Garment with flexible shoulder sleeve

Abstract

Some upper-body garments can include shoulder sleeves. Examples of this disclosure include a gusset coupled to, and extending between, a shoulder sleeve and a torso portion adjacent an armhole of the torso portion. The gusset can improve mobility, such as when the upper-body garment is worn over shoulder pads.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 a torso portion having a front, a back, a top, a head opening extending through the top, and a pair of arm holes proximate the top;   a shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from one of the arm holes; and   a gusset coupled to, and extending between, the shoulder sleeve and the torso portion adjacent the one of the arm holes.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the torso portion has a first elasticity and the gusset has a second elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the first elasticity. 
     
     
         3 . (gusset at front) The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the gusset extends from the front lower edge towards the sleeve top. 
     
     
         4 . (gusset at rear) The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the gusset extends from the rear lower edge towards the sleeve top. 
     
     
         5 . (gusset both front and rear) The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the gusset further extends from the sleeve top to the rear lower edge. 
     
     
         6 . (triangular-shaped gusset) The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the gusset comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to an edge of the shoulder sleeve and the second portion being closer to a top of the shoulder sleeve, the first portion comprising a greater width than the first portion, such that the gusset tapers as it extends from the first portion to the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . (rectangular-shaped gusset) The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the gusset has a constant width along a length of the gusset. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the gusset is stitched to the torso portion and the first shoulder sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . (both shoulder sleeves have gussets) The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a second shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the other of the arm holes, and a second gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the torso portion adjacent the other of the armholes. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein each shoulder sleeve forms a cavity configured to retain a shoulder pad. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the armhole has a lower-most extent, and wherein the front lower edge of the shoulder sleeve and the rear lower edge of the shoulder sleeve are above the lower-most extent of the armhole. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the gusset and the shoulder sleeve are removably coupled to the upper body portion. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the shoulder sleeve has a third elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the third elasticity. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the first elasticity and the third elasticity are the same. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a first seem coupling a first side of the first gusset to the torso portion and a second seem coupling a second side of the first gusset to the first shoulder sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 an upper body portion having first and second arm holes;   a first shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the first arm hole;   a second shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the second arm hole;   a first gusset coupled to, and extending between, the first shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the first armhole; and   a second gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the second armhole.   
     
     
         17 . The article of apparel of  claim 16 , wherein the upper body portion has a first elasticity and the first gusset and the second gusset have a second elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the first elasticity. 
     
     
         18 . The article of apparel of  claim 17 , wherein the first shoulder sleeve and the second shoulder sleeve have a third elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the third elasticity. 
     
     
         19 . The article of apparel of  claim 18 , wherein the first elasticity is equal to the third elasticity. 
     
     
         20 . The article of apparel of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second gusset are located on a front side of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         21 . The article of apparel of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second gusset are located on a rear side of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         22 . The article of apparel of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a third gusset coupled to, and extending between, the first shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the first armhole on a rear side of the article of apparel; and   a fourth gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the second armhole on a rear side of the article of apparel.   
     
     
         23 . The article of apparel of  claim 22 , wherein the first shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the first gusset to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the first gusset to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the first gusset extends from the front lower edge to the sleeve top. 
     
     
         24 . The article of apparel of  claim 23 , wherein the second shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the second gusset to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the second gusset to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the second gusset extends from the second shoulder sleeve front lower edge to the second shoulder sleeve top. 
     
     
         25 . The article of apparel of  claim 24 , wherein the first gusset has a greater width proximate the first shoulder sleeve front lower edge and wherein the first gusset tapers to a narrower width as the first gusset extends to the first shoulder sleeve top, and wherein the second gusset has a greater width proximate the second shoulder sleeve front lower edge and wherein the second gusset tapers to a narrower width as the second gusset extends to the second shoulder sleeve top. 
     
     
         26 . The article of apparel of  claim 16 , further comprising a first seem coupling a first side of the first gusset to the upper body portion, a second seem coupling a second side of the first gusset to the first shoulder sleeve, a third seam coupling a first side of the second gusset to the upper body portion, and a fourth seem coupling a second side of the second gusset to the second shoulder sleeve. 
     
     
         27 . A method comprising:
 obtaining, for constructing an upper-body garment:
 an upper-body portion comprising at least a portion of an armhole; 
 a shoulder sleeve; and 
 a gusset; 
 attaching a first portion of the gusset to the upper-body portion near the at least the portion of the armhole; and 
 attaching a second portion of the gusset to the shoulder sleeve. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the attaching of the first portion of the gusset to the upper-body portion comprises stitching. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the attaching of the second portion of the gusset to the shoulder sleeve comprises stitching. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising varying the length of the gusset. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the varying the length of the gusset is based on the size of the upper-body garment. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising varying the width of the gusset. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the varying the width of the gusset is based on the size of the upper-body garment.