US2239516A - Undergarment - Google Patents

Description

D. BLAIR UNDERGARMENT April 22, 1941.

2 Sheets-'Sheet l Filed Deo.

D. BLAIR UNDERGARMENT April 22, 1941.

Filed Dec. ll, 19 59 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNDERGARMENT David Blair, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 11, 1939, Serial No.' 308,613

3 Claims.

This invention relates to undergarments and more particularly to abdominal supporters embodied in undergarments such as corsets, corselets, g'irdles, foundation garments and the like.

I t is an object of this invention to provide a combined undergarment vand abdominal supporter which will elevate and flatten the abdomen and will mold the figure to provide a desirable foundation for outer garments.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an article of the character described which, when applied, on the body of the wearer, functions to progressively elevate the abdomen, during the process of being secured on said body, and which retains the abdomen in flattened elevated position when completely secured and worn on the body.

A further object of this invention is theY provision of an article of the character described which is more easily applied on the body of the wearer than similar garments of like character.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the undergarment embodying my invention, as it appears on the wearer, showing, in dotted lines, the abdominal supporting construction.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the undergarment, with parts broken away, to show the details of construction underneath.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing the undergarment in open position.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. l

Fig. 5 is a rear eleva-tional View, with parts broken away, to show the details of construction of the abdominal supporting structure.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional View taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

The undergarment, shown in the drawings, in which my invention is embodied, is, broadly speaking, of the conventional type and is shown merely for illustrative purposes but, it is in the construction and arrangement of certain parts that a departure is made from the conventional construction to achieve results not attainable by like articles now in general use. I

' Referring to the drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 denotes generally, an undergarment of the corselet type comprising a body portion formed of front and rear sections I2 and I3 respectively, and a brassire portion I4. The rear section i3 and the brassire portion I4 are substantially of conventional construction and will therefore not be described in detail.

The front section I2 is formed of a central panel I5 and panels I6 and I1 secured thereto, along lines of jointure I3 and I9 respectively. Elastic gores and 22, stretchable in a lateral direction, render the lower portion of the undergarment yieldable and prevent discomfort to the wearer. The panel I5 is provided with a central longitudinal opening extending substantially the full length thereof, the free edges 23 and 24 of said opening being provided with slide fastening elements 25 for securing same together. The said slide fastening elements extend only along the portion of the undergarment enclosing the abdominal region, terminating proximate to the brassire portion I4. Hook and eye fastening elements 2'I, secured to the upper portions` of the free edges 23 and 24, serve to close the opening in the brassire portion I4. The abdominal portion of the panel I3 is provided with longitudinally arranged pockets 28 which accommodate flexible stiifening elements.

The abdominal supporter, indicated generally, by the numeral 29, comprises two sections 30 and 32. Since the said sections are substantially identical in construction, only one will be described in detail, duplicate numerals being applied 4to like parts. Each of said sections is formed of a central elastic panel 33 secured to` vpanels 34 and 35 along lines of jointure 3l and 3 8 respectively, said elastic panel being stretchable `in a lateral direction. The sections 30 and` 32 secured to the body portion, along lines of jointure and 4I respectively, and to the slide fastening elements `25 are arranged on a bias, being directed upwardly towards the longitudinal center of the garment, each of said sections being of lesser width than that of the portion of the front section I2 which extends between the free edge 23 and the line of jointure 4U. A fullness of the said portion is thereby provided when the elastic panel 33 is not under tension, as shown in Fig. 4, this fullness drawing out toward a taut condition of the fabric, as the elastic panel 33 stretches under tension.

Strips of elastic 42 and 43 arranged, one over the other, in the form of an X, are stitched to the sections 30 and 32, along lines of jointure 31, and to the slide fastening elements 25. The

strips 43 are contiguous to the sections 30 and 32 respectively, and have their lower edges substantially in alinement with the lower edges of said sections. The strips 42 and 43 are of lesser lengths than the combined widths of the panels 33 and 35. A fullness of the panels 33 and 35, in sections 30 and 32, is thereby provided when the said strips are not under tension, as shown in Fig. 6, this fullness drawing out toward a taut condition as the strips stretch under tension.

