US2837904A

US2837904A - Knit panty-girdle and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US2837904A
Application number: US603103A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin P Scriggins
Original assignee: Jantzen Inc
Current assignee: Jantzen Inc
Priority date: 1956-08-09
Filing date: 1956-08-09
Publication date: 1958-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1975-06-10

Description

June 10, 1958 E. P. SCRIGGINS 2,837,904

I KNIT PANTY-GIRDLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Aug- 9 1956 FIG.6 FIG.

34 /ml; \W

JNVENTOR Edwin P50 1469:

BYE' F ATTORNEYS KNIT PANTY-GIRDLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Edwin P. Scriggins, Summit, N. J., assignor to Jantzen Inc., Portland, reg., a corporation of Nevada Application August 9, 1956, Serial No. 603,103

8 Claims. (Cl. 66-176) This invention relates generally to a parity-girdle and method of making same, and more particularly, to a circular knit panty-girdle and method of making same.

The primary aim and object of the present invention is the provision of a circular knit parity-girdle having an improved leg and crotch construction which is smoothfitting and comfortable to the wearer and which presents an attractive and smooth fitting appearance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a leg construction for the panty-girdle having a uniform tensioning characteristic for the leg encircling portions of the panty-girdle.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the front-to-rear or trunk measurement of the pantygirdle, at the crotch thereof, without substantially interfering with the circumferential measurement and uniform tensioning characteristic of the leg encircling portions of the girdle. In accordance with this object of the invention, provision is made for the use of a shaped warp knitted crotch piece which is stitched into the girdle in such a manner as to minimize friction or chafing of the wearers legs.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a 'p'anty-girdle wherein the legs and crotch of the girdle are constructed from an integral circular knit part thereof which is seamed in such a manner as to minimize surface interruptions in the crotch and adjacent leg portions of the girdle.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a circular knit panty-girdle in which the circular knit leg defining part and crotch ofthe girdle has substantially more material than the body part thereof in a circumferential direction to provide the requisite dimension for the legs and crotch of the girdle.

[Yet another object of the present invention is the provisionof an improved method of making a pantygirdle of the faforenoted construction which may be practiced by the utilization of conventional apparatus.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the, drawing which illustrates the best mode now contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a circular knit fabric blank which is adapted to be formed into a pantygirdle of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof looking in the,

, Fig. 5 is av bottom plan view of the lower part of the.

blank shown in Fig. 1, showing the lower part of the pantyegirdle in a finished condition; f

tates Patent 0 Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a panty-girdle formed pursuant to the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and illustrates a pantygirdle construction, pursuant to the present invention, which omits the crotch piece.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 5 thereof, which illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown a circular knit panty-girdle 10 which is of the elastic twoway stretch type, said girdle comprising a peripherally continuous knit fabric body 12 having an integrally knit part 14 at the lower end thereof which defines the peripheral leg portions 16 and crotch region 18 of the girdle. As usual, the panty-girdle 10 is provided with a circumferentially extending knit waistband portion 20 at the upper end of the fabric body 12 of the girdle and said waistband portion is integrally circular knit with said fabric body 12 of the girdle. The fabric body or body portion 12 is shaped to generally conform to the figure requirements of the wearer and is of gradually increasing diameter towards the lower end of the girdle as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Each of the girdle leg portions 16 is of similar construction and is provided with a cooperating pair of

longitudinal edges

22 and 24, at the inner side thereof, which are secured together, at their outer ends, by the longitudinally extending seam 26 which extends continuously along the inner sides of both leg portions 16, traversing the crotch region 18 and terminating at the lower edges 28 of said leg portions. Provision is made for a crotchpiece 19 which is substantially of diamond shape. The crotch piece is formed from a warp knitted material which enables the crotch piece to be cut to the required shape without running of the knitting and enables the crotch piece to be stitched to the girdle by flat seams which are desirable to minimize friction or chafing of the wearers legs. The crotch piece can be made of any suitable material, for example and not by way of limitation, of the fabrics known as Milanese, of rubber, etc.

