BAYS, Paul (Viale Maggio 1, Lugano, CH-6900, CH)
CLAIMS
1. Swim suit (1), particularly for competition swimming, comprising :
- one or more parts (2, 3, 4) suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk and of the legs (13) and/or arms (14) of a swimmer (100) , wherein said parts (2, 3, 4) are made of elastically stretchable fabric (10) having a substantially smooth external surface (5) such as to reduce the frictional resistance between the swimmer (100) and the water (6), characterized in that the swim suit (1) comprises one or more gripping zones (7, 8, 9) formed by means of material and/or geometrical discontinuities (12) in said elastically stretchable fabric (10). 2. Swim suit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said material and/or geometrical discontinuities in said gripping zones comprise one or more channels (11) having a shape such that, during the swimming movement of the user, said channels (11) redirect at least part of the flow (16) of water over the users body in a downward (D) or backward direction (B) with respect to the forward motion (F) of the user.
3. Swim suit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said material and/or geometrical discontinuities in said gripping zones (7, 8, 9) comprise small cuts, slots or openings ( 12 ) .
4. Swim suit (1) according to claim 3, wherein said elastically stretchable fabric (10) and said small cuts, slots or openings (12) are configured such that, when in use on a swimmer's body, the fabric (10) is stretched around a body part of the swimmer (100) and the elastic reaction force of the stretched fabric deforms the edges of said small cuts, slots or openings (12) so that they create flow directing channels (11) . 5. Swim suit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said material and/or geometrical discontinuities (12) are shaped and positioned in said gripping zones (7, 8, 9) in a way that: - when the gripping zones (7, 8, 9) are exposed to a flow (16) having a first direction, they provide channels (11) which redirect at least part of the flow
(16) in the downward (D) and/or backward direction (B) with respect to the forward motion (F) of the swimmer
(100) and, - when the gripping zones (7, 8, 9) are exposed to a flow having a second, approximately opposite or transverse direction to the direction of the first flow (16), they substantially do not provide any redirecting channels to the second flow. 6. Swim suit (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said material and/or geometrical discontinuities (12) are shaped and positioned in said gripping zones (7, 8, 9) in a way that when in use on a swimmer's body:
- during an actively propulsive movement (e.g. downward and/or upward movement of a leg or down-and backward movement of an arm) the gripping zones (7, 8, 9) provide flow directing channels (11) which redirect part of the flow (16) of water to which they are exposed in a downward (D) and/or backward direction (B) with respect to the forward motion (F) of the swimmer (100),
- during a passive movement (e.g. upward movement of a leg or forward movement of an arm) the gripping zones (7, 8, 9) substantially do not provide any redirecting channel feature. 7. Swim suit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said material and/or geometrical discontinuities (12) in said gripping zones (7, 8, 9) comprise small cuts, slots or openings (12) having a curved shape so that they define a first substantially convex edge (17) and an opposite second substantially concave edge (18), wherein, when the swim suit (1) is in use on a swimmer's body: said first convex edge (17) faces at least approximately in an actively propulsive movement direction of the swimmer's body part to which said gripping zone (7, 8, 9) is associated so that a slight edge detachment from the swimmer's body will take place during said active movements, thereby defining said flow directing channels (11),
- said second concave edge (18) faces substantially in a passive movement direction of the swimmer's body part to which said gripping zone (7, 8, 9) is associated, so that no edge detachment from the swimmer's body will take place during said passive movements.
8. Swim suit (1) according to the preceding claims 6 or 7, wherein said small cut, slot or opening (12) extends along a curved line having a leading portion (19) which extends substantially perpendicularly to the actively propulsive movement direction of the associated body part of the swimmer (100) and a flow deviating portion
(20) which extends from said leading portion (19) in a backward direction (B) with respect to the forward motion (F) of the swimmer (100) . 9. Swim suit according to claim 8, wherein said flow deviating portion (20) has a length greater than the length of the leading portion (19) .
10. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a body part (2) suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk of a swimmer (100) and a leg part (3) suitable to cover at least partially one or both legs (13) of the swimmer (100) .
11. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a body part (2) suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk of a swimmer (100) and an arm part (4) suitable to cover at least partially one or both arms (14) of the swimmer (100) .
