US3211155A

US3211155A - Elastic girdle with unstretchable panels

Info

Publication number: US3211155A
Application number: US245620A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hershon Michael Angelo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-12-18
Filing date: 1962-12-18
Publication date: 1965-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-12

Description

Oct- 12, M A HERSHON ELASTIC GIRDLE WITH UNSTRETCHABLE PANELS Filed D80. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l In uamur a, {haw Huwan [:24 ad J'f M 1965 M. A. HERSHON ELASTIC GIRDLE WITH UNSTRETCHABLE PANELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

Filed Dec.

United States Patent 3,211,155 ELASTEQ GHRDLE Wl'lH UNSTRETQHABLE PANELS Michael Angelo Hershon, 593 George St, Sydney, New fiouth Wales, Australia Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 245,629 9 (Jlairns. (Cl. 128-538) The present invention relates to girdles, corsets, panties, suspender belts and the like and has for its object the provision of a novel feature of construction for incorporation in garments of this kind. The term girdle will be used in this specification for convenience to include all the garments mentioned above.

One of the functions of garments such as girdles is to provide a flattening effect on the abdomen or other portion of the anatomy of the wearer and in order to achieve this effect many constructions have been proposed, some of them involving very considerable elaboration in the construction of the front panel or other parts of the garment and the use of a substantial number of thicknesses of material sewn or arranged in diiferent ways. The present invention provides a very simple and effective means of achieving the desired result.

The use of the present invention enables a garment to be constructed which has a slimming and controlling effect on the abdomen, buttocks or thighs of a wearer while avoiding the use of bones and separate layers of material which would tend to bubble and move after numerous wearings or during the sewing process. In fact, this latter is frequently the reason for an early demise of foundation garments since the individual layers of material very quickly become flaccid and bulge. Bulging is then followed by creasing of the flaccid material and, since creases are distinctly visible under outer garments, the foundation must be discarded.

The present invention consists in a girdle made of portions of elastically stretchable material and portions of unstretchable material having at the front, side or rear of the garment and arranged so as to extend over a substantial area thereof, a piece or pieces of stiifening material secured to a portion of the unstretchable material of the girdle or like garment by a bonding process, the nature of the additional material being such that each piece when bonded to the unstretchable material of the garment provides an area of substantially greater stiifness than that of the rest of the garment and thereby can act to produce a flattening effect on a portion of the wearers body.

In order that the invention may be better understood preferred forms thereof are hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which all views are front views and in which FIG. 1 shows a girdle incorporating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a diiferent embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows the invention in still a further modification;

FIG. 5 illustrates still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 finally, shows yet one more modification.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in FIG. 1 the girdle lit) is constructed mainly from two-way stretch elastic material, being provided around its upper and lower edges with the usual reinforcing bands 11 and 12 and having at its front a panel 13 of unstretchable material such as poplin extending the full depth of the garment and having convex sides 14 so that its width increases up to a point about a third of the way down the garment and thereafter decreases to a minimum at the lower edge of the garment. The panel 113 may be provided with any desired form of decoration or embellishment to give it an attractive appearance.

On the inner side of the upper portion of the panel 13 described above there is bonded an additional piece of reinforcing fabric material 15. The material is constructed for bonding by any of the known processes and may, for example, include threads of cellulose acetate which on treatment with a solvent enables the material to be bonded to another piece of material by the application of heat and pressure. The material is chosen so that when bonded to the inner face of the panel it provides an area which is considerably stiffer than the remaining portions of the garment, while still being flexible. It is arranged so as to extend over a substantial area of the upper portion of the abdomen of the wearer within the area bounded on either side by the pelvic bones. It is arranged to extend downwardly only so far as will not interfere with the comfort of the wearer when sitting or bending. In the manufacture of a girdle incorporating the invention the additional reinforcing piece is preferably first sewn along the seam 116 to the material of the panel 13, the bonding process being efiected thereafter in a conventional manner.

It has been found that a girdle incorporating the invention is very effective in its flattening action and that the nature of the material used presents a smooth external surface. It should be noted that this effect is achieved in a particularly simple manner and that a garment embodying the invention is relatively simple to manufacture.

The invention may also be applied to Suspender belts in which the front panel normally extends over only the upper portion of the abdomen and in such a construction the reinforcing material would cover substantially the whole area of the front panel of the belt.

