GB2560309A

GB2560309A - Abdominal shapewear garment

Info

Publication number: GB2560309A
Application number: GB1703447.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jane Walsh Gaynor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-03
Filing date: 2017-03-03
Publication date: 2018-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-03
Also published as: GB2560309B; GB201703447D0

Abstract

A body shaping garment 100 comprising a tubular section 10 shaped and sized to fit around a persons abdomen and lower rib cage, wherein said tubular section extends between a first end 1 and a second end 2, wherein the tubular section of said first end has at least one opening 3A enabling connection of the tubular section 10 to a second garment such as a brassiere 16. Preferably the first end is positioned underneath the persons bust 11, and the second end extends past the persons abdomen 12. Preferably the openings are sized and shaped to allow the wearers bra to be threaded through the openings, and may be positioned around the circumference of the tubular section 10 to the front, rear and/or sides (3A, B, C, D, fig 1). The wearers bra holds the body shaping garment in place on the wearers body and relative to the wearers second garment 16. The body shaping garment 100 may incorporate leg sections (fig 2), and may be used with any type of secondary garment that has a fastener or tie. The body shaping garment may be worn as an undergarment or as outer wear.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Abdominal shapewear garment

Abstract Title: A body shaping garment for use in conjunction with a second garment (57) A body shaping garment 100 comprising a tubular section 10 shaped and sized to fit around a person’s abdomen and lower rib cage, wherein said tubular section extends between a first end 1 and a second end 2, wherein the tubular section of said first end has at least one opening 3A enabling connection of the tubular section 10 to a second garment such as a brassiere 16. Preferably the first end is positioned underneath the person’s bust 11, and the second end extends past the person’s abdomen 12. Preferably the openings are sized and shaped to allow the wearer’s bra to be threaded through the openings, and may be positioned around the circumference of the tubular section 10 to the front, rear and/or sides (3A, B, C, D, fig 1). The wearer’s bra holds the body shaping garment in place on the wearer’s body and relative to the wearer’s second garment 16. The body shaping garment 100 may incorporate leg sections (fig 2), and may be used with any type of secondary garment that has a fastener or tie. The body shaping garment may be worn as an undergarment or as outer wear.

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Application No. GB1703447.1

RTM

Date :28 July 2017

Intellectual

Property

Office

The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

Nylon

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

-1ABDOMINAL SHAPEWEAR GARMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to torso and abdominal shapewear garments and in particular for torso and abdominal shapewear garments for wearing underneath a person’s outerwear clothes.

BACKGROUND

Many people nowadays are looking for solutions to solve problems with abdominal fat protruding over and around their clothing. Some manufacturers have produced abdominal shapewear garments and undergarments that aim to control and shape the wearer’s body by concealing undesirable bulges of abdominal fat caused by a person’s clothes that cinch at the waist (commonly known as the “muffin top” effect). Some manufacturers also produce shapewear garments and undergarments that aim to smooth the contours of a person’s bottom, hips and thighs. Some manufacturers have also produced undergarments such as corsets, which are boned.

In spite of this, a continuing need exists for improved garments and undergarments that can restrain, smooth, and conceal undesirable bulges of abdominal fat and that do not themselves add to the problem of lumps and bumps being visible through a person’s clothes.

SUMMARY

An abdominal/torso shapewear garment for use in conjunction with a second garment is herein described, said shapewear garment comprising a tubular section shaped and sized to fit around the abdomen and lower rib cage of the person wearing said shapewear garment, said tubular section extending between a first end and a second end, said first end comprising an opening for enabling the tubular section to be physically linked, attached or connected to said second garment.

In any of the examples described herein the second garment may comprise an undergarment. In any of the examples, the second garment may be a brassier. In other examples, the second garment may be a garment that is intended to be worn as outerwear, such as a “bra top” or “boob tube”.

-2In some of the examples described herein, the opening is sized and shaped to allow at least a first section of said second garment to be fed therethrough.

In any of the examples described herein, the abdominal/torso shapewear garment may further comprise a second opening and said second opening may also be sized and shaped to allow at least a second section of said second garment to be fed therethrough.

In some examples, the first and second openings may be provided at different locations around the circumference of the first end of the tubular section. In some examples, the first and second openings may be positioned on generally opposite sides of the tubular section so that in use the first opening may be positioned on the front of the wearer’s body, and the opposing opening may be positioned on the back of the wearer’s body. In some examples, the first opening may be positioned beneath the person’s bust and the second, opposing opening may be positioned in contact with the person’s back.

In some examples, the first and second openings may be provided on circumferentially opposite sides of the first end of the tubular section so that in use the first opening may be positioned in contact with the person’s left side and the second, opposing opening may be positioned in contact with the person’s right side.

In some examples, a plurality of openings may be provided, that are distributed around the circumference of the first end of the tubular section.