12. Swim suit (1) according to claims 10 and 11, wherein said body part (2), leg part (3) and arm parts (4) are connected to form a single piece full body swim garment.
13. Swim suit (1) according to claims 10 and 11, comprising different panels of fabric (10) which are connected to one another by bonding or taping along flat connection lines (21) . 14. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said gripping zones (7, 8, 9) comprise leg gripping zones (8, 9) formed in said leg part (3) .
15. Swim suit (1) according to claim 14, wherein said leg gripping zones (8, 9) comprise lower limb gripping zones (9) arranged on an external and/or internal lateral side of a lower portion (22) of the leg part (3), associated to the swimmer's lower limb.
16. Swim suit (1) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said leg gripping zones (8, 9) comprise thigh zones arranged on an external and/or internal lateral side of an upper portion (23) of the leg part (3) , associated to the swimmer's thigh.
17. Swim suit (1) according to claims 14, 15 or 16, wherein in said leg gripping zones (8, 9) the leading portion (19) of said cut, slot or opening (12) extends approximately in a longitudinal direction of said leg part (3) corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the swimmer's leg and the flow deviating portion (20) of the same cut, slot or opening (12) extends from a lower end point (24) of said leading portion (19) downward and backward (towards the rear side of the lower limb and the ankle of the swimmer when in use) , thereby defining an obtuse angle with said leading portion (19) .
18. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said gripping zones (7, 8, 9) comprise arm gripping zones (7) formed in said arm part (4) .
19. Swim suit (1) according to claim 18, wherein said arm gripping zones (7) comprise forearm gripping zones (7) zones arranged on an external and/or internal lateral side of a lower portion (25) of the arm part (4), associated to the swimmer's forearm.
20. Swim suit according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said arm gripping zones (7) comprise upper arm gripping zones arranged on an external and/or internal lateral side of an upper portion (26) of the arm part (4) associated to the swimmer's upper arm.
21. Swim suit (1) according to claims 18, 19 or 20, wherein in said forearm gripping zones (7) the leading portion (19) of said cut, slot or opening (12) extends approximately in a longitudinal direction of said arm part (4) corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the swimmer's arm and the flow deviating portion (20) of the same cut, slot or opening (12) extends from an upper end point (27) of said leading portion (19) upward and backward (towards the back side of the forearm and the elbow of the swimmer when in use) , thereby defining an obtuse angle with said leading portion (19).
22. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said gripping zones (7, 8, 9) are formed by local cut-outs in the fabric panels (10) forming the swim suit.
23. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the total longitudinal extension of a single cut-out, channel, cut, slot or opening (12) in the gripping zones (7, 8, 9) is less than or equal to 15 cm.
24. Swim suit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the total surface extension of the gripping zones (7, 8, 9) is less than half of the total external surface of the swim suit (1) .
25. Swim suit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said material and/or geometrical discontinuities (12) in said elastically stretchable fabric (10) comprise panels of different fabrics such as mesh. |
DESCRIPTION "SWIM SUIT, PARTICULARLY FOR COMPETITION SWIMMING"
The present invention relates, in general, to the field of sports garment. More particularly, it relates to swim suits or swim garments for water sports activities and particularly for competition swimming.
In the past years, in competitive swimming, very high levels of performance have been achieved thanks to evolved training methods and a specific nutrition which increasingly meet the requirements of the individual physical constitution of the athletes and of the swimming exercise to be performed.
On the other hand, in nearly all fields of sports and particularly in swimming, where the body of the athlete moves through a liquid, the efforts to enhance the performances, increasingly focus on the development of a sports garment which positively influences both the interaction of the athletes body surface with the environment and the physical conditions of the athlete during the competition or sports exercise and training.
The development of swim suits and garments focused mainly on two principal goals, i.e. the reduction of friction between the external surface of the swim suit and the water and a hoop-compression of the muscular structure of the athlete in the region of arms, legs and
body trunk .
In order to reduce the friction between the swimmer and the water, several stretchable fabrics with an extremely smooth and water repellent external surface texture (e.g. PTFE coated elastic textiles) have been proposed and successfully used. Moreover full-body swim suits have been developed in order to extend the beneficial hydrodynamic features of the smooth and water repellent fabric over nearly the entire body surface of the athlete.
