U.S. patent application number 15/513406 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-19 for garment with compression-generating sections.
The applicant listed for this patent is WACOAL CORP.. Invention is credited to Naoko SUGINO.
Application Number | 20170295871 15/513406 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55629569 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170295871 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUGINO; Naoko |
October 19, 2017 |
GARMENT WITH COMPRESSION-GENERATING SECTIONS
Abstract
A garment with compression-generating sections includes: at
least one body section including a portion that is tubular when the
garment is worn; and at least one compression-generating section.
The body section is stretchable so as to fit a wearer's body. The
compression-generating section is disposed in such a manner that,
when the garment is worn, it is located above a body region where
skin sagging occurs and extends in a direction along Langer's
lines. The compression-generating section has lower stretchability
than the body section at least in an insertion direction in order
to increase compression provided by a portion of the garment where
the compression-generating section is disposed.
Inventors: |
SUGINO; Naoko; (Kyoto-shi,
Kyoto, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WACOAL CORP. |
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
55629569 |
Appl. No.: |
15/513406 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
September 29, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2014/075906 |
371 Date: |
March 22, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 11/00 20130101;
A41D 13/02 20130101; A41D 1/08 20130101; A41D 13/00 20130101; A41B
9/06 20130101; A41B 2400/38 20130101; A41B 1/08 20130101; A41D
27/00 20130101; A41D 2400/38 20130101; A41C 1/003 20130101; A41D
13/015 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/00 20060101
A41D027/00; A41B 1/08 20060101 A41B001/08; A41D 13/02 20060101
A41D013/02; A41D 13/00 20060101 A41D013/00; A41D 1/08 20060101
A41D001/08; A41C 1/00 20060101 A41C001/00 |
Claims
1. A garment with a compression-generating section, the garment
comprising: at least one body section comprising a portion that is
tubular when the garment is worn; and at least one
compression-generating section, wherein the body section is
stretchable so as to fit a wearer's body, the
compression-generating section is disposed in such a manner that,
when the garment is worn, the compression-generating section is
located above a body region where skin sagging occurs and extends
in a direction along Langer's lines, and the compression-generating
section has lower stretchability than the body section at least in
an insertion direction in order to increase compression provided by
a portion of the garment where the compression-generating section
is disposed.
2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein when the garment is
worn, the compression-generating section causes a larger frictional
force per unit area than the body section with respect to the
wearer's body.
3. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a
bottom garment, and the compression-generating sections are
disposed in above-knee portions of the bottom garment.
4. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is an
upper body garment, and the compression-generating sections are
disposed in such a manner that, when the upper body garment is
worn, the compression-generating sections extend in directions
along Langer's lines that pass near inferior angles of
scapulae.
5. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is an
upper body garment, and the compression-generating sections are
disposed in upper arm portions of the upper body garment.
6. The garment according to claim 2, wherein the garment is a
bottom garment, and the compression-generating sections are
disposed in above-knee portions of the bottom garment.
7. The garment according to claim 2, wherein the garment is an
upper body garment, and the compression-generating sections are
disposed in such a manner that, when the upper body garment is
worn, the compression-generating sections extend in directions
along Langer's lines that pass near inferior angles of
scapulae.
8. The garment according to claim 2, wherein the garment is an
upper body garment, and the compression-generating sections are
disposed in upper arm portions of the upper body garment.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a garment with
compression-generating sections.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As a configuration of a garment that shapes the outline
(skin sagging) of body regions covered with the garment or the body
shape of a wearer when the garment is worn, it has been proposed to
make partial change in the knit structure of the garment or to
provide patches in the garment, in order to impart a body-shaping
function to the garment by causing particular portions of the
garment to exhibit a different tightening force (compression) from
other portions. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a garment
for shaping the buttocks of a wearer, in which a knit structure
section that exhibits a powerful shaping effect for the buttocks by
causing strong compression is disposed at a suitable position. With
this configuration, the garment can lift up the buttocks without
causing edge parts thereof to dig into the wearer's buttocks when
the garment is worn, so that the buttocks and the periphery thereof
can be shaped into a natural shape.
