FABRIC FOR SPORTSWEAR AND SPORTSWEAR MADE BY THIS FABRIC

The object of the present invention is a fabric for sportswear and a sportswear garment made by means of said fabric .

Such fabric type is also known as technical fabric.

In particular, the present invention has application in the obtainment of sportswear garments intended for athletes engaged in sports activities and/or in professional competitions.

As is known, in the obtainment of such garments, it is often necessary to provide for zones of the garment in which a certain friction with the athlete's skin is obtained in order to stably maintain the position of the garment itself.

For example, such zones can be provided at the wrists or ankles in order to allow the sleeves and pants to maintain the position on the athlete's skin, especially during the competition or in any case following any movement of the athlete.

Indeed, the portion of the garment on the body of the user is particularly important for ensuring an optimal performance .

First of all, it is essential that the garment does not create any fold that could compromise the aerodynamic performance, above all in the case of speed sports. Moreover, the creation of folds could cause the athlete discomfort, compromising his concentration.

For the obtainment of such friction zones, bands of fabric are used with standard size, which are hard to adapt .

Such bands are obtained due to suitable taping units that supply the band with a conventional width, which, by way of example, could be comprised between 1 and 6 cm.

Clearly, the use of such bands determines a considerable limit insofar as it is difficult to obtain friction zones with different shapes in order to be adapted to different needs .

Alternatively, it is possible to attach pieces of material with adhesive properties directly on the fabric of the garments for sportswear.

In such case, however, the zone where the piece is attached totally loses elasticity, softness and breathability .

It should also be noted that for specific applications (for example in the case of official international competitions), such solutions cannot be employed due to the regulations.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a fabric for sportswear that overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art .

In particular, the present invention aims to provide a fabric for sportswear that allows the obtainment of friction zones with different shapes and arranged in different positions and which maintains good conditions of softness, elasticity and breathability.

The specified technical task and object are substantially achieved with a fabric for sportswear comprising the technical characteristics set forth in one or more of the enclosed claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be clearer from the exemplifying and hence non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a fabric for sportswear, as illustrated in the enclosed drawings, in which:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a fabric for sportswear in accordance with the present invention;

- figure 2 is a schematic view of a yarn for obtaining the fabric of figure 1.

With reference to the enclosed figures, reference number 1 indicates overall a fabric for sportswear in accordance with the present invention.

The fabric 1 has at least one side la provided with friction means 2.

In particular, the fabric 1 has a first side la, on which the friction means 2 are placed, and a second side lb opposite the first.

Advantageously, the friction means 2 are exclusively arranged on the first side la. In other words, the second side lb does not have any friction means and is configured as a conventional fabric.

In an alternative embodiment, the friction means 2 are arranged both on the first la and on the second side lb. Preferably, the fabric 1 is of woven type.

In an alternative embodiment, the fabric 1 can be of stretch woven type. In such a manner, the fabric 1 is adapted without any problem to the parts of the athlete's body, on which it lies without creating any discomfort. Advantageously, the fabric 1 has a double weft face. In other words, the fabric 1 is formed by two woven faces (or portions) that are already joined together during weaving .

In consideration thereof, the first la and the second side lb of the fabric 1 each lie on a different face. The friction means 2 comprise a plurality of projections 3 arranged on the first side la of the fabric 1. Such projections 3 are preferably made of elastomeric material. Such projections 3 in contact with the skin of the user cause a friction sufficient to retain the fabric 1 in the position in adherence on the body of the athlete .

The fabric 1 is at least partly made with a yarn 10 usable both as weft and warp in at least one of the faces of the fabric 1.

In the preferred embodiment, the yarn 10 is only used as weft .

In accordance with the present invention, the yarn 1 is exclusively used in only one of the faces of the fabric 1, and in particular in the face that defines the first side la of the fabric 1.

Such yarn 10 comprises an internal thread 11 and a first

12 and a second external thread 13. The first 12 and the second external thread 13 are wound around the internal thread 11.

Preferably, the first 12 and the second external thread

13 are wound around the internal thread 11 with opposite twisting .

In detail, the first 12 and the second thread 13 are wound on the internal thread 11 according to a twisting, respectively "S" and "Z".

Preferably, the internal thread 11 is made of polyamide. Preferably, the first 12 and the second thread 13 are made of the same material. Such material is of elastomeric type, such as materials based on polyurethane , commercially known with the names Lycra®, Creora®, Roica®.

