US3177877A

US3177877A - Girdle with auxiliary abdominal support

Info

Publication number: US3177877A
Application number: US264903A
Authority: US
Inventors: Popp Estelle
Original assignee: BENJAMIN AND JOHNES Inc
Current assignee: BENJAMIN AND JOHNES Inc
Priority date: 1963-03-13
Filing date: 1963-03-13
Publication date: 1965-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-13

Description

April 13, 1965 E. POPP GIRDLE WITH AUXILIARY ABDOMINAL SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1963 INVENTOR 56 72-215 POPP BY 2 ATTORNEY April 13, 1965 E. POPP 3,177,877

GIRDLE WITH AUXILIARY ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed March 13, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 57544 E POP/ BY%7M A TTOIP/VE Y April 13, 1965 E. POPP GIRDLE WITH AUXILIARY ABDOMINAL SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 Filed March 13, 1963 INVENTOR. E STELZ E POP/9' 4 BY 2 United States Patent. O

3,177,877 GIRDLE WITH AUXILIARY ABDOMINAL SUPPQRT Estelle Popp, New York, N.Y., assignor to Benjamin & Johnes, Incorporated, Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 264,903 2 Claims. (Cl. 128'-547) This invention relates in general to body-encircling garments and more particularly to a so-called boneless, pullon girdle of either the waistline, high-top or panty type, or to an all-in-one corselet.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a bodyencircling garment and particularly a girdle which includes a main portion endless or continuous circumferentially and has at least portions thereof elastically expandible and contractible so that the girdle can be pulled onto the body with the elastic portions yielding or stretching until the garment has reached the desired point on the body whereupon the elastic portions will hold the garment in the desired position and with the desired yielding support of the body, and auxiliary means connected to said main portion for drawing or tightening the garment around the body, particularly in the front zone or abdominal portion so as to provide an additional or auxiliary support for the abdominal wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a girdle wherein the auxiliary abdominal-supporting means shall include a novel and improved construction and combination of a plurality of sections connected to the main portion of the girdle and separably connected together by a slide fastener, whereby after the girdle has been pulled onto the body, the abdominal supporting means can be placed under tension by closing of the slide fastener and thereby provide auxiliary support for the abdominal wall.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description. in conjunction With the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a girdle embodying the invention, showing schematically the garment in use position on the body with the slide fastener closed and the abdominal support drawn tightly against the ab-.

dominal wall; 7

FIGURE 2 is a similar view with the slide fastener in open position and with the abdominal support released;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the girdle in flattened condition with the auxiliary abdominal support in the same condition as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a similar .view showing the abdominal supporting means in the same condition as shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan View of the girdle from the plane of the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a similar view from the plane of the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the plane of the line 77 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a similar view on the plane of the line 8-8 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the front portion of the garment taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of FIGURE 3.

While the invention may be embodied in diiferent articles and different types of body-encircling garments, the invention has been shown in a generally known type of so-called boneless, pull-on girdle which includes a front panel A and a rear panel B and two side panels C that are stitched together to provide a circumferentially endless or continuous main portion.

The rear panel comprises a central section 1 formed of material thatis elastic only longitudinally of the gar ment, that is, from the top edge to the bottom edge, but is non-elastic laterally or circumferentially of the garment; and two flank sections 3 each of which is elastic both longitudinally and circumferentially of the garment, the central section and the flank section being stitched together by longitudinal lines of stitches 4.

The side panels C are elastic longitudinally of the garment but non-elastic circumferentially of the garment and are secured tothe flank sections 3 of the rear panel by lines of stitches 5. The side panels C are connected to the front panel A by lines of stitches 6, and the front panel comprises two

sections

7 and 8 that are formed of fabric that is elastic both longitudinally and circumferentially of the garment; and the two sections'are secured together by a seam 9 of known construction. As usual, the lines of

stitches

4, 5 and 6 are such as to permit the stretching of the fabric sections which are connected by the stitches, but preferably the seam 9 is non-stretchable both circumferentially and longitudinally of'the garment, the seam as shown comprising the overlapped edges of the two

sections

7 and 8 that are overlaid by a tape 10 which is secured to the edge portions of both ofthe

sections

7 and 8 by longitudinal lines of stitches 11.

