The present invention relates generally to multi-fabric garments More specifically, the present invention relates to multi-fabric garments for slenderizing the midsection of a user.
Different garments provide different features for users, including aesthetic and functional features, some of which overlap. Functional features include covering certain portions of the wearer's body and providing support for certain other body portions. Aesthetic features include the overall image presented when a person wears a particular garment, as well as a change in the outward appearance of certain portions of a wearer's body due to wearing the garment.
Garments known in the art have incorporated compressive materials in order to more firmly support areas of a wearer's body than traditional materials, to give the appearance of a more slender figure. Some such garments are made exclusively of compressive materials. Others combine compressive materials with traditional noncompressive materials to balance the aesthetic and functional features of the garments.
For example, Japan Patent Laid-open Application JP 2006-316359, incorporated herein by reference, describes a sleeveless underwear garment that is a sort of undershirt one can put on downward from the head, which has a length enough to cover from shoulders to the vicinity of the crotch portion, and fits the body so as not to have an effect on the surface of the outer clothes. The sleeveless underwear consists on the front main body part and rear main body part, which are cylindrically formed together by round-braid knitting. A part of the sleeveless underwear includes different knitting organization to have the different tightening forces to corresponding parts. Specifically, in the vicinity of the waistline, a rib stitch provides a great straining force. The area with prescribed upper and lower width along the upper edge and lower edge of the support area has a cushioning area, which is formed by the different types of rib stitch to have a weaker straining force than the support area.
In addition, U.S. published application 2008-0134409, incorporated herein by reference, describes a shirt for supporting and shaping the mid-section of a wearer. The mid-section of the shirt includes an upper and lower region each constructed having a plurality of fabric densities or integrated elasticity portions. These elasticity portions provide support for the abdominal region, back, and back-side regions of the wearer where “love handles” sometime develop. The top-section of the shirt has a substantially loose fitting construction to yield a simple, clean and comfortable fit that facilitates breath-ability and comfort to the wearer. The shirt may be worn as an undershirt or as outerwear to minimize the wearer's torso. In another embodiment, the shirt further comprises an outer portion that extends over and covers the mid-section so that the mid-section acts as an internal support structure when the shirt is worn as a T-shirt or outerwear.
Notwithstanding the prior art support undergarments, there remains a need in the art for a women's garment adapted to support and shape the mid-section of a woman that is comfortable to wear and easy to position and/or maintain the position correctly. In addition, there is a need in the art for a woman's garment that shapes the mid-section of a woman in a comfortable manner.
The inventions described here relate to multi-fabric garments for slenderizing the midsection of a user. In one aspect, the invention is a multi-fabric garment for slenderizing the midsection of a user, shaping the waistline of the user, and minimizing the roll up of the garment over the abdomen area of the user, comprising an upper section including a first non-compressive material, a slenderizing middle section including a compressive material, where the compressive material slenderizes the midsection of the user and shapes the waistline of the user, and a lower section including a second non-compressive material, where the lower section minimizes the roll up of the garment over the abdomen area of the user. Advantageously, the present invention includes lower section that also conceals additional abdominal and/or buttocks areas and can also serve to re-position the garment on the wearer/user. In addition, while one embodiment of the invention is focused on a women's multi-fabric garment, alternative embodiments of the multi-fabric garment may be used for men.
In some embodiments, the invention includes a compressive material in a front portion of the garment and a noncompressive material in a back portion of the garment. In some embodiments, the lower section of the garment is designed to alternatively be exposed for viewing or to be tucked into other clothes so as to not be exposed for viewing. In some embodiments, the invention is in the form of a women's tank top garment, including in some embodiments a halter top and/or racer back. In some embodiments, the compressive material substantially fully encompasses the abdominal area of a wearer.
The following description includes many specific details. The inclusion of such details is for the purpose of illustration only and should not be understood to limit the invention. Moreover, certain features which are well known in the art are not described in detail in order to avoid complication of the subject matter of the present invention. In addition, it will be understood that features in one embodiment may be combined with features in other embodiments of the invention.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including equivalent constructions to those described herein insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In addition, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on other embodiments to yield a still further embodiment. Additionally, certain features may be interchanged with similar devices or features not mentioned yet which perform the same or similar functions. It is therefore intended that such modifications and variations are included within the totality of the present invention.
In some embodiments, the present invention encompasses a dual and/or multiple fabric garment as described herein. Specifically, the present invention comprises multi-fabric garments including one or more of for example, a body contouring shaper tank top, a body contouring shaper tank top with a built in shelf bra, a body contouring shaper tank top with adjustable straps, a body contouring shaper short sleeve tee shirt, a body contouring shaper long sleeve tee shirt, a body contouring shaper tube top for the midsection, and/or a body contouring shaper boy short for the belly and buttocks without a top and/or pullover top. In some embodiments, the present invention comprises a multi-fabric garment with a racer back top, backless top or slip dress configuration with an extended lower section of non-compressive material such as cotton and/or lace.
In some embodiments, the multi-fabric garment of the present invention comprises different lengths, and/or different section sizes used in the garment. For example, the multi-fabric garment comprises v-neck and scoop neck configurations.
In some embodiments, the multi-fabric garment of the present invention is constructed to provide the following product details:
Advantageously, the multi-fabric garment of the present invention slenderizes the mid section and camouflages visible lumps and bumps. The multi-fabric garment of the present invention minimizing panel shapes the entire waistline from the bust to the hips, visibly taking off inches form the waistline. The multi-fabric garment of the present invention uses in some embodiments firm control microfiber for the hidden panel to comfortably slenderize, smooth and/or naturally wick moisture. In some embodiments, the multi-fabric garment is made with sleek yarns that do not cling. The dual fabric strategy of other embodiments provides a hip design and full coverage that stays in place.
In some embodiments, the multi-fabric garment of the present invention is constructed to minimize the roll up over the belly or abdomen area of the body, and can be used for layering over or tucking into pants and skirts. In other embodiments, the multi-fabric garment of the present invention utilizes any generally compressive type fabric for the mid section, such as a micro denier, Spandex, also sometimes referred to as elastane, or other type of garment.
In some embodiments, the multi-fabric garment of the present invention includes one or more adjustable straps and/or an inner shelf bra configuration. In some embodiments, the multi-fabric garment of the present invention advantageously includes a third lower section which is preferably comprised of cotton or other fabric that can be displayed or exposed for viewing. In some embodiments, the present invention is used not only to tuck into pants, but the longer design can be used as a layering garment. In addition, this third section of fabric or exclusive dual fabric design helps to keep the garment of the present invention in place. In fact, other body shapers roll up and do not stay put as well, whereas the three section or multi fabric design of embodiments of the present invention are functional to minimize or prevent roll up.
In some embodiments, the middle or shaper section of the multi-fabric garment of the present invention is shaped as a band like, and can take on a variety of shapes. In some embodiments, the multi-fabric garment of the present invention comprises a front only micro denier/spandex version that is connected to the back portion of the garment directly, for example, on the sides. In this embodiment, the back portion of the center section may be comprised of the same material as the top and lower portion, or may be comprised of other materials that generally are not used for compressive actions. In this embodiment, the multi fabric garment would perform differently from the full spandex version in that it would only slim and slenderize the abdomen or tummy area in the front. The back area of the body would not generally be slimmed in this embodiment, as the back would be of standard non-compressive type of material.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/021,212, filed Jan. 15, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61021212 | Jan 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12353752 | Jan 2009 | US |
| Child | 14062206 | US |