Shaping garment
View Patent ↗Garments that can be worn during early stages of pregnancy and postpartum are disclosed. The garments shape or contour the stomach or abdomen regions of the wearer to give the abdomen a smoother and slimmer appearance. The garments comprise at least one shaper stitch region that is adapted to apply a compressive force to the wearer's abdomen to shape the stomach or abdomen regions of the wearer.
1. A garment, comprising:
(a) an upper garment portion configured to encircle a wearer's torso, the upper garment portion having an uppermost edge portion configured to reside in proximity to a wearer's inframammary line when the garment is worn;
(b) a lower garment portion seamlessly connected to the upper garment portion and comprising two leg portions, each leg portion configured to encircle at least a portion of one of the wearer's legs; and
(c) at least one shaper stitch region included in at least a portion of the upper garment portion that extends downwards towards a frontal crotch region of the garment to provide a pelvis covering portion configured to cover a wearer's entire pelvic area, wherein the shaper stitch region is configured to apply a compressive force to the wearer's abdomen when the garment is worn.
2. The garment of claim 1 , wherein a width of the pelvis covering portion of the shaper stitch region narrows as it extends downwards and approaches the frontal crotch region of the garment.
3. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the shaper stitch region is included on a rear side of the garment and extends downward from the uppermost edge portion to a region at or above an upper perimeter of a wearer's buttocks when the garment is worn.
4. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the shaper stitch region applies a uniform compressive force to a wearer's abdomen when the garment is worn.
5. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the shaper stitch region comprises a material having a uniform modulus of elasticity.
6. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises at least one of a jersey knitted and interlock knitted material.
7. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises at least one of a nylon, spandex and polyester material.
8. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the upper garment portion is formed to be seamless.
9. The garment of claim 1 , further comprising a gusset in a crotch area of the garment.
10. The garment of claim 9 , wherein the gusset is formed from a material having a modulus of elasticity higher in a first direction than in a second direction.
11. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the leg portions are generally tubular.
12. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the leg portions lack tubular leg-covering portions.
13. The garment of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the uppermost edge portion and lowermost edges of the leg portions comprise a tubular hem stitch.
14. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a single layer of material between hems at the uppermost edge portion and lowermost edges of the leg portions.
15. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the shaper stitch region comprises at least one of rib stitching or jersey knitting.
16. A garment, comprising:
(a) a seamless upper garment portion configured to encircle a wearer's torso, the upper garment portion having an uppermost edge portion configured to reside in proximity to a wearer's inframammary line when the garment is worn, wherein a lower perimeter of the upper garment portion recedes downward in a parabolic curve such that the upper garment portion is configured to completely cover a wearer's belly area;
(b) a lower garment portion comprising at least one leg portion and connected to a lower edge of the upper garment portion, wherein an upper perimeter of the lower garment portion recedes downward in a parabolic curve; and
(c) at least one shaper stitch region included in the upper garment portion, wherein the shaper stitch region is configured to apply a compressive force to the wearer's abdomen when the garment is worn by the wearer.
17. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the shaper stitch region extends circumferentially around the upper garment portion.
18. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the shaper stitch region continuously extends over the upper garment portion.
19. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the shaper stitch region is non-circumferential and extends over a portion of a front side of the upper garment portion.
20. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the garment comprises at least one of a jersey knitted and interlock knitted material.
21. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the garment comprises at least one of a nylon, spandex, and polyester material.
22. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the shaper stitch region on a rear side of the garment extends downward from the uppermost edge portion to a region at or above an upper perimeter of a wearer's buttocks when the garment is worn.
23. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the shaper stitch region applies a uniform compressive force to a wearer's abdomen when the garment is worn.
24. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the shaper stitch region comprises a material having a uniform modulus of elasticity.
25. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the uppermost edge portion and lowermost edges of the leg portions comprise a tubular hem stitch.
26. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the garment comprises a single layer of fabric between hems at the uppermost edge portion and lowermost edges of the leg portions.
27. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the leg portion is tubular and configured to encircle at least a portion of both of the wearer's legs.
28. The garment of claim 16 , wherein the lower garment portion comprises at least one of pants, jeans, trousers, leggings, sweat pants, yoga pants, underwear, swimwear or a skirt.
29. A method of manufacturing a support garment comprising:
(a) knitting a garment material, and
(b) seamlessly applying a shaper stitch region to a portion of the garment material by knitting the material to exhibit an elevated modulus of elasticity, wherein the shaper stitch region extends downwards towards a frontal crotch region of the support garment to provide a pelvis covering portion configured to cover an entire pelvic area of a wearer.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the shaper stitch region is applied circumferentially around the garment.
31. The method of claim 29 , wherein the shaper stitch region is applied to non-circumferential portions of the garments.
32. The garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one shaper stitch region extends to the frontal crotch region and includes the pelvis covering portion.
33. The garment of claim 32 wherein the compressive force is applied to the pelvis covering portion and the frontal crotch region.