Layered thumbhole structure

Abstract

A sleeve cuff is provided for a sleeve having an anterior patch affixed to the sleeve and covering at least a portion of a cutout in the sleeve, a distal strap affixed to the sleeve and spanning over at least a portion of a cutout in the sleeve, and the distal strap overlapping at least a portion of the anterior patch to form an aperture for receiving a thumb therethrough. The sleeve cuff has a plurality of configurations, including at least a closed configuration where the aperture is closed and minimizes the wearer's exposure to wind and air elements therethrough, and an opened configuration where the aperture is opened and minimizes the air penetration around the received thumb.

1 . A sleeve comprising:
 a tube having a distal end opposite a proximal end;   a cutout formed through the tube proximate the distal end, the cutout defined in part by a first longitudinal edge spaced apart from a second longitudinal edge;   a distal panel secured to the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge and covering a distal area of the cutout;   an anterior panel secured to the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge and covering an anterior area of the cutout, wherein the anterior panel partially overlaps the distal panel; and   a retractable mitten coupled to an exterior side of the tube, the retractable mitten having a first side edge coupled to the exterior side of the tube adjacent the second longitudinal edge.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the distal panel includes:
 a first distal panel side edge directly affixed to the first longitudinal edge, and   a second distal panel side edge directly affixed to the second longitudinal edge.   
     
     
         3 . The sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the anterior panel includes:
 a first anterior panel side edge directly affixed to the first longitudinal edge, and   a second anterior panel side edge directly affixed to the the second longitudinal edge.   
     
     
         4 . The sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein the first distal panel side edge and the first anterior panel side edge are affixed via a first seam and the second distal panel side edge and the second anterior panel side edge are affixed via a second seam. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve of  claim 4 , wherein the first side edge of the retractable mitten is affixed to the tube via the second seam. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the cutout further defined by a rear edge extending between the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge. 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge each extend from the rear edge to the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising a cylindrical sheath affixed proximate the overlap of the distal panel and the anterior panel  7 . 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the retractable mitten further comprising a second side edge coupled to the exterior side of the tube, a free edge spaced away from the distal end of the tube and extending between the first side edge and the second side edge, and a forward edge coupled to the exterior side of the tube at the distal end. 
 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve of  claim 1 ,
 wherein in a first in-use state the retractable mitten is positioned on a dorsal side of the tube, and   wherein in a second in-use state the retractable mitten is positioned on a palmar side of the tube.   
     
     
         12 . A sleeve comprising:
 a tube having a distal end opposite a proximal end;   a cutout formed through the tube proximate the distal end;   a distal panel secured to the tube and covering a first area of the cutout, wherein the distal panel is affixed to the tube proximate the distal end;   an anterior panel secured to the tube and covering a second area of the cutout, wherein the anterior panel partially overlaps the distal panel to provide an aperture in communication with an interior volume of the tube; and   a retractable mitten comprising a mitten panel coupled to an exterior side of the tube proximate the distal end,   wherein in a first in-use state the mitten panel is positioned on a dorsal side of the tube, and   wherein in a second in-use state the mitten panel is positioned on a palmar side of the tube.   
     
     
         13 . The sleeve of  claim 12  further comprising:
 the retractable mitten having a first side affixed to an outer surface of the tube, a second side affixed to the outer surface of the tube, and a proximal edge spaced away from the distal end and extending between the first side and the second side, the proximal edge being unaffixed to the tube. 
 
     
     
         14 . The sleeve of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal edge is configured to move from the dorsal side of the tube to the palmar side of the tube when the retractable mitten moves from the first in-use state to the second in-use state. 
     
     
         15 . The sleeve of  claim 13 , wherein the first side of the retractable mitten is affixed to the outer surface of the tube proximate a cutout edge. 
     
     
         16 . The sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the first side of the retractable mitten is joined to the tube at a seam extending along the cutout edge. 
     
     
         17 . The sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein the distal panel includes a distal panel trailing edge extending across the cutout from a first cutout edge to a second cutout edge and the anterior panel includes a leading edge extending across the cutout from the first cutout edge to the second cutout edge, the entire leading edge being nearer the distal end than the distal panel trailing edge when the aperture is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The sleeve of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the distal panel trailing edge is nearer the distal end than a portion of the leading edge when the aperture is in an opened configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein the retractable mitten opens towards the proximal end of the tube, wherein the tube extends from a body of a jacket. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An article of apparel having a sleeve extending from a torso portion, the sleeve comprising:
 a torso portion;   a sleeve extending from the torso portion, the sleeve comprising:
 a tube having a distal end opposite a proximal end; 
 a cutout formed through the tube proximate the distal end, the cutout defined in part by a first longitudinal edge spaced apart from a second longitudinal edge; 
 a distal panel secured to the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge and covering a distal area of the cutout; 
 an anterior panel secured to the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge and covering an anterior area of the cutout, wherein the anterior panel partially overlaps the distal panel; and 
 a retractable mitten coupled to an exterior side of the tube, the retractable mitten having a first side edge coupled to the exterior side of the tube adjacent the second longitudinal edge. 
   
     
     
         22 . An article of apparel having a torso portion, a first sleeve portion extending from the torso portion, and a second sleeve portion extending from the torso portion, wherein at least one of the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion comprises the sleeve of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . An article of apparel having a torso portion, a first sleeve portion extending from the torso portion, and a second sleeve portion extending from the torso portion, wherein at least one of the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion comprises the sleeve of  claim 12 .