Sleeve garment

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved garment sleeve for securing strapless shin guards. The garment sleeve may secure a shin guard to the exterior of an athlete's leg and provides options for configuring the shin guard between the sleeve and the leg or securing the shin guard with the garment sleeve interfacing between the shin guard and the leg for added cushion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment sleeve to be worn over at least a user's leg operable to secure a strapless shin guard, the garment comprising:
 a. a sleeve of woven material having a substantially circular geometry with a proximal end and a distal end, the sleeve being operable to compress around the lower leg of a user;   b. an extended cuff woven to said proximal end having a substantially flexible material; and   c. a lower cuff woven to said distal end.   
       wherein a strapless shin guard is inserted into said sleeve and positioned in front of a user's tibia. 
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve of woven material is operable to circumferentially apply a low pressure around said lower leg. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said extended cuff has a greater coefficient of elasticity than said sleeve material. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said lower cuff has a greater coefficient of elasticity than said sleeve material. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the extended cuff is operable to fold along said proximal end of said sleeve and provide supplementary pressure on the exterior of the leg to prevent uplift of said shin guard. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said strapless shin guard is inserted into said sleeve by positioning said shin guard in between an interior surface of said garment sleeve and the tibia of said user. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said strapless shin guard is inserted into said sleeve by positioning said shin guard on an exterior surface of said garment sleeve along the tibia and said extended cuff is folded downward to cover a proximal end of the strapless shin guard, and said lower cuff is folded upward to cover a distal end of said strapless shin guard. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is constructed from a moisture-wicking synthetic or natural athletic fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said extended cuff and said lower cuff has a ribbing texture that is operable to provide radial elasticity when securing said strapless shin guard. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using a garment sleeve, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a sleeve comprising, an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end having an extended cuff, and a distal end having a lower cuff;   b. sliding said sleeve over a leg of a user; and   c. inserting a strapless shin guard into said sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said inserting a strapless shin guard into said sleeve, further comprises the steps of, stretching said extended cuff and positioning said strapless shin guard against the tibia of a user's leg. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising folding said extended cuff over onto the outer surface of said sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said inserting a strapless shin guard into said sleeve further comprises the steps of positioning said strapless shin guard on the exterior surface of said sleeve and folding said extended cuff over a proximal end of said shin guard. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising folding a lower cuff over a distal end of said shin guard. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said sleeve is comprising a breathable moisture wicking material with a high elasticity. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said extended cuff and said lower cuff are constructed from synthetic fibers or natural fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said extended cuff and said lower cuff have a ribbed geometry that is operable to provide radial elasticity when inserting said strapless shin guard.