Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
BOTTOM GARMENT
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a bottom garment.
Background Art
[0002] Heretofore, various studies have been made on bottom garments such
as panties in order to improve the fit thereof to wearers' bodies. In
particular, in a bottom garment, the back side of a crotch section (also may
be
referred to as "gusset section", "groin section", or the like) extends across
two
round portions of the buttocks of a wearer when the bottom garment is worn.
Thus, the crotch section may be partially apart from the body surface, so that
the fit to a recessed portion around the natal cleft is liable to be low. To
address this problem, the following technique has been proposed: in a
garment having a crotch cloth, improving the fit around the natal cleft by
sewing darts around the crotch cloth (see Patent Document 1, for example).
Citation List
Patent Document(s)
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No.
63(1988)-36005
Brief Summary of the Invention
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, the above-described technique still cannot achieve sufficient
fit. More specifically, at a portion where the darts are provided, the fabric
constituting the garment is in a stretched state and thus exhibits lower
stretchablility. Accordingly, although the garment can have a shape
conforming to a wearer's body during initial stages of wearing of the garment,
it cannot exhibit sufficient followability to movements of the wearer. Thus,
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this technique cannot sufficiently prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape
wearing at leg edge parts, e.g., from sliding up, owing to the movements of
the wearer.
[0005] With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a bottom garment that can provide high wearing comfort and also can
effectively prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts.
Means for Solving Problem
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a
bottom garment including: a back section adapted to cover buttocks of a
wearer; a front section facing the back section; and a crotch section. Right
and left end edges of the front section are connected to right and left end
edges of the back section, respectively. A front end of the crotch section is
connected to a lower end of the front section. A back end of the crotch
section is connected to a lower end of the back section. In a pattern diagram,
the back end of the crotch section protrudes so as to form a V-shape having a
protruding central portion and a gradually increasing width toward right and
left end edges, the lower end of the back section to be connected with the
back
end of the crotch section is recessed so as to form a V-shaped notch, and an
angle a of the V-shape is greater than an angle f3 of the notch.
Effects of the Invention
[0007] The present invention can provide a bottom garment that can provide
high wearing comfort and also can effectively prevent the occurrence of
out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0008] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a pattern diagram of panties according to a first
embodiment as an example of the bottom garment of the present invention.
[FIG. 21 FIG. 2 is a pattern diagram of conventional panties.
[FIG. 3] FIGs. 3A and 3B each show the state where the panties are
folded along the back centerline. FIG. 3A shows the panties according to the
present invention. FIG. 3B shows the conventional panties.
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[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram of panties according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 51 FIG. 5 shows panties according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a pattern diagram of panties according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 71 FIG. 7 shows the states of buttocks observed in a wearing
evaluation test. In FIG. 7, (a) shows the states observed when the panties of
the present invention were worn, and (b) shows the states observed when the
conventional panties were worn.
Mode for Carrying out the Invention
[0009] The bottom garment according to the present invention will be
described below with reference to illustrative examples. It is to be noted,
however, that the present invention is by no means limited to or restricted by
the following illustrative examples.
[0010] (First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a pattern diagram of panties 100 according to the first
embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention. The panties
100 of the present embodiment include: a back body member 102 that forms a
back section 12 adapted to cover buttocks of a wearer; a front body member
101 that forms a front section 11 facing the back section 12; and a crotch
section 103. Right and left end edges of the front body member 101 are
connected to right and left end edges of the back body member 102,
respectively. A front end of the crotch section 103 is connected to a lower
end
of the front body member 101, and a back end of the crotch section 103 is
connected to a lower end of the back body member 102. The terms "front"
and "back" as used in this context refer to front and back directions when the
front body member (front section) side is defined as the front side and the
back body member (back section) side is defined as the back side. The terms
"left" and "right" as used in this context may refer to right and left when
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viewed either from the front side or from the back side.
[0011] In a pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section 103 protrudes
so as to form a V-shape having a protruding central portion and a gradually
increasing width toward right and left end edges, the lower end of the back
body member 102 to be connected with the back end of the crotch section 103
is recessed so as to form a V-shaped notch, and an angle a of the V-shape is
greater than an angle p of the notch.
[0012] Since the angle a is greater than the angle J3, the lower end of the
back body member 102 is connected to the back end of the crotch section 103
by widening the notch so as to conform to the shape of the back end of the
crotch section 103. With the configuration in which the ends having
different shapes are connected to each other, it is possible to provide a
margin
in a portion of the fabric around the back leg edges, thereby allowing a
three-dimensional swelling to be formed and the fit to a lower part of the
natal cleft to be improved.
[0013] The back end of the crotch section 103 preferably is configured so that
the angle a of the V-shape is in the range from 70 to 120 . The lower end of
the back body member 102 preferably is configured so that the angle p of the
notch is in the range from 10 to 60 . The combination of the angles a and p
may be as follows, for example: (a,13) = (120 , 60 ), (90 , 30 ), and (70 , 10
).
[0014] Swelling to be formed can be made larger by increasing the difference
between the angles a and p. From the viewpoint of the fit to a lower part of
the natal cleft when worn, the difference between the angles a and i3
preferably is in the range from 10 to 70 , more preferably from 20 to 40 .
[0015] FIG. 3A shows the state where the panties 100 obtained by
connecting components corresponding to the respective patterns shown in
FIG. 1 are placed flat and then folded along the back centerline L with the
back body member on the external side. FIG. 2 is a pattern diagram of
conventional panties 500. FIG. 3B shows the state where the panties 500
obtained by connecting components corresponding to the respective patterns
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shown in FIG. 2 are placed flat and then folded along the back centerline L
with a back body member on the external side.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 3A, when the panties 100 are folded along the back
centerline L, the crotch section 103 bends so as to protrude from the back
5 centerline. Further, when the panties 100 are placed flat, a lower part
thereof extends obliquely with the external side (the leg edge side) slanting
downward. In contrast, in the case of the conventional panties 500, as
shown in FIG. 3B, the crotch section 503 is folded so as to form the same
straight line as the back body member 502, and the above-described bending
is not observed. Further, when the panties 500 are placed flat, a lower part
thereof extends horizontally (in the direction orthogonal to the back
centerline L), rather than extending obliquely as in the panties 100.
Moreover, in the folded state as in FIGs. 3A and 3B, the crotch section looks
different between the panties 100 of the present invention and the
conventional panties 500. Specifically, the crotch section 103 in the panties
100 of the present invention is seen only slightly. In FIG. 3A, the two-dot
chain line extending horizontally indicates a line to which the crotch section
503 of the conventional panties 500 reaches.
[0017] In the present embodiment, a fabric that can be used for each of the
front body member 101 and the back body member 102 is not particularly
limited, and may be a woven fabric, a knotted fabric, or a nonwoven fabric,
for
example. It is more preferable that the fabric is a stretchable fabric
containing elastic yarns, such as polyurethane. The crotch section 103 may
be made of the same fabric as the front body member 101 and the back body
member 102. In this case, a patch cloth made of cotton or the like may be
provided on the wearer's skin side of the crotch section 103.
[0018] In the pattern diagram of FIG. 1, the V-shape of the back end of the
crotch section 103 and the V-shaped notch in the lower end of the back body
member 102 are each formed in a shape in which two straight lines meet each
other. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example,
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they each may be formed in a shape in which two curved lines meet each
other, or the apex of the V-shape may be rounded. In these cases, the state
where "the angle a of the V-shape is greater than the angle J3 of the notch"
means that the shape of the lower end of the back body member 102 can be
conformed to the shape of the back end of the crotch section 103 by widening
the notch.
[0019] In the present embodiment, the front body member 101 and the back
body member 102 are each provided as a right-and-left integrated member.
However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the right part and
the left part of each member may be provided as separate members.
Preferably, each of the front body member 101 and the back body member 102
is provided as a right-and-left integrated member, because this improves the
fit to a wearer's body and also provides better touch on a wearer's skin, as
compared with the case where the right and left members are connected to
each other.
[0020] (Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram of panties 200 according to the second
embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention. The one-dot
chain line in FIG. 4 indicates a fold line on a fabric in pattern arrangement.
The fabric is folded in half to make the fold line. Each pattern is aligned
with the fold line, and the fabric is cut along the pattern. In the panties
200
of the present embodiment, a front body member 201 is formed integrally
with a crotch section 203.
[0021] (Third Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a pattern diagram of panties 300 according to the third
embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention. The panties
300 of the present embodiment include: a right body member 304R that forms
a right part of a front section 11 and a right part of a back section 12; and
a
left body member 304L that forms a left part of the front section 11 and a
left
part of the back section 12. In FIG. 5, each pattern is aligned with a fold
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line on a fabric, and the right body member 304R and the left body member
304L are provided in a continuous form. However, the present invention is
not limited thereto. Each pattern may be arranged in any portion instead of
being aligned with the fold line, and the right body member 304R and the left
body member 304L may be provided in a discrete form.
