Golf garment with shoulder joint support

Abstract

A golf garment for reinforcing a connection between a body and an arm has a shoulder joint support which fills a gap between the upper arm and the body at a golf posture, thereby enhancing a swing mechanism and reducing a possible injury. The shoulder joint support also mitigates the concentration of shock on the shoulder and thus the risk of injury is further reduced. Although designed specifically for golf, the present invention can be also effective for sports requiring a firm, yet tensionless connection of the arm to the body, such as tennis, hockey and baseball.

Claims

1. An article of apparel comprising: one or more shoulder joint supports configured to be worn in close fit with armpits below shoulder joint of a human body; and a garment structure for covering at least a shoulder joint portion of the human body, wherein the garment structure is configured so as to provide a close fit to at least the shoulder joint portion of the human body, wherein a shoulder joint portion of the garment structure is arranged so as to receive the one or more shoulder joint supports in a portion corresponding to an underside of the shoulder joint portion of the human body, wherein the garment structure comprises an outer garment of a structure configured to provide a loose fit to the human body, and an inner garment of a structure configured to provide a close fit to the human body, wherein the inner garment is coupled to the outer garment and designed so as to provide a close fit to the shoulder joint of the human body, wherein the inner garment comprises an inner sleeve and an inner torso portion, and the outer garment comprises an outer sleeve and an outer torso portion, wherein the shoulder joint support is coupled to the shoulder joint portion of the inner sleeve and the inner torso portion of the inner garment, and wherein the shoulder joint support has a structure in which when a user wears the article of apparel and takes a golf posture, the shoulder joint support is configured to fit closely into the armpits of the user and the shoulder joint support is in configured to be close fit with the user's upper arm and torso.

2. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the garment structure receives the shoulder joint support for one or both shoulders.

3. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein: the shoulder joint support, when viewed in a cross section in a width direction, has an elliptical shape of a predetermined length, and includes an inner part and an outer shell surrounding the inner part, and a width of a middle portion of the elliptical shape is larger than a width of each of upper and lower portions of the elliptical shape; when viewed from the top, a middle portion of the shoulder joint support has a narrow width with respect to one or both ends of the shoulder joint support, and the both ends have a curved shape; the shoulder joint support is crescent-shaped, and comprises an upper surface having a concave profile so that the shoulder joint support is ergonomically shaped to fit under the shoulder joint of the user, and a lower surface having a convex profile; and a middle portion between the concave profile and the convex profile has a predetermined thickness and has a shape that becomes narrower from the middle portion to both ends.

4. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the inner torso portion of the inner garment is sewn on the outer torso portion of the outer garment in the vicinity of a junction of the outer sleeve and the outer torso portion of the outer garment.

5. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder joint support is configured to have a thickness, measured at a middle portion, of up to 4 cm, a length between 15 cm and 25 cm and a width between 2 cm and 7 cm.

6. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder joint support is configured to have a density of up to 100 kg per cubic meter.

7. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder joint support is configured to have an adjustable thickness.

8. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder joint support is integral to the inner garment.

9. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder joint support is removable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a shoulder joint support from various viewpoints.

(2) FIG. 5 illustrates a tight fit undershirt, showing a shoulder joint support placed on each sleeve.

(3) FIG. 6 illustrates a loose-fit shirt with an inner sleeve; the inner sleeve is a tight fit and a shoulder joint support is placed on the inner sleeve.

(4) FIG. 7 illustrates a raglan-style shirt with an inner sleeve, showing the placement of a shoulder joint support on the inner sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The present invention relates to a golf wear having a shoulder joint supporter. Provided in the present invention is a clothing good, comprising: at least one shoulder joint supporter which is appropriate to be worn under a shoulder joint when playing golf, and a clothing structure for covering at least a shoulder joint portion of a body, wherein the clothing structure is configured to be tight on the shoulder joint portion, the shoulder joint portion of the clothing structure being configured to receive at least one shoulder joint supporter, wherein the shoulder joint supporter, when wearing the clothing good, is arranged under the shoulder joint portion of the clothing structure so that the shoulder joint supporter is compressed between the upper arms and the torso when in a golf position.

