Patent Application
20170164662
This invention relates generally to apparel, and more specifically to a stretchable garment that is suited for the unique needs of a postpartum woman while her body is in transition post-pregnancy. The garment is configured to provide compression and comfort while the woman's body changes.
After giving a birth, a woman's abdomen is generally still extended and some time is needed for the body to recover and return to normal size. Various products exist that purport to help shrink a woman's abdomen. However, these products are not made in a manner to be functional and comfortable for extended wear over many hours.
Thus, a solution is needed for a stretchable garment that can be worn by a woman during her body's postpartum phase that assists in shrinking the body back to normal size while also being comfortable.
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a seamless postpartum garment. In exemplary embodiments, the postpartum garment is manufactured from a seamless double layer circular knit tube having an inner layer and an outer layer. The outer layer is manufactured using at least two different knit structures at different portions of the garment, the knit structures providing compression, lift, and support at strategic locations on a woman's postpartum body. Similarly, the inner layer is manufactured using at least two different knit structures at different portions of the garment, the knit structures providing compression, lift, and support at strategic locations on a woman's postpartum body.
Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements.
The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show illustrations, in accordance with exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized, or structural, logical, and electrical changes can be made without departing from the scope of what is claimed. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. In this document, the terms “a” and “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or,” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated.
After a woman gives birth, some time is needed for the body to heal and reduce back to normal size. Various products exist that purport to assist a woman in shrinking her abdomen, but they are not very convenient or easy to use/wear for extended periods of time. These other products may take the form of various belts or standalone waist bands, but generally have adjustable fasteners such as Velcro, hook and eye mechanisms, leather straps, etc. They may also be manufactured from multiples of fabric that perform in different ways or different materials that enhance the performance like a rubber band.
The presently disclosed seamless postpartum garment is made from a single seamless double layer knit tube with varying knit structures built into the garment. By providing a seamless garment, comfort is enhanced for the wearer, allowing the woman to wear the garment for extended periods of time. The garment may be worn directly against the wearer's skin, over undergarments, or over an outer garment like pants.
During pregnancy a woman needs support and lift for her expanding belly. However, in the postpartum phase, the woman needs assistance pushing the belly inward and downward so she can return to her pre-pregnancy shape. The garment described herein provides for this unique need of a woman during the postpartum phase, to assist her in regaining her previous shape.
While the garment is disclosed herein as being worn by a woman during postpartum phase, women of all shapes and sizes may use the garment at any other time as well, regardless of pregnancy, for the comfort, support, and compression provided by the seamless manufacture of the garment.
In exemplary embodiments, the garment may be a standalone garment, or may be attached to another undergarment, such as a panty or a brassiere.
How it's Worn
In exemplary embodiments, the garment is worn by a woman substantially over the abdomen. It may extend from just under the bust of the woman (lower trunk), to over the hip. The compression aspect of the garment helps push out air and unwanted leftovers from the inside of the woman's abdomen after childbirth. The seamless construction facilitates the compression properties of the garment without interruption, and also allows the woman to feel more comfortable while wearing the garment.
The seamless postpartum garment is manufactured from a flexible, stretchable material, allowing it to adjust to a woman's changing body shape in the weeks after she gives birth.
In various embodiments, the garment is composed of nylon and spandex, in basic colors typical of undergarments, such as black, nude, grey, and white. The garment can also be made from various patterns, colors, or design prints if desired. The garment may also be textured or adorned with any decoration known in the art such as lace, beads, or decorative stitching.
The knit fabrics discussed herein may be any knit fabric known in the art such as double knit fabric, single knit fabric, baby rib knit, interlock knit, pique knit, jersey knit, or textured novelty knit. In one embodiment, the knit fabric is jersey fabric. The garment may be seamless and of a stretchable, knit nylon/spandex (elastane) blend. The knit fabric nylon/spandex blend may include 87-97% nylon and an inverse amount of spandex (3-13%). For example, the nylon/spandex blend may include 92% nylon and 8% spandex, or any other combination in the range. In other embodiments, the garment may be made of other suitable fabrics known in the art such as polyester, lyocell, rayon, polyamide, cotton, organic cotton, or viscose, among others, in combination with or instead of the above listed fabrics.
In various embodiments the main body of the garment may be made from one material while one or more panels are constructed from a different material.
