US2956566A

US2956566A - Foundation garments

Info

Publication number: US2956566A
Application number: US788149A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles K Wanish
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-01-21
Filing date: 1959-01-21
Publication date: 1960-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1977-10-18

Description

Oct. 18, 1960 c. K. WANlSH FOUNDATION GARMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 INVENTOR. CHARLES K. WANlsH Oct. 18, 1960 c. K. WANISH FOUNDATION GARMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 INVENTOR. CHARLES K. WANISH United States Patent FOUNDATION GARMENTS Charles K. Wanish, 17 Yong St., Cortland, NY.

Filed Jan. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 788,149

Claims. (Cl. 128-433) This invention concerns an improved foundation garment construction.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a foundation garment such a corset, corselette, girdle or the like which is easier for the wearer to put on than prior garments of this type.

A further object is to provide a foundation garment which holds the body more securely and comfortably and provides a smoother body contour than prior garments of this type.

A still further object is to provide a foundation garment in which a lesser number of hooks and eyes are used as the garment closure and in which the final garment closure is provided by a slide fastener.

According to the invention, the hooks and eyes serve initially to provide a temporary closure while the wearer operates the slide fastener. After the slide fastener is closed, the hooks and eyes then serve as supplemental closure means to relieve the slide fastener of considerable strain while the garment is being worn.

The present invention is particularly applicable to foundation garments of the type used by stout female figures in which an inner belt is employed to elevate and flatten the abdomen while the outer cover provides a smooth body line and molds the body to a desired contour.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foundation garment embodying the invention, the garment being in a closed condition and being provided with a center front closure.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the garment in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another foundation garment embodying the invention, the garment being provided with a side closure.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the garment of Fig. 3, in an open condition.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a garment having an inner abdominal belt 12 and an outer jacket or cover 14 adapted to enclose the torso of a female person. The inner belt is provided with garter straps 16 depending at the front of the belt. The belt is provided with a closure formed by a plurality of closely spaced hooks 18 on an inner edge of the belt and a plurality of closely spaced corresponding eyes 20 mounted on a lateral flap 22. The belt is provided with suitably placed elastic panels 24 for properly elevating and flattening the abdomen. The flap and belt are attached at their rear ends to a central portion of the cover 14.

The cover 14 is generally rectangular in form when open, with

panels

25, 26 suitably shaped for fitting the garment to the body of the wearer. Upper shoulder straps 28 serve as an upper support for the garment. Garter straps 30 at the corners and 32 at intermediate or rear portions of the cover are secured to the bottom edge 34 of the cover. The garment has an upper brassiere portion with

cups

36, 37 provided in the

front panels

25, 26. Near the free edge of panel 25 is provided a series of closely spaced hooks 38 located in the upper brassiere portion of the cover. A corresponding series of closely spaced eyes 40 is attached near the free edge of panel 26. Hooks 38 and eyes 40 engage to retain the upper part of the garment in desired conformation with the body contour.

The remaining lower free edge of panel 25 carries a strip 42 of slide fastener teeth. Another strip 44 of mating slide fastener teeth is attached to the lower part of the free edge of panel 26. The slide fastener assembly indicated as 45 in Fig. 1 formed by engaging the teeth of

strips

42 and 44 extends about two-thirds of the way up the garment from the bottom edge 34. The slide fastener as shown, is of the separable type with a starter point 46 on fastener strip 42. A slider 48 is provided for locking the two strips of fastener teeth together. The fastener preferably locks from the upper edge downwardly to the bottom edge, although it is possible to arrange the slide fastener to lock or close from the bottom up.

Adjacent the slide fastener strip 42 is a small group of three or four widely spaced hooks 50, and a corresponding group of widely spaced eyes 52 is attached adjacent to fastener strip 44.

In donning the garment, the cover 14 is fully opened as shown in Fig. 2. The inner belt 12 may be fully opened by disengaging the hooks and eyes 18, 20., The wearer then engages the hooks and

eyes

18 and 20 to close the belt fully. Then the small group of books and

eyes

50, 52 are engaged. This provides a drawing in of the wearers body and serves as a temporary closure while the wearer engages the slider 48 on starter point 46 and pulls the slider down to close the slide fastener assembly 45. The wearer can now engage the hooks and

eyes

38 and 40 to close the breast portion of the garment.

The function of the hooks and

eyes

50, 52 is particu larly important in the present invention. They provide an initial drawing in of the body and a temporary closure while the wearer is closing the slide fastener. In addition, they supplement the slide fastener assembly as closure means and serve to relieve it of considerable strain during wear so that the life of the slide fastener is considerably lengthened.

If the hooks and

eyes

50, 52 were omitted, the wearer would have a great deal of difficulty in closing the slide fastener because the body would be in an unmolded and unconstrained condition. Use of the hooks and

eyes

50, 52 avoids this undesirable condition. Employment of a slide fastener assembly is most desirable in a garment of the present type because it provides a smooth dress line and attractive body contour with no unsightly bulges.

In prior garments of this type, where hooks and eyes were relied upon alone to serve as the garment closure, great difiiculty was experienced in closing the garment because the wearer Was confronted with an unrestrained body against which the hooks and eyes had to be forced closed. The great strain to which these hooks and eyes was subjected frequently tore them loose so that the garment failed in its purpose. Furthermore, even when the hooks and eyes were fully engaged, they did not provide a continuous closure like a slide fastener, but instead provided a discontinuous or intermittent and spaced closure, so that a bulge appeared between each pair of engaged hooks and eyes, which was unsightly and unsatisfactory. The present invention avoids the unsatisfactory closure provided by using hooks and eyes alone and in addition speeds up considerably the donning of the garment since the cover is closed by engaging the three or four hooks and

eyes

50, 52 and drawing down the slider 48. The closure of the breast portion of the garment is facilitated since the body is in a constrained, and flattened condition when the slide fastener is closed, so that the hooks and

eyes

38 and 40 can easily be performed. The breast closure is located between

cups

36, 37 in an easily reachable location. Thus, the entire garment can be put on in a few seconds without requiring other persons to assist the wearer.

