Flocked shapewear garments

• US 9,179,713 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spanx Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spanx Incorporated
• Inventors: Colon-Otten, Sylma, Hays, Tosha L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HALE, GLORIA M
• Application Number:
  US13/957,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20150038052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 240/0, 240/3, 240/6, 240/8, 223/6, 223/7, 222/0, 222/1, 2 6/9, 450/106, 450/112, 450/1, 450/81, 450/97, 450/39, 450/40, 450/43, 450/92, 450/93, 450/107, 450/109, 450/115, 450/114, 450/122, 450/123, 450/124, 450/130, 450/131, 450/151
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 1/08 Abdominal supports
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 1/12 Component parts
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 5/00 Machines, appliances, or methods for manufacturing corsets or brassieres

Abstract

Disclosed herein are flocked shapewear garments. The flocked shapewear garments comprise a fabric, an elastomeric coating, and flocking fibers embedded in the elastomeric coating.

Claims

1. A flocked shapewear garment for an abdominal area, the garment comprising:

at least one fabric panel,

an elastomeric coating on at least a portion of the fabric panel, the portion being sized and shaped to at least partially cover the abdominal area, and

flocked fibers embedded in the elastomeric coating,

wherein the elastomeric coating and flocked fibers have four arms extending laterally over the fabric panel until proximal adjacent hips to provide compression to the abdominal area.

2. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises from 40% to 80% nylon.

3. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises an elastomer fiber.

4. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 3, wherein the elastomer fiber is spandex, and wherein the fabric comprises from 20% to 60% spandex.

5. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric coating comprises silicone.

6. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the four arms define an X shape.

7. A flocked shapewear garment for an abdominal area, the flocked shapewear garment comprising:

at least one fabric panel configured to extend over the abdominal area,

an elastomeric coating on at least a portion of the fabric panel, and

flocked fibers embedded in the elastomeric coating,

wherein the elastomeric coating and flocked fibers are configured to define a superior edge and an inferior edge, wherein the superior and inferior edges progressively diverge from each other extending laterally away from a central portion.

8. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 7, wherein the fabric comprises from 40% to 80% nylon.

9. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 7, wherein the fabric panel comprises an elastomer fiber.

10. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 9, wherein the elastomer fiber is spandex, and wherein the fabric comprises from 20% to 60% spandex.

11. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 7, wherein the elastomeric coating comprises silicone.

12. A flocked shapewear garment for control of an abdominal region, the garment comprising:

a. at least one fabric panel configured to extend over at least the abdominal region; and

b. a flocked portion applied to the fabric panel, the flocked portion including a tummy covering portion configured to extend over at least a portion of the abdominal region and a pair of lateral portions extending laterally from lateral sides of the tummy covering portion;

c. at least one of the lateral portions having subportions bifurcating to define therebetween a portion without flocking.

13. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 12, wherein the portion without flocking progressively widens as it extends laterally to an adjacent hip of the wearer.

14. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 13, wherein both of the lateral portions have bifurcating subportions.

15. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 14, wherein the flocked portion includes a superior edge and an inferior edge.

16. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 15, wherein the superior and inferior edges are closer together at the tummy covering portion than at the lateral portions.

17. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 16, wherein the superior and inferior edges are from 6 inches to 15 inches apart at the tummy covering portion.

18. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 17, wherein the superior and inferior edges progressively diverge from each other extending laterally away from the tummy covering portion.

19. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 18, wherein the superior and inferior edges are from 8inches to 18 inches apart at the lateral portions.

20. The flocked shapewear garment of claim 15, wherein the portion without flocking is located nearer to the superior edge than to the inferior edge.