EP3158884A1

EP3158884A1 - Bottom garment

Info

Publication number: EP3158884A1
Application number: EP15810360.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yoshiaki Nakagawa
Original assignee: Wacoal Corp
Current assignee: Wacoal Corp
Priority date: 2014-06-19
Filing date: 2015-06-18
Publication date: 2017-04-26
Also published as: WO2015194623A1; CA2952198A1; EP3158884A4; US20170143044A1; TW201601645A; CN206687186U; JP2016003420A

Abstract

The present invention provides a bottom garment that can provide high wearing comfort and also can effectively prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts. The bottom garment includes: a back section (12 (back body member 102)) adapted to cover buttocks of a wearer; a front section (11 (front body member 101)) facing the back section; and a crotch section (103). Right and left end edges of the front section (11) are connected to right and left end edges of the back section (12), respectively. A front end of the crotch section (103) is connected to a lower end of the front section (11). Aback end of the crotch section (103) is connected to a lower end of the back section (12). In a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section (103) protrudes so as to form a V-shape having a protruding central portion and a gradually increasing width toward right and left end edges, the lower end of the back section (12) to be connected with the back end of the crotch section (103) is recessed so as to form a V-shaped notch, and an angle (α) of the V-shape is greater than an angle (β) of the notch.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a bottom garment.

Background Art

Heretofore, various studies have been made on bottom garments such as panties in order to improve the fit thereof to wearers' bodies. In particular, in a bottom garment, the back side of a crotch section (also may be referred to as "gusset section", "groin section", or the like) extends across two round portions of the buttocks of a wearer when the bottom garment is worn. Thus, the crotch section may be partially apart from the body surface, so that the fit to a recessed portion around the natal cleft is liable to be low. To address this problem, the following technique has been proposed: in a garment having a crotch cloth, improving the fit around the natal cleft by sewing darts around the crotch cloth (see Patent Document 1, for example).

Citation List

Patent Document(s)

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. 63(1988)-36005

Brief Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, the above-described technique still cannot achieve sufficient fit. More specifically, at a portion where the darts are provided, the fabric constituting the garment is in a stretched state and thus exhibits lower stretchablility. Accordingly, although the garment can have a shape conforming to a wearer's body during initial stages of wearing of the garment, it cannot exhibit sufficient followability to movements of the wearer. Thus, this technique cannot sufficiently prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts, e.g., from sliding up, owing to the movements of the wearer.
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bottom garment that can provide high wearing comfort and also can effectively prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts. Means for Solving Problem
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bottom garment including: a back section adapted to cover buttocks of a wearer; a front section facing the back section; and a crotch section. Right and left end edges of the front section are connected to right and left end edges of the back section, respectively. A front end of the crotch section is connected to a lower end of the front section. A back end of the crotch section is connected to a lower end of the back section. In a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section protrudes so as to form a V-shape having a protruding central portion and a gradually increasing width toward right and left end edges, the lower end of the back section to be connected with the back end of the crotch section is recessed so as to form a V-shaped notch, and an angle α of the V-shape is greater than an angle β of the notch.

Effects of the Invention

The present invention can provide a bottom garment that can provide high wearing comfort and also can effectively prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts.

Brief Description of Drawings

[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a pattern diagram of panties according to a first embodiment as an example of the bottom garment of the present invention.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a pattern diagram of conventional panties.
[FIG. 3] FIGs. 3A and 3B each show the state where the panties are folded along the back centerline. FIG. 3A shows the panties according to the present invention. FIG. 3B shows the conventional panties.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram of panties according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 shows panties according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a pattern diagram of panties according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows the states of buttocks observed in a wearing evaluation test. In FIG. 7, (a) shows the states observed when the panties of the present invention were worn, and (b) shows the states observed when the conventional panties were worn.