CITATION LIST
Patent Document(s)
[0003] Patent Document 1: JP 2006-233344 A
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] A conventional body-shaping garment, such as the one
described above, can shape a wearer's body immediately after it is
put on. However, the garment may get loose as the wearer moves,
which may cause edge parts of the garment to dig into the wearer's
skin, for example. Thus, the conventional body-shaping garment has
a problem in that it cannot keep the shaped body silhouette.
Furthermore, increasing a tightening force in order to prevent the
garment from getting loose may deteriorate wearing comfort or even
may make the edge parts of the garment more liable to dig into the
wearer's skin.
[0005] With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a garment with compression-generating
sections, which can shape a wearer's body into a favorable
silhouette by smoothing sagging skin and also can keep the
silhouette even when the wearer moves, while giving less tightened
feeling to the wearer.
Means for Solving Problem
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
provides a garment with a compression-generating section,
including: at least one body section including a portion that is
tubular when the garment is worn; and at least one
compression-generating section, wherein the body section is
stretchable so as to fit a wearer's body, the
compression-generating section is disposed in such a manner that,
when the garment is worn, the compression-generating section is
located above a body region where skin sagging occurs and extends
in a direction along Langer's lines, and the compression-generating
section has lower stretchability than the body section at least in
an insertion direction in order to increase compression provided by
a portion of the garment where the compression-generating section
is disposed.
Effects of the Invention
[0007] With the above-described configuration, the garment with
compression-generating sections according to the present invention
can shape a wearer's body into a favorable silhouette by smoothing
sagging skin and also can keep the silhouette even when the wearer
moves, while giving less tightened feeling to the wearer. The
garment with compression-generating sections according to the
present invention can smooth sagging skin and wrinkles in, e.g.,
above-knee regions, the upper arms, the back, and the like of a
wearer, and also can keep the shaped state, so that it can provide
a slimmer body silhouette.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIGS. 1A and 1B show leggings 100 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view of the
leggings 100, and FIG. 1B is a rear view of the leggings 100.
[0009] FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate how compressions
are applied by the leggings 100 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing the state where the leggings
100 are worn, and FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing the state
where conventional leggings having a body-shaping function are
worn.
[0010] FIGS. 3A to 3F show variations of compression-generating
sections in the present invention.
[0011] FIGS. 4A and 4B show results of a wearing evaluation test on
the leggings according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a rear view showing a shirt 200 according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 shows results of a wearing evaluation test on the
shirt 200 according to the second embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 7 show results of a wearing evaluation test on a shirt
according to a modified example of the second embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a rear view showing a bodysuit 300 according to a
third embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates how to put on the bodysuit 300 according
to the third embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 10 illustrates an effect obtained by wearing the
bodysuit 300 according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 10, (a) is
a rear view showing a naked state, (b) is a rear view showing the
state where the bodysuit 300 according to the third embodiment is
worn, and (c) is a rear view showing the state where a conventional
bodysuit is worn.
[0018] FIGS. 11A and 11B schematically show the distribution of
Langer's lines on the human body. FIG. 11A is a front view
partially showing the human body, and FIG. 11B is a rear view
partially showing the human body.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0019] The garment with compression-generating sections 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
[0020] FIGS. 1A and 1B show leggings 100 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view of the
leggings 100, and FIG. 1B is a rear view of the leggings 100. The
leggings 100 of the present embodiment, which are a garment with
compression-generating sections, include: body sections 101 each
including a portion that is tubular when the leggings 100 are worn;
and compression-generating sections 102. The term "compression" as
used herein means a pressure applied to a body region of a wearer
covered with the garment when the garment is worn. The leggings 100
of the present embodiment are legwear that is provided with a
crotch section and covers from the thighs to below-knee regions as
well as the waist of a wearer.
[0021] In the present embodiment, the leggings 100 are formed by
sewing the body sections 101 and the compression-generating
sections 102 together. The body sections 101 are stretchable so as
to fit a wearer's body. The compression-generating sections 102
have lower stretchability than the body sections 101 at least in an
insertion direction. Among the body regions covered with the
leggings 100, skin sagging is liable to occur in above-knee
regions. The compression-generating sections 102 are disposed in
such a manner that, when the leggings 100 are worn, they are
located above the above-knee regions where the skin sagging occurs
and extend in directions along the Langer's lines that are in the
above-knee regions on the front side of the thighs. The term
"insertion direction" as used herein means different directions
depending on which portions of the garment include the
compression-generating sections. When the compression-generating
sections are disposed in a bodice of an upper body garment, the
insertion direction is a vertical direction. When the
compression-generating sections are disposed in sleeves of an upper
body garment, the insertion direction is a sleeve length direction.
In the case of a bottom garment, the insertion direction is a
direction along which a wearer inserts the legs when putting on the
bottom garment, i.e., the direction extending from a waist portion
toward leg edges in the bottom garment.
[0022] FIGS. 11A and 11B schematically show the distribution of
Langer's lines on the human body. FIG. 11A is a front view
partially showing the human body, and FIG. 11B is a rear view
partially showing the human body. Lines shown on the human body
diagrams are Langer's lines. "Langer's lines", which are also
called skin cleavage lines, are lines indicating the directions of
straight lines formed by numerous holes obtained when a cadaver are
punctured with a conical tool having a circular-shaped tip that is
2 mm in diameter. Langer's lines coincide with the alignment of the
skin connective tissue, and the skin exhibits higher extensibility
in directions orthogonal to the Langer's lines (C. Langer). The
inventors of the present invention found out through studies that
the skin moves relatively less smoothly in the direction along the
Langer's lines and relatively smoothly in the direction orthogonal
to the Langer's lines.
[0023] In the present invention, the compression-generating
sections 102 are disposed so as to extend in directions along the
Langer's lines. With this configuration, when a wearer puts on the
leggings 100, the compression-generating sections 102 push the
wearer's skin upward, i.e., in the direction orthogonal to the
Langer's lines that pass around the above-knee regions. The
compression-generating sections 102 have lower stretchability than
the body sections at least in the insertion direction (the leg
insertion direction when putting on the leggings). With this
configuration, the compression-generating sections 102 can lift up
sagging skin and wrinkles in the above-knee regions efficiently.
Also, in the state where the leggings 100 are worn, the
compression-generating sections 102, which are disposed in such a
manner that the longitudinal directions thereof extend along the
Langer's lines, can prevent the leggings 100 from slipping down.
Thus, the sagging skin and wrinkles in the above-knee regions that
have been lifted up when the wearer put on the leggings 100 can be
held firmly. Therefore, the leggings 100 can shape a wearer's body
into a favorable silhouette by smoothing the sagging skin and also
can keep the silhouette even when the wearer moves. Moreover, it is
not necessary to provide the compression-generating sections 102 so
as to extend over the entire circumferences of the tubular portions
of the body sections 101. This can reduce tightened feeling given
to the wearer.
[0024] FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate how compressions
are applied by the leggings 100 according to the present
embodiment. FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing the state where the
leggings 100 are worn, and FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing the
state where conventional leggings having a body-shaping function
are worn. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the arrows indicate the direction and
the level of compression. The width of the arrow is directly
proportional to the compression level. As shown in FIG. 2B, in the
conventional leggings, compressions are applied so as to tighten
the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, and the
conventional leggings are designed so that, for example, the
compression level is changed in a stepwise manner in order to apply
stronger compressions to a part where the body shaping is desired
(gradation effect). However, the conventional leggings, which
tighten the entire circumferences of the legs in the
circumferential direction, may give tightened feeling to a wearer,
and also, edge parts of the leggings may dig into the wearer's skin
in the case where the wearer has a high degree of skin sagging. In
contrast, as shown in FIG. 2A, according to the leggings 100 of the
present embodiment, the compression is increased at portions where
the compression-generating sections 102 are disposed. As a result
of diligent studies, the inventors of the present invention found
out that, by providing the compression-generating sections 102 in
above-knee regions where skin sagging and wrinkles are liable to
occur so as to extend in directions along the Langer's lines and
lifting up sagging skin and wrinkles when putting on the leggings
100, a body-shaping function can be obtained without tightening the
entire circumferences of the legs in the circumferential direction.
On the basis of this finding, a tightening pressure is not applied
in the circumferential direction to regions with a high degree of
skin sagging as in the conventional body-shaping garment. This
brings about an advantageous effect that, when the leggings are
worn, the difference in height on the wearer's body line is less
liable to be formed and edge parts of the leggings are less liable
to dig into the wearer's skin.
[0025] In the present invention, the material of the body sections
101 is not particularly limited as long as it is stretchable so as
to fit a wearer's body. The material of the body sections 101 may
be a warp knitted fabric or a circular knitted fabric, for
example.
