(12) United States Patent
`US 6,817,034 132
`(10) Patent N0.:
`Smilovic
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Nov. 16,2004
`
`U8006817034B2
`
`(54) MATERNITY UNDERGARMENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Amy Smilovic, New York, NY (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Daisy LLC, New York, NY (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/610,963
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2004/0049831 A1 Mar. 18, 2004
`
`5/1933 Hennessy .................... 450/22
`1,909,273 A *
`7/1934 Rutledge ..................... 450/20
`1,965,860 A *
`9/1956 Jenckes ........................... 2/73
`2,761,148 A *
`9/1962 McMann
`....... 2/76
`3,054,112 A *
`
`4/1965 Marino
`450/30
`3,176,692 A *
`
`3,357,435 A * 12/1967 Enrico .......... 450/7
`
`4/1976 George ............................ 2/73
`3,949,426 A *
`4,032,989 A *
`7/1977 Jay et al.
`......................... 2/73
`4,280,229 A *
`7/1981 Stein ............................. 2/221
`4,506,390 A *
`3/1985 Stern ............................. 2/221
`6,276,175 B1 *
`8/2001 Browder, Jr.
`................ 66/171
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`(60)
`
`Related US. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/392,561, filed on Jul. 1,
`2002.
`
`Int. Cl.7
`(51)
`..... A411) 1/14, A41B 9/10
`
`(52) U.S.Cl. ......................... 2/73;2/78.1;66/171
`(58) Field of Search ............................. 2/73, 78.1—78.4,
`2/1, 114, 80, 85, 105, 106, 104, 69, 211,
`109, 243.1, 220, 221, 236, 237; 450/36,
`156, 155, 3, 5,7,8, 10—13, 15, 16, 30;
`66/171, 175—177
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Primary Examiner—Gloria M. Hale
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Elman Technology Law,
`P.C.; Gerry J. Elman
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A maternity undergarment is preferably a spandex/polyester
`full body slip that covers, shapes and supports the upper
`torso and lower torso, to smooth the thigh, back waist and
`buttocks, slightly support the belly and optionally provide a
`support bra at the chest. The belly panel is of fabric that is
`more stretchable than the fabric covering the wearer’s torso.
`
`1,765,937 A *
`
`6/1930 Patten ............................. 2/76
`
`14 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
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`(”I 30
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`+130
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`
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`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`Target v. DMC
`IPR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`Sheet 1 0f 4
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`US 6,817,034 B2
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`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`US 6,817,034 B2
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`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`Sheet 3 0f 4
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`Sheet 4 0f 4
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`US 6,817,034 B2
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`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`US 6,817,034 B2
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`1
`MATERNITY UNDERGARMENT
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application claims benefit of Provisional US. Patent
`Application 60/392,561, filed Jul. 1, 2002 the entire disclo-
`sure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
`BACKGROUND
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`This invention relates to maternity undergarments.
`2. Prior Art
`
`Various maternity undergarments are currently on the
`market.
`
`For example, the Belly Bra® acts in support function to
`support the lower torso and lower back lifting the weight off
`the pelvis and shifting it to the shoulders and back. The Belly
`Bra does not smooth the lines on the thigh and leg or waist.
`The Prenatal Cradle® acts as a separate pc to be used over
`undergarments in a support function, again lifting the belly
`and redistributing the weight from the belly to the shoulders
`and the back but does not act in a girdle function.
`The Maternity Longline Girdle® acts as a girdle on the
`lower torso supporting the belly and smoothing the thighs
`but does not address the waist area or bust.
`
`The Seamless tube slip offered by Motherhood acts only
`as a skirt girdle smoothing the thigh area but offers no
`support and does not address the upper torso.
`The belly belts on the market act in a support function and
`are separates to be worn over the undergarments.
`The typical maternity undergarments create unsightly
`panty lines or do not cover, smooth, or shape the thigh, back,
`waist and leg the way a support-top pantyhose might in
`non-maternity garments. With the surge in contemporary
`and fashionable maternity clothes on the market, there is a
`need for an undergarment that acts as a body smoother to
`create smooth lines at the thigh and buttocks and back waist,
`creating a better fit and supporting the look and feel of more
`fashionable maternity clothes.
`SUMMARY
`
`The invention provides a full body slip for a mother-to-be,
`an embodiment of which is marketed under the trademark
`
`Mommy ShapersTM. A maternity slip of the present inven-
`tion acts as a body smother and definer while adding a touch
`of support under the belly and in the bra. Because the present
`invention provides a substantially seamless garment (except
`in some embodiments for relatively imperceptible belly and
`back panels) it affords the highest of comfort while giving
`the wearer shape and definition under her fashionable
`clothes without unsightly panty or bra lines.
`A preferred embodiment of the invention is a spandex/
`polyester full body slip that covers, shapes and supports the
`upper torso and lower torso. Using technology and machin-
`ery currently available for fabricating clothing, I have cre-
`ated a seamless body shape to smooth the thigh, back waist
`and buttocks, slightly support
`the belly and provide a
`support bra at the chest.
`Such a garment is knitted with ribbing at the under chest,
`and surrounding the belly. This creates a dual function of
`shaping and support around the belly and under the cups of
`the bra top. In the back there is also ribbing that allows for
`the shaping at the back waist and around the buttocks.
`The non ribbed areas that cover
`the body act as a
`smoothing girdle,
`lightly hugging the body to eliminate
`
`2
`bumps and dimples on the thighs, buttocks, and back waist
`caused by the extra pounds a woman gains during preg-
`nancy.
`In one embodiment, the combination of ribbing and jersey
`areas eliminate the need for seams that cause unsightly lines.
`The lightweight poly/spandex material of the preferred
`embodiment breathes well. Preferably it has a 4x stretch
`which allows for comfort and flexibility.
`In another embodiment, a mesh insert of high-stretch
`fabric covers the belly, the seams being configured such that
`they are not apparent under the wearer’s outer clothes.
`The invention provides a maternity undergarment com-
`prising a bust section, a torso section and a skirt section, the
`torso section including a belly panel of a more-stretchable
`fabric, the belly panel being surrounded by fabric that is less
`stretchable than the belly panel,
`the torso section being
`thereby adapted to accommodate the changing proportions
`of a pregnant woman’s belly and to provide gentle support
`thereto while smoothing and shaping her overall silhouette.
`Preferably the skirt section is of a fabric that is less
`stretchable than the belly panel, e.g. it may be of the same
`fabric as the “less-stretchable fabric” of the torso section.
`
`The bust section of the undergarment may include a
`brassiere section.
`
`Such a brassiere section may be supported by a pair of
`straps adapted to be secured to any of a plurality of anchor
`points atop the brassiere section, whereby the straps may be
`adjusted as desired to accommodate changes in bust pro-
`portion of the wearer.
`The belly panel is desirably a stretchable mesh fabric, e.g.
`tricot mesh of polyamide/spandex, and the rest of the torso
`section is a less-stretchable fabric, e.g. a polyester/spandex
`blend.
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`The undergarment may also have a V—shaped back panel
`of fabric different from the fabric of the rest of the torso
`section.
`
`In an embodiment of the invention, the torso section is
`knitted so as to provide less-stretchable ribbing around the
`belly panel.
`The bust section desirably comprises a brassiere section,
`and preferably the torso section is knitted to provide less-
`stretchable ribbing below the front of the brassiere section
`and around the top of the back of the torso section.
`Optionally the brassiere section is supported by a pair of
`straps adapted to be secured to any of a plurality of anchor
`points atop the brassiere section, whereby the straps may be
`adjusted as desired to accommodate changes in the wearer’s
`bust proportions.
`An advantage of the present invention is that a pregnant
`woman can wear slim-fitting maternity clothes without
`having unsightly panty lines. Another advantage is that she
`can wear tight or clinging maternity clothes without having
`the bumps and dimples-created by the extra pounds she has
`gained through pregnancy be obvious in her thighs, hips and
`buttocks, and back area. A further advantage is that a
`pregnant woman wearing a garment of the present invention
`can have some slight support under her belly, gently lifting
`the belly from the pelvis and hip carriage. Another advan-
`tage is that she can wear a single garment functioning as
`both a slip and bra.
`Other advantages and features of the invention will
`become apparent from a study of the following description
`and accompanying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`FIG. I is a full frontal perspective of a maternity garment
`of the invention as draped on a woman’s figure.
`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`US 6,817,034 B2
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`3
`FIG. 2 is a side perspective of the garment of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a back perspective of the garment of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 is a full frontal perspective of an alternative
`embodiment of a maternity garment of the invention as
`draped on a woman’s figure.
`FIG. 5 is a back perspective of the garment of FIG. 4.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 is a full frontal perspective of a first embodiment
`100 of the maternity garment of the invention on a woman’s
`figure; it shows the total silhouette of the garment. As worn,
`the garment generally envelopes the woman’s bust, the rest
`of her torso, and her thighs. In this embodiment, her bust is
`supported by a brassiere section 112 provided in the bust
`section 110 of the garment. The torso below her bust is
`gently but elastically enwrapped by a torso section 120, and
`at least the top of her thighs are similarly enwrapped by a
`skirt section 130 extending downwardly from the torso
`section to a generally horizontal hem 132 at thigh level.
`In accordance with the invention, the torso section 120 is
`adapted to provide for the changing proportions of her
`abdomen. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, this is accomplished
`by providing ribbing, e.g. 122, knitted into the section so that
`different portions of the torso section 120 have different
`stretch characteristics. The area that generally covers the
`abdomen,
`i.e.
`the belly panel 125,
`is knitted relatively
`smoothly and is thereby made relatively stretchable,
`whereas the under-chest 123 and area surrounding the belly
`124 are knitted with ribbing so as to create a dual function
`of shaping and support around the belly 124 and under the
`cups of the bra top, as at 123. As shown more particularly in
`FIGS. 2 and 3, in the back there is also ribbing 122 that
`allows for the shaping of the back waist and around the
`buttocks.
`
`As shown in FIGS. 1—3, the brassiere section is suspended
`from a pair of 5-way straps 108 provided to go over the
`wearer’s shoulders. Optionally a pair of steel hooks 109 are
`stitched onto both ends of each strap, and a set of loops 107
`are placed at the front and back of the bodice on each side
`so that the straps can be attached to any of a plurality of
`loops and thereby adjusted side to side for the most com-
`fortable fit at the time.
`
`In this embodiment, the brassiere section 112 desirably
`includes a heat molded underwire bra, with block fusing
`inside the cup for additional support and ribbing for addi-
`tional support. Immediately below the bra, the torso section
`120 is knitted with ribbing 123, for example, 2 inches at
`center front and 21/2 inches at side seam. Below that ribbing
`123, the chest is surrounded with relatively stretchable light
`weight jersey knit 126 for breathability and smoothing
`function.
`
`In the belly support area 125 of the torso section 120, 2
`inches of ribbing, for example, may be provided below the
`belly for support and 1% inches of ribbing above the belly
`to shape the body of the garment. The ribbing 124 shapes
`around the belly 125 to the waist 122 where the ribbing acts
`in a smooth and support function, smoothing the waist and
`back waist, and supporting the belly, lifting it slightly from
`the hips and pelvis.
`The skirt section 130 extends seamlessly from the torso
`section and is desirably of jersey for smoothing and shaping
`along the thighs. Desirably the hem 132 of the skirt section
`is finished with stretch lace and, for example, three strips of
`thermoplastic polyurethane tape, e.g. MobilonTM, to reduce
`rolling.
`
`4
`In FIG. 3 can be seen the back support of the bra 112.
`Desirably, the ribbing 121 grows from the back to the side,
`creating an integrated structure like a traditional bra back.
`Also illustrated in FIG. 3 is the ribbing 122 at the back waist,
`creating a shape for the buttocks and lower back and
`working as a lower back support for the belly.
`Turning to the maternity undergarment 200 illustrated in
`FIGS. 4 and 5, the body of the garment is desirably fabri-
`cated of a stretch fabric, such as 80/20 polyester/spandex. In
`this embodiment, FIG. 4 shows a belly insert 225 of tricot
`mesh provided in the torso section 220, desirably of a more
`stretchable 85/15 nylon polyamide/spandex. Similarly a
`V—shaped back insert 228 of tricot mesh is provided as
`shown in FIG. 5.
`
`Optionally a brassiere section as described in connection
`with FIG. 1 (112) is provided; alternatively, a “slip” garment
`may be provided with a bust section 210 but without bra
`support. Ahem 232 is optionally finished as described above
`in connection with hem 132.
`
`In operation the wearer uses the maternity garment 100,
`200 of the invention as she would use a slip or girdle. It is
`pulled over the head and body. Her belly fits nicely in the
`belly support structure comprising belly panel 125, 225, and
`the garment may be adjusted for maximum comfort.
`The optional multi strap 108 may be adjusted for the
`desired strap length and position (x back, asymmetrical,
`racer back, traditional back, cross front).
`Like a girdle, the maternity garment lifts, supports and
`smoothes the body shape.
`The invention is not limited to the embodiments described
`
`above, but all changes and modifications thereof not con-
`stituting departures from the scope and spirit of the inven-
`tion are intended to be included.
`I claim:
`
`1. A maternity undergarment comprising:
`a bust section, a torso section and a skirt section,
`the torso section comprising a belly panel of a stretchable
`fabric,
`the belly panel being surrounded by stretch
`fabric that is less stretchable than the belly panel, the
`torso section being thereby adapted to accommodate
`the changing proportions of a pregnant woman’s belly
`and to provide gentle support thereto while smoothing
`and shaping her overall silhouette.
`2. The maternity undergarment of claim 1, wherein the
`skirt section is of a fabric that is less stretchable than the
`
`belly panel.
`3. The maternity undergarment of claim 2, wherein the
`skirt section is of the same fabric as said less stretchable
`fabric of the torso section.
`
`4. The maternity undergarment of claim 1, wherein the
`bust section comprises a brassiere section.
`5. The maternity undergarment of claim 4, wherein the
`brassiere section is supported by a pair of straps adapted to
`be secured to any of a plurality of anchor points atop the
`brassiere section, whereby the straps may be adjusted as
`desired to accommodate changes in bust proportion of the
`wearer.
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`6. The maternity undergarment of claim 1, wherein the
`belly panel is a stretchable mesh fabric and the rest of the
`torso section is a less-stretchable stretch fabric.
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`7. The maternity undergarment of claim 6, wherein the
`stretchable mesh fabric is a tricot mesh and the less-
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`stretchable fabric is a spandex blend.
`8. The maternity undergarment of claim 7, wherein the
`tricot mesh is a polyamide/spandex blend that
`is more
`stretchable than the spandex blend of the less-stretchable
`fabric.
`
`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`US 6,817,034 B2
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`5
`9. The maternity undergarment of claim 1, wherein the
`less-stretchable fabric is a polyester/spandex blend.
`10. The maternity undergarment of claim 1, further com-
`prising a V—shaped back panel of fabric diiferent from said
`less-stretchable fabric of said rest of the torso section.
`
`11. The maternity undergarment of claim 1, wherein the
`torso section is knitted so as to provide ribbing which is less
`stretchable around the belly panel.
`12. The maternity undergarment of claim 11, wherein the
`bust section comprises a brassiere section.
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`6
`13. The maternity undergarment of claim 12, wherein the
`torso section is knitted to provide ribbing below the front of
`the brassiere section and around the top of the back of the
`torso section.
`14. The maternity undergarment of claim 12, wherein the
`brassiere section is supported by a pair of straps adapted to
`be secured to any of a plurality of anchor points atop the
`brassiere section, whereby the straps may be adjusted as
`desired to accommodate changes in the wearer’s bust pro-
`ortions.
`10 p
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`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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`Target Corporation Exhibit 1091
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