US2925817A - Foundation garment - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1960 M. ROGERS FOUNDATION GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1957 INVENTOR Margaref Rogers Feb. 23, 1960 M. ROGERS FOUNDATION GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26. 1957 IN VENTOR Morgare/ Rogers BY ra sl FOUNDATION GARMENT ,Margaret Rogers, Brooklyn, NY. Application April 26, 1957, Serial No. 655,292

6 Claims. (Cl. 128533) This invention relates to foundation garments. In particular, the invention pertains to foundation garments using stiifening'material for support and improved appearance of the figure.

Objects of the invention include a garment providing su'flicient control in desirably restraining the mid-section of the body without sacrificing comfort. The garment must be so constructed that the top edge will not stretch and fall in'an unsightly roll. Stifiening means must be so arranged that it does not cut or dig into the wearer, causing its ultimate removal.

Further, is an object of the invention to provide a foundation garment which can be readily adapted to meet specific requirements, flexible enough to allow its wearer convenient freedom of activity, and yet be economically availableto the average purchaser.

It is well known in the. art that the mid-section of the body expands several inches when seated. Foundation garments designed to give maximum support when standing often injuriously crowd the vital organs 'upwardly, downwardly or inwardly when in sitting position. A primary'feature'of the invention, therefore, is a completely flexible foundation garment affording healthful expansion to a wearer when seated and positive retraction to a wearer upon rising.

I have now produced an improved foundation garment or girdle embodying the above-stated objectswhich aflords vastly improved figure control over existing girdles with maximum comfort and is economical to manufacture.

The garment is made entirely of one-way stretch elastic fabric which may be cut into separate panels conforming to the curves of the body and joined together. The garment may be made in several styles and, although only a girdle or corset is illustrated, the principle of my invention may also be applied to all types of foundations.

In my invention, figure control is obtained by a new use of one-way stretch Lastex with an original application of boning. My garment not only combines the novel application of a fully boned, completely elastic oneway stretch girdle, but it also includes a new combination of parallel spiral and straight bones.

The spiral bones are used in longer lengths and disposed adjacent the top and bottom of the girdle where flexibility and comfort are of primary importance. By using strips of double-bone casing, it is possible to position a companion shorter length of the more rigid straight bones in the central area of the garment where the most control is needed.

The girdle fully meets the requirements of modern living conditions in being supple and at the same time restraining. It allows freedom of activity in walking, getting on and off high-stepped buses and trains, and in and out of low slung cars and modern furniture. My new girdle with its firm, form fitting construction and full boning also serves a corrective purpose in replacing conventional surgical belts.

Further features and objects of the invention will be United States Patent 2,925,317 Patented Feb. 23, 1960 more fully understood from the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a one-way stretch girdle fully boned according to my invention;

.Fig. 2 is an outside view of the rear of illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inside view of the front and one side of the girdle; and

Fig. 4 is an inside view of the rear of the girdle.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a girdle made entirely of one-way stretch elastic fabric. The elastic material is cut into several sections or panels according to the size and special requirements of the user. The embodiment shown in the drawings has six panels, a front panel 5, two side panels 6, 6a adjoining the front panel, a rear panel 8 and two rear side panels 7, 7a adjoining the rear panel, all joined by flat, smooth seams.

As seen in-Fig. 3, front panel 5 is shown with three vertically stitched strips of double-bone casing 9, 10

the girdle and 11 extending the full length of the girdle; one strip' disposed centrally and one on either side of the middle casing in mutually spaced relation. As a further support for the abdominal region, boning is disposed within the front upper portion of the ;girdle in such manner as to prevent the upper edge of the garment from rolling. To achieve these ends and yet afford the greatest comfort to the wearer, spiral bones 23 are alternated withstraight bones 24.

The drawings show a preferable, example of this 'feature by the use of longer lengths of spiral bones than of straight with the flexible spiral boning extending above and below the firm straight boning. In this way the supple spiral bones are encased in a longer casing pocket, which may be varied in length to fit individual needs. In front panel 5, the pocket extends from about midway to the top of the garment. The shorter, more rigid straight bones 24 are disposed intermediate the length of and parallel to the spiral bones so as to combine sufficient'support with maximum comfort. The bones in casings 9 and 11 over theleg portions are shorter 'in length thanthose in center casing 10 to allow greater freedom of movement of the wearer.