Attempts have been made to achieve a hoop-compression of the muscular structure of the swimmer by using swim suits made of stretchable material with a high coefficient of elasticity or Young's modulus (The Young's modulus indicates the stress in N/mm 2 necessary to stretch a body to the double of its original length) and by dressing the swimmer with such a small size of swim suit that the consequent stretching of the garment and resulting reaction hoop force result in a radial compression of the swimmer's body trunk, arms and legs. Of course, also to this end, the tendency towards full body swim garments contributed to extend the beneficial effect of the muscular compression (e.g. prevention of the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles) throughout the entire body of the swimmer.
Even though the known swim suits provide a satisfactory gliding of the athlete in the water, they do not positively influence propulsion.
Those skilled in the art will immediately appreciate that the gliding features suitable to reduce the friction of the swimmer's surface in water can hardly be reconciled with the requirement of thrust of the swimmer's arms and legs against the water in order to generate propulsion. Moreover, since swimming takes place in a liquid fluid only, there is no possibility to provide gliding features which interact with a first medium (such as a low cW-coefficient in Formular 1 race cars) and gripping features which interact with a second medium (such as Formular 1 tyres providing grip against the asphalt of the racing track) .
Furthermore, a very strict set of rules and regulations has been established for competition swimming, which require that the competitor must wear swimsuit in one or two pieces which shall not extend beyond the ankles, the wrists and the neck and no objects can be added to the surface of the suit which create protruding shapes such as a fin.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a swim suit which positively contributes to the
propulsion of the swimmer in water and which, at the same time meets the above described requirements and conditions .
These and other objects are achieved by a swim suit according to the annexed claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the object of the dependent claims. According to the invention, a swim suit, particularly for competition swimming, comprises one or more parts suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk and of the legs and/or arms of a swimmer, wherein these parts are made of elastically stretchable fabric having a substantially smooth external surface such as to reduce the frictional resistance between the swimmer and the water. Furthermore, the swim suit comprises one or more gripping zones formed by means of material and/or geometrical discontinuities in said elastically stretchable fabric.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the gripping zones are formed by local cut-outs in the fabric panels forming the swim suit.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, said gripping zones comprise one or more channels having a shape such that, during the swimming movement of the user, they redirect at least part of the flow of water over the users body in a downward or backward direction
with respect to the forward motion of the user.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates a swimmer wearing a swim suit according to an embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 2 illustrates an enlarged detail of the leg of the swimmer and swim suit in figure 1,
Fig. 3 illustrates an enlarged detail of the arm of the swimmer and swim suit in figure 1. Fig. 4 shows the same embodiment of figure 1 wherein arrows denote a flow deviation in the region of gripping zones of the swim suit,
Fig. 5 illustrates an enlarged detail of the leg of the swimmer and swim suit in figure 4, Fig. 6 illustrates the local flow characteristics along the swim suit according to an embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 7 shows front, rear and side views of a swimmer wearing a swim suit according to an embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 8 shows front, rear and side views of a swim suit according to an embodiment of the invention. With reference to the figures, figure 1 shows a swimmer 100 who wears a swim suit 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.
The swim suit 1 is particularly suitable for competition swimming and comprises one or more parts, e.g. a body trunk part 2, leg part 3 and arm parts 4 suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk and of the legs and/or arms of the swimmer 100.
The single parts 2, 3, 4 of the swim suit 1 are made of elastically stretchable fabric 10 which has a substantially smooth external surface 5 such as to reduce the frictional resistance between the swimmer 100 and the water 6 during the swimming exercise or competition .
The swim suit comprises one or more gripping zones 7, 8, 9 formed by means of local material or geometrical discontinuities in the elastically stretchable fabric 10 of the swim suit 1, thereby providing the swim suit with both gliding and gripping features in order to obtain a greater speed in water. Advantageously, the total surface extension of the gripping zones is less than half of the total external surface of the swim suit, so that the gripping zones are concentrated in those parts
of the body (e.g. arms and legs) which generate the driving force, while the rest of the body is covered by the continuously smooth stretchable fabric 10 providing excellent gliding. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the material (and geometrical) discontinuities in the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 include one or more channels 11 having a shape such that, during the swimming movement of the user, they redirect at least part of the flow of water over the users body in a downward (arrow D) or backward direction (arrow B) with respect to the forward motion (arrow F) of the swimmer 100.
