Patent Application
20180110275
The present invention relates to an article of clothing or garment. More specifically, the present invention relates to the construction of the waistband of garment bottoms.
Athletic apparel garment bottoms (e.g., yoga pants, running shorts, etc.) typically comprise right and left leg portions, crotch and rear portions, and a waistband. The waistband may be a banded structure including elastic material. In order to provide sufficient force to maintain the garment in position on the wearer, conventional bands compress the waist by cinching it, resulting in the wearer's midsection folding over the top of the waistband. This appearance is commonly referred to by the slang term of “muffin top.” Whether a wearer has a great deal or a small amount of body fat around the midsection, the folding over of the wearer's midsection can be the cause of self-consciousness and embarrassment.
It would be desirable to provide a waistband construction that, while applying force sufficient to secure the garment on the wearer, prevents the skin around the portion of the user that is being cinched from folding over the top of the waistband.
A bonded waistband encircles the waist and midsection of a wearer. The waistband forms an interior layer, an exterior layer, and an interstitial space from a single piece of fabric that is folded over itself. The interior layer is comprised of a user-facing side and an interstitial space facing side. The exterior layer is comprised of an outer-facing side and interstitial space facing side. Disposed within the interstitial space are an adhesive film and a perforated film, where both films are disposed throughout the entire length of the interstitial space around the waistband. The adhesive film and the perforated film are used to join the interior and exterior layers, while also providing additional structure to the waistband. The adhesive film and the perforated film may be constructed from resilient materials and may be configured to resiliently expand while being bonded to the exterior and interior layers. The adhesive film and the perforated film cooperate with the interior and exterior panels of the waistband to cinch the garment bottom around the waist of the user without compressing the waist of the user too much so as to cause the skin of the user to fold over the top of the waistband.
In addition, the waistband of the garment may include a pocket or storage system. The pocket of the garment is configured to securely store personal items (smartphones, keys, identification, credit cards, money, etc.) while the wearer of the garment performs activities (e.g., running, jogging, yoga, etc.).
In one embodiment, a waistband of a garment bottom includes a folded fabric piece and a perforated film. The folded fabric piece includes an exterior panel has a first end and a second end, and is disposed on a first side of a fold line of the fabric piece. The folded fabric piece also includes an interior panel with a third end and a fourth end, and is disposed on a second side of the fold line. The first end of the exterior panel may be coupled to the third end of the interior panel proximate to the fold line, and the second end of the exterior panel may be coupled to the fourth end of the interior panel. The perforated film includes a fifth end and a sixth end. The perforated film is disposed between the exterior and interior panels such that the fifth end is disposed proximate to the fold line and the sixth end is disposed proximate to the second end of the exterior panel and the fourth end of the interior panel.
In another embodiment, a waistband of a garment bottom includes an exterior panel, an interior panel, and a film. The exterior panel has a first end and an opposite second end. The interior panel has a third end and opposite fourth end. The third end of the interior panel may be coupled to the first end of the exterior panel, while the fourth end of the interior panel may be coupled to the second end of the exterior panel. The coupling of the exterior panel to the interior panel may form an interstitial spaced disposed between the panels. The film may be disposed within the interstitial space. The film may include a fifth end and a sixth end. The fifth end of the film may be disposed proximate to the coupling of the first end of the exterior panel to third end of the interior panel, while the sixth end may be disposed proximate to the coupling of the second end of the exterior panel to the fourth end of the interior panel.
Furthermore, an embodiment of a garment bottom may include at least one leg covering portion and a waistband portion. The at least one leg covering portion may include a first edge and a second edge. The at least one leg covering portion may be configured to at least partially cover one or more legs of a wearer of the garment bottom. The waistband portion may be coupled to the at least one leg covering portion. The waistband portion may include a uniform fabric panel and a film. The uniform fabric panel may include a first end and a second end, where the first and second ends may both be coupled to the first edge of the at least one leg covering portion such that the uniform fabric panel is folded over itself at a fold line to define a first portion, a second portion, and an interstitial space disposed between the first and second portions. The first portion may form an exterior surface of the waistband portion, and the second portion may form an interior surface of the waistband portion. The film may include a third end and a fourth end, and may be disposed within the interstitial space. The third end may be disposed proximate to the fold line, while the fourth end may be disposed proximate to the first and second ends of the fabric panel. Furthermore, the film may be configured to prevent the fold line from folding downwardly over the exterior surface toward the first and second ends of the fabric panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and their equivalents may be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that any discussion herein regarding “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and that such particular feature, structure, or characteristic may not necessarily be included in every embodiment. In addition, references to the foregoing do not necessarily comprise a reference to the same embodiment. Finally, irrespective of whether it is explicitly described, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that each of the particular features, structures, or characteristics of the given embodiments may be utilized in connection or combination with those of any other embodiment discussed herein.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.