In some of the examples described herein, in use, the first end of the tubular section may overlap the second garment.

In some of the examples described herein, the second garment is a brassier and the first end of the tubular section overlaps with the lower edge of the brassier when positioned on the wearer’s body.

-3ln some of the examples described herein, said tubular section may be shaped and sized so as to extend from underneath a person’s bust to beneath a person’s abdomen.

The first end of the tubular section may therefore be positioned underneath the person’s bust and the second end of the tubular section may be positioned beneath the person’s abdomen.

In some of the examples described herein, said shapewear garment may be shaped and sized so as to extend from underneath a person’s bust, past the person’s abdomen and the garment may further comprise first and second leg sections extending from the tubular section.

In the examples described herein, the shapewear garment is manufactured from a fabric that is capable of restraining, smoothing, and/or concealing undesirable bulges of abdominal/torso fat.

In some of the examples described herein, said shapewear garment is manufactured from a natural fabric, a synthetic fabric, or a blend thereof, a spandex blend or a nylon/spandex or polyester/spandex blend. Other materials may also be used.

In some of the examples described herein, said shapewear garment is manufactured using knitting or weaving.

In some of the examples described herein, the shapewear garment may comprise one layer of fabric.

In some of the examples described herein, the shapewear garment may comprise a plurality of layers of fabric.

In any of the examples described herein, the shapewear garment may be worn as an undergarment or may also be worn as an outer garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

-4Preferred embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1A depicts a perspective view of a new type of abdominal/torso shapewear garment.

Figure 1B depicts a perspective view of another new type of abdominal/torso shapewear garment.

Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of a person wearing the torso/abdominal shapewear garment of figure 1A.

Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of a person wearing a new type of abdominal/torso shapewear garment which has leg sections such as shown in figure 1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although manufacturers currently create shapewear undergarments that are aimed at preventing a “muffin-top”, such garments have often been found to themselves actually create a new bulge of fat at the edges of these undergarments. For example, the abdominal shapewear garments currently on the market today may well get rid of the “muffin-top” created by the person’s clothes, however, a new fat bulge may often appear between the person’s shapewear garment and brassier, waistband or other item of clothing. Although some corsets are currently manufactured that extend between a person’s abdomen and bust, these corsets are often boned and uncomfortable and also may create an unsightly shape underneath a person’s clothes due to the tying mechanism and bones found in the corset.

There therefore exists a need for a new type of torso/abdominal shapewear garment that not only smoothens the contours of a person’s body underneath their clothes, but that does not create a new bulge of fat at the edge of the undergarment. There also exists a need for a shapewear garment that is able to be physically connected to and adaptable to a person’s own garments or undergarment(s) that would normally be worn together with this new type of shapewear torso/abdominal shapewear garment.

-5An example of the present invention is shown in figures 1A, 1B, 2 and 3. The torso/abdominal shapewear garment 100 of the present invention may be sized and shaped so as to extend at least from just underneath a person’s bust line 11 to below a person’s abdomen 12, i.e. covering the very lower ribs 14 and abdomen 13 of the wearer.

The new types of abdominal-shapewear garments 100 described herein may have at least a section 10 that is tubular in shape and may be made from any known fabric that is capable of restraining, smoothing, and/or concealing undesirable bulges of abdominal/torso fat. Such fat-restraining materials are well known on the market today.

In some of the examples described herein, embodiments, the shapewear garment 100 may comprise a natural fabric, a synthetic fabric, or a blend thereof. In some embodiments, the shapewear garment 100 may comprise a spandex blend or a polyester/spandex blend as is known in the art.

The abdominal/torso shapewear garment 100 may also be manufactured using any of the current manufacturing techniques known in this field, including, but not limited to, circular knitting, warp knitting, or any weaving or knitting technique known in the art.

The shapewear garment 100 of the present invention may also comprise one, or a plurality of numbers of layers of fabric.

As can be seen in figures 1A and 2, the shapewear garment 100 may be tubular in shape, and sized and shaped so as to fit and extend from a first end 1 that is positioned just below a person’s bust 11 to a person’s abdomen 13, and preferably beneath a person’s abdomen 12. In some cases, the shapewear garment 100 may extend even further than the person’s abdomen 13 and could also optionally comprise leg sections 15 to cover a person’s bottom, hips and thighs as shown in figures 1B and 3. The length of the tubular section 10 of material that extends between underneath the wearer’s bust 11 and their abdomen 13 may therefore be in the ranges of 20cm to 40cm and more preferably between about 27cm and

-635cm. Other ranges are also envisaged in order to provide sizes suitable for all wearers.