[0026] In the present embodiment, the compression-generating
sections 102 preferably have an anti-slip function. As an example
of the anti-slip function, the compression-generating sections 102
preferably are configured so that, for example, when the leggings
100 are worn, a frictional force per unit area between each
compression-generating section 102 and a wearer's body region in
contact therewith is relatively large as compared with a frictional
force per unit area between each body section 101 and a wearer's
body region in contact therewith. With this configuration, when the
wearer puts on the leggings 100, the compression-generating section
102 can lift up the sagging skin and wrinkles in, e.g., the
above-knee regions utilizing the frictional force, and besides, the
compression-generating section 102 can hold the sagging skin and
wrinkles that have been lifted up without slipping down.
[0027] In the present embodiment, the frictional force is not
particularly limited as long as it is sufficient to lift up the
sagging skin and wrinkles in, e.g., the above-knee regions when the
wearer puts on the leggings 100 and also sufficient to hold the
sagging skin and wrinkles that have been lifted up. The
compression-generating sections 102 may be formed by resin printing
or using a nanomaterial or the like, for example.
[0028] The compression-generating sections 102 may be parts of the
knitted fabric constituting the body sections 101. In this case,
the compression-generating sections 102 may be provided by changing
the knit structure of the body sections 101 only in portions
corresponding to the compression-generating sections 102 or by
changing the kind of the yarn only in the portions corresponding to
the compression-generating sections 102.
[0029] In the present embodiment, the compression-generating
sections 102 are stretched in the thigh width direction when the
leggings 100 are worn. Thus, the compression-generating sections
102 preferably are formed using a fabric that exhibits an anti-slip
effect even in a stretched state. Such a fabric may be, for
example, a knitted fabric including: a stretchable base structure
formed by warp knitting; and a float stitch (pile) structure formed
by a float yarn that is composed of long or short fibers and shows
increase in surface area when bent under a compressive force. In
this knitted fabric, the float yarn is shifted in different
directions every time the float yarn is interwoven with the base
structure along the warp direction, and the float stitch structure
is exposed on the external side of the base structure, excluding
both ends of the float stitch structure in the width direction, in
which the float yarn is interwoven with the base structure (this
knitted fabric is also referred to as "material W" hereinafter). In
this material W, the float yarn is not interwoven with the base
structure at portions other than both the ends thereof in the
direction orthogonal to the knitting direction of the knitted
fabric, and the float stitch structure excluding both the ends
thereof is exposed to the external side of the base structure.
Thus, when the material W is stretched in the warp (knitting)
direction and thus shrinks in the width direction, the float stitch
structure at portions other than both the ends thereof interwoven
with the base structure bents and thus is brought into a state
where the float stitch structure bulges out on the external side of
the knitted fabric. Thus, the material W can maintain a large
surface area even when stretched in the warp direction.
Accordingly, the material W can exhibit an anti-slip effect by
causing a large frictional force when it is in contact with the
skin.
[0030] The material W is preferable also for the reason that, by
disposing each of the compression-generating sections 102 formed of
the material W in such a manner that the warp direction thereof
coincides with or extends along the thigh width direction of the
body section 101, a high frictional force is caused between the
compression-generating section 102 and the skin in contact
therewith even when the leggings 100 are worn and the
compression-generating sections 102 are in a stretched state. Part
or the whole of the float yarn may be a so-called nanofiber
composed of long or short fibers and having an outer diameter of 1
.mu.m or less. More specifically, the float yarn may be a nanofiber
formed by splitting or melt spinning, for example. This increases
the frictional force greatly, so that the material W can exhibit a
higher anti-slip effect.
[0031] In the present embodiment, the compression-generating
sections 102 are formed by attaching separate members to the body
sections 101. It is to be noted, however, that the present
invention is not limited thereto. For example, the
compression-generating sections 102 may be formed by applying a
resin to portions of the body sections 101 to lower the
stretchability of the portions, or by changing the structure of
portions of the body sections 101 to lower the stretchability of
the portions. Further, the compression-generating sections 102 also
may be formed utilizing discharge printing or etching. Still
further, the compression-generating sections 102 also may be formed
by changing the stretchability of a knitted fabric according to a
method such as partially changing the kind of the yarn used to form
the knitted fabric.