Referring to
The embodiment of the garment bottom 10 illustrated in
The first leg portion 120 and the second leg portion 130 may be coupled to the bottom edge 116 of the waist portion 110. The first leg portion 120 is disposed proximate to the front side 100, the rear side 200, and the first side 102 of the garment bottom 10. As illustrated, the first leg portion 120 extends downwardly from the bottom edge 116 of the waist portion 110 of the garment bottom 10. The second leg portion 130 is disposed proximate to the front side 100, rear side 200, and second side 104 of the garment bottom 10. The second leg portion 130 also extends downwardly from the bottom edge 116 of the waist portion 100 of the garment bottom 10. The first leg portion 120 may be coupled to the second leg portion 130 at a central or crotch location on both the front side 100 and rear side 200 of the garment bottom 10. As will be further described below, the waist portion 110, first leg portion 120, and second leg portion 130 may be coupled to one another via ultrasonic bonding or stitching. If coupled together via stitching, the stitching may be one of, but not limited to, flatlock stitching, overlock stitching, blind stitching, etc. In other embodiments, the waist portion 110, first leg portion 120, and second leg portion 130 may be coupled to one another by means other than stitching, such as, but not limited to, adhesives, fasteners, etc.
The opening 112 of the waist portion 110 is configured to receive portions of the body of the user wearing the garment bottom 10. When worn by a user, the waist portion 110 of the garment bottom 10 is configured to encircle or surround the user proximate to the user's waist, while the first leg portion 120 is disposed at least partially around the first (e.g., right) leg (e.g., thigh, knee, calf, ankle, etc.) of the user and the second leg portion 130 is disposed at least partially around the second (e.g., left) leg (e.g., thigh, knee, calf, ankle, etc.) of the user.
As described herein, the garment bottom 10 can be constructed of any suitable elastomeric fabric materials, including elastomeric fabrics that provide two-way stretch or four-way stretch characteristics so as to provide a form-fitting or compression fit against the user's body. Elastomeric fabrics can be formed from yarns, fibers and/or filaments using any suitable types of elastomeric and/or non-elastomeric components. An example of an elastomeric material for use in forming the fabric materials for the garment bottom 10 are polyester-polyurethane copolymers used to form synthetic yarns, fibers, or filaments, and commonly referred to as spandex or elastane. Fabrics formed from yarns or fibers comprising spandex or elastane provide significant elasticity to the fabric so as to achieve a desired form or compression fit to the user's body. In one embodiment, the garment bottom 10 may be constructed from a woven polyester/stretch blended fabric that contains 86% polyester and 14% elastane. Thus, garment bottom 10 is at least partially resilient/elastomeric and may be configured to stretch, deform, and take the shape of a portion(s) of the body (e.g., the waist, legs, etc.) of the user around which the garment bottom 10 is disposed.
A cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the waist portion 110(1) with ultrasonic bonded seams, as illustrated in
The exterior layer 310 of the continuous piece of fabric 300 forms the exterior surface 118(1) of the waist portion 110(1). Conversely, the interior layer 320 of the continuous piece of fabric 300 forms the interior surface 119(1) of the waist portion 110(1). More specifically, the exterior outer facing side 316 of the exterior layer 310 serves as the exterior surface 118(1) of the waist portion 110(1), while the interior user facing side 326 of the interior layer 320 serves as the interior surface 119(1) of the waist portion 110(1).
As further illustrated, the bottom edge 314 of the exterior layer 310 is coupled to the first leg portion 120 and the second leg portion 130 via ultrasonic bonding or welding to form an ultrasonic line bonded seam 340. The ultrasonic line bonded seam 340 may form, or be aligned with, the bottom edge 116(1) of the waist portion 110(1), and may run or traverse continuously around all sides 100, 102, 104, 200 of the garment bottom 10.
