CA2170977C - Nether garment having a fly front and method of making same - Google Patents
Nether garment having a fly front and method of making same Download PDFInfo
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- CA2170977C CA2170977C CA002170977A CA2170977A CA2170977C CA 2170977 C CA2170977 C CA 2170977C CA 002170977 A CA002170977 A CA 002170977A CA 2170977 A CA2170977 A CA 2170977A CA 2170977 C CA2170977 C CA 2170977C
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- Prior art keywords
- fly
- fabric
- opening
- flaps
- flap
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41B—SHIRTS; UNDERWEAR; BABY LINEN; HANDKERCHIEFS
- A41B9/00—Undergarments
- A41B9/02—Drawers or underpants for men, with or without inserted crotch or seat parts
Abstract
An improvement is provided in a fly assembly for a nether garment. The nether garment has an interior and comprising a knitted tube with a front panel; and a rear panel, the tube having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, the leg openings being defined by a seam connecting the front and rear panels, and extending from an inner side of one of the pair of leg openings across a central part of the knitted tube between the leg openings and terminating at an inner side of the other of the leg openings, the nether garment further comprising a fly assembly in the front panel between the seam and the top waist opening, the fly assembly comprising a linear fly opening having a top end and a bottom end, and a length defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a cut in the tube; and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap being sewn to the fabric tube along an associated one of the fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of the opening; each of the fabric fly flaps having top margins and bottom margins and being coextensive in length with the fly opening and overlapping each other and the fabric tube at one side of the fly opening, the top margins of each of the fabric fly flaps being adjacent the top end of the fly openings, and the bottom margins of each fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of the fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of the fly opening at one side thereof; the triple layer being united by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of the flaps and the fabric tube along the top margins and bottom margins of the flaps, leaving a free edge on each flap extending parallel to the fabric edges remote from the fly opening between the lines of stitching, a first one of the flaps being positioned on the interior of the garment, a second one of the flaps being positioned intermediate the first flap and the knitted tube; the first flap and the second flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from the fly opening to the free edges of the flaps; and the second flap and the tubular fabric defining, between them, a pocket closed at one end by the seam sewing the second flat to an associated fabric edge of the fly opening.
Description
NETHER GARMENT HAVING A FLY FRONT
AND MF~.THOD OF M:.~KING S AME
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to nether garments and is particularly applicable to tubular knit undergarments.
BACKGROUND AR'T
Men's underwear generally takes the form of long drawers or shorts. Shorts rr~ay be either boxer type which ~~re nornoally cut from woven fabric and sewn to the desired configuration, and briefs which are generally made from knitted fabric so as to be form-fitting. Briefs may be either cut from t7at fabric and sewn together to form the desired.
configuration or formed from knitted tubular fabric. Drawers are normally formed from knitted tubular fabric.
Men's underwear requires thc; presence of a fly front and fly fronts have traditionally been fabricated by making the garmezlt in multiple pieces and assembling the pieces so as to provide the desired ily construction. Prior attempts to avoid the cutting and sewing operations have produced fly fronts which tend to gap open or which have presented difficulties :in providing <:vccess through the fly front for urinating and the like.
DESCRIPTION OF T'HE INVENTION
A first broad aspect of the present invention provides an improvement in a nether garment having an interior and corr~prising a knitted tube with a front panel;
and a rear panel, the tube having. a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, the leg openings being defined by a seam c:omlecting the front and rear panels, and extending;
from an inner side of one of the pair of° leg openings across a central part of the knitted tube between the leg openings and terminating at an inner side of the other of the leg openings, the nether garment further comprising a fly assembly in the front panel between the seam and the top waist opening, the fly assembly comprising a linear fly opening having a top end and a bottom end, and a length defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a c~.rt in the tube; and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap being sewn to the fabric tube along an associated one of the fabric edges by a seam - la-extending the entire length of the opening; each of the fabric fly flaps having top margins and bottom margins and being coextensive in length with the fly opening and overlapping each other and the fabric tube at one side of the i1y opening, the top margins of each of the fabric fly flaps being adjacent the tc:~p -end of the fly openings, and tho bottom margins of each fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of the lly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of the fly opening at one side thereof; the triple layer being united by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of the;
flaps and the fabric tube along the tap margins and bottom margins of the flaps, leaving a free edge on each flap extending parallel to the fabric edges remote from the fly opening between the lines of stitching, a first one of the flaps being positioned on the interior of the garment, a second one of the flaps being positioned intermediate the first flap and the knitted tube; the first :flap and second (lap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from the fly opening to the free edges of the flaps; and the second flap and the tubular fabric defining, between them, a packet closed at one end by the seam sewing the second flat to an associated fabric edge of the: fly opening.
A second broad aspect of tine present invention provides a nether garment having an interior and comprising a knitted tube flattened to provide fold lines at opposite sides of the garment, the fold lines defining a front panel, and a rear panel, the front panel and rear panel being integrally united at the fold lines as parts of a single piece of knitted tubular fabric, the tube having a top waist opening and as pair of bottom leg openings, each of the openings having a band circumscribing the opening, the leg openings being defined by a seam connecting the front panel and rear panel, and extending from an inner side of one of the pair of leg openings across central parts of the knitted tube and terminating at an inner side of the other of the leg openings; and a fly assembly in the front panel between the seam and the waist opening, the fly assembly comprising a linear fly opening having a length from a top end to a bottom end, the linear fly opening being defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a cut in tlve front panel, and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap being sown to the front panel along an associated one o:Fthe fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of the opening; the fabric fly flaps being coextensive in length with tlxe fly opening and overlapping each other and the front panel at one side of the fly opening, top margins of both fabric fly flaps being adjacent the - lb -top end of the fly opening and bottom margins of both fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of the fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of the fly opening at one side thereof, the tr iple layer being sewn together by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of the fabric fly flaps and the front panel along the top margin and botl:om margin of the fabric fly flaps, leaving a free edge on each fabric fly flap remote from the fly opening and extending parallel to the fabric edges between the lines of stitching. a first one of the fabric fly flaps being positioned on the interior of the garment, a second one of the flaps being positioned intermediate the first flap and the front panel, the first fabric fly flap and the second fabric fly flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from said fly opening to the free edges of the flaps; and the second fabric fly flap and the front panel defining, between them, a pocket closed at one end by the seam sewing the second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of the fly opening.
A third broad aspect of the present invention provides a nether garment having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, a front panel of fabric extending; from the waist opening to the leg openings. and a 11y assembly in the front panel, the fly assembly comprising a linear fly opening having a length defined by a pair of closely spaced, parallel fabric edges in the panel; a pair of rectangular fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap being sewn to the front panel along an associated one of the fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of the opening; t:he flaps being coextensive in length with the fly opening and having a width at least form percent of their length and overlapping each other and the front panel at one side ofthe fly opening, the fabric fly flaps having a top margin adjacent the top of the fly opening and a bottom margin adjacent the bottom of the fly opening, thereby providirng a triple layer of fabric along the full length of the fly opening at one side thereof; the triple layer being united by two tines of stitching respectively extending through both of the fabric fly flaps and the front panel along the top margin and the bottom margin of the fabric fly flaps, leaving a free edge on each fabric fly flap extending parallel to the fabric edges remote from the fly opening between the lines of stitching, a first one of the fabt°ic lly flaps being position interiorly of the garment, a second one of the fabric fly flaps heing positioned intermediate the first fabric fly flap and the front panel; the first fabric fly Clap and the second fabric fly flap defining between -Ic-them, a transversely-open tunnel extending the ful! width of the fabric fly flaps from the fly opening to the free edges of the fabric fly flaps; and second fabric fly flap and the front panel defining, between there, a pocket closed at one end by the seam sewing the second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of the fly opening.
