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[0001] This application claims priority from Provisional Application Serial No. 60/306,601, which was filed Jul. 18, 2001.
[0002] The present invention pertains generally to clothing. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a garment that is adapted to be worn around the waist during an exercise routine or other physical activity.
[0003] It is a well-known fact that many people exercise on a daily basis. Reasons for exercising range from the desire to have a more fit and attractive body to more functional cardiovascular conditioning and strength considerations. In general, many people have started to realize that by exercising on a regular basis they can increase their overall health level and feeling of well-being.
[0004] The current trend in cardiovascular activities is toward more moderate forms of exercises which are performed over a longer duration, such as walking, bicycling, low impact aerobics and similar types of cardiovascular activities. Studies have shown that these types of exercises are easy to perform and include many health benefits. Another increasingly popular trend, particularly among women, is to combine weight training with the above-mentioned cardiovascular activities to yield a balanced, effective workout routine.
[0005] When people perform the above-listed workout routine, or indeed any physical activity, they perspire, and the perspiration often soaks through the clothing. For women in particular, this can present unsightly stains in the center area of the women's clothing, particularly if women are wearing leotards or tight-fitting clothes which cover the buttocks, waist, hips and thighs. This can make women feel self-conscious and more reluctant to exercise within a group environment such as a health club, for example.
[0006] To obviate this concern, women will often tie a jacket or sweatshirt around their waist. These clothing items, however, can often be bulky and inhibit the physical range of motion, which further inhibits the workout and the enjoyment and benefits derived therefrom. Further, the jacket does not cover the front area of the woman's trunk area and perspiration stains which may have occurred in the front area.
[0007] In addition to the above concerns, it should be appreciated that people often tie a jacket, sweatshirt or similar type article around their waist because they are self-conscious about the appearance of their mid-section area, even when they are not engaged in physical activity. When this occurs, the jacket/sweatshirt is effectively being used as a casual wear accessory. A jacket or sweatshirt that is used as a casual wear accessory, however, retains the bulkiness and restriction of movement concerns described above.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,543, which issued to Lewis for an invention entitled “Athletic Towel”, discloses a rectangular towel with opposing elongated straps which extend from the top edge of the towel. During use, the straps are wrapped around the user's waist and fixed to each other. The straps for the towel as disclosed by Lewis, however, are very narrow. Accordingly, when the towel is oriented in front of the user and the straps are wrapped around the user's waist and tied to each other, the straps do not cover the back of the user's trunk.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,441, which issued to Richter for an invention entitled “Sport Garment For Women”, discloses a somewhat crescent-shaped garment. The device as disclosed by Richter, however, does not have arms that flare outwardly to provide a covering effect for the trunk area (front or back) when the garment is worn. Instead, the garment has a decreasing taper from a maximum width at the centerline of the garment to a minimum width at the garment end portion. During use, the garment is wrapped around the user's mid-section and oriented so that the centerline portion is positioned over one hip while the end portions are placed over the other hip. As a result, neither the front nor the back of the trunk area of the wearer is covered.
[0010] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a workout garment that provides coverage for both the front and the back of the trunk area when tied around the waist of the user. It is another object of the present invention to provide a workout garment which covers perspiration stains during use to thereby allow women who are wearing form-fitting clothing to enjoy physical activity without worrying about people seeing perspiration stains on their clothing. It is another object of the present invention to provide a workout garment which does not inhibit physical movement when placed around the waist of the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a workout garment which can be wrapped around the wearer's mid-section area as a casual wear accessory to lessen the wearer's concerns about body appearance. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a workout garment which can be easily manufactured in a cost-efficient manner.
[0011] A workout garment in accordance with the present invention includes a central section and opposing arm sections that extend outwardly therefrom. The central section includes a lower portion, a mid-portion and an upper portion, with the arm sections being fastened to the upper portion. The arm sections each further comprise a strap portion that is fixed to the upper portion of the central section on one end, and that further merges into a bell portion at the other end. The arm sections each have an increasing taper so that the width of the arm section increases from a minimum width at the strap portion to a maximum width at the bell portion.
[0012] To wear the garment, the garment is positioned around the trunk area of the wearer so that the central section is positioned over the rear of the wearer's trunk area. The arm sections are then tied in front of the waist of the user. The strap portions are sufficiently long so that once the arm sections are tied in this manner, the bell portions extend downwardly and cooperate to establish a front panel. The front panel covers the front area of the wearer to thereby hide the front area of the wearer's trunk area from view.
[0013] The novel features of this invention will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
[0018] Referring now to the drawings, the workout garment of the present invention is shown and is generally designated by reference number
[0019] As perhaps best seen in
[0020] An elastic waistband (not shown) can be incorporated into central section near top edge
[0021] FIGS.
[0022] As shown in FIGS.
[0023] As mentioned above, the workout garment of the present invention includes two opposing arm sections
[0024] As mentioned above, the user
[0025] As shown in the FIGS.
[0026] The garment of the present invention further includes a drawstring
[0027] Each arm section
[0028] The workout garment of the present invention could be manufactured from any and all types of pliable fabrics that are known in the prior art. These fabrics include, but are not restricted to, cotton, nylon, rayon, and other synthetic material, wool, and the like. These fabrics could be sheared to size using power shears, according to predetermined patterns and then seamed or otherwise stitched as known in the prior art. Finishing of the garment could include the placement of Velcro® components as described above.
[0029] From the above, it can be gleaned that the garment is preferably manufactured as a panel-like structure. It is to be appreciated, however, the garment could also be manufactured so that the arm sections are sleeves and so that the central section has a neck opening (not shown in the Figures). This manner of manufacture would allow the garment
[0030] While the particular workout garment, as herein shown and disclosed in detail, is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages above stated, it is to be understood that the presently preferred embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention. As such, no limitations are intended other than as defined in the appended claims to follow.