[0032] As described above, according to the present invention,
sagging skin and wrinkles can be lifted up and held by the
compression-generating sections. Thus, the sagging skin and the
like can be smoothed effectively, whereby the wearer's body can be
shaped into a favorable silhouette. Furthermore, according to the
present invention, the silhouette can be kept even when the wearer
moves, while giving less tightened feeling given to the wearer.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1A, in the present embodiment, the
compression-generating sections 102 are disposed in above-knee
portions on the front side of thigh portions of the body sections
101. It is to be noted, however, that the present invention is not
limited thereto. As long as the compression-generating sections 102
are disposed so as to extend in directions along the Langer's
lines, they may extend to the vicinity of the groin or to the back
side of the thighs.
[0034] FIGS. 3A to 3F show variations of the compression-generating
sections 102 in the leggings of the present invention. In the
present invention, each of the compression-generating sections 102
may be formed as a single strip member, as shown in FIGS. 3A and
3D. Alternatively, the compression-generating sections 102 may be
formed by disposing a plurality of strip members so as to be spaced
apart from each other, as shown in FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3E, and 3F.
Preferably, the compression-generating sections 102 are formed by
disposing a plurality of strip members so as to be spaced apart
from each other as shown in FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3E, and 3F, because the
compression-generating sections 102 can follow the movement of the
skin more easily. In FIG. 3D, the compression-generating sections
102 are formed so as to extend along the Langer's lines immediately
above the knees, and they extend only to lower positions as
compared with the compression-generating sections 102 shown in FIG.
3A. When the compression-generating sections 102 are formed so as
to extend along the Langer's lines in a broader region as shown in
FIG. 3A, it is possible to obtain a higher compression, in other
words, a stronger lift-up force, as compared with the case of the
compression-generating sections 102 shown in FIG. 3D. Thus, by
adjusting the manner in which the compression-generating sections
102 extend along the Langer's lines, it is possible to provide the
compression-generating sections that generate different
compressions using the same material. Each of the
compression-generating sections 102 may be formed in a linear
shape, or may be formed in a curved shape as shown in FIG. 3F.
Although the present embodiment is directed to an example where
each of the compression-generating sections 102 is formed in a
strip shape, the present invention is not limited thereto. For
example, the compression-generating sections may be formed in
various shapes with decorative designs, such as floral patterns and
geometric patterns.
[0035] Each of the compression-generating sections preferably has a
width from 1.5 cm to 8 cm, more preferably from 3 cm to 7 cm. Each
of the compression-generating sections may be formed so as to have
a uniform width, or the width of the compression-generating section
may vary depending on position.
[0036] In the present embodiment, the leggings 100 preferably are
so-called "next to the skin type" to be in direct contact with the
skin when worn, in order to allow a wearer to put on the leggings
100 while lifting up sagging skin in above-knee regions with the
leggings 100 being in close contact with the legs. It is to be
noted, however, that the present invention is not limited thereto,
and the leggings may be a type of leggings to be worn on stockings
or the like, for example.
[0037] The leggings according to the present embodiment are
configured so that a buttock portion thereof includes only the body
sections 101. It is to be noted, however, that the present
invention is not limited thereto. For example, the present
invention can be used in combination with a girdle having a
function of lifting up the buttocks. For example,
compression-generating sections further may be disposed on the back
side of the body sections 101 in such a manner that, when the
leggings 100 are worn, the compression-generating sections are
located above the apices of the buttocks so as to extend along the
Langer's lines in the buttocks. These compression-generating
sections can lift the buttocks upward and hold the buttocks in the
upper part of the buttocks. With this configuration, the buttocks
can be lifted up entirely with a lift-up force generated in the
upper part of the buttocks, which prevents flabby flesh from
remaining in the gluteal fold. Thus, the buttocks of the wearer can
be lifted up effectively, so that the buttocks of the wearer can be
shaped into a more favorable silhouette.
