those wins into real victories on the field come game day.

[0016] Another advantage is that these types of skills can be learned without a user engaging their head in a contact drill, which is desired in current football teachings and gameplay, due to the possible risk of concussions. Thus, users of the training garment 200 can mimic the play of American football without engaging their head and learn to transfer these techniques to the field of play when helmets are used and physical contact is being made with other players. As an illustration, FIG. 3C shows a photographic image of users wearing the training garment 200 and performing training drills.

[0017] In accordance with various embodiments, the shoulder flap 210 and grip area 212 comprises a second layer of fabric that is stitched onto the fabric of the remaining portion of the training garment 200. The grip area 212 provides a grip layer where one would typically want to aim for if they are a football player in order to control an outside shoulder pad area of the wearer. As shown in FIG. 2B, the shoulder flap 210 starts in the back of the garment 200 and forms a definitive lip 212 on its perimeter that can be gripped (e.g., about an inch in width, in certain embodiments).

[0018] In various embodiments, the shoulder flap 210 and overall training garment 200 comprises a strong heavy duty fabric that is capable of being pushed and pulled and twisted during training drills. Accordingly, the training garment 200 may be formed from one or more of cotton materials of varying weaves, such as a single weave-lightweight and breathable, making it comfortable for Attack Jacket training, especially in warmer climates. In various embodiments, the training garment may alternatively be formed from a double weave-thicker and more durable than single weave, providing more resistance to grips. In various embodiments, the training garment may be formed from a gold weave which provides a middle ground between single and double weave and offers a good balance of durability and weight. In various embodiments, the training garment may be formed of a pearl weave-known for its lightweight yet durable construction and also known for its strength and comfort.

[0019] In various embodiments, the training garment may be formed of hemp materials—an eco-friendly alternative to cotton, hemp is naturally antimicrobial and more durable. It is also softer and becomes more comfortable with use. Alternatively, in various embodiments, the training garment may be formed of ripstop materials—a fabric with interwoven reinforcement threads, making it resistant to tearing and ripping. Ripstop materials are also lightweight adding durability without adding much weight and may incorporate interwoven reinforcement threads in a crosshatch pattern, making it resistant to tearing and ripping. In various embodiments, the training garment may also be formed of canvas materials—a sturdy, thick material that can withstand rigorous training, among others.

[0020] With respect to the weights of different embodiments of the training garments 200, a single weave training garment will be generally light, typically ranging from 300 to 550 gsm (grams per square meter); a double weave training garment will be heavier and more durable, usually ranging from 550 to 900 gsm; a gold weave training garment may weigh from 450 to 800 grams per square meter (gsm); a lighter gold weave training garment may weigh approximately 450-550 gsm, suitable for those who prefer a lighter training garment that still offers good durability; a medium gold weave training garment may weigh around 550-650 gsm, providing a balanced option for everyday training; a heavier gold weave training garment may weigh between 650-800 gsm, offering enhanced durability and grip resistance, ideal for more intense training sessions; a pearl weave training garment typically ranges from 300 to 550 grams per square meter (gsm); a lighter pearl weave training garment may weigh approximately 300-400 gsm, offering a very lightweight option that is comfortable and breathable; a medium pearl weave training garment may weigh around 400-500 gsm, providing a good balance between lightweight and durability, making it ideal for training; a heavier pearl weave training garment may weigh between 500-550 gsm, offering enhanced durability while still being lighter than double weave training garments; a hemp training garment may range from 400 to 850 grams per square meter (gsm); a lighter hemp training garment may weigh approximately 400-550 gsm, providing a lightweight option that is breathable and comfortable; a medium hemp training garment may weigh around 550-700 gsm, offering a balance of lightweight and durability, suitable for most training; a heavier hemp training garment may weigh between 700-850 gsm, offering enhanced durability and resistance, ideal for intense training sessions; and a ripstop training garment may weigh from 200 to 400 grams per square meter (gsm) with the lighter ripstop training garment approximately weighing 200-300 gsm, offering a very lightweight option that is comfortable and breathable, suitable for hot climates and intense training sessions, a medium ripstop training garment weighing around 300-350 gsm, providing a balance of lightweight and durability, making it ideal for both training, and a heavier ripstop training garment weighing between 350-400 gsm, offering enhanced durability while still being lighter than traditional weaves like double weave.

[0021] In various embodiments, in addition to the shoulder flap layer of fabric and the underlying layer of the fabric for the remaining portions of the garment 200 (e.g., sleeves 220, collar 230, torso portion 225, bottom hem 240, etc.), additional soft fabrics may be used between the shoulder flap layer and the underlying layer to provide additional cushion or padding. However, such additional fabrics do not include plastic shell materials. If a user desired, the user could wear an undergarment having closed cell foam padding (e.g., hex padding) to provide an additional layer of soft padding.

[0022] It should be noted that ratios, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used for convenience and brevity, and thus, should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. To illustrate, a concentration range of “about 0.1% to about 5%” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited concentration of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt %, but also include individual concentrations (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and the sub-ranges (e.g., 0.5%, 1.1%, 2.2%, 3.3%, and 4.4%) within the indicated range. The term “about” can include traditional rounding according to significant figures of numerical values. In addition, the phrase “about ‘x’ to ‘y” includes “about ‘x’ to about ‘y.’”

Claims

1. An American football training garment comprising:a collar;a left sleeve having a left upper arm portion;a right sleeve having a right upper arm portion;a torso portion extending between the left and right sleeves and adjacent to the collar; anda left shoulder flap between the collar and the left sleeve and a right shoulder flap between the collar and the right sleeve, the left and right shoulder flaps extending over a front and back of the torso portion, the left and right shoulder flaps having a lip area on its perimeter that is able to be gripped during a training session;wherein the American football training does not include plastic shell materials.

2. The training garment of claim 1, further comprising fasteners extending a length of a center of a front of the torso portion that are configured to fasten two front halves of the torso portion of the American football training garment.

3. The training garment of claim 1, wherein the American football training garment comprises a jersey-type garment.

4. The training garment of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a crew neck collar.

5. The training garment of claim 1, wherein the torso portion comprises a first layer of fabric and the left and right shoulder flaps comprises a second layer of fabric that is stitched onto the first layer of fabric.

6. The training garment of claim 1, wherein the lip area is approximately 1 inch in width.

7. The training garment of claim 1, wherein the American football training garment comprises a cotton material.

8. The training garment of claim 7, wherein the cotton material comprise a single weave material.

9. The training garment of claim 8, wherein a weight of the cotton materials is between 300 to 550 gsm.

10. The training garment of claim 7, wherein the cotton material comprise a double weave material.

11. The training garment of claim 10, wherein a weight of the cotton materials is between 550 and 900 gsm.

12. The training garment of claim 7, wherein the cotton material comprise a gold weave material.

13. The training garment of claim 12, wherein a weight of the cotton materials is between 450 to 800 gsm.

14. The training garment of claim 7, wherein the cotton material comprise a pearl weave material.

15. The training garment of claim 14, wherein a weight of the cotton materials is between 300 to 550 gsm.

16. The training garment of claim 1, wherein the American football training garment comprise a hemp material.

17. The training garment of claim 16, wherein a weight of the cotton material is between 400 to 800 gsm.

18. The training garment of claim 1, wherein the American football training garment comprise a ripstop material.

19. The training garment of claim 18, wherein a weight of the cotton material is between 200 to 400 gsm.

20. The training garment of claim 1, wherein the American football training garment comprise a canvas material.

Images