U.S. patent application number 10/889965 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-19 for maternity garment with double waistband design.
This patent application is currently assigned to Satchel Maternity. Invention is credited to Joh Oakley.
Application Number | 20060010571 10/889965 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35597811 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060010571 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oakley; Joh |
January 19, 2006 |
Maternity garment with double waistband design
Abstract
A double waistband for use on a maternity garment that can be
worn at all stages of a pregnancy is described. The waistband has a
lower component which has an outer surface and an inner surface.
The outer surface is made of a fabric having a low degree of
stretchiness or flexibility. The inner surface is made of a fabric
having a high degree of stretchiness. The other part of the double
waistband is an upper waistband component which is made of a
flexible fabric. The upper and lower waistband components are
connected or sewn together to form a contiguous single waistband.
The outer surface of the lower waistband component is a
stretch-woven fabric and the inner surface of the lower waistband
is a knit fabric. The upper waistband component can be made from a
jersey knit fabric. The lower waistband goes around a woman's waist
at the same location as would the waistband of a normal pair of
pants. The garment waistband can be used as part of a maternity
pant, a maternity skirt, or any other maternity garment that uses a
waistband.
Inventors: |
Oakley; Joh; (Glendale,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Rupak Nag
Suite 1210
2170 Century Park East
LosAngeles
CA
90067
US
|
Assignee: |
Satchel Maternity
|
Family ID: |
35597811 |
Appl. No.: |
10/889965 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 1/21 20180101; A41D
1/062 20130101; A41F 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/227 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/06 20060101
A41D001/06 |
Claims
1. A garment waistband that allows a single garment to be worn by a
pregnant woman at all stages of pregnancy, the garment waistband
comprising: a first waistband component having an outer surface and
an inner surface, the outer surface being made of a fabric having a
low degree of stretchiness and the inner surface being made of a
fabric having a high degree of stretching; and a second waistband
component being made of an elastic fabric; wherein the first
waistband component and the second waistband component are
connected to form a contiguous single waistband.
2. A garment waistband as recited in claim 1 wherein the first
waistband component outer surface is a stretch-woven fabric.
3. A garment waistband as recited in claim 1 wherein the first
waistband component inner surface is a knit fabric.
4. A garment waistband as recited in claim 1 wherein the second
waistband component is made from a jersey knit fabric.
5. A garment waistband as recited in claim 1 wherein the first
waistband component goes around a woman's waist at the same
location as would the waistband of a normal pair of pants.
6. A garment waistband as recited in claim 1 wherein the second
waistband component does not appear to be connected to the first
waistband component.
7. A garment waistband as recited in claim 1 wherein the
circumference of the first waistband component is greater than the
circumference of the second waistband component.
8. A garment waistband as recited in claim 1 wherein the waistband
is used on a maternity pant.
9. A garment waistband as recited in claim 1 wherein the waistband
is used on a maternity skirt.
Description
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0001] Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. An example of the preferred
embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying figures. While the
invention will be described in conjunction with a preferred
embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit
the invention to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, the
preferred embodiment and the description are intended to cover
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included
within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the
appended claims.
[0002] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
a maternity pant has two waistband components that are sewn
together to form a contiguous double waistband for a maternity
pant. Although the two waistbands are sewn together, they have the
appearance of being two separate waistbands.
[0003] A first waistband component finishes the pant and makes the
maternity pant look like a normal pair of pants. A second waistband
component is elastic and is able to accommodate a woman's stomach
as it grows but also allows the pant to be worn comfortably when
the woman's stomach is still in the early stages of pregnancy. The
two waistband components are sewn together forming essentially a
single waistband that has the functionality of two waistbands.
[0004] The first/lower waistband component of the double waistband
design of the present invention appears similar to the waistband of
a non-maternity pant. However, certain adjustments have been made
to the first waistband component, which differentiate the overall
design of the maternity pant of the present invention from a
non-maternity pant. These adjustments allow the pants to `give`
more in the waist than non-maternity pants.
[0005] Described in the figures a maternity pant designed to be
worn comfortably by a pregnant woman at all stages of pregnancy and
has the appearance of a normal, non-maternity pant.
[0006] FIG. 1A is a partial frontal/side view of a maternity pant
designed in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 1B is a rear view of a maternity pant designed in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The pant
has a normal leg portion 102 that can be cut or designed according
to a desired style. Leg portion 102 may have typical, known
features such as front and back pockets, a zipper, buttons and
various other features that have utility or are purely stylistic.
In FIG. 1B leg portion 102 has back pockets 104 and belt loops 106.
Directly above leg portion 102 is a double waistband component 108
of the maternity pant.
[0007] FIG. 1C is a frontal view of a double waistband component
108 comprised of a non-elastic or woven portion and an elastic
portion in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Double waistband component 108, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, has a
non-elastic portion 110 that has the appearance of a waistband for
a normal pair of pants with belt loops, `fly`, and so on. FIG. 5A
is an outline of the back portion of non-elastic portion 110. FIG.
