US3258783A

US3258783A - Self-adjusting undergarment

Info

Publication number: US3258783A
Application number: US369905A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph R Martin
Original assignee: Flexnit Co Inc
Current assignee: Flexnit Co Inc
Priority date: 1964-05-25
Filing date: 1964-05-25
Publication date: 1966-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1983-07-05

Description

July 5, 1966 J. R. MARTIN 3,258,783

SELF-ADJUSTING UNDERGARMENT Filed May 25, 1964 INVENTOR Joseph R.Mor'rn ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,258,783 SELF-ADJUSTING UNDERGARMENT Joseph R. Martin, Statesville, N.C., assignor to Flexnit Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,905 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-221) The present invention relates, generally, to undergarments particularly adapted to be worn by the female species.

More particularly, the present invention pertains to undergarments that are particu-larly adapted .to encompass a substantial portion of the torso of the female species, said undergarment being so constructed and arranged as to be self-adjustable, particularly with respect to those portions of the torso known as the waist and hips, enabling the garment to be used by a substantial segment of the female population, substantially irrespective of the dimensional extents and geometries thereof, and further enabling said garment to accommodate the expanding girth of a female during her pregnancy.

Presently, a female might purchase an undergarment, such as a slip, whether it be a full-slip or a half-slip, by requesting a particular size corresponding generally with the dimensions and the geometries of her torso. While the underg-arments of this type that are presently available are usually adjustable in the waist, the degree of adjustability is not sufficient to render them useful by a large segment of the female population, especially since size often varies widely from one female to the next. Accordingly, each manufacturer, for each design of an undergarment of this type, must fabricate and make available a relative plethora of different sizes. In addition, the female whose weight uctuates radically may even be required to purchase different size undergarments of this type.

Moreover, a unique problem is presented to the pregnant female. Undergarments of this type, namely, slips, that are purchased prior to pregnancy, even if the waist band is fabricated of distensible material, are no longer useful as the abdomen protrudes as the period of gestation proceeds. Accordingly, a special maternity slip must be purchased, the same being so constructed and arranged as to adjust to the increasing girth of the abdomen. Maternity garments as are presently available, however, often provide for adjustment in a most complicated manner. For example, there may be provided a plurality of panels that are particularly adapted to be disposed in overlying relationship with respect to one another, and are adjustably associated with one another by means of tie strings. Adjusting an undergarment of this type can be time consuming, and, for the female nearing the end of the aforesaid period of gestation, can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and even diflicult.

Accordingly, having in mind each and every one of the aforesaid disadvantages, and others that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an undergarment that is particularly adapted to encompass a substantial portion of the torso of the female species, said undergarment being so constructed and arranged as to self-adjustably accommodate those portions of the torso known as the waist and hips, substantially irrespective of the widely divergent dimensional extents and geometries thereof, enabling the garment to be used by a substantial segment of the female population, and further enabling said undergarment to self-adjustably accommodate the expanding girth of a fem-ale as she enters a period of gestation and progresses therethrough.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment that is particularly adapted to 3,258,783- Patented July 5, 1966 lCC encompass a substantial portion of the torso of the female species, said undergarment comprising a waist encompassing band that is fabricated of a distendable material at least substantially completely about the periphery thereof, tand at least one self-adjustable panel fabricated of a material distendable in each of a plurality of directions, said panel being disposed generally frontally of said undergarment, enabling said undergarment to self-adjustably accommodate those portions of the torso known as the waist and hips, substantially irrespective of the widely divergent dimensional extents and geometries thereof, whereby said undergarment can be used bya substantial segment of the female population, and further enabling said undergarment to self-adjustably accommodate the expanding girth of a female as she enters `a period of gestation and progresses therethrough.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification following taken with the drawings, which together show, illustrate, describe and disclose a preferred embodiment or modification of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having the benefit of `the teachings herein, and such other embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is ia front elevation view of an undergarment constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the undergarment illustrated in FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. l.

