U.S. patent application number 15/319455 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-25 for bottom garment.
This patent application is currently assigned to WACOAL CORP.. The applicant listed for this patent is WACOAL CORP.. Invention is credited to Yoshiaki NAKAGAWA.
Application Number | 20170143044 15/319455 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54935603 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170143044 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAKAGAWA; Yoshiaki |
May 25, 2017 |
BOTTOM GARMENT
Abstract
A bottom garment includes: a back section covering a wearer's
buttocks; a front section facing the back section; and a crotch
section. Right and left end edges of the front section are
connected to right and left end edges of the back section,
respectively. A front end of the crotch section is connected to a
lower end of the front section. A back end of the crotch section is
connected to a lower end of the back section. In a pattern diagram,
the back end of the crotch section protrudes, forming a V-shape
having a protruding central portion and a gradually increasing
width toward right and left end edges, the lower end of the back
section to be connected with the back end of the crotch section is
recessed, forming a V-shaped notch, and an angle of the V-shape is
greater than an angle of the notch.
Inventors: |
NAKAGAWA; Yoshiaki;
(Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WACOAL CORP. |
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
WACOAL CORP.
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
JP
|
Family ID: |
54935603 |
Appl. No.: |
15/319455 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
June 18, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2015/067571 |
371 Date: |
December 16, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 9/04 20130101; A41B
9/004 20130101; A41B 11/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41B 9/04 20060101
A41B009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 19, 2014 |
JP |
2014-125896 |
Claims
1. A bottom garment comprising: a back section adapted to cover
buttocks of a wearer; a front section facing the back section; and
a crotch section, right and left end edges of the front section
being connected to right and left end edges of the back section,
respectively, a front end of the crotch section being connected to
a lower end of the front section, and a back end of the crotch
section being connected to a lower end of the back section,
wherein, in a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section
protrudes so as to form a V-shape having a protruding central
portion and a gradually increasing width toward right and left end
edges, the lower end of the back section to be connected with the
back end of the crotch section is recessed so as to form a V-shaped
notch, and an angle .alpha. of the V-shape is greater than an angle
.beta. of the notch.
2. The bottom garment according to claim 1, wherein the back end of
the crotch section is configured so that the angle .alpha. of the
V-shape is in a range from 70.degree. to 120.degree., and the lower
end of the back section is configured so that the angle .beta. of
the notch is in a range from 10.degree. to 60.degree..
3. The bottom garment according to claim 1, wherein a difference
between the angle .alpha. and the angle .beta. is in a range from
10.degree. to 70.degree..
4. The bottom garment according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
garment comprises a front body member that forms the front section
and a back body member that forms the back section.
5. The bottom garment according to claim 4, wherein the front body
member is formed integrally with the crotch section.
6. The bottom garment according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
garment comprises a right body member that forms a right part of
the front section and a right part of the back section, and a left
body member that forms a left part of the front section and a left
part of the back section.
7. The bottom garment according to claim 6, wherein a right part of
the crotch section is formed integrally with the right body member,
and a left part of the crotch section is formed integrally with the
left body member.
8. The bottom garment according to which is claim 1, in a form of a
panty.
9. The bottom garment according to claim 2, wherein a difference
between the angle .alpha. and the angle .beta. is in a range from
10.degree. to 70.degree..
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a bottom garment.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Heretofore, various studies have been made on bottom
garments such as panties in order to improve the fit thereof to
wearers' bodies. In particular, in a bottom garment, the back side
of a crotch section (also may be referred to as "gusset section",
"groin section", or the like) extends across two round portions of
the buttocks of a wearer when the bottom garment is worn. Thus, the
crotch section may be partially apart from the body surface, so
that the fit to a recessed portion around the natal cleft is liable
to be low. To address this problem, the following technique has
been proposed: in a garment having a crotch cloth, improving the
fit around the natal cleft by sewing darts around the crotch cloth
(see Patent Document 1, for example).
CITATION LIST
Patent Document(s)
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Examined Utility Model
Publication No. 63(1988)-36005
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, the above-described technique still cannot achieve
sufficient fit. More specifically, at a portion where the darts are
provided, the fabric constituting the garment is in a stretched
state and thus exhibits lower stretchability. Accordingly, although
the garment can have a shape conforming to a wearer's body during
initial stages of wearing of the garment, it cannot exhibit
sufficient followability to movements of the wearer. Thus, this
technique cannot sufficiently prevent the occurrence of
out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts, e.g., from sliding up,
owing to the movements of the wearer.
