Cycling suit with a seat pad and a method for making the same

Abstract

A cycling suit (1) includes a seat pad (2) in the crotch area, and a plurality of fabric panels, which are associated along structural seams, and the seat pad is attached by means of a fabric panel (7) disposed to connect the rear part of said seat pad (2) to the suit (1), and said panel is fixed to the suit along lower back structural seams (8, 9) of the same. A corresponding method for manufacturing the cycling suit is also described.

Claims

1. A cycling suit (1) comprising a seat pad (2) in the crotch area, wherein the cycling suit comprises a plurality of fabric panels, which are associated along structural seam lines, and the seat pad comprises a cover (3) and two pads (4), the cover (3) comprising a foam expanded layer sandwiched between two fabric layers and the two pads (4) being longitudinally arranged symmetrical around a longitudinal axis of the cover, characterized in that: the suit (1) comprises a rear connection panel (7) in addition to the plurality of fabric panels, the rear connection panel (7) disposed to attach the rear part (6) of said seat pad (2) to the suit (1), and said rear connection panel (7) having two sides which converge to a median line (10) following two lines of fixation to the suit, said lines of fixation corresponding to two of said structural seam lines (8, 9), connecting together two (12, 13) of said fabric panels of the cycling suit (1) and said rear connection panel (7).

2. A cycling suit according to claim 1, wherein said two seam lines (8, 9) are located in the lower back region of the cycling suit.

3. A cycling suit according to claim 2, wherein said two seam lines are symmetrically arranged and inclined with respect to a median crotch line (10) of the cycling suit.

4. A cycling suit according to claim 1, wherein an edge (11) of said connection panel (7) is folded over said structural seam lines (8, 9), in such a way that said edge of the panel covers said seam lines.

5. A cycling suit according to claim 1, wherein said connection panel (7) is substantially triangular.

6. A cycling suit according to claim 1, wherein said connection panel (7) is made with a single layer piece of fabric.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a view of a cycling suit according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a seat pad in the crotch area.

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of the seat pad of the cycling suit of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a detail of the connection between the seat pad and the cycling suit.

(4) FIG. 4 is a scheme of a preferred embodiment for a junction between the seat pad and the cycling suit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) A cycling suit 1 includes a seat pad 2 in the crotch area. The cycling suit 1 is made of a suitable elastic fabric, such as Lycra, and may have different forms, such as a bodysuit, a pair of trousers, and others, according to various embodiments of the invention and the intended use, e.g. winter or summer, male or female, etc.

(6) The cycling suit 1 is made preferably with an elastic woven or knitted fabric, and comprises several fabric panels, joined together along suitable perimeter seams or equivalent.

(7) The seat pad 2 includes a soft fabric piece to form a cover 3, and a suitable padding which for example includes a couple of pads 4. FIG. 2 illustrates and example of an anatomical shape of the seat pad 2, having a front portion 5 and a rear portion 6.

(8) A detail of the connection to the cycling suit, according to an embodiment of the invention, is depicted in FIG. 3.

(9) The seat pad 2 is attached to the suit 1 via a rear connection panel 7, which in this example is embodied as a fabric panel, for example made in part of Lycra. Said panel is fixed to the suit 1 along two seams 8 and 9. Said seams 8 and 9 are also the lower back seams of the suit 1, which means that each seam 8 or 9, respectively, joins together two of the fabric portions which form the cycling suit 1.

(10) Said seams 8 and 9 are symmetrically inclined with respect to a median crotch line 10 of the cycling suit 1, which is indicated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3.

(11) FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment where an edge portion 11 of the panel 6 is folded over the respective seam 8 or 9, which connects two panels 12, 13 of the suit 1 forming an overall junction line 14. It can be seen that the seam 8 or 9 is covered by the edge 11. Accordingly, the user is kept from direct contact with the seam, which may be a source of discomfort, and the panels 12, 13 are not directly exposed to the attack of the sweat which is particularly severe in this region of the suit.

(12) The invention meets the aforesaid scopes, providing a perfect integration between the seat pad and the suit, a better comfort and performance.