Abstract:
A garment with shaping benefits is provided. In one aspect, the garment may comprise an outer layer configured as a dress and an inner shaping layer comprising a front panel and back panel. The front panel may comprise a first portion to attach the inner shaping layer to the outer layer on the front and a second portion to provide a shaping benefit. The back panel may be attached to the outer layer on the back and also provide a shaping benefit. The inner shaping layer may not be visible from the outside of the outer garment. In certain aspects, the garment may be an upper body garment, such as a shirt dress. In some other aspects, the garment may be a full body garment, such as a skirt dress.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/931,386, filed Jan. 24, 2014, entitled “TOPS AND DRESSES WITH HIDDEN CONTROL LINING,” the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of garments, and more particularly, to tops and dresses, that provide shaping benefits. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Garments have been providing wearers functional and aesthetic utilities throughout human history. In recent years, shaping underwear (such as corsets, bras, and girdles) has gained popularity among women because it helps a wearer to achieve a more fashionable figure. In many cases, however, the wearer must also wear a fashionable outer layer not only to conceal the shaping underwear, but also to fully take advantage of the underwear&#39;s shaping properties. Even more recently, there have been attempts made to design single garments that combine the outer layer, such as tops, with an attached shaping element on the interior of the garment. Oftentimes, however, the drawback of such garments is that the shaping element is attached to the outer layer in such a way that the seams or other attaching devices are visible to the outside observer, who then is aware that the wearer is wearing a garment that contains a shaping element. Therefore, there is a need in the art for garments that incorporate shaping elements while appearing, from the outside observer&#39;s perspective, to be conventional outer layers with no shaping elements. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present disclosure is best understood with reference to the claims, the entire specification, and the drawings submitted herewith, which describe the embodiments according to the present disclosure in greater detail. The summary is merely intended to convey aspects of illustrative embodiments. 
         [0005]    The present disclosure describes embodiments of an upper body or full body garment that that may provide shaping benefits around the wearer&#39;s body to provide a slim and smooth appearance, particularly to the waist, hips and upper back and, in the case of full body garments, the thighs and buttocks. An exemplary garment according to the present disclosure, such as a top or a dress, may first comprise an outer layer. The outer layer may be any of a typical upper body or full body garment known in the art, such as a top, a blouse or dress, which may vary in style, sleeve length, body length and other design details. It may be constructed of any suitable fabric, including non-control fabrics, such as a knit fabric. 
         [0006]    An exemplary garment according to the present disclosure may further comprise an inner shaping layer anchored to the outer layer. The inner shaping layer may be attached to the outer layer in such a way that the seams or other attaching devices are not visible to the outside observer, so that the garment may appear, from the outside observer&#39;s perspective, to be a conventional outer layer that contains no shaping element. In some embodiments, the inner shaping layer may be anchored to the outer layer just at the neckline and armholes. The bottom of the inner shaping layer may be floating, i.e., not attached to the outer layer. In other embodiments, the inner shaping layer may be attached or tethered to the outer layer along the side seams. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, the inner shaping layer may comprise a front panel and back panel, connected at the side seams. In such embodiments, the front panel may comprise a top portion, extending from the neckline of the garment to underneath the wearer&#39;s breasts. The top portion may be constructed of a non-control fabric, and may be the same fabric as the outer layer. The front panel may further comprise a bottom portion, attached to the top portion, and extending from underneath the wearer&#39;s breasts to the bottom edge of the inner shaping layer. This bottom portion may be made of a control fabric. The back panel may extend from the neckline to the bottom edge of the inner shaping layer, and may also be made of a control fabric. In some aspects, the bottom edge of the inner shaping layer further may comprise a hidden elastic inner circumferential hem, which may grip the body of the wearer to keep the inner shaping layer in place. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    In the accompanying drawings that form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, the present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation, with like reference numerals referring to like elements, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1A-1D  show the outside and inside front and back of an exemplary upper body shirt garment according to the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows an upper body shirt garment according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows an upper body shirt garment according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows an upper body shirt garment according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5A-5D  show the outside and inside front and back of an exemplary full body dress garment according to the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a full body dress garment according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosure. In other instances, well known constructions of garments have not been shown in detail, as they are understood by those of skill in the art. It is intended that no part of this specification be construed to effect a disavowal of any part of the full scope of the disclosure. 
         [0016]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0017]    In addition, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on other embodiments to yield a still further embodiment. Additionally, certain features may be interchanged with similar devices or features not mentioned yet which perform the same or similar functions. It is therefore intended that such modifications and variations are included within the totality of the present invention. 