[0005] With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a bottom garment that can provide high wearing
comfort and also can effectively prevent the occurrence of
out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts.
Means for Solving Problem
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
provides a bottom garment including: a back section adapted to
cover buttocks of a wearer; a front section facing the back
section; and a crotch section. Right and left end edges of the
front section are connected to right and left end edges of the back
section, respectively. A front end of the crotch section is
connected to a lower end of the front section. A back end of the
crotch section is connected to a lower end of the back section. In
a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section protrudes so
as to form a V-shape having a protruding central portion and a
gradually increasing width toward right and left end edges, the
lower end of the back section to be connected with the back end of
the crotch section is recessed so as to form a V-shaped notch, and
an angle .alpha. of the V-shape is greater than an angle .beta. of
the notch.
Effects of the Invention
[0007] The present invention can provide a bottom garment that can
provide high wearing comfort and also can effectively prevent the
occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a pattern diagram of panties according to
a first embodiment as an example of the bottom garment of the
present invention.
[0009] [FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a pattern diagram of conventional
panties.
[0010] [FIG. 3] FIGS. 3A and 3B each show the state where the
panties are folded along the back centerline. FIG. 3A shows the
panties according to the present invention. FIG. 3B shows the
conventional panties.
[0011] [FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram of panties according to
a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 shows panties according to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] [FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a pattern diagram of panties according to
a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows the states of buttocks observed in a
wearing evaluation test. In FIG. 7, (a) shows the states observed
when the panties of the present invention were worn, and (b) shows
the states observed when the conventional panties were worn.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0015] The bottom garment according to the present invention will
be described below with reference to illustrative examples. It is
to be noted, however, that the present invention is by no means
limited to or restricted by the following illustrative
examples.
First Embodiment
[0016] FIG. 1 is a pattern diagram of panties 100 according to the
first embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention.
The panties 100 of the present embodiment include: a back body
member 102 that forms a back section 12 adapted to cover buttocks
of a wearer; a front body member 101 that forms a front section 11
facing the back section 12; and a crotch section 103. Right and
left end edges of the front body member 101 are connected to right
and left end edges of the back body member 102, respectively. A
front end of the crotch section 103 is connected to a lower end of
the front body member 101, and a back end of the crotch section 103
is connected to a lower end of the back body member 102. The terms
"front" and "back" as used in this context refer to front and back
directions when the front body member (front section) side is
defined as the front side and the back body member (back section)
side is defined as the back side. The terms "left" and "right" as
used in this context may refer to right and left when viewed either
from the front side or from the back side.
[0017] In a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section 103
protrudes so as to form a V-shape having a protruding central
portion and a gradually increasing width toward right and left end
edges, the lower end of the back body member 102 to be connected
with the back end of the crotch section 103 is recessed so as to
form a V-shaped notch, and an angle .alpha. of the V-shape is
greater than an angle .beta. of the notch.
[0018] Since the angle .alpha. is greater than the angle .beta.,
the lower end of the back body member 102 is connected to the back
end of the crotch section 103 by widening the notch so as to
conform to the shape of the back end of the crotch section 103.
With the configuration in which the ends having different shapes
are connected to each other, it is possible to provide a margin in
a portion of the fabric around the back leg edges, thereby allowing
a three-dimensional swelling to be formed and the fit to a lower
part of the natal cleft to be improved.
[0019] The back end of the crotch section 103 preferably is
configured so that the angle .alpha. of the V-shape is in the range
from 70.degree. to 120.degree.. The lower end of the back body
member 102 preferably is configured so that the angle .beta. of the
notch is in the range from 10.degree. to 60.degree.. The
combination of the angles .alpha. and .beta. may be as follows, for
example: (.alpha., .beta.))=(120.degree., 60.degree.), (90.degree.,
30.degree.), and (70.degree., 10.degree.).
[0020] Swelling to be formed can be made larger by increasing the
difference between the angles .alpha. and .beta.. From the
viewpoint of the fit to a lower part of the natal cleft when worn,
the difference between the angles .alpha. and .beta. preferably is
in the range from 10.degree. to 70.degree., more preferably from
20.degree. to 40.degree..
