Sport Tights

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-057224 filed on Mar. 29, 2024, and the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-104784 filed on Jun. 28, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to sport tights.

Conventional sport tights are known to support the movement of athletes during exercise or to support posture maintenance (Patent Literature 1, for example). Sport tights of this type are formed by combining materials having different tensile strengths, based on the required function.

Sport tights are required to properly support the wearer's body while following the movement of the wearer's muscles during exercise. However, there is room for improvement in conventional sport tights in terms of proper support for the wearer's body.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such a situation, and a general purpose thereof is to provide sport tights that can properly support the wearer's body during exercise.

Sport tights according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a main body fabric including a first cylinder portion configured to surround a first leg of a wearer, a second cylinder portion configured to surround a second leg of the wearer, and a third cylinder portion configured to surround buttocks of the wearer; a first member disposed on at least one of an inner surface or an outer surface of the main body fabric; and a second member disposed on at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the main body fabric. The sport tights include a first portion including the main body fabric, a second portion including the main body fabric and the first member, and a third portion including the main body fabric and the second member. Among the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion, the first portion has the highest degree of stretchability, and the third portion has the lowest degree of stretchability. The first member is disposed at least in a region corresponding to an inner thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion and a region corresponding to an inner thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion. The second member is disposed at least in a region corresponding to an outer thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion and a region corresponding to an outer thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion.

The invention will now be described by reference to the preferred embodiments. This does not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, but to exemplify the invention.

In the following, the present disclosure will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to each drawing. In the embodiments and modifications, like reference characters denote like or corresponding constituting elements, and the repetitive description will be omitted as appropriate. Also, the dimensions of a member may be appropriately enlarged or reduced in each drawing in order to facilitate understanding. Further, in each drawing, part of a member less important in describing the embodiments may be omitted.

Also, terms including ordinal numbers, such as “first” and “second”, are used to describe various constituting elements. However, such terms are used only to distinguish one constituting element from another and do not limit the constituting elements.

In the embodiments, as the terms for indicating directions, front and rear directions, vertical directions, and left and right directions may be used. Each direction means a direction with respect to the body of a wearer, who is a person wearing sport tights, when the person is standing. That is, the rear direction indicates the direction in which the wearer's back is facing, and the front direction indicates the direction opposite to the rear direction from the wearer. In sport tights, the side facing in the front direction is also referred to as the front side, and the side facing in the rear direction is also referred to as the back side. Further, the outer side in the left or right direction in sport tights may also be referred to as the outer side with respect to the constituting elements of the sport tights.

is a front view that schematically illustrates sport tightsaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.is a rear view that schematically illustrates the sport tights.is a side view that schematically illustrates the sport tights.each show the shape of the sport tightsin a state of being worn by a wearer, in which illustration of the wearer is omitted.

The sport tightsare sport tights designed to be worn when the wearer performs exercise such as running. The sport tightsare also referred to as compression tights. The sport tightsare configured to support muscles during exercise by being in close contact with and compressing the wearer's body and also to reduce energy loss by restraining muscle vibration associated with exercise. In the following description, the sport tightshaving a shape covering above the wearer's knees are described as an example. However, the sport tightsmay also have a shape covering under the knees, such as near the ankles, of the wearer.

The sport tightsinclude a main body fabric. The main body fabricconstitutes a basic shape of the sport tights. The main body fabricmay have high degree of stretchability in any direction along the wearer's body. The main body fabricis configured, for example, to include a chemical fiber, such as polyester and nylon. The main body fabricmay be entirely constituted by a single fabric or may be multiple fabrics integrated using an arbitrary joining method, such as sewing or welding.

The main body fabricincludes a first cylinder portion, a second cylinder portion, and a third cylinder portion. The first cylinder portionis configured to surround a first leg of the wearer. The second cylinder portionis configured to surround a second leg of the wearer. The third cylinder portionis configured to surround the buttocks of the wearer. In the present embodiment, the third cylinder portionis configured to further surround a lumbar region of the wearer. In this case, the front side of the third cylinder portionis configured to surround an abdomen region of the wearer. In the example shown in, the first leg is the wearer's right leg, and the second leg is the wearer's left leg.

