Abstract:
The present invention relates to a novel construction for a modesty camisole comprising a tubular body portion having an opaque or semi-opaque material and a more transparent back portion, both portions having an elastomeric quality to them. This allows the user to be fitted more comfortably than previous camisoles. The addition of the lace upper portion and strap covers allow for its use for creating a modest look with today&#39;s less modest clothing.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a modesty camisole garment. In particular, the present invention relates to a camisole garment designed to be comfortable while wearing, yet provide increased coverage for use underneath clothing. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Many styles of clothing are available for today&#39;s well dressed woman. However, with styles ranging from very modest to very revealing, not all styles are available for wearing by those of more conservative dress. For example, many of today&#39;s dresses and woman&#39;s tops are very low cut. In addition, many tops are so revealing that they prevent use with more conservative bras which have over the shoulder straps. 
         [0006]    One of the ways that many women have addressed the modesty issue is to wear a camisole underneath a revealing top. The camisole can be fitted with a lace inset above the breast area so that the lace shows through instead of skin when a low cut top is worn. In addition, to deal with wearing of conservative bras, many camisoles have an integral bra. However, the straps can still show and over-the-shoulder styles which use elastic type materials do not provide the decorative feature that lace provides the bust area. 
         [0007]    In addition, more revealing woman&#39;s tops are more likely to be worn in warmer weather. The use of a camisole is frequently uncomfortable because of the heat generated by the extra material which covers a greater portion of exposed skin than the top it is worn underneath. 
         [0008]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,754 there is disclosed a camisole garment with an elastic system under tension and a ruffle which forms an edge of the elastic structure whereby the curl-over of the structure is minimized during use. 
         [0009]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,820 there is disclosed a woman&#39;s undergarment including a full length tubular garment and an inner support underwire bra. In US patent application publication number 2002/0022433 there is disclosed a dual-layer seamless sports bra and camisole for use in the active wear industry and clothing to provide support during exercise. 
         [0010]    Various modesty camisoles are currently sold in under garment stores and online and provide a variety of garments having the above features such as those currently sold by Kate&#39;s Camisoles and Mia Bellina, currently both internet sales companies. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention relates to the discovery that many of the above problems can be overcome by combining a number of novel features in a modesty camisole. Particularly, by having a front that is a tight weave while the back is an open weave, bra strap cover straps, and a short end length under the bust length, a camisole that is more comfortable to wear, cost effective to make, and provides modesty coverage even for bras worn underneath the camisole, is possible. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention there is a camisole garment for wearing about the body underneath a woman&#39;s outer top comprising:
       a) a front portion comprising a lightweight stretch material having a translucent or opaque mesh;   b) a back portion comprising a lightweight stretch material having a semi transparent mesh; and   c) a pair of shoulder straps having a bra strap covering width front and adjustable length back;   wherein the camisole is of a length that ends under the bust and above the waist.       
 
         [0017]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a camisole undergarment, the improvement being the camisole has a front portion having a lightweight stretch material having a translucent or opaque mesh and a lightweight stretch material back having a semi transparent mesh. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a camisole of the present invention having a lace insert. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of a camisole of the present invention showing the open mesh tubular back. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a camisole without the front top insert. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present invention modesty camisole provides better coverage and is more comfortable to wear than previously designed camisoles as discussed herein. 
         [0022]    While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention. 
         [0023]    The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. 
         [0024]    Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation. 
         [0025]    The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive. 
         [0026]    The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting. 
         [0027]    As used herein the phase “camisole garment” refers to a woman&#39;s undergarment that is a sleeveless top garment designed for wearing underneath an outer garment top. An outer garment top would refer to a blouse, a dress, or other top outer garment, especially an outer top garment which is low-cut or otherwise revealing. It is also a garment designed to be worn over a bra. 
         [0028]    As used herein a “front portion” of the camisole refers to the front half of the camisole as viewed when facing the wearer. The camisole is generally a tubular shape can be pulled over the head or stepped through by stretching the material to put on rather than other methods of wearing, such as clothing that can only be worn by zippering or by use of Velcro. Of course, stretch material could be combined with these other types of wearing/putting on the camisole, the important aspect is the stretchable nature of the material chosen for the front and back of the camisole. The entire camisole is designed in a size (several for different size women) that is slightly smaller than the upper chest area where a camisole is worn and will stretch to some degree and thus, give a snug wrinkle free fit. The terms “front” and “back” are used to designate the relationship relative to the garment itself. The front portion as noted is the portion that would be worn over the breast area of the user while the back is the side of the camisole that would, when properly worn, be on the back of the wearer over where the bra is normally fastened. 
         [0029]    As used herein a “lightweight stretch material having a translucent or opaque mesh” refers to material which has the properties of being stretchable to accomplish the fit goals above and is not so see through that if seen would provide some degree of modesty coverage. A tighter weave material can be used for this use. While the exact mesh may differ from material to material, the front material would have a dernier of about 30 or greater. One type of weave of the present invention is a tricot or stretchable warp knitted cloth having a denier that meets the above criteria. In one embodiment, it has a denier of at least 30, or between about 30 and 60, and in one embodiment is a denier of 40. Materials that can be made into a tricot type weave are cotton, silk, rayon, and nylon, as well as combinations of these materials. When referring to these types of weaves, it includes other materials blended into the fabric for reasons of strength or the like. Other stretchable materials, such as spandex, elastic, or the like, could also be used within the scope of the present invention. The back material is designed to breathe, be lighter weight than the front, and allow air to circulate more readily. 
         [0030]    Accordingly, a more open mesh that is more of a see though type material is used. While, once again, the denier of such a material will vary from material to material, one embodiment of the invention is a material of a denier of less than 30. Likewise, tricot type materials and other materials as used for the front could be used just at a more open mesh or lower denier. In one embodiment the tricot has a denier of about 15 for the back portion. In one other embodiment the front material is at least 20 denier greater than the back. 
         [0031]    The stretch material can be one directional stretch material or suitable two-direction material as desired. This might include one or two layer materials as desired as well as reversible materials. The direction of stretch is normally in the horizontal direction, but materials such as tricot, which stretch in a vertical direction as well as a horizontal direction, can be used as well. The amount of stretch in the material is in each direction of stretch from about 10 percent stretch to about 500 percent stretch when fully stretch or elongated. Upon release of tension these materials recover at least about 50 percent of the elongation up to full recovery of the elongation during use of the garment camisole. In one embodiment the material is an 80 percent nylon 20 percent spandex type material. 
         [0032]    The fabric can also be treated with conventional means such as treatments to repeal dirt and water to improve use of the garment during wearing of the garment. Refastenable body seams also could be used to advantageously allow use of the garment without needing to pull the garment up from the feet or over the head during the initial putting on of the camisole. 
         [0033]    A “front top insert” refers to an optional insert replacing the upper portion of the top front portion of the camisole (as shown in the drawings) usually of a different material than the front and being made of an opaque material of a tricot, spandex polyester blend, lace, or a lace like material. Lace like material would include those types of material with a pattern or texture done so for design the of it and the like, such that should the camisole stick out from the undergarment, the pattern would be acceptable. Essentially, lace is non elastomeric although a very small amount of stretch is acceptable. In one embodiment the lace is non-elastomeric. The insert in other embodiments is elastic and includes spandex and spandex blends. It could also include multiple layers, such as lace outside and spandex blend inside. In general, the top front portion will be from about 1 to about 4 inches in height and essentially be the width of the front portion of the camisole. In one embodiment the height is about 2 to 3 inches. The exact height will depend on the size of the camisole to be made based on individual sizes, but in general should be of a height that covers from the top of the breast to just below the collar bone. This creates a neckline that is high enough to be exposed as a decorative alternative to exposed skin which would occur with a lower cut neckline top worn over the camisole. 
         [0034]    As used herein, shoulder straps are positioned one for each side as in a normal strapped camisole. However, in the present invention the front portion extending from the front to about the top of the strap is a material wide enough to cover a bra strap. In one embodiment the strap is at least a half inch wide while in another embodiment it is at least about 1 inch wide. It could be lace or another material that would cover the bra strap or in one embodiment the same material as the front of the camisole. While the material for the strap can be reinforced, essentially a half inch to two inches wide strip of material for the front part of the strap gives modesty cover for the on the shoulder strap of a bra worn under the camisole. In order to provide adjustment, the back of the strap is a standard strap with adjustment means, however, since modesty issues are usually with the front of the top or dress, the need for material all the way to the back of the camisole is usually not necessary. Means for adjusting the straps in the back part of the straps are well known in the art of sewing. In addition, the various parts of the camisole would be sewn together as various parts. Other means for attaching the parts are also within the scope of the present invention, for example, gluing or melting various parts together as well as any other method for attaching pieces of cloth together. Likewise, the present invention could have various different color lace inserts, front material or back material which are removable, for example, via Velcro so that the same camisole can be worn with different color tops and the lace portion changed for color reasons with the changing top of the camisole wearer. Edging for hiding seams and edges of cut cloth can also be used and are within the scope of the present invention as well. 
         [0035]    Now referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. Camisole  1  depicted in a front view consists of semi-opaque or opaque front panel  2  of the front portion of the invention which has a high denier compared to the back panel of the camisole as described above. A seam  3  on both left and right edges of the front panel  2  attaches the front panel  2  to the back panel, not seen in this view. In the area above the front  2  is the optional insert  5  (lace in this embodiment) which is attached to the top of the front panel  3  by sewing the corresponding edges together. In this view the strap fronts  7  are shown as lace and are attached to the top edge of the insert  5 . As noted, it can be seen in this view that pieces can be sewn together or cut from one piece of cloth. One notes that the length of the particular camisole is just below bust length and thus, leaves a bare midriff with no camisole instead of a full length camisole which would extend to the waist or top of the pants area. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  depicts a rear perspective view of a camisole  1  of the present invention. In this view the back panel  8  of the camisole is depicted. As can be seen this is a see through mesh. As described above this portion of the camisole of the invention is a thinner mesh than the front panel, for example, below 20 denier is semi-transparent to transparent in nature to allow the user&#39;s skin to breathe in an area that is covered during the camisole&#39;s use. From this view the back of the lace insert  5  can be seen as well as the back portion of the lace strap  7 . In this view, however, the back part of the strap  11  can be seen which was hidden in the front view in  FIG. 1 . The back part of the strap in this view is a standard thin strap with a length adjustment buckle  12  for adjusting the length of the back portion. Because the front of the strap is not adjustable in length when used as the strap, this back portion of the shoulder strap allows for adjustment while keeping the hiding front strap free of adjustment means. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present invention without the top front insert  7  shown in  FIG. 1 . In this view the front  2  and bra width straps  17  are a single piece of the same material. The camisole  1  is sewn in the same manner and this embodiment would have the same back  8  and adjustable straps  11  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0038]    The above examples are not intended to be limiting. One skilled in the art will be able to substitute various materials, laces, straps, sewing means, and the like, within the scope of the teaching of the present invention. Selection by the particular example above is clearly meant as a specific example of the construction of the camisole of the present invention. Accordingly, the claims which follow should be given an appropriately broad scope.