US3797501A

US3797501A - Panty girdle

Info

Publication number: US3797501A
Application number: US00317934A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tullio F Di
Original assignee: Munsingwear Inc
Current assignee: Munsingwear Inc
Priority date: 1972-12-26
Filing date: 1972-12-26
Publication date: 1974-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-19

Abstract

This improved panty girdle comprises a pair of leg forming components which define the skeletal structure of the girdle. The components each comprise a band of material having one end turned and closed upon the band to form a ''''d'''' and a ''''b'''' shaped configuration. The looped portions of the bands are joined together to form a conformable and comfortable crotch region, with the tail pieces of the components extending generally diagonally upwardly at places on the waistband located in juxtaposed relationship to the bony protuberance of the hip bone. A central control panel is inserted between the upwardly extending tail pieces, and a back panel completes the garment with frontally extending portions. The leg forming elements are made of stretch yarn and the remaining portion of the girdle is formed of two way stretch material. A balance of control is achieved between the stretch yarn band and its anchoring arrangement along with the stretch characteristics of the main body of the girdle.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Di Tullio [451 Mar. 19, 1974 PANTY GIRDLE Flavia Di Tullio, New York, NY.

[73] Assignee: Munsingwear, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 317,934

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 128/528, 2/224 A [51] Int. Cl. A41c 1/02 [58] Field of Search 128/518, 524,528, 531,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,499,442 3/1970 Steinmetz 128/528 x FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,395,893 3/1965 France 2/224 A 779.461 7/1957 Great Britain 128/528 Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flam & Flam 5 7] ABSTRACT This improved panty girdle comprises a pair of leg forming components which define the skeletal structure of the girdle. The components each comprise a band of material having one end turned and closed upgnthe band to form a d and a b shaped configuration. The looped portions of the bands are joined together to form a conformable and comfortable crotch region, with the tail pieces of the components extending generally diagonally upwardly at places on the waistband located in juxtaposed relationship to the bony protuberance of the hip bone. A central control panel is inserted between the upwardly extending tail pieces, and aback panel completes the garment with frontally extending portions. The leg forming elements are made of stretch yarn and the remaining portion of the girdle is formed of two way stretch material. A balance of control is achieved between the stretch yarn band and its anchoring arrangement along with the stretch characteristics of the main body of the girdle.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures sir-97501 PATENIEDIIIIS B74 SHEET 1 0F 2 PATENTEDIAVR 19 m4 SHEET 2 [1F 2 PANTY GIRDLE RELATED APPLICATION This invention is also the subject of design patent application Ser. No. 297960, filed on Oct. 16, 1972.

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to panty girdles, and particularly to panty girdles of the type utilizing bands of stretch yarn located adjacent or defining the leg openings. Such use of stretch materials has been popular in order to eliminate the tendency of the leg parts of the girdle from riding upwardly or the tendency of the waistband to pull downwardly when a longitudinal stress is imposed upon the girdle by walking, bending or sitting.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION United States Pat. No. 3,554,200 to Concetta L. Cuozzi discloses a girdle structure in which a band of stretch yarn material conveniently forms not only the leg openings, but also a conformable and comfortable crotch structure. The Cuozzi structure makes-possible a very simple cutting pattern and makes possible simple sewing operations. Yet the figure control achieved by the Cuozzi girdle is general, and not defined.

The primary object of this invention is to improve upon the Cuozzi girdle by utilizing the bands of stretch yarn in a novel way so that they form not only the leg openings but also longitudinal control members. A companion object of this invention is to achieve this function without materially complicating either the cutting pattern or the required sewing operations.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by forming the leg openings obliquely so thatthe sides of the leg opening at the crotch can be extended diagonally upwardly to the waistband. A V-shaped control panel fits between the upwardly extending ends of the respective leg pieces. A unique balance of control is achieved by the diagonally extending stretch bands, since the bands yield only slightly in the longitudinal direction, but yield far more easily in the transverse direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures. These drawings are to scale.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the front of the girdle shown in place on the body of the wearer.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view showing the back and side of the girdle, the girdle in place upon the body of the wearer.

FIG. 3 is a frontelevational view of the girdle as it lies flat.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the girdle as it lies flat.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 55 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The girdle 10 comprises three parts: a back panel 12, a front control panel 14 and a combined crotch and leg band 16. The band 16 forms the skeletal structure of the entire garment.