[0021] FIG. 3A shows the state where the panties 100 obtained by
connecting components corresponding to the respective patterns
shown in FIG. 1 are placed flat and then folded along the back
centerline L with the back body member on the external side. FIG. 2
is a pattern diagram of conventional panties 500. FIG. 3B shows the
state where the panties 500 obtained by connecting components
corresponding to the respective patterns shown in FIG. 2 are placed
flat and then folded along the back centerline L with a back body
member on the external side.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3A, when the panties 100 are folded along
the back centerline L, the crotch section 103 bends so as to
protrude from the back centerline. Further, when the panties 100
are placed flat, a lower part thereof extends obliquely with the
external side (the leg edge side) slanting downward. In contrast,
in the case of the conventional panties 500, as shown in FIG. 3B,
the crotch section 503 is folded so as to form the same straight
line as the back body member 502, and the above-described bending
is not observed. Further, when the panties 500 are placed flat, a
lower part thereof extends horizontally (in the direction
orthogonal to the back centerline L), rather than extending
obliquely as in the panties 100. Moreover, in the folded state as
in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the crotch section looks different between the
panties 100 of the present invention and the conventional panties
500. Specifically, the crotch section 103 in the panties 100 of the
present invention is seen only slightly. In FIG. 3A, the two-dot
chain line extending horizontally indicates a line to which the
crotch section 503 of the conventional panties 500 reaches.
[0023] In the present embodiment, a fabric that can be used for
each of the front body member 101 and the back body member 102 is
not particularly limited, and may be a woven fabric, a knotted
fabric, or a nonwoven fabric, for example. It is more preferable
that the fabric is a stretchable fabric containing elastic yarns,
such as polyurethane. The crotch section 103 may be made of the
same fabric as the front body member 101 and the back body member
102. In this case, a patch cloth made of cotton or the like may be
provided on the wearer's skin side of the crotch section 103.
[0024] In the pattern diagram of FIG. 1, the V-shape of the back
end of the crotch section 103 and the V-shaped notch in the lower
end of the back body member 102 are each formed in a shape in which
two straight lines meet each other. However, the present invention
is not limited thereto. For example, they each may be formed in a
shape in which two curved lines meet each other, or the apex of the
V-shape may be rounded. In these cases, the state where "the angle
.alpha. of the V-shape is greater than the angle .beta. of the
notch" means that the shape of the lower end of the back body
member 102 can be conformed to the shape of the back end of the
crotch section 103 by widening the notch.
[0025] In the present embodiment, the front body member 101 and the
back body member 102 are each provided as a right-and-left
integrated member. However, the present invention is not limited
thereto, and the right part and the left part of each member may be
provided as separate members. Preferably, each of the front body
member 101 and the back body member 102 is provided as a
right-and-left integrated member, because this improves the fit to
a wearer's body and also provides better touch on a wearer's skin,
as compared with the case where the right and left members are
connected to each other.
Second Embodiment
[0026] FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram of panties 200 according to the
second embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention.
The one-dot chain line in FIG. 4 indicates a fold line on a fabric
in pattern arrangement. The fabric is folded in half to make the
fold line. Each pattern is aligned with the fold line, and the
fabric is cut along the pattern. In the panties 200 of the present
embodiment, a front body member 201 is formed integrally with a
crotch section 203.
Third Embodiment
[0027] FIG. 5 is a pattern diagram of panties 300 according to the
third embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention.
The panties 300 of the present embodiment include: a right body
member 304R that forms a right part of a front section 11 and a
right part of a back section 12; and a left body member 304L that
forms a left part of the front section 11 and a left part of the
back section 12. In FIG. 5, each pattern is aligned with a fold
line on a fabric, and the right body member 304R and the left body
member 304L are provided in a continuous form. However, the present
invention is not limited thereto. Each pattern may be arranged in
any portion instead of being aligned with the fold line, and the
right body member 304R and the left body member 304L may be
provided in a discrete form.
Fourth Embodiment
[0028] FIG. 6 is a pattern diagram of panties 400 according to the
fourth embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention.
The panties 400 of the present embodiment are configured so that a
right part 403R of a crotch section is formed integrally with a
right body member 404R, and a left part 403L of the crotch section
is formed integrally with a left body member 404L. In FIG. 6, the
pattern is aligned with a fold line on a fabric, and the right body
member 404R formed integrally with the right part 403R of the
crotch section and the left body member 404L formed integrally with
the left part 403L of the crotch section are provided in a
continuous form. However, the present invention is not limited
thereto. The pattern may be arranged in any portion instead of
being aligned with the fold line, and the right and left members
may be provided in a discrete form.
[0029] As in the above-described respective embodiments, the
components of the bottom garment of the present invention are not
limited as long as the patterns of the lower end of the back
section 12 and the back end of the crotch section are separated
from each other. Except for that, the components of the bottom
garment may be formed integrally in any combination as appropriate
according to the design etc. of the completed bottom garment.
