GB2477754A

GB2477754A - Support garment

Info

Publication number: GB2477754A
Application number: GB1002303A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart Milligan
Original assignee: Marks and Spencer PLC
Current assignee: Marks and Spencer PLC
Priority date: 2010-02-11
Filing date: 2010-02-11
Publication date: 2011-08-17
Also published as: GB201002303D0

Abstract

A garment 2 comprises a base region 9 formed of a base fabric, and at least one support region 10 over which a resilient control fabric is bonded to the base fabric, such that the base fabric and the control fabric act as a single compound support fabric over the support region 10. The at least one support region 10 acts to alter the shape of the body contours over which the support region 10 extends, controlling movement of the body and providing an improved silhouette. The control fabric preferably has a modulus between 50g and 1500g and may be oriented on the base fabric to provide greater stiffness in a circumferential direction. The control fabric may also be bonded such that it is adjacent a wearers body.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO GARMENTS

The present invention relates to garments and particularly but not exclusively to garments for the lower body, such as trousers, leggings, shorts and the like.

Body shaping garments are known, in the form of undergarments which are made from stretchable fabrics and fit closely to the body of the wearer. Such undergarments are usually entirely separate from, and worn underneath, the wearer's normal apparel with the aim of invisibly moulding the natural contours of the body into a more pleasing silhouette.

A problem with such undergarments is that when layered with outer garments they can be uncomfortable and are also not suitable for wearing under all types of outerwear. For example, thin or close fitting outer garments frequently allow the body shaping undergarment to show through, giving an unattractive appearance and negating the body shaping benefits. In addition, body shaping undergarments tend to be substantial and can be unattractive, and their use precludes the wearer from wearing any other choice of undergarment.

It is also known for garments such as trousers to have a lining on the wearer side of the outer layer of the garment. Such linings are made of a light yet relatively non-stretch fabric such as polyester or silk, and are provided to avoid contact between the wearer's body and the outer layer to provide comfort for the wearer, prevent damage such as stretching to the outer layer and encourage proper drape of the outer layer fabric.

According to the present invention, there is provided a garment comprising a base region formed of a base fabric, and at least one support region over which a resilient control fabric is bonded to the base fabric, such that the base fabric and the control fabric act as a single compound support fabric over the support region. Bonding the control fabric to the base fabric over the support region allows the two fabric layers to behave as one fabric, thus providing desired support and shaping functions without the need for a separate liner or undergarment. The unsightly ridges, lines and bulkiness associated with separate undergarments are thus avoided. It is an advantage of the invention that the action of the control and base fabrics as a single compound fabric over the support region ensures that the control provided by the garment is not visible The modulus of the resilient control fabric may fall in the range 50g to 1500g.

In the context of the present invention, the term "modulus" refers to a property of a warp knit elastomeric fabric as determined by Marks & Spencer test procedure P1 5A.

Such a test is performed on rectangular samples of the fabric having dimensions of mm x 50 mm, clamped so as to provide a test length of 100 mm. Separate samples are tested, with the longer dimension of the sample being aligned with, or across, the direction of the elastomeric thread in the fabric.

The test is conducted in an atmosphere at a temperature of 200 ± 2°C and a relative humidity of 65% ± 2%, and the samples may be conditioned in this atmosphere before testing, for example for at least 16 hours.

The modulus is determined by cycling each sample twice to a cycling load of 1.5 Kg and determining the load at 40% extension during the second extension cycle. This load is the modulus.

The resilient control fabric may be made from a knitted, woven or non-woven fabric.

The resilient control fabric may be heat and/or pressure bonded to the base fabric over the at least one support region.

The base fabric may be a resilient fabric having a modulus between 400g and 800g.

In use, the at least one support region may act to alter the shape of the body contours over which the support region extends. The support region may thus be tailored to extend over only those regions where it is desired particularly to shape the contours of the body. Thus, rather than completely encasing the lower body, so as to provide an all over "squeeze", the support regions shape the contours of the body, controlling movement and providing an improved silhouette.

In use, the at least one support region may extend around back and sides of a lower portion of a thigh of a wearer, without completely encircling the lower portion of the thigh. The support region may thus act to slim the thigh of a wearer.

In use, the at least one support region may extend along the inner and outer sides of a thigh of a wearer, from a knee region to a crotch region and from a knee region to a waist region and across a rear portion of the thigh, between the inner and outer sides and beneath the buttock. The support region may thus act to slim the thigh of a wearer and to lift the buttock of a wearer.

In use, the at least one support region may extend across the lower abdomen of a wearer from a waist region to a crotch region. The support region may thus act to flatten the lower abdomen of a wearer.

