Swimwear System with Coupling Upper and Lower Garments

Abstract

A swimwear system is disclosed comprising an upper garment and a lower garment configured to couple together to improve UV protection and restrain the movement of the upper garment. The upper garment includes one or more couplers near its lower peripheral edge. The lower garment includes one or more couplers near its lower peripheral edge configured to engage the upper couplers. Engaging the couplers restricts movement of the upper garment relative to the lower garment. Coupling mechanisms may include hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, magnets, or snap fasteners. Some versions of the lower garment include flaps-style couplers that transition between a stowed position and a deployed position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63 / 791,317, filed Apr. 21, 2025, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUNDField of the Invention

[0002] This disclosure relates to apparel, and more particularly to swimwear system with an upper garment and a lower garment which couple together.Description of the Related Art

[0003] UV radiation is responsible for over 90% of skin melanoma diagnosed in the United States of America. Current swimwear options, including rash guards and swim trunks, often expose the user's lower back to harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation. This is because the rash guard shirt can ‘ride up’ on the person's back during swimming exertion, float up when snorkeling, or be tumbled / rolled up by a wave's turbulence. More specifically, when using existing swimwear the user has a significant chance of being sunburned on the back and / or experiencing chaffing in their stomach area because the rash guard is unlikely to remain at the waistline in an ocean environment.

[0004] Other watersport active wear allows excessive movement of a rash guard when worn in an ocean or other aquatic-like environment. Existing rash guards typically fail to remain in place over the user's lower torso, thereby failing to provide lower back UV protection and failing to protect an individual from rash / chaffing in their abdomen area.

[0005] This disclosure presents a swimwear system which improves a user's sun protection and decreases the likelihood of experiencing a rash or chaffing.SUMMARY

[0006] A system configured to improve UV protection and prevent rash guard shirts from riding up during watersports activities is disclosed, the swimwear system comprises an upper garment, a lower garment, and a means of coupling the upper garment to the lower garment.

[0007] The means of coupling the upper garment may use a variety of fastening mechanisms, for example and without limitation, hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, or similar products. By attaching the lower end of the upper garment to the upper end of the lower garment, the upper garment remains in place during swimming, snorkeling, surfing, or in turbulent water, thus preventing exposure of the lower back to harmful UV radiation and reducing chafing in the lower abdominal area.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] These and other features of the invention will become apparent to one having the ordinary level of skill in the art upon a thorough review of the following details and descriptions, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a front view of the swimwear system in a first illustrated embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the swimwear system in a second illustrated embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the swimwear system in a third illustrated embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a back view of the swimwear system in a third illustrated embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the swimwear system in a fourth illustrated embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the swimwear system in a fifth illustrated embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the swimwear system in a sixth illustrated embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the swimwear system in a seventh illustrated embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 9A shows a back view of the lower garment in an eighth illustrated embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 9B shows a back view of the lower garment in an eighth illustrated embodiment; and

[0019] FIG. 9C shows a front view of the lower garment in an eighth illustrated embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] For purposes of explanation and not limitation, details and descriptions of certain preferred embodiments are hereinafter provided such that one having ordinary skill in the art may be enabled to make and use the invention. These details and descriptions are representative only of certain preferred embodiments, however, and a myriad of other embodiments which will not be expressly described will be readily understood by one having skill in the art upon a thorough review of the instant disclosure. Accordingly, any reviewer of the instant disclosure should interpret the scope of the invention only by the claims, as such scope is not intended to be limited by the embodiments described and illustrated herein.

[0021] For purposes herein, reference numbers are provided in the drawings for illustrating certain features of embodiments. Where distinct figures of the drawings utilize a shared reference number, it can be appreciated that the feature corresponding to the shared reference number is the same or similar, perhaps observed from a different view, or observed with respect to a different embodiment deploying the same or similar feature.General Description of Embodiments

[0022] As stated above, UV radiation is responsible for over 90% of skin melanoma diagnosed in the United States of America. Current rash guard and swim trunk technology often expose the lower back to harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation because the rash guard shirt can ‘ride up’ on the person's back during swimming exertion, float up when snorkeling, or be tumbled / rolled up by a wave's turbulence. More specifically, in high surf conditions, there is a significant chance of being sunburned on the back, while enduring significant chaffing in the stomach area because the rash guard doesn't remain at the waistline. The swimwear system presented herein solves this problem.