It will be noted that the strips 42 are arranged on a bias, being directed downwardly towardthe longitudinal center of the garment and that the line of stretch of all of the elastic portions, above described, is on a bias relative to the transverse lines of the undergarment, the degree of bias of the strips 43, relative to a transverse line, being greater than that of the strips 42.

When the undergarment is placed on the body, the hook fastening elements 45, which are secured to the free edges 23 and 24, are brought into engagement to facilitate the movement of the slide fastener 46. As the slide fastener 46 is moved upwardly, the strips 42 are brought under' tension and are caused to stretch and pull substantially circumferentially, but in an upwardly direction. This pull performs a lifting action on the lower abdominal region effecting an elevation of same. Upon further movement of the slide fastener 46, the strips 43 are brought under tensio-n, and because they have a lesser degree of bias than the strips 42, they tend to pull more nearly circumferentially, but slightly downwardly. Since this action opposes, in a slight degree, the elevation of the lower abdominal region, the effect is to hold in any protuberance and produce a flattening of the abdomen. This function is assisted by the sections 29 and 3|] which are brought under tension when the strips have been stretched to a length equal to or greater than the combined Widths of the panels 33 and 35.

It will be apparent, that the abdominal organs are Athereby caused to be elevated towards'theV diaphragm. Thus, when the central opening is completely closed by the slide fastener 46, the upper portions of the sections 29 and 3D are brought under tension and additionally produce a flattening effect on the diaphragm region.

It can be seen that the greatest resiliency is concentrated at the lower portion of the abdominal supporter. Thus, when the undergarment is worn, the greatest tension is applied to the lower portion of the abdomen where it is most needed. When the upper portions of the elastic panels 33 yield under tension and the portion of the front section I2, which is contiguous thereto, is drawn out toward a taut condition, the elastic members of the supporter constructionvwill yield with the body movements and thereby eliminate constriction of the abdominal region. It will be seen that as the slide fastener 43 is moved upwardly to close the opening, a corresponding progressive elevation ofthe abdomen is effected. Upon full closure of the opening the elevated condition of the abdomen is constantly maintained without `undesirable constriction, during the time that the undergarment is being worn.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an undergarment of the character described, a yieldable support for the abdomen of the wearer, said support comprising two resilient sections attached to the body portion of said undergarment and arranged on a bias relative to the transverse lines of said undergarment, the width of each of said sections, in a circumferential direction, being less than the distance between their points of attachment on said body portion, elastic members crossing one another at an angle and attached to each of said' sections and to said body portion, two of said members when brought under tension arranged to apply an upwardly directed circumferential pull to the abdomen While the other two of said members when brought under tension being arranged to apply a downwardly directed circumferential pull to the abdomen, the opposing action of said pairs of elastic miembers effecting an elevation and flattening of the abdomen.

2. In an undergarment of the character described, a front body portion having a longitudinally extending opening, an abdominal supporter comprising two resilient sections attached to said body portion on opposite sides of said opening, elastic members attached to said sections and to said body portions on opposite sides of said opening, corresponding members of said elastic members when 'under tension arranged to apply an upwardly directed circumferential pull to the abdomen and the other corresponding members of said elastic members when under tension being arranged to apply a downwardly directed circumferential pull to the abdomen, slide fastening f means for closing said opening andbringing said resilient sections and said elastic members under tension, an elevation and atening of the abdomen thereby being progressively effected as said slide fastening means is moved to close said opening.

3. In an undergarment of the character described, a front body portion having an opening extending longitudinally thereof, slide fastening kmeans for closing said opening, an abdominal :supporter comprising two resilient sections atthe resilient sections and when under tension arranged to elevate and flatten the abdomen, said slide fastening means when moved to close said `opening serving to bring said elastic members and said resilient sections under tension whereby a progressive elevationand flattening of the abdomen is effected.

, DAVID BLAIR.

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