A fourth broad aspect of the present invention provides a method of making a fly assembly in a nether garment, the nether garment having an interior and comprising a knitted tube with a front panel and a rear panel, the tube having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, the leg openings being defined by a seam connecting the; front and rear panels and extending from an inner side of one of the pair of leg openings across central parts of the knitted tube and terminating at an inner side of the other of the leg openings, the method comprising the steps of cutting the front panel of the tube to produce a pair of closely-spaced, parallel fabric. edges defining, between them, a fly opening of a given length; providing a pair of fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap having a marginal edge of a length corresponding to the given length; associating each of the marginal edges with a separate one of the parallel i abric edges; positioning the fabric fly flaps overlying one fabric surface of the front panel of the tube outwardly from the fly opening; sewing together the associated marginal edge and the fabric edge respectively with separate seams running the length of the fly opening; evening the fabric fly flaps through the fly opening to position the flaps at an opposite fabric surface of the front panel, with both the fabric fly flaps extending in the same direction over the opposite surface along the .fly opening, thereby forming a triple layer comprising a first of the fabric fly flaps in an interior side of the garment, the front panel of the tube on an exterior side of the garment, and a second of the fabric fly flaps between the fir:>t fabric fly flap and the front panel;
uniting the triple layer by lines of stitching along the fabric fly flaps at opposite ends of the marginal edges, leaving a free edge on each fabric fly flap extending parallel to the marginal edge remote from the fly opening between the lines of stitching; defining between the first fabric fly flap and the second fabric fly flap, a transversely-open tunnel extending from the fly opening at one side to free edges of the fabric fly flaps at the other side;
and defining, between the second fabric fly flap and the tubular fabric, a pocket closed at one side by the seam sewing the second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of the fly opening.
- 1d-The present invention provides a novel fly construction for a nether garment in. a broad aspect thereby, thus which pex~nits the nether garment to be fabricated from a single length of tubular knit fabric with the: simple addition of fly flaps which are sewn to the;
tubular knit fabric on either side of n longitudinal slit fornzing the fly _ 7 _ opening. The knitted tube is cut and shaped to provide leg openings which are completed by a conventional crotch seam and leg bands and is finished with a waist band in the conventional fashion.
The fly front of broad aspects of the present invention provides a neat appearance and an arrangement which does not unduly inhibit access through the fly opening.
The fly construction of a broad aspect of the present invention is fabricated in a simple, yet effective, procedure, enabling elimination of the expensive and time-consuming operations normally used for fashioning fly fronts.
More specifically, by one variant the present invention provides a fly front consisting of a slit in the tubular fabric, a pair of' fly flaps co-extensive in length with the slit and secured, one to each edge of the slit opening, the -fly flaps being anchored to the body of the garment by being sewi7 along their opposite ends to each other and to the body fabric at one side of the fly opening, thereby providing a laterally open tunnel betweE;n the flaps which affords access through the gaament.
The fly construction of bra~zci aspects of the present invention can be produced with a minimum of fabric handling steps.
The present invention, in broad aspects thereof, enables the fly front to be produced by simply overlaying the i.7y area of a knitted tube with a patch of fabric which will be cut to form the fabric flaps of the fly assembly. The fabric patch is separated into two parts concurrently with the fomation of a fly opening in the knitted tube and the; two parts form the flaps which are sewn along the edges of the fly opening in the part of the tube which becomes the front pane;I of the garment. The patch is fornied into separate flaps and the fly opening is formed in tl~e front panels, and the flaps are connected to the edges of the fly opening. The flaps are tluen exerted to the underside of the front panel through the fly apening and are sewn to the underside of the frant panel on the same side of the fly opening to produce the novel fly assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a front view of drawers embodying a fly assembly in accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the prevent invention;
Fig. 2 is a rear view of the drawers shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary lace view with layers broken away to illustrate the fly assembly shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. S is a front view of a brief embodying a fiy assembly in accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; and Figs. 6-11 are views similar to Fig. 3 but at a reduced scale illustrating the steps for fabricating the fly assembly of an embodiment oi° an aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a view of the outside of~the fabric tube with a fly patch superimposed thereon;
Fig. 7 is a similar view of the outside of the fabric tube after the fly opening and fly flaps are formed;
Fig. 8 is a sirr~ilar view of the outside of the fabric after the fly flaps are evened to the underside of the tube;
Fig. 9 is a view of the underside of the front panel of the tube shown in Fig.
8;
Fig. 10 is a view of the underside of the front panel with the flaps positioned in overlying relationship and sewn ire place; and Fig. 11 is a view of the outside of the garment completed with the waistband in place.
AT LEAST ONE MODE FOR CaII~.RYING OCrT THE; INVENTION
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a drawers ?0 embodying a fly front assembly 21 embodying the invention. The fly front 21 is in the body portion 24 of the garment, and the garment has leg extensions 25 and 26 depending downwardly from the body portion 24. A
waistband 27 is at the top of the garment and ankle cui:fs 29 aaad 30 are at the bottom. The drawers 20 are fabricated from a knitted tube which is flattened to provide side fold lines 33 and 34. The fly assembly 21 is positioned in l:he middle of the front panel 35 which extends between the fold lines 33 and 34 from tl~~; waistband 27 to the cuffs 29 and :30 as a continuous expanse which is uninterrupted except for the fly assembly 21. In Fig. 2, a rear panel 36 is shown which extends between the fold lines 33 and 34 and is uninterrupted from the waistband 27 to the cuffs 29 and 30. The outer sides of the legs 25 and 26 are defined by the fold lines 3 3 and 34, and the inner sides of the legs are defined by an inseam part 37 connecting the front and back paalels of the leg extension 25, a crotch seam part 38 connecting the front and back panels 35 and 36 of the trunk portion 24 betwc;en the leg extensions, and a further inseam part 39 extending from the crotch seam 38 to the cuff 30 of the leg extension 26. Apart born the fly assembly, the drawers 20 are of conventional tubular knit constructions.
A brief 40 embodying an embodiment o f the present invention is illustrated i.n Fig.
5. The brief 40 is likewise lmit from a continuous knitted tube, and has a front panel 45 extending between fold lines 43 and 44 and from the waistband 47 to a crotch seam 48. A
rear panel 46 likewise extends from the waistband 47 between the fold lines 43 and 44 to the crotch seam 48. Leg openings 49 and 50 are c;ut into the front and rear panels, and in the present instance are bound with leg bands 51 arid 52 respectively. As seen in Fig. 5, the WO 95/1716 217 ~ 9 7 7 PCT~S94/14792 front panel 45 provides an expanse from the waistband 47 to the leg bands 51 and 52 and the crotch seam 48 which is uninterrupted except for a fly assembly 41 centered in the front panel. The rear panel of the brief 40 provides an uninterrupted expanse from the waistband 47 to the leg bands 51 and 52 and the connecting crotch seam 48 between the fold lines 43 and 44. Apart from the fly assembly 41, the brief shown in Fig. 5 is of a conventional tubular knit construction.