[0023] The swimwear system improves watersport activewear UV protection and anti-rash coverage by presenting a system in which the upper garment may be coupled to the lower garment. The upper garment may be secured to the lower garment using a variety of coupling mechanisms. In preferred embodiments, hook-and-loop fasteners are attached to the lower end of the upper garment and the upper end of the lower garment. The user may don the upper garment and lower garment and couple the hook-and-loop fasteners on the upper garment to the hook-and-loop fasteners on the lower garment. By sewing in hook-and-loop technology on the inside of a rash guard or water shirt at the bottom seam, and the outside of swim trunks along the waistline, it creates an effective attachment that is not easily removed by external elements. By utilizing this preexisting technology, it improves the versatility and function of these two products when combined.

[0024] In some embodiments, the coupling mechanism is a zipper. One side of a zipper track may be attached to the upper garment. One side of zipper track may be attached to the lower garment. The user may don the upper garment and the lower garment before zipping the upper garment to the lower garment, thereby holding the lower part of the upper garment in place.

[0025] In some embodiments, the swimwear system utilizes hook-and-loop fasteners around the entire torso opening of the upper garment and the entire torso opening of the lower garment. In some embodiments, the swimwear system utilizes one hook-and-loop coupling mechanism on the front side of the swimwear system and one hook-and-loop coupling mechanism on the back side.

[0026] In some embodiments, the upper garment further comprises a drawstring around the torso opening. The drawstring may help prevent excess upper garment material from overlapping with the lower garment.

[0027] This method of restraining an upper garment, such as a rash guard, in a fixed position with respect to a lower garment, such as a pair of swim trunks / board shorts is believed to be a novel concept. Common methods of restraining an upper garment, such as a simple loop or string attached between a user's swim trunks and rash guard, are not effective in preventing excess movement of the upper garment in an aquatic environment.

[0028] Utilizing hook-and-loop technology or other similar coupling mechanisms such as zippers, snap fasteners, or magnets, keeps the bottom of the rash guard around the waistline in place during aquatic activities. This innovation aims to improve sun protection and improve the protective function of the swimwear system during aquatic activities.

[0029] In some embodiments, the lower garment is adapted with one or more flaps to which the lower couplers may be attached. The flaps may be attached near the torso opening of the lower garment. A flap may have a lower end, which is attached to the lower garment, and an upper end which is free to move. In some embodiments, the flaps are attached to the inside surface of the lower garment, such that the upper end of the flap extends above the torso opening. In some embodiments the flaps are attached to the lower garment within 5 cm of the lower garment torso opening.

[0030] A primary function of a flap is to allow a user to stow a lower coupler inside of the torso opening of the lower garment when not in use. When the user wishes to couple a lower coupler attached to a flap to an upper coupler, the user may deploy the lower coupler by folding the flap from its stowed position to a deployed position. In some embodiments, the upper end of a flap rests against the inside surface of the lower garment in the stowed position. In some embodiments, the upper end of a flap rests against the outside surface of the lower garment in the deployed position.

[0031] Relationship Between Components: The upper garment refers to the garment worn on the user's upper body. The upper garment has an inside surface and an outside surface. In some embodiments, the upper garment may be a rash guard. In preferred embodiments, the upper garment is made of a material which provides SPF protection. In preferred embodiments, the upper garment is made with a stretchable fabric, such as spandex, nylon, polyester, or some combination thereof. The arm openings of the upper garment may have short sleeves, no sleeves, or long sleeves. The upper garment has material extends down to the torso opening. In some embodiments, the upper garment may have a neckline collar around the neck opening improving UV protection of the user's neck.

[0032] In some embodiments, the upper garment may have non-slip material disposed on the inside surface of the upper garment. In some embodiments, the upper garment may have a plurality of upper couplers disposed on the inside surface of the upper garment. In some embodiments, the upper garment may have a plurality of upper couplers disposed on the outside surface of the upper garment. The plurality of upper couplers may be hook-and-loop fasteners, zipper tracks, magnets, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the upper garment may further comprise a plurality of pockets on either sleeve with a closure mechanism such as a zipper, hook-and-loop, or magnets.