Externally, therefore, the yarn 10 is made of elastomeric material .

It is observed that the successive coils of the first external thread 12 along with the successive coils of the second external thread 13 are respectively spaced from each other .

The pitch between one coil and the next of the first 12 and second external thread 13 is comprised between 180 pm and 400 pm.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the first 12 and the second thread 13 are made of different materials. Preferably, the first 12 and the second external thread 13 have the same number of windings per unit of length around the internal thread 11. Preferably, the first 12 and the second external thread 13 have a number of windings comprised between 500 and 900 windings per meter. Still more preferably, the first 12 and the second external thread 13 have a number of windings substantially equal to 700 windings per meter.

In the yarn 10 thus obtained, the internal thread 11 has a wavy progression.

The yarn 10 is placed under tension when it must be woven, in a manner to exploit the deformability thereof, elongating it.

Once woven, the tension acting on the yarn 10 is eliminated and the yarn 10 tends to be contracted.

The contraction of the yarn 10 causes the formation of a plurality of folded and/or twisted portions which, by projecting, define the projections 3.

It should be emphasized that the projections 3 are formed when the fabric 1 is removed from the loom and all the residue tensions are eliminated.

The projections 3 have substantially helical form.

As mentioned above, at least in their external contact part, such projections 3 are made of the same elastomeric material as the first 11 and second external thread 12 of the yarn 10.

It can be observed, therefore, that the friction means 2 are integrated in the fabric 1 itself.

In other words, the fabric 1 does not alter its elasticity, softness or breathability characteristics due to the friction means 2.

For obtaining the fabric 1, a conventional, known weaving method is employed.

By way of example, the fabric 1 is made with a density comprised between 60 and 80 threads per centimeter, preferably with a density substantially equal to 68 threads per centimeter.

It should be noted that, since the external part of the yarn 10 is made of elastomeric and hence impermeable material, the fabric 1 has per se good impermeability qualities .

Nevertheless, it can be subjected to further known impermeabilization treatments.

The fabric 1 can be subjected to further finishing steps for the obtainment of specific characteristics.

The yarn 10, according to that described up to now, is also an object of the present invention.

Also part of the present invention is a sportswear garment entirely or partly made with the fabric 1. In such case, the first side la of the fabric 1 is placed inside the garment in a manner such that, during use, it adheres to the athlete's skin.

It is possible to use the fabric 1 for obtaining not only portions corresponding to the wrists and/or ankles of the athlete, but also to all the other parts thereof.

In this case, it is possible to create, by means of the friction generated by the first side la of the fabric 1, zones of the garment that generate forces directly on specific parts of the athlete's body, in order to further increase performances.

Surprisingly, it was observed that the use of the fabric 1 for obtaining a garment for competitive swimming, or in other words a swimsuit for athletic competitions, has a considerable advantage.

In particular, it was found that the use of the fabric 1 with the first side la directed outward with respect to the athlete allows a significant increase of the performances during a swimming competition.

Indeed, the friction means 2, in contact with water, cause an increase of the turbulence of the water flow around the body of the athlete. This causes a delay in the separation of the limit layer and a consequent reduction of the friction.

For such purpose, the present invention also includes a garment for competitive swimming, or in other words a swimsuit for athletic competitions, obtained entirely or partly with the fabric 1. In such case, the first side la of the fabric 1 is directly outward with respect to the garment in a manner such that, during use, it is in direct contact with the water. In other words, the second side lb of the fabric 1 is in direct contact with the body of the athlete. In this case, preferably also the second side lb of the fabric 1 can be provided with friction means 2.

The garment for competitive swimming can be a slip, boxers, trunks, a full swimsuit, a wetsuit or other article .

The invention thus attains the pre-established object. Indeed, the fabric that is the object of the present invention has one side entirely provided with friction means. In such a manner, it is possible to obtain friction zones in a garment that have any shape and size, in order to be adapted to any need.

It is also observed that, since the friction means are integral with the fabric (i.e. since they are not constituted by patches made of elastomeric material applied to the fabric) , the characteristics of elasticity, softness, as well as breathability of the fabric are maintained unaltered.

This is particularly advantageous if it is considered, for example, that a limitation of the breathability of fabrics is expressly excluded by the regulations of some international athletic federations for the official competitions .

It is also possible to obtain sportswear garments with friction zones acting on specific parts of the athlete's body in order to affect the functionality thereof, for increasing performance.