Notch sleeve support shirt

Abstract

A support shirt is provided with round sleeve holes located on a front portion of the shirt body and a notched sleeve design which spreads the stress on the fabric during lifting along the length of the sleeves as opposed to prior art shirt designs in which stress occurs in the very narrow chest plate of the shirt and at the point where the sleeves are attached to the shirt body. The notched sleeve design also results in the sleeves tilting downwardly and curving inwardly to provide additional support during lifting. As a result of the notched sleeve design, the support shirt is more durable and aids in reducing erratic bar movement during lifting, thrusting, or pushing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support shirt comprising:
 a shirt body;   a pair of sleeves positioned adjacent to an upper portion of the shirt body, the pair of sleeves attached to the shirt body at sleeve body holes located on the front of the shirt body, each of the pair of sleeves having a first end adapted to be attached to a respective sleeve body hole, an opposite end, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge of each of the pair of sleeves being joined together by a coupling seam; and   a notch portion formed in the first side edge and the second side edge of each of the pair of sleeves.   
     
     
         2 . The support shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the notch portion comprises a curvilinear surface on the first side edge and the second side edge of each of the pair of sleeves forming a groove, a channel, or a recess in the first side edge and the second side edge of each of the pair of sleeves. 
     
     
         3 . The support shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of sleeves tilts downwardly and curve inwardly from the shirt body. 
     
     
         4 . The support shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the notch portion on the first side of a respective sleeve fits together with the notch portion on the second side edge of the respective sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The support shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the shirt body and the pair of sleeves comprises a single- or multi-ply fabric comprised of canvas, polyester, spandex, nylon, or cotton. 
     
     
         6 . The support shirt of  claim 5 , wherein the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 90 psi. 
     
     
         7 . The support shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of sleeves extends forward of a frontal plane extending across the shirt body at an angle of between 60° and 180°. 
     
     
         8 . The support shirt of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of sleeves extends from a transverse plane extending substantially perpendicular to the frontal plane at an angle of between +45° and −45°. 
     
     
         9 . The support shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body holes are round. 
     
     
         10 . A support shirt comprising:
 a shirt body;   a pair of sleeves positioned adjacent to an upper portion of the shirt body, the pair of sleeves attached to the shirt body at sleeve body holes located on the front of the shirt body, each of the pair of sleeves having a first end adapted to be attached to a respective sleeve body hole, an opposite end, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge of each of the pair of sleeves being joined together by a coupling seam; and   a notch portion forming a groove in the first side edge and the second side edge of each of the pair of sleeves.   
     
     
         11 . The support shirt of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of sleeves tilts downwardly and curve inwardly from the shirt body. 
     
     
         12 . The support shirt of  claim 10 , wherein the notch portion on the first side of a respective sleeve fits together with the notch portion on the second side edge of the respective sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The support shirt of  claim 10 , wherein the shirt body and the pair of sleeves comprises a single- or multi-ply fabric comprised of canvas, polyester, spandex, nylon, or cotton. 
     
     
         14 . The support shirt of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve body holes are round. 
     
     
         15 . A support shirt comprising:
 a shirt body;   a pair of sleeves positioned adjacent to an upper portion of the shirt body, the pair of sleeves attached to the shirt body at sleeve body holes located on the front of the shirt body, each of the pair of sleeves having a first end adapted to be attached to a respective sleeve body hole, an opposite end, a first side edge, and a second side edge, and the first side edge and the second side edge of each of the pair of sleeves being joined together by a coupling seam; and   a notch portion forming a channel in the first side edge and the second side edge of each of the pair of sleeves.   
     
     
         16 . The support shirt of  claim 15 , wherein the shirt body and the pair of sleeves comprises a single- or multi-ply fabric comprised of canvas, polyester, spandex, nylon, or cotton. 
     
     
         17 . The support shirt of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 90 psi. 
     
     
         18 . The support shirt of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of sleeves extends forward of a frontal plane extending across the shirt body at an angle of between 60° and 180°. 
     
     
         19 . The support shirt of  claim 18 , wherein the pair of sleeves extends from a transverse plane extending substantially perpendicular to the frontal plane at an angle of between +45° and −45°. 
     
     
         20 . The support shirt of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of sleeves tilts downwardly and curve inwardly from the shirt body.