US3161201A - Foundation garment - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1964 s. L. WELSCH FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed March 21, 1963 FIG. 2.

\\ mm W INVENTOR. SAMUEL L. WEL-SCH FIG. 6 BY United States Patent 3,161,261 FQUNDATIGN GARR'EENT Samuel L. Welsch, East Grange, N..l'., assignor to Lewella Foundations, Inn, Ncwarlr, Ni, a corporation of New .lersey Filed Mar. 21, 1963, Ser. No. Zddfidii 2 Claims. (til. 128-548) The present invention relates to foundation garments, and in particular to a reinforcing panel or belt for abdominal control in a foundation garment.

In the manufacture of a wide variety of foundation garments, including girdles, panties, corselettes and the like, an abdominal control panel has been incorporated into the garment to afford a more pleasing silhouette for the wearer. One construction for such abdominal control panel is found in U.S. Patent No. 2,644,945 of July 14, 1953, which is assigned to the assignee of the present in vention. Experience has indicated that known constructions do not exhibit all of the property necessary for commercial acceptance, including optimum abdominal control, the most effective utilization of material, simplicity and ease of construction, minimum bulk, and general constructional compatability with the usual foundation garment.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved foundation garment which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to proll-d6 a reinforcing panel or belt for abdominal control in a foundation garment which may take the form of a corset, corselette, pantie girdle, girdle or the like.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of article aspects of the present invention there is provided a foundation garment which includes at least a front panel which is principally elastic in the girth direction of the garment. A reinforcing panel underlies the front panel and extends between the usual side panels of the garment with the reinforcing panel including two side by side reinforcing members each having superposed sections joined along a fold line. The superposed sections are principally elastic in directions extending at acute angles to the girth direction and the reinforcing members are disposed with the fold lines continguous and in coextensive relation and extending at right angles to the girth direction medially of the front panel. Provision is made for joining the reinforcing members to each other along the fold lines to complete the reinforcing panel. Further, provision is made for securing the reinforcing panel between the side panels and beneath the front panel of the garment.

In accordance with method aspects of the present invention, a reinforcing belt is manufactured for the front panel of a girdle or the like by the steps of cutting two substantially identical reinforcing members each including side by side sections joined along an intermediate fold line and having a principal direction of elasticity disposed angularly of the fold line. Each of the reinforcing members is folded to arrange their respective sections in superposed relation and to orient the direction of elasticity of their respective sections at opposite angles to the fold line. The folded reinforcing members are arranged with the repective fold lines in coextensive and adjacent relation and the folded members are joined to each other along the fold lines. Finally, the folded reinforcing members are joined to the front panel while in confronting relation thereto.

Advantageously, the reinforcing panel or belt made in accordance with the present invention effects a distribution of the wearers stomach such that there issubstantially no bulge in the abdominal region and urges the flesh usually found on the stomach region into areas toward the groin line, waist line and sides of the wearer.

At the same time, the construction of the reinforcing panel or belt is such as to afford substantially no discomfort to the wearer, yet contributes materially to the creation of a more attractive silhouette.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features advantages of the present invention Will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment, demonstrating article and method aspects of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of a typical girdle embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged inside-out view of the girdle, with parts broken away to show constructional features of the reinforcing panel or belt incorporated behind the front panel of the girdle;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the two identical reinforcing members which make up the reinforcing panel, the reinforcing member being shownin its unfolded condition;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the two reinforcing members, as folded, and preliminary to being secured together along their adjacent edges;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to PG. 4, showing the twofolded reinforcing members as joined, with a medial elastic or binding or tape being partially joined thereto; and,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the reinforcing panel or belt as secured into the completed foundation garment.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown a foundation garment, generally designated by the reference numeral lit, which embodies features of the present invention. The foundation garment it) may take the form of a girdle, corset, corselette, a panty girdle or the like; in the interest of simplicity, the invention has been shown as applied to a girdle.

The girdle 10 includes a body 12 of essentially conventional construction which includes opposed side panels l4, l6 and an intermediate front panel 18. In this illustrative embodiment, the side panels 14, 16 and the front panel 18 are principally elastic in the girth direction. In that the structure of the girdle it) is essential conventional and subject to a wide latitude of substitution, change and modification, further description thereof is dispensed with in the interest of brevity.

in accordance with the present invention, a reinforcing panel or belt, generally designated by the reference numeral 2h underlies the front panel 18 in the abdominal region of the garment and extends between and is secured to the side panels, l4, 16. The reinforcing panel or belt 29 includes two side by side reinforcing member 22, 24 which are fabricated of material which is principally elastic one direction, as indicated by the double-head arrow E in FIG. 3, with the respective reinforcing members being blanked out or cut from the material such that the principal direction of elasticity extends at an acute angle to the horizontal or girth direction of the garment. The reinforcing member 24 is shown in unfolded condition in FIG. 3 and is seen to include side by side sections 24a, 2411 which are joined along a fold line 240. The section 2 5a will overlie the section 2% when folded about the fold line Z-i-c, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting F165. 3 and 4 and is smaller than the section 24b. The smaller section 24a is coextensive with an intermedi ate portion of the underlying section 24b such that the corresponding half of the completed reinforcing panel or belt will have two plies in the portion defined by the smaller section End adjacent portions of the section 24:) project beyond the section 24a such that the corresponding half of the reinforcing panel or belt will have larger section 22b project beyond the section 22a such' that the completed reinforcing panel 2% has a single ply in the end-adjacent portions.

