GB2292669A - Garment-shaping device - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment-shaping device, particularly for use with close-fitting ladieswear, comprises a shaped panel-like member 10 which preferably tapers slightly from its upper end to its lower end 14 and has a rearwardly-angled upper end region or limb (16, Figs. 1 and 2). The member 10 may be used with or incorporated in a lady's garment (22, Fig. 4) to spread the garment material at the frontal crotch region. This not only improves the appearance of a close-fitting garment but also to minimises any discomfort due to the tendency of a garment to crease and enter the frontal crotch region of the wearer. The member 10 is usually enclosed in a replaceable pad 19, and the member may also be formed with openings 18 for ventilation and, when incorporated in a swimsuit (22), for drainage. In another embodiment (Fig. 5) a replaceable pool (15) has wings (120) for folding over an L-shaped substantially-rigid member (112). <IMAGE>

Description

GLftMuT-sHLPrRG DEVICE This invention relates to garment-6haping devices for ladieswear.

In articles of ladieswear, particularly close-fitting garments such as jeans, leggings, cycling shorts, swimwear and lingerie, it has been quite usual for that part of the gannet in the frontal crotch region to slide up into the crotch and not only produce an unsightly appearance but also result in discomfort for the wearer.

It is an object of the present invention to remove or at least reduce the above disadvantages and, according to the present invention, there is provided a garment-shaping device comprising a shaped panel-like member which preferably tapers slightly from its upper end to its lower end and has a rearwardly-angled upper end region or limb, the member being arranged to be used with or incorporated in a lady's garment to spread the garment material at the frontal crotch region. Such spreading not only improves the appearance of a close-fitting garment, but also minimises the discomfort which tends to derive from the tendency of the gannent to crease and enter the crotch region of thule wearer.

The panel member may be formed with perforations to render the device permeable and so provide ventilation and, in the case of swimwear, drainage, and the member may be enclosed in C preferably-replaceable pad.

Further according to the invention, a device for shaping the frontal crotch area of a lady's s garment such as trousers, comprises a relatively rigid member of generally L-shape having an upright limb and a generally horizontal limb, and a relatively pliable pad which is mounted on said member and which accommodates itself towards the member's generally L-shape, the upright limb of the member serving in use to spread laterally the crotch material of the garment worn thereover.

Preferably, the pad is releasably attached to said member and, advantageously, the upright limb is shorter than the generally horizontal limb.

Preferably also, said generally horizontal limb has a lateral depth that reduces as the limb extends away from the upright limb which may be of uniform lateral depth.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan showing a first form of- shaped panel member for a lady1s garment; Figure 2 is a section on the line IS-II of Fig. 1, but with the bottom end of the section enlarged; Figure 3 is a plan showing a fabric cut-out to be applied as a pad around the panel member; Figure 4 is a fragmentary section shoving the panel member incorporated in a lady's swimsuit; and Figure 5 is a part-sectional, exploded, perspective vew of a garment-shaping device.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a shaped panelor plate-like member 10 is formed from polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene or like plastics material and, being appro=.imately lmm thick, is firm but moderately flexible. The member 10 tapers as it nears its periphery 11 which, as shown at the bottom of Fig. 2, is rounded in Section to avoid sharp edges that could cause discomfort.

rn outline, the panel member has virtually straight side edges 12 which converge downwardly by a few degrees and are joined to gently-curved top and bottom edges 13, 14, by rounded corners 15.

The upper peripheral strip of the member 10 forms an upper limb 16 which is angled rearwardly from lower limb 17 formed by the remainder of the member 10, and at least the upper end region of the member may be slightly convex outwardly/forwardly. The dimensions of the member are approximately 70mm in height by 45mm in maximum width (at the upper region), and these dimensions are suitable for use in or with the crotch portions of most garments for ladies.

Series of small openings 18 of a number and size suitable for the garment in question, may be formed in the body of the member to provide ventilation and enhance the flexibility of the member; the openings are more than advisable for use in swimwear, to allow drainage and so prevent the collection of pockets of water after swimming.

The shaped member 10, which also promotes comfort in resisting the usual tendency of a close-fitting garment to crease and enter at least the frontal crotch region of the wearer, has proved to be very effective as a garment paper, either when used as an accessory when it is normally enclosed in a fabric envelope to be secured, typically by adhesive, to the garment or to an undergarment, or when incorporated as a more or less permanent insert in a garment.

Fig. 3 shows a soft fabric cut-out 19 to be formed into a pad surrounding the panel zuextiber LO, by folding over side tabs or wings 20 and then bottom tab 21, the tabs having adhesive layers to secure the parts of the cut-out together and to the member 10. The side tabs 20 are also provided with outer adhesive layers (behind the tabs in the drawing) which are used to secure the device to the garment in question (not shown), or to an under-ga=nent such as panties (not shown).

In practice, a panel member 10 will usually be sold together with a supply of, say, ten disposable cut-outs 19, which include easily-rmovable thin films (not shown) to protect the adhesive layers before use.

Fig. 4 shows a (perforated) panel member 10 as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, incorporated in a lady's swinsuit or bikini bottom 22; for clarity, the fabric layers 23 are drawn as being spaced slightly apart. In this case, the member 10 is housed in, effectively, a padded envelope formed by gusset mater at the front crotch-piece 24 of the garment. Usually, additional layers of fabric and/or padding will be present. The peripheral edge of the member 10 is again rounded to prevent chafing; alternatively, or perhaps additionally, the member may be formed with a beaded periphery, and/or a fabric beading may be incorporated in the material of the garment. In this embodiment, the panel mernber may be intended to last the life of the garment, or may be replaceable after a period of use - perhaps by unstitching and resewing.

Referring now to FiS. 5, the device 110 comprises an Lshaped substantially-rigid member 112, of suitable plastics material, covered by a replaceable pad 115 of soft material extending along both lLmbs 113, 114 of the 'L'. The pad has an upper layer 116, approximately 2mm thick, of soft, non-abrasivc material, e.g. compressed cellulose paper, that will be comfortable against the skin. Below this is a thicker layer 117, approximately lcm thick, of a moisture-absorbent material, e.g. sterilised cotton wool, to absorb perspiration and/or bodily discharges.Below this is an impervious layer 118 of sheet plastics material having a contact adhesive 119 on its under surface which prior to use, is covered by a removable layer of Graft paper 111 or the like.

All the layers 116or19 and 111 have wing portions 120 that provide a maximum lateral dimension greater than the width of rigid support member 112 and so as to overlap the side edges of the L-shaped rigid support member 112. In this way, after removal of the Kraft-paper protective layer 111, the mlti-layer pad 115 may be attached to the upper surface of the rigid support 112, and the laterallyextending wings 120 can then be folded under the rigid support 112 and adhered to its underside.

Optionally, the rigid plastics support 112 and the impervious plastics sheet 118 may have ventilation holes 121 near the edge of the rigid support to minimise the discomfort associated with undue perspiration. The support 112 may be made of any suitable thermoplastic material, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene.

In use, the device 110 is inserted between the lady's body and a conventional undergarment, e.g. ladies' briefs, panties or the like, so that the upstanding limb 113 of the L-shaped support 112 serves to stretch the fabric of the outer garment away form the crotch or genitalia.

Discomfort due to the trousers or the like riding up into the crotch is thereby avoided, and the garment presents a more pleasing flat shape across that area. To aid comfort whilst worn, the generally horizontal limb 114 of the rigid support member 112 may taper inwards as it extends away from upright limb 113.

The invention is not to be deemed limited to the particular embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the invention comprehends a pack of pads 115 from which one at a time is taken for replacement of a used pad releasably adhered to the rigid support member 112. Additionally or alternativeLy, the holes tZl in the rigid support member 112 may be arranged in a staggered array extending, say, three-guarters of the distance from the tapered end of generally horizontal limb 114 towards the upright limb 113.

Claims (10)

Claims.

1. A garment-shaping device for ladieswear, comprising a shaped panel-like member which has a rearwardly-angled upper end region or limb, the member being arranged to be used With or incorporated in a lady's garment to spread the garment at the frontal crotch region to improve the appearance of a close-fitting garment and also minimize the discomfort which tends to derive from the tendency of the close-fitting garment to enter the frontal crotch region of the wearer.

2. A device as claimed in Clam 1, in which said panellike member tapers slightly from its upper end to its lower end.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, in which said member has side edges which are joined by rounded corners to said upper and lower ends, which ends are gently curved.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which said panel-like member is formed from firm plastics material having a thickness of the order of Lmm.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which said panel-like member is formed with openings for ventilation and/or drainage.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which said panel-like member is enclosed in a fabric pad which preferably comprises one of a set of replaceable pads.

7. A device for shaping the frontal crotch area of a ladys garment, comprising a relatively rigid member of generally r.-bape having an upright limb and a generally horizontal limb, and a relatively pliable pad which is mounted on said member and which accommodates itself towards the member's generally L-shape, the upright limb of the member serving in use to spread laterally the crotch material of the garment worn thereover.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, in which said pad has a pair of wing portions that extend beyond and around the side edges of the generally-horizontal limb, said wing portions being provided with a release adhesive whereby they are releasably adhered to said member.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8, in which said pad includes an inner layer of nioistre-aosorbent material any an outer layer of moisture-impermeable material.

10. A lady's close-fitting garment incorporating a shaping device as claimed in any preceding Claim.