As here shown, the flat seam 26, which extends along the inner sides of both leg portions and across the crotch region 18, also secures the longitudinal arcuate edge 21, continuously from the end 23 to the end 25 of the crotch piece, to the lower part 14 of the girdle at the crotch region. A second flat seam 27 secures the opposite longitudinal edge 29 of the crotch piece, continuously from.

end to end thereof, to the lower part of the girdle, at the crotch region. It is to be noted that the crotch region 18 of the garment is defined by the lower end part 14 of the garment at the juncture of the leg portions 16 with the fabric body 12, the crotch piece being secured in said region, between the leg portions as described.

The body 12 and lower end part 14 have defined therebetween a peripherally extending line 30 of fashioning knits which forms a peripheral boundary between body 12 and part 14 and said part 14 has substantially more wales than said body to provide the requisite amount of material for the leg portions 16 and crotch region 18. The lower end part 14 is circular knit in integral relation with the body 12 and has substantially more material per unit of circumferential length than said body.

and outer panels have substantially more material or wales per unit of circumferential length than the fabric body and, by way of example and without limitation, the

3 panels 32 may have approximately twice as many stitches or wales per unit of circumferential length as the body 12 with the panels 34 having approximately 25 percent additional stitches of wales per unit of circumferential length relative to said body. The fabric body 12 and the leg portions 16 are circumferentially elastic and said body has a greater constricting force in the expanded or worn condition of the girdle relative to the constricting force provided by the leg portions 16. Accordingly, the clasticity of the leg portions 16 has less tension than the elasticity of the bodylZ to provide less constriction at the leg portions of the wearer than at the body areas of the wearer associated with the fabric body 12 in the expanded or worn condition of the girdle. The leg portions 16 are constructed to provide an even tension around the legs of the wearer and as pointed out above, the tension provided is of a magnitude to minimize leg constriction.

It will be noted that the warp knitted fabric, of which the crotch piece 19 is formed, is stretchable at least in the directions indicated by the arrows 31 in Fig. 4. Consequently, when sewn into the parity-girdle, said crotch piece is stretchable at least laterally of the garment and of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 5, the parity-girdle being stretchable from the full line to the broken line conditions thereof. The diamond shape of the crotch piece increases the front-to-rear, or trunk, measurement of the girdle without substantially interfering with the circumferential measurement and uniform tensioning characteristic of the leg encircling portions 16 of the panty-girdle, provided as a result of the previously described fashioning. In this connection, it will be understood that the fashioning of the girdle enables the diamond shaped crotch piece to be used so that the lower parts of the leg encircling portions are made of the same material which, in turn, enables the leg portions to be substantially evenly tensioned around the wearers thighs and the body of the girdle to be evenly tensioned around the hips of the wearer. While, as indicated above, it is preferable that the crotch piece be stretchable laterally of the garment, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a crotch piece which is stretchable in a direction transversely of the arrows 31, so as to be stretchable in a front to'rear direction, instead of laterally of the panty-girdle or wearer.

The panty-girdle 10 may be knit of any suitable elastic yarn. for example, a covered elastic yarn of the Lastex type. The lower end part 1 5 and the waistband portion 20 of the instant embodiment are of rib-knit construction although it will be apparent that, if desired, such portions may be other than rib-knit. The panty-girdle of the present invention is circular knit on conventional circular knitting apparatus having provision to transfer yarn from the cylinder needle to the dial needles or from the dial needles to the cylinder needles, with individual needle control on the cylinder so as to place selected needles into or out of operation. 1

The panty-girdle is made from a blank 10 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is circular knit on conventional circular knitting apparatus of the aforenoted character to provide a peripherally continuous knit fabric body 12' having an integral circular knit part 14 at the lower end thereof which is adapted to form the leg portions 16 and crotch region 18 of the finished girdle 1%). Accordingly, the basic blank ill for forming the girdle 10 is peripherally continuous and the fabric body 12' thereof is initially knit to a finished state to define the body 12 of the finished girdle. The blank 16 above the peripheral line of fashioning knits 30', is thus circular knit to a finished state and the lower end part 14' is processed to form the leg portions and crotch region of the girdle in the manner now to be described. The lower part 14 is circular knit to provide substantially more material or wales thereat as compared to the fabric body so as to provide the requis'ite amount of additional material needed for the fabrication of the leg portions of the girdle.

