Combination Girdle And Stockings

Abstract

A ladies undergarment and stockings, the undergarment including stomach and buttocks surrounding portions and having downwardly directed leg portions with bottom extremities, each of the bottom extremities carrying a nonslip fabric band thereon for supporting the thigh engaging portion of a ladies stocking. Each of the nonslip fabric bands comprises a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of the band. Each of the stockings has a thigh engaging portion including a nonslip fabric band thereon identical to that carried by the leg portions of the undergarment, except that the frictional material is exposed on the inside of the band. The stockings are positionable so that the nonslip bands thereof overlie the corresponding nonslip bands of the undergarment, whereby the frictional material exposed on the outside surfaces of the bands of undergarment engage the frictional material exposed on the inside surface of the stockings to detachably secure the stockings to the undergarment.

Description

This invention relates to intimate garments for females which may be generally classified as panty girdles, and more particularly to a panty girdle having bands of frictional material at the extremities of the leg portions thereof for frictional support of a lady's stockings.

In modern female dress, especially that worn by young women, it is desirable that the outer garment of the trousers type be tight fitting. When it is desired to wear long hose under such a trouser-type garment, the use of garters and fasteners to support the hose is undesirable for two reasons, first because the outline of the garters may be visible through the undergarment, and secondly because such fasteners may be uncomfortable because of the tight fit of the trouser-type outer garment which presses against the garter and fastener.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a combination undergarment and stockings, wherein the bottom extremities of the leg portions of the undergarment are provided with nonslip fabric bands, each comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of the band, the stockings having a like nonslip fabric band at the upper end thereof with the layer of frictional material exposed on the inside surface of the band, so that upon positioning the bands of the stockings in juxtaposition with the bands of the stockings overlying the bands on the bottom extremities of the leg portions of the undergarment, the stockings will be frictionally supported by the undergarment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an undergarment having the nonslip fabric bands of the character described, and further including sections of textile strips respectively connecting each of the nonslip fabric bands to the bottom extremities of the leg portions, the textile strips being of a stretch character which permits axial movement of the stockings relative to the leg portions of the undergarment so as to accommodate movement of the stockings without disengaging the nonslip frictional bands of the stockings from the nonslip bands of the undergarment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in an undergarment having the textile strip and the nonslip fabric band described above, a lace textile strip stitched to the undergarment and positioned to normally overlie the nonslip fabric band so as to conceal the frictional material carried thereon when the undergarment is worn without the stockings, the lace strip also serving to conceal the overlap of the nonslip fabric band of the stockings when the stockings are supported by the undergarment.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the undergarment and the stockings, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one type of undergarment embodying the invention, shown as it would normally be worn;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view partially in transverse section showing in greater detail various features of the composite band of the undergarment and illustrating the nonslip fabric band of an associated stocking supported thereby.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the undergarment of FIG. 1, with the upper end of a stocking supported thereon, a portion of the overlying lace strip being cut away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the engagement of the frictional material of the nonslip fabric band carried by the undergarment with the frictional material of the nonslip fabric band of the end of a stocking;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial inside view illustrating the nonslip fabric band at the upper end of a stocking, and;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating in greater detail the textile strip having the open-mesh fish net character.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an undergarment 10 for females, the undergarment 10 illustrated herein being of the panty girdle type and including a body portion 11 designed to cover the lower portion of the torso, including the stomach and buttocks of the user. The body portion 11 includes a pair of downwardly directed thigh engaging leg portions 12, each leg portion being turned at the lower end thereof to provide a welt or bottom extremity 15. The The undergarment 10 further is provided with a crotch piece 16 preferably fabricated of a soft flexible material, the crotch piece 16 being fabricated of a plurality of overlapping layers of fabric 17 and 18, whereby the layers may be easily separated to facilitate the normal bodily functions without removal of the undergarment 10. While the undergarment shown in FIG. 1 is of the type known as a panty girdle, it will be understood that the invention is applicable to underdrawers of the type known as panties.