[0033] The lower garment refers to the garment worn over the user's lower body. The lower garment has an inside surface and an outside surface. In some embodiments, the lower garment is a pair of swim shorts or board shorts. The lower garment has a torso opening and two leg openings. In some embodiments, the lower garment is configured with a plurality of lower couplers disposed on the inside surface. In some embodiments, the lower garment is configured with a plurality of lower couplers disposed on the outside surface of the lower garment. The plurality of lower couplers may be hook-and-loop fasteners, zipper tracks, magnets, or some combination thereof. The plurality of lower couplers are configured to couple with the plurality of upper couplers.

[0034] The hook-and-loop fasteners refers to a Velcro-like product that may be sewn near the torso opening of the upper garment and the torso opening of the lower garment such that the upper garment may be coupled to the lower garment.

[0035] A zipper comprises two zipper tracks and a zipper slider which slides along the zipper tracks, coupling or decoupling the zipper tracks with each other. In some embodiments, each zipper track extends at least 90% around their respective torso openings.

[0036] A drawcord may be a high-tensile material such as nylon, polyester, or a blend of other synthetic fibers with a locking mechanism at one end utilizing a lock housing and clamp that can be moved when desired. It is configured to prevent unintentional loosening of the mechanism and hold upper garment fabric in place.

[0037] A drawstring is an adjustable string-like cord material such as nylon, polyester, or blend of synthetic fibers with protected ends. It is commonly used in aquatic environments and other clothing products to tighten the waistline of shorts.

[0038] Fabric stitching refers to specific additional seam locations to maintain the structure of the upper garment and lower garment. The added stitching may have a high tensile strength which is highly water resistant, for example and without limitation, UV-inhibited thread, polyester, nylon, or similar combination of thread and or pattern. The fabric stitching attaches the hook-and-loop fastener to the torso opening of the upper garment and the torso opening of the lower garment.

[0039] The pockets are constructed of durable and flexible fabric such as nylon, polyester, other synthetic fiber, or some combination thereof. The pocket provides a storage place to hold miscellaneous items. The pocket may have a closure mechanism such as a zipper, snap fastener, or hook-and-loop fastener. The pocket may include separate compartments for added organization and added drawcord for securing items during watersport activities such as a key.

[0040] How the System Works: To use the swimwear system, the user may simply don the lower garment as with a normal pair of shorts. This involves stepping each leg through the associated leg opening one at a time, then pulling the garment up toward the waist ensuring the torso opening is snug around the hips and the drawcord is cinched snug. Next, the user may don the upper garment—just like one would do with any t-shirt, putting their head through the neck opening and arms through each arm opening. When adjusting the upper garment, the user may align the hook-and-loop fastener on the upper garment with the hook-and-loop fasteners on the lower garment along their respective torso openings.

[0041] In preferred embodiments the hook-and-loop fasteners are disposed on the inside surface of the rash guard and the outside surface of the torso opening of the lower garment. Once the upper garment is coupled to the lower garment, the user may pull the drawcord to cinch the excess overlapping material from the upper garment on either the left or right side of the upper garment to have a more flush and secure fitting between the two garments. An option for the excess material from the rash guard would be to either tuck it into the boardshorts or let it hang freely over the side of the boardshorts.

[0042] This creates a secure coupling of the two garments together to work more effectively in an ocean or other aquatic-like environment. To remove the product, a user may loosen the clamp on the drawcord to its initial position. To remove the next attachment, one may decouple the upper garment from the lower garment by detaching the upper couplers from the lower couplers.

[0043] How to Make the System: To make the swimwear system, one may sew a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners onto the inside surface of the upper garment. These upper couplers may be attached to the upper garment proximate to the upper garment torso opening. In some embodiments, the upper couplers are attached to the upper garment within 5 cm of the torso opening. In some embodiments, the upper couplers are the “loop side” of the hook-and-loop fastener to improve user comfort because the loop side is softer than the “hook side. Secondly, one may sew the “hook” side of the hook-and-loop fastener on the outside surface of the lower garment along the torso opening. In some embodiments the lower couplers may be attached to the lower garment within 5 cm of the torso opening. Next, one may sew the drawcord on the inside of the upper garment on either the left or right side. The draw string may have two parts sewn approximately three 7.5 cm from each other and meet in the middle on the outside of the upper garment to provide a cinch-like mechanism controlling the excess rash guard material.

