Panties, briefs or like underwear

Description

[0001] This invention relates to underwear, such as panties and briefs.

[0002] Throughout the specification and appended claims, the terms "upper" or "upward" and "lower" or "downward" are used with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

[0003] Panties, briefs and like undergarments heretofore known have the drawback that when they are worn, the rear portion of the undergarment covering the buttocks extends merely in a planar fashion over the gluteal cleft between the buttocks and hangs loosely at its lowe part to form wrinkles, thus failing to present attractive hip lines. Conventional undergarments further have the drawback of being uncomfortable to wear since the garment is unable to fit over the buttocks and the gluteal cleft in intimate contact therewith for enclosing and supporting these body portions. U.S.-A-3016900 and GB-A-779595 show connections between rear portions of garments and connector portions for covering the crotch which result in excesses of material at areas which do not overcome such drawbacks.

[0004] The present invention provides panties, briefs and like undergarments which are comfortable to wear and capable of presenting attractive hip lines.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided panties, briefs, or like underwear comprising a front part for covering the lower abdomen, a rear part for covering the buttocks and a connector part interconnecting the front part and the rear part for covering the crotch, the connector part being stitched at one end to the lower end of the front part, characterised in that the underwear has an elongated depression extending on the centre line of the rear part and conforming to the gluteal cleft between the buttocks and the rear part has rounded portions in conformity with the bulges of the buttocks on the opposite sides of the depression when the underwear is worn, the depression and the rounded portions being formed by the other end of the connector part and the lower end of the rear part, when placed in butting relation to each other, defining therebetween a space shaped symmetrically with respect to the centre line of the space and having a progressively increasing width toward the centre line, the rear part having been stitched at its lower end to the other end of the connector part while being stretched most greatly on the centre line of the rear part.

[0006] The underwear therefore has an elongated depression extending on the centre line of the rear piece and conforming to the gluteal cleft between the buttocks. On the opposite sides of the depression, the rear piece has rounded portions in conformity with the bulges of the buttocks. Accordingly the underwear of this invention, when worn, snugly fits to the curves of the buttocks and the gluteal cleft, assuming graceful hip lines. Because the rear piece covers and supports the buttocks in intimate contact therewith, the underwear feels smooth and comfortable. The underwear can be fabricated with extreme ease without necessitating any special procedure or material for cutting the fabric or for sewing.

[0007] The underwear of this invention is made preferably from stretchable knitted fabrics. The other end of the connector piece and the lower end of the rear piece can be shaped variously as will be described with reference to the embodiments to be given later.

[0008] The present invention is useful not only for panties and briefs but also for corsets, girdles, etc. for covering the lower trunk of the human body. The invention is similarly useful for the lower trunk portions of leotards, bathing suits, sportswear, foundation garments such as all-in- ones, etc. for covering both the upper and lower trunks of the body.

[0009] With reference to the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] 

Fig. 1 is a rear view showing panties worn on the human body;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing cut out front piece, rear piece and connector piece; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing cut out rear piece and connector piece according to another embodiment of the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0011] Panties, briefs or like underwear 1 comprises a front piece 2 for covering the lower abdomen, a rear piece 3 mainly for covering the buttocks, and a connector piece 4 interconnecting the front piece 2 and the rear piece 3 for covering the crotch. Most preferably these pieces 2 to 4 are prepared from a stretchable knitted fabric. However, other knitted fabrics, woven fabrics or nonwoven fabrics are also usable.

[0012] The front piece 2 has projections 21 at its upper opposite side portions. The front piece 2 has a width progressively decreasing downward, and opposite side edges 22 each curved in conformity with the groin between the thigh and the abdomen or with a part slightly above the groin. The front piece 2 has a lower end 23 conforming to one end 41 of the connector piece 4. These ends 23 and 41 are stitched together.

[0013] The rear piece 3 also has projections 31 extending outward from its upper opposite side portions obliquely upward. The projections 31 are bent toward the front piece 2 and stitched at their ends 34 to the opposed ends 24 of the projections 21, whereby a portion is formed for covering the waist. The rear piece 3 has edges 32 extending from its lower portion toward the side projections and conforming to the curves of the buttocks. The area and shape of the portion of the rear piece 3 surrounded by the edges 32 are determined in accordance with the bulging degree and contours of the buttocks.

