US3036574A

US3036574A - Bathing suit

Info

Publication number: US3036574A
Application number: US163A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nellie E Jeffrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-01-04
Filing date: 1960-01-04
Publication date: 1962-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-29

Description

May 29, 1962 N. E. JEFFREY 3,036,574

BATHING SUIT Filed Jan. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Pig. 5 NELLIE E. JEFFREY BY Mm, [1100M M: UMEa/M A TTORNEYS Why 29, 9 N. E; JEFFREY 3,036,574

BATHING SUIT Filed Jan. 4. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

NELLIE E. JEFFREY ATTORNEYS 3&35574 Patented May 29, 1952 fie 3,036,574 BATHENG SUIT Nellie E. Jeffrey, 629 .lames Drive, Kolrorno, Ind. Filed .l'an. 4, 196%), er. No. 163 2 tilairns. (rCl. l23454) The present invention relates to improvements in wearing apparel and finds a primary utility in womens bathing suits.

One problem present in the construction of present day Womens bathing suits is that such suits must be removed when employing the facilities of a restroom. Naturally such removal takes time and is inconvenient to the wearor of the suit. Bathing suits have been designed which partially solve this problem but are difiicult to operate and do not mask or hide the construction provided for solving the problem.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved bathing suit which is so constructed as to be convenient and comfortable and not necessary to remove when the wearer is employing the facilities of a restroom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bathing suit which has a conventional appearance when it is worn, yet which incorporates the novel construction above mentioned.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved bathing suit having a built in girdle arrangement incorporating resilient form-fitting material which extends over the hips and also extends just below the bust and compietely around the waist so as to hold in any unsightly bulges and provide the wearer with a beautiful form.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved girdle arrangement which is detachably mountable on various wearing apparel.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved girdle arrangement which i so constructed as to reduce the sizeof the wearers waist by a substantial amount.

Related objects and advantages of the invention will become obvious as the description proceeds.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a bathing suit embodying the present invention showing the suit on a dummy and as it would appear when the wearer is bathing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of the rear of the suit and dummy of FIG. 1 showing the suit as it would appear when the wearer is bathing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the front of the suit and dummy of FIG. 1 showing one zipper of the suit in open condition, said zipper facilitating the putting on of the suit by a wearer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front of the suit and dummy of FIG. 1 showing the above mentioned zipper in partially open condition and also showing, in partially detached position, a flap forming a part of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a modification f the invention showing the flap, thereof, in detached,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of a further alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rear of the suit and dummy of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the suit of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a girdle forming a part of the bathing suit of FIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the girdle of FIG. 10, said alternative embodiment being detachably mountable upon various wearing ap parel.

Referring now to the drawings, a dummy 10 is formed in the shape of a female torso and has a womans bathing suit 11 thereon. The bathing suit is formed of suitable cloth material and is proportioned in the shape of an attractive womans figure whereby the suit hugs the female wearers figure in form-fitting relation. Sewn into the suit on the underneath side thereof, is a girdle 13 (bounded by dotted lines 12, FIGS. 1 and 2) which is formed of suitable resilient elastic material. This girdle which forms an extremely important part of the invention, is described in detail below.

In the bust areas 15 of the suit, pockets (not shown) may be provided on the underneath surface of the suit for padding material if needed. Straps 16 are detachably connected to

loops

17 and 18 at the upper edges of the front 20 and back 21, respectively, of the suit. The straps are so arranged that they support the suit by extending over the shoulders of the wearer. If desired, the straps 16 may be removed from the loops 17 and 118 and the suit worn as a strapless bathing suit.

The front and back are sewn together or are integral at their sideward edges 22 so as to form a generally tubular shape, the term generally being used to allow for the various curves and contours appropriate to the female shape. The tubular shape is partially closed at its lower end to cover the crotch and form leg openings by means of a flap 25 which is integral with the back 21 and extends from the lower end thereof.

The flap is removably attachable to the lower portion of the front and to the rearward surface thereof, by means of a zipper 26. The modification of FIGS. 14 has the flap portion 27 of the zipper spaced from the edge 28 of the flap soas to prevent pinching of the wearer by the operation of the zipper. In the modification of FIGS. 5 and 6, the portion 30 of the zipper is mounted upon and spaced from the edge StiA of an elongated section 31 of material which is sewn to the rearward surface 32 of the lower portion of the front 35 whereby pinching of the wearer by the operation of the zipper is prevented. Except for the above described spacing of the zipper portions, the two modifications are identical. In other words, the modification of FIGS. 1-4 is also provided with an elongated section 36 of material which is sewn to the front 20 similarly to the sewing of the section 31 to the front 35.

It should be noted that the zipper 26 of the present invention is so arranged that the closed zipper extends from the forward outside portion of one leg of the wearer of the suit across the lower abdomen to the forward outside portion of the other leg of the wearer. Because of this location of the zipper, it is highly accessible and easily operated. When the wearer of the suit is employing the facilities of a restroom, the zipper 26 is unzipped and the flap 25 is pulled between the legs from front to back and raised.