The sport tightsfurther include a first low-stretch material as a first member. The degree of stretchability of the first low-stretch material is less than or equal to the degree of stretchability of the main body fabric. The degree of stretchability can be evaluated by an elongation ratio when a predetermined load is applied to a fabric or the like to stretch it in a predetermined direction (i.e., the ratio of the length in the predetermined direction when the predetermined load is applied, to the length before the predetermined load is applied). It can be said that the degree of stretchability is low when the elongation ratio is small, and the degree of stretchability is high when the elongation ratio is large. The first low-stretch material is configured to include a synthetic resin, for example. The first low-stretch material is attached, as multiple low-stretch elements, to the main body fabricusing a joining method such as printing. By attaching the first low-stretch material as multiple low-stretch elementsto the main body fabric, gaps are easily formed between the multiple low-stretch elements. Therefore, compared to the case where the first low-stretch material is attached as a sheet member, for example, to the main body fabric, breathability of the sport tightscan be ensured more easily, and the sport tightscan be made to follow the movement of the legs more easily.

The multiple low-stretch elementsare arranged on at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the main body fabric. The inner surface of the main body fabricis a surface of the main body fabricthat faces the wearer's body. The outer surface of the main body fabricis a surface of the main body fabricopposite to the inner surface and is exposed to the outside when worn by the wearer. In the present embodiment, the multiple low-stretch elementsare arranged on the outer surface of the main body fabric.

The sport tightsfurther include an auxiliary fabricas a second member. The auxiliary fabricmay have high stretchability in any direction along the wearer's body. The degree of stretchability of the auxiliary fabricis not particularly limited and may be equivalent to the degree of stretchability of the main body fabric. The auxiliary fabricis configured, for example, to include a chemical fiber, such as polyester and nylon. The auxiliary fabricmay be entirely constituted by a single fabric or may be multiple fabrics integrated using an arbitrary joining method, such as sewing or welding.

The size of the auxiliary fabricis smaller than the size of the main body fabric. The auxiliary fabricis provided continuously over a region corresponding to the inner thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion, a region corresponding to the inner thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion, and a region corresponding to the third cylinder portion. Accordingly, the auxiliary fabricintegrally formed on the main body fabriccan be disposed at a position corresponding to a body part of the wearer for which support is particularly required during exercise. In the present specification, based on the center line with respect to the left and right directions of the first cylinder portionwhen the sport tightsare placed flat on a flat surface and viewed from the front, the side region side of the body is defined as the outer thigh side of the first leg, and the side opposite to the outer thigh side is defined as the inner thigh side. For the second leg, the outer thigh side and the inner thigh side are defined in the same manner as for the first leg, except that the left and right sides are reversed.

The auxiliary fabricis disposed on at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the main body fabric. The auxiliary fabricmay be disposed on a surface different from the surface on which the multiple low-stretch elementsare arranged, of the inner surface and the outer surface of the main body fabric. In this case, since the multiple low-stretch elementsand the auxiliary fabricdo not interfere with each other in a portion where the main body fabric, the multiple low-stretch elements, and the auxiliary fabricoverlap, the multiple low-stretch elementsand the auxiliary fabriccan be stably attached to the main body fabric.

In the present embodiment, the auxiliary fabricis disposed on the inner surface of the main body fabric. Accordingly, since the auxiliary fabricis less likely to be visually recognized from the outside when the wearer is wearing the sport tights, the design properties of the sport tightscan be easily improved.

The auxiliary fabricmay be attached to the main body fabricat multiple positions on the surface of the auxiliary fabricfacing the main body fabric. For example, the auxiliary fabricmay be attached to the main body fabricvia multiple point-shaped adhesive members arranged at substantially equal intervals on the surface of the auxiliary fabricfacing the main body fabric. This can make the auxiliary fabricless likely to shift from the position where it is disposed on the main body fabric, even when the wearer exercises strenuously. Also, compared to the case where the auxiliary fabricand the main body fabricare surface bonded, the sport tightscan be made to follow the wearer's movement more easily. The auxiliary fabricmay be attached to the main body fabricat a position of the contour line or near the contour line on the surface of the auxiliary fabricfacing the main body fabric, using an arbitrary joining method, such as sewing or welding. Also, the auxiliary fabricmay be attached to the main body fabricboth at multiple positions and at a position of the contour line or near the contour line on the surface of the auxiliary fabricfacing the main body fabric.

schematically illustrates an example of a region in which multiple low-stretch elementsare arranged. A region in which multiple low-stretch elementsare arranged may also be referred to as a low-stretch region. As shown in, in the low-stretch region, the multiple low-stretch elementsmay be arranged in a predetermined repeating pattern on the main body fabric. The low-stretch regionhas a shape extending in a predetermined direction (longitudinal direction in) and a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction (lateral direction in). The degree of stretchability in the predetermined direction of the low-stretch regionand the degree of stretchability in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction of the low-stretch regionmay be different from each other.