5B is an outline of the front portion of non-elastic waistband 110.
Non-elastic portion 110 can be made from any appropriate woven
material normally used for a waistband on normal, non-maternity
pants. In one embodiment, non-elastic portion 110 is comprised from
stretch-woven fabric. Non-elastic portion 110 sits at the normal
height on a woman's waist as would the waistband of a non-maternity
pant. FIG. 6 is a frontal view of a belt-loop strap that may be
sewn to non-elastic portion 110.
[0008] Elastic portion 112 of double waistband component 108 is
sewn above non-elastic portion 110. In one embodiment, elastic
portion 112 rises about four inches from the upper border of
non-elastic portion 110. Although the height of the elastic portion
can vary without changing the novel concept of the double waistband
design of the maternity pant, a five or six-inch elastic portion
112 may rise too high and a three-inch elastic portion may be too
low on the stomach rendering portion 112 uncomfortable for most
pregnant woman. In a preferred embodiment, elastic portion 112 is
comprised of jersey knit fabric which is capable of stretching more
than woven fabric.
[0009] FIG. 3A is an outline of the back of elastic portion 112.
FIG. 3B is an outline of an unfolded back portion of a cloth cover
for elastic portion 112 as shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4A is an outline
of the front of elastic portion 112. FIG. 4B is an outline of an
unfolded front portion of a cloth cover for elastic portion 112 as
shown in FIG. 4A.
[0010] The circumference of non-elastic portion 110 of double
waistband design 108 is somewhat larger than that of elastic
portion 112. This allows for the growth of a woman's stomach during
the entire pregnancy. As the name implies, elastic portion 112 can
stretch to accommodate a pregnant woman's stomach as it grows
throughout all stages of pregnancy. As described in greater detail
below, double waistband component 108 allows a pregnant woman to
comfortably wear the same maternity pant from the time she can no
longer wear normal pants up to the last stage of pregnancy as well
as postpartum.
[0011] FIG. 2A is a frontal view of a fabric cut showing half of a
maternity pant designed in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. Leg portion 102 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is
displayed separately in FIG. 2A. In a preferred embodiment, leg
portion 102 is comprised of a woven fabric. FIG. 2B is an outline
of a fabric cut showing a portion of material that lies underneath
the fly portion of a maternity pant as shown in FIG. 2A. In a
preferred embodiment, the material underlying the fly portion is a
knit fabric. FIG. 2C is a rear view of a fabric cut showing half of
a maternity pant designed in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0012] The lower, non-elastic portion 110 of double waistband
component 108 provides for a woman's aesthetic needs, while upper,
elastic portion 112 of double waistband component 108, which is
connected to portion 110, accommodates the woman's growing stomach.
Elastic portion 112 is part of the maternity pant but is covered by
another garment, typically a shirt or top.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, knit fabric of the same color is
used on the inside of non-elastic portion 110 and behind the `fly`
portion as shown in FIG. 2B. A woven fabric is used in the rest of
the garment. The outside of non-elastic portion 110 is made from a
stretch-woven fabric. Knit fabric, which typically stretches much
more than woven fabric, allows lower, non-elastic portion 110 to
expand to accommodate a growing stomach. A normal waistband as used
on a non-maternity pant typically uses woven fabric in both the
inside and outside of the waistband. Furthermore, a normal
waistband uses a stiff "facing" fabric inside to give the waistband
a higher degree of stiffness. Double waistband component 108 does
not contain a "facing" and is thereby more elastic than a normal
waistband. The maternity pant of the present invention also has a
slightly larger waist than the waist of non-maternity pants. In a
preferred embodiment, the maternity pant of the present invention
is comprised of a stretch woven fabric, e.g., with Spandex or other
elastic thread woven into the fabric. Without these adjustments the
pant could not accommodate pregnancy growth and would become too
tight around the lower abdomen.
[0014] Finally, although the maternity garment of the present
invention has been described as a pant, the double waistband
component 108 described above can be used with any other maternity
garment that requires support around the waistline. For example,
another garment in which the waistband component can be used is a
maternity skirt. FIG. 7A is a side view of a maternity skirt a
skirt portion 702 with a pocket 704, belt loops 706, and a button
waist fastener 708 having double waistband component 108 with
elastic and non-elastic portions. FIG. 7B is a rear view of a
maternity skirt having skirt portion 702 and double waistband
component 108, with lower, non-elastic waistband 110 and upper,
elastic waistband 112. The same novel concepts of the double
waistband component 108 described above with respect to the
maternity pant apply to the use of the waistband component 108 on a
skirt.
[0015] Although the foregoing invention has been described in some
detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be
apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced
within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it should be
noted that there are alternative ways of implementing both the
process and apparatus of the present invention. Accordingly, the
present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details
given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents
of the appended claims.
* * * * *