It will be observed that the main portion of the girdle constructed as described can be pulled onto the body,

the elastic sections providing sufficient expansibility or stretchability of the garment andalso drawing the garmcnt into tight fitting engagement with the body from a point below the hips to the waistline or above, the inherent elasticity of the main portion of the garment also providing a certain amount of support for the abdominal wall..

The present invention contemplates an auxiliary abdominal support which is constructed in such a way as not to interfere with the easy application of the garment to the body but which will provide additional tension and support in the zone of the abdominal wall and which can be brought into abdominal-supporting action or position by a simple zip or sliding of the slider of a slide fastener.

i As shown, this auxiliary abdominal support D cornprises two

sections

12 and 13 one edge of each of which extending longitudinally of the girdle is secured by a line of stitches 14 to one of the

sections

7 or 8 of the front panel. The other longitudinal edges of the

sections

12 and 13 are normally unconnected from the top edge of the garment to a point intermediate the upper-and lower edges of the garment, preferably adjacent the lower edge of the garment so as to normally provide an approximately V-shaped gap between those edges as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 4.

In accordance with the invention, said edges are connectible and disconnectible by a quick acting fastener such as a slide fastener which in the present instance is shown as comprising complemental

slide fastener tapes

15 and 16 one of which is connected to the free edge of each of the

sections

12 and 13, for example, by lines of stitches 17, and has at its edge a plurality of fastener elements 18 of known type that are adapted to engage and disengage similar elements on the other tape upon movement of a slider 19 of known type longitudinally of the rows of fastener elements.

The

sections

12 and 13 of the auxiliary abdominal support are non-elastic or substantially non-stretchable in all directions but are preferably shaped and stitched to the front sections of the garment along the lines 14 so that when the main portion of the garment is stretched circumferentially, with the slide fastener released, the disconnected edges of the

sections

12 and 13 will be pulled apart, especially when the garment is pulled onto the body as shown in FIGURE 2, and the proportions and shape of the sections ofthe abdominal support are such that upon pulling of the slider upwardly on the garment the slide fastener is gradually closed and the auxiliary abdominal support sections are drawn toward each other circumferentially'of the garment and body so as to thereby apply circumferential tension to the garment in such a way as to flatten and support the abdominal wall. It

will be notedthat when the slide fastener is closed as shown in FIGURE 1, the portion of the front panel of the garment that is overlaid by the abdominal support sections 12 and 13whileremaining elastic and taut on the body, is substantially non-stretchable due to the nonstretchability of the

sections

12 and 13 so as to'provide a firm support for the abdominal wall, while at thesarne time permitting free stretching of the other portions of the garment.

Itis, of course, important that the auxiliary abdominal;

support portions be of such shape and size that when the garmentis in its normal non-stretchedcondition, the;

free edgeportions of the abdominal support sections are in'close proximity to each other and unconnected, for

example, as shown in FIGURE 3, while when the upper portionparticularly of the garment is stretched circum It will be noted that a binding and finishing strip is stitched to the upper edge portion of the garment and a similar strip 21 is stitched to the lower edge of the. garment, but, of course, these structural details form no, part of the invention.

While the invention has been shown as embodiedin' certain specific structural details, it should be understood that the details of construction of the invention may be modified and changed and the invention may be embodied in other circumferentially stretchable articles or garments, all within the spirit and scope of the invention;

I claim: e

1. A body-encircling garment including a circumferentially continuous expandible and contractible main portion having upper and lower ends and a front zone that is expandible and contractible both longitudinally and circumferentially of the main portion, and an auxiliary abdominal support'comprising two non-stretchable sections in partially overlying'relation to said frontzone, each connected continuously along one edge to said main portion between said upper and lower ends and having an opposite edge connected to, said-main portion from the upper end to a point between said upper and lower ends and otherwise free of said main portion and free from the corresponding edge of the other section, the secondmentioned edges of said sections being normally pulled away. from each otherfrom, said point to the upper end of the main portion upon expansion of the main portion, and a fastener means to pull and connect said secondmentioned edges together and thereby limit stretching of said main portion between the points of connection thereto of said sectionsof the auxiliary, abdominal support while said second-mentioned edges are connected and at the same timeexerta flattening action ontheabdominal wall of the wearer of the girdle, said fastener means comprising a row of fastener elements on eachlof said secondmentioned edges for connection to and disconnection from fastener elements on the second-mentioned edge of the other section, and a slider coacting with said rows ;of

fastener elements for connectingand. disconnecting said fastener elements uponmovement of; th e' sliderin oppo: site directions, respectively, longitudinally of said rows of said fastener elements.

