Low drag garment

Abstract

A low drag garment comprises a textured fabric in at least one side region of the garment, wherein the textured fabric has a substantially uniform texture height in the range 0.2-0.8 mm.

1 . A low drag garment comprising a textured fabric in at least one side region of the garment, wherein the textured fabric has a texture pattern with a substantially uniform texture height in the range 0.2-0.8 mm. 
     
     
         2 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the textured fabric has a texture pattern with a substantially uniform texture height in the range 0.3-0.7 mm, preferably 0.4-0.6 mm. 
     
     
         3 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment includes a body portion and the textured fabric is provided in at least one side region of the body portion, and wherein the textured fabric in the side region of the body portion has a texture pattern with a substantially uniform texture height in the range 0.2-0.4 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A low drag garment according to  claim 3 , wherein the garment includes a sleeve portion and the textured fabric is provided in at least one side region of the sleeve portion, and wherein the textured fabric in the side region of the sleeve portion has a texture pattern with a substantially uniform texture height in the range 0.3-0.8 mm. 
     
     
         5 . A low drag garment according to  claim 3 , wherein the garment includes a leg portion and the textured fabric is provided in at least one side region of the leg portion, and wherein the textured fabric in the side region of the leg portion has a texture pattern with a substantially uniform texture height in the range 0.2-0.4 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , comprising a relatively smooth fabric in at least one front region of the garment, wherein the relatively smooth fabric has a texture height of less than 0.2 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , comprising a textured fabric in at least one rear region of the garment, wherein the textured fabric in the rear region of the garment has a texture height of at least 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the side region of the garment comprises a region of the garment in which the surface angle has a minimum value θ 1  in the range 5° to 45°, and a maximum value θ 2  in the range 95°-160°. 
     
     
         9 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the side region of the garment comprises a region of the garment having a width in the range 30-170 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the textured region has a texture pattern that comprises a plurality of isolated texture formations separated by regions with substantially no surface texture. 
     
     
         11 . A low drag garment according to  claim 10 , wherein the texture formations are arranged in rows that extend transverse to the direction of airflow, wherein the rows have a mean spacing D in a direction of airflow in the range 1 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A low drag garment according to  claim 11 , wherein the texture formations forming the rows have a mean spacing G in a direction perpendicular to a direction of airflow in the range 1 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a texture pattern that is provided by jacquard knitting of the fabric, or by printing a 3D pattern on the outer surface of the fabric, or by the application of a solid material to the outer surface of the fabric. 
     
     
         14 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment is an article of sports clothing. 
     
     
         15 . A low drag garment according to  claim 14 , wherein the garment is an article of sports clothing for use in cycling, running, skiing, horse racing or speed skating. 
     
     
         16 . A low drag garment according to  claim 14 , wherein the garment is an article of sports clothing for use in a sport where an athlete typically travels at a speed in the range 5-20 m/s. 
     
     
         17 . A low drag garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a shirt, trousers, leggings, shorts, bibshorts, shoes, overshoes, arm covers, calf guards, gloves, socks or a bodysuit. 
     
     
         18 . A low drag garment according to  claim 2 , wherein the garment includes a body portion and the textured fabric is provided in at least one side region of the body portion, and wherein the textured fabric in the side region of the body portion has a texture pattern with a substantially uniform texture height in the range 0.2-0.4 mm. 
     
     
         19 . A low drag garment according to  claim 4 , wherein the garment includes a leg portion and the textured fabric is provided in at least one side region of the leg portion, and wherein the textured fabric in the side region of the leg portion has a texture pattern with a substantially uniform texture height in the range 0.2-0.4 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A low drag garment according to  claim 5 , comprising a relatively smooth fabric in at least one front region of the garment, wherein the relatively smooth fabric has a texture height of less than 0.2 mm.