U.S. patent application number 11/108415 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-19 for garment support member with foam support layer and method of using same.
Invention is credited to Theodore L. Davis.
Application Number | 20060230499 11/108415 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37106996 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060230499 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis; Theodore L. |
October 19, 2006 |
Garment support member with foam support layer and method of using
same
Abstract
A garment support member for supporting a garment on a user's
body in which a support layer has first and second opposing
surfaces and first and second adhesive layers disposed on the first
and second opposing surfaces, and wherein the support layer is
formed of a foam material able to support a garment to a user's
body.
Inventors: |
Davis; Theodore L.; (Becket,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COWAN LIEBOWITZ & LATMAN P.C
1133 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
1133 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
37106996 |
Appl. No.: |
11/108415 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/255 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41C 3/065 20130101;
A41F 19/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/255 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/06 20060101
A41D027/06 |
Claims
1. A garment support member for supporting a garment on a user's
body comprising: a support layer having a first and second opposing
surfaces and first and second adhesive layers disposed on said
first and second opposing surfaces, respectively, and wherein said
support layer is formed as a foam material able to support said
garment to said user's body.
2. A garment support member in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
foam material is one of porous foam material and nonporous foam
material.
3. A garment support member in accordance with claim 2, wherein
said foam material is polyurethane foam.
4. A garment support member in accordance with claim 3, wherein
said foam material has a thickness in the range of 1/32 to 1/8
inches.
5. A garment support member in accordance with claim 4, wherein
said foam material has a thickness of about 1/32 inches.
6. A garment support member in accordance with claim 2, wherein
said first and second adhesive layers comprise a non-sensitizing
medical grade adhesive.
7. A garment support member in accordance with claim 1, further
comprising a first backing layer releasably affixed to said first
adhesive layer and a second backing layer releasably affixed to
said second adhesive layer.
8. A garment support member in accordance with claim 7, wherein
said first and second backing layers comprise coated paper having a
smooth surface.
9. A garment support member in accordance with claim 7, wherein
said first and second backing layers are of the same size as said
support layer.
10. A garment support member in accordance with claim 7, wherein at
least one of said first and second backing layers includes a first
portion and a separate second portion.
11. A garment support member in accordance with claim 7, wherein
said first backing layer is of the same size as said support layer
and said second backing layer is of greater size than said support
layer.
12. A garment support member in accordance with claim 1, wherein
said support layer has undulations along the length of said support
layer.
13. A garment support member in accordance with claim 12, wherein
said support layer has two integrated chevron-shaped segments
forming a wing-shaped, W-shaped or zig-zag-shaped
configuration.
14. A garment support member in accordance with claim 13, wherein
said chevron shaped segments define a first undulation directed in
a first sense, a second undulation directed in a second sense
opposite the first sense and a third undulation directed in said
first sense.
15. A garment support member in accordance with claim 14, wherein
first, second and third undulations have first, second and third
vertex areas, said first, second and third vertex areas having
rounded areas opposite their vertexes to provide increased
width.
16. A method of supporting a garment on a user's body using a
garment support member comprising a support layer having first and
second opposing surfaces and first and second adhesive layers
disposed on said first and second opposing surfaces, respectively,
and wherein said support layer is formed as a foam material able to
support said garment to said user's body, said method comprising: a
first step of adhering one of said first and second adhesive layers
to one of said garment and the user's body; and a second step of
adhering the other of said first and second adhesive layers to the
other of said garment and the user's body so as to adhere said
garment to the user's body.
17. A method of supporting a garment on a user's body in accordance
with claim 16, wherein said foam material is a porous polyurethane
foam having a thickness in the range of 1/32 to 1/8 inches.
18. A method of supporting a garment on a user's body in accordance
with claim 16, wherein said first adhering step comprises adhering
said one of said first and second adhesive layers along a top edge
portion of a torso area of said garment.
19. A method of supporting a garment on a user's body in accordance
with claim 16, wherein said first adhering step comprises adhering
said one of said first and second adhesive layers along a side of a
torso area of said garment.
20. A method of supporting a garment on a user's body in accordance
with claim 16, wherein said garment support member further
comprises a first backing layer releasably adhered to said first
adhesive layer and a second backing layer releasably adhered to
said second adhesive layer, and said method further comprises: a
first removing step of removing the one of said first and second
backing layers adhered to said one of said first and second
adhesive layers from said one of said first and second adhesive
layers to expose said one of said first and second adhesive layers
prior to said first adhering step; and a second removing step of
removing said other of said first and second backing layers adhered
to said other of said first and second adhesive layers from said
other of said first and second adhesive layers to expose the other
one of said first and second adhesive layers prior to at least said
second adhering step.
21. A method of supporting a garment on a user's body in accordance
with claim 20, wherein said other of said first and second backing
layers is of the same size as said support layer and said one of
said first and second backing layers has a greater size than said
support layer.
23. A garment support assembly comprising a plurality of garment
support members in accordance with claim 1, and further comprising:
a plurality of first backing layers, each first backing layer being
releasably affixed to the first adhesive layer of the support layer
of a different support member, and each first backing layer having
the same size as the support layer to which that first backing
layer is affixed; and a common backing layer to which said second
adhesive layers of the support layers of said plurality of support
members are releasably affixed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to garment support members and
methods and, in particular, to garment support members and methods
for adhering a garment to a user's body.
[0002] Clothing manufacturers produce a variety of strapless
garments for women, and in particular strapless dresses. In the
selection of a strapless garment, it is desirable that the garment
provide a comfortable fit to the user while remaining in place
without exposing more of the user's body than intended.
Particularly, a common problem associated with conventional
strapless dresses is the slipping down, or the riding down, of the
garment as a result of gravity and user's body movement. In
addition, since most strapless, and especially strapless and
backless, dresses cannot be worn with conventional bras, strapless
dresses must also provide support to the user's breasts. Providing
adequate support for the user's breasts and prevention of riding
down of the dress are of a particular importance to the user when
wearing a heavy strapless dress, such as a gown with a lot of
ornamentation including beads or sequins.
[0003] In some conventional strapless dresses, bra cups have been
incorporated into the dress with the intention of providing support
for the user's breasts similar to the support provided by a corset
or a long-line strapless bra. However, a typical strapless dress
does not have the same engineering properties as a corset or a
strapless bra, which are typically engineered with up to thirty
different elements to ensure proper performance and sufficient
support. Therefore, incorporation of bra cups into the garment has
not been successful in providing adequate support for the user's
breasts.
[0004] To reduce these problems, garment manufacturers have also
employed boning in their garments to provide additional support for
the upper torso of the user. In particular, boning in conventional
strapless garments takes the form of stiff tube-shaped members
placed vertically within the garment. Another conventional method
of preventing riding down of strapless garments is to create a
tighter than usual fit of the garments.
[0005] These conventional methods, however, suffer from a variety
of disadvantages. For example, stiff boning is not suitable for use
with many materials and strapless garment designs. In addition,
stiff boning materials in the garments or the tight fit of the
garments often cause great discomfort to the user, particularly
during social occasions, and make it difficult for the user to sit
or dance. In addition, these conventional methods are not always
successful in preventing riding down of the garment, thus causing
the user to constantly pull the garment upwardly so as to avoid
baring more than intended.
[0006] Another technique which has been used by women to prevent
shifting of certain garment fabrics is to use a double-sided
adhesive tape. Conventional double-sided adhesive tape comprises a
thin clear film coated with adhesive on both surfaces. This tape
has been used to adhere selected portions of revealing clothing,
such as a blouse, to the user's body to prevent opening or shifting
of the clothing. However, the adhesive tapes used to date are not
suitable for supporting strapless garments because the thin clear
film lacks sufficient mechanical strength and holding power to
overcome the force of gravity. For example, the gravitational force
applied by a strapless dress to such a tape will cause the tape to
disengage from the user's skin, to curl and to adhere onto
itself.
[0007] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a garment support member having sufficient mechanical
strength and power to support a strapless garment and to prevent
riding down of the garment.
[0008] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
method of using such a support member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
the above and other objectives are realized in a garment support
member for supporting a garment on a user's body comprising a
support layer having first and second opposing surfaces, first and
second adhesive layers disposed on the first and second opposing
surfaces of the support layer, and wherein the support layer is
formed of a foam material able to support a garment to a user's
body. The support member also includes a first backing layer
releasably affixed to the first adhesive layer and, preferably, a
second backing layer releasably affixed to the second adhesive
layer.
