`Hendrickson et a1.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,900,276 B2
`*Mar. 8, 2011
`
`US007900276B2
`
`BELLY COVERING GARMENT
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,045,678 A *
`
`7/1962 Geimer ....................... .. 450/130
`
`
`7/1981 Stein ..... .. 3/1985 Stern ............................... .. 2/221
`
`4,280,229 A * 4,506,390 A *
`9/1999 Blair
`5,946,730 A
`6,311,333 B1* 11/2001 Batra .............................. .. 2/237
`2004/0210987 A1 10/2004 Carney
`2006/0010571 A1
`1/2006 Oakley
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`1 in the Oven’s InvisiBellyTM Jeans, Trade Literature, Feb. 26, 2008,
`http://WWW. 1intheoven.corn/index.php?p:product&id:88&par
`ent:26&isfprintfversion?rue.
`International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Aug. 18, 2008
`in PCT/US2008/061739.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner * Gloria Hale
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * DLA Piper LLP (U S)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention relates to a garment Worn during dif
`ferent stages of pregnancy and different stages of postpartum
`body changes. A garment upper portion has a belly panel that
`is expansible to cover and ?t over a groWing abdomen during
`different stages of pregnancy, and a garment loWer portion
`having a ?rst torso encircling circumference that recedes
`doWnWard to make Way for expansion of the belly panel. The
`garment upper portion has a second torso encircling circum
`ference to hold the garment up and in place over the torso.
`
`16 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`130
`
`102
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Lisa A. Hendrickson, Mount Laurel, NJ
`(US); James H. Gardner, III, Ambler,
`PA (US); Richard Adelman,
`Greensboro, NC (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Destination Maternity Corporation,
`Wilmington, DE (U S)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC 154(b) by 87 days.
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`Appl. N0.: 12/117,004
`
`Filed:
`
`May 8, 2008
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2008/0295217 A1
`
`Dec. 4, 2008
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 11/756,242, ?led on
`May 31, 2007, noW Pat. No. 7,814,575.
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`A41F 9/00
`(2006.01)
`A41D 1/06
`US. Cl. .................................... .. 2/237; 2/236; 2/227
`Field of Classi?cation Search .............. .. 2/69, 227,
`2/228, 236*238, 243.1; 450/155, 96*100
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`126
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`Sheet 4 of8
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`Sheet 5 of8
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`414
`416
`418
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`FIG. 4
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`Mar. 8, 2011
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`Sheet 6 of8
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`Sheet 7 of8
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`FIG. 6
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`US 7,900,276 B2
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`1
`BELLY COVERING GARMENT
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`The present application is a continuation of US. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/756,242, ?led May 31, 2007 now US.
`Pat. No. 7,814,575.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a garment Worn during
`different stages of pregnancy and different stages of postpar
`tum body changes.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Garments intended to cover a Wearer’s body beloW the
`abdomen or belly during various stages of pregnancy have
`been manufactured as knits or Woven fabrics. Some of the
`knits or Woven fabric garments are constructed With an elastic
`belt or Waist band Which caused discomfort When tightened
`about the body. Some of the garments have stretchable fabric
`panels seWn into place With seWn seams. Such garments cause
`discomfort due to the presence of the seWn seams, urged by
`elastic stretching of the panels pressing against the torso.
`Moreover, Women have complained that such garments are
`dif?cult to keep in place, as they gradually slip doWnWard
`While they are being Worn.
`Denim jeans or trousers have been recycled by removing
`the Waistband at the front of the jeans and replacing the same
`With an elastic band that cradles a groWing abdomen. Alter
`natively, denim jeans or trousers are manufactured Without a
`Waistband at the front so that a separate band can be attached
`at the front.
`Accordingly, a need exists for a garment that covers and ?ts
`a groWing abdomen during different stages of pregnancy.
`Such a garment is required to stay up, and desirably Would ?t
`comfortably While being Worn. Moreover, such a garment
`Would stay up When Worn over different body types.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A purpose of the invention is to provide a garment that
`adapts to cover and ?t a groWing abdomen during pregnancy,
`Wherein the garment stays up When Worn.
`A garment comprises a garment upper portion and a gar
`ment loWer portion. The garment upper portion has a belly
`panel that is expansible to cover and ?t over a groWing abdo
`men during different stages of pregnancy. The garment loWer
`portion has a ?rst torso encircling circumference that recedes
`doWnWard to make Way for expansion of the belly panel. The
`garment upper portion has a second torso encircling circum
`ference to hold the garment up and in place over the torso.