The novel fly assembly of the present invention is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in these figures, the front panel 35 has a linear fly opening formed between a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges 61 and 62 (see Fig. 4). A pair of fly flaps 63 and 64 is included in the fly assembly 21. The flap 63 is connected to the fabric edge 61 by a seam 65 extending the entire length of the opening.
The flap 64 is connected to the edge 62 by a similar seam 66 extending the entire length of the opening.
The flaps 63 and 64 are coextensive in length with the fly opening and overlap each other and the front panel 35 of the fabric tube as shown in Fig. 4. In the illustrated embodiments, the flaps are disposed to the right of the opening defined between the edges 61 and 62. The flaps 63 and 64 form with the front panel 35 a triple layer of fabric which is sewn together by lines of stitching 68 and 69 along the tops and bottoms of the flaps 63 and 64, in the present instance extending generally perpendicular to the fly opening at the top and the bottom. Where the lines of stitching 68 and 69 intersect the fly opening, double stitching is provided at 70 and 71, respectively, to provide reinforcement at the opposite ends of the fly opening. The lines of stitching 68 and 69 penetrate all three layers of the garment, and in the present instance are visible from the front of the garment, as WO 95/17106 217 ~ 9 T ~ . " PCT/LTS94/14792 indicated by the broken lines in Figs. 1 and 5. The edges 73 and 74 of the flaps 63 and 64, respectively, are not sewn together and constitute free edges substantially parallel to the fly opening, as shown a.n Figs. 3 and 4. In the present instance, neither is the free edge 73 sewn to the front panel 35. The free edges 73 and 74 may be readily separated to provide access to a tunnel-like passage between the flaps 63 and 64 which, as shown in Fig. 4, is laterally open to the interior of the garment at the righthand side and is open to the fly opening at the lefthand side. The tunnel provided between the flaps 63 and 64 serves to prevent bulging of the fly opening while permitting access through the garment.
Between the flap 63 and the front panel 35, a pocket is formed which is closed at the fly opening by the seam 65 and is closed at the top and bottom by the lines of stitching 68 and 69, and in the illustrated garment is open to the interior of the garment between the free edge 73 and the front panel 35.
Preferably, the flaps are of equal width and the width is at least Qne half of their length so as to provide an elongated tunnel extending the full width of the flap which requires access to be achieved laterally of the opening throughout the length of the tunnel. For example, in Fig. 1, the flap is about five inches long and about three inches wide. In Fig.
5, the flap is about five inches long is about 2-3Z"
wide. The dimensions of the flap enable the user to insert his hand through the tunnel to obtain access through the garment. The width of the tunnel is sufficient to provide support for the fabric edges 61 and 62 to prevent their inadvertent separation when the garment is worn.
The fly assembly of the present invention may be~
fabricated efficiently and. effectively with a minimum number of handling operations. The steps for WO 95!17106 PCT/US94/14792 _ 7 _ fabricating the assembly are illustrated in Figs. 6-11.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a knitted tube which is designed to be formed into a body garment.
As shown, the tube has a front panel 81 and a rear panel 82 created by flattening the tube. The top of the tube is open to constitute the waist of the garment, and the bottom of the tube, as shown in Fig.
6, is shaped to provide leg openings and a crotch.
Referring to Fig. 6, the first step in the fabrication of the fly assembly is to overlay a fabric patch 83 over the area where the fly assembly is to be fabricated. to facilitate handling of the components during the assembly operation, the patch 83 is preferably finished around the edges as indicated at 84 to avoid raveling of the fabric during the fabrication operations. - In the present instance, the perimeter of the patch 83 has overcast stitches to perform this function, but other means of providing a non-raveling. edge around the perimeter of the patch may be substituted.
With the patch 83 in place, a fly opening 85 is cut through the patch 83 and the front panel 81, and the parallel edges provided on the opposite sides of the cut are sewn together by seams shown by the broken lines at 87 and 88 in Fig. 7. The cutting of the patch 83 divides the patch into a first flap 91 to the left of the opening 85 and a second flap 92 to the right of the opening 85 (Fig. 7). The cutting and seaming of the flaps 91 and 92 to the panel 81 may be performed simultaneously by a double-needle sewing G
machine with a cutting attachment or may be done in quick sequence by applying the double seam and then cutting between the seam lines. This attaches the flaps 91 and 92 to the fabric panel 81 by the seam lines 87 and 88, respectively.
WO 95/17106 217 D 9 7 7 , PCT/L1S94/14792 _ g _ After the flaps are attached on the front of the garment, the flaps 91 and 92 are everted through the fly opening 85 to position them on the underside of the panel 81, as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 illustrates the underside of the panel with the flaps spread apart on either side of the fly opening 85. The flap 91 is then folded over the flap 92, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to create a triple fabric thickness on the inside of the panel 81 to the left of the fly opening 85 (hidden behind the seam line 87 in Fig. 10). The triple layers are integrated by lines of stitching 98 and 99 at the top and bottom of the overlaid flaps.
As shown in the view of the front of the panel 81 in Fig. 11, the seam lines 98 and 99 extend along the flaps and from the top and bottom of the fly opening 85 perpendicular to the opening to produce the tunnel and pocket as described above. Following this operation, the waistband 96 is applied to the top of the fabric tube and the legs are completed by the application of bands around the leg opening and a inseam and crotch seam interconnecting the front and back panels of the flattened tube. The completed garment may then be finished in the conventional fashion and packaged.
Thus, the fly assembly of this invention may be fashioned by a combined operation which cuts the fly opening and produces a pair of seams, followed by everting of the flaps through the fly opening and then anchoring the flaps to the panel by lines of stitching passing through the triple layers provided in this assembly. The fly fashioned in this manner is fully k effective to provide the necessary access through the front of the garment and provides a pleasing ornamental appearance which will not impair the merchandising of the product.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.
AND MF~.THOD OF M:.~KING S AME
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to nether garments and is particularly applicable to tubular knit undergarments.
BACKGROUND AR'T
Men's underwear generally takes the form of long drawers or shorts. Shorts rr~ay be either boxer type which ~~re nornoally cut from woven fabric and sewn to the desired configuration, and briefs which are generally made from knitted fabric so as to be form-fitting. Briefs may be either cut from t7at fabric and sewn together to form the desired.
configuration or formed from knitted tubular fabric. Drawers are normally formed from knitted tubular fabric.
Men's underwear requires thc; presence of a fly front and fly fronts have traditionally been fabricated by making the garmezlt in multiple pieces and assembling the pieces so as to provide the desired ily construction. Prior attempts to avoid the cutting and sewing operations have produced fly fronts which tend to gap open or which have presented difficulties :in providing <:vccess through the fly front for urinating and the like.
DESCRIPTION OF T'HE INVENTION
A first broad aspect of the present invention provides an improvement in a nether garment having an interior and corr~prising a knitted tube with a front panel;
and a rear panel, the tube having. a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, the leg openings being defined by a seam c:omlecting the front and rear panels, and extending;
from an inner side of one of the pair of° leg openings across a central part of the knitted tube between the leg openings and terminating at an inner side of the other of the leg openings, the nether garment further comprising a fly assembly in the front panel between the seam and the top waist opening, the fly assembly comprising a linear fly opening having a top end and a bottom end, and a length defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a c~.rt in the tube; and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap being sewn to the fabric tube along an associated one of the fabric edges by a seam - la-extending the entire length of the opening; each of the fabric fly flaps having top margins and bottom margins and being coextensive in length with the fly opening and overlapping each other and the fabric tube at one side of the i1y opening, the top margins of each of the fabric fly flaps being adjacent the tc:~p -end of the fly openings, and tho bottom margins of each fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of the lly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of the fly opening at one side thereof; the triple layer being united by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of the;
flaps and the fabric tube along the tap margins and bottom margins of the flaps, leaving a free edge on each flap extending parallel to the fabric edges remote from the fly opening between the lines of stitching, a first one of the flaps being positioned on the interior of the garment, a second one of the flaps being positioned intermediate the first flap and the knitted tube; the first :flap and second (lap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from the fly opening to the free edges of the flaps; and the second flap and the tubular fabric defining, between them, a packet closed at one end by the seam sewing the second flat to an associated fabric edge of the: fly opening.
