Abstract
A jersey for management of perspiration having a perspiration absorption towel. The perspiration absorption towel is removably or permanently affixed along the front interior of the collar of the jersey. The perspiration absorption towel has a collar-region width less than the collar width by an amount which optimizes access to and removability of the perspiration absorption towel. The perspiration absorption towel has a length which relative to the collar-region width which balances usefulness and ease of return to the non-use position of the perspiration absorption towel.
Claims
1. A perspiration management jersey for use in athletics, comprising: a jersey portion adapted to be worn as a shirt on a player and having a collar, and a perspiration absorption towel attached at said collar, said perspiration absorption towel having a towel collar-region width in a region near said collar, said towel collar-region width being less than said collar width.
2. The perspiration management jersey of claim 1 wherein said perspiration management jersey is attached inside said jersey portion.
2. The perspiration management jersey of claim 1 wherein said said towel collar-region width being less than said collar width by twice an inset width where said inset width is between 3 cm and 7 cm.
3. The perspiration management jersey of claim 1 wherein said said towel collar-region width being less than said collar width by twice an inset width where said inset width is between 3.5 cm and 6.5 cm.
4. The perspiration management jersey of claim 1 wherein said said towel collar-region width being less than said collar width by twice an inset width where said inset width is between 4 cm and 6 cm.
5. The perspiration management jersey of claim 1 wherein said towel has a towel length from a top point which reaches said collar to a bottom point, said towel length being between 2 and 4 times said towel collar-region width.
6. The perspiration management jersey of claim 1 wherein said towel has a towel length from a top point which reaches said collar to a bottom point, said towel length being between 2.5 and 3.5 times said towel collar-region width.
7. The perspiration management jersey of claim 1 wherein colors of said towel match colors of said jersey portion.
8. A perspiration management jersey for use in athletics, comprising: a jersey portion adapted to be worn as a shirt on a player and having a collar, and a perspiration absorption towel attached at said collar, said perspiration absorption towel having two layers, a moisture absorption layer and a water-proof layer, when said perspiration absorption towel is hanging inside said jersey and worn by said player, said water-proof layer being located between said player and said moisture absorption layer to prevent perspiration from the chest of said player from being absorbed by said moisture absorption layer, and when pulled out of said jersey and upwards, said moisture absorption layer is located between said player and said water-proof layer so as to allow said player to absorb moisture on the player's brow with said moisture absorption layer.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an athletic shirt with an affixed perspiration absorption towel according to the present invention, where the perspiration absorption towel is in a non-use position inside the shirt and therefore not visible.
[0020] FIG. 2A shows an x-ray front view of an athletic shirt with a perspiration absorption towel having a plan design according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where the perspiration absorption towel in its non-use position is visible as a dashed contour.
[0021] FIG. 2B shows an x-ray front view of an athletic shirt with a perspiration absorption towel having a plan design according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where the perspiration absorption towel in its non-use position is visible as a dashed contour.
[0022] FIG. 2C shows an x-ray front view of an athletic shirt with a perspiration absorption towel having a plan design according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where the perspiration absorption towel in its non-use position is visible as a dashed contour.
[0023] FIG. 3A shows a warped-scale cross-sectional side view of a top portion of the shirt and perspiration absorption towel with the towel inside the shirt and against the chest of the player.
[0024] FIG. 3B shows a warped-scale cross-sectional side view of the top portion of the shirt and perspiration absorption towel with the towel of FIG. 3A outside the shirt and in the vicinity of the face of the player.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows an athlete wearing the athletic shirt of the present invention and utilizing the perspiration absorption towel to remove perspiration from the brow and forehead.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a close-up x-ray view of a hand reaching into the shirt to grasp the perspiration absorption towel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] A front view of an athletic jersey (100) with affixed perspiration absorption towel according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The towel is in a non-use position inside the jersey (100) and is therefore not visible. X-ray views of the jersey (100) of FIG. 1 are shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C for the three preferred embodiments. The perspiration absorption towels (150a), (150b) and (150c) are shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, respectively, in dashed lines because they are obscured by the jersey (100). (Perspiration absorption towels (150a), (150b), and (150c) will be referred to generically with the reference numeral (150).) The jersey (100) has a collar line (102), sleeves (105) and a bottom hem (110). In the x-ray views of FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the perspiration absorption towel (150) is visible through the fabric of the jersey (100) for the purpose of illustration of the shape and position of the perspiration absorption towels (150a) and (150b) when not in use. The perspiration absorption towel (150) is affixed to the jersey (100) across an attachment region (170). In the attachment region (170) there is a bonding on the inside of the jersey (100) between the top border (169) of the perspiration absorption towel (150) and inside of the front collar (102). According to one preferred embodiment the perspiration absorption towel (150) is a microfiber cooling towel, such as those manufactured by Mission, LLC.
[0028] According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachment mechanism is a removable attachment means, as might be provided by a hook-and-loop attachment, such as Velcro® brand fastener manufactured by Velcro of the United Kingdom. This provides the advantage of allowing the towel (150) to be separated from the jersey (100) and washed separately. This also provides the advantage that during a break in play, a towel (150) which is saturated with perspiration can be swapped for a fresh towel that has not yet absorbed perspiration. However, a possible disadvantage of using a hook-and-loop attachment means, such as Velcro®, is that this adds some bulk to the collar region (102) of the shirt (100).
[0029] An alternate removable attachment is a magnetic attachment, preferably using neodymium magnets or the like, which will reduce bulk relative to a hook-and-loop type attachment. Another alternate removable attachment is a buttons-type or snaps-type attachment. A buttons-type attachment will reduce bulk relative to a hook-and-loop type attachment, but creating the attachment or undoing it cannot be achieved as quickly.
[0030] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the perspiration absorption towel (150) is sewn in the interior of the collar region (102) at the front of the jersey (100). The sewn attachment is non-removable, but the advantage of this sewn attachment is that it minimizes bulk in the collar region (170).
[0031] As shown in the x-ray view of FIG. 2A, according to a first embodiment of the present invention the perspiration absorption towel (150) has straight, parallel sides (151) and has a width W.sub.T and a length L.sub.T. It should be noted that the width W.sub.T of the perspiration absorption towel (150) is less than the width W.sub.C of the collar (102) of the jersey (100), i.e., W.sub.T<W.sub.C. Preferably W.sub.T<W.sub.C−2*W.sub.x where W.sub.x is an inset width from each side which is preferably between 3 cm and 7 cm, more preferably between 3.5 cm and 6.5 cm, and still more preferably between 4 cm and 6 cm. (According to a first preferred method, widths W.sub.T and W.sub.C are measured when the jersey (100) is flattened and viewed in plan view. According to a second preferred method, widths W.sub.T and W.sub.C are measured when the jersey (100) is worn and viewed from straight ahead.) Having the width W.sub.T of the perspiration absorption towel (150) less than the width W.sub.C of the collar (102), particularly by the amounts within the preferred ranges, is advantageous because, as shown in the close-up x-ray view of FIG. 5, this facilitates grasping of the perspiration absorption towel (150). In FIG. 5 the portion of the pointer finger (501) which would be obscured by the jersey (100) is shown in dashed lines, and the portion of the perspiration absorption towel (150) which would be obscured by the jersey (100) and the pointer finger (501) is shown in dashed lines. The player may for instance reach with his or her right arm across the chest and hook the left side of the perspiration absorption towel (150) with the pointer finger (501) and remove it from the interior of the jersey (100). Alternatively, another digit of the hand may be used. For instance, the thumb of the right hand may be used to hook the right side of the perspiration absorption towel (150) and remove it from the interior of the jersey (100).
[0032] As shown in the x-ray view of FIG. 2B, according to a second embodiment of the present invention the perspiration absorption towel (150) is flared. The perspiration absorption towel (150) has a narrower top region (151) having a top width W.sub.T1 and a wider bottom region (152) having a bottom width W.sub.T2. The perspiration absorption towel (150) has a length L.sub.T. It should be noted that the top width W.sub.T1 of the perspiration absorption towel (150) is less than the width W.sub.C of the collar (102) of the jersey (100), i.e., W.sub.T1<W.sub.C. Preferably W.sub.T1<W.sub.C−2*W.sub.x where W.sub.x is an inset width from each side which is preferably between 3 cm and 7 cm, more preferably between 3.5 cm and 6.5 cm, and still more preferably between 4 cm and 6 cm. Having the top width W.sub.T1 of the perspiration absorption towel (150) less than the width W.sub.C of the collar (102), particularly by the amounts within the preferred ranges, is advantageous because this facilitates grasping of the perspiration absorption towel (150), as shown in the close-up x-ray view of FIG. 5 and discussed above.
[0033] As shown in the x-ray view of FIG. 2C, according to a third embodiment of the present invention the perspiration absorption towel (150) has an indent (180) on each side a short distance below the attachment region (170). The perspiration absorption towel (150) has a narrower top region (151) having a top width W.sub.T1 and a wider bottom region (152) having a bottom width W.sub.T2. The perspiration absorption towel (150) has a length L.sub.T. It should be noted that the top width W.sub.T1 of the perspiration absorption towel (150) is less than the width W.sub.C of the collar (102) of the jersey (100), i.e., W.sub.T1<W.sub.C. Preferably W.sub.T1<W.sub.C−2*W.sub.x where W.sub.x is an inset width from each side which is preferably between 3 cm and 7 cm, more preferably between 3.5 cm and 6.5 cm, and still more preferably between 4 cm and 6 cm. Having the top width W.sub.T1 of the perspiration absorption towel (150) less than the width W.sub.C of the collar (102), particularly by the amounts within the preferred ranges, is advantageous because this facilitates grasping of the perspiration absorption towel (150), as shown in the close-up x-ray view of FIG. 5 and discussed above. Grasping of the perspiration absorption towel (150) is further facilitated by an indent (180) on each side of depth W.sub.X2 of roughly 2.5 cm. The indents (180) begin at a length L.sub.X of roughly 2 cm below the level of the bottom (103) of the collar (102).