`An embodiment of the garment is adjustable to encircle
`different body types. Another embodiment of the invention
`provides a garment that ?ts comfortably While being Worn.
`An embodiment of the garment comprises an adjustable
`torso encircling circumference that is adjustable in girth to
`encircle different body types.
`An embodiment of the upper portion of the garment com
`prises a seamless tubular elastic fabric to stretch elastically
`and ?t different body types.
`An embodiment of the abdomen covering area comprises
`an elastic fabric.
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`An embodiment of the abdomen covering area comprises
`an elastic fabric that is contractible elastically to cover an
`abdomen during different stages of postpartum body changes.
`According to an embodiment of the invention, an expan
`sible tubular upper portion of the garment is seamless to ?t
`comfortably While being Worn.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a front vieW of a garment according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 1A is a vieW similar to FIG. 1, and discloses a body
`panel covering a groWing abdomen.
`FIG. 2 is a vieW of a backside portion of the garment
`disclosed by FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is vieW of a front portion of another embodiment of
`a garment.
`FIG. 4 is vieW of a backside portion of another embodiment
`of a garment.
`FIG. 5 is a vieW of a backside portion of yet another
`embodiment of a garment.
`FIG. 6 is front vieW of a portion of another embodiment of
`a garment.
`FIG. 7 is front vieW of a portion of yet another embodiment
`of a garment.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`FIG. 1 discloses a garment 100 for encircling a loWer torso
`portion of a Wearer of the garment 100. The garment 100
`comprises a garment upper portion 102 and a garment loWer
`portion 104. A loWer end perimeter 106 of the garment upper
`portion 102 is attached to a corresponding upper end perim
`eter 108 of the garment loWer portion 104. The garment loWer
`portion 104 comprises, for example, a pair of trousers, such
`as, denim jeans. Alternatively, the garment loWer portion 104
`comprises a skirt depicted in FIG. 1 in phantom outline.
`With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, each leg of the pair of
`trousers is constructed With seWn seams. Outer side seams
`110, 112 extend continuously from top to bottom of the
`trousers, or garment loWer portion 104. Further, each leg is
`constructed With inner side seams 114, 116 joining a front
`center seam 118 of the trousers and a back side, curved center
`seam 200, FIG. 2, of the trousers. For example, the front
`center seam 106 de?nes a seWn “Zipper less” ?y front. The
`back side of the trousers, FIG. 2, is seWn With a back side
`perimeter seam 202 extending horizontally across the back
`side of the trousers from the outer side seams 110, 112 to the
`back side center seam 200. If pockets are desired, the legs of
`the trousers are constructed, for example, With a front pockets
`120, 122 and back pockets 204, 206.
`FIG. 2 discloses an embodiment of the trousers, or garment
`loWer portion 104, having a partial Waistband 208 joining and
`extending from the side seams 110, 112 of the trousers and
`extending across a back side of the trousers or garment loWer
`portion 104. The Waistband 208 is seWn onto the perimeter
`seam 202 on the back side. The Waistband 208 tapers toWard
`the side seams 110, 112 and Widens across the back side, and
`has a center seam 210 to shape the Waistband 208 With a
`curvature above a Wearer’s pelvis, and for torso coverage
`especially When sitting or bending.
`In FIG. 1, the garment upper portion 102 has a belly panel
`124 to provide an abdomen covering area. The belly panel
`124 is expansible, for example, When made of a stretchable
`fabric, to cover and ?t over a groWing abdomen during dif
`ferent stages of pregnancy, FIG. 1A. The belly panel 124 has
`a bottom portion 128 that projects doWnWard With a parabolic
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`US 7,900,276 B2
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`3
`shape, especially When covering a growing abdomen, FIG.
`1A. The perimeter 108 of the garment lower portion 104
`provides a ?rst torso encircling circumference 126 that
`recedes doWnWard With a parabolic shape adjacent to and
`beloW the bottom portion 128 of the belly panel 124 to make
`Way for expansion of the belly panel 124 When covering a
`groWing abdomen during various stages of pregnancy. The
`parabolic shape includes a shalloW curvature, or, alternatively
`includes a more pronounced curvature. The belly panel 124
`extends at least partially under the abdomen of the garment
`Wearer to meet and join the bottom portion 128 of the belly
`panel 124 With the parabolic receding circumference 126 of
`the garment loWer portion 104.
