US2586614A - Undergarment - Google Patents

Description

R. W. COLLIN] Feb. 19, 1952 UNDERGARMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1949 INENTOlQ. e wl' wmvw a Aiiorne s Feb. 19, 1952 R. w. COLLIN] 2,585,614

UNDERGARMENT Filed Sept. 7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNDERGARMENT Ruth Weaver Collini, New York, N. Y.

Application September 7, 1949, Serial No. 114,340

Claims. (o1. 2-41) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in feminine foundation garments and more particularly tomaternity girdles. Maternity girdles as heretofore constructed have been too heavily boned, with too much emphasis on surgical structure, and do not control to the full extent of the normal abdominal expansion, nor are they capable of properly accommodating the modern young woman who is used to light-weight control. The object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages associated with previously used maternity girdles, and to achieve other important results.

One object of the invention is to give the expectant mother complete support over the full extent of the abdominal expansion during pregnancy, while at the same time being of a very lightweight construction. These features combine to satisfy the medical and physical need for support and to give a maximum of comfort and freedom for the wearer.

Another object of this invention is to give substantially the same amount of support to the wearer as pregnancy advances, and to be adaptable to give this support over the full period of pregnancy.

These advantages are achieved by using, in the part of the garment that covers the abdomen, material that is much more elastic in one direction than it is in another, and holding this portion of the garment in the proper position to support the expanded abdomen of the wearer by another panel of material that is much more elastic in a direction at right angles to the elasticity of the abdomen covering portion.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a maternity girdle embodying the present invention in a pantiegirdle, i. e., one containing a crotch piece;

1 and 2, the girdle I0 is adapted to extend downwardly from the waist of the wearer over the buttocks and hips. The-girdle I0 comprises a front panel II, a rear panel l2, two side panels l3 and I4 and a crotch piece I 5. Theside panels I3 and I4 comprise upper side parts 28) and 2|,

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same girdle as Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a front view of a maternity girdle embodying the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the girdle of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the adjustable laces on the sides of the girdle or pantie-girdle; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a maternity girdle embodying the present invention as it appears on the wearer.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in the embodiment of the invention shown by Figs.

respectively, and leg portions 22 and 23, respectively. The front panel H is substantially trapezoidal in shape and extends downwardly from the waist of the wearer to cover the abdomen; it is joined at its lower edge to the leg portion 22 and 23 and to the crotch member l5 by a seam IS. The front panel II is made of a material that is much more elastic in the vertical direction as shown by the arrows A than it is in the horizontal direction. This will allow the panel to expand outwardly to conform to the enlarged abdomen of the wearer during pregnancy, but, since it will not expand in any appreciable amount horizontally, it will at all times give a firm support to the wearer.

The rear panel is substantially trapezoidal in shape and extends downwardly from the waist of the wearer to a seam 24. It is joined throughout its vertical edges by seams l8 and I9 to side 'members [3 and M respectively. The rear panel 7 is also more elastic in the vertical direction, as

shown by arrows B, than it is in the horizontal direction. This provides for the expansion necessary in the rear so that the wearer may sit without any uncomfortable force being exerted on the legs and crotch.

The side panels I3 and I4 have upper narrow portions 20 and 2|, respectively, extending downwardly from the waist along the sides of the garment and widening into the tubular leg portions 22 and 23. The leg and side panels 13 and I4 are made of material that is much more elastic in the horizontal direction, as indicated by arrows C, than in the vertical direction. The fact that these portions do not stretch vertically enables them to anchor the front panel I I. The horizontal elasticity, however, will hold the wearers body snugly and allow freedom of movement by the wearer.

The crotch member I5 is joined to the front panel by the seam I6 and joined to the rear panel by seam 24 and also joined to leg members 22 and 23 by seams 25 and 26, respectively. The crotch member is made of a material that is much more elastic longitudinally, as indicated by the arrow A, than it is transversely.

The front panel II, although sewn along seam IE to the leg portions 22 and 23, is not attached to the upper side parts 20 and 2| except by lacings 21 and 28 shown in detail in Fig. 6. This lacing will allow the wearer to adjust the front 'members 34 may be placed. These bone members are not necessary to the operation of the invention and may be used merely to keep the laces steady and to keep them from rolling under. Cloth flap 35 is sewn to the edge of panel i3 and I4 so that it can be placed between the lacings and the wearer as shown in Fig. 6, and the dotted position of Fig. 5, in order to prevent the lacings from pinching or causing discomfort to the wearer.

The garment is also provided with the con ventional garter straps 36.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. '3 and 4 the girdle 40 does not contain a crotch member but constitutes rather a mere body encircling garment having member 3! and the lower portions 38 and 39 of side panels l3 and I4 respectively. These are not tubular in shape and thus do not completely encircle the legs of the wearer.

The member 3'! is made of a material that is much more elastic in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, thus securely centering and directionalizing the horizontal stretch in the lower portions of the side members 38 and 39.

Since the side members l3 and M do not readily stretch in the vertical direction, they serve to securely hold the front panel II in position, and its lower end will be fixed along seam l6. Since the front panel II will stretch primarily in the vertical direction and is secured along seam l6 it will give the wearer support that is fixed in the proper location.

I claim:

1. A maternity foundation garment comprising a plurality of panels, a front panel extending downwardly from the waist to a line substantially coextensive with the groin line of the wearer, said front panel having substantially the same width throughout and having its extreme side edges substantially coextensive with a substantially vertical line extending downwardly from the front portion of the crest of the wearers ileum, said extreme side edges being substantially perpendicular to the lower edge of said front panel, whereby said panel is adapted to cover only but completely the abdomen of the wearer. said front panel being more elastic in a vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, substantially L-shaped side panels having inwardly extending lower horizontal portions and vertical portions, the upper edge of said lower horizontal portions being secured to the lower edge of the front panel along a line substantially coextensive with the groin line of the wearer, the vertical portions of said side panels extending upwardly along the sides of the garment and being secured to the side edges of said front panel, said side panels being substantially inelastic in the vertical direction whereby the lower. portion of said side panels will act as an anchor to firmly position the lower edge of said front panel, and a rear panel. 2 A maternityfoundation garment as claimed in claim 1 including a rear panel more elastic in 'the'vertical direction than in the horizontal direction.

3. A maternity foundation garment as claimed in'claim 1 wherein said securing means between the said edges of said front panel and the vertical portions of said L-shaped side panels comprises an adjustable fastening means, said adjustable fastening means extending downwardly from the top edge of the garment to a point substantially coextensive with a point overlying the groin line of the wearer.

4. A maternity foundation garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower portions of said side panels have their edges joined together forming tubular leg portions adapted to surround the thigh of the wearer, and said garment having a crotch panel fastened to the lower edge of the front and rear panels and fastened along its sides to the side panels.

57 A maternity foundation garment as claimed in claim 1 including a centrally located lower panel, said lower panel being secured to the lower edge of said front panel and secured on each side to the innermost edges of the lower portions of the side panels, said centrally located lower panel being more elastic in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction.

RUTH WEAVER COLLINI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,341,882 Scriggins Feb. 15, 1944 2,344,374 Stephens Mar. 14, 1944 2,409,601 Truesdell Oct. 15, 1946 2,435,945 Redmond Feb. 10, 1948

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