Mode for Carrying out the Invention

The bottom garment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to illustrative examples. It is to be noted, however, that the present invention is by no means limited to or restricted by the following illustrative examples.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a pattern diagram of panties 100 according to the first embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention. The panties 100 of the present embodiment include: a back body member 102 that forms a back section 12 adapted to cover buttocks of a wearer; a front body member 101 that forms a front section 11 facing the back section 12; and a crotch section 103. Right and left end edges of the front body member 101 are connected to right and left end edges of the back body member 102, respectively. A front end of the crotch section 103 is connected to a lower end of the front body member 101, and a back end of the crotch section 103 is connected to a lower end of the back body member 102. The terms "front" and "back" as used in this context refer to front and back directions when the front body member (front section) side is defined as the front side and the back body member (back section) side is defined as the back side. The terms "left" and "right" as used in this context may refer to right and left when viewed either from the front side or from the back side.
In a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section 103 protrudes so as to form a V-shape having a protruding central portion and a gradually increasing width toward right and left end edges, the lower end of the back body member 102 to be connected with the back end of the crotch section 103 is recessed so as to form a V-shaped notch, and an angle α of the V-shape is greater than an angle β of the notch.
Since the angle α is greater than the angle β, the lower end of the back body member 102 is connected to the back end of the crotch section 103 by widening the notch so as to conform to the shape of the back end of the crotch section 103. With the configuration in which the ends having different shapes are connected to each other, it is possible to provide a margin in a portion of the fabric around the back leg edges, thereby allowing a three-dimensional swelling to be formed and the fit to a lower part of the natal cleft to be improved.
The back end of the crotch section 103 preferably is configured so that the angle α of the V-shape is in the range from 70° to 120°. The lower end of the back body member 102 preferably is configured so that the angle β of the notch is in the range from 10° to 60°. The combination of the angles α and β may be as follows, for example: (α, β) = (120°, 60°), (90°, 30°), and (70°, 10°).
Swelling to be formed can be made larger by increasing the difference between the angles α and β. From the viewpoint of the fit to a lower part of the natal cleft when worn, the difference between the angles α and β preferably is in the range from 10° to 70°, more preferably from 20° to 40°.
FIG. 3A shows the state where the panties 100 obtained by connecting components corresponding to the respective patterns shown in FIG. 1 are placed flat and then folded along the back centerline L with the back body member on the external side. FIG. 2 is a pattern diagram of conventional panties 500. FIG. 3B shows the state where the panties 500 obtained by connecting components corresponding to the respective patterns shown in FIG. 2 are placed flat and then folded along the back centerline L with a back body member on the external side.
As shown in FIG. 3A, when the panties 100 are folded along the back centerline L, the crotch section 103 bends so as to protrude from the back centerline. Further, when the panties 100 are placed flat, a lower part thereof extends obliquely with the external side (the leg edge side) slanting downward. In contrast, in the case of the conventional panties 500, as shown in FIG. 3B, the crotch section 503 is folded so as to form the same straight line as the back body member 502, and the above-described bending is not observed. Further, when the panties 500 are placed flat, a lower part thereof extends horizontally (in the direction orthogonal to the back centerline L), rather than extending obliquely as in the panties 100. Moreover, in the folded state as in FIGs. 3A and 3B, the crotch section looks different between the panties 100 of the present invention and the conventional panties 500. Specifically, the crotch section 103 in the panties 100 of the present invention is seen only slightly. In FIG. 3A, the two-dot chain line extending horizontally indicates a line to which the crotch section 503 of the conventional panties 500 reaches.
In the present embodiment, a fabric that can be used for each of the front body member 101 and the back body member 102 is not particularly limited, and may be a woven fabric, a knotted fabric, or a nonwoven fabric, for example. It is more preferable that the fabric is a stretchable fabric containing elastic yarns, such as polyurethane. The crotch section 103 may be made of the same fabric as the front body member 101 and the back body member 102. In this case, a patch cloth made of cotton or the like may be provided on the wearer's skin side of the crotch section 103.
In the pattern diagram of FIG. 1, the V-shape of the back end of the crotch section 103 and the V-shaped notch in the lower end of the back body member 102 are each formed in a shape in which two straight lines meet each other. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, they each may be formed in a shape in which two curved lines meet each other, or the apex of the V-shape may be rounded. In these cases, the state where "the angle α of the V-shape is greater than the angle β of the notch" means that the shape of the lower end of the back body member 102 can be conformed to the shape of the back end of the crotch section 103 by widening the notch.
In the present embodiment, the front body member 101 and the back body member 102 are each provided as a right-and-left integrated member. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the right part and the left part of each member may be provided as separate members. Preferably, each of the front body member 101 and the back body member 102 is provided as a right-and-left integrated member, because this improves the fit to a wearer's body and also provides better touch on a wearer's skin, as compared with the case where the right and left members are connected to each other.

