US3314433A

US3314433A - Surgical girdle and panty

Info

Publication number: US3314433A
Application number: US454525A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emory C Champagne; Thomas J Mcguire
Original assignee: Berger Brothers Co
Current assignee: Berger Brothers Co
Priority date: 1965-05-10
Filing date: 1965-05-10
Publication date: 1967-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1984-04-18

Description

April 18, 1967' E. c. CHAMPAGNE ETAL SURGICAL GIRDLE AND PANTY Filed May 10, 1965 United States Patent M 3,314,433 SURGICAL GIRDLE AND PANTY Emory C. Champagne, Woodbridge, and Thomas .I. McGuire, New Haven, Conn., assignors to The Berger Brothers Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 454,525 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-520) This invention relates generally to the field of surgical garments, and more particularly to an improved type resembling in many respects conventional foundation-type garments, but having incorporate-d therein means for ameliorating chronic back problems.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved garment of this type incorporating a pelvic support which tightens around the trochanter of a wearer.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved surgical garment including a single support element which not only provides pelvic support, but which extends upwardly therefrom to support the back of the wearer as well.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provi-.

sion of an improved surgical girdle which may simultaneously offer support to the back of a wearer and abdominal uplift.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved surgical girdle in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution, and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the provision of relatively inelastic front and back panels which are separated by elastic panels, so that maximum support is obtained with substantial comfort.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention, the same being in partially opened condition to show detail.

FIGURE 2 is a similar rear elevational view, showing the side opposite that seen in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view showing a modified form of the embodiment.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 44 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 in FIGURE 4.

In accordance with the principal embodiment of the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a resilient element 11, a back panel element 12, a front panel element 13, and left and right tensioning elements 14 and 15, respectively.

The resilient element 11 is of generally tubular configuration and is formed from well-known materials having a degree of elasticity in each of two perpendicular directions. It includes an upper portion 17 having a pair of leg portions :18 and 19 extending downwardly there from, the leg portions 18 and 19 being interconnected by a crotch portion 20, preferably of non-resilient material.

' The upper portion 17 is bounded by an overlapping upper edge 21 to provide means for donning the garment. The leg portions 18 and 19 are each provided with elastic rings 22 and 23 at the lower edges thereof. Depending from the inner surface of the leg portions 18 and 19 are garter members 26, 27, 28 and 29 of well-known type.

3,314,433 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 Extending downwardly from the upper edge 21 are short boning

members

30 and 31 for preventing edge roll-over, as is well-known in the art.

The back panels element 12 overlies the resilient element 11 at the dorsal areas of the wearer and is formed of non-resilient textile material. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the element 12 includes a planar panel 34 bounded by an upper edge 35, a lower edge 36, and vertical edges 37 and 38. Adjacent the edges 37 and 38 are covers 39 and 40, respectively, enclosing relatively

heavy steel members

41 and 42, respectively. As will more fully appear hereinbelow, when the tensioning elements 14 and 15 are placed in tension, the entire panel 34 becomes semi-rigid, and urges the

steels

41 and 42 against the back of the wearer, wherein the same is maintained in a more upright position relieving muscle spasm from the back.

The front panel element 13 includes a non-elastic panel 46 bounded by an upper edge 47, vertical side edges 48 and 49, converging edge portions 50 and 51 and a curved lower edge 52 which interconnects with the crotch piece 20.

The edge 48 incorporates a light boning extending from the upper edge 47 to a lower terminal 57. A centrally positioned cover 58 incorporates similar light boning from an upper end 56 to a lower terminal 60.

The side edge 49 is selectively interconnected to the resilient element 11 vertically downward to the point indicated by reference character 62, and is provided with a slide fastener tape 63 and well as hooks 64. The underlying corresponding edge 65 is provided with eye members 66, and a corresponding slide fastener tape 67 underlies the tape 63. A short strip of material 68 underlies the eye members 66 to prevent cutting of the wearer, the same being interconnected by a line of stitches 69. Relatively light boning 70 corresponds to the boning member 55, the boning members 55, 59 and 70 contributing to abdomen support.

The elements 14 and 15 are similar and symmetrically positioned, and accordingly a detailed description of one of said elements will serve equally well to describe the other. The element 14 includes a rear planar member 72 bounded by a vertical edge 73, an upper curved edge 74, a lower curved edge 75, and a forward curved edge 76. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the arrangement of the material comprising the member 72 is such that the cloth runs on the straight with respect to the upper edge 74 and on a bias with respect to the edge 75, thereby effectively preventing distortion of the lower edge 75 when the tensioning element is under tension. This distortion would otherwise occur in the generally triangularly-shaped area generally indicated by reference character 77. Extending forwardly from the area 77 is a tab area 78 which is preferably padded.