(6) In the following, the details are set to provide a better understanding of the present invention. The illustrations are for explanatory purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

(7) FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a possible design for a shoulder joint support 1. FIG. 1 provides a perspective view, FIG. 2 provides a front view along axis X of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 provides atop view along axis Y of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is a side view along axis Z of FIG. 1.

(8) When a golfer wears the shoulder joint support, the shoulder joint support is compressed between the upper arm and the body, the shoulder joint support helps to unify the movement of the arms and the body so that they move in unison when the user takes a golf swing; this promotes a good golf swing technique and reduces the occurrence of injury.

(9) The design of the shoulder joint support illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 favors an ergonomic fit between the upper arm and the body. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the shoulder joint support is crescent-shaped; the shoulder joint support has a concave upper surface 4b for improved fit under the shoulder joint. It should be understood that the shoulder joint support may be of any suitable profile: it may also be trapezoidal, ovoid, U-shaped, or any variation of those.

(10) FIG. 3 provides a top view of the shoulder joint support, where it can be seen that, preferably, each of the end portions 3c is thicker than the middle portion 3d, for an increased unity of the arm and the body.

(11) The shoulder joint support may be of any suitable size, depending in particular on the size of the garment. Typically, the shoulder joint support can have a length 3b of between 15 and 25 cm, a width 4a of between 2 cm and 7 cm and a thickness 3a, measured at the middle portion 3d, of up to 4 The shoulder joint support can have an adjustable thickness; for example, an inflatable shoulder joint support.

(12) The shoulder joint support is made of soft and light, yet supportive materials having characteristics such as anti-bacterial, breathing, fast-dry and durable. For example the shoulder joint support may be made of polyamide, polystyrene, polyurethane, silicon, cotton, and/or any combination of those materials. The average density of a shoulder joint support can be up to 100 kg per cubic meter, which ensures that the shoulder joint support is lightweight enough, while providing desired supportiveness.

(13) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shoulder joint support may comprise an outer shell part 2a and an inner part 2b. The outer shell part and the inner part may or may not be made of the same material.

(14) The shoulder joint support is to fill the gap that exists between the body and the upper arm when the wearer takes a golf posture. In implementing the shoulder joint support on a garment, in order for the shoulder joint support to be effective, the shoulder portion of the garment must be a tight fit.

(15) FIG. 5 provides a front view of a tight fit garment having the shoulder joint support 5b placed on the upper part of the sleeves 5a so that they are located under the shoulder joints of the user at the golf posture. The choice of the sleeve as opposed to the body portion of the garment is for comfort, versatility and aesthetical considerations.

(16) FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate examples of a loose fit garment according to further embodiments of the present invention. As the shoulder joint support is not effective on a loose fit garment, an inner garment is added: the shoulder joint portion of the inner garment, where the shoulder joint support 6a, 7a is placed, is designed so as to provide a close fit to the shoulder joint. In FIG. 6, the inner garment comprises an inner sleeve 6d and an inner torso portion 6e; the inner torso portion is sewn on the torso portion 6b of the garment in the vicinity of the junction 6f of the sleeve 6c and the torso portion 6b of the garment. FIG. 7 illustrates a raglan-style garment, where the inner garment comprises an inner sleeve 7d extending to the torso portion 7b of the garment, sewn on the junction 7e of the sleeve 7c and the torso portion 7b of the garment.

(17) The shoulder joint support may be removable (for instance by hooks and loops bands, buttons, pockets) or may be an integral part of the garment. The shoulder joint support and its placement should be designed under the full consideration of functionality, comfort and aesthetical aspects. In particular, the presence of the shoulder joint support should not be noticeable from outside and should not impede any free movement, so that the garment can be worn at any time.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

(18) The present invention can be used in golf functional apparel.