Because of the fact that the section 36 is sewn to the underneath surface of the front at a distance from the lower end of the end portion of the front, the lower end portion 40 forms a skirt, hiding and masking the zipper 26. Since the suit is intended to be a tight, form-fitting garment, the lower end portion 40 is held in relatively tight masking relation over the zipper 26. In FIG. 4, the lower portion of the front 20 has been raised and suitably stitched at 28A to hold the lower end portion 40 upwardly for demonstrational purposes. In FIG. 6, the lower portion of the front 35 has been folded back and upwardly for demonstrational purposes. It should be noted that because of the tight, form-fitting nature of the garment, it would be necessary to hold the skirt of FIG. 6 in the position shown.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3, the front 20 is provided with a further Zipper 41 which extends from the upper edge of the suit down to the upper abdominal area. Hooks 42 and snaps 43 are also provided for closing the front. Thus, to put on the suit, the upper portion of the suit may be opened by means of zipper tll, hooks 42 and snaps 43 and the suit drawn upwardly into proper position. The zipper, hooks and snaps are then closed resulting in the suit giving the attractive appearance of FIG. 1. If desired, buttons 45 (non-operable) may be provided on the front for further adding to the attractive appearance.

Referring now more particularly to the girdle 13, it can be seen that the girdle extends completely around the waist and, because of the elastic material of which the girdle is formed, acts to reduce the size of the wearers waist. The particular embodiment of the girdle illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed for a wearer who desires substantial support in the hip area. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the girdle has incorporated therein portions 46 which extend beneath the back 21 of the suit to partially cover the buttocks and give substantial support in the hip area.

A very important feature of the girdle is the fact that it covers and supports substantially the entire abdomen and midriff area up to and just below the bust areas 15. Thus, it can be seen that the girdle controls and holds in unsightly bulges at all of the locations at which such control is desirable and also reduces the size of the wearers waist all of which results in an attractive and pleasing female form.

Referring now to FIGS. 79, an alternative embodient of the invention is illustrated which is identical to the above described embodiments with the following exceptions. Straps 16 are detachably connected to a single loop 17' at the central upper edge of the front 20'. This arrangement provides support for the suit without unduly flattening of the bust areas 15' of the suit. The straps 16' are connected to the upper edge of the back 21' of the suit by suitable loops 4-7.

But more important, the embodiment of FIGS. 79 incorporates the preferred form of the girdle of the pres ent invention. The girdle 13 is intended for the wearer who does not desire the substantial support in the hip area referred to in connection with the girdle illustrated 1n FIGS. 1 and 2. Unlike the girdle illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower portion 50 of the girdle 13' terminates at the lines of juncture 22. of the front and back of the suit. In all other respects, the girdle of the suit of FIGS. 79 is identical to the girdle illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and provides the desirable effects mentioned in connection therewith. In other words, the girdle 13' provides the support in the necessary areas to properly mold the female form.

FIG. 10 shows the girdle 13 as it appears in flattened form prior to incorporation in the bathing suit of FIGS". 79. As has been mentioned above, the girdles illustrated are sewn into the suit on the underneath side thereof.

This sewing is not effected merely at the outside edges of the girdle but also at the internal portions thereof in orlder that the girdle and suit form one integrated unit. The girdle 13' is provided with a separation 51 to allow for mounting and proper operation of a zipper (not shown) forming a part of the suit of FIGS. 79 and arranged and operable identically to the zipper 41 (FIG. 3).

In FIG. 11 there is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention comprising a girdle 52 which is detachably mountable on various wearing apparel. The girdle is constructed and operates similarly to the above described girdle 13' but does not include a separation such as the separation 51. Hooks 52 and cooperating loops 55 are attached to the opposite ends of the waist portions 56 and are connected at the wearers back when the girdle is in use. Hooks 57 are mounted on the lower sideward edges 53 of the girdle for attaching the girdle to, for example, a pair of shorts which would be provided with cooperating attachment means.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the present invention provides a bathing suit having a built-in girdle arrangement incorporating resilient formfitting material which extends over the abdomen and midriff just below the bust and extends completely around the waist so as to provide the wearer with a beautiful form. It can also be seen that the present invention provides an improved girdle arrangement which is detachably mountable on various wearing apparel.

In connection with the other portions of the invention, it will be obvious from the above description that the present invention provides an improved bathing suit which is easy to put on and is convenient and comfortable when the bather is employing the facilities of a restroom. It should be noted that the two

zippers

26 and 41, the hooks 42 and snaps 43 are all within easy access of the wearer. It will be obvious that the present invention also provides means for hiding or masking the zipper 26. Conceivably, the flap concept of the invention also has further applications such as, for example, in wearing apparel for young children.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

l. A bathing suit comprising a front; a back; said front and back being connected at their sides to provide a form fitting generally tubular shape including an abdomen and midriif covering portion, a bust covering portion and a waist covering portion; a flap extending from the lower end of said back; a Zipper mounted on the lower rearward surface of said front and on the extending end of said flap for removably attaching said flap to said front; a skirt formed integrally with said front and covering said zipper; and a girdle formed of resilient elastic material and attached to the underneath surface of said front and back, said girdle being secured to the abdomen and midriff portion and extending upwardly to and just below the bust portion, said girdle also being secured to the waist portion of the suit and extending in closed fashion completely therearound.

2. A bathing suit comprising a front; a back; said front and back being connected at their sides to provide a form fitting generally tubular shape, said tubular shape including in said front an abdomen and midritf covering portion located in the lower and central front and a bust covering portion located in the upper front, said tubular shape further including a waist covering portion extending completely around said tubular shape centrally thereof, a flap extending from the lower end ofsaid back; a zipper mounted on the lower rearward surface of said front and on the extending end of said flap for removably attaching said flap to said front; a skirt formed integrally with said front and covering said zipper; and -a girdle formed of resilient elastic material and attached to the underneath surface of said front and back, said girdle being secured to the abdomen and midriff portion and extending upwardly to and just below the bust portion, said girdle also being secured to the waist portion of the suit and extending in closed fashion completely therearound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Flesh Apr. 26, Block Sept. 8, Silverman Dec. 1, Luhr Mar. 9, Finn Oct. 28, McKee July 28,