Seamless compression allows for different knit textures and knit performance textures of the garment by creating hills and valleys with the knitting yarn at certain strategic locations on the garment, in the manufacturing process. The different knit constructions are utilized for different purposes in various strategic locations of the garment, to assist with compression and performance of the garment while maintaining comfort for the wearer. The knit structures create specific pressure of force per inch, and these are strategically knitted into specific locations of the garment, such that when the garment is worn by a woman, the knit structures are placed over specific regions of the woman's body.
Exemplary embodiments of the garment are shown in
In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
The panels 120 and 130 can be made using a different knit structure of the same fabric as the main body 110 of the garment 100, and/or from different fabric than the main body 110 of the garment 100. In exemplary embodiments, the panels 120 and 130 are manufactured using a 1×1 knit structure, while the main body 110 is manufactured using a 2×2 knit structure. The use of the different knit structures on different locations of the garment allows the garment to apply gentle continuous compression at strategic locations on the woman's body while she is wearing the garment. In particular, the compression and knit tension perform in such a way to enhance user comfort and experience by providing even pressure generally on the body of the wearer with support spread throughout the muscle tissues. Thus, by using different knit structures strategically, fabric material capabilities are used strategically, and can provide gentle pushing inward and upward on the belly without being uncomfortable for the wearer.
In exemplary embodiments, the main body 110 of the garment may have rib knit (jersey, knit texture). Rib knits have mechanical stretch produced by hills and valleys in the yarn, which allow the garment to be more comfortable for the wearer. The panels 120 and 130 on the garment may be of a flat knit structure and thus have more compression and less stretch. The strategic positioning of these panels forces compression down the extended belly of the wearer and provides even pressure under the bust. This keeps excess air from the abdomen from traveling north. The larger upper symmetrical panels 120 on the top of the garment assist in pushing the belly inwards and downwards from above. The lower symmetrical panels 130 on the bottom of the garment may be constructed from the same or different knit structure as the upper symmetrical panels 120. The panels 120 and 130 may also assist in keeping the garment taut around the woman's body so it remains in place while the woman moves around during the day.
In the exemplary embodiments depicted in
Additionally, one or more thin silicon strips 140 may be placed near the top hem 150 and/or bottom hem 160 on the inside binding to keep the garment in its true location, like a grip. The silicon strip 140 may be placed in strategic areas on the front side (not depicted) and/or back side to assist the garment in staying in one place while the wearer moves throughout the day, without sacrificing comfort. In this way, the garment is specially designed inside and out for a woman in the postpartum phase.
In exemplary embodiments, a circular knitting machine is used to manufacture the garment 100. The garment 100 may be manufactured from a single piece of circularly knitted fabric such as a single knit or double knit.
In various embodiments, the garment is manufactured using an electronic circular knitting machine or electronic warp knitting machine for seamless products, such as the single jersey, double jersey, or warp seamless machines produced by Santoni S.p.A. of Brescia, Italy. Knitting machines made by other manufacturers may also be used, such as machines made by Sangiacomo, Maeyer & Cie, Terrot, Fukuhara, Pilotelli and Jumberca, among others. The knitting machine may have a cylinder having various shapes and properties. The cylinder may also allow the use of different fabrics, yarn types, needles, and knitting structures.
The presently disclosed garment may be manufactured from a seamless double layer circular knit tube. The double layer tube has an outer layer and an inner layer. The garment may be manufactured from a single piece of circularly knitted fabric that is folded over to create inner and outer layers, or from two pieces of circularly knitted fabric tubes that are placed inside one another to create inner and outer layers. In exemplary embodiments, the garment is manufactured from one seamless double layer circular knit fabric tube. This circular tube structure of flexible material allows for the garment to continuously pull inwards which provides compression at strategic locations on the postpartum abdomen.
The garment is made from stretchable material, and can be designed such that one size fits most users, although different sizes may also be provided if desired, for different sized women. Sizes may be designated by numbers, letters, or any other suitable designation. For example, sizes may be designated as small (S), medium (M), large (L), or extra large (XL).
The flexible, stretchable material of garment 100 may have a weight (also referred to as fabric density) ranging from 190 grams/square meter to 330 grams/square meter.
Optionally, garment 100 has finishing around the top and/or bottom edges, and/or any other portion where fabric was removed from the seamless circular knit tube. The finishing may include elastic binding of varying sizes, such as 0.25 inch foldover elastic binding.
The above described embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its scope. Other embodiments and variations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It will be further understood that the methods of the invention are not necessarily limited to the discrete steps or the order of the steps described. To the contrary, the present descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