[0010] In further aspect of the invention, the support layer has
undulations in proceeding along its length to give additional
strength to the support member. In yet another aspect of the
invention, a method of using the support member is disclosed in
which one of the first and second adhesive layers is adhered to one
of the garment and the user's body and the other of the first and
second adhesive layers is adhered to the other of the garment and
the user's body so as to adhere the garment to the user's body.
[0011] In the embodiment of the invention to be disclosed
hereinafter, the foam material is a porous or a non-porous
polyurethane foam having a thickness in the range of 1/32 to 1/8
inches, and the first and second adhesive layers comprise
non-sensitizing medical grade adhesive. The first and second
backing layers comprise coated paper having a smooth surface and
each may be of the same size as the support layer or,
alternatively, one may be of the same size and the other of greater
size as the support layer so that it can serve as a backing for the
support layers of more than one garment support member.
[0012] Also, in the embodiment disclosed the support layer is
formed from two integrated chevron-shaped segments so that along
its length it has a first undulation directed in a first sense,
then a second undulation directed in the opposite sense and then a
third undulation also directed in the first sense. The first,
second and third undulations form first, second and third vertex
areas, respectively, each of which may have an increased width and
be rounded to provide additional mechanical strength to the support
layer.
[0013] In addition, in the disclosed method, one of the adhesive
layers is adhered to a surface of the garment abutting the user's
skin when the garment is worn by the user in a first adhering step,
and the other adhesive layer is adhered to the user's skin in a
second adhering step. The adhesive layer can be adhered to the
garment along a top edge portion of a torso area of the garment or
along a side of a torso area of the garment. The method further
includes removing one of the first and second backing layers to
expose the respective one of the adhesive layers prior to the first
adhering step and removing the other one of the backing layers to
expose the other one of the adhesive layers prior to at least the
second adhering step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and other features and aspects of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading the following
detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a garment support
member for use in supporting a strapless garment in accordance with
the principles of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the garment support member of
FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of a plurality of garment
support members of FIGS. 1 and 2 disposed on a common backing
layer; and
[0018] FIG. 4 shows an illustrative positioning of the garment
member of FIG. 1 on a strapless garment;
[0019] FIG. 5 shows another illustrative positioning of the garment
member of FIG. 1 on a strapless garment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a garment support
member 1 in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. As shown, the garment member 1 comprises a support
member 2 having a foam support layer 3 with first and second
opposing surfaces 3a and 3b. A first adhesive layer 5 is disposed
on the first surface 3a of the support layer 3 and a second
adhesive layer 7 is disposed on the second surface 3b of the
support layer 3.
[0021] The foam support layer 3 may be formed from a porous or a
non-porous foam material having a predetermined thickness, such as
polyurethane foam having a thickness in the range of 1/32 to 1/8
inches. Rigid or semi-rigid foam material can be used as the foam
support layer 3 of the support member 2. Furthermore, the foam
material may be a "closed cell" foam material which is non-porous
or has low porosity or an "open cell" foam material which has
greater porosity. For example, foam material manufactured and sold
by Venture Tape under product number 7432M is suitable for use as
the foam support layer 3. The thickness of the support layer can be
in a range of 1/32 to 1/8 inches. A preferred thickness is about
1/32 inches. These thicknesses provide the foam support layer 3
with a sufficient mechanical strength to support a strapless
garment on a user's body and to avoid curling of the support layer
material.
[0022] When the support layer 3 is formed from a porous foam
material, the porosity of the foam support layer 3 allows the layer
3 to anchor additional adhesive when the adhesive layers 5, 7 are
applied to the first and second surfaces 3a, 3b of the support
layer. When a non-porous foam material is used to form the support
layer 3, the nonporous foam material should have sufficient bonding
properties so as to anchor the adhesive. As a result, the support
member 2 has much stronger adhesive properties than the
conventional double-sided tapes used to adhere clothing to a user's
body.