As seen in "FIG. 4, the respective folded superposed sections 22a, 22b and 24a, 24b of the members 22, .24 are principally elastic in directions extending at acute angles to the girth direction of the garment, with the directions of elasticity of the superposed sections defining substantially identical first and second included angles with the girth direction of the garment 1t) and defining a further angle. therebetween which is equal to the sum of the first and second angles. For example, if the principal direction of elasticityof the reinforcing members 22,24 is at approximately 30 to the horizontal or girth direction,

as indicated by the directional line B in FIG. 3, the included angles defined by the superposed sections (i.e. superposed sections 24a, 2415) will each be at an angle of approximately 30 with the girth direction. The further angle defined between the principal directions of elasticity of the superposed sections ( i.e. sections 24a, 24b).will be equal to the sum of the first and second included angles or equal to approximately 60, it being noted that the included angle defined-by the uppermost and smaller section (i.e. section 24a) extends above the girth-direction while the included angle defined by the larger and underly ing section (i.e. section 24b) extends below the girth direction. V

The first or smaller section 24a of the reinforcing member 24 has upper and lower edges 24d, 24c which diverge from the fold line 240, while the section or larger section 24b has upper and lower edges 241, 24g which converge from the cut edges of the section 24b which extend from the fold line 24c. Similarly, the section 22a'of the reinforcing member 22 has upper and lower edges 220., 222 '(see FIG. 4) which diverge from the fold line 220 and the section 22b has upper and lower edges 22 22g which converge relative to the fold line 220.

forcing panel or belt 20 includes two plie of material in a region coextensive with the respective smaller sections 22a, 24a, with single-ply, diamond-shaped extensions contiguous to the upper and lower ends of the reinforcing panel 20. The diamond-shaped, single-ply extension con- 7 tiguous to the upper end of the panel 20 is bounded by edges 22d, 22 and 24d, 24) and is somewhat smaller than the lower diamond-shaped, single-ply extension which is bounded by edges 22a, 22g and 24s, 24g. The reinforcing members 22, 24 are initially cut such that the completed reinforcing panel or belt 20 will be of progressively greater width from the upper end to the lower end, with the opposite side thereof curved such that they will lie along the opposite sides 18a, 13b of the front panel 18.

The completed reinforcing panel or belt 20 is positioned against the inner face of the front panel 18 in the abdominal portion, as seen in FIG. 2, and is stitched in position such that the free edges or margins of the superposed sections of the reinforcing members 22, 24 are stitched to each other and to the front panel 18. Specifically, and as seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stitching 34, 36 which shaped extensions of the reinforcing panel 20 to each other and to the corresponding portion of the front panel 18.

From the. foregoing, it will be appreciated that the manufacture of the reinforcing belt 20 for the front panel 18 of the foundation garment involves the cutting of the 'two substantially identical reinforcing members 22, 24. each of which include side by'side sections joined along an intermediate fold line and having a principal direction of elasticity disposed angularly of the respective fold lines. The reinforcing members 22, 24 are folded to arrange their respective sections in superposed relation, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 3 and 4, which orients the direction of elasticity of the respective sections at opposite angles to the fold line. Thereupon, the folded reinforcing members 22, 24 are arranged with'their respective fold lines in coextensive and adjacent relation and the folding reinforcing members 22, 24 are stitched to each other along the fold lines as by the line of stitching 26 and the further stitching 30, 32 which secure the elastic strip 28 over the folded and stitched medial portion of the reinforcing panel 20. Finally, the margins of the folded reinforcing members 22, 24 are stitched to each other and to the front .panel, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 i In actual-manufacture, the two reinforcing members 22, 24ers fabricated of any appropriate power-knit material which has one principal or main direction of elasticity, with the respective members being cut such that elasticity extends at'an angle to the horizontal or girth of the foundation garment. Only one pattern is cut for the reinforcing members 22,24 since thc'material is reversible. members 22, 24- and the folding thereof, the resulting reinforcing belt or panel 20has the same effect as if it were initially fabricated of four separate sections. It will therefore be appreciated that there has been a substantial reduction in complexity and handling in the preliminary sub-assembly of the reinforcing panel 20.