         [0018]    An exemplary garment according to the present disclosure, such as a top or a dress, may first comprise an outer layer. The outer layer may take the form of any suitable upper body or full body garment now known in the art or hereinafter created. For example, an outer layer according to the present disclosure may have any of a variety of sleeve lengths including, but not limited to, sleeveless (such as a tank top), short, three-quarter length, long, cuffed, etc. The outer layer may also have any of a variety of necklines, such as round, sweetheart, v-neck, crew, boat, cowl, and scoop neck configurations. Additionally, the outer layer may be a variety of lengths, to provide varying upper and lower body coverage, such as a waist-length top, a tunic, a knee-length dress, etc. The outer layer may be constructed of any suitable fabric, including non-control fabrics, such as a knit fabric, and further may have varying design elements such as applique, ruching, pleating, draping, secondary fabrics, etc. In certain embodiments, the outer layer may be constructed of a non-opaque fabric, such that anything underneath the outer layer will not be visible. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict an exemplary embodiment of an upper body garment  100  according to the present disclosure, wherein the garment  100  first may comprise an outer layer  101  configured as a shirt. As shown on  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the outer layer  101  may have side seams  102  and arm holes  110 , and may further comprise an optional back midline vertical design seam  103 . At the top, the outer layer  101  may comprise a top edge seam  106  and a neckline  108 . At the bottom, the outer layer  101  may comprise an optional hem  114 . As shown on  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the garment  100  may further comprise one or more sleeves  104  which, in such embodiments, may also have an optional hem  114 . 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1C and 1D  depict the inside of the exemplary upper body garment  100  shown on  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Such an exemplary garment  100  according to the present disclosure may further comprise an inner shaping layer  112  anchored to the outer layer  101 . As shown on  FIGS. 1C and 1D , the inner shaping layer  112  may comprise a front panel  120  and a back panel  122 , which may be attached at side seams  128 , and which may be constructed in such a manner so as to line the outer layer  101  at both front and back. The sides of the inner shaping layer  112  may comprise side seams  128 , arm holes  130 , and a bottom hem  134 . In certain embodiments, the bottom hem  134  may incorporate elastic, so as to help grip the bottom of the inner shaping layer  112  to the body of the wearer. 
         [0021]    As shown on  FIGS. 1C and 1D , the front panel  120  may comprise a top portion  124 , which may extend from the top edge seams  132  of the inner shaping layer  112  to underneath the wearer&#39;s breasts. The front panel  120  may further comprise a bottom portion  126 , which may be attached to the top portion  124 , and which may extend from underneath the wearer&#39;s breasts to the bottom edge of the inner shaping layer. In certain embodiments, the top portion  124  may be connected to the bottom portion  126  with a flat stitching, such as a triple needle cover stitch. The fabric and neckline of the top portion  124  may be similar or identical to the fabric and neckline of the outer layer  101 . The fabric of the bottom portion  126  and the back panel  122  may be a fabric capable of providing compressive or shaping benefits, such as a micro denier, Spandex, also sometimes referred to as elastane, or other type of similar fabric. 
         [0022]    The inner shaping layer  112  may be attached to the outer layer  101  in such a way that the seams or other attaching devices are not visible to the outside observer, so that the garment  100  may appear, from the outside observer&#39;s perspective, to be a conventional garment that contains no shaping element. In some embodiments, the inner shaping layer  112  may be anchored to the outer layer  101  just at the neckline  108  and armholes  110 . The anchoring may be done by, for example, stitching or glue. In one non-limiting example, the anchoring may be done by a single needle stitch, or 3 needle overlock stitch. In embodiments wherein the inner shaping layer  112  is anchored to the outer layer  101  just at the neckline  108  and armholes  110 , the bottom of the inner shaping layer  112  may be floating, i.e., not attached to the outer layer  101 . 
         [0023]    In other embodiments, the inner shaping layer  112  may be optionally attached or tethered to the outer layer  101  along one or more vertical seams such as side seams (e.g., outside seam  102 ). The side anchoring may be done by stitching (e.g., single needle top stitch) or glue. In certain of these embodiments, the side anchoring may cover the full length of the inner shaping layer  112 , that is, from the bottom edge of the arm holes  110  to the bottom edge of the inner shaping layer  112 . In other embodiments, the side anchoring may cover only a partial length of the full width. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4  illustrate additional exemplary upper body garments according to the present disclosure. Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , each shirt  200 ,  300 ,  400  includes an outer layer  201 ,  301 ,  401  and an inner shaping layer  212 ,  312 ,  412  wherein the inner shaping layer  212 ,  312 ,  412  comprises a front panel  220 ,  320 ,  420  and a back panel  222 ,  322 ,  422 , and wherein the front panel  220 ,  320 ,  420  comprises a top portion  224 ,  324 ,  424  and a bottom portion  226 ,  326 ,  426 . In the exemplary embodiments shown on  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the garments depict varying non-limiting design elements. 
         [0025]    For example,  FIG. 2  shows a shirt  200  having an optional leather detail  240  at the shoulders of the outer layer  201 .  FIG. 3  shows a shirt  300  with an outer layer  301  having a draped design and optional midline vertical design seam  303 .  FIG. 4  shows a shirt  400  with an outer layer  401  having zippers  450  at the side seams  402 . When closed, the zippers  450  of the shirt shown in  FIG. 4  conceal a fabric  460  that may be different, e.g., in color, pattern, type, etc., than that of the outer layer  401 . Fabric  460  may be revealed when zippers  450  are open. Additionally, the shirt  400  of  FIG. 4  may comprise a fabric collar  470  at the neckline. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the back panel  422  of the inner shaping layer  412  may also have a top portion  480  and a bottom portion  490 , wherein the fabric and neckline of the top portion  480  is preferably similar or identical to the fabric and neckline of the outer layer  401 . As described previously, in some embodiments, a garment according to the present disclosure may be a full body garment, such as a dress.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict an exemplary embodiment of a full body garment  500  according to the present disclosure, wherein the garment  500  comprises an outer layer  501  configured as a dress. As shown on  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the outer layer  501  may have side seams  502  and arm holes  510 , and may further comprise an optional back midline vertical design seam  503 . At the top, the outer layer  501  may comprise a top edge seam  506  and a neckline  508 . At the bottom, the outer layer  101  may comprise an optional hem  514 . As shown on  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the garment  500  may further comprise sleeves  504  which, in such embodiments, may also have optional hem  514 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 5C and 5D  depict the inside of the exemplary full body garment  500  shown on  FIGS. 5A and 5B . Such an exemplary garment  500  according to the present disclosure may further comprise an inner shaping layer  512  anchored to the outer layer  501 . As shown on  FIGS. 5C and 1D , the inner shaping layer  512  may comprise a front panel  520  and a back panel  522 , which may be attached at side seams  528 , and which may be constructed in such a manner so as to line the outer layer  501  at both front and back. The sides of the inner shaping layer  512  may comprise side seams  528 , arm holes  530 , and bottom hem  534 . In certain embodiments, the bottom hem  534  may comprise elastic, so as to help grip the bottom of the inner shaping layer  512  to the body of the wearer. 
         [0027]    As shown on  FIGS. 5C and 5D , in such embodiments, the front panel  520  may comprise a top portion  524 , which may extend from the top edge seams  532  of the garment  500  to underneath the wearer&#39;s breasts. The front panel  520  may further comprise a bottom portion  526 , which may be attached to the top portion  524 , and which may extend from underneath the wearer&#39;s breasts to the bottom edge of the inner shaping layer  512 . In certain embodiments, the top portion  524  may be connected to the bottom portion  526  with a flat stitching such as a triple needle cover stitch. The fabric of the top portion  524  may be similar or identical to the fabric and neckline of the outer layer  501 . The fabric of the bottom portion  526  and the back panel  522  may be a fabric capable of providing compressive or shaping benefits, such as a micro denier, Spandex, also sometimes referred to as elastane, or other type of similar fabric. 
         [0028]    The inner shaping layer  512  may be attached to the outer layer  501  in such a way that the seams or other attaching devices are not visible to the outside observer, so that the garment  500  may appear, from the outside observer&#39;s perspective, to be a conventional garment that contains no shaping element. In some embodiments, the inner shaping layer  512  may be anchored to the outer layer  501  just at the neckline  508  and armholes  510 . The anchoring may be done by, for example, stitching or glue. In one non-limiting example, the anchoring may be done by a single needle stitch, or 3 needle overlock stitch. In embodiments wherein the inner shaping layer  512  is anchored just at the neckline  508  and armholes  510 , the bottom of the inner shaping layer  512  may be floating, i.e., not attached to the outer layer  501 . In other embodiments, the inner shaping layer  512  may be optionally attached or tethered to the outer layer  501  along one or more vertical seams such as side seams (e.g., outside seam  102 ). The side anchoring may be done by stitching (e.g., single needle top stitch) or glue. In some embodiments, the side anchoring may cover the full length of the inner shaping layer  512 , that is, from the bottom edge of the arm holes  510  to the bottom edge of the inner shaping layer  512 . In other embodiments, the side anchoring may cover only a partial length of the full width. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates another exemplary dress according to the present invention. As depicted on  FIG. 6 , the dress  600  may comprise an outer layer  601  and an inner shaping layer  612 , wherein the inner shaping layer  612  may comprise a front panel  620  and a back panel  622 , and wherein the front panel  620  may comprise a top portion  624  and a bottom portion  626 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the dress  600  further comprises varying nonlimiting design elements, such as the outer layer  601  having a round neckline and side ruching. 
         [0030]    What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the following claims, in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated therein.