`According to an embodiment of the invention, at least the
`belly panel 124 comprises a stretchable fabric that is Woven or
`knitted With elastic, stretchable strands. The stretchable fab
`ric is expansible by stretching elastically to cover and ?t over
`the groWing abdomen, FIG. 1A. Further, the stretchable fab
`ric is contractible elastically to cover a shrinking abdomen
`during different stages of postpartum body changes. The
`belly panel 124 also has foreseeable alternative functions, for
`example, to cover an abdomen during different stages of torso
`Weight gains and losses, or to ?t over respective torsos of
`different body types.
`In FIGS. 1 and 2, the garment upper portion has a top
`tubular perimeter hem 130 made by folding over a top edge
`margin of the stretchable fabric, and either tubular knitting or
`seWing the folded fabric to the inside surface of the fabric, and
`to create a top perimeter knitted hem stitch 132 as disclosed in
`FIG. 1. The perimeter of the garment upper portion 102 has a
`torso encircling circumference 134 to hold the garment 100
`up and in place over the torso. Advantageously, the entire
`garment 100 is held up and in place. An embodiment of the
`garment upper portion 102 comprises stretchable fabric to
`adjust the girth of the second torso encircling circumference
`134 in conformance With different body types. According to
`an embodiment of the invention, the torso encircling circum
`ference 134 extends along the upper end of the belly panel
`124. In FIG. 1A, the belly panel 124 extends at least some
`What above the maximum girth of the abdomen, even during
`a later stage of pregnancy, such that the belly panel 124
`positions the torso encircling circumference 134 at least
`someWhat above the location of maximum girth to resist
`slipping doWn over the abdomen.
`An embodiment of the garment upper portion 102 com
`prises a tubular structure to encircle a torso of a Wearer of the
`garment 100. The tubular structure comprises a stretchable
`fabric Woven or knitted With elastic, stretchable strands. The
`belly panel 124 comprises a portion of the stretchable fabric.
`The tubular structure is adaptable to cover and ?t different
`body types by being elastically expansible and contractible.
`Different body types have different muscle mass distributions
`and spinal columns of different curvatures, Which make the
`tubular structure conform to the different body types by
`expanding and contracting in different locations and amounts
`When Worn by the different body types. The tubular structure
`is elastically expansible to Widen the tubular girth at selected
`locations and amounts Where needed to ?t a body type, and is
`elastically contractible to narroW the tubular girth at selected
`locations and amounts Where needed to ?t the body type.
`In FIGS. 1 and 2, the tubular structure is shaped and formed
`as a one-sheet hyperboloid cylinder to ?t a body type having
`a tapered torso that tapers approximately from shoulder to
`Waist. The perimeter pro?le of the one-sheet hyperboloid
`cylinder has hyperbolic shaped sides. Alternatively, the tubu
`lar structure is shaped and formed as a straight-sided cylinder,
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`for example, as disclosed in FIG. 6. The perimeter pro?le of
`the straight sided cylinder has substantially straight sides.
`Preferably, the stretchable fabric is Woven or knitted to
`form a continuous, seamless tubular structure, such that the
`garment 100 is comfortable to Wear due to the absence of
`seams that Would tend to press against the torso.
`FIG. 3 discloses an alternative embodiment in Which the
`garment upper portion 102 is provided With belly cradling
`support in the form of a series of seWn stitches or knitted
`tension at 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314 in the
`belly panel 124. The knitted tension or stitches extend along
`multiple stitch paths grouped in an elliptical pattern that
`curves so as to cradle a curved groWing abdomen, FIG. 1A,
`during various stages of pregnancy.
`FIG. 4 discloses an alternative embodiment in Which the
`backside of the garment upper portion 102 is provided With
`spinal column and back support for a Wearer of the garment,
`in the form of a series of seWn supporting stitches or knitted
`tension at 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 in
`the fabric, Wherein the supporting knitted tension or stitches
`stiffen the fabric at the backside of the garment upper portion
`102 to provide spinal and back support of the Wearer of the
`garment 100. For example, the series of supporting stitches
`are arranged along multiple stitch paths grouped in a hyper
`bolic pattern or other curved pattern along an axis extending
`substantially vertically along a spinal supporting section of
`the fabric. FIG. 5 discloses an alternative pattern of support
`ing stitches 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514 in the
`fabric, Wherein the supporting stitches are arranged along
`multiple stitch paths. For example, the stitch paths are shoWn
`as being grouped in a truncated, v-shaped pattern.
`FIG. 6 discloses the garment upper portion 102 comprising
`a fabric Woven or knitted to form a tubular structure, Wherein
`the fabric of the tubular structure is doubled back on itself
`doWnWard from the top circumference 134 thereof to form a
`double-layer tubular structure 600 that extends doWnWard at
`least for a portion of the garment upper portion 102. The
`layers of the double-layer tubular structure 600 are seWn
`together With a tubular perimeter drop stitch 602. The layers
`are further seWn With a top, tubular perimeter hem stitch 132
`as described in FIG. 1. In an alternative embodiment dis
`closed by FIG. 6, the fabric is doubled back over an inner
`tubular layer of stretchable fabric 604, shoWn in phantom
`outline by and betWeen the stitches 132, 602, that is ?atly
`layered and seWn in betWeen the tWo tubular layers of the
`double layer fabric. The three tubular layers are seWn together
`With the top, tubular perimeter drop stitch 602 and the top,
`tubular perimeter hem stitch 132 as described in FIG. 1. The
`inner layer 604 of stretchable fabric provides the belly panel
`124 With the capability for resilient expansion. In another
`embodiment, the double layer fabric comprises a stretch fab
`ric Woven or knitted With elastically stretchable and contract
`ible yarns, providing the belly panel With the capability for
`resilient expansion.
`FIG. 7 discloses that the garment 100 of FIG. 6 is convert
`ible to comprise a bottom garment Without a top, the garment
`upper portion 102 is foldable toWard the garment loWer por
`tion 104 to provide a folded band 700 on the garment loWer
`portion 104, Which is to be Worn solely as a garment bottom
`104 having the folded band 700, and having no top. Each of
`the other embodiments of the garment 100 is similarly con
`vertible by adding the stretchable fabric 604 to the upper
`garment portion 102 of the other embodiment of the garment
`100, and folding the garment upper portion 102 toWard the
`garment loWer portion 104 to provide a folded band 700 on
`the garment loWer portion 104 of the other embodiment of the
`garment 100.
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`5
`This description of the exemplary embodiments is
`intended to be read in connection with the accompanying
`drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written
`description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,”
`“upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,”
`“down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof
`(e. g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should
`be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as
`shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms
`are for convenience of description and do not require that the
`apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orienta
`tion. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like,
`such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relation
`ship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another
`either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as
`well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships,
`unless expressly described otherwise.
`Although the invention has been described in terms of
`exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the
`appended claims should be construed broadly, to include
`other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may
`be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the
`scope and range of equivalents of the invention.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A garment portion having an attached belly panel portion
`comprising:
`an expansible belly panel adapted to substantially cover a
`wearer’s entire belly region, said belly region compris
`ing an area beginning just beneath the wearer’s breast
`area and extending over the wearer’ s abdomen to a lower
`abdomen region beneath the wearer’s belly, said belly
`panel comprising:
`an upper edge portion de?ning a ?rst encircling circum
`ference about a wearer’s torso that is at or above the
`wearer’s upper abdomen region, and
`a lower edge portion spaced from the upper edge portion
`and de?ning a second encircling circumference about
`the wearer’s lower abdomen region;
`
`and
`a garment lower portion, in communication with the lower
`edge portion, having a torso encircling circumference
`that recedes downward to make way for expansion of the
`belly panel.
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`2. The garment portion of claim 1, further comprising a pair
`of trousers attached to said lower edge portion.
`3. The garment portion of claim 2, wherein said trousers
`comprise denim jeans.
`4. The garment portion of claim 3, wherein said denim
`jeans comprise one or more pockets and a sewn Zipperless ?y
`front.
`5. The garment portion of claim 1, further comprising a
`skirt attached to said lower edge portion.
`6. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein said belly panel
`is adapted to cover the wearer’s belly region during different
`stages of weight gains and losses.
`7. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein said belly panel
`is adapted to substantially cover and ?t over different body
`types.
`8. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the belly panel
`is elastically expansible and contractible.
`9. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the belly panel
`is seamless to ?t comfortably while being worn.
`10. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the belly panel
`is foldable to comprise a folded band.
`11. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the belly panel
`is woven or knitted with elastic, stretchable strands.
`12. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein a top edge
`margin of the belly panel is folded over and sewn or knitted to
`an inside of the belly panel fabric.
`13. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the belly panel
`comprises a double layer tubular structure.
`14. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the belly panel
`further comprises a partial waistband extending across a back
`side of the lower edge portion and extending down into side
`seams of an article of clothing connected thereto.
`15. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the belly panel
`further comprises one or more belly-cradling stitches or knit
`ted tension to cradle the wearer’s abdomen region.
`16. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the lower edge
`portion is con?gured to extend downward with a parabolic
`shape to accommodate the wearer’s expanding belly region.
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