In FIGS. 2 to 6 there are shown panels which may be incorporated in a girdle according to the present invention in a manner similar to the panel 13 of FIG. 1. Each panel consists of unstretchable material such as poplin having bonded to it a piece or pieces of stiffening material. In each figure the area covered by stiffening material is indicated by a and the uncovered area by b.

In FIGS. 2 and 5 a central piece of stiffening material extending substantially throughout the full depth of the panel is employed. In FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 a single stiffening piece arranged to extend over the upper portion of the panel is used.

In all the arrangements shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 the stiffening material is applied by bonding and sewing in the manner described above.

It will be appreciated from the forms of the invention described that the shape of the piece or pieces of stiffening material is not limited to any particular form. It is important, however, that the stiffening material shall not cover so much of the unstretchable material as to destroy the flexibility of the garment or make it uncomfortable in use.

The embodiments of the invention described above are given by way of example only and as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, a variety of other embodiments may be easily devised within the scope of the invention as defined broadly above.

The invention may, for example, be applied also to the provision at the rear or sides of a girdle of a stiffening panel constructed and arranged in such a manner as to provide a slimming and controlling effect on the buttocks and thighs of a wearer. Such a panel could be incorporated in a conventional garment or alternatively incorporated in a garment having a panel at the front in accordance with the invention.

What 1 claim is:

l. A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having an upper half and a lower half, said girdle being provided with an elongated panel consisting of one single-thickness layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material centrally located at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof, said panel being joined to the elastically stretchable material of said girdle and having top and a bottom, said panel having a portion of maximum width intermediate said top and said bottom and said portion of maximum width located in said upper half of the girdle, and a piece of stiffening material consisting of one single-thickness layer of additional material bonded to at least said portion of maximum width of said panel of unstretchable material and covering at least a part of the area of said portion of maximum width, said layer of additional material bonded to said unstretchable material providing an area of substantially greater stiffness than that of the rest of the said panel thereby producing a flattening effect on a part of the body of a wearer while preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundering of said girdle.

2. A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having an upper half and a lower half, said girdle being provided with an elongated panel consisting of one single-thickness layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material centrally located at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof, said panel being joined to the elastically stretchable material of said girdle and having a top and a bottom, said panel having a portion of maximum Width intermedite said top and said bottom of said portion of maximum width located in said upper half of the girdle, and a single piece of stiflening material consisting of one single-thickness layer of additional material bonded to said portion of maximum width of said panel of unstretchable material and covering at least a part of the area of the said pane-l, said single layer of additional material bonded to said portion of maximum Width providing an area of substantially greater stiffness than that of the rest of the said panel and thereby producing a flattening effect on a part of the body of a wearer while preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundering of said girdle.

3. A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having a panel consisting of a single layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof, said panel being joined by a seam to the elastically stretchable material of said girdle, and a single piece of stiffening material consisting of a single layer of additional material bonded to a portion of said panel of unstretchable material, spaced from said seam and covering a portion of the area of the said panel, said single layer of additional material bonded to the said panel of unstretchable material providing an area of substantially greater stiffness than that of the rest of the said panel thereby producing a flattening effect on a part of the body of a wearer while preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundering of said girdle.

4. A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having a panel consisting of a single layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material centrally located at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof, said panel being joined to the elastically stretchable material of said girdle, and a plurality of pieces of stiffening material each consisting of a single layer of additional material bonded to a portion of said panel of unstretchable material and covering a portion of the area of the said panel, each said single layer of additional material bonded to the said panel of unstretchable material providing an area of substantially greater stiffness than that of the rest of the said panel thereby producing a flattening effect on a part of the body of a wearer while preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundcring of said girdle.

5. A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having a panel consisting of a single layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material centrally located at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof said panel being joined by a seam to the elastically stretchable material of said girdle, and a plurality of pieces of stiffening material each consisting of a single layer of additional material bonded to a portion of said panel of unstretchable material, spaced from said seam and covering a portion of the area of the said panel, each said single layer of additional material bonded to the said panel of unstretchable material providing an area of substantially greater stiffness than that of the rest of the said panel thereby producing a flattening effect on a part of the body of a wearer while preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundering of said girdle.

6. A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having a panel consisting of a single layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material centrally located at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof, said panel being joined by a seam to the elastically stretchable ma terial of said girdle, and a plurality of pieces of stiffening material in spaced substantially horizontal parallel relation to each other each consisting of a single layer of additional material bonded to a portion of said panel of unstretchable material, extending to said seam and covering a portion of the area of the said panel, each said single layer of additional material bonded to the said panel of unstretchable material providing an area of substantially greater stiffness than that of the rest of the said panel thereby producing a flattening effect on a part of the body of a wearer While preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundering of said girdle.