When the reinforcing panel 20 is incorporated into the completed garment, there will be regions corresponding to the sections 22a, 24a of the reinforcing panel 20 which, in the overall garment, will have three plies or thicknesses of material, to wit, the coextensive portion of the front panel which is principally elastic in the girth direction of the garment, the intermediate plies 22b, 24b which are principally elastic in a direction at an acute angle relative 'to the girth direction, and the innermost plies 22a, 24a which are principally elastic in a direction at an opposite acute angle to the girth direction. Thus in the three-ply region there is maximum abdomen control above and below the three-ply region, the diamondshaped extension of the reinforcing panel 20 and the coextensive regions of the front panel 18 provide two plies which exert'sornewhat less abdomen reinforcement and preclude a sharp discontinuity in control such that there is a gradual transitionabove and below the medial portion of the reinforcing panel 20 to the remainder of the garment which facilitates a corresponding gradual distribution of the flesh from the abdomen region towards the waist and groin lines of the garment.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed with- By the unique shape of the respective reinforcing What I claim is: p

1. A foundation garment comprising a body including opposed side panels and a front panel extending there between, said front panel being principally elastic in the girth direction of said garment, and a reinforcing panel underlying said front panel and extending between said side panels, said reinforcing panel including two side by side interconnected identical reinforcing members, each of said reinforcing members being comprised of a single blank of stretchable fabric which is principally elastic at an acute angle to the girth direction of the garment and is folded upon itself along a substantially vertical fold line to present in a folded condition a first section and a superposed second section having opposing directions of elasticity at an acute angle to the girth direction of the garment, said first section of each reinforcing memher having generally triangular segments at opposite ends thereof extending beyond said second section, the base of each extending triangular segment lying on a substantially vertical line contiguous with said substantially vertical fold line, said reinforcing members being interconnected along the confronting respective fold lines and said contiguous base edges to each other and along opposite edges remote therefrom to each of said side panels.

2. A foundation garment comprising a body including opposed side panels and a front panel extending therebetween, said front panel being principally elastic in the girth direction of said garment, and a reinforcing panel underlying said front panel and extending between said side panels, said reinforcing panel including two side by side interconnected identical reinforcing members, each of said reinforcing members being comprised of a single blank of stretchable fabric which is principally elastic at an acute angle to the girth direction of the garment and is folded upon itself along a substantially vertical fold line to present in a folded condition a first section and a superposed second section having opposing directions of elasticity at an acute angle to the girth direction of the garment, said first section of each reinforcing member having an upper and a comparatively larger lower generally triangular segment extending beyond said second section, the base of each extending triangular segment lying on a substantially vertical line contiguous with said substantially vertical fold line, said reinforcing members being interconnected along the confronting respective vertical fold lines and said contiguous base edges to each other and along opposite edges remote therefrom to each of said side panels.

References (Cited by the Examiner UNiTED STATES PATENTS 2,644,945 7/53 Lewis 128-548 2,966,912 1/61 Murdock 128-540 3,026,875 3/62 Kaupp l28-547 3,044,471 7/62 Morehouse 128548 LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

ADELE M. EAGER, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A FOUNDATION GARMENT COMPRISING A BODY INCLUDING OPPOSED SIDE PANELS AND A FRONT PANEL EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, SAID FRONT PANEL BEING PRINCIPALLY ELASTIC IN THE GIRTH DIRECTION OF SAID GARMENT, AND A REINFORCING PANEL UNDERLYING SAID FRONT PANEL AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE, PANELS, SAID REINFORCING PANEL INCLUDING TWO SIDE BY SIDE INTERCONNECTED IDENTICAL REINFORCING MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBERS BEING COMPRISED OF A SINGLE BLANK OF STRETCHABLE FABRIC WHICH IS PRINCIPALLY ELASTIC AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE GIRTH DIRECTION OF THE GARMENT AND IS FOLDED UPON ITSELF ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FOLD LINE TO PRESENT IN A FOLDED CONDITION A FIRST SECTION AND A SUPERPOSED SECOND SECTION HAVING OPPOSING DIRECTIONS OF ELASTICITY AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE GIRTH DIRECTION OF THE GARMENT, SAID FIRST SECTION OF EACH REINFORCING MEMBER HAVING GENERALLY TRIANGULAR SEGMENTS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF EXTENDING BEYOND SAID SECOND SECTION, THE BASE OF EACH EXTENDING TRIANGULAR SEGMENT LYING ON A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL LINE CONTIGUOUS WITH SAID SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FOLD LINE, SAID REINFORCING MEMBERS BEING INTERCONNECTED ALONG THE CONFRONTING RESPECTIVE FOLD LINES AND SAID CONTIGUOUS BASE EDGES TO EACH OTHER AND ALONG OPPOSITE EDGES REMOTE THEREFROM TO EACH OF SAID PANELS.

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