In very general terms, according to an embodiment of the invention, these beneficial channel features can be obtained by providing local cut-outs in the fabric panels 10 of the swim suit. This provides gripping and local deviation of a part of the flow along the swim suit 1 during a swimming exercise and, at the same time, meets the strict rules and regulations (e.g. FINA regulations) for competition swimming, which require that no objects can be added to the surface of the suit which create protruding shapes such as a fin.
In accordance with embodiments, the geometrical or material discontinuities in the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 may comprise small cuts, slots or openings 12.
Advantageously, the elastically stretchable fabric 10 and the small cuts, slots or openings 12 are configured such that, when in use on a swimmer's body, the fabric 10 itself is stretched around a body part (e.g. a leg 13 or a 14) of the swimmer 100 and the elastic reaction force of the stretched fabric 10 deforms the edges of the small cuts, slots or openings 12 so that they create the above mentioned flow directing channels 11. In accordance with an embodiment, the geometrical and/or material discontinuities, and more particularly the small cuts, slots or openings 12 are shaped and positioned within the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 in a way that when the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 are exposed to a flow 16 having a first direction 15, they provide channels which redirect at least a part 17 of the flow 16 in the downward D and/or backward direction B with respect to the forward motion F of the swimmer 100. Instead, when the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 are exposed to a flow having a second, approximately opposite or transverse direction (not shown) to the direction 15 of the first flow 16, they adhere tightly to the swimmer's skin and substantially do not provide any redirecting channels to the second flow. In this way, the swim suit 1 provides gripping features which act only in the downward and backward direction and have no effect in
the upward and forward direction with respect to the forward motion of the swimmer, thereby promoting propulsion without negatively affecting the glide phases of the swimming movement. In other words, the material and/or geometrical discontinuities in the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 are shaped and positioned in a way that when in use on a swimmer's body:
- during an actively propulsive movement (e.g. downward movement of a leg 13 or down-and backward movement of an arm 14) the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 provide flow directing channels which redirect part of the flow of water to which they are exposed in the downward D and/or backward direction B with respect to the forward motion F of the swimmer 100 and
- during a passive movement (e.g. upward movement of a leg or forward movement of an arm) the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 substantially do not provide any redirecting channel feature. Of course, it could be desirable to create grip also in the upward movement of the leg with channels designed to move the water in the upward flow. Therefore, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the channels might be configured to redirect the flow during actively propulsive downward and/or upward movements of
the swimmer's leg 13.
In accordance with a further development of the present invention, the above mentioned small cuts, slots or openings 12 might have a curved shape so that they define a first substantially convex edge 17 and an opposite second substantially concave edge 18. When the swim suit 1 is in use on a swimmer's body the first convex edge 17 faces at least approximately in an actively propulsive movement direction of the swimmer's body part 13, 14 (e.g. downward movement of the leg) to which the gripping zone 7, 8, 9 is associated so that a slight edge detachment from the swimmer's skin will take place during these active movements, thereby defining the flow directing channels. In contrast, the second concave edge 18 faces substantially in a passive movement direction of the swimmer's body part (e.g. upward movement of the leg) to which the gripping zone 7, 8, 9 is associated, so that no edge detachment from the swimmer's body will take place during these passive movements.
In accordance with an embodiment illustrated e.g. in figures 2 and 3, the small cut, slot or opening 12 extend along a curved line having a leading portion 19 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the actively propulsive movement direction of the associated
body part of the swimmer and a flow deviating portion 20 which extends from said leading portion 19 in a backward direction B with respect to the forward motion F of the swimmer 100. Advantageously, the flow deviating portion 19 has a length greater than the length of the leading portion 20, preferably the length of the deviating portion 19 is at least twice the length of the leading portion 20. Even though the figures show a full body swim suit having a body part 2 suitable to cover at least part of the body trunk of a swimmer, leg parts 3 suitable to cover at least partially one or both legs 13 of the swimmer and arm parts 4 suitable to cover at least partially one or both arms 14 of the swimmer, wherein body part 2, leg part 3 and arm parts 4 are connected to form a single piece full body swim garment, it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiment. Accordingly, swim suits which comprise only one or more of the body trunk part, leg part and arm parts are also contemplated by the present invention.