(Second Embodiment)

FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram of panties 200 according to the second embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention. The one-dot chain line in FIG. 4 indicates a fold line on a fabric in pattern arrangement. The fabric is folded in half to make the fold line. Each pattern is aligned with the fold line, and the fabric is cut along the pattern. In the panties 200 of the present embodiment, a front body member 201 is formed integrally with a crotch section 203.

(Third Embodiment)

FIG. 5 is a pattern diagram of panties 300 according to the third embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention. The panties 300 of the present embodiment include: a right body member 304R that forms a right part of a front section 11 and a right part of a back section 12; and a left body member 304L that forms a left part of the front section 11 and a left part of the back section 12. In FIG. 5, each pattern is aligned with a fold line on a fabric, and the right body member 304R and the left body member 304L are provided in a continuous form. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Each pattern may be arranged in any portion instead of being aligned with the fold line, and the right body member 304R and the left body member 304L may be provided in a discrete form.

(Fourth Embodiment)

FIG. 6 is a pattern diagram of panties 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention. The panties 400 of the present embodiment are configured so that a right part 403R of a crotch section is formed integrally with a right body member 404R, and a left part 403L of the crotch section is formed integrally with a left body member 404L. In FIG. 6, the pattern is aligned with a fold line on a fabric, and the right body member 404R formed integrally with the right part 403R of the crotch section and the left body member 404L formed integrally with the left part 403L of the crotch section are provided in a continuous form. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The pattern may be arranged in any portion instead of being aligned with the fold line, and the right and left members may be provided in a discrete form.
As in the above-described respective embodiments, the components of the bottom garment of the present invention are not limited as long as the patterns of the lower end of the back section 12 and the back end of the crotch section are separated from each other. Except for that, the components of the bottom garment may be formed integrally in any combination as appropriate according to the design etc. of the completed bottom garment.

(Wearing Evaluation Test)