[0044] The elements of the hook-and-loop fasteners can be interchanged in the sense that the “loop” component can be sewn on the outside of the lower garment instead of the inside of the upper garment and vice versa. The drawcord may be reconfigured to be on either the left or right side of the rash guard.

[0045] While various details, features, and combinations are described in the illustrated embodiments, one having skill in the art will appreciate a myriad of possible alternative combinations and arrangements of the features disclosed herein. As such, the descriptions are intended to be enabling only, and non-limiting. Instead, the spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.First Illustrated Embodiment

[0046] FIG. 1 is a depiction of a first illustrated embodiment of the swimwear system. Similar to existing shirt-like garments, the upper garment (100) has an inside surface (101), an outside surface (102), a torso opening (103), a neck opening (105), two sleeves (106), and two arm openings (104). The upper garment is adapted with three upper couplers (107) disposed on the inside surface. The upper couplers in this embodiment are hook-and-loop fasteners (300).

[0047] The lower garment (200) has an inside surface (201), an outside surface (202), a torso opening (203), two leg openings (204). This embodiment is also adapted with two pockets (305) and a drawcord (304). The lower garment is adapted with three lower couplers (205) disposed on the outside surface. The lower couplers in this embodiment are hook-and-loop fasteners (300).Second Illustrated Embodiment

[0048] FIG. 2 is a depiction of a second illustrated embodiment of the swimwear system. In this embodiment, the upper couplers (107) are disposed on the outside surface (102) of the upper garment (100), and the lower couplers (205) are disposed on the inside surface (201) of the lower garment (200).Third Illustrated Embodiment

[0049] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are depictions of a third illustrated embodiment of the swimwear system. This embodiment has four upper couplers (107) and four lower couplers (205). Embodiments having fewer than three couplers or more than four couplers are contemplated.Fourth Illustrated Embodiment

[0050] FIG. 5 is a depiction of a fourth illustrated embodiment of the swimwear system. In this embodiment the upper couplers (107) and lower couplers (205) are magnets (302).Fifth Illustrated Embodiment

[0051] FIG. 6 is a depiction of a fifth illustrated embodiment of the swimwear system. In this embodiment the upper coupler (107) is a zipper track (301A), and the lower coupler (205) is a zipper track (301B) with a zipper slider forming a zipper (301).Sixth Illustrated Embodiment

[0052] FIG. 7 is a depiction of a sixth illustrated embodiment of the swimwear system. In this embodiment the upper couplers (107) and lower couplers (205) are snap fasteners (303).Seventh Illustrated Embodiment

[0053] FIG. 8 is a depiction of a seventh illustrated embodiment of the swimwear system. In this embodiment the upper couplers (107) and lower couplers (205) are elongated. This is to show that the location and size of the couplers can vary between different embodiments.Eighth Illustrated Embodiment

[0054] FIG. 9A-FIG. 9C are depictions of an eighth illustrated embodiment. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show a back view of the lower garment (200), and FIG. 9C shows a front view of the same lower garment. This embodiment is adapted with flaps (206). FIG. 9A shows the flaps in a stowed position (207). FIG. 9C shows the flaps in a deployed position (208). FIG. 9B shows the flaps in an intermediate position between the stowed and deployed positions. The flap can be folded between the stowed position to the deployed position such that the flap extends above the torso opening of the torso opening (203). The flaps in the eighth illustrated embodiment are only shown on couplers disposed on the front of the lower garment and only on two out of the four lower couplers (205). In other embodiments, the flaps may be applied to one or more couplers disposed on the back of the lower garment and / or to all lower couplers on the lower garment.FEATURE LISTUpper Garment(100)Inside Surface(101)Outside Surface(102)Upper Torso Opening(103)Arm Opening(104)Neck Opening(105)Sleeve(106)Upper Coupler(107)Lower Garment(200)Inside Surface(201)Outside Surface(202)Lower Torso Opening(203)Leg Opening(204)Lower Coupler(205)Flap(206)Stowed Position(207)Deployed Position(208)Upper End(209)Lower End(210)Hook-and-Loop Fastener(300)Zipper(301)Zipper Track  (301A)Zipper Track  (301B)Magnets(302)Snap Fastener(303)Drawcord(304)Pocket(305)

