Aerodynamic Garment With Applied Surface Roughness And Method Of Manufacture

Abstract

An aerodynamic garment may comprise zones with applied textures. Each zone may be associated with properties and characteristics based on the movement of the garment associated with each zone through air during an athletic activity. The texture in each zone may be applied using a variety of methods such as printing. The resulting aerodynamic garment improves the performance of an athlete wearing the aerodynamic garment by reducing the aerodynamic drag experienced during the performance of the athletic activity.

1 . An athletic garment worn by a wearer during an athletic activity, the garment comprising: a first zone having a first applied texture having a first property that gives rise to a first aerodynamic characteristic, the first zone covering a portion of an extremity of the wearer; and a second zone having a second applied texture having a second property that gives rise to a second aerodynamic characteristic, the second zone substantially covering the torso of the wearer. 
     
     
         2 . The athletic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first property of the first applied texture comprises a plurality of three-dimensional shaped nodules that give rise to a first aerodynamic property of tripping air flow around the extremity of the wearer to prompt eddy formation. 
     
     
         3 . The athletic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first property of the first texture comprises a plurality of three-dimensional nodules applied to the garment in a first density range. 
     
     
         4 . The athletic garment of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of three-dimensional nodules are flocked. 
     
     
         5 . The athletic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first applied texture comprises a plurality of nodules that have a first property of having a three-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         6 . The athletic garment of  claim 5 , wherein the three-dimensional shape of the plurality of nodules comprise an elongated circular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The athletic garment of  claim 5 , wherein the three-dimensional shape of the plurality of nodules comprise a doughnut shape. 
     
     
         8 . The athletic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the second applied texture comprises a plurality of nodules that have a second property of having a disc shape. 
     
     
         9 . The athletic garment of  claim 2 , wherein the nodules comprise silicon printed on the athletic garment. 
     
     
         10 . The athletic garment of  claim 9 , wherein the nodules are flocked. 
     
     
         11 . The athletic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first applied texture comprises a plurality of nodules that have a first property of having a density range. 
     
     
         12 . The athletic garment of  claim 11 , wherein the density of the plurality of nodules increases across the extremity of the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The athletic garment of  claim 12 , wherein the first property gives rise to a first aerodynamic characteristic of increased tripping of air flow around the extremity of the wearer as the density of the plurality of nodules increases across the extremity of the wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The athletic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone and second zone are located on the garment based on exposure of each zone to air profiles associated with the athletic activity when the garment is worn. An intermediate zone extending between the first zone and the second zone, the intermediate zone having a texture that gradually varies from the first applied texture to the second applied texture. 
     
     
         15 . The athletic garment of  claim 1 , further comprising: an intermediate zone extending between the first zone and the second zone, the intermediate zone having a texture that gradually varies from the first applied texture to the second applied texture. 
     
     
         16 . An athletic garment worn by a wearer during an athletic activity, the garment comprising: a first zone having a first applied texture having a first property that gives rise to a first aerodynamic characteristic, the boundaries of the first zone defined based on exposure of the first zone to a first air profile of the athletic activity; a second zone having a second applied texture having a second property that gives rise to a second aerodynamic characteristic, the boundaries of the second zone defined based on exposure of the second zone to a second air profile of the athletic activity; and an intermediate zone having a third applied texture, the intermediate zone comprising a portion of the garment between the first zone and the second zone. 
     
     
         17 . The athletic garment of  claim 16 , further comprising a ventilation portion. 
     
     
         18 . The athletic garment of  claim 16 , wherein the first applied texture, the second applied texture, and the third applied texture comprise pluralities of nodules printed on the athletic garment, a property of the printed nodules varying between the first zone, the second zone, and the third zone. 
     
     
         19 . The athletic garment of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of nodules comprise flocked nodules. 
     
     
         20 . The athletic garment of  claim 19 , wherein the arrangement of the plurality of flocked nodules is based on the first air profile. 
     
     
         21 . The athletic garment of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of flocked nodules is arranged in a density range that is proportional to the first air profile. 
     
     
         22 . The athletic garment of  claim 16 , wherein the second applied texture comprises a second plurality of nodules that have a second property of having a disc shape. 
     
     
         23 . The athletic garment of  claim 22 , wherein the size of each of the second plurality of nodules varies across the second zone. 
     
     
         24 . The athletic garment of  claim 23 , wherein the size of each of the second plurality of nodules is based on the second air profile. 
     
     
         25 . A method to improve aerodynamic characteristics of an athletic garment worn by a wearer during an athletic activity, the method comprising: determining boundaries of a zone of a garment based on exposure of the garment to an air profile of the athletic activity; determining a texture having a property that gives rise to an aerodynamic characteristic to decrease drag generated from air flow around the at least one extremity of the wearer, the texture comprising a plurality of three-dimensional nodules; and applying the texture to at least a portion of the first zone of the garment. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of three-dimensional nodules is applied to the garment in a density range based on the air flow around the extremity of the wearer during the athletic activity. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of three-dimensional nodules are flocked. 
     
     
         28 . A method of improving aerodynamic characteristics of an athletic garment worn by a wearer during an athletic activity, the method comprising: identifying a zone of a garment based on at least one extremity of the wearer; determining a texture having a property to decrease drag generated from air flow around the at least one extremity, the property of the texture comprising a flocked shape; applying a liquid adhesive across at least a portion of the garment; and applying fibers of a fabric to at least a portion of the liquid base on the garment to produce a flocked three-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the fibers of fabric are uniformly oriented. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the fibers of fabric comprise nylon. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the liquid adhesive comprises silicon. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the garment comprises one type of fabric. 
     
     
         33 . A garment comprising: fabric having elasticity that covers a substantial portion of the torso and extremities of a wearer; and a ventilation portion affixed to the fabric, the ventilation portion comprising: a piece of fabric having a plurality of threads; and cutouts that remove at least one portion of the piece of fabric, the cutouts positioned such that a subset of the plurality of threads are not cut. 
     
     
         34 . The garment of  claim 33 , further comprising an edge treatment applied to the edges of the cutouts to prevent fraying.