A second broad aspect of tine present invention provides a nether garment having an interior and comprising a knitted tube flattened to provide fold lines at opposite sides of the garment, the fold lines defining a front panel, and a rear panel, the front panel and rear panel being integrally united at the fold lines as parts of a single piece of knitted tubular fabric, the tube having a top waist opening and as pair of bottom leg openings, each of the openings having a band circumscribing the opening, the leg openings being defined by a seam connecting the front panel and rear panel, and extending from an inner side of one of the pair of leg openings across central parts of the knitted tube and terminating at an inner side of the other of the leg openings; and a fly assembly in the front panel between the seam and the waist opening, the fly assembly comprising a linear fly opening having a length from a top end to a bottom end, the linear fly opening being defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a cut in tlve front panel, and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap being sown to the front panel along an associated one o:Fthe fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of the opening; the fabric fly flaps being coextensive in length with tlxe fly opening and overlapping each other and the front panel at one side of the fly opening, top margins of both fabric fly flaps being adjacent the - lb -top end of the fly opening and bottom margins of both fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of the fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of the fly opening at one side thereof, the tr iple layer being sewn together by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of the fabric fly flaps and the front panel along the top margin and botl:om margin of the fabric fly flaps, leaving a free edge on each fabric fly flap remote from the fly opening and extending parallel to the fabric edges between the lines of stitching. a first one of the fabric fly flaps being positioned on the interior of the garment, a second one of the flaps being positioned intermediate the first flap and the front panel, the first fabric fly flap and the second fabric fly flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from said fly opening to the free edges of the flaps; and the second fabric fly flap and the front panel defining, between them, a pocket closed at one end by the seam sewing the second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of the fly opening.
A third broad aspect of the present invention provides a nether garment having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, a front panel of fabric extending; from the waist opening to the leg openings. and a 11y assembly in the front panel, the fly assembly comprising a linear fly opening having a length defined by a pair of closely spaced, parallel fabric edges in the panel; a pair of rectangular fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap being sewn to the front panel along an associated one of the fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of the opening; t:he flaps being coextensive in length with the fly opening and having a width at least form percent of their length and overlapping each other and the front panel at one side ofthe fly opening, the fabric fly flaps having a top margin adjacent the top of the fly opening and a bottom margin adjacent the bottom of the fly opening, thereby providirng a triple layer of fabric along the full length of the fly opening at one side thereof; the triple layer being united by two tines of stitching respectively extending through both of the fabric fly flaps and the front panel along the top margin and the bottom margin of the fabric fly flaps, leaving a free edge on each fabric fly flap extending parallel to the fabric edges remote from the fly opening between the lines of stitching, a first one of the fabt°ic lly flaps being position interiorly of the garment, a second one of the fabric fly flaps heing positioned intermediate the first fabric fly flap and the front panel; the first fabric fly Clap and the second fabric fly flap defining between -Ic-them, a transversely-open tunnel extending the ful! width of the fabric fly flaps from the fly opening to the free edges of the fabric fly flaps; and second fabric fly flap and the front panel defining, between there, a pocket closed at one end by the seam sewing the second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of the fly opening.
A fourth broad aspect of the present invention provides a method of making a fly assembly in a nether garment, the nether garment having an interior and comprising a knitted tube with a front panel and a rear panel, the tube having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, the leg openings being defined by a seam connecting the; front and rear panels and extending from an inner side of one of the pair of leg openings across central parts of the knitted tube and terminating at an inner side of the other of the leg openings, the method comprising the steps of cutting the front panel of the tube to produce a pair of closely-spaced, parallel fabric. edges defining, between them, a fly opening of a given length; providing a pair of fabric fly flaps, each fabric fly flap having a marginal edge of a length corresponding to the given length; associating each of the marginal edges with a separate one of the parallel i abric edges; positioning the fabric fly flaps overlying one fabric surface of the front panel of the tube outwardly from the fly opening; sewing together the associated marginal edge and the fabric edge respectively with separate seams running the length of the fly opening; evening the fabric fly flaps through the fly opening to position the flaps at an opposite fabric surface of the front panel, with both the fabric fly flaps extending in the same direction over the opposite surface along the .fly opening, thereby forming a triple layer comprising a first of the fabric fly flaps in an interior side of the garment, the front panel of the tube on an exterior side of the garment, and a second of the fabric fly flaps between the fir:>t fabric fly flap and the front panel;
uniting the triple layer by lines of stitching along the fabric fly flaps at opposite ends of the marginal edges, leaving a free edge on each fabric fly flap extending parallel to the marginal edge remote from the fly opening between the lines of stitching; defining between the first fabric fly flap and the second fabric fly flap, a transversely-open tunnel extending from the fly opening at one side to free edges of the fabric fly flaps at the other side;
and defining, between the second fabric fly flap and the tubular fabric, a pocket closed at one side by the seam sewing the second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of the fly opening.
- 1d-The present invention provides a novel fly construction for a nether garment in. a broad aspect thereby, thus which pex~nits the nether garment to be fabricated from a single length of tubular knit fabric with the: simple addition of fly flaps which are sewn to the;
tubular knit fabric on either side of n longitudinal slit fornzing the fly _ 7 _ opening. The knitted tube is cut and shaped to provide leg openings which are completed by a conventional crotch seam and leg bands and is finished with a waist band in the conventional fashion.
The fly front of broad aspects of the present invention provides a neat appearance and an arrangement which does not unduly inhibit access through the fly opening.
The fly construction of a broad aspect of the present invention is fabricated in a simple, yet effective, procedure, enabling elimination of the expensive and time-consuming operations normally used for fashioning fly fronts.
More specifically, by one variant the present invention provides a fly front consisting of a slit in the tubular fabric, a pair of' fly flaps co-extensive in length with the slit and secured, one to each edge of the slit opening, the -fly flaps being anchored to the body of the garment by being sewi7 along their opposite ends to each other and to the body fabric at one side of the fly opening, thereby providing a laterally open tunnel betweE;n the flaps which affords access through the gaament.
The fly construction of bra~zci aspects of the present invention can be produced with a minimum of fabric handling steps.
