US2353567A

US2353567A - Garment waistband

Info

Publication number: US2353567A
Application number: US380878A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ava Jane E Key
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-02-27
Filing date: 1941-02-27
Publication date: 1944-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1961-07-11

Description

July 11, 1944.

' A. J. E. KEY

GARMENT WAISTBAND Filed Feb. 27, 1941 Ill? INVENTOR AVA 9AM: E.KEY.

ATTORNEY Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in waistbands for garments, and more particularly to waistbands provided with elastic sections and which are adapted to support various types of garments about the waist of the wearer.

The waistband of the present invention is adapted to be attached into any type of garment which is worn about the waist of the wearer such as skirts, dresses, slacks, shorts, bathing suits, girdles, corsets, trousers and the like, for men, women and children.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved waistband to be secured into garments and adapted to firmly support the garment about the waist of thewearer but in such a way as to permit freedom of action.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved garment waist-support which is adapted to keep the garment from stretching substantially and prevents uneven sagging of the garment about the waist of the wearer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved waistband adapted to be secured into the waist portion of a garment and which is adapted to keep the garment snugly fit to the form of the wearer but which at the same time permits the muscles of the wearer to move freely in any type of activity.

Accordingly, the improved waistband of the present invention comprises front and side portions of non-elastic material such as firm corded belting, the center of the front portion being generally wider than the side portions, and a back portion comprising symmetrically spaced elastic sections of substantial length secured respectively to said side portions and to a central non-elastic portion of relatively firm stiff material, said elastic sections and said central portion .of the waistband being substantially wider than said side and front portions.

lhe elastic sections of the waistband preferably comprise a plurality of overlapping strips or bands of elastic material arranged so that each section is gradually wider toward the backcenter of the waistband. The waistband is also preferably provided with a suitable fastening device or devices which may be placed in the center of the back or front or in the side. The waistband, when it is to be used on skirts, trousers and similar garments, is also preferably provided with side portions or sections of corded rubber or corded belting with interwoven strands of rubber adapted to prevent the wearers blouse or shirt from pulling out.

Other features and advantages of the improved waistband will be apparent to those familiar with such articles from the following more detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved waistband secured in a garment with parts broken away, the waistband being shown as provided with side fastenings to correspond to the side opening used in a dress or skirt.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the waistband provided with fastenings in the center of the front portion.

Figure 3 is a side profile view of a waistband like that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 showing the improved waistband with fastenings in the back center section.

Figures 5 is an enlarged broken sectional view of a portion of the waistband showing the structure of the elastic sections.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference characters refer to the same parts in the different views the improved waistband comprises a front portion I0 which is relatively wide centrally and becomes gradually narrower toward the side portions l2 which comprise the narrowest portions of the waistband. The material in these portions of the waistband are of firm non-elastic material such as dress :belting. The front portion 10 is preferably symmetrically shaped with gentle curved lines, as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 4.

In Figure 1 the waistband is shown as stitched or tacked into a garment such as a dress, by means of tack stitching is around the top of the waistband, and as provided with side fastenings it, which may comprise metal hooks-and-eyes. The side fastenings. as shown are located so that they correspond with any side opening which may be usual or provided in the garment in which the waistband is to be secured and worn.

The back portion of the waistband comprises two symmetrically arranged elastic sections on either side of a central non-elastic section 18 which is preferably composed of two layers of relatively heavy corded dress belting of which the front and side portions of the waistband are preferably made. Each of the elastic sections comprises a plurality of relatively wide strips 29 (three strips being preferred) in fan-like overlapping louvered arrangement as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the overlap being less toward the center section 18 than toward the side portions l2, so that the waistband is substantially wider and more rigid in the back than in any other portion. In the louvered arrangement of the strips or bands as shown in Fig. 5, the elastic strips are not attached to each other except at their points of attachment to the sections l2 and II! or 28. This structure permits the individual functioning of each strip in accordance with the movements of the back muscles of the wearer. The center section I8 may be made by folding a piece of corded belting material of about twice the size of the piece H3 in the middle, over one end of each of the strips 20 and sewing the overlapped material together with the ends of the strips 20 between. The opposite ends of the strips 20 are also sewed onto the portions l2. The overlapped strips 20 may extend substantially into the section l8 and thereby materially stiffen it and avoid the use of bones.