[0038] (Objective Wearing Evaluation 1)
[0039] The leggings 100 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention were produced, and a wearing evaluation test was
conducted. The leggings 100 used in the present evaluation were
configured so that, as the compression-generating sections, three
strip members are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other
in each body section, as shown in FIG. 3C. In the present
evaluation, the compression-generating sections 102 were formed
using the material W. In the present evaluation, each test user
wearing the leggings 100 conducted predetermined exercise, and the
position of the skin around one of the knees was observed
immediately after she put on the leggings 100 (before the exercise)
and after the exercise. The details of the exercise were as
follows: bringing one of the thighs up and putting the hands
together under the thigh (three sets in total, with one time each
for the right and left thighs as one set); knee bends (three
times); and a forward bend and a back bend (one time each).
Further, as a comparative example, the same test user wore leggings
formed of the same material as the leggings 100 and not provided
with compression-generating sections (i.e., the leggings composed
of body sections 101 only), and in the same manner as in the above,
the position of the skin around the knee was observed immediately
after she put on the leggings and after the exercise.
[0040] The results thereof are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In each of
FIGS. 4A and 4B, the diagram on the left shows a naked state, the
diagram in the middle shows the state where the leggings of the
comparative example were worn, and the diagram on the right shows
the state where the leggings 100 of the present invention were
worn. These diagrams all show the states observed after the
exercise. FIGS. 4A and 4B show the results obtained by different
test users. The test user shown in FIG. 4A had only slight skin
sagging in the above-knee regions. Thus, there was not much
difference between the states after the exercise. However, it can
be seen that, when the leggings 100 of the present invention were
worn, the position of the skin around the knee was lifted up
entirely, as compared with the naked state. In contrast, when the
leggings of the comparative example were worn, the position of the
skin in the above-knee region became lower. This is presumably
because the leggings of the comparative example got loose during
the exercise, and the skin being pressed under the compression thus
moved downward. On the other hand, the test user shown in FIG. 4B
showed more notable differences in the position of the skin around
the knee among the respective states, as compared with the test
user shown in FIG. 4A. This is presumably because the test user
shown in FIG. 4B had a higher degree of skin sagging in the
above-knee regions. Regarding the test user shown in FIG. 4B, it
can be seen that, when she wore the leggings 100 of the present
invention, the skin around the knee, especially the skin in the
above-knee region, was lifted up firmly, and the skin that has been
lifted up did not move downward after the exercise. These results
demonstrate that the leggings 100 of the present invention can
shape a wearer's body into a favorable silhouette by lifting up and
smoothing sagging skin and also can keep the silhouette even after
exercise.
[0041] (Subjective Wearing Evaluation 1)
[0042] Test users wore the same leggings as used in the objective
wearing evaluation 1. Five test users joined the evaluation. Three
out of the five test users commented that the leggings 100 of the
present invention were less liable to get loose as compared with
the leggings of the comparative example. The other two test users
commented that they did not perceive the difference between the
leggings 100 of the present invention and the leggings of the
comparative example. Further, all the five test users commented
that the leggings 100 of the present invention gave much less
tightened feeling as compared with the leggings of the comparative
example. Still further, all the five test users commented that,
when they wore the leggings 100 of the present invention, they
could lift up their knees more smoothly, as compared with the cases
where they wore the leggings of the comparative example and they
were in the naked state. These results demonstrate that, while the
leggings 100 of the present invention allow a wearer to move easily
and give less tightened feeling to the wearer, they are less liable
to get loose and can keep a favorable silhouette.
[0043] The above results may be explained as follows. Specifically,
the skin on body regions to be wrinkled accompanying the joint
motion such as bending tends to move away from the joint, whereas
the skin on body regions to be stretched tends to gather around the
joint. In a region around each knee joint, when the knee joint is
bent, wrinkles on the skin on the front side of the knee joint are
smoothed, so that the skin often becomes taut. On the other hand,
on the back side of the knee joint, the skin tends to be taut when
the knee joint is straightened at the time of, e.g., kicking the
ground. It is considered that the above-described taut states of
the skin narrow the movable range of the knee joints and hinder the
movement. On this account, it is considered that the test users
could move more smoothly because the leggings 100 of the present
invention alleviated the taut states of the skin to broaden the
movable range of the knee joints.
Second Embodiment
[0044] FIG. 5 shows a shirt 200 according to the second embodiment
of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the shirt 200.