, 2. A- body-encircling garment as defined in claimv 1 wherein saidmain portion comprises inaddition to said: front zone a rear panel that includes a central section formed of material that is elastic longitudinally of the garment from the upper end to the bottom end but is,

non-elastic circumferentially of the garment and two: flank sections each of which is elastic both longitudinally and circumferentially of the garment and each has one; edge stitched to one edge of the central section, said maint portion. also includes side-panels that arenon-elasticcincumferentially of the garment but elastic longitudinally of, the garment and each of which has one edge stitched ,to one edge of one or said flank sections, said front zone is a, panel that comprises'two sections elastic both longitudinally. and circumferentially of thegarment and each of which has one edge secured to one;edgeofthe other fromgthe, upper end to the lower end of the main portion andits; other edge secured to one edge of one of: the side panels, and the first-mentioned edge of eachsectiorrv of the auxiliary abdominal support is stitched to one of. the sec-- tions of the front panel, and the second mentioned edges of the sections of the auxiliary abdominal support are connected together and to the front panel of the rnain por; tion between saidtfastener and thelower end of; the main portion. v

, References Cited bytlieEiantiner UNITED STATES PATENTS V r 2,603,787 7/52 -Leventhal l28-532 2,633,575 4/53 Hickey 128-560 2,980,111 4/61 Langman l28, 566 3,098,486 7/ 63 Dorsey 1285 21 FOREIGN PATENTS 356, 101 9/61 Switzerland.

ADELE M; EAGER, PrimaryExaminer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,177,877 I April 15, 1965 Estelle Popp It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 54, for "upper", first occurrence, read lower Signed and sealed this 4th day of April 1967.

( L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents EDWARD J. BRENNER

Claims

1. A BODY-ENCIRCLING GARMENT INCLUDING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY CONTINUOUS EXPANDIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE MAIN PORTION HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ENDS AND FRONT ZONE THAT IS EXPANDIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE BOTH LONGITUDINALLY AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE MAIN PORTION, AND AN AUXILIARY ABDOMINAL SUPPORT COMPRISING TWO NON-STRETCHABLE SECTIONS IN PARTIALLY OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID FRONT ZONE, EACH CONNECTED CONTINUOUSLY ALONG ONE EDGE TO SAID MAIN PORTION BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER ENDS AND HAVING AN OPPOSITE EDGE CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN PORTION FROM THE UPPER END TO A POINT BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER ENDS AND OTHERWISE FREE OF SAID MAIN PORTION AND FREE FROM THE CORRESPONDING EDGE OF THE OTHER SECTION, THE SECONDMENTIONED EDGES OF SAID SECTIONS BEING NORMALLY PULLED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER FROM SAID POINT TO THE UPPER END OF THE MAIN PORTION UPON EXPANSION OF THE MAIN PORTION, AND A FASTENER MEANS TO PULL AND CONNECT SAID SECONDMENTIONED EDGES TOGETHER AND THEREBY LIMIT STRETCHING OF SAID MAIN PORTION BETWEEN THE POINTS OF CONNECTION THERETO OF SAID SECTIONS OF THE AUXILIARY ABDOMINAL SUPPORT WHILE SAID SECOND-MENTIONED EDGES ARE CONNECTED AND AT THE SAME TIME EXERT A FLATTENING ACTION ON THE ABDOMINAL WALL OF THE WEARER OF THE GIRDLE, SAID FASTENER MEANS COMPRISING A ROW OF FASTENER ELEMENTS ON EACH OF SAID SECONDMENTIONED EDGES FOR CONNECTION TO AND DISCONNECTION FROM FASTENER ELEMENTS ON THE SECOND-MENTIONED EDGE OF THE OTHER SECTION, AND A SLIDER COACTING WITH SAID ROWS OF FASTENER ELEMENTS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING SAID FASTENER ELEMENTS UPON MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, RESPECTIVELY, LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID ROWS OF SAID FASTENER ELEMENTS.