As illustrated, an adhesive seam reinforcement tape 350 is disposed on the interior interstitial space facing side 328 of the interior layer 320, and proximate to the bottom edge 324 of the interior layer 320. The seam tape 350 may have a first side (not illustrated) that is bonded to the interior interstitial space facing side 328 of the interior layer 320, and may have an opposite second side 352 that adheres to the exterior interstitial space facing side 318 of the exterior layer 310 and the first and second leg portions 120, 130 at the ultrasonic bonded seam 340. In some embodiments, the seam tape 350 may have a width of approximately three eights of an inch (⅜ in.), or ten millimeters (10 mm), and may be placed over the ultrasonic bonded seam 240 such that an equal amount of the seam tape 350 is adhered to both the exterior interstitial space facing side 318 of the exterior layer 310 and either of the first and second leg portions 120, 130. The seam tape 350 provides the strength necessary to sustain the integrity of the ultrasonic bonded seam 340. The seam tape 350 may be able to stretch and recover, enabling the seam tape 350 to move, bend, and stretch with the ultrasonic bonded seam 340. The seam tape 350 may have a total thickness of approximately 0.02 inches, or 0.51 mm, with the adhesive portion of the seam tape 350 having an approximate thickness of 0.004 inches, or 0.1 mm. One example embodiment of the seam tape 350 may be the Bemis SRT 4000 seam reinforcement tape.
Continuing with
As illustrated in
Similar to the adhesive film 360, the perforated film 370 may be approximately 1 to 2 mils thick. In addition, the perforated film 370 includes a plurality of openings 376 disposed throughout the perforated film 370. As illustrated in
Other embodiments of the perforated film 370 may contain different sized, shaped, and spaced openings 376. In the second the third embodiments of the perforated film 500, 510, the plurality of openings 502, 512 are equally sized and uniformly disposed throughout the perforated films 500, 510, respectively. As illustrated in
Returning to
In another embodiment, where the adhesive film 360 is disposed between the perforated film 370 and the exterior interstitial space facing side 318 of the exterior layer 310, applying heat to the adhesive film 360 adheres the adhesive film 360 to the perforated film 370 and the exterior interstitial space facing side 318 of the exterior layer 310.
In yet another embodiment, where the perforated film 370 includes an adhesive on both sides of the perforated film 370, applying heat to the perforated film 370 adheres the perforated film 370 to both the exterior interstitial space facing side 318 of the exterior layer 310 and the interior interstitial space facing side 328 of the interior layer 320.
Another embodiment of the waist portion 110(2), illustrated in
Where the second embodiment of the waist portion 110(2) differs from the first embodiment of the waist portion 110(1) is the coupling of the waist portion 110(2) to the first and second leg portions 120, 130. As further illustrated in
The combination of the adhesive film 360 and the perforated film 370, as illustrated in
Furthermore, while the adhesive film 360 and the perforated film 370 contain a degree of elasticity in the circumferential direction, the adhesive film 360 and the perforated film 370 are also configured to have a degree of rigidity in the widthwise or transverse direction (i.e., the adhesive film 360 from the top end 362 to the bottom end 364, and the perforated film 370 from the top end 372 to the bottom end 374) that enables the adhesive film 360 and/or the perforated film 370 to provide a degree of structure to the waist portion 110. By disposing the adhesive film 360 and/or the perforated film 370 proximate to the top edge 114 of the waist portion 110, and by having the perforated film 370 span from the top edge 114 of the waist portion 110 to the bottom edge 116 of the waist portion 110, enough structure and rigidity is provided to the waist portion 110 such that the top edge 114 of the waist portion 110 is prevented from folding or rolling down over the exterior layer 310 of the waist portion 110 when the garment bottom 10 is worn by a user. In other words, the adhesive film 360 and/or the perforated film 370 are configured to prevent the skin of the user that is encompassed by the waist portion 110 from folding or rolling the top edge 114 of the waist portion 110 down over the exterior 310 of the waist portion 110.
In addition, conventional elastic waistbands on garment bottoms dig into the skin around the user's waist causing the skin around the waist of the user to fold over the top of the elastic waistband. Because the compression force of the waist portion 110 is applied over a surface area of the interior user facing side 326 (not illustrated) of the interior layer 320 of the waist portion 110 that is larger than conventional elastic waistbands, the garment bottom 10 in configured to remain in place around the waist of the user while simultaneously preventing, or minimizing the amount of, the skin of the user from folding over the top edge 114 of the waist portion 110. This enables the garment bottom 10 to provide a slimming effect to the user wearing the garment bottom 10.
Returning to
While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “side”, “height”, “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “interior”, “exterior”, and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration.
Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/412,352, entitled “Garment Waistband,” filed Oct. 25, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62412352 | Oct 2016 | US |