A side panel 6 is joined to center panel '5 and reinforced as by two rods of bias tape 12 over the seam. The other edge of panel 6 is joined to a rear side panel 7. This joining seam is shown reinforced by double-bone casing 13 enclosing two spiral bones 23 over substantially the upper half of the hip portion.

Rear panel 8 is joined to panels 7, 7a on either side thereof and reinforced by double- bone casings 14 and 16 over the joining seams. Another strip of double bone casing 15 is stitched down the center of rear panel 8. As shown in Fig. 4, longer lengths of spiral and straight boning are inserted in rear casings 14, 15 and 16 and extend lower in the girdle to effect greater restraining control over this portion of the body.

As in front panel 5 the spiral and straight bones are oppositely disposed in the outer casings 14 and '15; the more flexible spiral bones are usually placed in the outermost casings. Here too the spiral bones are brought to the top of the garment in order to prevent rolling of the upper edge and at the same time maintain comfort of the wearer in this sensitive area.

The outer edge of the second rear side panel 7a is joined to a second front side panel 6a and reinforced by a second double-bone casing 13a. Double spiral bones of a shorter length than that used in the front panel are also inserted in the upper portions of casings 13a to give a firm but flexible support over this hip section of the girdle, as in casings 13.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a side opening 19 and closure means such as zipper, hook andeye, or other fastening devices 17 to join the. outer edge of second front side panel 6a to the free edge of front panel 5. The girdle may also be made in a step-in style where the fastening devices extend only part way down from the upper edge of the garment.

In order to meet individual requirements, the same lengths of straight bones may be used as spiral bones for greater control. Also, the number and shape of panels, the number and length of bones and the weight of the one-way stretch elastic fabric may be varied according to figure, size and degree of control required to accommodate the wearer in the most comforable and effective manner.

Hose supporters 21, 21 are attached to the lower edge of the front panel '5. Other supporters 22, 22 may be stitched to lower edges of panels 7, 7a.

The inside lower edge of the garment may be finished with elastic edging 20 preferably applied with zig-zag stitching. For added attractiveness fluted elastic edging may be used in matching or contrasting colors.

The upper edge of the girdle may be finished on the inside with a wider elastic edging 18 also Zig-zag stitched and reinforced over casings to prevent the elastic from rolling.

The forms of the invention herein described and illustrated are presented merely as examples of how the invention may be embodied and applied. Other forms, embodiments and applications of the invention, coming within the proper scope of the appended claims, will, of course, suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A fully boned girdle comprising a front panel, a rear panel, side panels joining said front and said rear panels, double-bone casing disposed over seams joining said side panels having spiral boning encased therein, doublebone casing disposed over seam-s joining said front panel and said rear panel to said side panels, said front panel having at least three vertical strips of double-bone casing affixed thereto, each of said strips provided with alternate spiral and straight boning encased therein, said panels being stretchable in one direction only and said spiral boning extending above and below said straight boning in said strips. 7

2. A foundation garment comprising panels of oneway stretch material, fiat seams joining ,said. panels, double-bone casing disposed over said seams serving as reinforcements thereof, strips of double bone casing disposed intermediate said seams on the front and rear panels of said garment, each of said strips provided with a flexible and a firm bone in pockets formed by said casing, said firm bones serving to support and control the 'lower torso of a wearer in standing position and said flexible bones extending above and below said firm bones in said strips serving to model said garment and afford comfort to such wearer during sitting and bending positions.

3. A garment according to claim 2 wherein said boning on said front and rear panels extends below double flexible boning disposed from the top of the side panels of said garment.

4. A garment according to claim 3 wherein a free edge is provided on said front paneling, means disposed along said free edge adapted to cooperate with means disposed along a free edge of a contiguous side panel, said means serving to releasably fasten said garment into and out of bulge control positions.

5. A girdle according to claim 1 wherein said rear panel is provided with a strip of double bone casing centrally thereof, double bone casing is affixed over the joining seams of said rear panel and said rear side panels, having alternate spiral and straight bones encased therein.

6. A girdle according to claim 5, wherein said spiral and straight boning is encased in reverse order in said outside front and rear casings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,292,491 Lernowitz Ian. 28, 1919 2,062,131 Hirsch Nov. 24, 1936 2,124,112 Kapinas July 19, 1938 2,457,989 Ettleson Jan. 4, 1949 2,666,202 Ong-ley Jan. 19, 1954 2,774,073 Herbener Dec. 18, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 461,021 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1937

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