US2755478A - Girdle - Google Patents

Description

P. .i'. MORANO July 24, 1956 GIRDLE Filed Oct; 13, 1954 INVENTOR HIT/76A J. Mora/20 tates GIRDLE Patrick J. Morano, Newark, N. .l., assignor to Even-Pu] Foundations, Inc, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 13, 1954, Serial No. 461,956

1 (Zlaim. (Cl. 237) contour of the abdomen without interfering with comfort.

As is well known, garments of this nature utilize sections or panels of elastic material which, when stretched, provide the desired torso constricting and molding characteristics. However, as is also well known, such elastic panels or sections may stretch unevenly and excessively, with the result that the garment as a whole is unable to properly perform its intended function. The instant invention eliminates this disadvantage by the provision of novel means for limiting the extent of stretching of the elastic portions of the garment, particularly in certain regions of the abdominal area where the torso constricting and molding characteristics are critical. Briefly stated, this limiting means involves the provision of two superposed panels one of which is formed from elastic material while the other is formed from non-elastic material, the elastic panel being pre-stretched and secured under tension to the non-elastic panel. Thus, the non-elastic panel effectively limits the extent of stretching of the elastic panel and, as a unit, the two panels facilitate proper control of the contour of the body without excessive stretching, bulging, folding or gapping, as in garments of conventional types.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the particular configuration, arrangement and mutual relationship of the panels and other parts of the front section of the garment, whereby proper control of the abdominal region may be achieved.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention resides in the details of construction and arrangement of parts substantially as shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the invention in position on a body;

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the invention per se;

Figure 3 is an inside elevational view of the front portion of the garment;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 55 in Figure 3.

With reference now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the torso constricting and molding garment for illustrative purposes is shown in the form of a girdle designated generally by the numeral 10. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may be embodied also in other garments of a similar nature, such as corsets, corselets, garter belts, and the like.

The side and back portions of the girdle 10 are of conventional construction and the invention concerns itself primarily with the structure of the front portion or section 12 which covers the abdomen. The section 12 comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced, vertically elongated side members 14 which are preferably formed from nonelastic material and extend substantially from the waist or upper edge to the lower edge of the garment. Disposed between and secured to these side members is a panel unit which consists of an outer panel 16 and an inner panel 18. These panels have reversely curved lateral edges 20 which are stitched together and to the adjacent edges of the side members 14, as will be clearly apparent.

The outer panel 16 includes a main body portion 16a which is formed from non-elastic material and occupies the entire upper region of the outer panel as well as extending downwardly to the lower region in the form of a tapered tongue which has its terminus at the lower edge of the garment, as shown. Moreover, the outer panel 16 also includes a pair of substantially triangular inserts 22 of elastic material which are disposed at the opposite sides of the depending tongue of the main body portion 16a.

The inner panel 18 is formed in its entirety from elastic material and is of such size that it underlies only the upper region of the outer panel 16, as is best shown in Figure 3.

When the panel unit is assembled, the lower portion of the inner panel 18 is first stretched and held under tension. The outer panel 16 is then superposed on the inner panel and the two panels are secured together by stitching at the side edges thereof. When the tension on the lower portion of the inner panel 18 is subsequently relaxed, the latter, returning to its unstretchcd form, will cause the overlying intermediate region of the outer panel portion 16a to shirr somewhat. This, however, will be dissipated when the garment is donned, at which time the elastic inner panel will again be stretched and the non-elastic material of the outer panel rendered taut and smooth. Moreover, this tightening action of the non-elastic material of the outer panel will effectively limit the extent of stretching of the elastic inner panel and it is to be particularly noted that inasmuch as only the lower portion of the elastic inner panel is subjected to pre-stretching, the resultant controlling action will be most pronounced in the intermediate region of the front section of the garment and, consequently, of the abdomen.

The inner and outer panels, in addition to being stitched together at their side edges, are also stitched together at their top edge, while the lower edge 24 of the inner panel is free and detached from the outer panel to facilitate the stretch controlling action already described.

It will be also noted that the upper end portions of the inserts 22 overlie the pre-stretched lower portion of the inner panel 18, whereby these superposed layers of elastic material coact with each other in afiording relatively resilient control at points toward the sides of the abdomen. However, the lower portions of the inserts 22 are free of overlap with the inner panel and thus are able to afford comfort of leg movement while walking, bending or sitting.

if desired, customary spring or spiral bone reinforcements may be provided at suitable points in the garment and the garment is equipped with the usual slide fastener 26 and hose supporters 28, as shown.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications and changes may be resorted to, such as may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is:

In a torso constricting and molding garment, a front 3 section comprising an outer panel of non-elastic material having a relatively wide upper portion and a. downwardly taperedalower portion, a pair of substantially triangular upwardly tapered elastic inserts secured to the side edges of the tapered lower portion of said outer panel and having their apices disposed substantially midway between the waist and the bottom edge of the garment, and an inner panel of elastic material underlying and secured to the side edges of the upper portion of said outer panel and yieldable circumferentially of the garment, the bottom edge of said inner panel being detached from the outer panel and disposed between the bottom edge of the outer panel and the apices of said inserts whereby to underlie the apex portions of the inserts, the upper region of the inner panel corresponding in width to the upper region of the outer panel and the lower region of the inner panel being narrower than the overlying region of the outer panel when the garment is relaxed, whereby the outer panel may limit to difierent degrees the extent of stretching of the respective upper and lower regions of the inner panel when the garment is worn.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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