7, A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having a panel consisting of a single layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material centrally located at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof, said panel being joined by a seam to the elastically stretchable material of said girdle, and a plurality of pieces of stiffening material in spaced substantially vertical parallel relation to each other each consisting of a single layer of additional material bonded to a portion of said panel of unstretchable material, extending to said seam and covering a portion of the area of the said panel, each said single layer of additional material bonded to the said panel of unstretchable material providing an area of substantially greater stiffness than that of the rest of the said panel thereby producing a flattening effect on a part of the body of a wearer while preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundering of said girdle.

8. A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having an upper half and a lower half, said girdle being provided with an elongated panel consisting of one single-thickness layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material centrally located at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof, said panel being joined to the elastically stretchable material of said girdle and having a top and a bottom, said panel having a portion of maximum width intermediate said top and said bottom and said portion of maximum width located in said upper half of the girdle, and a single piece of stiffening material consisting of one single-thickness layer of additional material bonded to said portion of maximum width of said panel of unstretchable material and overlying a part of the area of the said portion of maximum width covering the upper part of the abdomen of a wearer of said girdle, said single layer of additional material bonded to the said panel of unstretchable material providing an area of substantially greater stillness than that of the rest of the said panel thereby producing a flattening efiect on a part of the abdomen of a wearer while preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundering of said girdle.

9. A girdle made of elastically stretchable material and having a panel consisting of a single layer of soft, pliable, unstretchable material centrally located at the front of said girdle and extending over a substantial portion of the abdominal covering area thereof, said panel being joined to the elastically stretchable material of said girdle, and a plurality of pieces of stiffening material each consisting of a single layer of additional material bonded to a portion of said panel of unstretchable material and covering a portion of the area. of the said panel covering the upper part of the abdomen of a wearer of said girdle, each said single layer of additional material bonded to the said panel of unstretchable material providing an area of substantially greater stiflness than that of the rest of the said panel thereby producing a flattening effect on a part of the abdomen of a wearer While preventing said unstretchable material of said panel from becoming flaccid under the influence of repeated use and frequent laundering of said girdle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,393,612 1/46 Bullinger 128538 2,462,295 2/49 Wittenberg 128-477 2,915,067 12/59 Bracht 128533 3,064,655 11/62 Metz 128-646 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

Claims

1. A GIRDLE MADE OF ELASTICALLY STETCHABLE MATERIAL AND HAVING AN UPPER HALF AND A LOWER HALF, SAID GIRDLE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATED PANEL CONSISTING OF ONE SIGNLE-THICKNESS LAYER OF SOFT, PLIABLE, UNSTRETCHABLE MATERIAL CENTRALLY LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF SAID GIRDLE AND EXTENDING OVER A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE ABDOMINAL COVERING AREA THEREOF, SAID PANEL BEING JOINED TO THE ELASTICALLY STRETCHABLE MATERIAL OF SAID GIRDLE AND HAVING TOP AND A BOTTOM, SAID PANEL HAVING A PORTION OF MAXIMUM WIDTH INTERMEDIATE SAID TOP AND SAID BOTTOM AND SAID PORTION OF MAXIMUM WIDTH LOCATED IN SAID UPPER HALF OF THE GIRDLE, AND A PIECE OF STIFFENING MATERIAL CONSISTING OF ONE SIGNLE-THICKNESS LAYER OF ADDITIONAL MATERIAL BONDED TO AT LEAST SAID PORTION OF MAXIMUM WIDTH OF SAID PANEL OF UNSTRETCHABLE MATERIAL AND COVERING AT LEAST A PART OF THE AREA OF SAID PORTION OF MAXIMUM WIDTH, SAID LAYER OF ADDITIONAL MATERIAL BONDED TO SAID UNSTRETCHABLE MATERIAL PROVIDING AN AREA OF SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER STIFFNESS THAN THAT OF THE REST OF THE SAID PANEL THEREBY PRODUCING A FLATTENING EFFECT ON A PART OF THE BODY OF A WEARER WHILE PREVENTING SAID UNSTRETCHABLE MATERIAL OF SAID PANEL FROM BECOMING FLACCID UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF REPEATED USE AND FREQUENT LAUNDERING OF SAID GIRDLE.