Underwear and method of making same

Panties, briefs or like underwear includes a front piece 2 for covering lower abdomen, a rear piece 3 for covering buttocks and a connector piece 4 interconnecting the front piece 2 and the rear piece 3 for covering the crotch. The rear piece 3 is stitched at its lower end to the connector piece 4 while being stretched most greatly on the center line of the rear piece 3 and to a progressively lesser extent from the center line toward the opposite sides thereof. As a result, an elongated depression 6 extending vertically is formed on the center line of the rear piece 3 in conformity with the gluteal cleft between the buttocks. On the opposite sides of the depression 6, the rear piece 3 has rounded portions in conformity with the bulges of the buttocks.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to underwear, such as panties and briefs, and to a 
method of making the same. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Panties, briefs and like undergarments heretofore known have the drawback 
that when they are worn, the portion of the undergarment covering the 
buttocks extends merely in a planar fashion over the gluteal cleft between 
the buttocks and hangs loosely at its lower part to form wrinkles, thus 
failing to present attractive hip lines. Conventional undergarments 
further have the drawback of being uncomfortable to wear since the garment 
is unable to fit over the buttocks and the gluteal cleft in intimate 
contact therewith for enclosing and supporting these body portions. 
The present invention, which has overcome the foregoing drawbacks, provides 
panties, briefs and like undergarments which are comfortable to wear and 
capable of presenting attractive hip lines, and a method of making such 
underwear. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
Throughout the description, the term "upper" or "upward" and "lower" or 
"downward" are used with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 
The underwear of this invention comprises a front piece for covering the 
lower abdomen, a rear piece for covering the buttocks, and a connector 
piece interconnecting the front piece and the rear piece for covering the 
crotch. The front piece and the rear piece are stitched together each at 
its upper opposite side portions. The connector piece is stitched at its 
one end to the lower end of the front piece. The other end of the 
connector piece and the lower end of the rear piece define a space 
therebetween when placed in butting relation to each other. The space is 
shaped symmetrically with respect to the center line thereof and has a 
progressively increasing width toward the center line. The rear piece is 
stitched at its lower end to the other end of the connector piece while 
being stretched most greatly on the center line of the rear piece. 
The underwear therefore has an elongated depression extending on the center 
line of the rear piece and conforming to the gluteal cleft between the 
buttocks. On the opposite sides of the depression, the rear piece has 
rounded portions in conformity with the bulges of the buttocks. 
Accordingly the underwear of this invention, when worn, snugly fits to the 
curves of the buttocks and the gluteal cleft, assuming graceful hip lines. 
Because the rear piece covers and supports the buttocks in intimate 
contact therewith, the underwear feel smooth and comfortable. 
The method of making underwear of this invention comprises stitching 
together, at suitable portions, a front piece for covering the lower 
abdomen, a rear piece for covering the buttocks and a connector piece for 
covering the crotch. The method is characterized in that the rear piece 
and the connector piece are stitched together at their adjoining portions 
while the rear piece is stretched toward the connector piece to the 
greatest extent along the center line of the rear piece and to a 
progressively lesser extent from the center line toward the opposite sides 
thereof, whereby an elongated depression is formed on the center line of 
the rear piece with a bulged portion also formed on each side thereof. 
Accordingly underwear comfortable to wear and presenting graceful hip lines 
can be fabricated with extreme ease without necessitating any special 
procedure or material for cutting the fabric or for sewing. 
The underwear of this invention is made preferably from stretchable knitted 
fabrics. With the method of this invention, the front piece, the rear 
piece and the connector piece may be cut out from a fabric separately. 
Alternatively the rear piece and the connector piece may be cut out as an 
integral piece. 
The present invention is useful not only for panties and briefs but also 
for corsets, girdles, etc. for covering the lower trunk of the human body. 
The invention is similarly useful for the lower trunk portions of 
leotards, bathing suits, sportswear, foundation garments such as 
all-in-ones, etc. for covering both the upper and lower trunks of the body 
.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
With reference to the drawings, the invention will be described in detail 
below. 
Panties, briefs or like underwear 1 comprises a front piece 2 for covering 
the lower abdomen, a rear piece 3 mainly for covering the buttocks, and a 
connector piece 4 interconnecting the front piece 2 and the rear piece 3 
for covering the crotch. Most preferably these pieces 2 to 4 are prepared 
from a stretchable knitted fabric. However, other knitted fabrics, woven 
fabrics or nonwoven fabrics are also usable. 
The front piece 2 has projections 21 at its upper opposite side portions. 
The front piece 2 has a width progressively decreasing downward, and 
opposite side edges 22 each curved in conformity with the groin between 
the thigh and the abdormen or with a part slightly above the groin. The 
lower end 23 of the front piece 2 and one end 41 of the connector piece 4 
are curved to conform with each other and stitched together. 
The rear piece 3 also has projections 31 extending outward from its upper 
opposite side portions obliquely upward. The projections 31 are bent 
toward the front piece 2 and stitched at their ends 34 to the opposed ends 
24 of the projections 21, whereby a portion is formed for covering the 
waist. The rear piece 3 has edges 32 extending from its lower portion 
toward the side projections and conforming to the curves of the buttocks. 
The area and shape of the portion of the rear piece 3 surrounded by the 
edges 32 are determined in accordance with the bulging degree and contours 
of the buttocks. 
The other end 42 of the connector piece 4 is defined by two edges slanting 
outward toward its longitudinal center line. The central lower end 33 of 
the rear piece 3 to be stitched to the end 42 is defined by two edges 
slanting upward toward its center line. These ends 33 and 42 differ in the 
angle of inclination, such that the ends 33 and 42 define a space 5 
therebetween when placed in butting relation to each other before the rear 
piece 3 and the connector piece 4 are stitched together, as seen in FIG. 
4. The space 5 has a progressively increasing width toward the center line 
thereof. 
The rear piece 3 and the connector piece 4 are stitched together at the 
opposed ends 33 and 42 while the lower end portion 33 is being stretched 
toward the connector piece 4 to the greatest extent along the center line 
of the rear piece 3 and to a progressively lesser extent from the center 
line toward the opposite sides thereof. Since the rear piece 3 is thus 
stretched to the greatest extent on its center line, the underwear 1 
formed has an elongated depression 6 extending vertically on the center 
line of the rear piece 3 and conforming to the gluteal cleft between the 
buttocks. On the opposite sides of the depression 6, the rear piece 3 has 
rounded portions in conformity with the bulges of the buttocks. 
Consequently the rear piece 3 of the underwear 1 covers and supports the 
buttocks in intimate contact therewith, feels smooth and comfortable, and 
fits snugly to the curves of the buttocks and gluteal cleft, giving a 
graceful appearance. 
The lower end 33 of the rear piece 3 and the end 42 of the connector piece 
4 to be stitched thereto may be arcuated as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, 
the space 5 formed between the ends 33 and 42 also has an increasing width 
toward its center and resembles a crescent in shape. Alternatively the 
depression 6 can be formed in an integral seamless piece of fabric 
including the rear piece 3 and the connector piece 4, by drawing the 
integral piece into a fold at the portion thereof corresponding to the 
junction of the abovementioned ends 33 and 42 so that the rear piece 
portion of the integral piece will be stretched to the greatest extent on 
its center line, and fixing the folded portion suitably by stitching. In 
this case, the front piece 2 may be integral with or separate from the 
connector piece 4. 
When desired, a stretchable and decorative tape 7 may be stitched to the 
upper edges 25, 35 of the front and rear pieces 2, 3 to be fitted around 
the waist, and also to the side edges 22, 32, 43 of the front and rear 
pieces 2,3 and the connector piece 4 to be fitted around the legs. The 
tape 7 is made partially or entirely from stretchable yarns, such as 
rubber yarns or spandex yarns, by knitting or weaving. 
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
The underwear is one of the daily necessaries. Most of the undergarments 
are made by underwear makers. The underwear and the method of making same 
of this invention can be put into practice by the industry of underwear 
making and contribute to the developments of this industry.