The band 16 is made of conventional stretch yarn material that exhibits a high degree of transverse flexibility and a high degree of longitudinal elasticity and resilience. Thus a significant amount of force is required to produce a unit of longitudinal stretch, but only a slight force is required to produce a unit of transverse elongation.

The band 16 (FIG. 3) may be made from one piece of material with partial longitudinal cuts extending inwardly from both ends. One out forms opposed

edges

18 and 20 and the other out forms opposed

edges

22 and 24. The inner ends of the respective cuts are spaced from each other to form a crotch region 26 free of stitching. The cuts form left and right leg components L and R. Optionally, the components can be formed as two separate bands joined together by overcast or other suitable stitching at the crotch region.

Each of the leg components has one end L, or R, turned to form a loop with the legcomponent itself, leaving a tail piece L, or R,. The ends L and R,.extend substantially at right angles to the tail pieces L, and R,.

The closed loops formed by the ends define leg openings of the garments. The tail pieces L, and R, diverge from the crotch region, the angle between these pieces being chosen so that the upper ends of the tail pieces generally overlie the frontal protuberance of the hip bone. It is at this region that the thickness of flesh is generally small; consequently, firm anchor points to the skeletal structure are established for the tail pieces R, and L,. The V-shaped frontal control panel 14 is in serted between the leg components and suitably sewn in place as by overcast stitching 30 (FIG. 5). The central control panel is made of suitable two way stretch material such as elastic net commonly known as power net.

The central control panel 14 may include any variety of stiffening materials for imparting abdominal control. In the present instance, the stiffening material comprises a triangular insert 32 also made of power net material whereby increased stiffening is imparted.

Theback panel 12 may be made in two pieces, a left back panel and a right back panel. sewn together along the rear buttocks cleavage line as at 34 (FIG. 4). The back panel has lower edges sewn to the leg band components. The upper edges of the back panel are formed to provide a waistband in conjunction with the top edge of the panel 14. It is preferably made of two way stretch material similar to that of the frontal panel 14.

The waistband of the girdle may, if desired, be reinforced by a soft pile band sewn on the inside of the girdle.

The tail pieces R, and L, form firm control members, anchored as they are at the hipbone protuberances at their upper ends. The lateral flexibility of the band components provides a highly satisfactory balance of girdle control in combination with the anchored tail pieces L, and R,.

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, I make the following claims:

1. In a panty girdle: a pair of leg forming components, each. of the components comprising a band of material having one end turned to close upon the band forming a leg loop and leaving a tail piece at the other end; said leg forming components being joined together at the loops to form a crotch region; said tail pieces extending diagonally outwardly and upwardly to the waistband and generally to,the region of the hip bone protuberances respectively; a control panel sewn between the tail pieces and extending to the crotch region; and a back panel extending around the back of the girdle and having side portions extending frontally and terminating at the outside of said tail pieces.

2. The panty girdle as set forth in claim 1 in which said end abuts the intermediate portion of said leg forming components substantially at right angles and is joined thereto by a line of stitching whereby no thickness is added to the garment.

3. The panty girdle as set forth in claim 1 in which said leg forming components are formed of material having the characteristics of stretch yarn, namely high flexibility in the transverse direction with little resilience, and high elasticity and resilience in the longitudinal direction whereby a balance of control is achieved.

4. The panty girdle as set forth in claim 3 in which said control panel and said back panel are made of material having the characteristics of plastic netting.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said end abuts the intermediate portion of said leg forming component substantially at right angles and is joined thereto by a line of stitching whereby no thickness is added to the garment.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said central control panel is provided with reinforcing means to add a degree of stiffness.

Claims

1. In a panty girdle: a pair of leg forming components, each of the components comprising a band of material having oNe end turned to close upon the band forming a leg loop and leaving a tail piece at the other end; said leg forming components being joined together at the loops to form a crotch region; said tail pieces extending diagonally outwardly and upwardly to the waistband and generally to the region of the hip bone protuberances respectively; a control panel sewn between the tail pieces and extending to the crotch region; and a back panel extending around the back of the girdle and having side portions extending frontally and terminating at the outside of said tail pieces.