In the example shown in, the shape of each low-stretch elementhas a long side direction and a short side direction. In specific, the shape of each low-stretch elementis a substantially rhombic shape. The low-stretch elementsare arranged in an orientation such that the diagonals of each low-stretch elementare respectively directed along longitudinal and lateral directions in. A longitudinal direction of each low-stretch elementis a short side direction, and a lateral direction of each low-stretch elementis a long side direction. In this case, in the low-stretch elements, the degree of stretchability in a direction along a long side direction is lower than the degree of stretchability in a direction along a short side direction. Therefore, it is easier to design the low-stretch regionsuch that the degree of stretchability in a direction along a long side direction of the low-stretch elementsis lower than the degree of stretchability in a direction along a short side direction of the low-stretch elements. Thus, by adjusting the long side direction and the short side direction of the low-stretch elementsconstituting the repeating pattern, the degree of stretchability of the low-stretch regioncan be given a directional property.

In the low-stretch region, the repeating pattern of the arrangement of the multiple low-stretch elementsmay be a repeating pattern in which the interval between low-stretch elementsis different at each position within the low-stretch region. Also, the size, shape, or orientation of a low-stretch elementmay be different at each position where it is disposed. Accordingly, the degree of stretchability can be continuously changed at each position within the low-stretch region.

schematically illustrates a first modification of the low-stretch region.schematically illustrates a second modification of the low-stretch region.schematically illustrates a third modification of the low-stretch region. In each of the modifications shown in, the explanation for matters in common with the low-stretch elementsand the low-stretch regionof the present embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

In the example shown in, the shape of each of low-stretch elementsA arranged in a predetermined repeating pattern in a low-stretch regionA is a substantially circular shape. In the example shown in, the shape of each of low-stretch elementsB arranged in a predetermined repeating pattern in a low-stretch regionB is a substantially square shape. In the example shown in, the shape of each of low-stretch elementsC arranged in a predetermined repeating pattern in a low-stretch regionC is a substantially equilateral triangular shape. Each of the low-stretch elementsA-C need not necessarily have a long side direction and a short side direction. In other words, with regard to each of the low-stretch elementsA-C, the length in a longitudinal direction and the length in a lateral direction may be substantially identical in each figure.

On the outer side of at least one of the first cylinder portionor the second cylinder portion, the low-stretch regionmay be provided entirely in an area along a vertical direction, may be provided in 30% or more of the area along the vertical direction, may be provided in 50% or more of the area along the vertical direction, or may be provided in 80% or more of the area along the vertical direction. The proportion of the low-stretch regionin the first cylinder portionis calculated as the proportion of the length of a line segment connecting the upper end and the lower end of the low-stretch regionwhen the vertical dimension of the outer side of the first cylinder portionis assumed to be 100%. The proportion of the low-stretch regionin the second cylinder portionis calculated as the proportion of the length of a line segment connecting the upper end and the lower end of the low-stretch regionwhen the vertical dimension of the outer side of the second cylinder portionis assumed to be 100%.

Referring back to, the low-stretch regionsinclude at least a region corresponding to the outer thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion, a region corresponding to the outer thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion, and a region corresponding to the back side of the lumbar region of the wearer in the third cylinder portion. Accordingly, since the low-stretch regionsare arranged at positions corresponding to body parts of the wearer for which support is particularly required during exercise, the wearer's body during exercise can be supported more properly.

The sport tightsinclude a first portion including the main body fabric, a second portion including the main body fabricand the low-stretch elementsas the first member, a third portion including the main body fabricand the auxiliary fabricas the second member, and a fourth portion including the main body fabric, the low-stretch elements, and the auxiliary fabric. The first portion is a portion of the main body fabricin which the low-stretch elementsand the auxiliary fabricare not provided. In the example shown in, the first portion corresponds to the gaps between the multiple low-stretch elementswithin the region corresponding to the outer thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion, the gaps between the multiple low-stretch elementswithin the region corresponding to the outer thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion, a portion around the hem of the first cylinder portion, and a portion around the hem of the second cylinder portion.

