Athletic garment with absorbent panels

Abstract

An apparatus and method described herein provides a garment with superior wicking properties while providing a wearer with an absorbent panel on which to wipe sweat from their hands. The panels may be places such that they do not interfere with the movement of the wearer. For instance, the panels may be strategically placed, sized, and numbered panels to provide for a sequence (e.g., such as a weightlifting method movement). In certain applications, a damp panel may be readily removed and replaced with a dry panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 a moisture wicking material having first and second sides, the first side configured to wick sweat away from a wearer; and   an absorbent panel positioned over the second side of the wicking material, the absorbent panel configured to receive sweat wiped from a hand of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel is attached to the second side of the moisture wicking material via a removable fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the removable fastener is selected from one of: a hook and loop fastener, a button, adhesive, static electricity, snap, and hook. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel is one of a plurality of replaceable absorbent panels. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel is sewn onto the second side of the moisture wicking material. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate layer positioned between the moisture wicking layer and the absorbent panel. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the intermediate layer includes a heat retention property. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a breather layer. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel includes a grip enhancing substance. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel includes at least one of an antibacterial, antimicrobial and moisturizing substance. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel is sold as part of an aftermarket garment conversion kit. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel includes a sensor to measure a biometric parameter associated with the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel is manufactured to include a logo. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent panel comprises non-woven material. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a garment, the method comprising:
 forming a moisture wicking material having first and second sides, the first side configured to wick sweat away from a wearer; and   attaching an absorbent panel over the second side of the wicking material, the absorbent panel configured to receive sweat wiped from a hand of the wearer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising manufacturing the absorbent panel to be reversible by the wearer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising adding a substance to the absorbent panel to create texture or additional absorption. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent panel has a surface pattern oriented in a first direction, and wherein an adjacent absorbent panel has a second surface pattern oriented in another direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent panel is positioned within a pocket structure of the garment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent panel has a surface pattern oriented in a first direction, and wherein an adjacent absorbent panel has a second surface pattern oriented in another direction.