SUPPORTIVE PELVIC GARMENT

A supportive pelvic garment configured to improve or maintain pelvic health. Embodiments of the disclosed pelvic support garment utilizing flexible materials for increased comfort and a plurality of elements designed to provide targeted support to pelvic muscles, ligaments, and tissues.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

When many individuals think of broadly, there are many concepts or concerns that regularly come to mind. One underserved area of personal health maintenance, particularly in the public discourse, relates to pelvic health.

Although pelvic floor dysfunction is quite common, it often goes ignored despite its disruptive nature. Pelvic health involves the muscles, ligaments, and tissues in the lower part of the body. These systems play an important role in body regulation (bladder control, bowel movements), providing core support, and also sexual health. Pain or discomfort associated with these systems, as is the case with many elements of the human anatomy, can be very disruptive to everyday activities and sometimes difficult to discuss given the sometimes sensitive nature of such discomfort.

In conjunction with treatment or other medical or therapeutic intervention, pelvic health may be managed in part through use of specially designed garments that provide additional support to key areas.

The present disclosure relates to such a garment. It is an object of this disclosure to provide an adjustable, comfortable, and reinforced undergarment. Further, it is an object to provide a discreet fitting garment that can be worn as party of a regular daily ensemble without undue attention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the present invention there are multiple details established to provide a thorough understanding of the invention and the preferred implementations of the invention. It should be clear that the description is not intended to limit the invention to these specific embodiments and those variations, changes, substitutions, or equivalent components will be apparent to those skilled in the art and should not be considered significant differences from the intended scope of the invention. Any reference to a particular dimension is illustrative only.

A supportive pelvic garment 100 in accordance with this disclosure may comprise a waistband 110, a primary support element 120, and a secondary support element 130 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 13.

Although different conventional materials may be used, various embodiments of the present disclosure contemplate use of an elastic material. Further, different elastic materials may be used to comprise the various constituent elements of supportive pelvic garment 100. While different materials may be combined or otherwise configured into a composite material, for purposes of this disclosure, the embodiments described herein shall generally utilize a single material type unless stated otherwise.

For example, waistband 110, primary support element 120, and secondary support element 130 may be comprised of the same elastic material. As is conventionally known in the art, rolls of the same material having different dimensions (e.g., 2 inch, 3, inch, 4 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch, etc.) may be use to facilitate the making of supportive pelvic garment 100. Additionally, any recitation of “cut”, “sew”, or “serge” should be attributed its conventional meaning and may be accomplished through use of any techniques or tools conventionally known for such purpose.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, waistband 110 may assembled from a 2″ elastic roll. Although the length of waistband 110 may vary, one embodiment of the present disclosure contemplates a 30″ diameter. When joining the ends of waistband 110, each end may be serged. The seam between the ends is preferably not raised and flat as shown in FIGS. 4 and 14. The elastic fibers of waistband 110 may run vertical or parallel in the direction of the waistband's length.

In alternative embodiments, the ends waistband 110 may be capable of nondestructive disengagement. As shown in FIGS. 17-19, engagement mechanisms (such as bra hooks and eyes, clasps, or other similar, conventionally known structures configured for reversible engagement) may be affixed to each of the ends of waistband 110 such that the ends may engage with one other.

Primary support element 120 may be assembled from a 3″ or 4″ elastic roll. Although the length of primary support element 120 may vary, one embodiment of the present disclosure contemplates a 17″ length. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, primary support element 120 (sometimes referred to as a “hammock”) may begin at a first width (approximately 3″ or 4″) and taper to a second width (approximately 0.75-1″). There may be an area of primary support element 120 that is not tapered wherein tapering begins approximately 3.5″ from one end of primary support element 120. Tapering may end approximately 10″ from the one end resulting in a tapered section of approximately 6.5″ in length. Any remainder of primary support element 120 may be fully tapered. The elastic band fibers of primary support element 120 may run vertical or parallel in direction of the hammock's length.

Secondary support element 130 (sometimes referred to as a “gusset”) may be assembled from an 8″ elastic roll and formed as depicted in FIGS. 6, 11, and 13. Gusset 130 may have a length of approximately 8″. Gusset 130 is disposed interior relative hammock 120 in completed supportive pelvic garment 100. When assembling supportive pelvic garment 100, gusset 130 may be positioned on top of hammock 120 as shown in FIG. 13. The elastic band fibers of gusset 130 may run horizontal or perpendicular relative the length of gusset 130. This fiber orientation may be achieved by cutting a piece from an 8″ elastic roll having its fibers running generally vertical or parallel the roll's length. Once cut, the piece may be rotated substantially ninety degrees and be tapered along the sides, as shown in FIG. 11, wherein a first end of gusset 130 is approximately 3″ which tapers to approximately 0.75″. Gusset 130 may be disposed on top of hammock 120 such that gusset 130 begins to taper approximately 3.25″ below waistband 110 when hammock 120 is affixed thereto. Gusset 130 may taper from its first end such that it substantially complements the tapering of hammock 120 as described above. Gusset 130 may be affixed to hammock 120 by conventional methods such as sewing. In various embodiments, the number of affixed edges of gusset 130 overlapping hammock 120 may vary. In some embodiments, at least the end of gusset 130 having the most tapered edge and the two side edges are affixed to hammock 120 by sewing or other conventional means.

In some embodiments a liner material may be disposed on hammock 120, on gusset 130, or therebetween by conventional methods or techniques. This liner material may be a material like that of supportive pelvic garment 100 or be a different material. In some embodiments, the liner may be sweat wicking spandex. Further, in some embodiments, the material comprising hammock 120 or gusset 130 may itself be or otherwise include or contain such liner material. To the extent the liner material is separate from hammock 120 or gusset 130, such liner material may be cut or formed to correspond to the shape of hammock 120 or gusset 130 and affixed or joined to either element according to conventional methods or techniques.

In some embodiments, waistband 110 and primary support element 120 are joined at a front end 111 such that the non-tapered portion 121 of primary support element 120 is joined via an unraised, flat seam as depicted in FIG. 15. In such embodiments, waistband 110 and primary support element 120 may be joined at a rear end 112 such that the fully tapered portion 122 of primary support element 120 overlaps waistband 110 to provide further structural support for such joining which may be achieved by conventional methods including sewing. In such embodiments, the overlapping area may be approximately 2″.

Any recitation of affixing, joining, sewing, or other similar language may include serging of such edges or surfaces prior to being so affixed, joined, sewn together, or otherwise connected. Any seams created by joining of the various disclosed structures or elements may be so created or configured in any manner conventionally understood. The section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 C.F.R. § 1.77 or to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Further, a description of a technology as background information is not to be construed as an admission that particular technology is prior art to any embodiment(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” a characterization of the embodiment(s) outlined in the presented claims.

Multiple embodiments may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure. Such claims accordingly define the embodiment(s) and their equivalents that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.

Moreover, the Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72 (b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the preceding Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features may be grouped in a single embodiment to streamline the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Instead, as the claims reflect, the inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.