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US5271101A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cycling shorts with anatomical seat pad

Assignee: Nike Inc
•
Filing: 1992-09-18
•
Granted: 1993-12-21
•
Expires: 2012-09-18
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Abstract

Abstract Cycling shorts which provide a correct anatomical fit are disclosed. The shorts include a padded seat liner having a plurality of embossed break lines which are specifically positioned such that the liner conforms to the anatomical profile of a cyclist positioned in a riding position on a bicycle. A preferred embodiment of the seat liner has longitudinal, oblique and generally transverse arcuate break lines.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rachel Speth
  • 👤 Peter Kallen
  • 👤 Chris Helmsworth

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 23:04
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D1/00; A41D1/06; A41D1/08; A41D1/084

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
Cycling pants comprising: a body portion having a waist opening and two leg openings such that a wearer can insert a leg through each said leg opening and pull said body portion upwards into a wearing position; a pants liner covering the buttocks region, the perineal region, and extending upwards to the lower front pelvic region of the wearer when said body portion is positioned in the wearing position; attaching means for attaching said liner to a surface of said body portion facing inwardly towards the wearer; and said liner including a plurality of integrally formed embossed break lines creating seamless indentations in said liner such that said liner conforms to the anatomical curves of the wearer when positioned in a riding position on a bicycle and thereby reduces abrasion to the wearer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 133 words
Cycling pants comprising: a body portion having a waist opening and two leg openings such that a wearer can insert a leg through each said leg opening and pull said body portion upwards into a wearing position; a pants liner covering the buttocks region, the perineal region, and extending upwards to the lower front pelvic region of the wearer when said body portion is positioned in the wearing position; attaching means for attaching said liner to a surface of said body portion facing inwardly towards the wearer; and said liner including a plurality of integrally formed embossed break lines creating seamless indentations in said liner such that said liner conforms to the anatomical curves of the wearer when positioned in a riding position on a bicycle and thereby reduces abrasion to the wearer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The cycling pants of claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises stitching said liner to said body portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The cycling pants of claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises laminating said liner to said body portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 48 words
The cycling pants of claim 1 wherein said plurality of embossed break lines include generally longitudinally disposed break lines extending through the perineal covering region of said pants liner such that said liner bends along said longitudinal break lines to better fit between the legs of the wearer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
The cycling pants of claim 4 wherein at least one of said longitudinally disposed break lines extends rearward from the perineal covering region of said pants liner to said buttocks covering region of said liner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 56 words
The cycling pants of claim 4 wherein said plurality of embossed break lines further include generally transverse arcuate break lines disposed in the lower pelvic covering region of said pants liner such that said liner bends along said transverse arcuate break lines to more effectively wrap said liner around the lower pelvic region of the wearer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
The cycling pants of claim 6 wherein said plurality of embossed break lines further include generally oblique break lines disposed along the buttocks covering regions of said pants liner such that said liner anatomically conforms to the wearer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The cycling pants of claim 7 wherein at least one of said oblique break lines intersects at least one of said longitudinal break lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
The cycling pants of claim 1 wherein said pants liner comprises a backing layer attached to said body portion by said attaching means, a foam layer overlying said backing layer, and a covering layer disposed over said foam layer and facing inwardly towards the wearer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The cycling pants of claim 9 wherein said foam layer comprises a pad of high density polyurethane foam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
The cycling pants of claim 9 wherein said covering layer comprises a piece of synthetic suede material having a soft napped side and a smooth side, said soft napped side of said covering layer being disposed adjacent the wearer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 27 words
The cycling pants of claim 9 wherein said plurality of embossed break lines form a plurality of depressed grooves in said covering layer and said foam layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 46 words
The cycling pants of claim 12 wherein said plurality of depressed grooves include generally longitudinally disposed grooves extending through the perineal covering region of said pants liner such that said liner bends along said longitudinal break lines to better fit between the legs of the wearer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 53 words
The cycling pants of claim 13 wherein said plurality of depressed grooves further include generally transverse arcuate grooves disposed in the lower pelvic covering region of said pants liner such that said liner bends along said transverse arcuate grooves to more effectively wrap said liner around the lower pelvic region of the wearer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 36 words
The cycling pants of claim 14 wherein said plurality of depressed grooves further include generally oblique grooves disposed along the buttocks covering regions of said pants liner such that said liner anatomically conforms to the wearer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
The cycling pants of claim 1 wherein said body portion comprises a seven panel construction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 143 words
A liner for a pair of cycling shorts, said liner comprising: a backing layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, said backing layer being configured to generally cover the buttocks, perineal and lower pelvic regions of a cyclist; a foam layer corresponding to the shape of said backing layer and attached to the inner surface of said backing layer; a covering layer overlying said foam pad and joining with a peripheral edge of said backing layer, said covering layer facing the body of the cyclist; a plurality of integrally formed embossed break lines disposed throughout said covering layer, said embossed lines forming a plurality of seamless, depressed grooves in said foam layer such that said liner curves along said grooves and thereby anatomically conforms to the body of the cyclist while in a cycling position and reduces abrasion to the cyclist.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 143 words
A liner for a pair of cycling shorts, said liner comprising: a backing layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, said backing layer being configured to generally cover the buttocks, perineal and lower pelvic regions of a cyclist; a foam layer corresponding to the shape of said backing layer and attached to the inner surface of said backing layer; a covering layer overlying said foam pad and joining with a peripheral edge of said backing layer, said covering layer facing the body of the cyclist; a plurality of integrally formed embossed break lines disposed throughout said covering layer, said embossed lines forming a plurality of seamless, depressed grooves in said foam layer such that said liner curves along said grooves and thereby anatomically conforms to the body of the cyclist while in a cycling position and reduces abrasion to the cyclist.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 20 words
The liner of claim 17 wherein said backing layer comprises a nylon piece of material attachable to the cycling shorts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 16 words
The liner of claim 18 wherein said foam layer comprises a pad of high density foam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
The liner of claim 19 wherein the high density foam is an open cell polyurethane foam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 16 words
The liner of claim 19 wherein the high density foam is a closed cell polyurethane foam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 14 words
The liner of claim 19 wherein said covering layer comprises a synthetic suede material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 48 words
The liner of claim 17 wherein said plurality of embossed break lines include generally longitudinally disposed break lines extending through the perineal covering region of said covering layer such that said foam layer bends along said longitudinal break lines to better fit between the legs of the wearer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 33 words
The liner of claim 23 wherein one of said longitudinally disposed break lines extends rearward from the perineal covering region of said covering layer to said buttocks covering region of said covering layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 55 words
The liner of claim 23 wherein said plurality of embossed break lines further include generally transverse arcuate break lines disposed in the lower pelvic covering region of said pants covering layer such that said foam layer bends along said transverse arcuate break lines and more effectively wraps around the lower pelvic region of the cyclist.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 38 words
The liner of claim 25 wherein said plurality of embossed break lines further include generally oblique break lines disposed along the buttocks covering region of said covering layer such that said foam layer anatomically conforms to the wearer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 23 words
The liner of claim 26 wherein at least one of said oblique break lines intersects at least one of said longitudinal break lines.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2318199A Cited
US4805243A Cited
US4945571A Cited
US4961233A Cited
US5038408A Cited
US5068920A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-12-20 1997-06-21 1997-12-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-12-20 2001-06-21 2001-12-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-12-20 2005-06-21 2005-12-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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