The present invention, in broad aspects thereof, enables the fly front to be produced by simply overlaying the i.7y area of a knitted tube with a patch of fabric which will be cut to form the fabric flaps of the fly assembly. The fabric patch is separated into two parts concurrently with the fomation of a fly opening in the knitted tube and the; two parts form the flaps which are sewn along the edges of the fly opening in the part of the tube which becomes the front pane;I of the garment. The patch is fornied into separate flaps and the fly opening is formed in tl~e front panels, and the flaps are connected to the edges of the fly opening. The flaps are tluen exerted to the underside of the front panel through the fly apening and are sewn to the underside of the frant panel on the same side of the fly opening to produce the novel fly assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a front view of drawers embodying a fly assembly in accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the prevent invention;
Fig. 2 is a rear view of the drawers shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary lace view with layers broken away to illustrate the fly assembly shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. S is a front view of a brief embodying a fiy assembly in accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; and Figs. 6-11 are views similar to Fig. 3 but at a reduced scale illustrating the steps for fabricating the fly assembly of an embodiment oi° an aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a view of the outside of~the fabric tube with a fly patch superimposed thereon;
Fig. 7 is a similar view of the outside of the fabric tube after the fly opening and fly flaps are formed;
Fig. 8 is a sirr~ilar view of the outside of the fabric after the fly flaps are evened to the underside of the tube;
Fig. 9 is a view of the underside of the front panel of the tube shown in Fig.
8;
Fig. 10 is a view of the underside of the front panel with the flaps positioned in overlying relationship and sewn ire place; and Fig. 11 is a view of the outside of the garment completed with the waistband in place.
AT LEAST ONE MODE FOR CaII~.RYING OCrT THE; INVENTION
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a drawers ?0 embodying a fly front assembly 21 embodying the invention. The fly front 21 is in the body portion 24 of the garment, and the garment has leg extensions 25 and 26 depending downwardly from the body portion 24. A
waistband 27 is at the top of the garment and ankle cui:fs 29 aaad 30 are at the bottom. The drawers 20 are fabricated from a knitted tube which is flattened to provide side fold lines 33 and 34. The fly assembly 21 is positioned in l:he middle of the front panel 35 which extends between the fold lines 33 and 34 from tl~~; waistband 27 to the cuffs 29 and :30 as a continuous expanse which is uninterrupted except for the fly assembly 21. In Fig. 2, a rear panel 36 is shown which extends between the fold lines 33 and 34 and is uninterrupted from the waistband 27 to the cuffs 29 and 30. The outer sides of the legs 25 and 26 are defined by the fold lines 3 3 and 34, and the inner sides of the legs are defined by an inseam part 37 connecting the front and back paalels of the leg extension 25, a crotch seam part 38 connecting the front and back panels 35 and 36 of the trunk portion 24 betwc;en the leg extensions, and a further inseam part 39 extending from the crotch seam 38 to the cuff 30 of the leg extension 26. Apart born the fly assembly, the drawers 20 are of conventional tubular knit constructions.
A brief 40 embodying an embodiment o f the present invention is illustrated i.n Fig.
5. The brief 40 is likewise lmit from a continuous knitted tube, and has a front panel 45 extending between fold lines 43 and 44 and from the waistband 47 to a crotch seam 48. A
rear panel 46 likewise extends from the waistband 47 between the fold lines 43 and 44 to the crotch seam 48. Leg openings 49 and 50 are c;ut into the front and rear panels, and in the present instance are bound with leg bands 51 arid 52 respectively. As seen in Fig. 5, the WO 95/1716 217 ~ 9 7 7 PCT~S94/14792 front panel 45 provides an expanse from the waistband 47 to the leg bands 51 and 52 and the crotch seam 48 which is uninterrupted except for a fly assembly 41 centered in the front panel. The rear panel of the brief 40 provides an uninterrupted expanse from the waistband 47 to the leg bands 51 and 52 and the connecting crotch seam 48 between the fold lines 43 and 44. Apart from the fly assembly 41, the brief shown in Fig. 5 is of a conventional tubular knit construction.
The novel fly assembly of the present invention is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in these figures, the front panel 35 has a linear fly opening formed between a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges 61 and 62 (see Fig. 4). A pair of fly flaps 63 and 64 is included in the fly assembly 21. The flap 63 is connected to the fabric edge 61 by a seam 65 extending the entire length of the opening.
The flap 64 is connected to the edge 62 by a similar seam 66 extending the entire length of the opening.
The flaps 63 and 64 are coextensive in length with the fly opening and overlap each other and the front panel 35 of the fabric tube as shown in Fig. 4. In the illustrated embodiments, the flaps are disposed to the right of the opening defined between the edges 61 and 62. The flaps 63 and 64 form with the front panel 35 a triple layer of fabric which is sewn together by lines of stitching 68 and 69 along the tops and bottoms of the flaps 63 and 64, in the present instance extending generally perpendicular to the fly opening at the top and the bottom. Where the lines of stitching 68 and 69 intersect the fly opening, double stitching is provided at 70 and 71, respectively, to provide reinforcement at the opposite ends of the fly opening. The lines of stitching 68 and 69 penetrate all three layers of the garment, and in the present instance are visible from the front of the garment, as WO 95/17106 217 ~ 9 T ~ . " PCT/LTS94/14792 indicated by the broken lines in Figs. 1 and 5. The edges 73 and 74 of the flaps 63 and 64, respectively, are not sewn together and constitute free edges substantially parallel to the fly opening, as shown a.n Figs. 3 and 4. In the present instance, neither is the free edge 73 sewn to the front panel 35. The free edges 73 and 74 may be readily separated to provide access to a tunnel-like passage between the flaps 63 and 64 which, as shown in Fig. 4, is laterally open to the interior of the garment at the righthand side and is open to the fly opening at the lefthand side. The tunnel provided between the flaps 63 and 64 serves to prevent bulging of the fly opening while permitting access through the garment.
Between the flap 63 and the front panel 35, a pocket is formed which is closed at the fly opening by the seam 65 and is closed at the top and bottom by the lines of stitching 68 and 69, and in the illustrated garment is open to the interior of the garment between the free edge 73 and the front panel 35.
Preferably, the flaps are of equal width and the width is at least Qne half of their length so as to provide an elongated tunnel extending the full width of the flap which requires access to be achieved laterally of the opening throughout the length of the tunnel. For example, in Fig. 1, the flap is about five inches long and about three inches wide. In Fig.
5, the flap is about five inches long is about 2-3Z"
wide. The dimensions of the flap enable the user to insert his hand through the tunnel to obtain access through the garment. The width of the tunnel is sufficient to provide support for the fabric edges 61 and 62 to prevent their inadvertent separation when the garment is worn.
The fly assembly of the present invention may be~
fabricated efficiently and. effectively with a minimum number of handling operations. The steps for WO 95!17106 PCT/US94/14792 _ 7 _ fabricating the assembly are illustrated in Figs. 6-11.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a knitted tube which is designed to be formed into a body garment.
As shown, the tube has a front panel 81 and a rear panel 82 created by flattening the tube. The top of the tube is open to constitute the waist of the garment, and the bottom of the tube, as shown in Fig.
6, is shaped to provide leg openings and a crotch.
Referring to Fig. 6, the first step in the fabrication of the fly assembly is to overlay a fabric patch 83 over the area where the fly assembly is to be fabricated. to facilitate handling of the components during the assembly operation, the patch 83 is preferably finished around the edges as indicated at 84 to avoid raveling of the fabric during the fabrication operations. - In the present instance, the perimeter of the patch 83 has overcast stitches to perform this function, but other means of providing a non-raveling. edge around the perimeter of the patch may be substituted.
