Athletic apparel with applied indicia

Abstract

Apparel are disclosed that include resilient indicia, applied thereto using a resilient adhesive film, to produce lightweight, comfortable, aesthetically appealing garments and uniforms for athletes and other uniformed individuals. A method of manufacturing apparel with indicia is described and includes creating a digital image of desired indicia and transferring the digital image onto a textile substrate. The textile substrate is processed and laminated to the apparel in a predetermined position and orientation using an activatable film.

1 . A resilient indicia for application to athletic apparel, the resilient indicia comprising: 
 a resilient textile material; and    a resilient adhesive film laminated to at least a portion of the resilient textile material.    
   
   
       2 . The resilient indicia of  claim 1  wherein the resilient adhesive film comprises is thermally active.  
   
   
       3 . The resilient indicia of  claim 1  further comprising at least two layers of resilient textile material covering at least a portion of a proximate layer.  
   
   
       4 . An apparel having decorative or identifying resilient indicia, comprising: 
 a resilient textile material substrate; and    resilient indicia attached to the resilient textile material substrate.    
   
   
       5 . The apparel of  claim 4  further comprising an adhesive disposed between the resilient textile material substrate and the resilient indicia.  
   
   
       6 . The apparel of  claim 4  further comprising a stitching to secure the resilient indicia to the resilient textile material substrate.  
   
   
       7 . A method of manufacturing apparel having indicia, the method comprising: 
 providing a resilient textile material substrate;    providing an indicia comprising a resilient textile material; and    laminating the indicia to the resilient textile material substrate with a resilient activatable film.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising stitching the indicia to the resilient textile material substrate.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the resilient activatable film comprises a thermally activatable adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . A method of manufacturing apparel having indicia, the method comprising: 
 creating an image of the indicia in a digital format;    transferring the image of the indicia onto at least a portion of a textile substrate;    processing the textile substrate having the image of the indicia over at least a portion thereof;    providing a textile apparel; and    laminating the textile substrate to the textile apparel in a predetermined position at a predetermined orientation using an activatable film.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the activatable film is a resilient film.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the activatable film comprises a thermally activatable adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein creating an image of the indicia in a digital format comprises taking a digital photograph of the indicia.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein creating an image of the indicia in a digital format comprises: 
 taking a photograph of the indicia using conventional film; and    converting the photograph to a digital format.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein converting the photograph to a digital format comprises digitally scanning the photograph.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein transferring the image of the indicia onto at least a portion of a textile substrate comprises performing a heat transfer process.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein processing the textile substrate comprises separating the portion of the substrate having the indicia thereon from the rest of the substrate.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the portion of the substrate having the indicia thereon is separated from the rest of the substrate using a laser cutting process.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising stitching the textile substrate to the textile apparel.