Articles of Apparel Providing Enhanced Body Position Feedback

Abstract

Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and/or feedback are desired, such as the lower back, the arch of the foot, etc.); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.”

1 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a garment structure for a human foot, wherein the garment structure includes one or more fabric elements, and wherein the garment structure is structured and arranged so as to provide a close fit to and completely contain an arch portion of the foot; and   a foot position feedback system integrally formed in the garment structure at the arch portion, wherein the foot position feedback system includes a first region that extends across the arch portion from a medial side of the garment structure, across a footbed portion of the garment structure, and to a lateral side of the garment structure, wherein the first region has a higher modulus of elasticity than a modulus of elasticity making up a largest proportion of the garment structure.   
     
     
         2 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein a main portion of the first region extends continuously from the medial side to the lateral side of the garment structure. 
     
     
         3 . An article of apparel according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a majority of an instep portion of the garment structure does not include the foot position feedback system. 
     
     
         4 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot position feedback system includes a second region having a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity making up the largest proportion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         5 . An article of apparel according to  claim 4 , wherein the second region and the first region are contiguous. 
     
     
         6 . An article of apparel according to  claim 4 , wherein the second region extends along a medial ankle or heel portion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         7 . An article of apparel according to  claim 4 , wherein the second region extends along a lateral ankle or heel portion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         8 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot position feedback system includes:
 a second region having a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, wherein the second region extends along a medial ankle or heel portion of the garment structure, and   a third region having a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, wherein the third region extends along a lateral ankle or heel portion of the garment structure.   
     
     
         9 . An article of apparel according to  claim 8 , wherein the second region and the first region are contiguous, and wherein the third region and the first region are contiguous. 
     
     
         10 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot position feedback system includes a second region that extends across the arch portion from the medial side of the garment structure, across the footbed portion, and to the lateral side of the garment structure, wherein the second region has a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity making up the largest proportion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         11 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the second region has a higher modulus of elasticity than the first region. 
     
     
         12 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the second region is at least substantially surrounded by the first region. 
     
     
         13 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the second region is completely surrounded by the first region. 
     
     
         14 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the second region is completely and immediately surrounded by the first region. 
     
     
         15 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot position feedback system includes a second region having a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, wherein the second region is spaced from the first region. 
     
     
         16 . An article of apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein the second region extends along an instep portion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         17 . An article of apparel according to  claim 16 , wherein the second region extends along the instep portion in a diagonal manner. 
     
     
         18 . An article of apparel according to  claim 16 , wherein the second region extends across the instep portion from a lateral toe area to a medial heel or medial ankle area of the garment structure. 
     
     
         19 . An article of apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein the second region extends along a medial heel or medial ankle area of the garment structure. 
     
     
         20 . An article of apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein the second region extends beneath a medial heel area to a footbed portion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         21 . An article of apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein a first branch of the second region extends beneath a medial heel area to a footbed portion of the garment structure and a second branch of the second region extends along the medial heel or ankle area to a rear heel portion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         22 . An article of apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein the second region extends along the medial heel or ankle area to a rear heel portion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         23 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a different structure from a structure making up the largest proportion of the garment structure to thereby provide the higher modulus of elasticity, wherein the structure of the first region is different from the structure making up the largest proportion of the garment structure in one or more of the following ways: a different stitching or knitting pattern in the fabric element of the first region as compared to a stitching or knitting pattern making up the largest proportion of the garment structure; a different material in the fabric element of the first region as compared to a material making up the largest proportion of the garment structure; and a different texturing in the fabric element of the first region as compared to a texturing making up the largest proportion of the garment structure. 
     
     
         24 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a different stitching or knitting pattern as compared to a stitching or knitting pattern making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, to thereby provide the higher modulus of elasticity. 
     
     
         25 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a different material as compared to a material making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, to thereby provide the higher modulus of elasticity. 
     
     
         26 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a different texturing as compared to a texturing making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, to thereby provide the higher modulus of elasticity. 
     
     
         27 . An article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a different structure as compared a structure making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, to thereby provide the higher modulus of elasticity. 
     
     
         28 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a garment structure for a human foot, wherein the garment structure includes one or more fabric elements, and wherein the garment structure is structured and arranged so as to provide a close fit to and completely contain an arch portion of the foot; and   a foot position feedback system engaged with the garment structure at the arch portion, wherein the foot position feedback system includes a first region that extends across the arch portion from a medial side of the garment structure, across a footbed portion of the garment structure, and to a lateral side of the garment structure, wherein the first region has a higher modulus of elasticity than a modulus of elasticity making up a largest proportion of the garment structure.