With the patch 83 in place, a fly opening 85 is cut through the patch 83 and the front panel 81, and the parallel edges provided on the opposite sides of the cut are sewn together by seams shown by the broken lines at 87 and 88 in Fig. 7. The cutting of the patch 83 divides the patch into a first flap 91 to the left of the opening 85 and a second flap 92 to the right of the opening 85 (Fig. 7). The cutting and seaming of the flaps 91 and 92 to the panel 81 may be performed simultaneously by a double-needle sewing G
machine with a cutting attachment or may be done in quick sequence by applying the double seam and then cutting between the seam lines. This attaches the flaps 91 and 92 to the fabric panel 81 by the seam lines 87 and 88, respectively.
WO 95/17106 217 D 9 7 7 , PCT/L1S94/14792 _ g _ After the flaps are attached on the front of the garment, the flaps 91 and 92 are everted through the fly opening 85 to position them on the underside of the panel 81, as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 illustrates the underside of the panel with the flaps spread apart on either side of the fly opening 85. The flap 91 is then folded over the flap 92, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to create a triple fabric thickness on the inside of the panel 81 to the left of the fly opening 85 (hidden behind the seam line 87 in Fig. 10). The triple layers are integrated by lines of stitching 98 and 99 at the top and bottom of the overlaid flaps.
As shown in the view of the front of the panel 81 in Fig. 11, the seam lines 98 and 99 extend along the flaps and from the top and bottom of the fly opening 85 perpendicular to the opening to produce the tunnel and pocket as described above. Following this operation, the waistband 96 is applied to the top of the fabric tube and the legs are completed by the application of bands around the leg opening and a inseam and crotch seam interconnecting the front and back panels of the flattened tube. The completed garment may then be finished in the conventional fashion and packaged.
Thus, the fly assembly of this invention may be fashioned by a combined operation which cuts the fly opening and produces a pair of seams, followed by everting of the flaps through the fly opening and then anchoring the flaps to the panel by lines of stitching passing through the triple layers provided in this assembly. The fly fashioned in this manner is fully k effective to provide the necessary access through the front of the garment and provides a pleasing ornamental appearance which will not impair the merchandising of the product.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (20)
1. ~An improvement in a nether garment having and interior and comprising:
a knitted tube with a front panel; and a rear panel;
said tube having:
a top waist opening; and a pair of bottom leg openings, said leg openings being defined by a seam connecting said front and rear panels, and extending from an inner side of one of said pair of leg openings across a central part of said knitted tube between said leg openings and terminating at an inner side of the other of said leg openings, said nether garment further comprising:
a fly assembly in said front panel between said seam and said top waist opening, said fly assembly comprising:
a linear fly opening having a top end and a bottom end, and a length defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a cut in said tube; and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each said fabric fly flap being sewn to said fabric tube along an associated one of said fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of said opening;
each of said fabric fly flaps having top margins and bottom margins and being coextensive in length with said fly opening and overlapping each other and said fabric tube at one side of the fly opening, the top margins of each of said fabric fly flaps being adjacent the top end of said fly opening, and the bottom margins of each of said fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of said fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of said fly opening at one side thereof;
said triple layer being united by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of said flaps and said fabric tube along the top margins and bottom margins of said flaps, leaving a free edge on each flap extending parallel to said fabric edges remote from said fly opening between said lines of stitching, a first one of said flaps being positioned on said interior of the garment, a second one of said flaps being positioned intermediate said first flap and said knitted tube;
said first flap and said second flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from said fly opening to the free edges of said flaps; and said second flat and said tubular fabric defining, between them, a pocket closed at one end by said seam sewing said second flap to an associated fabric edge of said fly opening.
a knitted tube with a front panel; and a rear panel;
said tube having:
a top waist opening; and a pair of bottom leg openings, said leg openings being defined by a seam connecting said front and rear panels, and extending from an inner side of one of said pair of leg openings across a central part of said knitted tube between said leg openings and terminating at an inner side of the other of said leg openings, said nether garment further comprising:
a fly assembly in said front panel between said seam and said top waist opening, said fly assembly comprising:
a linear fly opening having a top end and a bottom end, and a length defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a cut in said tube; and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each said fabric fly flap being sewn to said fabric tube along an associated one of said fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of said opening;
each of said fabric fly flaps having top margins and bottom margins and being coextensive in length with said fly opening and overlapping each other and said fabric tube at one side of the fly opening, the top margins of each of said fabric fly flaps being adjacent the top end of said fly opening, and the bottom margins of each of said fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of said fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of said fly opening at one side thereof;
said triple layer being united by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of said flaps and said fabric tube along the top margins and bottom margins of said flaps, leaving a free edge on each flap extending parallel to said fabric edges remote from said fly opening between said lines of stitching, a first one of said flaps being positioned on said interior of the garment, a second one of said flaps being positioned intermediate said first flap and said knitted tube;
said first flap and said second flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from said fly opening to the free edges of said flaps; and said second flat and said tubular fabric defining, between them, a pocket closed at one end by said seam sewing said second flap to an associated fabric edge of said fly opening.
2. ~The nether garment according to claim 1, wherein in said fly assembly, each of said seams along the length of said fly opening has a thread line providing a stitched flap margin which is parallel to said free flap edge, said flap margin overlying said fabric edge at one side of said thread line;
the margin of fabric of said first flap projects toward the interior of said garment;
and the margin of fabric of said second flap is confined within said pocket at said one end.
the margin of fabric of said first flap projects toward the interior of said garment;
and the margin of fabric of said second flap is confined within said pocket at said one end.
3.~The nether garment according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein in said fly assembly, said lines of stitching along said margin top and said bottom margin of each of said flaps terminate at said top end and said bottom end of said fly opening in a short length of double stitching crossing said fly opening, to reinforce said fly opening.
4. ~The nether garment according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein in said fly assembly, said seams terminate at the top and bottom ends of said fly opening; and said two lines of stitching terminate at the edges of said flaps;
said pocket being along the free edge of said second flap;
whereby said front panel of said knitted tube which circumscribes said fly opening is devoid of stitching except for said two lines of stitching; and consists of a single layer of tubular knit fabric surrounding said fly assembly.
said pocket being along the free edge of said second flap;
whereby said front panel of said knitted tube which circumscribes said fly opening is devoid of stitching except for said two lines of stitching; and consists of a single layer of tubular knit fabric surrounding said fly assembly.
5. ~A nether garment having an interior and comprising:
a knitted tube flattened to provide fold lines at opposite sides of the garment, said fold lines defining, a front panel; and a rear panel;
said front panel and said rear panel being integrally united at said fold lines as parts of a single piece of knitted tubular fabric;
said tube having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings;
each of said openings having a band circumscribing said opening;
said leg openings being defined by a seam connecting said front and said rear panels, and extending from an inner side of one of said pair of leg openings across central parts of said knitted tube and terminating at an inner side of the other of said leg openings, and a fly assembly in said front panel between said seam and said waist opening, said fly assembly comprising:
a linear fly opening having a length from a top end to a bottom end, said linear fly opening being defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a cut in said front panel; and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each said fabric fly flap being sewn to said front panel along an associated one of said fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of said opening;
said fabric fly flaps being coextensive in length with said fly opening and overlapping each other and said front panel at one side of said fly opening, top margins of both said fabric fly flaps being adjacent the top end of said fly opening, and bottom margins of both said fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of said fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of said fly opening at one side thereof;
said triple layer being sewn together by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of said fabric fly flaps and said front panel along said top margin and said bottom margin of said fabric fly flaps, leaving a free edge on each, said fabric fly flap remote from said fly opening and extending parallel to said fabric edges between said lines of stitching, a first one of said fabric fly flaps being positioned on the interior of the garment, a second one of said fabric fly flaps being positioned intermediate the first flap and the front panel, said first fabric fly flap and said second fabric fly flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from said fly opening to the free edges of said fabric fly flaps; and said second fabric fly flap and said front panel defining, between them, a packet closed at one end by said seam sewing said second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of said fly opening.