The shirt 200 of the present embodiment, which is a garment with
compression-generating sections, is a long-sleeved shirt (also
referred to simply as "shirt" hereinafter) including sleeve
sections 201 as body sections that are tubular when the shirt 200
is worn. As shown in FIG. 5, the shirt 200 of the present
embodiment includes a bodice section 203 and a pair of sleeve
sections 201, and compression-generating sections 202 are provided
in the sleeve sections. For the body sections (sleeve sections) 201
and the compression-generating sections 202, the same materials as
those described in the first embodiment can be used. Although the
present embodiment is described with reference to an illustrative
example where the garment with compression-generating sections is a
long-sleeved garment, the present invention is not limited
thereto.
[0045] In the present embodiment, body regions where skin sagging
occurs are the upper arms, and the compression-generating sections
202 are disposed so as to extend in directions along the Langer's
lines above (i.e., the side closer to the torso) the upper arms.
Thus, when a wearer puts her arms through the sleeves when putting
on the shirt 200, sagging skins in the upper arms are moved from
above the elbows toward the shoulders (in the direction orthogonal
to the Langer's lines). In the state where the shirt 200 is worn,
since the compression-generating sections 202 are disposed in such
a manner that the longitudinal directions thereof extend along the
Langer's lines, the sleeve sections 201 are not displaced easily,
so that the sagging skin in the upper arms that have been moved
upward when putting on the shirt 200 can be held firmly.
Accordingly, the shirt 200 can smooth the sagging skin in the upper
arms to make a slimmer silhouette, and also can keep the silhouette
even when the wearer moves. It is not necessary to provide the
compression-generating sections 202 so as to extend over the entire
circumferences of the tubular sleeve sections 201. Thus, the shirt
200 gives less tightened feeling to a wearer.
[0046] In the present invention, the material of the bodice section
203 is not particularly limited. The bodice section 203 may be
formed of a stretchable material so as to fit a wearer's body
similarly to the sleeve sections 201, or may be formed of any other
material.
[0047] Although the present embodiment has been described with
reference to the illustrative example where the garment with
compression-generating sections is the long-sleeved shirt 200, the
present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention,
the garment may be a short-sleeved shirt or outerwear such as a
jacket, for example. These garments also can exhibit the same
effect as the long-sleeved shirt 200 according to the present
embodiment.
[0048] (Objective Wearing Evaluation 2)
[0049] Shirts 200 according to the second embodiment of the present
invention were produced, and a wearing evaluation test was
conducted. The shirts 200 used in the present evaluation were
configured so that, as the compression-generating sections 202,
three strip members are disposed so as to be spaced apart with each
other in each body section as shown in FIG. 5. In the present
evaluation, the compression-generating sections 102 were formed
using the material W. In the present evaluation, two types of body
sections (sleeve sections) 201, namely, body sections that provide
high compression and body sections that provide low compression,
were produced, and for each type of body sections, the
compression-generating sections 202 were disposed in two different
ways, namely, closer to the elbows or closer to the shoulders. In
the present evaluation, a test user wearing the shirt 200 conducted
predetermined exercise, and the position of the skin around one of
the upper arms was observed from the back side of the test user
immediately after she put on the shirt 200 (before the exercise)
and after the exercise. The details of the exercise were as
follows: bringing one of the thighs up and putting the hands
together under the thigh (three sets in total, with one time each
for the right and left thighs as one set); a forward bend and a
back bend (one time each); and moving one of the arms up and down
in a circle (one time each for the right and left arms). Further,
as a comparative example, the same test user wore a shirt formed of
the same material as the shirt 200 and not provided with
compression-generating sections, and in the same manner as in the
above, the position of the skin around the upper arm was observed
immediately after she put on the shirt and after the exercise.
[0050] The results thereof are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows
the results of the evaluation obtained regarding the shirt
including the body sections (sleeve sections) 201 that provide weak
compression. FIG. 7 shows the results of the evaluation obtained
regarding the shirt including the body section (sleeve sections)
201 that provide strong compression. In each of FIGS. 6 and 7, (a)
shows a naked state, (b) shows the states where the shirt of the
comparative example was worn, (c) shows the states where the shirt
200 with the compression-generating sections 202 disposed closer to
the elbows was worn, and (d) shows the states where the shirt 200
with the compression-generating sections 202 disposed closer to the
shoulders was worn. In each of FIGS. 6 and 7, the diagrams on the
left each show the state immediately after the test user put on the
shirt (before the exercise), and the diagrams on the right each
show the state after the exercise. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the
compression-generating sections 202 are indicated with dashed
lines.
[0051] As can be seen from the drawings, when the shirts of the
present invention were worn, the position of the skin in the upper
arm was lifted up as compared with the naked state and the state
where the shirt of the comparative example was worn, regardless of
the level of the compression provided by the body sections (sleeve
sections) 201. In particular, when the shirt with the
compression-generating sections disposed in the upper side (closer
to the shoulders) of the body sections was worn, the position of
the skin in the upper arm was lifted further upward. Also, it can
be seen that, when the shirts of the present invention were worn,
the position of the skin did not move downward even after the
exercise. These results demonstrate that the shirt 200 of the
present invention can shape a wearer's body into a favorable
silhouette by lifting up and smoothing sagging skin and also can
keep the silhouette after exercise.
Third Embodiment
[0052] FIG. 8 shows a bodysuit 300 according to the third
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a rear view of the
bodysuit 300. The bodysuit 300 of the present embodiment, which is
a garment with compression-generating sections, includes: a
bodysuit body section 301 that is tubular when the bodysuit 300 is
worn; and compression-generating sections 302. In the bodysuit 300,
the compression-generating sections 302 are disposed in such a
manner that, when the bodysuit 300 is worn, they extend in
directions along Langer's lines that pass near the inferior angles
of the scapulae. For the bodysuit body section 301 and the
compression-generating sections 302, the same materials as those
described in the first embodiment can be used.
[0053] A preferable manner to put on this bodysuit 300 will be
described below. FIG. 9 illustrates how to put on the bodysuit 300
in chronological order from the left. As shown in FIG. 9, when a
wearer puts on the bodysuit 300, it is preferable to insert the
legs and pull up the bodysuit 300 along the back while keeping the
state where the bodysuit 300 is not apart from (i.e., in close
contact with) the back. By putting on the bodysuit 300 in this
manner, the flesh on the back is lifted up entirely, and the flesh
on the back that has been lifted up is held by the
compression-generating sections 302 located near the inferior
angles of the scapulae. Thus, the silhouette of the back can be
shaped effectively.
[0054] FIG. 10 illustrates an effect obtained by wearing the
bodysuit 300 according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 10, (a) is
a rear view showing a naked state, (b) is a rear view showing the
state where the bodysuit 300 according to the third embodiment was
worn, and (c) is a rear view showing the state where a conventional
bodysuit without compression-generating sections was worn. When the
conventional bodysuit without compression-generating sections is
worn, although a slight body-shaping effect is obtained by the
tightening force of the bodysuit itself, sagging skin on the back
still remains in the state of being tightened even after the
bodysuit is worn. In contrast, the bodysuit 300 according to the
third embodiment can lift up and hold sagging skin on the back, and
thus can shape the wearer's body into a silhouette in which the
sagging skin is less conspicuous. Furthermore, it is not necessary
to provide a tightening section that tightens the entire waist, and
the compression-generating sections can hold the flesh on the back
in the upper part of the back. Therefore, the bodysuit 300
according to the third embodiment can prevent the formation of
difference in height on the wearer's body line caused when edge
parts of the bodysuit 300 dig into the skin, and also gives less
tightened feeling to the wearer.
[0055] The present invention has been described above with
reference to specific examples thereof, namely, leggings, a
long-sleeved shirt, and a bodysuit. It is to be noted, however,
that the garment with compression-generating sections according to
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 various other garments
including tank tops, short-sleeved shirts, garments such as upper
body garments that can be put on and taken off using buttons etc.,
and underwear.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0056] The garment with compression-generating sections according
to the present invention can shape a wearer's body into a favorable
silhouette by smoothing sagging skin and also can keep the
silhouette even when the wearer moves, while giving less tightened
feeling to the wearer. The present invention can be embodied in
various forms, and is applicable to various garments such as, for
example, body-shaping garments other than those described in the
above embodiments, sportswear, outerwear, and medical garments
(e.g., supporters).
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0057] 100: garment with compression-generating sections (leggings)
[0058] 200: garment with compression-generating sections
(long-sleeved shirt) [0059] 300: garment with
compression-generating sections (bodysuit) [0060] 101, 301: body
section [0061] 201: body section (sleeve section) [0062] 102, 202,
302: compression-generating section [0063] 203: bodice section
* * * * *