As can be seen from figures 1A and 1B, the tubular section 10 of the shapewear garment 100 may comprise one or more openings 3A, 3B at its first end 1 (and/or second end 2, not shown) for linking, connecting or attaching the shapewear garment 100 to a wearer’s second garment 16 or undergarment. For example, an opening 3A may be provided at the first end 1 of the tubular section 10 and may be used for attaching the shapewear garment 100 to a person’s own brassier 16. In the example shown in figure 2, an opening 3A is provided at the front side of the tubular section 10 and the wearer’s own brassier 16 is then fed through this opening, so that the person’s brassier 16 then holds the shapewear garment 100 in place relative to the brassier 16 and wearer’s body.

Referring to figures 2 and 3 as examples, in use, the person wearing the shapewear garment 100 would position the tubular section 10 of the shapewear garment 100 onto their abdomen/torso, e.g. by putting it over their head, (or legs in the case of Figure 1B) and then once the tubular section 10 is in the correct position to cover the lower ribs 14 and abdomen of the wearer, they would loop or thread the brassier 16 through the first opening 3A at one side of the shapewear garment 100 (e.g. in figures 2 and 3, through the opening 3A at the front of the garment 100). In examples wherein a second opening is also provided (e.g. the opening being generally circumferentially opposite to the first opening 3A), the wearer would then also loop or thread the back of the brassier 16 through the second opening 3B positioned in contact with the person’s back, before finally closing the fastener at the back of the brassier 16. Of course, in situations wherein the brassier 16 has a fastener at the front, then the wearer would loop the brassier 16 through the opening 3B at the back first and the opening at the front 3A last, before fastening.

Although the first and second openings 3A, 3B are described here as being at the front and back of the tubular section so as to be positioned in contact with the wearer’s chest or back, the openings could be positioned anywhere circumferentially around the first edge 1 of the tubular section 10, and at any distance from each other. For example the openings 3C, 3D could be positioned so as to be in contact with the person’s left and right sides. Any number of openings

-73A, 3B, 3C, 3D, may also be provided, so long as it is still possible to weave the second garment 16 through each of these openings, to hold them in place relative to each other.

Positioning the plurality of openings approximately equidistant from each other around the circumference of the first end 1 of the tubular section 10, however, has the advantage of allowing the second garment 16 to be held in place at approximately equidistant points around the first end 1 of the shapewear garment 100, thereby improving the ability of the shapewear garment to stay in the correct position on the wearer’s body relative to the second garment 16. In some examples, the garment 100 may have any number of openings, positioned at different positions around the first end 1 of the tubular section 10, allowing the wearer to choose which of these openings fit best with the second garment 16 to which it is being attached.

Due to the shape and size of the shapewear garment 100, and further due to the fact that the shapewear garment 100 is connectable to the second garment 16 via these openings 3A, 3B, the bottom edge of the person’s brassier 16 (or other similar type of top) may in some examples also overlap with the first circumferential end 1 of the shapewear undergarment 100. The present invention therefore allows the user to wear the same shapewear undergarment 100 with any number of different brassieres or tops. This overlap also means that there is no unsightly bulge of fat beneath the brassier 16 or above the shapewear garment 100.

By providing this opening 3A or openings 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and attaching the person’s own brassier 16 to the shapewear garment 100 via threading the brassier 16 through this opening 3A or openings 3A, 3B, the shapewear undergarment 100 shown in figures 1 to 3 is prevented from rolling down the person’s torso and creating a new unsightly fat bulge between the first end 1 of the shapewear undergarment 100 and the person’s brassier 16. This also overcomes problems associated with known abdominal shapewear garments wherein a fat bulge appears between the shapewear garment and the person’s brassier 16.

In addition to this, the shapewear garment 100 described herein does not have any protruding features such as clips or studs that may show up underneath a person’s

-8outer clothes. The shapewear garment 100 of the present invention is also able to remain in the correct position, without allowing any fat bulges to protrude above it.

It also negates the need for additional straps that would provide extra lumps and bumps and which may also clash with the “look” of the clothes that the person is wearing. This is because the new type of shapewear undergarment 100 described herein uses only openings and the person’s brassier to hold the garment in place on the body and relative to the wearer’s second item of clothing 16. As mentioned above, such unsightly straps associated with known shapewear garments may ruin the effect or contrast with the look of the person’s outer clothes and the new type of shapewear torso/abdominal shapewear garment 100 described herein therefore overcomes such disadvantages. The new type of shapewear torso/abdominal shapewear garment 100 described herein can also be used with any type of top that has a fastener or tie, including outer wear such as boob tubes, bra tops, bikini tops, and undergarments such as brassieres, including strapless brassieres as well as brassieres that fasten at both the front and back.

The present invention also has advantages over known types of shapewear garments as they do not comprise clips or protruding attachment means or straps that also may often cause visible lumps and bumps under the person’s outer clothing.

