Articles of apparel providing enhanced body position feedback

摘要

Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and/or feedback are desired, such as the lower back, the arch of the foot, etc.); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting (compressive) forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.”

主权项

1. An article of apparel, comprising:
a garment structure for a human foot, wherein the garment structure includes one or more fabric elements, and wherein the garment structure includes an arch portion that is structured and arranged so as to provide a close fit to and extend across an arch area of a wearer's foot; and a foot position feedback system engaged with the garment structure at the arch portion, wherein the foot position feedback system includes:
a first region extending across the arch portion and having a higher compressive force application capability than a compressive force application capability of the fabric element making up a largest proportion of the garment structure,a second region having a higher compressive force application capability than the compressive force application capability of the fabric element making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, wherein the second region extends along a medial ankle or heel portion of the garment structure, anda third region having a higher compressive force application capability than the compressive force application capability of the fabric element making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, wherein the third region extends along a lateral ankle or heel portion of the garment structure,wherein the foot position feedback system includes a first material layer providing the higher compressive force application capability, wherein the first material layer includes a first opening defined therein, andwherein the foot position feedback system further includes a second material layer engaged with the first material layer, wherein the second material layer has a lower compressive force application capability than the first material, and wherein the second material layer covers the first opening.