Shirt having dynamic vent-slit structure

Abstract

An upper body article incorporating a dynamic vent-slit structure is provided. The article includes a torso portion adapted to extend around at least a portion of a wearer's torso in an as-worn position, and a plurality of slits arranged in a repeating fashion, wherein a spacing between two adjacent slits in linear alignment is less than a length of a slit in non-linear alignment with the two slits and that is offset from the two slits such that the slit in non-linear alignment overlies the spacing between the slits in linear alignment, and the slit in non-linear alignment is parallel to the slits in linear alignment. The slits may be positioned in one or more groupings, or aligned in different directions to open in response to different directions of stretch or movement, to provide dynamic venting of the article.

1 . An article of apparel for an upper torso of a wearer comprising:
 a torso portion adapted to extend around at least a portion of the wearer's torso in an as-worn position, the torso portion having a front side, a back side, a left shoulder opening, a right shoulder opening, a neck opening, and a torso opening; and   a plurality of slits arranged in a repeating fashion, wherein a spacing between two adjacent slits in linear alignment is less than a length of a slit in non-linear alignment with the two slits and that is offset from the two slits such that the slit in non-linear alignment overlies the spacing between the slits in linear alignment, and the slit in non-linear alignment is parallel to the slits in linear alignment.   
     
     
         2 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slits in the repeating fashion form at least two columns in parallel configuration, each of the columns having at least two slits in linear alignment. 
     
     
         3 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein a spacing between adjacent slits in linear alignment in any of the columns is shorter than a length of a slit in an adjacent column that overlies the spacing between the slits in linear alignment. 
     
     
         4 . The article of apparel of  claim 3 , wherein the slits in each of the columns are the same length and separated by a first spacing. 
     
     
         5 . The article of apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the first spacing is shorter than the length of the slits. 
     
     
         6 . The article of apparel of  claim 5 , wherein the columns are separated by a second spacing that is shorter than the length of the slits. 
     
     
         7 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein a slit in each column is aligned perpendicular from a portion of a long axis of a slit in an adjacent column. 
     
     
         8 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein the article comprises at least one of:
 a woven fabric; and   a knit fabric.   
     
     
         9 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein the slits are skewed from a vertical axis of the article of apparel and form a direct path between a wearer's skin and an outside environment of the article. 
     
     
         10 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the slits form a grouping of parallel columns on the back side of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         11 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , further comprising left and right sleeve portions coupled to the torso portion at the respective left and right shoulder openings. 
     
     
         12 . A vented article of apparel for an upper torso of a wearer comprising:
 a torso portion adapted to extend around at least a portion of the wearer's torso in an as-worn position, the torso portion having a front side, a back side, a left shoulder opening, a right shoulder opening, a neck opening, and a torso opening; and   a plurality of slits oriented substantially parallel to each other, wherein at least two of the plurality of slits are in linear alignment, wherein a spacing between the at least two slits is less than a length of a slit positioned adjacent to the at least two slits and in non-linear alignment with respect to the at least two slits, and wherein the slits are positioned in two or more distinct groupings on the article of apparel, the slits within each grouping aligned in the same direction.   
     
     
         13 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of slits are skewed from a vertical axis of the article of apparel, and wherein at least a portion of the slits form a plurality of parallel columns. 
     
     
         14 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the slits are positioned on the back side of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         15 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the slits are positioned between the respective left and the right shoulder openings of the article of apparel and the torso opening. 
     
     
         16 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , further comprising left and right sleeve portions coupled to the torso portion at the respective left and right shoulder openings, wherein at least a portion of the slits are positioned proximate to the neck opening of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         17 . A modified article of apparel for an upper torso of a wearer comprising:
 a torso portion adapted to extend around at least a portion of the wearer's torso in an as-worn position, the torso portion having a front side, a back side, a left shoulder opening, a right shoulder opening, a neck opening, and a torso opening; and   a plurality of slits forming a plurality of columns in parallel configuration, wherein a spacing between two slits in linear alignment in a first column is less than a length of a slit positioned in an adjacent second column, wherein the spacing in the first column is aligned at least partially with the slit positioned in the adjacent second column, and wherein when the article is stretched perpendicular to the orientation of the slits, the slits open to provide a direct path through the article to a body of the wearer.   
     
     
         18 . The article of apparel of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of slits are positioned under at least one of the left and the right shoulder openings of the article of apparel, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The article of apparel of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality slits are positioned on the back side of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         20 . The article of apparel of  claim 19 , further comprising left and right sleeve portions coupled to the torso portion at the respective left and right shoulder openings.