FIG. 7 shows the states of buttocks observed in a wearing evaluation test. In the wearing evaluation test, the same test wearer wore the panties 100 of the present invention and the conventional panties 500, and the fit and the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing while the test wearer moved one leg up and down were assessed by visual evaluation. The panties 100 used in this wearing evaluation test were configured so that the angle α was 90° and the angle β was 30°. In FIG. 7, (a) shows the states observed when the test user wore the panties of the present invention, and (b) shows the states observed when the test user wore the conventional panties. In (a) and (b) of FIG. 7, the drawings on the left (a-1, b-1) show the states at the start of the evaluation, the drawings in the middle (a-2, b-2) show the states when the test wearer raised one leg (right leg), and the drawings on the right (a-3, b-3) show the states when the test wearer lowered the leg after she had raised the leg. The line L1 indicating the leg edge (referred to as "initial leg edge-indicating line" hereinafter) and the line L2 indicating the gluteal fold were marked in a buttock of the test wearer at the start of the evaluation, and the changes in position of each line caused by each movement were also observed.
In the case where the conventional panties 500 were worn, as can be seen from the drawing b-2 showing the state when the test wearer raised one leg, the space between the leg edge of the panties and the initial leg edge-indicating line L1 marked on the test wearer's body was broadened. Also, it can be seen that many large wrinkles were formed in the back side of the crotch section 503 (a portion to be in contact with a lower part of the natal cleft), whereby the fit between the panties and the test wearer's body was deteriorated. From the drawing b-3 showing the state observed when the test wearer lowered the leg after she had raised the leg, it can be seen that the leg edge of the panties shifted from the initial position so as to slide up from the initial leg edge-marking line L1.
In contrast, in the case where the panties 100 of the present invention were worn, as can be seen from the drawing a-2 showing the state observed when the test wearer raised one leg, the space between the leg edge of the panties and the initial leg edge-indicating line L1 marked on the test wearer's body was narrower than that in the case where the panties 500 were worn. Also, it can be seen that a smaller amount of wrinkles were formed in the back side of the crotch section 103 (a portion to be in contact with a lower part of the natal cleft), so that the panties achieved favorable fit to the test wearer's body (in particular, to a lower part of the natal cleft). Furthermore, from the drawing a-3 showing the state observed when the test wearer lowered the leg after she had raised the leg, it can be seen that the leg edge of the panties and the initial leg edge-indicating line L1 were in close proximity, and sliding-up of the leg edge from the initial position was hardly observed.
As described above, the panties 100 are configured so that, in a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section 103 forms a V-shape, the lower end of the back body member 102 to be connected with the back end of the crotch section 103 forms a V-shaped notch, and an angle α of the V-shape is greater than the angle β of the notch, and with this configuration, it was possible to provide a margin in a portion of the fabric around the back leg edges, thereby allowing a three-dimensional swelling to be formed and the fit to a lower part of the natal cleft to be improved.
With the above-described configuration, it was possible to obtain panties that can provide high wearing comfort and also can effectively prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts.
The present invention has been described above with reference to specific examples of its embodiment, namely, panties. It is to be noted, however, that the bottom garment of the present invention is not limited to those given as the specific examples, and can be embodied in various forms. For example, the present invention is applicable not only to the garments described in the above embodiments, but also to foundation garments such as girdles and bodysuits, and various other garments such as swimsuits, leotards, sportswear, and outerwear. Furthermore, the present invention is applicable not only to panties for daily use but also to sanitary panties and panties for light incontinence protection, for example.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

100, 200, 300, 400:: panties
11:: front section
12:: back section
101, 201:: front body member
102, 202:: back body member
103, 203, 303:: crotch section
304R, 404R:: right body member
304L, 404L:: left body member
403R:: crotch section (right part)
403L:: crotch section (left part)
500:: conventional panties
501:: front body member
502:: back body member
503:: crotch section

L:: back centerline
L1:: initial leg edge-indicating line
L2:: gluteal fold-indicating line

Claims

A bottom garment comprising:
a back section adapted to cover buttocks of a wearer;

a front section facing the back section; and

a crotch section,

right and left end edges of the front section being connected to right and left end edges of the back section, respectively,

a front end of the crotch section being connected to a lower end of the front section, and

a back end of the crotch section being connected to a lower end of the back section,

wherein, in a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section protrudes so as to form a V-shape having a protruding central portion and a gradually increasing width toward right and left end edges,

the lower end of the back section to be connected with the back end of the crotch section is recessed so as to form a V-shaped notch, and

an angle α of the V-shape is greater than an angle β of the notch.
The bottom garment according to claim 1, wherein
the back end of the crotch section is configured so that the angle α of the V-shape is in a range from 70° to 120°, and
the lower end of the back section is configured so that the angle β of the notch is in a range from 10° to 60°.
The bottom garment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
a difference between the angle α and the angle β is in a range from 10° to 70°.
The bottom garment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the bottom garment comprises a front body member that forms the front section and a back body member that forms the back section.
The bottom garment according to claim 4, wherein
the front body member is formed integrally with the crotch section.
The bottom garment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the bottom garment comprises a right body member that forms a right part of the front section and a right part of the back section, and a left body member that forms a left part of the front section and a left part of the back section.
The bottom garment according to claim 6, wherein
a right part of the crotch section is formed integrally with the right body member, and
a left part of the crotch section is formed integrally with the left body member.
The bottom garment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is in a form of a panty.