Garment with stretch an rigid paneling

Abstract

A garment includes a first plurality of panels including a rigid material and a second plurality of panels including a stretch fabric material. According to an exemplary embodiment, the first plurality of panels are selectively positioned so as to correspond in location to desired anatomical regions of a wearer of the garment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the second plurality of panels are selectively positioned to facilitate independent movement of each of the first plurality of panels relative to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment, comprising:
 a first plurality of panels including a rigid material; and   a second plurality of panels including a stretch fabric material;   wherein the first plurality of panels are selectively positioned so as to correspond in location to desired anatomical regions of a wearer of the garment; and   wherein the second plurality of panels are selectively positioned to facilitate independent movement of each of the first plurality of panels relative to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of panels includes an upper leg panel positioned to correspond with at least one of an upper anterior leg region and an upper exterior leg region of the wearer of the garment. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid material of the upper leg panel comprises an abrasion resistant material. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the upper leg panel includes a knee element positioned to correspond with a knee region of the wearer of the garment, the knee element including at least one of a knee pad and a knee vent. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of panels includes a second upper leg panel positioned to correspond with at least one of an upper posterior leg region, an upper interior leg region, and a lower buttocks region of the wearer of the garment. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of panels includes a lower leg panel positioned to correspond with at least one of a lower anterior leg region, a lower interior leg region, and a lower exterior leg region of the wearer of the garment. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the rigid material of the lower leg panel comprises an abrasion resistant material. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the rigid material of the lower leg panel comprises a heat resistant material, wherein the heat resistant material is positioned to correspond with the lower interior leg region of the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of panels includes at least one heat resistant panel and at least one abrasion resistant panel. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the stretch fabric material of at least one of the second plurality of panels comprises a mesh structure that facilitates air flow into and out of the garment. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels are coplanarly and contiguously attached to cooperatively form a continuous layer of the garment. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11 , further comprising a liner layer disposed within the garment along the continuous layer to cover seams formed between the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein the liner layer comprises at least one of the stretch fabric material, a mesh fabric material, and a stretch mesh fabric material. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is comprised of about 60%-70% of the rigid material. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment includes at least one of pants, shorts, a shirt, and a jacket. 
     
     
         16 . A garment, comprising:
 a waist portion positioned to correspond with a waist and crotch region of a wearer, the waist portion including at least one stretch fabric panel;   an upper leg portion positioned to correspond with a thigh and knee region of the wearer, the upper leg portion including at least one stretch fabric panel and at least one rigid panel; and   a lower leg portion positioned to correspond with a shin and calf region of the wearer, the lower leg portion including at least one stretch fabric panel and at least one rigid panel;   wherein the at least one stretch fabric panel of the upper leg portion and the at least one stretch fabric panel of the lower leg portion are configured to facilitate independent movement of the at least one rigid panel of the upper leg portion relative to the at least one rigid panel of the lower leg portion.   
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one rigid panel of the upper leg portion includes a first rigid panel positioned to correspond with at least a front area of the thigh and knee region and a second rigid panel positioned to correspond with at least a rear area of the thigh and knee region, wherein the at least one stretch fabric panel of the upper leg portion is positioned between the first rigid panel and the second rigid panel of the upper leg portion, and wherein the at least one stretch fabric panel of the upper leg portion is configured to facilitate independent movement of the first rigid panel relative to the second rigid panel. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one rigid panel of the upper leg portion comprises an abrasion resistant material, and wherein the at least one rigid panel of the lower leg portion comprises at least one of an abrasion resistant material and a heat resistant material. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 16 , wherein the stretch fabric panels and the rigid panels of the waist portion, the upper leg portion, and the lower leg portion are coplanarly and contiguously attached to cooperatively form a continuous layer of the garment. 
     
     
         20 . A garment, comprising:
 a first plurality of panels comprising a rigid material;   a second plurality of panels comprising a stretch fabric material; and   a third plurality of panels comprising a stretch mesh fabric material;   wherein the first plurality of panels are selectively positioned to provide at least one of abrasion resistance and heat resistance to desired anatomical areas of a wearer of the garment;   wherein the second plurality of panels and the third plurality of panels are selectively positioned to facilitate independent movement of each of the first plurality of panels; and   wherein the third plurality of panels are configured to facilitate air flow into and out of the garment.