The present invention also has advantages over many corsets, which, although do not have unsightly straps, do contain boning which is often uncomfortable to the wearer and may also show up under a person’s outer clothing as lumps and bumps. Corsets also do not comprise any means or way of holding the corset in place relative to the user’s brassier and so fat may often bulge between the two garments.

Although the examples described herein have been generally discussed in terms of use as a torso/abdominal shapewear garment worn under a person’s normal outer clothes, the examples may also be used as an outer garment.

The shapewear garment 100 of the present invention may therefore also be produced in a number of colours, for example, flesh, or black coloured if it is to be used as underwear, or could be patterned if to be worn as outer wear.

Claims

1. A shapewear garment for use in conjunction with a second garment, said shapewear garment comprising a tubular section shaped and sized to fit around a person’s abdomen and lower rib cage, said tubular section extending between a first end and a second end, said first end comprising at least one opening for enabling connection of the tubular section to said second garment.

2. The shapewear garment of claim 1 wherein said opening is sized and shaped to allow said second garment to be threaded therethrough.

3. The shapewear garment of claim 1 or 2 further comprising a second opening, wherein said second opening is also sized and shaped to allow said second garment to be threaded therethrough.

4. The shapewear garment of claim 3 wherein said first and second openings are provide on circumferentially opposite sides of the first end of the tubular section so that in use the first opening is positionable beneath the wearer’s bust and the second opening is positionable to be in contact with the person’s back.

5. The shapewear garment of claim 3 of 4 further comprising third and fourth openings that are provided circumferentially opposite to each other at said first end of the tubular section so that in use said third opening is positionable to be in contact with the person’s left side and the second, opposing opening is positionable to be in contact with the person’s right side.

6. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein the first end of the tubular section overlaps at least an edge of the second garment.

- 107. The shapewear garment of claim 6 wherein the second garment is a brassier and the first end of the tubular section overlaps with the lower edge of the brassier.

8. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said tubular section is shaped and sized so as to extend from underneath a person’s bust to beneath a person’s abdomen.

9. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said shapewear garment is shaped and sized so as to extend from underneath a person’s bust, past the person’s abdomen and wherein said shapewear garment further comprises first and second leg sections.

10. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said second garment is a brassier.

11. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said shapewear garment is manufactured from a fabric that is capable of restraining, smoothing, and/or concealing undesirable bulges of abdominal/torso fat.

12. The shapewear garment of any of any preceding claim wherein said shapewear garment comprises a plurality of layers of fabric.

• · · · • · · • · · • · ·

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1703447.1 Examiner: Sally Vaughan

12. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said shapewear garment is manufactured from a natural fabric, a synthetic fabric, or a blend thereof, a spandex blend or a nylon/spandex or polyester/spandex blend.

13. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said shapewear garment is manufactured using knitting or weaving.

14. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim comprising one layer of fabric.

15. The shapewear garment of any of any preceding claim wherein said shapewear garment comprises a plurality of layers of fabric.

16. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said garment comprises an undergarment.

-11 17. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said garment comprises an over garment.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

MAIN REQUEST

Claims

1. A shapewear garment for use in conjunction with a second garment, said shapewear garment comprising a tubular section shaped and sized to fit around a person’s abdomen and lower rib cage, said tubular section extending between a first end and a second end, said first end comprising a first opening for enabling connection of the tubular section to said second garment, wherein said first opening is provided at the first end of the tubular section so that in use the first opening is positionable beneath the wearer’s bust.

2. The shapewear garment of claim 1 and said second garment, wherein said second garment is a brassier and wherein said first opening is sized and shaped to allow said brassier to be threaded therethrough.

3. The shapewear garment of claim 1 and said second garment, wherein said second garment is a brassier and further comprising a second opening, wherein said second opening is sized and shaped to allow said brassier to be • · threaded therethrough.

• 4. The shapewear garment of claim 1, further comprising a second opening, and wherein said first and second openings are provide on circumferentially *: . opposite sides of the first end of the tubular section so that in use the second * * opening is positionable to be in contact with the person’s back.

• · ·

5. The shapewear garment of claim 3 of 4 further comprising third and fourth ; * * ’ openings that are provided circumferentially opposite to each other at said . . first end of the tubular section so that in use said third opening is positionable

•. J to be in contact with the person’s left side and the second, opposing opening is positionable to be in contact with the person’s right side.

6. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim and said second garment, wherein said second garment is a brassier and wherein the first end of the tubular section overlaps at least an edge of the brassier.

7. The shapewear garment of claim 6 and said second garment, wherein said second garment is a brassier and wherein the first end of the tubular section overlaps with the lower edge of the brassier.

10. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim wherein said shapewear garment is manufactured using knitting or weaving.

11. The shapewear garment of any preceding claim comprising one layer of fabric.