The

opposite sides

40 and 40 of the lower end part 14', are severed or cut in any suitable manner along the lines 42 which extend walewise of the blank 1-9 from the lower peripheral edge 44 thereof. As a result of this severing operation the blank 10 is in the condition illustrated in Fig. 3 in which each side of the blank is provided with a pair of separated

longitudinal edges

22, 22' or 24, 24'. It will be noted that the longitudinal edges 22 and 24' extend walewise of the blank along the circular knit part 14' thereof from the lower peripheral edge 44 thereof to the terminal points 46 spaced below the peripheral line 30'. The pairs of

separated edges

22 and 24 are manipulated so that their outer portions are in confronting disposition and the crotch piece 19 is disposed between said edges in the crotch region, the fiat seam 26 extending continuously from the lower edge 23 of one leg portion 16 to the lower edge of the other leg portion 16 so as to secure said edges together in each leg portion and to secure the arcuate edge 21 of the crotch piece 19 into the crotch region 18 between said leg portions, as best shown in Fig. 5. A second flat seam 27 secures the opposing arcuate edge 29 of the crotch piece into the crotch regions between the lcg portions. The foregoing operations form from the blank it) a panty-girdle having peripherally extending leg portions 15 and a crotch 18 formed from the lower part 14 of the blank, the crotch including the crotch piece 19 which is stretchable preferably laterally of the parity-girdle and is diamond shaped so as to increase the front to rear or trunk measurement of the girdle without substantially interfering with the circumferential measurement and uniform tensioning characteristic of the leg encircling portions of the girdle which is provided as a result of the previously described fashioning.

it will be noted that the panels 32 include a laterally projecting central portion 46 at the crotch region. In forming the waistband or welt top 20 of the girdle both the cylinder and dial needles of the circular knitting machine are utilized to form a rib-knit welt top. The body 12 of the girdle is knit by the dial needles with the cylinder needles remaining inactive whereas the lower end portion 14 is rib-knit in the instant embodiment with both the cylinder and dial needles being activated. In forming the panels 32 of the part 14 additional cylinder needles are picked up gradually to provide a greater number of stitches and wales at such panels with gradual transition. As clearly shown in Fig. l, the blank 10, at the lower end portion 14 thereof, is provided with substantially more material as compared with the body 12' of said blank in order to provide the requisite amount of material needed for the formation of the peripheral extending leg portions 16 of the garment. The panels 32 having more material, and thus more body as compared with the rest of the garment, inhibits the leg portions 16 from rolling up, or bunching up at, the wearers legs.

Referring now to Fig. 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention wherein reference numerals, which are similar to the reference numerals of the previously described embodiment, indicate similar elements or parts. The panty-girdle 10 of the present embodiment differs from the panty-girdle 10 only in that the crotch piece 19 and the second seam 27 of the latter are both omitted and is similar to the panty-girdle 10 in all other respects.

In the present embodiment, during the manufacture sewing operations. From the above, it will therefore be apparentthat in the present embodiment the blank is fabricated into a finished panty-girdle 10" by the described severing and securement operations in which the lower circular knit part of the blank defines the peripherally, extending leg portions 16 and the crotch 18' of the garment, a single seam 26' being utilized at the crotch and adjacent leg panels 32.