The second portion is a portion of the main body fabricin which the low-stretch elementsare provided but the auxiliary fabricis not provided. In the example shown in, the second portion corresponds to a portion where the multiple low-stretch elementsare provided within the region corresponding to the outer thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion, and a portion where the multiple low-stretch elementsare provided within the region corresponding to the outer thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion.

The third portion is a portion of the main body fabricin which the low-stretch elementsare not provided but the auxiliary fabricis provided. In the example shown in, the third portion corresponds to a portion where the low-stretch elementsare not provided within the region corresponding to the inner thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion, a portion where the low-stretch elementsare not provided within the region corresponding to the inner thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion, and a portion where the low-stretch elementsare not provided within the region corresponding to the third cylinder portion.

The fourth portion is a portion of the main body fabricin which the low-stretch elementsand the auxiliary fabricare provided. In the example shown in, the fourth portion corresponds to a portion where the low-stretch elementsand the auxiliary fabricare provided within a region corresponding to the vicinity of the boundary between the inner thigh side and the outer thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion, a portion where the low-stretch elementsand the auxiliary fabricare provided within a region corresponding to the vicinity of the boundary between the inner thigh side and the outer thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion, and a portion corresponding to the back side of the lumbar region of the wearer in the third cylinder portion.

Among the first, second, third, and fourth portions, the first portion has the highest degree of stretchability, and the fourth portion has the lowest degree of stretchability. The degree of stretchability of the second portion and the degree of stretchability of the third portion may be the same or may be different. When the degree of stretchability of the low-stretch elementsis higher than the degree of stretchability of the auxiliary fabric, the degree of stretchability of the second portion is higher than the degree of stretchability of the third portion. When the degree of stretchability of the low-stretch elementsis lower than the degree of stretchability of the auxiliary fabric, the degree of stretchability of the second portion is lower than the degree of stretchability of the third portion. When the degree of stretchability of the low-stretch elementsis equal to the degree of stretchability of the auxiliary fabric, the degree of stretchability of the second portion is equal to the degree of stretchability of the third portion.

Thus, in the sport tightsof the present embodiment, the degree of stretchability of each portion can be set with high flexibility, based on how the low-stretch elementsas the first member and the auxiliary fabricas the second member are arranged with respect to the main body fabric. Therefore, the sport tightscan properly support the wearer's body during exercise.

With reference to, modifications of the sport tightswill be described. In each of the modifications shown in, the explanation for matters in common with the sport tightsof the present embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

is a front view that schematically illustrates sport tightsA according to a first modification of the sport tights. The position of the upper edge of the sport tightsA is lower than that of the sport tights. In specific, the sport tightsA differ from the sport tightsin that the third cylinder portionis not configured to surround the lumbar region of the wearer. With such a configuration, the feeling of pressure on the lumbar region and also on the abdomen region opposite to the lumbar region can be reduced.

is a front view that schematically illustrates sport tightsB according to a second modification of the sport tights. The size of the auxiliary fabricin the sport tightsB is smaller than that in the sport tights. In specific, the auxiliary fabricin the sport tightsB is provided continuously over a region corresponding to part of the inner thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion, a region corresponding to part of the inner thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion, and a region corresponding to the third cylinder portion. With such a configuration, since the proportion of a highly stretchable region in the sport tightsB is higher than that in the sport tights, the sport tightsB can follow the wearer's movement more easily.

is a front view that schematically illustrates sport tightsC according to a third modification of the sport tights. The size of the auxiliary fabricin the sport tightsC is larger than that in the sport tights. In specific, the auxiliary fabricin the sport tightsC is provided continuously over a region corresponding to the entire inner thigh side and part of the outer thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion, a region corresponding to the entire inner thigh side and part of the outer thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion, and a region corresponding to the third cylinder portion. With such a larger auxiliary fabric, the femoral muscles can be supported more effectively, and the swaying of the soft tissues of the thighs can be effectively restrained.

is a front view that schematically illustrates sport tightsD according to a fourth modification of the sport tights. The shape of the auxiliary fabricin the sport tightsD is different from that in the sport tights. In specific, the auxiliary fabricin the sport tightsD has a shape of which the contour line is snaking in each of the region corresponding to the first cylinder portionand the region corresponding to the second cylinder portion. With such snaking contour lines, the auxiliary fabriccan be disposed appropriately in areas where support is required, and, in addition, the sport tightsD can be configured to be lighter in weight.

