Article of apparel incorporating a pleated structure

Abstract

Articles of apparel are disclosed that include one of a variety of pleated structures. In general, the pleated structures include a material element with one or more folds that place surfaces of the material element in an overlapping configuration. A bonding element is positioned between the overlapping surfaces and is bonded or otherwise secured to at least one of the overlapping surfaces. The bonding element may join the overlapping surfaces together, or the bonding element may be bonded to only one of the overlapping surfaces.

1 . An article of apparel having a pleated structure, the pleated structure comprising: 
 a primary element formed from a two-dimensional material, the primary element having a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the primary element having at least a first fold and a second fold that form a z-shaped configuration in cross-section, portions of the first surface positioned adjacent to the first fold and on opposite sides of the first fold being placed in an overlapping configuration, and portions of the second surface positioned adjacent to the second fold and on opposite sides of the second fold being placed in an overlapping configuration; and    a secondary element secured to the first surface, the secondary element being positioned adjacent to the first fold and extending along the first fold, wherein one of the first surface and the second surface form an exterior surface of the article of apparel, and another of the first surface and the second surface form an interior surface of the article of apparel.    
   
   
       2 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary element secures the portions of the first surface positioned adjacent to the first fold to each other.  
   
   
       3 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 2 , wherein the secondary element is a polymer tape bonded to the portions of the first surface positioned adjacent to the first fold.  
   
   
       4 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 2 , wherein the pleated structure includes another secondary element that is secured to the second surface, positioned adjacent to the second fold, and extending along the second fold, the another secondary element securing the portions of the second surface positioned adjacent to the second fold to each other.  
   
   
       5 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first fold and the second fold are substantially parallel to each other.  
   
   
       6 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pleated structure includes a third fold and a fourth fold that form another z-shaped configuration in cross-section, and the pleated structure includes another secondary element that is secured to the first surface, the another secondary element being positioned adjacent to the third fold and extending along the third fold.  
   
   
       7 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pleated structure extends along a back area of a torso region of the article of apparel.  
   
   
       8 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary element is formed from a two-dimensional material.  
   
   
       9 . An article of apparel for covering a torso region of a wearer, the article of apparel comprising: 
 a primary element formed from a two-dimensional material, the primary element having a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the primary element having at least a first fold and a second fold that form a z-shaped configuration in cross-section, portions of the first surface positioned adjacent to the first fold and on opposite sides of the first fold being placed in an overlapping configuration, and portions of the second surface positioned adjacent to the second fold and on opposite sides of the second fold being placed in an overlapping configuration; and    a secondary element secured to the first surface, the secondary element being positioned adjacent to the first fold and extending along the first fold,    wherein the first fold and the second fold form a pleated structure in the article of apparel, and the pleated structure is positioned in the article of apparel to extend along a back area of the torso region when worn.    
   
   
       10 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 9 , wherein the secondary element secures the portions of the first surface positioned adjacent to the first fold to each other.  
   
   
       11 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 10 , wherein the secondary element is a polymer tape bonded to the portions of the first surface positioned adjacent to the first fold.  
   
   
       12 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pleated structure includes another secondary element that is secured to the second surface, positioned adjacent to the second fold, and extending along the second fold, the another secondary element securing the portions of the second surface positioned adjacent to the second fold to each other.  
   
   
       13 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 9 , wherein the pleated structure extends vertically along a center of the back area.  
   
   
       14 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first fold and the second fold are substantially parallel to each other.  
   
   
       15 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 9 , wherein the pleated structure includes a third fold and a fourth fold that form another z-shaped configuration in cross-section, and the pleated structure includes another secondary element that is secured to the first surface, the another secondary element being positioned adjacent to the third fold and extending along the third fold.  
   
   
       16 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 9 , wherein the secondary element is formed from a two-dimensional material.  
   
   
       17 . An article of apparel comprising: 
 a material element formed from a two-dimensional material, the material element having at least four folds that define four overlapping areas; and    at least four bonding elements positioned adjacent to the four folds and between the four overlapping areas, the bonding elements bonding opposite sides of the overlapping areas to each other.    
   
   
       18 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 17 , wherein a first surface of the material element forms an exterior surface of the article of apparel, and a second surface of the material element forms an interior surface of the article of apparel.  
   
   
       19 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 17 , wherein the bonding elements are sections of a polymer tape that are bonded to the opposite sides of the overlapping areas.  
   
   
       20 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 17 , wherein the material element and the bonding elements are located in a back area of a torso region of the article of apparel.  
   
   
       21 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 17 , wherein the bonding elements are formed from a two-dimensional material.  
   
   
       22 . An article of apparel comprising: 
 a material element formed from a two-dimensional material, the material element having at least four folds that define four overlapping areas; and    at least four bonding elements formed from a two-dimensional material and positioned adjacent to the four folds and between the four overlapping areas, the bonding elements bonding opposite sides of the overlapping areas to each other,    wherein a first surface of the material element forms an exterior surface of the article of apparel, and a second surface of the material element forms an interior surface of the article of apparel, and the four folds are positioned in the article of apparel to extend along a center of a back area of the torso region when worn.    
   
   
       23 . The article of apparel recited in  claim 22 , wherein the bonding elements are sections of a polymer tape that are bonded to the opposite sides of the overlapping areas.