.From the above it will be apparentthat in each of the described embodiments, there is provided a circular knit par ty-girdle which is a smooth fitting and comfortable garment which presents an attractive and smooth, fitting appearance. The panty-girdle is provided with an integral circular knit leg and crotch defining part 14 which has substantially more material than the requisite dimension for thelegs and crotch of the girdle. The peripherally extending line 30 of fashioning knits may be of any suitable design and configuration and the specific configuration ofthe illustrated embodiment is given by way of example only.

- The present application is a continuation-impart of my prior co-pending application, Serial No. 548,880, filed November 25, 1955, and assigned to the assignee hereof.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. 7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is: I 1 t 1. A circular knit panty-girdle, comprising a periphcrally continuous knit fabric body which is circumferentially and longitudinally elastic and having an integrally knit part at the lower end thereof defining the leg portions and crotchrof the -gird1e, said leg portions being circumferentially and longitudinally elasticand having cooperating-pairs; of longitudinal edges, respectively, at the inner side thereof secured together by a longitudinally extending continuous seam traversing said crotch and terminating at the lower edges of said leg portions, respectively, said body having a predetermined number of wales per unit of circumferential length to provide it with a predetermined constricting force, said lower end part being circular knit in integral relation with said body and having substantially more wales per unit of circumferential length than said body to provide said leg portions with a lesser constricting force than said body, each of said leg portions comprising an inner peripherally extending panel adjacent said crotch and an outer peripherally extending panel, said inner panel having more wales per unit of circumferential length than said outer panel to provide even tension around the legs of the wearer.

2. A circular knit panty-girdle, comprising a peripherally continuous knit fabric body which is circumferentially elastic and having an integrally knit part at the lower end thereof defining the leg portions and crotch of the girdle, said leg portions being circumferentially elastic and having cooperating pairs of longitudinal edges, respectively, at the inner side thereof secured together by a longitudinally extending continuous seam traversing said crotch and terminating at the lower edges of said leg po1-'.

tions, respectively, said body having a predetermined num- V ber of wales per unit of circumferential length to provide it with a predetermined constricting force, said lower end part being circular knit in integral relation with said body and having substantially more wales per unit of circumferential length than said body to provide said leg portions with a lesser constricting force than said body, each of said leg portions comprising an inner peripherally extending panel adjacent said crotch and an outer peripherally extending panel, said inner panel having more wales per unit of circumferential length than said outer panel to provide even tension around the legs of the wearer.

3. A circular knit panty-girdle, comprising a peripherally continuous knit fabric body which is circumferentially elastic and having an integrally knit part at the '6 lower end thereof defining the leg portions and crotch of the girdle, said leg portions being circumferentially elastic and having cooperating pairs of longitudinal edges, respectively, at the inner side thereof secured together by a longitudinally extending continuous seam traversing said crotch and terminating at the lower edges of said leg portions, respectively, said body having a predetermined number of wales per unit of circumferential length to provide it with apredetermined constricting force, said lower end part being circular knit in integral relation with said body and having substantially more wales per unit of circumferential length than said body to provide said leg portions with a lesser constricting force than said body, each of said leg portions comprising an inner peripherally extending panel adjacent said crotch and an outer peripherally extending panel, said inner panel having a different number of wales per unit of circumferential length than said outer panel to provide even tension around the legs of the wearer.

4. A circular knit panty-girdle, comprising a peripherally continuous knit fabric body which is circumferentially elastic and having an integrally knit part at the lower end thereof defining the leg portions and crotch region of the girdle, said leg portions being circumferentially elastic, said lower end part being knit in integral relation with saidbody, each of said leg portions comprising an inner peripherally extending panel adjacent said crotch and an outer peripherally extending panel, said inner panel having a different number of wales per unit of circumferential length than said outer panel to provide even tension around the legs of the wearer, said crotch region being, elastically stretchable and having means to increase the front 'to rear measurement of said region without substantially interfering with the uniform tensioning characteristic, of; the leg portions of said girdle.