[0014] The other end 42 of the connector piece 4 is defined by two edges slanting outward toward its longitudinal center line. The central lower end 33 of the rear piece 3 to be stitched to the end 42 is defined by two edges slanting upward toward its center line. These ends 33 and 42 differ in the angle of inclination, such that the ends 33 and 42 define a space 5 therebetween when placed in butting relation to each other before the rear piece 3 and the connector piece 4 are stitched together, as seen in Fig. 4. The space 5 has a progressively increasing width toward the center line thereof.

[0015] The rear piece 3 and the connector piece 4 are stitched together at the opposed ends 33 and 42 while the lower end portion 33 is being stretched toward the connector piece 4 most greatly along the center line of the rear piece 3 and to a progressively lesser extent from the center line toward the opposite sides thereof. Since the rear piece 3 is thus stretched most greatly on its center line, the underwear 1 formed has an elongated depression 6 extending vertically on the center line of the rear piece 3 and conforming to the gluteal cleft between the buttocks. On the opposite sides of the depression 6, the rear piece 3 has rounded portions in conformity with the bulges of the buttocks. Consequently the rear piece 3 of the underwear 1 covers and supports the buttocks in intimate contact therewith, feels smooth and comfortable, and fits snugly to the curves of the buttocks and gluteal cleft, giving a graceful appearance.

[0016] The lower end 33 of the rear piece 3 and the end 42 of the connector piece 4 to be stitched thereto may be arcuated as shown in Fig. 5. In this case, the space 5 formed between the ends 33 and 42 also has an increasing width toward its center and resembles a crescent in shape.

[0017] When desired, a stretchable and decorative tape 7 may be stitched to the upper edges 25, 35 of the front and rear pieces 2, 3 to be fitted around the waist, and also to the side edges 22, 32, 43 of the front and rear pieces 2, 3 and the connector piece 4 to be fitted around the legs. The tape 7 is made partially or entirely from stretchable yarns, such as rubber yarns, by knitting or weaving.

[0018] Reference is made to our co-pending Application No. 80304062.5 (EP 0031642).

Claims

1. Panties, briefs, or like underwear comprising a front part for covering the lower abdomen, a rear part for covering the buttocks and a connector part interconnecting the front part and the rear part for covering the crotch, the connector part being stitched at one end to the lower end of the front part, characterised in that the underwear has an elongated depression (6) extending on the centre line of the rear part (3) and conforming to the gluteal cleft between the buttocks and the rear part (3) has rounded portions in conformity with the bulges of the buttocks on the opposite sides of the depression (6) when the underwear is worn, the depression (6) and the rounded portions being formed by the other end (42) of the connector part (4) and the lower end (33) of the rear part (3), when placed in butting relation to each other, defining therebetween a space (5) shaped symmetrically with respect to the centre line of the space (5) and having a progressively increasing width toward the centre line, the rear part (3) having been stitched at its lower end (33) to the other end (42) of the connector part (4) while being stretched most greatly on the centre line of the rear part (3).

2. Panties, briefs or like underwear according to claim 1, characterised in that the other end (42) of the connector piece (4) is defined by two edges slanting outward toward its longitudinal centre line, and the lower end (33) of the rear piece (3) is defined by two edges slanting upward toward its centre line.

3. Panties, briefs or like underwear according to claim 1, characterised in that the other end (42) of the connector piece (4) and the lower end (33) of the rear piece (3) are arcuate.

4. Panties, briefs or like underwear according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by being made of a knitted fabric.

5. Panties, briefs or like underwear according to claim 1, characterised in that the front part (2) and the rear part (3) are stitched together each at its upper opposite side portions, the rear part (3) having a projection (31) extending outward from each of its upper opposite side portions obliquely upward, and the rear part (3) having an upper edge (35) curved inward most greatly on the centre line of the rear part (3).

Revendications

1. Pantys, culottes ou sous-vêtements similaires comportant une pièce avant destinée à recouvrir l'abdomen inférieur, une pièce arrière destinée à recouvrir les fesses et une pièce de liaison reliant la pièce avant et la pièce arrière pour recouvrir l'entre-jambe, la pièce de liaison étant cousue à l'une de ses extrémités à l'extrémité inférieure de la pièce avant, caractérisés en ce que le sous-vêtement présente une dépression allongée (6) se prolongeant sur la ligne médiane à la pièce arrière (3) et se conformant à la raie fessière, et en ce que la pièce arrière (3) comporte des parties arrondies en conformité avec les renflements des fesses sur les côtés opposés de la dépression (6) quand le sous-vêtement est porté, la dépression (6) et les parties arrondies étant formées par l'autre extrémité (42) de la pièce de liaison (4) et la partie inférieure (33) de la pièce arrière (3), quand ces pèces sont mises bout à bout, définissant ainsi un espace (5) de forme symétrique par rapport à la ligne médiane et ayant une largeur qui augmente progressivement vers cette ligne médiane, la pièce arrière (3) ayant été cousue à son extrémité inférieure (33) à l'autre partie (42) de la pièce de liaison (4) tandis qu'elle est étirée de façon plus importante sur la ligne médiane de la pièce arrière (3).

