Offset side seam for an apparel item

Abstract

A lower torso apparel item having an offset side seam is provided herein. The lower torso apparel item includes a front panel and a back panel, with left and right side seams that are offset from the inseam of the apparel item. In some examples, such as a pair of shorts, the front and back panels are assembled to provide left and right leg openings, with the left side seam on an anterior portion of a wearer and the right side seam on an anterior portion of a wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A short comprising:
 a front panel; and   a back panel,   wherein in an assembled configuration, the front panel is joined to the back panel at a plurality of seams to form at least a left leg opening and a right leg opening,   wherein the plurality of seams comprises at least:
 an inseam between an interior edge of the front panel and an interior edge of the back panel along a midline in the assembled configuration; 
 a left side seam offset with respect to the inseam along the midline and between the front panel and the back panel; and 
 a right side seam offset with respect to the inseam along the midline and between the front panel and the back panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The short of  claim 1 , wherein the inseam, the left side seam, and the right side seam are longitudinally oriented on the short. 
     
     
         3 . The short of  claim 1 , wherein the left side seam is offset with respect to the inseam in an anterior direction. 
     
     
         4 . The short of  claim 1 , wherein the right side seam is offset with respect to the inseam in an anterior direction. 
     
     
         5 . The short of  claim 1 , wherein the inseam comprises a left inseam segment proximate the left leg opening and a right leg inseam segment proximate the right leg opening. 
     
     
         6 . The short of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pocket having a pocket opening aligned with at least one of the left side seam and the right side seam. 
     
     
         7 . The short of  claim 6 , wherein the pocket opening is positioned adjacent to at least one of the left side seam and the right side seam. 
     
     
         8 . An article of apparel for a lower torso, the article of apparel comprising:
 a front panel comprising a front inseam edge, a left seam edge, a right seam edge, and a front bottom edge; and   a back panel comprising a back inseam edge, a left seam edge, a right seam edge, and a back bottom edge,   wherein the article of apparel comprises a left leg opening defined by a first segment of the front bottom edge and a first segment of the back bottom edge, and   further wherein the article of apparel comprises a right leg opening defined by a second segment of the front bottom edge and a second segment of the back bottom edge,   wherein at least a portion of the front inseam edge and the back inseam edge are joined at an inseam along a midline of the article of apparel,   at least a portion of the front and back left seam edges are joined along a left side seam offset with respect to the inseam such that the left side seam is anteriorly displaced with respect to the inseam, and   at least a portion of the front and back right seam edges are joined along a right side seam offset with respect to the inseam such that the right side seam is anteriorly displaced with respect to the inseam.   
     
     
         9 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the front panel and the back panel comprises a plurality of pattern pieces. 
     
     
         10 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the first segment of the front bottom edge is narrower in width than the first segment of the back bottom edge, and the second segment of the second bottom edge is narrower in width than the second segment of the back bottom edge. 
     
     
         11 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the article of apparel is a short. 
     
     
         12 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the article of apparel is a pant. 
     
     
         13 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the front panel material is the same material as at least a portion of the back panel material. 
     
     
         14 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one pocket formed along at least one of the left side seam and the right side seam. 
     
     
         15 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein in an as-worn configuration, the left leg opening and the right leg opening provide for greater range of motion of a wearer's legs based on the location of at least one of the left side seam and the right side seam on the anterior side, as compared to a range of motion of an article of apparel having side seams along the midline. 
     
     
         16 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the left side seam and the right side seam are parallel in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         17 . A pair of shorts comprising:
 a front panel;   a back panel;   a left side seam on an anterior portion of the shorts;   a right side seam on an anterior portion of the shorts; and   an inseam along a midline of the shorts between the anterior portion and a posterior portion of the shorts.   
     
     
         18 . The pair of shorts of  claim 17 , wherein the inseam comprises a left leg inseam and a right leg inseam. 
     
     
         19 . The pair of shorts of  claim 18 , wherein the left side seam is offset with respect to the left leg inseam and the right side seam is offset with respect to the right leg inseam. 
     
     
         20 . The pair of shorts of  claim 17  further comprising at least one lower edge seam flange integral to one or more of the left side seam and the right side seam.