In any case, different panels of fabric 10 can be advantageously connected to one another by bonding or taping along flat connection lines 21, thereby reducing friction and increasing glide in the regions of the connection lines 21.
In accordance with an embodiment, additional panels of fabric could also be added to increase grip in determined regions of the swim suit.
In order to positively influence propulsion and to increase the speed in water, the gripping zones 8, 9 are advantageously formed in the leg part 3 and/or arm parts 4 of the swim suit 1.
Therefore, in accordance with an embodiment, the gripping zones 7, 8, 9 comprise leg gripping zones 8, 9 formed in the leg part 3 of the swim suit 1. The leg gripping zones 8, 9 may comprise lower limb gripping zones 9 arranged on an external and/or internal lateral side of a lower portion 22 of the leg part 3, associated to the swimmer's lower limb. Furthermore, thigh gripping zones 8 can be arranged on an external and/or internal lateral side of an upper portion 23 of the leg part 3, associated to the swimmer's thighs. In accordance with an embodiment, in the leg gripping zones 8, 9 the leading portion 19 of said cut, slot or opening 12 extends approximately in a longitudinal direction of the leg part corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the swimmer's leg 13 and the flow deviating portion 20 of the same cut, slot or opening 12 extends from a lower end point 24 of said leading
portion 19 downward and backward (towards the rear side of the lower limb and the ankle of the swimmer 100 when in use) , thereby defining an obtuse angle with said leading portion 19 (compare e.g. figure 2). This particular configuration allows to deviate a part of the principal water flow along the leg part 3 during an active propulsive movement in a backward and/or downward direction with respect to the forward motion of the swimmer (fig. 5) . In accordance with a further embodiment, the swim suit comprises also or only arm gripping zones 7 formed in the arm parts 4, preferably on an external and/or internal lateral side of a lower portion 25 of the arm part 4. In view of the general principle of the present invention which combines glide features and grip features in a swim suit to increase speed in water, it will be appreciated that the gripping zones 7 arranged in the forearm portions 25 are particularly effective, since the swimmer's forearm usually performs a particularly long thrust trajectory in water.
Nonetheless, the arm gripping zones 7 might comprise also or only upper arm gripping zones (not illustrated in the figures) arranged on an external and/or internal lateral side of an upper portion 26 of the arm part 4, associated to the swimmer's upper arm.
In accordance with an embodiment, in the arm gripping zones 7 the leading portion 19 of the cut, slot or opening 12 extends approximately in a longitudinal direction of the arm part 4 which corresponds to a longitudinal axis of the swimmer's arm. The flow deviating portion 20 of the same cut, slot or opening 12 extends from an upper end point 27 of said leading portion upward and backward (towards the back side of the forearm and the elbow of the swimmer when in use) , thereby defining an obtuse angle with said leading portion 19. This particular configuration allows to deviate a part of the principal water flow along the arm part 4 during an active propulsive movement in a backward and/or downward direction with respect to the forward motion of the swimmer.
In consideration of the elastic forces generated by the stretching rates of the swim suit, according to an embodiment of the invention, the total longitudinal extension of a single cut-out, channel, cut, slot or opening is limited to an upper value of about 15 cm, preferably said total longitudinal extension is in the range of lcm to 10cm, even more preferably said total longitudinal extension is in the range of 3cm to 8cm. From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the swim suit according to the
invention enhances hydrodynamics and increases grip on water at specific areas of the users body, thereby allowing the athlete to swim faster. Referring to this, the invention focused particularly on those areas of the body which are responsible for delivering the drive force and, hence, provides gripping zones in the arm and/or leg parts of the swim suit. To meet also the stringent rules and requirements of international swimming federations, which do not allow to attach additional components to the external surface of the swim garment, the present invention provides embodiment solutions which form the gripping zones by removing and cutting out material from the fabric panels instead of adding additional accessories or components. Advantageously but not necessarily, the edges of the cut-out sections can be reinforced with back panels of the same material or different material bonded together to avoid the cuts from tearing when worn by the user. When the swim suit is worn these cuts stretch around the users body and create channels. During the swimming action of the athlete, these channels redirect the flow of water down the users body thus increasing the speed of the athlete through water. While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the
illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications may readily appear to those skilled in the art.