US2615449A - Combined catamenial appliance and garment - Google Patents

Description

Get. 28, 1952 E. c. BROWN K 2,615,449

COMBINED CATAMENIAL APPLIANCE AND GARMENT Filed Aug. 2, 1951 Patented Oct. 28, 1952 CGBIBINED CATAMENIAL APPLIANCE AND` GARMENT Ethel C. Brown, Mission, Kans.

Application August 2, 1951, Serial No. 239,974

(Cl. 12S- 289) 4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to wearing apparel and has to do more particularly with an improved undergarment that is adaptable for use as a catamenial appliance, the primary object being to provide simplied structure including a pocketed portion for receiving a sanitary pad'or other absorptive. y

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a catamenial appliance and garment that includes a rather narrow, elastic, continuous body encircling band, together with a substantially semi-circular panel joined at the ends thereof to the band at diametrically opposed points on the latter, the panel having a strip thereonformed and mounted to present a padreceiving pocket.

Another object of this invention is to provid a garment as above set forth wherein the aforesaid strip is'longitudinally slotted to expose the pad held thereby, the strip having a width substantially the same as the width of the panel upon which the same is mounted.

Other objects include the way in which the strip is secured to the panel at the bight of the latter solely at the periphery of the strip; the

'way in which elastic means, secured to the strip only, adjacent the slot thereof, surrounds the latter and aids in holding the pad in place; and many more minor objects including simplied construction, all of which will be made clear orl become apparentvas the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined catamenial appliance and garment made pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional View taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III--III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional View taken on line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III- III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line '1V- IV of Fig. 3 still further enlarged.

As above indicated, one of the most important features of the present invention is to provide a garment that is provided with means adapting the same to support a sanitary pad, which means does not adversely affect the device for use as a garment from the standpoint of discomfort or unsightly appearance of outer garments.

As will hereinafter appear, the entire appliance is extremely simple and therefore, easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the appliance comprises essentially but three component parts, namely, a continuous band I0, a substantially semi-circular, one-piece, seamless panell I2, and an elongated strip I4. The relatively narrow, lightweight band I0 is adapted to encircle the body ofthe wearer and is therefore, preferably made from elastic material. The panel I2 is also preferably flexible and may be made from any suitable fabric, the ends of the strap I2 being permanently secured to the band l0 at diametrically opposed points on the latter.

As is clearly shown by the drawing, the panel I2 is appreciably wider than the band I0 but is restricted at the bight thereof to substantially the width of a sanitary pad I6 to be usedwith the garment, presenting a relatively narrow, elongated strap I1. Panel I2 constitutes preferably, a sheet of material of single thickness, formed to present a pair of substantially triangular-shaped end portions I8 having their bases secured to band I0 and their apexes merging into strap I1.

The elongated strip I4 has substantially the same width as the width of the strap I1 andvis.

secured to the latter on the normally uppermost face thereof solely by means of a continuous line of stitching 20 at the outermost periphery of the strip I4. Strip I4 is likewise preferably formed from a suitable fabric and in order to assure that the same maintains the shape illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, strip I4 should be cut on the bias.

An elongated, longitudinally extending slot 22 is formed in the strip I4 to expose the pad I6 when the latter is placed in the pocket that is presented by the strip I4 and the underlying strap I1, the outermost limits of such pocket being dened by the line of stitching 2D. Strip I4 It can well be appreciated that when the device is used as a catamenial appliance, little discomfort to the wearer is presented and the pad I6 is properly held in the necessary position to receive menstrual discharge, band I and strap I2 cooperating in holding pad I6 against displacement while permitting freedom of movement on the part of the wearer. Furthermore, the elastic thread 24 will readily permit removal of pads I6 and replacement thereof and the entire garment may be easily and quickly laundered.

Additionally, it can now well be appreciated that the device is adaptable for use as a garment without the presence of pad I6 since there are provided no uncomfortable parts such as metallike fasteners and the like as is common in ,appliances of this character.

Forming of the garment from but three primary parts, i. e. band I0, panel I2 and. strip I4 is of extreme importance to comfort, lightness of weight, ease and inexpensiveness of .manufacture and utility, both as a garment and as a catamenial appliance. The single strap I'l with the small strip I4 thereon offers no discomfort Whatsoever to the wearer when worn as a garment and a minimum of bulkiness when pad I6 is used.

The form of panel I2, so far as end portions I8 is concerned, is also important. They serve to hold strap I`I in place Within the crotch; aid in holding pad I S against displacement, present a protection to the wearer by virture of their bodycovering functions; add to comfort by lying atly against the body; eliminate unsightly bulkiness that Wouldotherwise show through outer garments; and present a covering, permitting the use of light-weight wearing apparel thereover.

While precise details of construction as above set ofrth may be varied, it is manifest that such changes as fairly come within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims, are contemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A combined catainenial appliance and garment comprising a continuous, body-encircling, elastic band; a substantially semi-circular, ilexible panel depending from the band and having the ends thereof joined to the band at diametrically opposed points thereon; and an elongated, longitudinally-slotted, flexible strip on the uppermost face of the panel at the bight of thelatter and secured to the panel solely at the periphery of the strip to present apad-receiving pocket between the panel and the strip, the widths of the strip and of the panel being substantially the same at the strip.

2. A combined catamenial appliance and garment comprising a continuous, body-encircling, elastic band; a substantially semi-circular, ilexible panel depending from the band and having the ends thereof joined to the band at diametrically opposed points thereon; an elongated, longitudinally-slotted, flexible strip `-on the uppermost face of the panel at the bight of the latter and secured to the panel solely at the periphery of the strip to present a pad-receiving pocket between the panel and the strip, the widths of the strip and of the panel being substantially the same at the strip; and continuous, elastic means secured to the strip adjacent the slot thereof and in surrounding relationship thereto.

3. A combined catamenial appliance and garment comprising a continuous, body-encircling, elastic band; a substantially semi-circular, vilexible panel depending from the band and having the ends thereof joined to the band at diametrically opposed points thereon; and an elongated, longitudinally-slotted fabric strip on the uppermost face of the panel at the bight of the latter and secured to the panel solely at the periphery of the strip to present a pad-receiving pocket between the panel and the strip, the widths of the strip and of the panel being substantially the same, said strip being cut on the bias.

4. A combined catamenial appliance and garment comprising a continuous, body-encircling, elastic band; a substantially semi-circular, flexible panel depending from the band and having the ends thereof joined to the band at diametrically opposed points thereon; and an elongated, longitudinally-slotted, iiexible strip on the uppermost face of the panel at the bight of the latter and secured to the panel solely at the periphery of the strip to present a pad-receiving pocket between the panel and the strip, the widths of the strip and of the panel being substantially the same at the strip, said panel including a pair of substantially triangular-shaped portions at the ends thereof` and a relatively narrow, elongated strap joining the portions at the apexes thereof, the bases of the portions being' secured to the band, the strap forming the said bight of the panel.

ETHED'C. BROWN.

No references cited.

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