Garment

• US 7,074,204 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wacoal Corporation (Wacoal Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wacoal Corporation (Wacoal Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Murakami, Toshiko, Fujii, Takako, Saka, Risa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIEKER, AMANDA FLYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/088,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,038 Days
• Field of Search: 602/75, 602/60, 602/61, 602/67, 128/96.1, 128/99.1, 128/100.1, 128/95.1, 128/98.1, 246/4, 246/6, 450/94, 450/95, 450/99, 450/115
• US Class Current: 602/75
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 2400/38 Shaping the contour of the body or adjusting the figure
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 1/003 Panty-girdles
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/08 specially adapted for sporting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/089 Shorts
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/322 Massage
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/185 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/028 Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/06 Patterned fabrics or articles open-work fabrics D04B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/207 Wearing apparel or garment blanks
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0112 One smooth surface, e.g. laminated or coated
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/021 Hosiery; Panti-hose

Abstract

A garment comprising a stretch fabric wherein the garment covers at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body, wherein the garment in part has a first portion with a strong straining force; first portion with a strong straining force is a strong straining portion (A); right and left parts of the portion (A) are connected at a second position on the back side of the garment corresponding to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body; and the portion (A) covers a region extending from second position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major.

Claims

1. A garment comprising a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body, wherein:

the garment in part has a portion with a strong straining force;

the portion with a strong straining force is a first strong straining portion;

wearer'"'"'s right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body; and

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through the furthest dorsal point of bulge of each buttock in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus to at least the vicinity of trochanter major at wearer'"'"'s right and left.

2. The garment according to claim 1, further comprising a second strong straining portion, wherein:

right and left parts of the second portion are connected at a position on the garment adapted to correspond to musculus rectus abdominis in a hypogastric region; and

the second portion is adapted to cover a region extending obliquely downward from the position on musculus rectus abdominis in a hypogastric region approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus obliquus internus abdominis at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major.

3. The garment according to claim 2, further comprising:

a fourth strong straining portion,

wherein right and left parts of the fourth portion are connected at a position on the garment adapted to correspond to musculus rectus abdominis in a hypogastric region; and

the fourth portion is adapted to cover a region extending obliquely upward from the position on musculus rectus abdominis in a hypogastric region approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus obloquies externus abdominis at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least a position exceeding the sides of the wearer to the back side.

4. The garment according to claim 3, further comprising:

a seventh strong straining portion,

wherein right and left parts of the seventh portion are connected approximately in the vicinity of a position on the garment adapted to correspond to the back center of the waist; and

the seventh portion is adapted to cover a region extending from the vicinity of the position at the back center of the waist through musculus latisimus dorsi and musculus gluteus medius at wearer'"'"'s right and left and a part of musculus obloquies externus abdominis to at least a position exceeding the sides of the wearer to the front side.

5. The garment according to claim 4, further comprising:

an eleventh strong straining portion in which the fourth portion and the seventh portion are united and continuous.

6. The garment according to claim 1, wherein:

the second portion also has a fifth strong straining portion; and

the fifth portion is adapted to cover further a region extending from the vicinity of trochanter major through a lower part of the bulges of the buttocks.

7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein:

the second portion also has a sixth strong straining portion; and

the sixth portion is adapted to cover further a region extending from the vicinity of trochanter major through at least a part of hamstrings in regio femoralis posterior.

8. The garment according to claim 1, wherein a strong straining portion is formed by laminating a cloth on the front side or back side of a main body fabric of the garment.

9. The garment according to claim 1, wherein a strong straining portion is formed by changing a stitch for knitting a main body fabric of the garment to form a weak straining portion and a strong straining portion in patterns.

10. The garment according to claim 1, wherein a strong straining portion is formed by laminating a film of a synthetic resin or rubber having elasticity on a predetermined part of a main body fabric of the garment or by impregnating or coating a predetermined part of a main body fabric of the garment with a solution or emulsion of a synthetic resin or rubber having elasticity followed by drying.

11. The garment according to claim 1, wherein a strong straining portion has a straining force of 150 to 400 gf.

12. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the stretch fabric is a knitted fabric selected from a two-way stretch tricot and a stretch raschel.

13. The garment according to claim 1, wherein:

the garment comprises a stretch fabric,

the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is worn by being fitted to the wearer body, and

the garment is selected from a girdle, spats, sports tights, bodysuit, leotard and swimsuit.

14. The garment according to claim 1, wherein:

the garment comprises a stretch fabric,

the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is worn by being fitted to the wearer body, and

the garment has a leg part for cylindrically covering regio femoralis of the wearer body to at least a position lower than the crotch part.

15. The garment according to claim 1, wherein:

the garment comprises a stretch fabric,

the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is worn by being fitted to the wearer body,

the position of a lower end of the garment is approximately the same as or higher than the position of the crotch part; and

the garment does not have a leg part for cylindrically covering regio femoralis to at least a position lower than the crotch part.

16. A garment comprising:

a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body;

a first strong straining portion with a strong straining force, wherein wearer'"'"'s right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment and adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body;

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major;

a second strong straining portion; and

a third strong straining portion adapted to press the abdomen;

wherein the third portion has a main stretch direction in the longitudinal direction of the garment;

the third portion being adapted to cover the center of hypograstric region;

an end of the second portion is connected to each of the right and left lower sides of the third portion; and

the second portion being adapted to cover a region extending obliquely downward from the right and left lower sides of the third portion approximately in the directions of muscle fibers of musculus obliquus internus abdonimis at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major.