Attached to the bottom extremity 15 of each of the leg portions 12, as by stitching along the line 19, is a stocking securing composite band indicated generally by the numeral 20, intended to engage and support the upper marginal portion of a stocking by frictional means, as hereinafter described.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the composite band 20 comprises a plurality of interconnected textile strips and bands indicated by the numerals 30, 40, and 50. The first textile strip 30 is stitched along the line 19, the textile strip 30 comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic strands 31.(FIG. 6) A plurality of axially extending inextensible filaments 32 is interwoven with the strands 31 in a manner which imparts an open-mesh fish net character to the strip 30. The particular character of the mesh-type strip 30 is not critical so long as it is of a stretch textile material or weave which permits axial and longitudinal elastic movement. Because of the manner in which the textile strip 30 is woven, the strip is both longitudinally and axially elastic, this being desirable for reasons hereinafter explained. The term axially as used herein refers to the axis of the generally cylindrical shape defined by the leg portion 12 of the undergarment. The textile strip 40 stitched to the lower end of the fish net strip 30 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic strands 41 which are interwoven with a plurality of axially extending filaments 42, the filaments 42 being interwoven with the strands 41 in a manner whereby the strip 40 is longitudinally elastic only. The strip 40 serves as a flat portion connecting the fish net strip 30 to a nonslip fabric band 50 forming the bottommost portion of the composite band 20.

The nonslip fabric band 50 is comprised of a longitudinally elastic textile material 51 comprised of a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic or extensible filaments 52 with transverse inextensible filaments 53 interwoven therewith. Each of the extensible filaments 52 is comprised of a core of elastic material covered by a sheath of yarn. For example, the core may be either formed of a rubber or spandex material covered by two layers of yarn, such as nylon, or, alternatively, the core may be comprised of a spun yarn of rubber or spandex, the sheath then comprising a polyester or acrylic yarn.

A layer of frictional material 55, such as rubber, is secured to the outwardly facing side of the textile material 51. In the embodiment shown, the rubber is laminated to the textile material and is formed in a manner which provides a plurality of longitudinally extending alternating ridges 56 and valleys 57. The rubber may be adhesively secured to the textile material 51 as by spraying thereon. It will be appreciated that because the frictional material 55 is of a natural or synthetic rubber, it is also longitudinally elastic together with the underlying textile material 51. The frictional material 55 provides a surface which is adapted to cooperate with a like nonslip fabric band, such as 60, which is stitched to the upper welt of a stocking, a portion of which is shown as 70 in FIGS. 2--5. The stocking 70 may be of the normal sheer type seamless stocking of common manufacture. The nonslip fabric band 60 secured to the upper end of the stocking 70 is identical in construction to the nonslip fabric band 50 carried by the undergarment, and includes the longitudinally elastic textile material 61 having the layer of frictional material 65 secured thereto. In this instance, however, the frictional material 65 is exposed on the inside surface of the band. The frictional material 65 is likewise comprised of a natural or synthetic rubber and is formed of the alternating longitudinally extending ridges 66 and valleys 67.

It will be appreciated that the nonslip fabric band 60 of the stocking is positionable so that the frictional material 65 thereof overlies the frictional material 55 exposed on the outside surface of the band 50. The ridges of the bands 50 and 60 are positioned within the corresponding valleys of the frictional material on the opposite ones of the bands, such as illustrated in FIG. 4, thereby to increase the frictional engagement between the undergarment 10 and the stockings.

The undergarment illustrated in FIG. 1 is further provided with a lace textile strip 80 which is stitched along one edge 81 thereof to the bottom extremity 15 of the leg portion 12 of the undergarment. As best seen in FIG. 3, the lower edge 81 of the lace strip completely overlies the composite band 20 which includes the fish net textile strip 30, the flat band 40, and the nonslip fabric band 50, whereby the lace strip 80 serves to conceal the frictional material 55 of the nonslip fabric band when the undergarment 10 is worn without stockings. The lace strip, by covering the frictional material, also prevents same from interfering with the outer garment when the undergarment 10 is worn without stockings. As seen in FIG. 2, the lace strip 80 is also adapted to overlie the juxtaposed fabric bands 50 and 60 when an associated stocking is supported by the undergarment.

By providing the plural frictional areas 55 and 65 on both the undergarment and the stocking, sufficient frictional contact is provided to securely retain a stocking when the nonslip fabric band thereof is engaged by the corresponding band of the undergarment. In this regard, the alternate ridge and valley configuration of the frictional material 55 and 65 enhances the frictional engagement between the stocking and the undergarment and functions with maximum efficiency to retain the stockings in position under conditions of great activity. The mesh textile strip 40 accommodates movement of the nonslip fabric band 50 relative to the undergarment when the user thereof sits down.

Providing the frictional material of the undergarment on the exposed outer side of the nonslip fabric band prevents any discomforture which may be caused by having a frictional material of rubber or the like exposed where it could rub against the skin of the user of the undergarment and irritate same.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. In combination, an undergarment having leg portions with bottom extremities, each of said bottom extremities carrying a first nonslip fabric band thereon, each of said first nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of said band, and a pair of stockings, each of said stockings, having a thigh-engaging portion including a second nonslip fabric band thereon, each of said second nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the inside surface of said band, said stockings being positionable so that said second bands overlie said first bands, whereby the frictional material exposed on the outside surfaces of said first bands cooperates with the frictional material exposed on the inside surfaces of said second bands to detachably secure said stockings to said undergarment.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said frictional material secured to each of said first and second bands is rubber which is laminated to the underlying textile material.

3. In combination, an undergarment having leg portions with bottom extremities, each of said bottom extremities carrying a first nonslip fabric band thereon, each of said first nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of rubber laminated thereto and exposed on the outside surface of said band, said layer of rubber being formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending alternating ridges and valleys and a pair of stockings, each of said stockings having a thigh-engaging portion including a second nonslip fabric band thereon, each of said second nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of rubber laminated thereto and exposed on the inside surface of said band, said layers of rubber on said second bands being formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending and alternating ridges and valleys, said stockings being positionable so that said second bands overlie said first bands with the ridges on one of said bands in an interlocking manner, whereby the frictional material exposed on the outside surfaces of said first bands cooperates with the frictional material exposed on the inside surfaces of said second bands to detachably secure said stockings to said undergarment.

4. In combination, an undergarment having leg portions with bottom extremities, a pair of textile strips respectively connected to the respective bottom extremities of said undergarment, each of said textile strips being longitudinally and axially elastic and being of a stretch character and comprised of widely spaced longitudinally extending elastic strands with axially extending inextensible filaments interwoven therewith, a pair of first nonslip fabric bands respectively connected to the respective textile strips, each of said first nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of said band, and a pair of stockings, each of said stockings having a thigh-engaging portion including a second nonslip fabric band thereon, each of said second nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the inside surface of said band, said stockings being positionable so that said second bands overlie said first bands, whereby the frictional material exposed on the outside surfaces of said first bands cooperates with the frictional material exposed on the inside surfaces of said second bands to detachably secure said stockings to said undergarment.

5. In combination, an undergarment having leg portions with bottom extremities, each of said bottom extremities carrying a first nonslip fabric band thereon, each of said first nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of said band, a pair of lace textile strips each stitched along one edge to a respective one of said bottom extremities of said leg portions, the free edge of each of said lace strips extending parallel to the terminal edge of the corresponding first nonslip fabric band and overlying same for concealment thereof, and a pair of stockings, each of said stockings having a thigh-engaging portion including a second nonslip fabric band thereon, each of said second nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the inside surface of said band, said stockings being positionable so that said second bands overlie said first bands, whereby the frictional material exposed on the outside surfaces of said first bands cooperates with the frictional material exposed on the inside surfaces of said second bands to detachably secure said stockings to said undergarment.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said textile material of said nonslip fabric bands comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic filaments with transverse inextensible filaments interwoven therewith, each of said extensible filaments comprising a core of elastic material covered by a sheath of yarn.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said undergarment is a panty girdle.

8. An undergarment comprising a member including stomach- and buttocks-surrounding portions and a pair of downwardly directed thigh-engaging leg portions having bottom extremities, a pair of textile strips respectively connected to the respective bottom extremities of said undergarment, each of said textile strips being longitudinally and axially elastic and being of a stretch character and comprised of widely spaced longitudinally extending elastic strands with axially extending inextensible filaments interwoven therewith, a pair of nonslip fabric bands respectively connected to the respective textile strips, each of said nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of said band, whereby said frictional material is adapted to frictionally grip and support the thigh-engaging portion of an associated stocking and support same on the leg of the user thereof.

9. An undergarment comprising a member including stomach- and buttocks-surrounding portions and a pair of downwardly directed thigh-engaging leg portions having bottom extremities, each of said bottom extremities carrying a nonslip fabric band thereon, each of said nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of said band, a pair of lace textile strips each stitched along one edge to a respective one of said bottom extremities of said leg portions, the free edge of each of said lace strips extending parallel to the terminal edge of the corresponding first nonslip fabric band and overlying same for concealment thereof, whereby said frictional material is adapted to frictionally grip and support the thigh-engaging portion of an associated stocking and support same on the leg of the user thereof.

10. An undergarment comprising a member including stomach- and buttocks-surrounding portions and a pair of downwardly directed thigh-engaging leg portions having bottom extremities, a pair of textile strips respectively stitched along one edge thereof to the respective bottom extremities of said undergarment, each of said textile strips being longitudinally and axially elastic and comprised of widely spaced longitudinally extending elastic strands with axially extending inextensible filaments interwoven therewith, a pair of nonslip fabric bands respectively stitched to the opposite edges of the respective textile strips, each of said nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of said band, whereby said frictional material is adapted to frictionally grip and support the thigh-engaging portions of an associated stocking and support same on the leg of the user thereof while said textile strip accommodates movement of the associated stocking relative to the undergarment.

11. The undergarment set forth in claim 10, wherein said frictional material secured to each of said bands is rubber laminated to the underlying textile material and formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending alternating ridges and valleys.

12. An undergarment comprising a member including stomach- and buttocks-surrounding portions and a pair of downwardly directed thigh-engaging leg portions having bottom extremities, a pair of textile strips respectively stitched along one edge to the respective bottom extremities of said undergarment, each of said textile strips being longitudinally and axially elastic and comprised of widely spaced longitudinally extending elastic strands with axially extending inextensible filaments interwoven therewith, a pair of nonslip fabric bands respectively stitched to the opposite edges of the respective textile strips, each of said nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and exposed on the outside surface of said band, a pair of lace textile strips each stitched along one edge to a respective one of said bottom extremities of said leg portions, the free edge of each of said lace strips extending parallel to the terminal edge of the corresponding first nonslip fabric band and overlying same for concealment thereof, whereby said frictional material is adapted to frictionally grip and support the thigh-engaging portion of an associated stocking and support same on the leg of the user thereof while said textile strip accommodates movement of the associated stocking relative to the undergarment.

13. An undergarment comprising a member including stomach- and buttocks-surrounding portions and a pair of downwardly directed thigh-engaging leg portions each terminating in an open bottom extremity, a pair of nonslip fabric bands respectively secured to the bottom extremities of said leg portions, each of said nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto and formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending and axially alternating ridges and valleys, and a pair of lace textile strips respectively secured to the bottom extremities of said leg portions and respectively covering the outside surfaces of said nonslip fabric bands for concealment thereof, whereby said frictional material is adapted to frictionally grip and support the thigh-engaging portion of an associated stocking and support same on the leg of an associated wearer.

14. The undergarment set forth in claim 13, wherein each of said lace strips is secured along only the upper edge thereof to the bottom extremity of the associated leg portion of said undergarment.

15. An undergarment comprising a member including stomach- and buttocks-surrounding portions and a pair of downwardly directed thigh-engaging portions each terminating in an open bottom extremity, a pair of first textile strips respectively secured along the upper edges thereof to the bottom extremities of said leg portions, each of said first textile strips being longitudinally and axially elastic and comprised of widely spaced strands interwoven in an open-mesh fish net pattern, a pair of second textile strips respectively secured along the upper edges thereof to the bottom edges of said first textile strips, each of said second textile strips being longitudinally elastic and comprised of closely spaced strands interwoven in a close-knit pattern, a pair of nonslip fabric bands respectively secured to the bottom edges of said second textile strips, each of said nonslip fabric bands comprising a longitudinally elastic textile material having a layer of frictional material secured thereto, whereby said frictional material is adapted to frictionally grip and support the thigh-engaging portion of an associated stocking and support same on the leg of an associated wearer thereof while said first textile strips accommodate movement of the associated stockings relative to said undergarment.

16. The undergarment set forth in claim 1, wherein said undergarment is a panty girdle and includes a crotch piece fabricated of a plurality of overlapping layers of fabric, the layers of fabric being easily separated to facilitate the performance of normal bodily functions without requiring removal of the undergarment.