Instead of hooks 38 and eyes 40, any other suitable fastening means may also be used.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the invention in which parts corresponding to those of Figs. 1 and 2 are identically numbered. Instead of the closure being disposed at the center front of the garment, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the garment has the closure located laterally so that it extends from the side of brassiere cup 37 to the bottom edge 34. This closure may be located on the other side of the garment starting near cup 36 if desired. Some wearers prefer this lateral location of the closure and when some types of dresses are Worn, the laterally spaced closure is more desirable because it affords greater flexibility to the body along the center panel 23 at the front. In all other respects the functioning of the several closure members is identical in both

garments

10 and 10 While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patcut is:

1. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torso cover having transverse top and bottom edges and longitudinal lateral wholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured at one edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, a narrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner side portion of the cover spaced from the firstnamed inner side portion of the cover, hook and eye fastener members secured to free edges of the belt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support in cooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first and second inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastener strips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of said cover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing the cover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips for engaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof, a group of hooks disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent one of the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near the other of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slide fastener strips, said groups of hooks and eyes being disposed to engage each other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener strips are being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tension when the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extending upwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the length of the cover from bottom to top, said lateral free edges of the cover being wholly detached from each other from the top edge to the bottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is put on by first engaging the fastener members of the belt and fiap, then engaging the groups of books and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finally engaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

2. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torso cover having transverse top and bottom edges and longitudinal lateral wholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured at one edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, a narrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner side portion of the cover' spaced from the first-named inner side portion of the cover, hook and eye fastener members secured to free edges of the belt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support in cooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first and second inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastener strips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of said cover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing the cover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips for engaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof, a group of hooks disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent one of the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near the other of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slide fastener strips, said groups of books and eyes being disposed to engage each other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener strips are being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tension when the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extending upwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the length of the cover from bottom to top, said cover being formed with a brassiere cup disposed near each of the two free edges of the cover at the top thereof, so that said slide fasteners form an assembly disposed along a front center line of the torso, said lateral free edges of the cover being Wholly detached from each other from the top edge to the bottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is put on by first engaging the fastener members of the belt and flap, then engaging the groups of hooks and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finally engaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

3. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torso cover having transverse top and bottom edges and longitudinal lateral wholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured at one edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, a narrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner side portion of the cover spaced from the first-named inner side portion of the cover, hook and eye fastener members secured to free edges of the belt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support in cooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first and second inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastener strips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of said cover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing the cover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips for engaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof, a group of books disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent one of the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near the other of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slide fastener strips, said groups of hooks and eyes being disposed to engage each other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener strips are being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tension when the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extending upwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the length of the cover from bottom to top, said cover being formed with a pair of brassiere cups disposed at the top of the cover, with one of the free edges of the cover being disposed outside of and adjacent one of the brassiere cups so that the slide fasteners form an assembly disposed along a lateral line at the side of the torso, said lateral free edges of the cover being wholly detached from each other from the top edge to the bottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is puton by first engaging the fastener members of the belt and flap, then engaging the groups of hooks and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finally engaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

4. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torso cover having transverse top and hottom edges and longitudinal lateral wholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured at one edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, a narrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner side portion of the cover spaced from the firstnamed inner side portion of the cover, hook and eye fastener members secured to free edges of the belt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support in cooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first and second inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastener strips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of said cover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing the cover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips for engaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof, a group of hooks disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent one of the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near the other of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slide fastener strips, said groups of hooks and eyes being disposed to engage each other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener strips are being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tension when the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extending upwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the length of the cover from bottom to top, there being at least four hooks and four eyes in said groups of hooks and eyes, said lateral free edges of the cover being wholly detached from each other from the top edge to the bottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is put on by first engaging the fastener members of the belt and flap, then engaging the groups of hooks and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finally engaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

5. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torso cover having transverse top and bottom edges and longitudinal lateral wholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured at one edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, a narrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner side portion of the cover spaced from the firstnamed inner side portion of the cover, hook and eye 6 fastener members secured to free edges of the belt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support in cooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first and second inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastener strips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of said cover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing the cover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips for engaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof, a group of hooks disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent one of the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near the other of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slide fastener strips, said groups of hooks and eyes being disposed to engage each other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener strips are being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tension when the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extending upwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the length of the cover from bottom to top, there being at least four hooks and four eyes in said groups of hooks and eyes, said cover being formed with a pair of brassiere cups at the top thereof, said free edges of the cover adjacent said cups carrying closely spaced hooks and eyes to form a breast closure portion for the cover, said lateral free edges of the cover being wholly detached from each other from the top edge to the bottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is put on by first engaging the fastener members of the belt and flap, then engaging the groups of books and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finally engaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,104,277 Schopbach et a1 J an. 4, 1938 2,117,103 Rabensdorf May 10, 1938 2,239,217 Bullinger Apr. 22, 1941 2,389,410 Butow Nov. 20, 1945 2,569,379 Hollar Sept. 25, 1951 2,720,652 Wanish Oct, 18, 1955 2,791,774 Schubert May 14, 1957