PIECE OF SPORTS AND LEISURE CLOTHING HAVING A GEOMETRIC PATTERN THEREON

Abstract

The present invention relates: to a piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern thereon, wherein the geometric pattern comprises at least one base item having a base boundary that forms the contour of the base item, a surrounding area that encompasses the base item, wherein the surrounding area is divided into a plurality of subareas, and a plurality of images, wherein within each subarea of the plurality of subareas at least one image of the plurality of images is disposed, such that the base boundary is visually defined by the plurality of images. The present invention further relates to a piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern thereon, wherein the geometric pattern comprises a base item having a base boundary, an area, wherein the area is encompassed by the base boundary, and wherein the area is divided into a plurality of subareas, a plurality of images, wherein within each subarea of the plurality of subareas one image of the plurality of images is disposed, such that the base boundary is visually defined by the plurality of images.

Claims

1. A piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern thereon, the geometric pattern comprising: at least one base item having a base boundary that forms the contour of the base item, a surrounding area that encompasses the base item, wherein the surrounding area is divided into a plurality of subareas, and a plurality of images, wherein within each subarea of the plurality of subareas at least one image of the plurality of images is disposed, such that the base boundary is visually defined by the plurality of images.

2. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 1, wherein the base item is at least one of a numeral, a letter, a symbol, a logo, or an emblem.

3. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 1, wherein the allocation of the plurality of images to the plurality of subareas, respectively, is arbitrary.

4. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 1, wherein each image of the plurality of images comprises at least one of a signature, a slogan, a cheer, or a portrait.

5. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 1, wherein the size and/or shape of the subareas varies.

6. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 1, wherein at least one image of the plurality of images is cropped in order to fit into the subareas.

7. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 1, wherein the surrounding area is encompassed by an outer boundary, wherein the outer boundary substantially has the same contour as the base boundary, wherein the outer boundary and the base boundary are spaced apart from each other under a substantially constant distance, thereby creating a frame area surrounding the base item.

8. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 1, wherein within the base item an inner boundary is disposed, wherein the inner boundary substantially has the same contour as the base item, wherein the base boundary and the inner boundary are spaced apart from each other under a constant distance, wherein the surface enclosed by the inner boundary is divided into a plurality of inner subareas, wherein within each subarea of the inner plurality of subareas at least one image of the plurality of images is disposed.

9. A piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern thereon, the geometric pattern comprising: a base item having a base boundary, an area, wherein the area is encompassed by the base boundary, and wherein the area is divided into a plurality of subareas, a plurality of images, wherein within each subarea of the plurality of subareas at least one image of the plurality of images is disposed, such that the base boundary is visually defined by the plurality of images.

10. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 9, wherein the base item is at least one of a numeral, a letter, a symbol, a logo, or an emblem.

11. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 9, wherein the allocation of the plurality of images to the plurality of subareas, respectively, is arbitrary.

12. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 9, wherein each image of the plurality of images comprises at least one of a signature, a slogan, a cheer, or a portrait.

13. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 9, wherein the size and/or shape of the subareas varies.

14. The piece of sports and leisure clothing of claim 9, wherein at least one image of the plurality of images is cropped in order to fit into the subareas.

15. A computer implemented method for generating a geometric pattern on a piece of sports and leisure clothing and a computer comprising the steps of: loading surface data of the piece of sports and leisure clothing into the computer, loading a base boundary into the computer, wherein the base boundary forms the contour of a base item that is to be visualized on the piece of sports and leisure clothing, dividing the surrounding area of the piece of sports and leisure clothing outside the base item into a plurality of subareas, loading a plurality of images into the computer, distributing the plurality of images over the plurality of subareas, so that each subarea contains at least one image, thereby visually defining the base boundary by means of the arrangement of the plurality of images, generating the geometric pattern on the piece of sports and leisure clothing.

16. A computer implemented method for generating a geometric pattern on a piece of sports and leisure clothing and a computer comprising the steps of: loading surface data of the piece of sports and leisure clothing into the computer, loading a base boundary into the computer, wherein the base boundary forms the contour of a base item that is to be visualized on the piece of sports and leisure clothing, dividing an area that is encompassed by the base boundary into a plurality of subareas, loading a plurality of images into the computer, distributing the plurality of images over the plurality of subareas, so that each subarea contains one image, thereby visually defining the base boundary by means of the arrangement of the plurality of images, generating the geometric pattern on the piece of sports and leisure clothing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] The invention will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description of the invention, in conjunction with the drawings, of which:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a perspective view of a piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern thereon;

[0043] FIG. 2 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a detailed view of the geometric pattern of FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a detailed view of a geometric pattern;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a perspective view of a piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern which comprises monochrome sections;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a detailed view of the geometric pattern of FIG. 4;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a detailed view of a geometric pattern;

[0048] FIG. 7 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a perspective view of a piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern thereon;

[0049] FIG. 8 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a detailed view of a geometric pattern;

[0050] FIG. 9 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a perspective view of a piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern thereon; and

[0051] FIG. 10 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a detailed view of the geometric pattern of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0052] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments are described by means of the Figures. Thereby, the same elements, similar elements, or elements with the same effect are indicated by identical reference signs. To avoid redundancies the following description partially goes without a repeated description of these elements

[0053] FIG. 1 illustrates a piece of sports and leisure clothing 10, having a geometric pattern 20 thereon. In particular the piece of sports and leisure clothing 10 is a jersey. However, it may be any other piece of sports and leisure clothing, such as one of a t-shirt, a sweater, a sweatshirt, a jacket, a pair of trousers, a pair of shorts, a pair of socks, a pair of shoes, a scarf, a cap, a beany, and the like.

[0054] The geometric pattern 20 on the piece of sports and leisure clothing 10 comprises a base item 30 that embodies a number. Alternatively, the base item may embody at least one of a letter, a symbol, a logo, and an emblem.

[0055] The base item 30 is visually defined by means of a base boundary 32. The base boundary itself is defined by the surrounding area 40 adjacent to the base item 30. The surrounding area 40 is divided into a plurality of subareas 42. In each subarea 42 one image of the plurality of images 50 is located. The images 50 in the subareas 42 adjacent to the base item 30 create a contrast, thus visually defining the base boundary 32 and, thus, the base item 30. In other words, the base item 30 results from locating the images 50 in the subareas 42 of the surrounding area 40 by leaving out the area within the base boundary 30.

[0056] The geometric pattern shown in FIG. 1 extends over the entire jersey. I.e. the whole jersey is covered with images 50 except for the area of the base item. The images 50 show portraits of fans. Hence, the number on the jersey results from the arrangement of fan portraits on the jersey. Alternatively, the images may be at least one of a signature, a slogan, and a cheer.

[0057] For example, a fan may hand in his portrait at a team or club, he or she supports. Several portraits of different fans may be collected. The portraits are digitalized, e.g. by a scanning method. It is also possible that the fans hand in their portraits in a digitalized form, e.g. via a smart phone. The digitalized portraits are then via a database and server architecture forwarded to a textile printing machine, which is able to print the portraits onto a piece of sports and leisure clothing, such as a jersey. This is carried out by means of a computer implemented method that runs in a central processing unit of the textile printing machine. As input variables the computer implemented method needs the coordinates of the base item, in particular the coordinates of the base boundary. Moreover, the information of the size of the subareas has to be provided. Then, by means of the computer implemented method the images, i.e. the fan portraits, are randomly distributed over the sub areas. As a result the jersey comprises a geometric pattern of a plurality of portraits, wherein the portraits leave out an area which defines the base item, e.g. a number.

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of the geometric pattern of FIG. 1. The images 50 are randomly distributed in the subareas 42. The space that is left out defines the base item 30. The contrast between the images 50 and the base item 30 defines a base boundary 32.

[0059] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a geometric pattern 20 on a piece of sports and leisure clothing, wherein the images distributed over the subareas 42 comprise signatures. These signatures may be signatures of fans, athletes, and the like.