a knitted tube flattened to provide fold lines at opposite sides of the garment, said fold lines defining, a front panel; and a rear panel;
said front panel and said rear panel being integrally united at said fold lines as parts of a single piece of knitted tubular fabric;
said tube having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings;
each of said openings having a band circumscribing said opening;
said leg openings being defined by a seam connecting said front and said rear panels, and extending from an inner side of one of said pair of leg openings across central parts of said knitted tube and terminating at an inner side of the other of said leg openings, and a fly assembly in said front panel between said seam and said waist opening, said fly assembly comprising:
a linear fly opening having a length from a top end to a bottom end, said linear fly opening being defined by a pair of closely-spaced parallel fabric edges formed by a cut in said front panel; and a pair of fabric fly flaps, each said fabric fly flap being sewn to said front panel along an associated one of said fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of said opening;
said fabric fly flaps being coextensive in length with said fly opening and overlapping each other and said front panel at one side of said fly opening, top margins of both said fabric fly flaps being adjacent the top end of said fly opening, and bottom margins of both said fabric fly flaps being adjacent the bottom end of said fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of said fly opening at one side thereof;
said triple layer being sewn together by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of said fabric fly flaps and said front panel along said top margin and said bottom margin of said fabric fly flaps, leaving a free edge on each, said fabric fly flap remote from said fly opening and extending parallel to said fabric edges between said lines of stitching, a first one of said fabric fly flaps being positioned on the interior of the garment, a second one of said fabric fly flaps being positioned intermediate the first flap and the front panel, said first fabric fly flap and said second fabric fly flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending from said fly opening to the free edges of said fabric fly flaps; and said second fabric fly flap and said front panel defining, between them, a packet closed at one end by said seam sewing said second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of said fly opening.
6. ~The nether garment according to claim 5 consisting essentially of said knitted tube, said bands at the waist and the legs, and said fabric flaps joined to said tube by said seams and said lines of stitching; whereby said rear panel is an uninterrupted expanse of knitted fabric from said band at said waist to said bands at said leg openings and the seam therebetween; and said front panel is similarly an expanse of knitted fabric which is uninterrupted except for said fly assembly.
7. ~The nether garment according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said band at said top waist opening of said tubular fabric consists of a waist band of resilient, stretchable fabric having a length beginning at a point along said top waist opening of said fabric tube and extending continuously around said top waist opening and terminating adjacent said beginning.
8.~The nether garment according to claim 5, claim 6 or claim 7, in the form of a brief having a crotch, said front panel and back panel being of uniform length;
wherein said connecting seam extends parallel to said top waist band for a short distance between said leg openings in said crotch.
wherein said connecting seam extends parallel to said top waist band for a short distance between said leg openings in said crotch.
9. ~The nether garment according to claim 5, claim 6 or claim 7, in the form of drawers having a crotch, said front panel and said back panel having leg extensions, from said crotch along said opposite fold lines and terminating in said leg openings;
wherein said connecting seam has a central part parallel to said waist band extending as a crotch seam for a short distance between said leg extensions, and as end parts extending as inseams parallel to said fold lines along said leg extensions from said central part to said leg openings.
wherein said connecting seam has a central part parallel to said waist band extending as a crotch seam for a short distance between said leg extensions, and as end parts extending as inseams parallel to said fold lines along said leg extensions from said central part to said leg openings.
10. The nether garment according to claim 9, wherein said leg opening bands comprise stretchable fabric, and form cuffs at lower ends of said leg extensions.
11. The nether garment according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein said fabric fly flaps have a width between said fabric edge and said free edge which is at least forty percent of the length of said fabric fly flaps between said two lines of stitching.
12. A nether garment having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, a front panel of fabric extending from the waist opening to the leg openings, and a fly assembly in said front panel, said fly assembly comprising:
a linear fly opening having a length defined by a pair of closely-spaced, parallel fabric edges in said panel;
a pair of rectangular fabric fly flaps, each said fabric fly flap being sewn to said front panel along an associated one of said fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of said opening;
said fabric fly flaps being coextensive in length with said fly opening and having a width at least forty percent of their length and overlapping each other and said front panel at one side of said fly opening, each said fabric fly flaps having a top margin adjacent the top of said fly opening and a bottom margin adjacent the bottom of said fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of said fly opening at one side thereof;
said triple layer being united by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of said fabric fly flaps and said front panel along said top margin and said bottom margin of said fabric fly flaps, leaving a free edge on each fabric fly flap extending parallel to said fabric edges remote from said fly opening between said lines of stitching, a first one of said fabric fly flaps being positioned interiorly of said garment, a second one of said fabric fly flaps being positioned intermediate said first fabric fly flap and said front panel;
said first fabric fly flap and second said fabric fly flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending the full width of said fabric fly flaps from said fly opening to free edges of said fabric fly flaps; and the second fabric fly flap anti said front panel defining, between them, a pocket closed at one end by said seam sewing said second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of said fly opening.
a linear fly opening having a length defined by a pair of closely-spaced, parallel fabric edges in said panel;
a pair of rectangular fabric fly flaps, each said fabric fly flap being sewn to said front panel along an associated one of said fabric edges by a seam extending the entire length of said opening;
said fabric fly flaps being coextensive in length with said fly opening and having a width at least forty percent of their length and overlapping each other and said front panel at one side of said fly opening, each said fabric fly flaps having a top margin adjacent the top of said fly opening and a bottom margin adjacent the bottom of said fly opening, thereby providing a triple layer of fabric along the full length of said fly opening at one side thereof;
said triple layer being united by two lines of stitching respectively extending through both of said fabric fly flaps and said front panel along said top margin and said bottom margin of said fabric fly flaps, leaving a free edge on each fabric fly flap extending parallel to said fabric edges remote from said fly opening between said lines of stitching, a first one of said fabric fly flaps being positioned interiorly of said garment, a second one of said fabric fly flaps being positioned intermediate said first fabric fly flap and said front panel;
said first fabric fly flap and second said fabric fly flap defining, between them, a transversely-open tunnel extending the full width of said fabric fly flaps from said fly opening to free edges of said fabric fly flaps; and the second fabric fly flap anti said front panel defining, between them, a pocket closed at one end by said seam sewing said second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of said fly opening.
13. ~The nether garment according to claim 12 wherein:
said front panel extends a.s a single piece of fabric from said waist opening to said leg openings and having a straight cut of a length corresponding to the distance between said top line of stitching and said bottom line of stitching, said fabric edges being on opposite sides of said cut.
said front panel extends a.s a single piece of fabric from said waist opening to said leg openings and having a straight cut of a length corresponding to the distance between said top line of stitching and said bottom line of stitching, said fabric edges being on opposite sides of said cut.
14. ~The nether garment according to claim 13, wherein said top line of stitching and said bottom line of stitching terminate at free edges of said fabric fly flaps, said pocket being open interiorly of said garment along a free edge of said second fabric fly flap.
