Open-ended Girdle

Abstract

A girdle having an opening at the rear thereof through which the buttocks of a wearer will protrude and an elastic band adapted to engage the wearer's body beneath the buttocks to give an uplift thereto, together with a means for adjusting the degree of uplift achieved by the elastic band.

Description

This invention relates in general to woman's wearing apparel, and more particularly to an undergarment or girdle that is capable of molding the thighs, flattening the abdominal region and providing a naturally appearing rounded derriere. In operation, the said garment will, among other things, offer a pleasing and enhancing shape to a woman's figure, all with maximum comfort and flexibility to her body. Furthermore, with a proper fit, the garment is undetectable and same may be worn underneath all types of outer garments.

Various garments have been devised whereby flabby or enlarged buttocks of a woman are compressed so as to cause same to have a pleasing configuration. However, many women are lacking in such excess flesh in such area so that present day girdles or garments are not suitable or desirable for their needs. Consequently, the present invention affords a means whereby women having a skinny or thin buttocks region can nevertheless obtain an alluring figure by means of wearing the present invention underneath their normal clothing.

It is therefore the primary purpose and object of this invention to provide an undergarment that is capable of molding and lifting the buttocks region in such manner as to enhance the derriere thereof and permit the concurrent wearing of any type of outer garment, all with a neat appearance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a garment as described above wherein the wearer thereof is given a sensation of comfort and flexibility, and is not concerned about pads or similar inflatable items being altered from their intended position.

Another object of the present invention is to devise such an undergarment as described above which is comparatively simple in structure and which can be manufactured and sold at a popular price.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment construction, which adds substantial support to flatten the abdominal region yet have an open-end girdle which molds and uplifts the buttocks region.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment which flattens the abdominal region, shapes the thigh region and molds and uplifts the excessive flesh therefrom into the buttocks region.

Other and additional objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide a durable inner garment of maximum efficiency with a minimum of cost, and to provide effective engagement with the muscles and tendons about the abdominal, thigh and sacroiliac regions, and such objectives, advantages and capabilities will be readily apparent and better understood by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the garment of the present invention, while looking at the posterior of the wearer of such garment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, while viewing the abdominal region of the wearer thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the invention taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the invention taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2.

With reference to the drawing in detail, the invention is shown generally as 10 with the abdomen engaging part 11 being substantially diamond in shape as shown. Said part 11 consists of a generally inflexible smooth material and is capable of stretching only in its vertical direction. As may be appreciated, said abdomen-engaging part 11 may be constructed without any elasticity at all, or only with a modicum of elasticity in its horizontal direction. Connected to a substantial portion of the length of the side borders 12a and 12b, respectively, of said part 11, are duplicate elastic side parts 13a and 13b which are made of a soft elastic fabric adapted to stretch substantially in their horizontal direction so as to have snug engagement about the hip and upper thigh regions of the wearer's body when in position thereupon. Of course, said side parts 13a and 13b will have some elasticity in their vertical direction so as to insure flexibility to the wearer's body, but such elasticity is not as great as the elasticity in the horizontal direction. Identical hip sections, 15a and 15b, are attached to the free sides of said side parts, 13a and 13b, respectively. Said hip sections are made of a generally inflexible material which is capable of stretching primarily in its vertical direction. Attached to the free sides of said hip sections, 15a and 15b, are rear parts, 19a and 19b, respectively, which are made of similar material and have the same characteristics as side parts 13a and 13b. Of course, the garment 10 may be made without utilization of said hip sections 15a and 15b.

A reinforced elastic band 14, made of comparatively heavy fabric, is attached to said abdomen-engaging part 11 at seams 21 and the free sides of said rear parts 19a and 19b at seams 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing. Said band 14 is adapted to stretch only in its longitudinal direction, and is adapted to cross the wearer's body substantially in the small of her back and loop about the sacroiliac region so as to be in upward supporting engagement therewith. The ends 16a and 16b of said band 14 have male and femal closure means attached thereto, 17a and 17b, respectively, with several adjustments therefor. As the result thereof, once said closure means, 17a and 17b, are connected, a substantially closed looped configuration is obtained so that all excessive flesh in the abdominal and side regions of the wearer's body are directed outwardly and upwardly in the buttocks region defined within said band 14. It should be apparent that virtually any type of closure means can be utilized to secure ends 16a and 16b to each other. For example, the closure can be comprised of velcro, snaps, hooks and eyes, or any other adjustable type closures means.

A pair of thigh bands, 18a and 18b, may be sewn about the leg portions of said side parts, 13a and 13b, hip sections, 15a and 15b, and rear parts, 19a and 19b, respectively, so that the entire garment 10 may, in order to form a more pleasing and shapely posterior, mold the thighs into a more desirable form. Said thigh bands 18a and 18b extend downwards below the said leg portions of said girdle 10, and gently compress the flesh of the thigh so that same is directed upwardly so as to also enhance the shape of the buttocks region.

As may be apparent by viewing FIG. 1 of the drawing the posterior region of the wearer is left substantially uncovered, with the buttocks band 14 hugging the bottom portions of the checks of the buttocks and being of sufficient tension so as to cause said buttocks to protrude outwardly and upwardly. The result thereof is that a natural and pleasing posterior is obtained. Furthermore, the said buttocks band 14 may vary in directions of stretch, according to the shaping effect desired. Consequently, and by way of example only, the lowermost areas of said buttocks band 14 may stretch only in its lateral direction so as to create an "uplift" effect with respect to the buttocks region. However, the uppermost areas of said buttocks band 14 may stretch in its longitudinal direction only so as to avoid giving a fleshly appearance near the small of the back of the wearer. Many variations are available with respect to the stretching characteristics of said buttocks band 14, and it is apparent that each garment 10, if necessary, can be made individually to suit the exact requirements of the wearer.

One of the advantages of the herein girdle is that the degree of uplift on the buttocks can be varied and affected by the closure of the ends 16a and 16b of band 14. By closing the band 14 to an innermost position, one effectively pulls the entire band upwardly against the bottom of the wearer's buttocks. Loosening of the band at ends 16a and 16b effectively decreases the tension of the band 14 and lessens the degree of uplift. As a result of such adjustment in the band, the girdle can be effectively tailored to individual needs.

With construction of the garment 10 as shown in the drawing, the abdomen-engaging part 11 remains in effective engagement with the abdomen of the wearer providing a flat appearance thereof. Furthermore, and particularly with the thigh bands 18a and 18b as shown, it may be appreciated that all excess flesh is directed towards the opening in the sacroiliac region, so that a pleasing and shapely buttocks having an outward curve thereto may be accomplished. It may also be seen that the garment 10 permits great flexibility on the part of the wearer thereof, and gives a natural appearance to the entire figure. In addition, due to the open-ended design of the garment 10, the said buttocks band 14 remains in very firm and effective engagement with the sacroiliac region of the wearer's body so as to prevent the girdle 10 from slipping downwards or sideways out of its intended proper position.

While only one particular embodiment of the invention has been described and shown, the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction or arrangement, or to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, or to any specific method of operation, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the said embodiment is intended for illustration and for disclosure of an operative embodiment, and not to show all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might otherwise be embodied.

Claims

we claim:

1. A girdle comprising an abdomen engaging part adapted to compress the abdomen of the wearer's body and having two side borders; a first elastic side part connected to one side border of said engaging part; a second elastic side part connected to the other side border of said engaging part; each of said side parts having a top edge portion and extending along a hip of the wearer; a continuous elastic band connected to the top edge portions of said side parts for engaging the wearer's body beneath her buttocks region so as to give an uplift thereto, said band forming a perimeter through which a portion of the buttocks protrudes, and means attached to said elastic band for adjusting the amount of uplift achieved by said elastic band.

2. A girdle as defined in claim 1, said girdle having a pair of elastic thigh bands respectively attached to each of said side parts, each adapted to engage a thigh of the wearer's body so as to compress same and cause lifting thereof in an upward direction.

3. A girdle as defined in claim 1 and further including a hip section attached to each of said side parts.

4. A girdle comprising a non-elastic abdomen engaging part adapted to compress the abdominal region of the wearer's body; a first side part disposed adjacent one side of said abdomen engaging part and having a side edge; a second side part disposed adjacent the other side of said abdomen engaging part and having a side edge; a first hip section having a pair of side edges, one of which is disposed adjacent said first part and connected to the side edge thereof; a second hip section having a pair of side edges, one of which is disposed adjacent said second side part and connected to the side edge thereof; each of said sections extending along a hip of the wearer and having a vertical elasticity; a first rear part having a pair of side edges, one of which is disposed adjacent said first hip section and connected to the othe side edge thereof; a second rear part having a pair of side edges, one of which is disposed adjacent said second hip section and connected to the other side edge thereof; an elastic band connected to the other side edges of said first and second rear parts for engaging the wearer's buttocks region so as to cause an uplifting thereof; means attached to the elastic band for adjusting the amount of uplift achieved by said elastic band; and a pair of elastic thigh bands, each attached to a separate one of said side parts and adapted to engage a thigh of the wearer's body so as to compress same and cause lifting thereof in an upward direction.