Sports apparel with integrated racing bib coupling

Abstract

Sports apparel, such as a skirt or shorts, integrates racing bib coupling therein via snap closures within a protective flap that is simple, effective, elegant and not cumbersome to enhance use and acceptance by participants. The skirt may fit over existing shorts, or such shorts may be incorporated into the skirt. The protective flap forms a downward facing slot or opening for receipt of the top of a conventional race bib wherein the eyelets or openings of the racing bib align with or are aligned with two of the snap connections to couple the racing bib to the skirt. The flap serves to protect the bib and prevent the bib from being a distraction to the athlete. The flap may have end seams to form a closed downward pocket for the bib and the seams will keep the flap in the desired overlapping protective position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Sports apparel in the form of a skirt or shorts with integrated racing bib coupling comprising:
 A protective flap forming a downward facing slot for receipt of the top of a conventional race bib with eyelets;   A plurality of snap closures within protective flap, wherein the snap closures are spaced to align with the eyelets of the racing bib and to snap together through the opening from opposed sides of the racing bib to couple the racing bib to the skirt.   
     
     
         2 . The sports apparel according to  claim 1  wherein only two snap closures are provided. 
     
     
         3 . The sports apparel according to  claim 1  wherein more than two snap closures are provided. 
     
     
         4 . The sports apparel according to  claim 1  wherein the flap is at an upper edge of sports apparel. 
     
     
         5 . The sports apparel according to  claim 1  wherein flap includes elastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The sports apparel according to  claim 1  wherein each snap closures includes a male portion of the snap closure on an inner side of the sports apparel and a female portion on an outer side of the sports apparel. 
     
     
         7 . The sports apparel according to  claim 1  wherein the flap includes end seams. 
     
     
         8 . The sports apparel according to  claim 1  wherein the sports apparel is in the form of a skirt. 
     
     
         9 . The sports apparel according to  claim 8  wherein the skirt includes integral shorts formed under a skirt portion. 
     
     
         10 . A sports skirt with integrated racing bib coupling comprising
 A protective flap forming a downward facing slot for receipt of the top of a conventional race bib with eyelets;   A plurality of snap closures within protective flap, wherein the snap closures are spaced to align with the eyelets of the racing bib and to snap together through the opening from opposed sides of the racing bib to couple the racing bib to the skirt.   
     
     
         11 . The sports skirt according to  claim 10  wherein only two snap closures are provided. 
     
     
         12 . The sports skirt according to  claim 10  wherein more than two snap closures are provided. 
     
     
         13 . The sports skirt according to  claim 10  wherein the flap is at an upper edge of sports skirt. 
     
     
         14 . The sports skirt according to  claim 10  wherein flap includes elastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The sports skirt according to  claim 10  wherein each snap closures includes a male portion of the snap closure on an inner side of the sports skirt and a female portion on an outer side of the sports skirt. 
     
     
         16 . The sports skirt according to  claim 10  wherein the flap includes end seams. 
     
     
         17 . The sports skirt according to  claim 10  wherein the sports skirt includes integral shorts formed under a skirt portion. 
     
     
         18 . Sports apparel in the form of a skirt or shorts with integrated racing bib comprising
 A race bib having eyelets along at least a top surface thereof   A protective flap forming a downward facing slot for receipt of the top the race bib with eyelets;   A plurality of snap closures within protective flap, wherein the snap closures are spaced to align with the eyelets of the racing bib and to snap together through the opening from opposed sides of the racing bib to couple the racing bib to the skirt.   
     
     
         19 . The Sports apparel in the form of a skirt or shorts with integrated racing bib according to  claim 18  wherein the flap is at an upper edge of sports skirt and includes elastic material and end seams. 
     
     
         20 . The Sports apparel in the form of a skirt or shorts with integrated racing bib according to  claim 18  wherein the sports apparel in in the form of a sports skirt and each snap closures includes a male portion of the snap closure on an inner side of the sports skirt and a female portion on an outer side of the sports skirt.