With reference now to the drawings, it will be understood, at the outs-et, that an undergarment constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and generally designated by the reference character 10, may comprise either a half-slip, as illustrated in the drawing, and described hereinafter, or a full-slip. In either case, it will be further understood that such an undergarment is particularly adapted -to cover or encompass a substantial portion of the torso 12 of a female, illustrated in phantom in the drawing.

The undergarment or slip 10 comprises a generally frontally disposed panel 14, and a generally rearwardly disposed panel 16. These panels may be fabricated of any suitable material, and, for example, may be fabricated of one that is non-distendable or non-stretchable. In addition, each of the panels is of substantially the same transverse dimensional extent or width, extending from one side of thetorso 12 to the other side thereof. At the sides of the undergarment 10, the

panels

14 and 16 are particularly adapted to be structurally operatively associated with one another, in any suitable manner, as by means of stitching 18, enabling the garment to encompass the torso, as hereinbefore pointed out.

The longitudinal dimensional extent or length of the panel 14 is substantially the same as that of the panel 16. This dimension may be of any desired extent, and, as pointed out above, may be chosen so that the garment comprises either a half-slip or a full-slip. Irrespective of whether the garment comprises a full or a half-slip, the longitudinal dimensional extent preferably is chosen so that the

panels

14 and 16 extend generally vertically downwardly of the torso 12, terminating a-t a lower end substantially adjacent that portion thereof known as the knees. A decorative panel 20, which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as lace, may be structurally operatively associated with the

panels

14 and 16, at the aforesaid lower end, and, at that end, is particularly adapted to extend completely about the periphery of the garment.

The undergarment comprises, further, a waist band 22, which is particularly adapted to extend 'completely about the periphery thereof at its other end, namely, at its upper end. Accordingly, the waist band is particularly adapted to be disposed at that portion of the torso 12 known as the waist, and may be structurally operatively associated with the garment in any suitable manner and. fabricated of any suitable material. Preferably, however, the waist band is fabricated in such a manner and of such a material as to ren-der the same distensible at least along a substantial portion of the periphery of the garment 10 at the aforesaid upper end. lIn accordance with this construct-ion, a substantial portion of the waist band 22 is fabricated of a distensible material generally longitudinally thereof, In addition, the

panels

14 and 16, along that portion of the band 22 that is distensible, are shirred or gathered, as indicated at 24. It will be understood, the-refore, that the waist band 22 is distensible completely transversely of the panel 16, and partially of the transverse dimension of the panel 14, and the panels, in turn, are so constructed and arranged as to expand and contract therewith, as by means of the shirring 24.

A self-adjusting panel, generally designated by the reference character 26, is particularly adapted to be disposed generally frontally of the garment, and, to this end, is particularly adaptedr to be structurally operatively associated with the panel 14, in any suitable manner, as by means of stitching 27. The panel 27 may be fabricated of any suitable material' that is distensible in each of a plurality ofl directions, that is, stretchable generally vertically as well as generally horizontally, and is of a continuous generally arcuate or U-shaped configuration, extending from the waist band 22 of the garment, generally vertically downwardly therefrom.

In accordance with the `above construction, it will be seen that the panel 26 comprise-s a plurality of

legs

28 and 30, and a bight 32. The -transverse dimensional extent or width of each of the legs is substantially the same. In addition, the legs are of tapering configuration, so that the aforesaid dimension gradually decreases as the legs approach the bight 32. The combined width of the

legs

28 and 30, however, is less than the same dimension of the panel 14. Accordingly, the legs define a generally centrally disposed panel 34 positioned therebetween. This panel may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as the same material from which the

panels

14 and 16 are fabricated, and may be structurally operatively associated with the panel 26 in any suitable manner, as by means of stitching 36. It will now be understood that the panel 34 is particularly adapted to be disposed in overlying relationship with that portion of the torso 12 known as the abdomen. When it is fabricated of the same material as the panel 14, this panel 34, in conjunction with the panel 26, will provide control and support for the abdomen when, for example, the tissues thereof are fiaccid, as well as when a female begins and progresses through a period of gestation.

It will now be understood that the garment 10 is particularly adapted to self-adjustably accommodate the widely divergent dimensiona-l extents and geometries of a substantial segment of the female population, since it is distensible at those portions particularly adapted to be disposed in overlying relationship with respect to the waist, hips and abdomen of the torso 12. This is particularly true since the waist band 22 is distensible longitudinally thereof substantially completely about the periphery of the garment 10 at one end thereof, namely, at the upper end or that end thereof particularly adapted to encompass that portion of the torso 12 known as the waist.. This is additionally true since the self-adjustable panel 26 is disposed generally frontally of the garment and extends substantially completely transversely there- 4 of, as well as generally vertically downwardly from the waist band 22.

Stated in other words, the panel 26 is so configured and arranged as to correspond generally with the configuration of the abdomen of the t-orso 12, particularly at the periphery thereof, and to be disposed generally thereabout and therealong. In addition, the panel is so constructed and arranged as to be distensible in each of a plurality of directions. Accordingly, when the dimensional extent of the torso increases due to an increase in weight, or due to pregnancy, for example, the panel 26 will distend in either one or both of said plurality of directions. As the abdomen protrudes, the change in the dimension thereof, as effected at its periphery, will be self-adjustably accommodated by this panel. And', this will be true completely peripherally of the abdominal portion of the torso, since the waist band `22 is distensible in the manner aforesaid. lFurthermore, since the Panel 26 extends substantially completely of the width of the panel 14, that is, since the

legs

28 and 30 are disposed at the sides of the garment 10, and are particularly adapted to be disposed in overlying relationship with that portion of the torso known as the hips, or substantially adjacent thereto, any increase in the dimensional extent thereof will equally as well be self-adjustably accommodated by the panel 26. Still further, any increase in the girth of the torso 12 substantially at or adjacent the waist of the torso will be self-adjustably accommodated by the `waist band 22. Of course, the same selfadjustable accommodation will take place if the dimensional extent of the torso 12 decreases, as by a decrease in weight. And, even variations at the derriere will be compensated for.

Thus, a single garment constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, or, at the most, a Very few garments, will be particularly useful by a very substantial segment of the female population, irrespective of the widely divergent dimensional extents and geometries thereof, and will be significantly useful by a pregnant female as she proceeds through the period of' gestation. The mere fact that a female purchased the garment 10 prior to pregnancy, however, does not necessitate the purchase of a garment specifically for that purpose. Of course, the garmet 10 can be used solely for maternity purposes. The important concept is that once the garment 10 has been purchased, it need not be stored away merely because the dimensional extents `and ge- -ometries of the torso l2 vary, either because of variations in weight, or because of pregnancy.

The panel 26 has been described hereinbefore as being of a continuous arcuate configuration. It will be understood, however, that it is within the principles of the present invention to eliminate the bight of the panel 26, so that there will be provided a plurality of such selfadjusting panels disposed generally frontally of the garment. Inasmuch as one will be disposed at one side of the garment, and another will be disposed at the other side of the garment, the criteria that the self-adjusting panel extend substantially completely of the transverse dimensional extent or width of the garment 10 will still be satisfied. Of course, if desired, only a single such self-adjustable panel can be disposed generally frontally of the garment 10, such panel being so configured and arranged as to satisfy each and every one of the hereinbefore set forth. criteria, namely, that it extend substantially completely of the transverse dimensional extent of the front of the garment, and generally vertically downwardly from the waist band thereof.

`Certain terminology has been used in the above description to indicate and/or define various. directions. For example, such terminology as frontallyj rearwardly, upper, lower, and the like, has been used. Such terminology has been used to facilitate an understanding of the present invention, both in the aforesaid description, and in the ensuing claims, if and whenA used.

Accordingly, such terminology is to be construed and interpreted as broadly as possible, in its normal and accepted sense, and is not in any way to be considered limiting.

While the invention has been shown, illustrated, described and disclosed in terms of an embodiment or modification which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited by the precise embodiments or modifications herein shown, illustrated, described or disclosed, such other embodiments or modifications intended to be reserved especially as they fall within lthe scope of the claims here appended.