The waistband may be finished if desired, as shown in certain of the views, by covering any or all out edges of the belting and ends of elastic strips with bias taping 22. The points of attachment of the fastenings are also preferably taped as shown. These fastenings may be placed as desired. In Figure 2 the waistband is provided with front fastenings 24 and in Figure l with back fastenings 26, the latter being secured to two similar relatively rigid sections of material 28 to which in turn are attached the inner ends of the elastic strips 20 as shown, and in the manner described above with respect to the center piece l8.

The side view in Figure 3 shows the curved form-fitting design and the relative widths of the different portions as well as the Shape of the back portion. The element l8 or it's corresponding elements 28 intended'to cover a portion of the spine of the wearer while the elastic sections come over the back muscles, which extend downward from the waist to'the lower portions of the body, and permit free action with ample support for the garment of the wearer. The back structure of the waistband furthermore keeps the garment from sagging in the small of the wearers back and prevents the appearance of subtle muscle lines that tend to make the wearer look larger. The shape of the waistband prevents longitudinal wrinkling often found in the use of such" articles. The fan-like arrangement of the strips 20 provide elastic strips which fan out over the back muscles of the wearer to the wide back section l8 and checks or eliminates the ap pearance of these muscular lines.

As an example of the sizes of the various portions of the-improved waistband for a medium sized woman, the following were found satisfactory: Width at the center'of the front portion, one and three-fourths inches; at the side, one and one-half inches; and at the center of the back, two and one-fourth inches. Length of the elastic sections about two and one half inches. The elastic sections which may comprise from 2 to 4 bands 20, are preferably made from about one inch relatively heavy elastic (fabric covered rubber) The improved waistband is preferably provided with side portions 30, three or more inches in length of corded rubber or corded belting with interwoven strands of rubber. These portions 30 may be an integral part of the waistband or merely sewed in on the inside of the waistband so that they come over the hips of the wearer and are therefore adapted to hold a blouse or shirt down in the garment to which the waistband is secured. a

In tacking the waistband into a garment French knot stitch along the top edge is very satisfactory. The portions of the garment coming over the elastic sections should be gathered slight- 1y, preferably imperceptible, when they are tacked to these sections, so that these portions of the garment will not be stretched unduly when the elastic sections are stretched during use.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details of size and construction described, but that various modifications are intended to come within the scope of the claims which define the invention.

Having described the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed as new is:

1. An improved belt-type waistband adapted to be secured into a garment on the wearer, comprising front and side portions of a firm nonelastic material and a back portion comprising an intermediate non-elastic portion of relatively firm fabric material and substantially symmetrically placed elastic sections of substantial length secured respectively to said side portions and to said intermediate non-elastic portion of relatively firm material, said intermediate portion being adapted to be worn over the spine of the wearer while said elastic sections extend over the wearers adjacent back muscles, said elastic sections comprising a plurality of overlapping individual strips of elastic material the ends of which are attached respectively to a side portion and to said intermediate portion, the waistband being adapted to fit the wearer snugly but permit proper and free muscular action by reason of the presence of said elastic sections.

2. A waistband as defined by claim 1 in which the said strips are attached to each other only at their ends and in which the overlap of said strips is gradually less toward the intermediate back portion of the waistband.

3. A waistband as defined by claim 1 in which the said back portion is substantially wider and more rigid than the said front and side portions.

4. An improved belt-type waistband adapted to be secured into a garment and to support the garment about the waist of the wearer, said waistband being provided with a detachable fastening for holding it around the waist of the wearer and comprising non-elastic front and side portions adapted. to extend over the abdomen and hips respectively of the wearer, the side portions being narrower than the front portion, a symmetrically shaped back portion of substantially greater width than the front portion and comprising a wide central section of firm stiff non-elastic fabric material and an elastic section attached respectively to each side thereof and to a side portion of the waistband, each elastic section being comprised of at least three strips of elastic material arranged in an overlapping louvered manner to provide a fan-shaped structure, the wider end of which is attached to said central section.

5. A waistband as defined by claim 4 in which said central section is substantially more rigid than said front section and is adapted to extend long wide fabric bands which overlap longitudinally in a louvered arrangement in which the bands are unattached along the overlap, one end of each band being attached to said central section, the fan-shaped sections having their wider ends secured to said central section, and said central section of the belt being adapted to be worn over the spine of the wearer while said fanshaped sections extend on either side over the 10 wearers adjacent back muscles.

AVA JANE E. KEY.