Cycling garment

Abstract

A cycling bib (1) comprising a trousers member (2) and an elastically stretchable suspender member (3), wherein the suspender member comprises a stiffer portion (8) compared to the remaining of the suspender member, according to at least one stretching direction, said stiffer portion (8) being located in the rear lower region of the suspension member.

Claims

1) A cycling bib (1) comprising a trousers member (2) and an elastic suspender member (3), characterized in that: the suspender member comprises a stiffer portion (8) compared to the remaining of the suspender member, according to at least one stretching direction, said stiffer portion (8) being located in the rear lower region of the suspension member (3).

2) The cycling bib according to claim 1, wherein said stiffer portion extends from at least one rear attachment of the suspender member to the trousers member, up to an intermediate joint (9) of the suspender member.

3) The cycling bib according to claim 2, wherein said intermediate joint (9) is located substantially in the middle of a rear part of the suspender member.

4) The cycling bib according to claim 2, wherein the suspender member comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from at least one front attachment with the trousers member up to said intermediate joint, and the second portion being said stiffer portion.

5) The cycling bib according to claim 4, wherein said first portion of the suspender member comprises two suspender straps (4, 5), each having a first end attached to the trousers member and an opposite second end attached to said intermediate joint, and said stiffer portion of the suspender member comprises at least one strap having a first end attached to the intermediate joint and a second end attached to the trousers member.

6) The cycling bib according to claim 4, wherein said stiffer portion of the suspender member comprises two straps (6, 7), each having one end attached to the intermediate joint and an opposite end attached to the trousers member.

7) The cycling bib according to claim 6 wherein said two straps (4, 5) of the first portion of suspender member and said two straps (6, 7) of the stiffer portion (8) of suspender member converge towards said intermediate joint so that the suspender member (3) is generally X-shaped.

8) The cycling bib according to claim 7, wherein said two straps (4, 5) of the stiffer portion are attached to the trousers member along attachment lines (10) which are inclined relative to a median crotch line of the trousers member.

9) The cycling bib according to claim 1, wherein said stiffer portion (8) of the suspender member has a stiffness which is at least 10% greater than the stiffness of any other portion of the suspender member, according to said stretching direction.

10) The cycling bib according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stretching direction includes the longitudinal axial direction(s) (E6, E7) of one or more suspender straps (6, 7) of the suspender member (3).

11) The cycling bib according to claim 1, wherein the suspender member is permanently attached to the trousers member.

12) The cycling bib according to claim 1, wherein the trousers member includes a seat pad.

13) The cycling bib according to claim 12, wherein said stiffer portion (8) of the suspender member is attached directly to the seat pad.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0041] FIG. 1 is a front view of a cycling bib according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the bib of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a cycling bib 1 comprising a trousers member, generally denoted by numeral 2, and an elastic suspender member generally indicated by the numeral 3.

[0044] The trouser member 2 for example takes the form of a pair of shorts. The shorts 2 may include a seat pad (not shown) located internally in the crotch area. The seat pad may comprise a base panel and one or more soft pads.

[0045] The suspender member 3 includes a pair of front suspender straps 4, 5 and a pair of rear suspender straps 6, 7. The rear suspender straps 6, 7 form a rear lower portion 8 of the suspender member 3 (FIG. 2).

[0046] The suspender member 3 also includes a joint panel 9 in the mid-rear region. Preferably, said panel 9 is located at a suitable point of the suspender member 3, so that it lies substantially in the middle of the back of the user, when the bib 1 is worn.

[0047] The front suspender straps 4, 5 have first ends attached to the shorts 2 and opposite second ends attached to the joint panel 9. Similarly, the rear suspender straps 6, 7 have first ends attached to the back of the shorts 2 and second ends attached to said panel 9.

[0048] Preferably, the suspenders converge to the panel 9 so that the suspender member 3, particularly the rear part, has the shape of an X, as best seen in FIG. 2.

[0049] The rear suspender straps 6, 7 are stiffer than the front straps 4, 5. More in detail, the rear straps 6, 7 are stiffer than the front straps 4, 5 according to the longitudinal stretching direction of the straps. For example FIG. 2 illustrates the longitudinal stretching directions E6 and E7 of the strap 6, 7.

[0050] The rear suspender straps 6, 7 may be elastic bands or part of a single elastic band, folded in the proximity of the joint panel 9, according to preferred embodiments.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the shorts 2 and the front straps 4, 5 are made of a first fabric material and the rear straps 6, 7 are made of a second material, which is stiffer than the first material.

[0052] The figures show a preferred embodiment wherein said two straps 6, 7 of the stiffer portion 8 are attached to the trousers member 2 along attachment lines 10 which are inclined relative to a median crotch line 11 of the trousers member. Even more preferably, the rear attachment lines 10 are situated below front attachment lines 12 of the suspender member 3, relative to a waistline 13 of the bib 1.

[0053] Also, it can be seen that the rear straps 6, 7 extend at angled directions from the joint 9, thus forming a lambda- or inverted V-shaped rear stabilizer.

[0054] Due to the stiffness of the straps 6 and 7, the rear lower portion 8 (rear stabilizer) will exhibit a smaller elongation, for a given traction force, than the remaining of the suspender member 3. Particularly, the elongation of the rear lower portion 8 is smaller than the elongation of the front straps 4 and 5, for a given force.

[0055] The straps 6, 7, being less deformable, deliver traction forces on the shorts 2, according to the directions E6 and E7, the joint 9 acting as a traction point. Accordingly, said lower portion 8 provides a stabilization effect of the shorts 2 under intense pedalling action. If the shorts 2 include a seat pad, the portion 8 also stabilizes the position of the seat pad and improves the adherence to the body. The action of the rear stabilizer 8 is particularly effective when the user is in the riding position.