I claim:

1. An undergarment particularly adapted for use by a substantial segment of the female population, substantially irrespective of the varying dimensional extents or geometries thereof, even during the period of gestation, and comprising, in combination:

a plurality of panels;

a waist portion structurally operatively associated with said panels at one end thereof;

said waist portion comprising a band fabricated of a material that is distensible longitudinally thereof completely transversely of one of said panels, and

only partially transversely of another of said panels; an additional panel of nondistensible material;

at least one self-adjusting panel of substantially U- shaped configuration particularly adapted to be disposed in structural operative association with at least one of said panels and forming part of said waist portion;

said adjustable panel being fabricated of a material distensible in each of a plurality of directions, and being so configured and arranged as to extend substantially completely of the transverse dimensional extent of said panels, and generally vertically downwardly from said waist band;

said additional panel being disposed within said selfadjusting panel;

enabling said adjustable panel and said waist band conjointly to self-adjustably accommodate for the varying dimensional extents and geometries of the torso of the female species, even during the period of gestation, particularly with respect to that area thereof known as the waist, hips, and abdomen.

`2. An undergarment as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said adjustable panel is of continuous Iarcuate configuration, and is particularly adapted lto extend along the periphery of the abdominal region of the torso of the female species, enabling said ladjustable panel and said waist band conjointly to respond to variations in the dimensional extents and geometries of the torso particularly with respect to those areas thereof known as the waist, hips and abdomen.

3. An undergarment as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said adjustable panel is of discontinuous arcuate configuration, and is particularly adapted to extend substantially along the periphery of the abdominal region of the torso of the female species, enabling said adjustable panel and said Waist band conjointly to respond to Variations in the dimensional extents and geometries of the torso particularly with respect to .those areas thereof known as the waist, hips and abdomen.

4. An undergarment as defined in claim 1, wherein: said two panels associated with said band are shirred along a portion of each of them corresponding with those portions of the Waist band that are distensible.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,277,006 8/1918 Weis 2-22l 2,873,452 2/1959 Jacobs 2-221 3,080,869 3/1963 Alberts 12S-579 X FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

JORfDON FRANKLIN, Examiner.

M. I. COLITZ, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN UNDERGARMENT PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE BY A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT OF THE FEMALE POPULATION, SUBSTANTIALLY IRESPECTIVE OF THE VARYING DIMENSIONAL EXTENTS OR GEOMETRIES THEREOF, EVEN DURING THE PERIOD OF GESTATION, AND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A PLURALITY OF PANELS; A WAIST PORTION STRUCTURALLY OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PANELS AT ONE END THEREOF; SAID WAIST PORTION COMPRISING A BAND FABRICATED OF A MATERIAL THAT IS DISTENSIBLE LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF COMPLETELY TRANSVERSELY OF ONE OF SAID PANELS, AND ONLY PARTIALLY TRANSVERSELY OF ANOTHER OF SAID PANELS; AN ADDITIONAL PANEL OF NONDISTENSIBLE MATERIAL; AT LEAST ONE SELF-ADJUSTING PANEL OF SUBSTANTIALLY USHAPED CONFIGURATION PARTICULARLY ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN STRUCTURAL OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PANELS AND FORMING PART OF SAID WAIST PORTION; SAID ADJUSTABLE PANEL BEING FABRICATED OF A MATERIAL DISTENSIBLE IN EACH OF A PLURALITY OF DIRECTIONS, AND BEING SO CONFIGURED AND ARRANGED AS TO EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY OF THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONAL EXTENT OF SAID PANELS, AND GENERALLY VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID WAIST BAND; SAID ADDITIONAL PANEL BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SELFADJUSTING PANEL; ENABLING SAID ADJUSTABLE PANEL AND SAID WAIST BAND CONJOINTLY TO SELF-ADJUSTABLY ACCOMMODATE FOR THE VARYING DIMENSIONAL EXTENTS AND GEOMETRIES OF THE TORSO OF THE FEMALE SPECIES, EVEN DURING THE PERIOD OF GESTATION, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO THAT AREA THEREOF KNOWN AS THE WAIST, HIPS, AND ABDOMEN.