Claims

1) A swimwear system comprising:a) an upper garment configured to cover a portion of a user's upper body, the upper garment having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a lower peripheral edge defining an upper torso opening;b) a lower garment configured to cover a portion of a user's lower body, the lower garment having an inside surface, an outside surface, and an upper peripheral edge defining a lower torso opening;c) a plurality of upper couplers attached to the inside surface of the upper garment proximate to the upper torso opening; andd) a plurality of lower couplers attached to the outside surface of the lower garment proximate to the lower torso opening, wherein the plurality of upper couplers are configured to couple with the plurality of lower couplers to couple the upper garment to the lower garment, thereby restricting movement of the upper torso opening relative to the lower torso opening.2) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) The plurality of lower couplers are attached to the lower garment within 5 cm of the lower torso opening.3) The swimwear system of claim 2, wherein:a) The plurality of upper couplers are attached to the upper garment within 5 cm of the upper torso opening.4) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) the plurality of upper couplers and the plurality of lower couplers are complementary hook-and-loop fasteners.5) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) the plurality of upper couplers and the plurality of lower couplers are magnetic fasteners.6) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) the plurality of upper couplers and the plurality of lower couplers are snap fasteners.7) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) the upper garment further comprises a drawcord disposed around the lower torso opening, the drawcord encircling the upper torso opening.8) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) the upper garment is constructed from a stretchable material configured to provide ultraviolet (UV) protection.9) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) the upper garment further comprises a non-slip material disposed on the inside surface of the upper garment.10) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) the upper garment further comprises a collar disposed proximate to a neck opening, the collar configured to cover a portion of a user's neck.11) The swimwear system of claim 1, wherein:a) the lower garment further comprises a plurality of flaps, the flaps having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being attached to the lower garment proximate to the lower torso opening, the upper end extending above the lower torso opening, the upper end configured to lay against the inside surface when in a stowed position, the upper end configured to lay against the outside surface when in a deployed position, and the plurality of lower couplers are disposed on the flaps.12) The swimwear system of claim 11, wherein:a) The lower ends of the plurality of flaps are attached to the lower garment within 5 cm of the lower torso opening.13) A swimwear system comprising:a) an upper garment configured to cover a portion of a user's upper body, the upper garment having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a lower peripheral edge defining an upper torso opening;b) a lower garment configured to cover a portion of a user's lower body, the lower garment having an inside surface, an outside surface, and an upper peripheral edge defining a lower torso opening;c) a plurality of upper couplers attached to the outside surface of the upper garment proximate to the upper torso opening; andd) a plurality of lower couplers attached to the inside surface of the lower garment proximate to the lower torso opening, wherein the plurality of upper couplers are configured to couple with the plurality of lower couplers to couple the upper garment to the lower garment, thereby restricting movement of the upper torso opening relative to the lower torso opening.14) A swimwear system comprising:a) an upper garment configured to cover a portion of a user's upper body, the upper garment having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a lower peripheral edge defining an upper torso opening;b) a lower garment configured to cover a portion of a user's lower body, the lower garment having an inside surface, an outside surface, and an upper peripheral edge defining a lower torso opening;c) an upper coupler attached to the inside surface of the upper garment proximate to the lower peripheral edge; andd) a lower coupler attached to the outside surface of the lower garment proximate to the upper peripheral edge, wherein the upper coupler is configured to couple with the lower coupler to secure the upper garment to the lower garment, thereby restricting movement of the upper torso opening relative to the lower torso opening.15) The swimwear system of claim 14, wherein:a) the upper coupler extends along the entire upper torso opening, and the lower coupler extends around at least 90% of the upper torso opening.16) The swimwear system of claim 14, wherein:a) the upper coupler is a zipper track and the lower coupler is a zipper track, the upper coupler and the lower coupler forming a zipper.

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