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  Cycling upper garmentUSPTO Application #: 20060277653Title: Cycling upper garment Abstract: A cycling upper garment is provided that enables the wearer's elbows to bend more readily while suppressing the resulting increase in air resistance. The cycling upper garment is provided with an upper garment main body and a pair of sleeves. The sleeves are attached to both sides of the upper garment main body with each of the sleeves having an expanded section that is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint and configured to expand from both adjacent sections. (end of abstract) Agent: GlobalIPCounselors, LLP - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Shinpei Okajima USPTO Applicaton #: 20060277653 - Class: 002093000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments, Coats The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060277653. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-172619. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-172619 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention generally relates to an upper garment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cycling upper garment for a rider to wear when riding a bicycle. [0004] 2. Background Information [0005] Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the products that the rider uses during the bicycling. For example, there are many types of garments that are especially designed for use during the bicycling. [0006] Jerseys and other cycling upper garments intended for use when riding a bicycle, particularly long-sleeved upper garments, are often used in winter road races and mountain bike races. Cycling upper garments are designed to fit closely to the wearer's body in order to reduce the air resistance experienced as much a possible when worn during riding. An example of a cycling upper garment for a rider (cyclist) is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,485. [0007] In order to enable the cycling upper garment to fit closely, conventional cycling upper garments are made using a stretchy fabric. Meanwhile, upper garments intended for use in the winter are sometimes made of materials that are not very stretchy in order to limit the passage of air. When an upper garment that fits the body closely or has a low degree of stretchiness is worn, it is sometimes difficult for the wearer to bend his or her elbows. While wearing such an upper garment, it can be difficult for a rider to move freely during a bicycle race or the like and there is the possibility that the rider's ability to steer and change gears will be inhibited. If the entire sleeve is made to have a fuller fit in order to allow the elbow to bend more readily, wrinkles can develop and cause the air resistance to increase. [0008] Moreover, even in cold weather, sometimes the rider gets too warm and wishes to cool off. A conceivable way to allow the rider to cool off with out taking off the cycling upper garment is to provide a ventilation opening in the cycling upper garment to improve the air permeability. An example of such an upper garment is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0133962. The upper garment described in patent application publication has two side ventilation arrangements arranged diagonally along each of a pair of front body sections. Each of the side ventilation arrangements can be opened and closed as desired with a slide fastener and has an air permeable part made of mesh is provided therein. [0009] In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved cycling upper garment. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] One object of the present invention is to provide a cycling upper garment that enables the wearer's elbows to bend more readily while suppressing the resulting increase in air resistance. [0011] The foregoing object can be attained by providing a cycling upper garment that basically comprises an upper garment main body and a pair of sleeves. The sleeves are attached to the upper garment main body. Each of the sleeves has a first expanded part that is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint and that is expanded relative to both adjoining sections of the sleeve. [0012] In this upper garment, the first expanded part of each sleeve is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint and configured to expand from both sections adjoining thereto. Since a first expanded part is provided in a portion of each sleeve corresponding to the wearer's elbow joint, only the portion corresponding to the elbow joint is made more roomy while the rest of the sleeve can be made to fit closely to the arm. Consequently, a cycling upper garment is obtained which enables the wearer to bend his or her elbows readily and operate the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle smoothly while also suppressing the increase in air resistance that results from making the elbow sections more roomy. [0013] In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, each of the sleeves has a cuff with a second expanded part provided at the cuff. With this cycling upper garment, since second expanded parts are provided at the cuffs, the wearer's hands can easily pass through the cuffs and the upper garment is easier to put on. Also, the wearer can operate the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle smoothly because the cuffs are not excessively tight against the wearer's wrists. [0014] In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the first expanded parts are larger than the second expanded parts. With this cycling upper garment, the expanded parts can be optimized because the first expanded parts, which correspond to the elbow joints, are larger than the second expanded parts, which are provided at the cuffs. [0015] In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, the sleeves are attached to the upper garment main body in such a fashion that the cuffs are oriented in a generally forward direction. Since the cuffs of the sleeves are oriented in a generally forward direction, when a wearer mounts a bicycle, it is more comfortable for the wearer to assume a riding posture and more difficult for wrinkles that adversely affect the air resistance to develop. [0016] In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, provided with at least a pair of side ventilation arrangements, such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends from a corresponding one of the sleeves to a bottom hem of the upper garment main body such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends through an underarm portion formed between the upper garment main body and the corresponding sleeve. With this cycling upper garment, large ventilation arrangements can be obtained because the ventilation arrangements run from the sleeves to the bottom hem of the upper garment main body in such a fashion as to pass through the underarm portions. Consequently, a large quantity of air can be efficiently taken into the upper garment and discharged through the ventilation arrangements, thereby enabling sufficient ventilation performance to be obtained. Additionally, since the underarm portions are comparatively difficult to see from the front, the ventilation arrangements do not easily degrade the cosmetic appearance of the upper garment. [0017] In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, each of the ventilation arrangements has an air passage part made of an air permeable material and an open-close part configured and arranged to selectively expose and cover the air passage part from outside of the cycling upper garment. With this cycling upper garment, when the open-close parts of the ventilation arrangements are opened, the ventilation arrangements do not readily undergo cyclical flapping due to the flow of air because the air passage parts are arranged on the inside. [0018] With the present invention, since a first expanded part is provided in a portion of each sleeve corresponding to the wearer's elbow joint, only the portion corresponding to the elbow joint is made more roomy while the rest of the sleeve can be made to fit closely to the arm. Consequently, a cycling upper garment is obtained which enables the wearer to bend his or her elbows readily so as not to inhibit operation of the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle and suppresses the resulting increase in the air resistance experienced when the cycling upper garment is worn. [0019] These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: Continue reading... Full patent description for Cycling upper garment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Cycling upper garment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Cycling upper garment or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Cycling upper garment Next Patent Application: Hospital gown with enhanced privacy features Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Cycling upper garment patent info. 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