Abstract:
A device for supporting the abdominal region of the user. A fabric band is sized to be worn surrounding the abdominal region which supports strategically placed hook and loop regions. A pair of segments of stretch material, also having hook and loop regions at least one of their ends are capable of being selectively and removably appended to the fabric band to apply compression or restriction to the user&#39;s abdomen. The device is particularly useful in helping one to restore abdominal muscle and control particularly after pregnancy.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention involves a device for supporting the abdominal region of a user. The device is particularly advantageous in restoring abdominal muscle and control particularly after pregnancy, an event which generally results in the stretching of abdominal muscularature and resultant extension. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are a number of devices intended to encircle the waist and lower back of a user for a plethora of purposes. Some of these devices act as back supports for many people suffer from lower back pain as a result of scoliosis or weak back muscles which do not adequately support the lower spine. Other products, including girdles and undergarment foundations are employed for aesthetic reasons causing a slimming effect under a dress or pants. Yet further articles of this nature are offered as medical appliances for such widely divergent uses as hernia support apparatus and bandage retention mostly employed post surgically. 
         [0003]    Virtually all of the appliances discussed above commonly employ a single and, in some instances, multiple layers of stretch fabric which cinches upon a user causing abdominal and lower back compression. Even when multiple stretchable fabric layers are employed, they are invariably used as nothing more than redundant co-fabric with the notion being that if a single layer of stretchable fabric is good, then multiple layers of the same fabric must be better. There are, however, certain inherent disadvantages in taking such an approach. 
         [0004]    When multi-layer stretchable foundation garments are employed, a user often experiences constriction resulting in limited movement. This is particularly the case when such multi-layer stretchable garments are applied to the lower back of a user which caused undue restriction in bending and twisting motions. 
         [0005]    In addition to the above, it has been determined that few if any stretchable foundation garments have been designed to assist in a woman&#39;s attempt to rebuild abdominal muscles and consequently reestablish a relative flat stomach and pre-pregnancy conformity after the birth of a child. Pregnancy is unique in its causation of stretch and oftentimes ruptured abdominal musculature, a state which many women never recover from. It is common place for a woman to reminisce about the shape she had before pregnancy resigning herself to the realization that her pre-pregnancy look would never be restored. Virtually all elasticized or stretchable foundation garments currently known are incapable of assisting in the rebuilding of abdominal musculature. 
         [0006]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a multi-layered stretchable garment which is capable of providing abdominal support while overcoming the disadvantages recited above. 
         [0007]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a foundation garment which is able to restore a woman&#39;s pre-pregnancy shape after childbirth. 
         [0008]    These and further advantages will be more readily apparent when considering the following disclosure and appended claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to a device for supporting the abdominal region of a user comprising a substantially rectangularly shaped fabric, at least a segment of which is a stretch material having first and second distal ends and a releasable closure for attaching said distal ends to one another to form a band of said fabric sized to encircle the abdominal region of a user. As a first embodiment, a first hook and loop panel is positioned to reside proximate the abdomen of a user when said device is worn and a second hook and loop panel positioned to reside proximate the back of a user when said device is worn. Two segments of stretch material are provided, each segment having first and second ends and hook and loop regions located proximate said first and second ends for removable attachment of said segments to said substantially rectangularly shaped fabric, wherein said hook and loop region on the first end of each of said segments is removably attached to said first hook and loop panel and said hook and loop region on the second end of each of said segments is removably attached to said second hook and loop panel, said segments being sized to stretch from their at-rest lengths when said device is worn causing restriction to the abdominal region of a user. 
         [0010]    As a second embodiment, the segments can be permanently stitched to the band of fabric in each of their first extremities while, at a second extremity, a strip of hook and loop fastener is appended. A pouch is strategically appended to the device to drape over the abdominal region of a user which includes a hook and loop fastener region which is sized to receive hook and loop fastener strips of the substantially rectangularly shaped fabric. In use, the rectangularly shaped fabric is pulled about the abdominal and lower back regions of a user and brought into proximity by releaseably appending ends of the rectangularly shaped fabric to the hook and loop region associated with the pouch. The segments of stretch fabric are then pulled to connect to the rectangularly shaped fabric in the lower back region of the user. This adds for the compression to the abdominal region and enhances the therapeutic benefits provided by the present invention. 
         [0011]    The device can also be configured as a continuous band or loop of fabric rather than as the above-described rectangularly shaped fabric. In addition, indicia can be applied to it to enable a user to properly position the above-noted segments onto the first hook and loop panels. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view illustrating a first iteration of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a preferred embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 1  illustrating the inclusion of a pouch for containing a hot or cold pack as desired. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is yet a further preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Turning first to  FIG. 1 , device  10  is depicted for supporting the abdominal region of a user. Device  10  can comprise a substantially rectangularly shaped material  11 , at least a portion of which can be a stretch material such as, for example, neoprene or other lightweight stretchable fabric capable of returning to its original dimension repeatedly upon multiple use. Rectangularly-shaped material  11  is configured in the form of a band or a loop by attaching ends thereof by virtue of releasable closures  13  and  14 . Such closures can be, for example, a member selected from the group consisting of zippers, hooks, snaps and hook and loop fasteners. 
         [0017]    As an alternative to the illustration of  FIG. 1 , substantially rectangularly shaped fabric  11  can be constructed as a continuous band thus eliminating the need for releasable closures  13  and  14 . The embodiment of  FIG. 1  would perhaps be easier for a user to employ as fabric  11  can be applied to one&#39;s torso by simply wrapping the fabric around one&#39;s waist followed by connecting releasable closures  13  and  14 . A continuous band on the other hand requires a user to slip the band over her feet and legs and lower torso much as one would slip into a girdle or similar support. 
         [0018]    In continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , a first hook and loop panel  12  is positioned to reside in area  25  which would be proximate the abdomen of a user when the device is worn. A second hook and loop panel  21  is positioned in region  35  proximate the back of a user when said device is worn. Two segments of stretch material  15  and  16  are provided. The segments have first and second ends  15   a - 15   b,    16   a - 16   b,  respectively, and hook and loop regions  17 - 18  and  19 - 20 , respectively, for removable attachment of segments  15  and  16  to fabric  11  wherein hook and loop regions  17  and  20  on first ends  15   a - 16   b  are removably attached to first hook and loop panel  12  and hook and loop regions  18 - 19  on second ends  15   b - 16   a  of each of segments  15  and  16  are removably attached to second hook and loop panel  21 . It is intended that when segments  15  and  16  are applied as shown schematically by arrows  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 , the segments stretch from their at-rest lengths when the device is worn causing restriction to the abdominal region of a user. In other words, segments  15  and  16  are first applied by appending hook and loop regions  17  and  20  to hook and loop region  12  in the direction of arrows  5  and  6  whereupon second ends  15 B and  16 B of segments  15  and  16  are wrapped around fabric  11  and pulled in the direction of arrow  7  and  8  to cause compression when hook and loop regions  18  and  19  are appended to hook and loop region  21 . 
         [0019]    As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference is once again made to  FIG. 1 . In order to assist a user in the appropriate positioning of segments  15  and  16  initially onto hook and loop region  12 , waist size indicia  22  is applied to an edge of fabric  11  as shown. The indicia recites waist sizes to, again, suggest appropriate placement. As such, if a user&#39;s waist was 24 inches, ends  15 A- 16 B of segments  15  and  16  would be placed quite close together upon their application to hook and loop region  12  while if a user&#39;s waist was 34 inches, ends  15 A- 16 B would be applied further apart. 
         [0020]    As yet a further embodiment of the present, reference is made to  FIG. 2 . In this instance, pouch  40  is provided by attachment to a region proximate top edge  45  of rectangularly shaped fabric or band  11 . Pouch  40  is provided with opening  55  which can be selectively closable for receipt of a cold or hot pack  50 . Cold and hot packs useful in application to pouch  40  are readily available and once inserted within pouch  40 , said pouch drapes over the abdominal region of a user to apply heat or cold to the user&#39;s abdomen. This not only enhances a user&#39;s comfort but also can be therapeutic. 
         [0021]    A second embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this instance, substantially rectangularly shaped fabric  31 , again constructed as either a continuous band or in releasable sections as shown. As noted in  FIG. 3 , band  31  ideally includes free ends  35  and  36 , each of which supports a strip of hook and loop fasteners  37  and  38 , respectively. Segments of stretch fabric  32  and  33  are sewn into seams proximate ends  35  and  36  while free ends  62  and  63  again support segments of hook and loop fasteners enabling free ends  62  and  63  to be selectively attached to hook and loop fastener region  34 , the placement of which being dictated by waist size indicia  43  used as described with reference to element  22  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    In applying the device of  FIGS. 3 and 4  to the human torso, rectangularly shaped material  31  is wrapped around the user&#39;s waist and pouch  41 , akin to pouch  40  of  FIG. 2  is placed in the abdominal region of a user such that hook and loop strips  37  and  38  are caused to selectively attach to hook and loop region  39  located as part of the pouch  41  assembly. This enables hot or cold pack  42  to remain proximate the abdominal region for therapeutic purposes. 
         [0023]    Once rectangularly shaped material  31  is wrapped about a user&#39;s abdomen and lower back, segments  32  and  33  are wrapped about the abdominal region for selective attachment to hook and loop region  34 . Again, it is contemplated that segments  32  and  33  be made of a stretch fabric to create additional compression to the abdominal region beyond that offered simply by rectangularly shaped fabric  31 . Sizing strip  43  can also be made part of this embodiment and used as strip  22  ( FIG. 1 ). As is apparent from comparing the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 3 , sizing strips can be placed both on the front and back of the wrap, or on both sides while remaining with the teachings of the present invention.