17. A garment comprising:

a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body;

a first strong straining portion with a strong straining force,

wherein right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body;

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major;

a third strong straining portion adapted to press the abdomen; and

a fourth strong straining portion,

wherein the third portion has a main stretch direction in the longitudinal direction of the garment;

the third portion is adapted to cover the center of a hypogastric region;

an end of the fourth portion is connected to each of right and left upper sides of the third portion; and

the fourth portion is adapted to cover a region extending obliquely upward from the right and left upper sides of the third portion approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus obliquus externus abdominis at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least a position exceeding the sides of the wearer to the back side.

18. A garment comprising:

a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body;

a first strong straining portion with a strong straining force,

wherein right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body;

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major;

a second strong straining portion;

a third strong straining portion is adapted to press the abdomen, and

a fourth strong straining potion,

wherein the third portion has a main stretch direction in the longitudinal direction of the garment;

the third portion is adapted to cover the center of a hypogastric region;

an end of the second portion is connected to each of right and left lower sides of the third portion;

the second portion is adapted to cover a region extending obliquely downward from the right and left lower sides of the third portion approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus obliquus internus abdominis at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major;

an end of the fourth portion is connected to each of right and left upper sides of the third portion; and

the fourth portion is adapted to cover a region extending obliquely upward from the right and left upper sides of the third portion approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus obliquus externus abdominis at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least a position exceeding the sides of the wearer to the back side.

19. A garment comprising:

a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body;

a first strong straining portion with a strong straining force,

wherein right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body;

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major; and

a fourth strong straining portion,

wherein right and left parts of the fourth portion are connected at a position on the garment adapted to correspond to musculus rectus abdominis in a hypogastric region; and

the fourth portion is adapted to cover a region extending obliquely upward from the position on musculus rectus abdominis in hypograstric region approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus obloquies externus adominis at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least a position exceeding the sides of the wearer to the back side.

20. A garment comprising:

a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body;

a first strong straining portion with a strong straining force,

wherein right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body;

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major; and

a seventh strong straining portion,

wherein right and left parts of the seventh portion are connected approximately in the vicinity of a position on the garment adapted to correspond to the back center of the waist; and

the seventh portion is adapted to cover a region extending from the vicinity of the position at the back center of the waist through musculus latisimus dorsi and musculus gluteus medius at wearer'"'"'s right and left and a part of musculus obloquies externus abdominis to at least a position exceeding the sides of the wearer to the front side.

21. A garment comprising:

a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body;

a first strong straining portion with a strong straining force,

wherein right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body; and

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major;

the first portion also has an eighth strong straining portion,

wherein the eighth portion is adapted to cover further a region extending from the vicinity of trochanter major toward regio femoralis anterior medialis through at least a part of any at least one musculus quadriceps femoris selected from musculus sartorius, musculus rectus femoris and musculus vastus medialis.

22. A garment comprising:

a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body;

a first strong straining portion with a strong straining force,

wherein right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body; and

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major;

the first portion also has a ninth strong straining portion,

wherein the ninth portion is adapted to cover further a region extending from the vicinity of trochanter major through the vicinity of tractus iliotibialis and/or musculus vastus lateralis in regio femoralis to a position a little higher than patella.

23. A garment comprising:

a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body;

a first strong straining portion with a strong straining force,

wherein right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body; and

the first portion is adapted to cover a region extending from said position through tops of bulges of the buttocks or vicinities thereof approximately in the direction of muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus at wearer'"'"'s right and left to at least the vicinity of trochanter major;

the first portion also has an tenth strong straining portion; and

the tenth portion is adapted to cover further a region extending from the vicinity of trochanter major through the vicinity of tractus iliotibialis and/or musculus vastus lateralis to patella, and further from patella through the vicinity of musculus gastrocnemius and/or musculus soleus in the regio cruris lateralis to the vicinity of an upper part of malleolus lateralis so as to support musculus gastrocnemius and musculus soleus.

24. The garment according to claim 23, further comprising a twelfth strong straining portion, wherein:

the twelfth portion is adapted to cover a region extending from an upper part of regio femoralis medialis through musculus vastus medialis to patella so as to support musculus vastus medialis, and further from patella through the vicinity of one of musculus gastrocnemius and musculus soleus in regio cruris medialis to the vicinity of an upper part of malleolus medialis so as to support musculus gastrocnemius and musculus soleus.

25. A garment comprising a stretch fabric wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the lower body of a wearer, has a crotch part, and is adapted to be worn by being fitted to the wearer'"'"'s body, wherein:

the garment in part has a portion with a strong straining force;

the portion with a strong straining force is a first strong straining portion;

wearer'"'"'s right and left parts of the first portion are connected at a position on the back side of the garment adapted to correspond to any region from os sacrum to vertebrae lumbalis of the wearer'"'"'s body; and

the first portion is adapted to cover a region starting from said position, running in the direction of the muscle fibers of musculus gluteus maximus to extend over the furthest posterior point of each buttock at right and left sides of the garment, and reaching at least the vicinity of trochanter major.