[0023] The first and second adhesive layers 5, 7 can be formed from
an aggressive adhesive which is non-irritating to the skin of the
user. For example, a non-sensitizing medical grade adhesive may be
used for the adhesive layers. As can be appreciated, other
conventional adhesive materials may also be suitable for use as the
adhesive layer 5, 7.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the garment support member 1 also
includes a first backing layer 9 releasably affixed to the first
adhesive layer 5 and a second backing layer 11 releasably affixed
to the second adhesive layer 7. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
entire first adhesive layer 5 is covered by the first backing layer
9 and the entire second adhesive layer 7 is covered by the second
backing layer 11. Each adhesive layer 5, 7 holds its respective
backing layer 9, 11 in place until it is separated, or peeled off,
from the adhesive layer when the member is used to support a
garment on a user's body.
[0025] As can be appreciated, the first and second backing layers
9, 11 protect the first and second adhesive layers 5, 7,
respectively, from dirt and drying out. When the user separates, or
peels off, the first backing layer 9 from the member 2, the first
adhesive layer 5 remains on the foam support layer 3 so that the
support member 2 can be applied and adhered to either the user's
skin or the garment. Similarly, when the user separates, or peels
off, the second backing layer 11 from the foam support layer 3, the
second adhesive layer 7 remains on the support layer 3 so that the
support member 2 can be applied and adhered to the user's skin, if
the first layer has been applied to the garment, or to the garment
if the first layer has been applied to the user's skin. As can be
appreciated, the backing layer 9, 11 may be removed from the
support member 2 by initiating the separation of the backing layer
9, 11 from member 2 and pulling off the backing layer 9, 11. The
backing layer 9, 11 may also be removed from the member 2 by
initiating the separation of the backing layer from the member 2,
rolling the backing layer 9, 11 onto itself and then pulling the
rolled up backing layer 9, 11 off the support member 2.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second backing
layers 9, 11 are of the same size as the support member 2. Also,
one or both of the first and second backing layers 9, 11 may be of
a different size from the foam member 2, and, in particular, may be
larger than the foam member 2, to make the separation of the
backing layer 9, 11 from the foam member 2 easier. Moreover, one of
the backing layers 9, 11 may be formed as a common backing layer
for a plurality of support members 2. For example, as shown in FIG.
3 and discussed in more detail below, the first backing layer 9 is
the same size as the support member 2, while the second backing
layer 11 is of a larger size so that it can act as a backing layer
for a plurality of support members 2A, 2B, 2C.
[0027] The first and second backing layers 9, 11 may be formed from
a flexible material having a smooth surface. A suitable material
may be a coated paper, such as, for example, 78 pound release Kraft
liner. The smooth surface of the backing layer 9, 11 allows the
backing layer 9, 11 to be peeled off to expose the respective
adhesive layer 5, 7 without removing the adhesive from the foam
support layer 3.
[0028] The support member 2 may be formed in a variety of shapes.
For example, the support member 2 may be formed as a band or a
strip having a substantially rectangular or curved shape. A
particular configuration found desirable is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3
in which the support member has undulations along its length.
[0029] More particularly, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support member 2
has two integrated chevron shaped segments. These segments form a
"wing-shaped", "W-shaped" or "zig-zag-shaped" support member with a
first undulation 21 directed in a first sense (shown as upward in
FIG. 2), then a second undulation directed in the opposite sense
(downward in FIG. 2) and then a third undulation also directed in
the first sense (upward in FIG. 2). The first, second and third
undulations have first, second and third vertex areas 21a, 22a, and
23a, respectively. In FIG. 2, the vertex areas 21a, 22a and 23a
have been increased in width opposite their respective vertexes by
the rounded areas 21b, 22b and 23b, respectively, to provide
additional mechanical strength to the support member 2.
[0030] The "wing-shaped", "W-shaped" or "zig-zag-shaped"
configuration of the support member 2 shown in FIG. 2 results in an
improved mechanical strength for the member. This is enhanced by
the rounded areas 21b, 22b and 22b of the vertex areas 21a, 21b and
21c. In addition, the configuration of the member 2 improves the
hold of the adhesive layers 5, 7 by providing changes in
directionality to the layers. In particular, the direction of the
adhesive layers 5, 7 is changed at or near each vertex area of the
member 2, thereby adding to the holding power of the layers.