[0060] FIG. 4 illustrates a piece of sports and leisure clothing 10 in the form of a jersey having a geometric pattern 20 thereon. A base item 30 is visually defined as the base item of FIG. 1 with the difference that the surrounding area 40 is divided into sections 44, 45 of different colors. Each section 44, 45 has the form of a stripe. All images 50 located in the subareas 42 of one section 44 have the same color. I.e. the images 50 only comprise one color, wherein each image 50 is visualized by using one color only. In order to create contrasts within a single image 50, the brightness of the color may vary.

[0061] A section 45 adjacent to the section 44 also comprises images 50 of a single color. However, the color of section 45 differs from the color of section 44. Thus, the sections 44, 45 are visually defined by the use of different colors among two adjacent sections 44, 45. The sections 44, 45 of the piece of sports and leisure clothing shown in FIG. 4 in the form of stripes, results in a jersey with a striped pattern. Alternatively, other patterns such as check, squares, circles, and the like are possible.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows two different colors alternating from section 44 to section 45. Alternatively, more than two different colors may alternate. FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed view of the geometric pattern of FIG. 4.

[0063] FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed view of a geometric pattern 20 on a piece of sports and leisure clothing, wherein the subareas 42 are of different sizes. According to FIG. 6 also the images 50 are of different sizes.

[0064] FIG. 7 illustrates yet another embodiment of a piece of sports and leisure clothing 10 having a geometric pattern 20 thereon. A base item 30 is visually defined as the base item of FIG. 1 with the difference that the surrounding area 40 that is divided into subareas 42 is limited by an outer boundary 46. The outer boundary 46 encompasses the surrounding area 4 at a distance from the base boundary 32. Thus, the surrounding area 40 frames the base item 30. In particular, the surrounding area 40 runs around the base item 30 in the form of a frame area. The piece of information, that is inherent to the base item 30, i.e. a number in FIG. 7, is also being expressed by means of the surrounding area 40.

[0065] The distance between the base boundary 32 and the outer boundary 46 and thus the width of the frame area amounts to 1 inch. However, the distance may also be one of a range from 0.05 to 10 inches.

[0066] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a geometric pattern 20 on a piece of sports and leisure clothing similar to the geometric pattern of FIG. 1, with the difference that within the base item 30 an inner boundary 34 is provided that runs in a substantially constant distance with respect to the base boundary 32. Thus, the inner boundary 34 encloses an area within the base item 30. The area encompassed by the inner boundary 34 is divided into a plurality of subareas 36, wherein a plurality of images 50 is spread over the subareas 36. The distance between the base boundary 32 and the inner boundary 34 may be less than half of the width of the base item 30.

[0067] By means of the geometric pattern according to FIG. 8 the piece of information, that is inherent to the base item 30, i.e. a number in FIG. 8, is also being expressed by means of the plurality of images spread over the plurality of subareas 36 within the inner boundary 34, wherein the area of the base item 30 that lies between the base boundary 32 and the inner boundary 34 acts as a frame.

[0068] FIG. 9 illustrates a piece of sports and leisure clothing 10 having a geometric pattern 20 thereon. The geometric pattern comprises a base item 30. The base item 30 has a base boundary 32. The area encompassed by the base boundary is divided into subareas 36. A plurality of images 50 is spread over the subareas 36, so that within each sub area 36 one image 50 is disposed. The allocation of the images 50 visually defines the base boundary 32. In other words, the images are allocated in a way so that in the overall appearance the base item becomes visible. FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the geometric pattern of FIG. 9.

[0069] The geometric pattern, which has been described in the context of a piece of sports and leisure clothing may also be provided on other articles which are related to the general realm of sports and sports merchandising, such as perimeter advertising, team busses, airships, stadium displays, sports equipment or the like.

[0070] The base items of the geometric pattern illustrated in the FIGS. 1 to 9 are angular. However, also base items with rounded corners are possible.

[0071] As far as applicable, all individual features which are; illustrated in the various embodiments, can be combined and/or exchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SKINS

[0072] 10 Piece of sports and leisure clothing [0073] 20 Geometric pattern [0074] 30 Base item [0075] 32 Base boundary [0076] 34 Inner boundary [0077] 36 Subarea [0078] 40 Surrounding area [0079] 42 Subarea [0080] 44 Section [0081] 45 Section [0082] 50 Image