Abstract:
A buttock lift support extends a lift band from each of a pair of elastic leg bands to a waistband so as to wrap around the buttocks of the wearer and exert an upward pressure thereon. Side, rear and front panels, and a thong strap can be incorporated to create a panty garment having the lift support integrated therein.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Ser. No. 60/469,327, filed May 9, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention concerns body supports and more particularly buttocks shaping supports which when worn produce an uplifting effect to improve the wearer&#39;s physique. 
   Various contrivances have been devised to shape and lift the buttocks, but these have been less than effective, produce an unnatural look or feel, and/or are uncomfortable to wear. 
   It is the object of the present invention to provide a buttocks shaping support which is effective to produce a natural looking uplift to the buttocks of the wearer, and is comfortable when worn. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above object and other objects which will become apparent upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a buttocks lift support including a pair of elastic bands which tightly encircle the upper thighs of the wearer. Each thigh encircling elastic band has the bottom of a wide elastic lift band attached to the inside facing areas of the respective encircling elastic bands. 
   These lift bands each are wrapped around and beneath a respective buttock and are spiraled upwardly over the outside of the hip, extending to a waist band encircling the waist of the wearer. The upper ends of the lift bands are attached to the waist band at a point above and forward of the wearer&#39;s hip. 
   A tightening strap is attached to the rear of the waist band which allows the waist band to be tightened to be sufficiently taut to hold the lift bands. 
   The lift bands are sufficiently wide to insure cradling of the buttock and avoid indentation created by sinking in of the bands, insuring a smooth contour of the uplifted buttock held by the tension in the lift bands. These bands while elastic are sufficiently stiff to generate a significant lifting force on the wearer&#39;s buttocks when the support is worn. 
   The elastic bands may be held together on their inside and outside parts by connecting crotch strap sewn to the leg portions and the waist band to define a garment. 
   Various undergarment configurations may incorporate these lift support elements. Covering fabric panels may be sewn to the lift bands and crotch strap at the front of the rear or on both sides to create a panty like undergarment incorporating the buttocks uplift support. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a rear view of a first form of the buttock lift support according to the invention with a partial outline in phantom lines of a wearer&#39;s body. 
       FIG. 1B  is a side view of a second form of the buttock lift support according to the invention, with a portion of a wearer&#39;s body shown with separate outer garment. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of a first embodiment panty garment incorporating the second form of the buttock lift support of  FIG. 1A  with partial outline of a wearer&#39;s body shown in phantom lines. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of a modified version of the panty garment shown in  FIG. 2 , with partial outline of a wearer&#39;s body shown in phantom lines. 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of another embodiment of a panty garment incorporating a buttock lift support according to the invention, with partial outline of a wearer&#39;s body shown in phantom lines. 
       FIG. 5  is a pictorial view of the panty garment shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a rear view of yet another embodiment of a panty garment incorporating the buttock lift support according to the invention, with partial outline of a wearer&#39;s body shown in phantom lines. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1A , a first embodiment of a buttock lift support  10  is shown; which includes a pair of thigh encircling elastic bands  12 A,  12 B adapted to be slipped onto the upper thigh of the wearer as indicated, and tightly fit thereto. 
   An elastic waist band  16  tightly encircles the waist of the wearer, with hooked fittings  23  allowing a tightening of the waist band  16  to snugly fit the waist and be able to support lift bands  14 A,  14 B. 
   A pair of elastic lift bands  14 A,  14 B are also provided, the lower end of each lift band  14 A,  14 B sewn or otherwise attached to a respective thigh encircling elastic bands  12 A,  12 B at the inner thigh region  18  thereof. 
   Each lift band  14 A,  14 B extends outwardly and upwardly to a point of attachment  20  to the waistband  16 , forwardly and on the hip of the wearer. Each lift band  14 A,  14 B wraps around beneath a buttock and winds upward over a hip of the wearer in an approximate spiraling manner. The length and the stiffness of the lift bands  14 A,  14 B is selected so as to cause the buttocks to be lifted when the support is worn. This also slightly separates the buttocks slightly. The waistband  16  provides a support to hold the lift bands  14 A,  14 B securely while they exert an upward lift on the buttocks of the wearer. It will be understood that a lift is also thereby exerted on the thigh encircling elastic bands  12 A,  12 B. A slight buttock separating force is also generated at the same time. 
   The support  10  may be worn beneath an outer garment  24 . 
   The lift bands  14 A,  14 B are sufficiently wide, on the order of three inches, so that a smooth shape is maintained despite the pressure exerted in maintaining lift pressure on the buttocks. 
   The lift bands  14 A,  14 B also exert a lifting force on the upper thigh encircling elastic bands  12 A,  12 B. 
     FIG. 2  shows a panty garment  26  incorporating the buttock lift support according to the invention. 
   A pair of thigh encircling elastic bands  28 A,  28 B are provided as in the above described embodiment which both are connected to a waist band  30  by side fabric panels  32 A,  32 B which extend forwardly over the pelvis of the wearer. A hem  34  extends around a rear opening and the front edge of the panels  32 . 
   A front to rear extending crotch strap  38  is also secured to the waistband  30  via included triangular fabric panels  39 . 
   A pair of lift bands  36 A,  36 B have their bottom ends sewn to a respective one of the thigh encircling elastic bands  28 A,  28 B at the inner thigh region  40 , and at their top to the waistband  30  at the hip region  42 , which may be sewn at a point on the waistband so slightly on the forward side thereof. 
   A hook  45  connects the ends of an elastic strap  44  is sewn inside the waist band  30 , adjustable to a slide  47  to allow tightening of the waist band  30  to provide secure support for the lift bands  36 A,  36 B when lifting the wearer&#39;s buttocks. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the side fabric panels  32 A- 1  and  32 B- 1  are extended to be sewn to the crotch strap  38  at  46 . 
   In  FIGS. 4 and 5  rear fabric panels  48 A,  48 B are sewn into the rear buttock openings to close the same. The panels  48 A,  48 B are also sewn to the crotch strap  38 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a panty garment in which auxiliary side fabric panels  32 A- 2 ,  32 B- 2  extending to the crotch strap  38  at the front are sewn to the side panels  32 A- 1 ,  32 B- 1 . 
   Thus, a comfortable yet highly effective buttock lift support is provided integrated with a panty garment.