2. Pantys, culottes ou sous-vêtements similaires selon la revendication 1, caractérisés en ce que l'autre extrémité (42) de la pièce de liaison (4) est définie par deux bords s'inclinant vers l'extérieur, vers la ligne médiane, et en ce que l'extrémité inférieure (33) de la pièce arrière (3) est définie par deux bords s'inclinant vers le haut, vers la ligne médiane de ladite pièce.

3. Pantys, culottes ou sous-vêtements similaires selon la revendication 1, caractérisés en ce que l'autre extrémité (42) de la pièce de liaison (4) et l'extrémité inférieure (33) de la pièce arrière (3) sont courbées en arc.

4. Pantys, culottes ou sous-vêtements similaires selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisés en ce qu'ils sont réalisés à partir d'un tissu tricoté.

5. Pantys, culottes ou sous-vêtements similaires selon la revendication 1, caractérisés en ce que le partie avant (2) et la partie arrière (3) sont fixées l'une à l'autre par couture à leur partie latérale supérieure opposée, la partie arrière (3) comportant un prolongement (31 ) qui s'étend à l'extérieur obliquement vers le haut à partir de chacune de ses parties supérieures opposées, et le bord supérieur (35) de la partie arrière (3) est courbé vers l'intérieur de façon plus importante sur la ligne médiane de cette partie arrière (3).

Ansprüche

1. Höschen, Unterhose od.dgl. Unterbekleidungsstück, mit einem vorderen Teil zum Bedecken des Unterleibs, einem hinteren Teil zum Bedecken der Hinterbacken und mit einem Verbindungsteil zum Bedecken des Schritts, wobei der Verbindungsteil am einen Ende an das untere Ende des vorderen Teils genäht ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Unterbekleidungsstück eine Vertiefung (6) länglicher Gestalt aufweist, die sich an der Mittellinie des hinteren Teils (3) erstreckt und an den Spalt zwischen den Hinterbacken angepaßt ist, und der hintere Teil (3) abgerundete Bereiche besitzt, die beim Tragen des Unterbekleidungsstücks in Übereinstimmung mit den Ausbauchungen der Hinterbacken an den entgegengesetzten Seiten der Vertiefung sind, wobei die Vertiefung (6) und die abgerundeten Bereiche durch das andere Ende (42) des Verbindungsteils (4) und das untere Ende (33) des hinteren Teils (3) gebildet werden, die, sind sie in eine aneinander stossende Lage gebracht, einen dazwischen liegenden Zwischenraum (5) begrenzen, der mit Bezug auf die Mittellinie des Zwischenraums symmetrisch geformt ist und eine zur Mittellinie hin progressiv zunehmende Breite besitzt, und wobei der hintere Teil (3) unter größtem Dehnen an seiner Mittellinie an seinem unteren Ende (33) an das andere Ende (42) des Verbindungsteils (4) angenäht worden ist.

2. Höschen, Unterhose od.dgl. Unterbekleidungsstück nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das andere Ende (42) des Verbindungsstücks (4) durch zwei auswärts auf seine Längsmittellinie hin geneigte Kanten und das untere Ende (33) des hinteren Stücks (3) durch zwei nach oben auf seine Mittellinie hin geneigte Kanten definiert ist.

3. Höschen, Unterhose od.dgl. Unterbekleidungsstück nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das andere Ende (42) des Verbindungsstücks (4) und das untere Ende (33) des hinteren Stücks (3) bogenförmig sind.

4. Höschen, Unterhose od.dgl. Unterbekleidungsstück nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es aus Maschenware hergestellt ist.

5. Höschen, Unterhose od.dgl. Unterbekleidungsstück nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der vordere Teil (2) und der hintere Teil (3) jeder an seinen oberen entgegengesetzten Seitenbereichen zusammengenäht sind, wobei der hintere Teil (3) einen sich von jedem siener oberen entgegengesetzten Seitenbereichen schräg aufwärts erstreckenden Vorsprung (31) besitzt, und der hintere Teil (3) eine an seiner Mittellinie am stärksten einwärts gekrümmte Oberkante (35) aufweist.

Drawing