[0030] (Wearing Evaluation Test)
[0031] FIG. 7 shows the states of buttocks observed in a wearing
evaluation test. In the wearing evaluation test, the same test
wearer wore the panties 100 of the present invention and the
conventional panties 500, and the fit and the occurrence of
out-of-shape wearing while the test wearer moved one leg up and
down were assessed by visual evaluation. The panties 100 used in
this wearing evaluation test were configured so that the angle
.alpha. was 90.degree. and the angle .beta. was 30.degree.. In FIG.
7, (a) shows the states observed when the test user wore the
panties of the present invention, and (b) shows the states observed
when the test user wore the conventional panties. In (a) and (b) of
FIG. 7, the drawings on the left (a-1, b-1) show the states at the
start of the evaluation, the drawings in the middle (a-2, b-2) show
the states when the test wearer raised one leg (right leg), and the
drawings on the right (a-3, b-3) show the states when the test
wearer lowered the leg after she had raised the leg. The line L1
indicating the leg edge (referred to as "initial leg
edge-indicating line" hereinafter) and the line L2 indicating the
gluteal fold were marked in a buttock of the test wearer at the
start of the evaluation, and the changes in position of each line
caused by each movement were also observed.
[0032] In the case where the conventional panties 500 were worn, as
can be seen from the drawing b-2 showing the state when the test
wearer raised one leg, the space between the leg edge of the
panties and the initial leg edge-indicating line L1 marked on the
test wearer's body was broadened. Also, it can be seen that many
large wrinkles were formed in the back side of the crotch section
503 (a portion to be in contact with a lower part of the natal
cleft), whereby the fit between the panties and the test wearer's
body was deteriorated. From the drawing b-3 showing the state
observed when the test wearer lowered the leg after she had raised
the leg, it can be seen that the leg edge of the panties shifted
from the initial position so as to slide up from the initial leg
edge-marking line L1.
[0033] In contrast, in the case where the panties 100 of the
present invention were worn, as can be seen from the drawing a-2
showing the state observed when the test wearer raised one leg, the
space between the leg edge of the panties and the initial leg
edge-indicating line L1 marked on the test wearer's body was
narrower than that in the case where the panties 500 were worn.
Also, it can be seen that a smaller amount of wrinkles were formed
in the back side of the crotch section 103 (a portion to be in
contact with a lower part of the natal cleft), so that the panties
achieved favorable fit to the test wearer's body (in particular, to
a lower part of the natal cleft). Furthermore, from the drawing a-3
showing the state observed when the test wearer lowered the leg
after she had raised the leg, it can be seen that the leg edge of
the panties and the initial leg edge-indicating line L1 were in
close proximity, and sliding-up of the leg edge from the initial
position was hardly observed.
[0034] As described above, the panties 100 are configured so that,
in a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section 103 forms
a V-shape, the lower end of the back body member 102 to be
connected with the back end of the crotch section 103 forms a
V-shaped notch, and an angle .alpha. of the V-shape is greater than
the angle .beta. of the notch, and with this configuration, it was
possible to provide a margin in a portion of the fabric around the
back leg edges, thereby allowing a three-dimensional swelling to be
formed and the fit to a lower part of the natal cleft to be
improved.
[0035] With the above-described configuration, it was possible to
obtain panties that can provide high wearing comfort and also can
effectively prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg
edge parts.
[0036] The present invention has been described above with
reference to specific examples of its embodiment, namely, panties.
It is to be noted, however, that the bottom garment of the present
invention is not limited to those given as the specific examples,
and can be embodied in various forms. For example, the present
invention is applicable not only to the garments described in the
above embodiments, but also to foundation garments such as girdles
and bodysuits, and various other garments such as swimsuits,
leotards, sportswear, and outerwear. Furthermore, the present
invention is applicable not only to panties for daily use but also
to sanitary panties and panties for light incontinence protection,
for example.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0037] 100, 200, 300, 400: panties [0038] 11: front section [0039]
12: back section [0040] 101, 201: front body member [0041] 102,
202: back body member [0042] 103, 203, 303: crotch section [0043]
304R, 404R: right body member [0044] 304L, 404L: left body member
[0045] 403R: crotch section (right part) [0046] 403L: crotch
section (left part) [0047] 500: conventional panties [0048] 501:
front body member [0049] 502: back body member [0050] 503: crotch
section [0051] L: back centerline [0052] L1: initial leg
edge-indicating line [0053] L2: gluteal fold-indicating line
* * * * *