Overlying the tab area 78 is a first planar member 79 bounded by a vertical stitched edge 80, a vertical free edge 81, a curved upper edge 82, and a curved lower edge 83. The free edge 81 engages one end of each of first and second

adjustable straps

84 and 85 which are threaded through retaining buckles 86 secured to the rear member 72. The free ends 87 of the

straps

84 and 85 are threaded through loops 88 as best seen in FIG- URE 1.

When the garment has been donned as seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2, the

straps

84 and 85 of each of the elements 14 and 15 are individually adjusted for maximum comfort and effective control; Tension is transmitted through the elements 14 and 15 to result in rigidifying the back panel element 12, and materially stiffen the front panel element 13. At the sides of the wearer, pressure is only experienced at the trochanter, an effect which physicians have found helpful in relieving pain.

Turning now to the alternate form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, parts corresponding to those of the principal form have been designated by similar reference characters with the additional suffix a.

The embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 differs from the principal form in the elimination of the pantie structure at the lower portion of the garment, the resilient tubular element terminating in a continuous lower edge 91 which covers the pelvis of the wearer but terminates above the crotch area thereof, this embodiment being particularly suited where resilient control of the thighs of the wearer is not required.

We wish it to be understood that we do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

' We claim:

1. A surgical-type girdle comprising: a resilient tubular element adapted to enclose the lower trunk of a wearer, a back panel element of substantially non-resilient material overlying said tubular element, and having a pair of steels incorporated along the vertically disposed side edges thereof, a front panel element of substantially non-resilient material interconnecting portions of said tubular element, and first and second tensioning elements interconnecting said front and back panel elements on each side of the tubular element; said tensioning elements each including first and second planar members connected to said front and back'panel elements, respectively, said first and second planar members being mutually interconnected by a plurality of strap means, each of which is individually adjustable.

2. A surgical-type girdle comprising: a resilient tubular element adapted to enclose the lower trunk of a wearer, a back panel element of substantially non-resilient material overlying said tubular element, and having a pair of steels incorporated along the vertically disposed side edges thereof, a'front panel element of substantially non-resilient material interconnecting portions of said tubular element, and first and second tensioning elements interconnecting said front and back panel elements on each side of the tubular element; said tensioning elements each including first and second planar members connected to said front and back panel elements, respectively, said first and second planar members being mutually interconnected by a plurality of strap means, each of which is individually adjustable; said resilient tubular element terminating in a continuous lower edge disposed above the crotch area of a wearer.

3. A surgical-type girdle comprising: a resilient tubular element adapted to enclose the lower trunk of a wearer, a back panel element of substantially non-resilient material overlying said tubular element, and having a pair of steels incorporated along the vertically disposed side edges thereof, a front panel element of substantially non-resilient material interconnecting portions of said tubular element, and first and second tensioning elements interconnecting said front and back panel elements on each side of the tubular element, said tensioning elements each including first and second planar members connected to said front and back panel elements, respectively, said first and second planar members being mutually interconnected by a plurality of strap means, each of which is individually adjustable; said resilient tubular element forming a pantie including separate leg-enclosing members at a lower portion thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,220,271 3/1917 Pitcan 128552 1,798,368 3/1931 Camp 128552 2,680,848 6/1954 Hannes et al. 128-552 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,033,067 4/ 1953' France.

ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A SURGICAL-TYPE GIRDLE COMPRISING: A RESILIENT TUBULAR ELEMENT ADAPTED TO ENCLOSE THE LOWER TRUNK OF A WEARER, A BACK PANEL ELEMENT OF SUBSTANTIALLY NON-RESILIENT MATERIAL OVERLYING SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT, AND HAVING A PAIR OF STEELS INCORPORATED ALONG THE VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIDE EDGES THEREOF, A FRONT PANEL ELEMENT OF SUBSTANTIALLY NON-RESILIENT MATERIAL INTERCONNECTING PORTIONS OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT, AND FIRST AND SECOND TENSIONING ELEMENTS INTERCONNECTING SAID FRONT AND BACK PANEL ELEMENTS ON EACH SIDE OF THE TUBULAR ELEMENT; SAID TENSIONING ELEMENTS EACH INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND PLANAR MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID FRONT AND BACK PANEL ELEMENTS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID FIRST AND SECOND PLANAR MEMBERS BEING MUTUALLY INTERCONNECTED BY A PLURALITY OF STRAP MEANS, EACH OF WHICH IS INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE.