AU2005254028B2

AU2005254028B2 - Garment with improved fly closure

Info

Publication number: AU2005254028B2
Application number: AU2005254028A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Steven Fontes
Original assignee: Quiksilver Inc
Current assignee: Quiksilver Inc
Priority date: 2004-06-10
Filing date: 2005-06-10
Publication date: 2008-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-10
Also published as: WO2005122809A1; AU2005254028A1; US20050283883A1; EP1753311A1; EP1753311A4

Description

00 Garment with Improved Fly Closure SField of the Invention The invention described below relates to the field of garments and, more particularly, to a garment fly that maintains a neat, flat appearance through the fly when 00 5 closed.

(N

Background of the Invention tt It is common for men and women to wear board shorts when engaging in surfing, t swimming, or similar activities. It is desirable to avoid bulkiness in the fly area, Sespecially when a person is lying on their stomach on a hard surfboard. Fabric seams in particular add to the bulkiness. Biggerstaff, Fly Closure for Garment, U.S. Patent 6,199,215 (Mar. 13, 2001) describes a fly closure comprising a shield seamed to the right and left panel of the shorts. The shield further comprises a front flap and a back flap seamed together. However, the bottom and top edges of the front and back flaps are folded over and finished with a seam to avoid fraying of the fabric. These seams, though offset to a certain extent, still create bulkiness in the front area of the shorts.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Summary The fly closure described below provides for minimization of bulk through the fly area of a pair of board shorts, which further provides for a more comfortable pair of shorts when worn surfing. The use of a neoprene gore eliminates bulky seams in the fly area, allowing a user to pull shorts on and off and also providing for a privacy shield should the fly area become open. A plurality of holes in the gore fabric provide for sand and water drainage, especially when the shorts are worn for surfing or otherwise 00 2

O

in a sandy water environment.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a garment comprising a right front panel; a left front panel; the right front and left front panels being joined together along a portion of their pant front inseam by a seam, leaving a 00 5 vertical opening above the seam; and a gore coupled to the open portion of the right

(N

Sfront panel and left front panel, wherein the gore comprises a neoprene fabric, wherein the right front panel and the left front panel are made of a fabric that is different than the neoprene fabric of the gore..

OAccording to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided short pants having a vertical slit opening in the fly area and left and right front panels, the shorts further comprising a triangular gore having an upper edge, lower apex, and left and right edges, the gore secured at its left edge to the right front panel and secured at its right edge to the left front panel, the gore comprised of a neoprene fabric, wherein the left and right panels are made of a fabric that is different than the neoprene fabric of the triangular gore.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a garment comprising a right front panel; a left front panel; the right front and left front panels being joined together along a portion of their pant front inseam by a seam, leaving a vertical opening above the seam; and a gore coupled to the open portion of the right front panel and left front panel, wherein the gore comprises an eyelet material, wherein the right front panel and the left front panel are made of a fabric that is different than the eyelet material of the gore.

Brief Description of The Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view off pair of board shorts with the fly closure device of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pair of board shorts with the fly closure device of another embodiment of the present invention with the fly open and the gore visible.

Figure 3 is a view of the fly area of the board shorts of Figure I from inside the shorts and showing the gore lying flat and in a closed position.

Figure 4 is a view of the fly area of a pair of board shorts from inside the shorts and showing the gore lying flat and in a closed position.

00 2A Detailed Description of the Invention F. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pair of board shorts 1. The shorts 1 include a waistband 2, a right front panel 3 and a left front panel 4. The left front panel overlaps the right front panel along the center front 5 to provide the appearance of a 00 5 zippered fly. Top stitching along line C on the left front panel further provides the

(N

appearance of a zippered fly. Laces 6 extending through grommets 7 at the waistband tt~ close the fly 8. These board shorts 1 are preferably constructed of a quick-dry type tt fabric, such as nylon, sanded excaliber nylon, dynasuede polyester, Or lightweight neoprene.

Figure 2 provides a perspective view of the board shorts 1, showing another embodiment in which Velcro fasteners 9 are used to close the fly 8 in the waistband 2 area. Various The description continues on page 3.

WO 2005/122809 PCT1US2005/020511 other closure apparatus can be used to close the fly 8 at the waistband 2.

In Figure 2, the board shorts 1 are shown with the fly 8 pulled open. A gore 10 is provided in the fly 8 and is secured to both the right and left front panels along seams 11 and 12. The gore 10 acts as the primary closure for the fly and as a privacy shield when the fly 8 is pulled wide open.

The fly 8 extends from the waistband 2 to a base point A at which the right and left front panels are sewn together. The base point A is preferably positioned along the center front The right front panel 3 and left front panel 4 are placed right sides together with raw edges even and stitched along the center front seam 11ii, from pant front inseam (not shown) to base point A. Above base point A, the right front panel is folded under to form a right front fly extension 13 (shown in Figure 3) and the left front panel is folded under to form a left front fly extension 14. The right front fly extension is placed over the first edge of the gore, with the gore fabric right side up, and top stitched along center front seam 11 above base point A. The second edge of the gore is slid into the left front fly extension 14 and top stitched along seam 12. Alternatively, the gore could be stitched to the right and left front panel by placing the right sides of the gore and the right sides of the right and left front panels and stitching along center front seam 11 and seam 11.

Alternatively, the gore 10 could be sewn to the right front panel 3 and the left front panel 4 in any manner achieving the desired result.

Figure 3 provides a close up view of the back portion of the fly 8, viewed from within the shorts i. The gore is shown WO 2005/122809 PCT1US2005/020511 lying flat in the closed position with the gore 10 folded over onto fold line B.

The gore 10 is a triangular piece of cloth.

Alternatively, the bottom point of the triangle (wherein the triangle is arranged flat side on top and one point facing down) may be snipped off for ease of assembly. The gore fabric is preferably a quick dry non-woven fabric which need not be folded over and sewn at the raw edges to provide structural integrity to the raw edge of the fabric. For example, light-weight neoprene is a quick dry non-woven fabric which is durable, stretchy and does not run or otherwise degrade structurally when force is applied upon it. Unlike woven fabric such as Lycra or nylon, neoprene does not run when force is exerted upon it and therefore does not require a finishing seam. Other non-woven fabric or polymer sheets would also be suitable, including but not limited to rubber and plastic. Alternatively, a woven fabric that would normally ru n or fray may be used, so long as the finished edge is pinked or otherwise cut such as to prevent runs from occurring when stress is applied. Additionally, a raw edge could be reinforced with a straight line of stitching without the need to fold over the fabric before stitching.

Figure 4 provides an alternative embodiment for the gore, as viewed from the back portion of the fly 8 from within the shorts i. The gore 15 is a triangular piece of cloth and is shown lying flat in the closed position with the gore folded over onto fold line B. The triangular gore may also be snipped at the bottom to form a trapezoid or other generally triangular shape or otherwise modified for ease of assembly.

A plurality of holes 16 or perforations are made in the fabric in any suitable pattern. The holes may be cut, punched, bored, pierced, lasered, drilled or otherwise made WO 2005/122809 PCT1US2005/020511 into the fabric in a way that does not degrade the structural integrity of the fabric. The apertures are sized to permit flow of sand and water transversely through the gore.

The material of the gore 15 is preferably a quick dry non-woven fabric which need not be folded over and sewn at the raw edges to provide structural integrity to the raw edge of the fabric. For example, light-weight neoprene is a quick dry non-woven fabric which is durable, stretchy and does not run or otherwise degrade structurally when force is applied upon it or when holes are cut into it. Fishnet, mesh, or eyelet material with interstices large enough to allow sand to pass through may be suitable. Other non-woven fabric or polymer sheets would also be suitable, including but not limited to rubber and plastic. Alternatively, a woven fabric that would normally run or fray may be used, so long as the finished edge is pinked or otherwise cut such as to prevent runs from occurring when stress is applied, and the raw edge of the hole pattern is finished, such as an overcast stitch as in eyelet fabric.

A series of stitches 17 are provided horizontally across the fabric as shown so as to limit the opening in the crotch area and to block a vertical flow through channel for water.

In use, the holes 16 provide for sand and water drainage transversely through the gore, especially when the shorts are worn :for surfing or otherwise in a sandy water environment.

Drainage along the fold is blocked either by the stitches 17 or termination of the gore in the closed constrhction.

Referring again to Figure 2, the gore unfolds and opens so that the wearer can pull the shorts 1 on over her hips.

Once on the wearer, the fly 8 may be closed as shown in Figure i, wherein the gore folds and lies flat. Any movement of the wearer that would tend to open the middle portion of the fly 00 6 8, between the waistband 2 and the base point A, would expose only the gore. Thus, visual access through the fly 8 is prevented and the wearer's privacy is preserved.

Thus, while the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are 00 5 merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Other embodiments and

(N

configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and t the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

2. The garment of claim 1 additionally comprising a waistband extending from the right front and left front panels, the waistband including a fastener adapted to releasably hold the right front and left front panels in close proximity to one another.
3. The garment of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the gore further comprises a material having apertures disposed over a substantial portion of the gore.
4. The garment of any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising a series of stitches provided horizontally across the fabric to block a vertical flow through channel for water. The garment of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the fabric is a quick-dry fabric.
6. Short pants having a vertical slit opening in the fly area and left and right front panels, the shorts further comprising: a triangular gore having an upper edge, lower apex, and left and right edges, the gore secured at its left edge to the right front panel and secured at its right edge to the left front panel, the gore comprised of a neoprene fabric, wherein the left and right panels are made of a fabric that is different than the neoprene fabric of the triangular gore.
7. The short pants of claim 6 additionally comprising a waistband extending from the right front and left front panels, the waistband including a fastener adapted to releasably hold the right front and left front panels in close proximity to one another.
8. The short pants of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the gore further comprises a material having apertures disposed over a substantial portion of the gore.
9. The short pants of any one of claims 6 to 8 further comprising a series of stitches provided horizontally across the fabric to block a vertical flow through channel for water. The short pants of any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the fabric is a quick-dry fabric. 00 5 11. The short pants of claim 10 wherein the fabric is selected from a group 0consisting of nylon, sanded excaliber nylon, and dynasuede polyester. n 12. A garment comprising: ,a right front panel; a left front panel; the right front and left front panels being joined together along a portion of their pant front inseam by a seam, leaving a vertical opening above the seam; and a gore coupled to the open portion of the right front panel and left front panel, wherein the gore comprises an eyelet material, wherein the right front panel and the left front panel are made of a fabric that is different than the eyelet material of the gore.
13. The garment of claim 12 wherein the eyelet material is a non-woven fabric.
14. The garment of claim 12 wherein the eyelet material is neoprene. The garment of any one of claims 12 to 14 additionally comprising a waistband extending from the right front and left front panels, the waistband including a fastener adapted to releasably hold the right front and left front panels in close proximity to one another.
16. The garment of any one of claims 12 to 15 further comprising a series of stitches provided horizontally across the fabric to block a vertical flow through channel for water.
17. The garment of any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein the fabric is a quick-dry fabric.
18. The garment of claim 5 or claim 17 wherein the fabric is selected from a group consisting of nylon, sanded excaliber nylon, and dynasuede polyester.
19. A garment with improved fly closure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Shorts pants substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.