5. A circular knit panty-girdle, comprising a peripherally continuous knit fabric body which is circumferentially elastic and having an integrally knit part at the lower end thereof defining the leg portions and crotch region of the girdle, said leg portions being circumferentially elastic, said lower end part being knit in integral relation With said body, each of said leg portions comprising an inner peripherally extending panel adjacent said crotch and an outer peripherally extending panel, said inner panel having a different number of wales per unit of circumferential length than said outer panel to provide even tension around the legs of the wearer, said crotch region being elastically stretchable and having means to increase the front to rear measurement of said region without substantially interfering with the unform tensioning characteristic of the leg portions of said girdle, said last mentioned means comprising a crotch piece formed of knit fabric and having opposite ends which terminate a substantial distance inwardly of the outer edges of said leg portions.

6. A circular knit panty-girdle, comprising a peripherally continuous knit fabric body which is circumferentially elastic and having an integrally knit part at the lower end thereof defining the leg portions and crotch region of the girdle, said leg portions being circumferentially elastic, said body having a predetermined number of wales per unit of circumferential length to provide it with a predetermined constricting force, said lower end part being circular knit in integral relation with said body, and having substantially more wales per unit of circumferential length than said body to provide said leg portions with a lesser constricting force than said body, each of said leg portions comprising an inner peripherally extending panel adjacent said crotch and an outer peripherally extending panel, said inner panel having a different number of Wales per unit of circumferential length than said outer panel to provide even tension around the legs of the wearer, said crotch region being elastically stretchable and having means to increase the 7 front to rear measurement of said region without substantially interfering with the uniform tensioning characteristic of the leg portions of said girdle.

7. A circular knit panty-girdle, comprising a pcripherally continuous knit fabric body which is circumferentially and longitudinally elastic and having'an integrally knit part at the lower end thereof defining the leg portions and crotch of the girdle, said leg portions being circumferentially and longitudinally elastic and having cooperating pairs of longitudinal edges, respectively, at the inner sides thereof, and said crotch being provided with a substantially diamond-shaped crotch piece, the opposite ends of said crotch piece terminating a substantial distance inwardly of the outer edges of said leg portions, respectively, and said cooperating pairs of longitudinal edges being secured together from the outer edges of said leg portions, respectively, to the adjacent end of said crotch piece, said body having a predetermined number of wales per unit of circumferential length to provide it with a predetermined constricting force, said lower end part being circular knit in integral relation with said body and having substantially more wales per unit of circumferential length than said body to provide said leg portions with a lesser constricting force than said body, each of said leg portions comprising an inner peripherally extending panel adjacent Said crotch and an outer peripherally extending panel, said inner panel having more wales per unit of circumferential length than said outer panel to provide even tension around the legs of the wearer.

8. A circular knit parity-girdle, comprising a peripherally continuous knit fabric body which is circumferentially and longitudinally elastic and having an integrally knit part at the lower end thereof defining the leg portions and crotch of the girdle, said leg portions being circuinferentially and longitudinally elastic and having cooperating pairs of longitudinal edges, respectively, at the inner sides thereof, and said crotch being provided with a substantially diamond-shaped crotch piece, the topposite ends of said crotch piece terminating a substantial distance inwardly of the outer edges of said leg portions, respectively and said cooperating pairs of longitudinal edges being secured together from the outer edges of said leg portions, respectively, to theadjacent end of said crotch piece, said body having a predetermined number of wales per unit of circumferential length to provide it with a predetermined constricting force, said lower end part being circular knit in integral relation with said body and having substantially more wales per unit of circumferential length than said body to provide said leg portions withtaalesser constricting force than said body, each of said leg portions comprising an inner peripherally extending panel adjacent said crotch and an outer peripherally extending panel, said inner panel having more wales per unit of circumferential length than said outer panel to provide even tension around the legs of the wearer, and said crotch piece being formed of warp knit fabric and being stretchable laterally of said girdle in the expanded or worn condition thereof whereby the front to rear measurement of the girdle may beincreased without substantially interfering wih the circumferential measurement and uniform tension characteristic of the leg portions of said girdle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS