Moisture management upper torso garments

Abstract

A garment is provided. The garment includes a body having a first opening positioned opposite a second opening, a first sleeve and a second sleeve coupled to the body proximate to the second opening, and a first gusset disposed at least in part in a first underarm region and coupled to the first sleeve and the body. The first gusset includes at least two fabric layers. A first fabric layer of the at least two fabric layers is designed to transport moisture, and a second fabric layer of the at least two fabric layers is imparted with moisture-resistant properties.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 a body including a first opening positioned opposite a second opening;   a first sleeve and a second sleeve each coupled to the body proximate to the second opening; and   a first gusset disposed at least in part in a first underarm region and coupled to the first sleeve and the body, the first gusset including at least two fabric layers,   wherein a first fabric layer of the at least two fabric layers is designed to transport moisture,   wherein a second fabric layer of the at least two fabric layers is imparted with moisture-resistant properties.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first gusset is substantially symmetrical with respect to a coronal axis of the garment. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first gusset is asymmetrical with respect to a coronal axis of the garment. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body further includes a front torso portion integrally formed with a rear torso portion,   the first gusset is coupled to at least one of the first sleeve, the front torso portion, and the rear torso portion via a first gusset seam,   a second gusset is coupled to at least one of the second sleeve, the front torso portion, and the rear torso portion via a second gusset seam.   
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two fabric layers of the first gusset includes a third fabric layer disposed between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer, and the third fabric layer is designed to transport moisture. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first gusset consists of the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric layer includes a first wearer-facing sublayer and a first outward-facing sublayer, wherein the second fabric layer includes a second wearer-facing sublayer and a second outward-facing sublayer, and wherein the first outward-facing sublayer is laminated with a hydrophobic film comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric layer includes a technical face having a plurality of pores designed to transport moisture. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body of the garment comprises a first fabric,   the second fabric layer of the first gusset comprises a second fabric,   the first fabric and the second fabric each include hydrophilic fibers,   a moisture-repellent finish is applied to the second fabric.   
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the first fabric layer of the first gusset comprises a third fabric and the third fabric is substantially hydrophobic. 
     
     
         11 . A garment comprising:
 a body provided in the form of:
 a front torso portion and a rear torso portion; 
 a neck opening disposed opposite a waist opening; 
 left and right sleeves coupled to the front and rear torso portions; 
 a left gusset disposed at least partially within a left underarm region and coupled to the left sleeve and to the front and rear torso portions, the left gusset designed to impart moisture management properties to the garment; and 
 a right gusset disposed at least partially within a right underarm region and coupled to the right sleeve and to the front and rear torso portions, the right gusset designed to impart moisture management properties to the garment, 
 wherein each of the left and right gussets includes a first gusset layer having a first perimeter edge and a second gusset layer having a second perimeter edge, and 
 wherein the first perimeter edge is coupled to the second perimeter edge. 
   
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein each of the left and right gussets includes a third gusset layer, and the first gusset layer, the second gusset layer, and the third gusset layer are substantially coextensive. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first gusset layer and the second gusset layer of each of the left and right gussets are coupled via bonding,   the left gusset is coupled to the front torso portion, the rear torso portion, and the left sleeve via one or more seams,   the right gusset is coupled to the front torso portion, the rear torso portion, and the right sleeve via one or more seams.   
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein neither the left gusset nor the right gusset includes a laminated film. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first gusset layer and the second gusset layer is treated with one or more agents selected from a group consisting of a wicking agent, a soil release agent, an odor control agent, a water-repelling agent, a water-resistant agent, an antibacterial agent, an antimicrobial agent, a hygiene agent, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the first gusset layer of each of the left and right gussets includes a technical face and a technical back, and wherein the technical face of the first gusset layer is imparted with a first texture to facilitate moisture adsorbance, and wherein the technical back of the first gusset layer is imparted with a second texture. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the left gusset and the right gusset each further includes a third gusset layer positioned between the first and second gusset layers, and wherein the third gusset layer is substantially similar to the first gusset layer. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first gusset layer of each of the left and right gussets includes a first wearer-facing sublayer and a first outward-facing sublayer,   the second gusset layer of each of the left and right gussets further includes a second wearer-facing sublayer and a second outward-facing sublayer,   the first wearer-facing sublayer and the first outward-facing sublayer of the first gusset layer are provided in substantially the same form, and   the second wearer-facing sublayer and the second outward-facing sublayer of the second gusset layer are provided in substantially the same form.   
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first gusset layer of each of the left and right gussets includes a first wearer-facing sublayer and a first outward-facing sublayer,   the second gusset layer of each of the left and right gussets further includes a second wearer-facing sublayer and a second outward-facing sublayer,   the first wearer-facing sublayer and the first outward-facing sublayer of the first gusset layer are provided in different forms, and   the second wearer-facing sublayer and the second outward-facing sublayer of the second gusset layer are provided in different forms.   
     
     
         20 . A garment comprising:
 a body provided in the form of:
 front and rear torso portions; 
 a neck opening disposed opposite a waist opening; 
 left and right sleeves coupled to the front and rear torso portions; and 
 a gusset disposed at least partially within a right underarm region and extending to the front and rear torso portions, the gusset coupled to the right sleeve and to the front and rear torso portions, wherein the gusset is configured to provide moisture management properties to the garment, 
   wherein the gusset is defined by:
 a first gusset end, a second gusset end positioned opposite the first gusset end, and a length extending linearly between the first and second gusset ends, 
 a first width at the gusset second end, 
 a second width positioned between the first width and the first gusset end, the second width being greater than the first width, 
 a third width positioned between the second width and the first gusset end, the third width being less than each of the first and second widths, 
 a fourth width positioned between the third width and the first gusset end, the fourth width being less than each of the first, second, and third widths.