It will be appreciated that the garment may comprise more than one support region, for example the garment may comprise support regions extending around the back and sides of a lower portion of each thigh of a wearer, along the inner and outer sides of each thigh of a wearer, beneath the buttocks of a wearer and across the lower abdomen of a wearer, thus slimming the thighs, lifting the buttocks and flattening the lower abdomen. The support regions may connect and or be integrally formed or they may be discrete areas of the garment.

The resilient control fabric may have orthotropic stiffness properties.

The resilient control fabric may be oriented on the base fabric such that the at least one support region of the garment exhibits greater stiffness in a circumferential direction of a wearer's body than in a longitudinal direction of a wearer's body.

The resilient control fabric may be bonded to an inner surface of the base fabric, such that, in use, the resilient control fabric is adjacent a wearer's body. The resilient control fabric thus remains hidden when the garment is being worn.

The garment may be a garment for the lower body, which may for example be a trouser garment or a legging.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be brought into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is an illustrative representation of a front of a garment, indicating the presence of support regions.

Figure 2 is an illustrative representation of a rear of a garment, indicating the presence of support regions.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a garment 2 for the lower body comprises a pair of leggings or close fitting trousers. The garment 2 includes a torso portion 4 and two leg portions 6, 8. The leg portions 6, 8 may extend to an ankle region of a wearer (not shown) or may terminate at mid calf or just below the knee. The garment 2 is made from a base fabric which may contain elastane so as to allow a degree of stretch. The base fabric may be of a resilient nature so as to provide a measure of all over support to the wearer. The base fabric may be a knitted interlock, for example a viscose polyester blend with 40 denier Lycra® (86% viscose, 11% polyester, 3% Lycra®). Areas of the garment formed entirely by the base fabric comprise a base region 9 of the garment 2. The garment also comprises support regions 10, over which a resUient control fabric is bonded to the base fabric. The resilient control fabric preferably has a modulus in the range 50g to 1500g. The resilient control fabric may be a knitted jersey of 50 denier, 100% polyester. The resilient control fabric is area bonded to an inner surface of the base fabric using a technique that involves the application and heat and may also involve elevated pressure. For example, a knitted jersey may be bonded at approximately 130°C and pressure slightly elevated from ambient.

Such techniques closely bond the two fabrics together, enabling them to perform as a single fabric having the outer appearance of the base fabric but also the resilient characteristics of the control fabric. By bonding the fabrics together in this manner, the garment can provide support and shaping to the wearer in an invisible manner, and without the extra bulk of a separate undergarment that can show through a thin or close fitting trouser such as a legging.

The support regions 10 extend around the back and sides of the thighs of the wearer, from just above the knee to mid thigh. They also extend along the inner thigh to a crotch region, along the outer thigh from waist to knee and beneath the buttocks. The control regions also extend across the lower abdomen of a wearer, from waist to crotch. It will be appreciated that the control fabric is not bonded all over the garment, so as to produce an all over "squeeze" but is provided in carefully selected areas. The result of the positioning of the support regions is to provide support and shaping to the contours of the lower body, slimming the thighs, lifting the buttocks and flattening the abdomen, thus creating an improved silhouette rather than simply constricting the entirety of the lower body.

The support region preferably does not encircle the entirety of the lower thigh, but only extends around the back and sides of the thigh, leaving unsupported a front region of the thigh. However, In an alternative embodiment, the support region may extend around the entire circumference of the lower thigh, as Illustrated by the dashed lines In FIgure 1.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A garment comprising a base region formed of a base fabric, and at least one support region over which a resilient control fabric is bonded to the base fabric, such that the base fabric and the control fabric act as a single compound support fabric over the support region.
2. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modulus of the resilient control fabric is not less than 50g.
3. A garment as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient control fabric is heat bonded to the base fabric over the at least one support region.
4. A garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base fabric is a resilient fabric having a modulus between 400g and 800g.
5. A garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the at least one support region acts to alter the shape of the body contours over which the support region extends.
6. A garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the at least one support region extends around the back and sides of a lower portion of a thigh of a wearer.
7. A garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the at least one support region extends along the inner and outer sides of a thigh of a wearer, from a knee region to a crotch region and from a knee region to a waist region and across a rear portion of the thigh, between the inner and outer sides and beneath the buttock.
8. A garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the at least one support region extends across the lower abdomen of a wearer from a waist region to a crotch region.
9. A garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the resilient control fabric has orthotropic stiffness properties.
10. A garment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the resilient control fabric is oriented on the base fabric such that the at least one support region of the garment exhibits greater stiffness in a circumferential direction of a wearer's body than in a longitudinal direction of a wearer's body.
11. A garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the resilient control fabric is bonded to an inner surface of the base fabric, such that, in use, the resilient control fabric is adjacent a wearer's body.
12. A lower body garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
13. A trouser garment as claimed n claim 12.
14. A garment substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.