[0031] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first backing layer 9 and the
second backing layer 11 affixed to the adhesive layers of the
support member 2 have the same "wing-shaped", "W-shaped" or
"zig-zag-shaped" configuration as the support member. In FIG. 2,
for illustrative purposes, a portion of the first backing layer 9
and a portion of the second backing layer 11 are peeled off from
the member 2.
[0032] As mentioned previously, FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of a
number of support members 2A, 2B, 2C as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
disposed on a common backing layer 13. The common backing layer 13
is used to serve as the second backing layer 11 of each member 2.
In the case shown, the support members 2A, 2B and 2C are arranged
in a column and the common backing layer 13 is substantially
rectangular. It is understood, however, that the number and
arrangement of the members 2 on the common backing layer 13 may be
varied.
[0033] In the arrangement of FIG. 3, the first backing layer 9 of
each of the support members 2A, 2B and 2C has two separate portions
9a, 9b, each having a chevron-type shape. The portions 9a, 9b may
be formed by "kiss cutting" the first backing layer 9 at an
appropriate location so that these portions 9a, 9b have "crack 'n
peel" properties to assist the user in separating the first backing
layer 9 from the support member. In particular, the user may bend
the garment support member 2 to "crack" or separate the portions
9a, 9b and to initiate the separation, or "peeling," of the backing
layer 9 from the member 2. Moreover, as can be appreciated, to
provide further assistance to the user in separating the backing
layer 9 from the member 2, the portions 9a, 9b of the backing layer
9 may overlap to create flap portions which can be lifted by the
user to initiate the separation.
[0034] The garment support member 1 of FIGS. 1-3 can be used in a
variety of ways to support a garment on a user's body. In accord
with the invention, a method common to all these uses will now be
described.
[0035] In the first step, either the first or second backing layer
9 or 11 of the garment support member 1 is peeled off to expose the
respective adhesive layer 5 or 7. When an arrangement shown in FIG.
3 is employed, it is preferred that in the first step, the member 2
is peeled off from the common backing layer 13 so as to expose the
second adhesive layer 7. For purposes of discussion, it will be
assumed that the user peels the backing layer 11 from the support
member 2, or peels the support member 2 from the common backing
layer 13, to expose the adhesive layer 7.
[0036] In the next step, the exposed adhesive layer 7 is adhered to
either the strapless garment or the user's body at a desired
position. In practice, it is a preferable that the adhesive layer 7
is adhered to a position on an inner surface of the strapless
garment which is to lie adjacent to the portion of the user's body
where support of the garment by the user's body is desired. For
example, the layer may be adhered to the inner surface of the
garment at a position along a top edge of the torso area of the
garment in a horizontal or vertical position. The layer may also be
adhered vertically or horizontally along a side 15a of the torso
area of the garment 15 near the top edge as illustratively shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0037] After the second adhesive layer 7 is adhered to the
strapless garment, the first backing layer 9 is removed or peeled
off from the support member 2 to expose the first adhesive layer 5
of the member. The exposed first adhesive layer 5 is then adhered
to the user's body by pressing the garment to the user's skin. When
the exposed adhesive layer is adhered to the user's skin, the
garment will remain in the same position with respect to the user's
body until it is removed by the user.
[0038] Finally, when the user wishes to remove the garment, the
user can remove the member 2 from the skin and from the garment by
slowly pulling the garment away from the skin in the area where the
member 2 is adhered to the skin. The first adhesive layer 5 will
then release from the user's skin due to the force applied by the
pulling of the garment. The member 2 may then be removed from the
garment by pulling the member 2 from the garment.
[0039] In the above-discussion, only a single garment support
member 1 was described as being used to adhere a garment to a
user's body. However, it is apparent, that depending on the nature
of the garment and the degree to which it requires to be supported
on the user's body, more than one support member may be used. Thus,
for example, heavier garments may require two or more support
members 1. In such case, for example, a support member may be used
on opposite torso areas of the garment in the manner illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0040] In all cases it is understood that the above-described
arrangements are merely illustrative of the many possible specific
embodiments which represent the applications of the present
invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily
devised in accordance with the principles of the present invention
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as
defined by the accompanying claims. For example, materials other
than polyurethane foam may be used to form the support layer of the
support member.
* * * * *