This invention relates to an elastic suit, particularly for motorcyclists.

Known suits for motorcyclists have to reconcile adherence and fit to the motorcyclist's body with elastic yieldability to allow those movements required when practising sporting activity. As these are contrasting characteristics by virtue of their nature, it is known to form the suit of inextensible material, generally leather, shaped to match the motorcyclist's body when seated on the motorcycle saddle, and to elasticize only those parts which require yieldability. In practice the elasticized parts of the suit are situated at the base of the back, at the shoulder-blades and at that of the leg above the knee.

This location of the elasticized parts of the suit results in certain drawbacks, which this invention proposes to eliminate. One of these drawbacks is that the fit of the suit is studied in relation to the position assumed by the motorcyclist when on the motorcycle saddle, ie in relation to a precise position very different from the position which the motorcyclist assumes when erect. Consequently the motorcyclist encounters considerable hindrance in maintaining the erect position and moving from it. On the other hand, it such movement is to be allowed within certain limits, the shape of the suit has to be modified, to the detriment of its fit in the driving position, hence penalizing its aerodynamics under those conditions in which highest performance is required.

US-A-4 946 453, FR-A-2 476 453 and US-A-3 086 214 disclose an elastic suit comprising an elasticized band extending symmetrically downwards along the sides from the chest and along the rear at the base of the back.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which:

• Figure 1 is a front view of an elastic suit according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a side view thereof in the direction II-II of Figure 1; and
• Figure 3 is a rear view thereof in the direction III-III of Figure 2.

As can be seen from the figures the elastic suit of the invention is of leather construction and in contrast to traditional suits comprises an essentially U-shaped elasticized band indicated overall by 2. It extends in the form of two portions 4 which start laterally to the chest, extend along the sides and join together at the rear with a transverse portion 6 extending along the base of the back.

The suit preferably comprises other elasticized portions, located on the shoulder-blades, on that part of the legs above the knee, and on that part of the arms above the elbow.

To form these elasticized portions, and in particular the U-shaped band 2, three pieces of elastic fabric are cut out corresponding to the sides 4 and the rear transverse portion 6 of the U-shaped band 2, in such a manner that the direction of greatest elastic yielding is perpendicular to the line of longitudinal development of said U-shaped band 2. The three pieces of elastic fabric cut out in this manner are sewn together, then subjected to tangential stretching on a suitable frame and the suit then applied to them, the whole assembly then being quilted and sewn. On conclusion of this work the leather fixed in this manner to the elastic fabric is removed from the frame, to reassume its original shape but with the leather now elastic.

The other pieces of elastic fabric are then cut out to be applied by the aforedescribed procedure to those regions of the suit which are to be elasticized.

From the aforegoing it is apparent that the suit of the invention has considerable advantages compared with traditional suits, and in particular:

• it provides considerable facility for movement starting both from the driving position and from the erect position, and in general from any position,
• consequently, because of this greater facility for movement, it provides a greater level of active safety for the motorcyclist,
• it substantially improves adherence of the suit to the motorcyclist's body, with consequent aerodynamic improvement in the driving position,
• it totally eliminates the lateral stitches normally present in traditional suits by virtue of the particular U shape of the band, which favours adherence of the suit to the motorcyclist's body ever though formed with a smaller number of pieces.