Three-dimensionally configured armpit patch

Abstract

The armpit patch for incorporating in an article of clothing in the under-arm zone, has a generally oblong shape with a longitudinal plane of symmetry and a transverse plane for coming substantially under the armhole line and associated on either side of said transverse plane with a front portion that is to come under the panel forming the arm of the article and with a rear portion that is to come under the panel forming the body of the article. In addition, it has a three-dimensional configuration without sharp edges and in that said three-dimensional configuration consists at least in that laterally, in the immediate proximity of the transverse plane, the front and rear portions form two flanges in relief, each being configured substantially as a portion of a cone having its apex lying substantially at the point of intersection with the longitudinal and transverse planes.

1 . An armpit patch for incorporating in an article of clothing in the under-arm zone, said patch being generally oblong in shape with a longitudinal plane of symmetry and a transverse plane for coming substantially under the armhole line and associated on either side of said transverse plane with a front portion that is to come under the panel forming the arm of the article and with a rear portion that is to come under the panel forming the body of the article, wherein the patch has a three-dimensional configuration without sharp edges and said three-dimensional configuration is configured such that laterally, in the immediate proximity of the transverse plane, the front and rear portions form two flanges in relief, each being configured substantially as a portion of a cone having its apex lying substantially at the point of intersection with the longitudinal and transverse planes. 
     
     
         2 . An armpit patch according to  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional configuration also has, in the longitudinal plane, concave curvature having a determined angle (α) at the apex. 
     
     
         3 . An armpit patch according to  claim 2 , wherein the angle α is a function of the type of armhole of the article of clothing, in particular, α1 for an armhole of the set-in sleeve type that is less than the angle α2 for an armhole of the T-shirt shape type. 
     
     
         4 . An armpit patch according to  claim 3 , wherein the angle α1 for a set-in sleeve is of the order of 70° to 75°, and is preferably equal to 73°. 
     
     
         5 . An armpit patch according to  claim 3 , wherein the angle α2 at the apex for an article having a T-shirt shape type sleeve is of the order of 85° to 90°, and preferably equal to 87°. 
     
     
         6 . An armpit patch according to  claim 1 , for providing protection against visible transfer of armpit sweat, the patch comprising at least a waterproof outer layer and an absorbent layer, and said outer layer is for coming into contact with the article. 
     
     
         7 . An armpit patch according to  claim 6 , wherein said armpit patch comprises a non-woven fabric of absorbent material having one face subjected to hydrophobic treatment to constitute the waterproof outer layer. 
     
     
         8 . An armpit patch according to  claim 6 , wherein the outer layer comprises a waterproof membrane or a breathable waterproof membrane, optionally covered on the outside in a textile or non-woven layer, and the outer layer and the absorbent layer are assembled together at their peripheral edges. 
     
     
         9 . An armpit patch according to  claim 6 , wherein the patch comprises fabric having two faces formed by interlaced yarns, the faces being connected to each other, and wherein
 the outside face of the fabric acts at least in part as a waterproof outer layer and comprises yarns made of a synthetic material;   the fabric includes yarns made of an absorbent material suitable for storing moisture; and   the inside face of the fabric includes yarns suitable for absorbing and/or transferring moisture towards the storage yarns.   
     
     
         10 . An armpit patch according to  claim 9 , wherein the fabric is a fabric of three-dimensional type having its two faces formed by two walls are spaced apart from each other and that are connected together by link yarns, which link yarns are made of an absorbent material, being suitable for storing moisture between said two walls. 
     
     
         11 . A protective patch according to  claim 9  wherein said patch includes a breathable waterproof membrane secured to the outside face of the fabric, in particular, by dots of adhesive, and optionally an outer layer of textile or non-woven fabric that is secured to the breathable waterproof membrane. 
     
     
         12 . A protective patch according to  claim 6 , wherein its peripheral edge is consolidated by ultrasonic welding. 
     
     
         13 . A method of fabricating an armpit patch according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the following operations:
 taking a starting panel;   cutting a patch from said panel, the patch having a generally oblong shape with a longitudinal plane of symmetry and a transverse plane for coming substantially under the armhole line of an article of clothing and, on either side of said transverse plane, a front portion for coming under the panel forming the arm of the article and a rear portion for coming under the panel forming the body of the article; and   shaping the starting panel before cutting out the patch or shaping the patch after cutting it out so as to give the patch a three-dimensional configuration without sharp edges, said three-dimensional configuration configured such that laterally, in the immediate proximity of the transverse plane,  the front and rear portions form two flanges in relief, each being substantially configured as a portion of a cone having its apex substantially at the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse planes.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the shaping is formed by thermoforming or thermomolding. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the shaping operation is performed on the starting panel and the patch is cut out after shaping. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the shaping is performed by assembling together two patch portions, in particular, by edge-to-edge stitching, the portions being assembled together along two concave edges of said portions so that the assembly line passes via the intersection between the longitudinal and transverse planes of the patch and forms a determined angle with the transverse plane. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the angle formed between the assembly line and the transverse plane is of the order of 15°.