15. ~A method of making a fly assembly in a nether garment, said nether garment having an interior and comprising a knitted tube with a front panel and a rear panel, said tube having a top waist opening and a pair of bottom leg openings, said leg openings being defined by a seam connecting the front and rear panels and extending from an inner side of one of said pair of leg openings across central parts of the knitted tube and terminating at an inner side of the other of said leg openings, said method comprising the steps of:
cutting said front panel of said tube to produce a pair of closely-spaced, parallel fabric edges defining, between them, a fly opening of a given length;
providing a pair of fabric fly flaps, each said fabric fly flap having a marginal edge of a length corresponding to said given length;
associating each of said marginal edges with a separate one of said parallel fabric edges;
positioning said fabric fly flaps overlying one fabric surface of the front panel of the tube outwardly from said fly opening;
sewing together said associated marginal edge and said fabric edge respectively with separate seams running the length of said fly opening;
everting said fabric fly flaps through said fly opening to position said flaps at an opposite fabric surface of said front panel, with both said fabric fly flaps extending in the same direction over said opposite surface along said fly opening, thereby forming a triple layer comprising a first of said fabric fly flaps in an interior side of the garment, said front panel of the tube on an exterior side of said garment, and a second of said fabric fly flaps between said first fabric fly flap <and said front: panel;
uniting said triple layer by lines of stitching along said fabric fly flaps at opposite ends of said marginal edges, leaving a free edge on each said fabric fly flap extending parallel to said marginal edge remote from said fly opening between said lines of stitching;
defining, between said first fabric fly flap said said second fabric fly flaps, a transversely-open tunnel extending from said fly opening at one side to free edges of said fabric fly flaps at the other side; and defining, between said second fabric fly flap and said tubular fabric, a pocket closed at one side by said seam sewing said second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of said fly opening.
cutting said front panel of said tube to produce a pair of closely-spaced, parallel fabric edges defining, between them, a fly opening of a given length;
providing a pair of fabric fly flaps, each said fabric fly flap having a marginal edge of a length corresponding to said given length;
associating each of said marginal edges with a separate one of said parallel fabric edges;
positioning said fabric fly flaps overlying one fabric surface of the front panel of the tube outwardly from said fly opening;
sewing together said associated marginal edge and said fabric edge respectively with separate seams running the length of said fly opening;
everting said fabric fly flaps through said fly opening to position said flaps at an opposite fabric surface of said front panel, with both said fabric fly flaps extending in the same direction over said opposite surface along said fly opening, thereby forming a triple layer comprising a first of said fabric fly flaps in an interior side of the garment, said front panel of the tube on an exterior side of said garment, and a second of said fabric fly flaps between said first fabric fly flap <and said front: panel;
uniting said triple layer by lines of stitching along said fabric fly flaps at opposite ends of said marginal edges, leaving a free edge on each said fabric fly flap extending parallel to said marginal edge remote from said fly opening between said lines of stitching;
defining, between said first fabric fly flap said said second fabric fly flaps, a transversely-open tunnel extending from said fly opening at one side to free edges of said fabric fly flaps at the other side; and defining, between said second fabric fly flap and said tubular fabric, a pocket closed at one side by said seam sewing said second fabric fly flap to an associated fabric edge of said fly opening.
16. The method according to claim 15, which comprises:
providing said fabric fly flaps by overlaying a fabric patch over said front panel prior to cutting said fly opening; and cutting said patch to form two fabric fly flaps when performing said cutting of the fly opening.
providing said fabric fly flaps by overlaying a fabric patch over said front panel prior to cutting said fly opening; and cutting said patch to form two fabric fly flaps when performing said cutting of the fly opening.
17. The method according to claim 15 or claim 16, which comprises:
performing said sewing step concurrently with cutting said patch and said fly opening.
performing said sewing step concurrently with cutting said patch and said fly opening.
18. The method according to claim 17, which comprises:
carrying out said sewing step to produce seams separating said fabric edges and flap margins from bodies of said fabric fly flaps; whereby after everting said fabric fly flaps, said seam of said first fabric fly flap is on the interior of said garment, and said seam of said second fabric fly flap is within said pocket which is defined between said second fabric fly flap and said tubular fabric.
carrying out said sewing step to produce seams separating said fabric edges and flap margins from bodies of said fabric fly flaps; whereby after everting said fabric fly flaps, said seam of said first fabric fly flap is on the interior of said garment, and said seam of said second fabric fly flap is within said pocket which is defined between said second fabric fly flap and said tubular fabric.
19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, which comprises:
providing said patch as a rectangular patch;
providing said cut parallel to opposite sides of said patch; and further comprising the step of:
finishing the perimeter of said patch to retard raveling prior to cutting the patch.
providing said patch as a rectangular patch;
providing said cut parallel to opposite sides of said patch; and further comprising the step of:
finishing the perimeter of said patch to retard raveling prior to cutting the patch.
20. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, which comprises:
uniting said layers by carrying out a final operation of applying short lengths of double stitching in lines of stitching at the opposite ends of said fly opening to reinforce said fly opening.
uniting said layers by carrying out a final operation of applying short lengths of double stitching in lines of stitching at the opposite ends of said fly opening to reinforce said fly opening.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US016,756 | 1993-12-23 | ||
| US1675693 | 1993-12-23 | ||
| PCT/US1994/014792 WO1995017106A1 (en) | 1993-12-23 | 1994-12-22 | Nether garment having a fly front and method of making same |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2170977A1 CA2170977A1 (en) | 1995-06-29 |
| CA2170977C true CA2170977C (en) | 2004-03-02 |
Family
ID=26689025
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002170977A Expired - Fee Related CA2170977C (en) | 1993-12-23 | 1994-12-22 | Nether garment having a fly front and method of making same |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0737039A4 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU1517195A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2170977C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995017106A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1180181A (en) * | 1914-06-17 | 1916-04-18 | Kaynee Company | Breeches. |
| US2062161A (en) * | 1935-05-25 | 1936-11-24 | Munsingwear Corp | Garment |
| US2176790A (en) * | 1938-02-17 | 1939-10-17 | Duofold Inc | Knitted undergarment |
| US2249198A (en) * | 1938-08-01 | 1941-07-15 | Carter William Co | Garment construction |
| US2435377A (en) * | 1946-03-07 | 1948-02-03 | Wise Rothermel | Man's undergarment |
| US2652053A (en) * | 1950-06-06 | 1953-09-15 | Ernest G Dann | Shorts |
| US2739314A (en) * | 1953-11-27 | 1956-03-27 | Friedman Philip | Shorts for boys and young men |
| US2753567A (en) * | 1954-09-08 | 1956-07-10 | Washington Mills Company | Pajama trousers |
| US3111680A (en) * | 1962-10-16 | 1963-11-26 | Horowitz Bernard | Waterproof over-pants |
| US3487833A (en) * | 1967-07-03 | 1970-01-06 | Sears Roebuck & Co | Brief for men and boys |
| US4736468A (en) * | 1987-05-26 | 1988-04-12 | Sara Lee Corporation | Method of forming a brief |
-
1994
- 1994-12-22 CA CA002170977A patent/CA2170977C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-12-22 WO PCT/US1994/014792 patent/WO1995017106A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1994-12-22 EP EP95906690A patent/EP0737039A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1994-12-22 AU AU15171/95A patent/AU1517195A/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2170977A1 (en) | 1995-06-29 |
| EP0737039A4 (en) | 1997-01-02 |
| AU1517195A (en) | 1995-07-10 |
| EP0737039A1 (en) | 1996-10-16 |
| WO1995017106A1 (en) | 1995-06-29 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |