Upper body controlling and smoothing bodysuit

An undergarment or bodysuit which uses a simplex lining between a TACTEL outer layer and a cotton inner layer, the cotton inner layer and the simplex lining forming a laminate. Stabilized tricot may be included as part of the laminate. The use of the simplex layer instead of the foam layer results in a material which provides a similar smoothing effect as foam but which has a lower tendency to crease or ride up when the wearer bends down or bends over. Thong portions snap together and use a powernet fabric to stretch the garment over the body and hold the garment down at the waist when it is worn to provide a smooth look. Foam cushions are also provided at strategic places to reduce the pressure caused by flexible wires or bones used to provide additional support to keep the bones from digging into the rib cage and provide more comfort to the bodysuit undergarment. A small, vertically extending bone is placed between the cups for additional support and to keep the cup support wires centered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to upper bodysuits or undergarments, and more particularly, to bodysuits or undergarments of the type which serve to shape the upper body, and provide control to the waist and tummy of female wearers of strapless gowns and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many types of undergarments are known in the prior art which are constructed to provide support to the user. See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,249. Although the prior art devices generally serve their intended purpose, they usually are made of a single layer of non stretchable fabric and have a number of vertically extending seams and/or bones or wires which extend the length of the front portion of the garment. These wires and/or seams tend to result in visible lines which appear when wearing thin, tight fitting gowns or the like. Typically, prior art undergarments do not have vertically extending wires at the rear. Moreover, although products are available which utilize a foam construction which do not suffer this problem, for example, Style No 7643 available from Felina Lingerie, such products tend to ride up or form creases in the midriff area when the wearer bends down or bends over. This problem results from the use of a tactel outer layer and a foam and cotton backing laminate as the inner layer because the foam layer tends to compress and stretch when put under pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by virtue of several improvements. First, instead of using a foam and cotton backing laminate as in inner layer for the front portion of the garment, the invention uses a simplex lining between the TACTEL (a type of yarn and registered trademark) outer layer and the cotton inner layer, the cotton inner layer and the simplex lining forming a laminate. Stabilized tricot may be included as part of the laminate. The use of the simplex layer instead of the foam layer results in a material which provides a similar smoothing effect as foam but which has a lower tendency to crease or ride up when the wearer bends down or bends over. The invention also includes thong portions which snap together and which use a powernet fabric which serves to stretch the garment over the body and holds the garment down at the waist when it is worn to provide a smooth look. Foam cushions are also provided at strategic places to reduce the pressure caused by flexible wires or bones used to provide additional support. That is, the foam cushions keep the bones from digging into the rib cage and provide more comfort to the bodysuit undergarment. Finally, a small, vertically extending bone is placed between the cups for additional support and to keep the cup support wires centered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first toFIG. 1, the invented undergarment comprises front body portion101, cup portions102aand102b, and rear body portions120aand120b. As is typical in the art, rear body portions include hooks123and eyes125which engage one another when the undergarment is being worn. As is also typical in the art, there exists more than one column of eyes so that adjustments can be made for size differentials.

Also as is typical in the art, the undergarment includes flexible metal wires sometimes referred to as bones. In the case of the cups, flexible wires103are curved and are located on the underside of the cups to provide lift. Foam cushion105provides protection from pressure exerted by the ends of wires103when the undergarment is being worn. Bone115extending vertically between cups102aand102bprovides additional support and keeps wires103centered.

Flexible wires127aand127bextend the length of the garment and are located so that they are approximately centered with respect to first and second rear body portions120aand120b. Foam padding106is added to provide a cushion to protect from pressure exerted by wires127aand127bwhen the undergarment is being worn. Vertically extending flexible wires129aand129bare located at the seams between the front body portion and the first and second rear body portions and are slightly curved. The various flexible wires exist to provide additional support for the wearer. Side hooks107are used to hang the garment on a hanger.

FIG. 2is an illustration of the undergarment shown from the rear in the worn position. Flexible wires108extend the length of the rear body portions adjacent to hooks123and eyes125respectively to provide additional posture control and support.

The undergarment also includes thong portion109a, and referring toFIG. 3, thong portion109b. The thong portions include snaps110which connect thong portions109aand109bwhen the undergarment is being worn. Seam112is made of the same fabric as thong portion109band is formed as an inside-out seam to create a smooth seam. Thong portion109aincludes powernet fabric between the front body portion101and snaps110for stretching the inner lining against the body to provide additional smoothing and to provide versatility for various body types.

Referring toFIG. 4, cup portions102a and102b (fromFIG. 1) includes an outer layer made of TACTEL fabric141or other comparable fabric which is thin, lightweight and stretchable. Adjacent the outer layer is a second layer143of simplex fabric or other comparable fabric which is thin, light and does not stretch. The cups also include a foam layer145adjacent the simplex fabric. Finally, there is inside cotton layer147one side of which is adjacent the foam layer and the other side of which lies against the body when the undergarment is worn. Except for the outer layer, the remaining layers form a laminate.

Front body portion101also includes an outer layer of TACTEL fabric141or other comparable fabric. Adjacent this outer layer is a second layer of simplex fabric143or other comparable fabric. Adjacent simplex layer143is a third layer of stabilized tricot149. Front body portion101also includes an inside lining of cotton fabric147adjacent the tricot layer which lies against the body when the undergarment is worn. Except for the outer layer, the remaining layers form a laminate.

As best seen inFIG. 5, front body portion101and cup portions102aand102bare similar excepting that the cup portions include a foam layer145while the front body portion instead utilizes a layer of stabilized tricot fabric. Rear body portion120aand120bhave an outer layer of TACTEL fabric141and an inner layer of powernet fabric151. The various layers are laminated together excepting for the outer layer which is connected to the seams joining the various parts of the undergarment.

By virtue of the above-described construction, the present invention provides certain advantages which are not available in the prior art. In particular, the simplex fabric layer143results in a very light smooth lining center for the front body portion101which will not crease while providing control and a hip lining which has some give. There is no seaming on the outer layer which provides for a very smooth appearance for even very tight fitting outer garments. The undergarment may be worn with strapless dresses while providing a desirable push-up effect with a smooth all-around appearance. Contour pads or push up pads may also be included if desired. The thong portions109aand109banchors the garment and prevents the garment from riding up when the wearer bends or stretches.

The specifics regarding the manufacture of the garment as described above are well within the abilities of persons skilled in the art. As to the various fabrics, appropriate sources are also well known for suitable TACTEL fabric, simplex fabric, stabilized tricot and powernet or equivalents are available from a variety of well known sources. Similarly, the flexible wires, foam, cotton backing and laminates are all very well known components available from many sources.