is a front view that schematically illustrates sport tightsE according to a fifth modification of the sport tights. The size of a low-stretch regionin the sport tightsE is smaller than that in the sport tights. In specific, among the low-stretch regionsin the sport tightsE, the region corresponding to the outer thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portionand the region corresponding to the outer thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portionare smaller in a vertical direction than the corresponding low-stretch regionsin the sport tights. More specifically, with respect to the vertical dimension on the outer side of at least one of the first cylinder portionor the second cylinder portion, the vertical dimension of the corresponding low-stretch regionmay be 50% or less or may be 40% or less. With the low-stretch regionsformed relatively small, the capability to follow and the breathability can be improved, and, in addition, the sport tightsE can be configured to be lighter in weight.

is a front view that schematically illustrates sport tightsF according to a sixth modification of the sport tights. A low-stretch regionin the sport tightsF is larger in a vertical direction than that in the sport tights. In specific, a low-stretch regionis disposed entirely on the outer side of at least one of the first cylinder portionor the second cylinder portionand also entirely on the corresponding outer side of the third cylinder portion. With a low-stretch regionformed from a hem portion to a lumbar region, supporting force can be applied to an area over the corresponding outer thigh side and lumbar region.

is a front view that schematically illustrates sport tightsaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.is a rear view that schematically illustrates the sport tights.is a side view that schematically illustrates the sport tights. With regard to the sport tightsof the present embodiment, the explanation for matters in common with the sport tightsof the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

The sport tightsinclude the main body fabricand the first low-stretch material as the first member. The main body fabricof the present embodiment is the same as the main body fabricof the first embodiment. The first low-stretch material is attached, as multiple low-stretch elements, to the main body fabricusing a joining method such as printing. The low-stretch elementsand the low-stretch regionsof the present embodiment are the same as the low-stretch elementsand the low-stretch regionsof the first embodiment.

The sport tightsdiffer from the sport tightsof the first embodiment in including a second low-stretch material as the second member. The degree of stretchability of the second low-stretch material is less than or equal to the degree of stretchability of the main body fabric. The second low-stretch material is configured to include silicone rubber, for example. The second low-stretch material is attached, as a silicone sheet, for example, to the main body fabricusing a joining method such as printing. The second low-stretch material is disposed on at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the main body fabric.

The second low-stretch material is attached, to the main body fabric, as a first extending portionextending from a position corresponding to the wearer's buttock in the third cylinder portiontoward the hem of the first cylinder portionand a second extending portionextending from a position corresponding to the wearer's buttock in the third cylinder portiontoward the hem of the second cylinder portion. The first extending portionbranches off from the position corresponding to the wearer's buttock in the third cylinder portionand includes a first front extending portion extending through a position corresponding to the front thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portionand a first rear extending portion extending through a position corresponding to the rear thigh side of the first leg in the first cylinder portion. The second extending portionbranches off from the position corresponding to the wearer's buttock in the third cylinder portionand includes a second front extending portion extending through a position corresponding to the front thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portionand a second rear extending portion extending through a position corresponding to the rear thigh side of the second leg in the second cylinder portion.

The first front extending portion and the first rear extending portion may be formed continuously with each other or may be formed discontinuously. In the present embodiment, the first front extending portion and the first rear extending portion are formed continuously as branching off from the position corresponding to the wearer's buttock. Since the first front extending portion and the first rear extending portion are continuously formed, it is possible to impart a difference in stretchability while reducing a sense of incongruity felt by the wearer.

Further, the first extending portionand the second extending portionmay also be formed continuously with each other or may be formed discontinuously. In the present embodiment, the first extending portionand the second extending portionare discontinuous in a center part on the back side of the third cylinder portion. The center part on the back side is often sewn; in such cases, by making the first extending portionand the second extending portiondiscontinuous in the center part on the back side, the flexibility in sewing can be ensured more easily.

The vertical dimension (length) of each of the first front extending portion and the first rear extending portion is not particularly limited and may be, for example, 50% or more, 80% or more, or 90% or more of the vertical dimension of the first cylinder portion. For the second front extending portion and the second rear extending portion, the same dimensions as the first front extending portion and the first rear extending portion may be adopted.

Accordingly, in the sport tights, the degree of stretchability along the extending direction of each of the first extending portionand the second extending portioncan be made particularly low. Therefore, muscle vibration associated with exercise can be restrained, and various degrees of stretchability can be achieved with the multiple low-stretch elements.