[0034] FIG. 4 shows an athlete (400) wearing the athletic jersey (100) of the present invention and utilizing the perspiration absorption towel (150) to remove perspiration from the brow and forehead (21). In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C the length of the perspiration absorption towel (150) from the bottom (103) of the collar (102) to the bottom (155) of the perspiration absorption towel (150) is a towel length L.sub.T. According to the present invention, the towel length L.sub.T is preferably between 2 and 4 times the collar width W.sub.C, and more preferably the towel length L.sub.T is between 2.5 and 3.5 times the collar width W.sub.C. These preferred ranges of the ratio of the towel length L.sub.T to the collar width W.sub.C generate the best balance of (i) providing sufficient material in the perspiration absorption towel (150) to absorb considerable perspiration, (ii) providing sufficient length of the perspiration absorption towel (150) to allow the perspiration absorption towel (150) to be used to reach critical areas in the vicinity of the eyes such as the brow (21), and (iii) being short enough so as to allow the perspiration absorption towel (150) to be easily returned to the interior of the jersey (100).
[0035] FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional side view of the top portion of the jersey (100) with the perspiration absorption towel (150) according to the present invention hanging from the attachment region (170) on the inside of the jersey (100). As can be seen from FIG. 3A, the towel (150) has two layers (158) and (159). The layer (158) adjacent the jersey (100) is an absorption layer, and the layer (159) to the inside of the absorption layer (158) and adjacent the chest (10) of the player is a water-proof layer, i.e., a moisture impermeable layer. Having the water-proof layer (159) adjacent the chest (10) prevents perspiration from the player's chest from being absorbed into the absorption layer (158) when the towel (150) is in its non-use position inside the jersey (100). This extends the period of time the perspiration absorption towel (150) can be used. For instance, this keeps the absorption layer (158) dry until it is first needed for use.
[0036] FIG. 3B shows a warped-scale cross-sectional side view of the top portion of the jersey (100) and perspiration absorption towel (150) with the perspiration absorption towel (150) outside the jersey (100) and in the vicinity of the face of the player. The scale in FIG. 3B is warped in that the thickness of the jersey (100) and the towel (150) (as well as the layers (158) and (159) within the perspiration absorption towel (150)) is exaggerated for clarity of depiction. As can be seen from FIG. 3B, when the perspiration absorption towel (150) is pulled out of the jersey (100) the absorptive layer (158) is adjacent the face (20) of the player so the absorptive layer (158) can be used to absorb perspiration from the vicinity of the eyes, such as the brow (21), of the player.
[0037] Although the perspiration absorption towel (150) of the present invention, and particularly the absorption layer (158), are described as being absorptive, it should be noted that the perspiration absorption towel (150) may also include a wicking layer or wicking materials. For instance, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the absorption layer (158) may be located between a wicking layer (not shown) and the water-proof layer (159). Or alternatively, the perspiration absorption towel (150) may not include a water-proof layer (159). It should be understood that what is important is that the perspiration absorption towel (150), whether made of a wicking material or an absorbent material, has hydrophilic properties which allows it to remove perspiration from the wearer.
[0038] It should be noted that neither the parent application to the present application nor any of the references cited in the parent application teach the disclosed relationships between the width of the collar (102) and dimensions of the towel (150). This is because these ranges are the result of not routine experimentation, but rather insight and hundreds of hours of use and refinement by applicant
[0039] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it should be understood that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Many other variations are possible. For example: the perspiration absorption towel may be longer than the length depicted, such as extending to the bottom hem of the jersey; the shirt/jersey may or may not have sleeves; the perspiration absorption towel may have a shape other than what is described; the perspiration absorption towel may have be of only a single layer; perspiration absorption towel may have more than two layers; the perspiration absorption towel may not be attached to the shirt at the collar; the present invention may be applied to football jerseys where shoulder pads would make access to the perspiration absorption towel easier; the present invention may be adapted for use with a sports bra; the present invention may be adapted for use with a unitard; a portion of the perspiration absorption towel may be made of a material which can provide cooling; a portion of the perspiration absorption towel may be located to the outside of the garment; the colors of the perspiration absorption towel may match the colors of the jersey; the bottom of the perspiration absorption towel may extend to nearer the bottom hem of the jersey; the invention may be used in non-sports, non-athletic, or non-recreational settings; the invention may be applied to a garment such as a tank top, polo-style button collared shirt, tube top or halter top shirt, military uniform, and so on; the perspiration absorption towel may have a length allowing it to absorb moisture on the top of the head, back of the head, shoulders and/or arms; the perspiration absorption towel may be on the exterior of an interior garment; the perspiration absorption towel may include a string or strip of material on one or both sides which extends from the top of the perspiration absorption towel to the bottom to facilitate removal of the entirety of the perspiration absorption towel, and particularly the bottom of the perspiration absorption towel, from the jersey; etc.
[0040] Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated or the physical analyses motivating the illustrated embodiments, but rather by the appended Claims and their legal equivalents.