[0022] (Fourth Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a pattern diagram of panties 400 according to the fourth
embodiment of the bottom garment of the present invention. The panties
400 of the present embodiment are configured so that a right part 403R of a
crotch section is formed integrally with a right body member 404R, and a left
part 403L of the crotch section is formed integrally with a left body member
404L. In FIG. 6, the pattern is aligned with a fold line on a fabric, and the
right body member 404R formed integrally with the right part 403R of the
crotch section and the left body member 404L formed integrally with the left
part 403L of the crotch section are provided in a continuous form. However,
the present invention is not limited thereto. The pattern may be arranged
in any portion instead of being aligned with the fold line, and the right and
left members may be provided in a discrete form.
[0023] As in the above-described respective embodiments, the components of
the bottom garment of the present invention are not limited as long as the
patterns of the lower end of the back section 12 and the back end of the
crotch
section are separated from each other. Except for that, the components of
the bottom garment may be formed integrally in any combination as
appropriate according to the design etc. of the completed bottom garment.
[0024] (Wearing Evaluation Test)
FIG. 7 shows the states of buttocks observed in a wearing evaluation
test. In the wearing evaluation test, the same test wearer wore the panties
100 of the present invention and the conventional panties 500, and the fit and
the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing while the test wearer moved one leg
up and down were assessed by visual evaluation. The panties 100 used in
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this wearing evaluation test were configured so that the angle a was 900 and
the angle 13 was 30 . In FIG. 7, (a) shows the states observed when the test
user wore the panties of the present invention, and (b) shows the states
observed when the test user wore the conventional panties. In (a) and (b) of
FIG. 7, the drawings on the left (a-1, b-1) show the states at the start of
the
evaluation, the drawings in the middle (a-2, b-2) show the states when the
test wearer raised one leg (right leg), and the drawings on the right (a-3, b-
3)
show the states when the test wearer lowered the leg after she had raised the
leg. The line Li indicating the leg edge (referred to as "initial leg
edge-indicating line" hereinafter) and the line L2 indicating the gluteal fold
were marked in a buttock of the test wearer at the start of the evaluation,
and the changes in position of each line caused by each movement were also
observed.
[0025] In the case where the conventional panties 500 were worn, as can be
seen from the drawing b-2 showing the state when the test wearer raised one
leg, the space between the leg edge of the panties and the initial leg
edge-indicating line Li marked on the test wearer's body was broadened.
Also, it can be seen that many large wrinkles were formed in the back side of
the crotch section 503 (a portion to be in contact with a lower part of the
natal
cleft), whereby the fit between the panties and the test wearer's body was
deteriorated. From the drawing b-3 showing the state observed when the
test wearer lowered the leg after she had raised the leg, it can be seen that
the leg edge of the panties shifted from the initial position so as to slide
up
from the initial leg edge-marking line Ll.
[0026] In contrast, in the case where the panties 100 of the present invention
were worn, as can be seen from the drawing a-2 showing the state observed
when the test wearer raised one leg, the space between the leg edge of the
panties and the initial leg edge-indicating line Li marked on the test
wearer's
body was narrower than that in the case where the panties 500 were worn.
Also, it can be seen that a smaller amount of wrinkles were formed in the
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back side of the crotch section 103 (a portion to be in contact with a lower
part of the natal cleft), so that the panties achieved favorable fit to the
test
wearer's body (in particular, to a lower part of the natal cleft).
Furthermore,
from the drawing a-3 showing the state observed when the test wearer
lowered the leg after she had raised the leg, it can be seen that the leg edge
of
the panties and the initial leg edge-indicating line Li were in close
proximity,
and sliding-up of the leg edge from the initial position was hardly observed.
[0027] As described above, the panties 100 are configured so that, in a
pattern diagram, the back end of the crotch section 103 forms a V-shape, the
lower end of the back body member 102 to be connected with the back end of
the crotch section 103 forms a V-shaped notch, and an angle a of the V-shape
is greater than the angle [3 of the notch, and with this configuration, it was
possible to provide a margin in a portion of the fabric around the back leg
edges, thereby allowing a three-dimensional swelling to be formed and the fit
to a lower part of the natal cleft to be improved.
[0028] With the above-described configuration, it was possible to obtain
panties that can provide high wearing comfort and also can effectively
prevent the occurrence of out-of-shape wearing at leg edge parts.
[0029] The present invention has been described above with reference to
specific examples of its embodiment, namely, panties. It is to be noted,
however, that the bottom garment of the present invention is not limited to
those given as the specific examples, and can be embodied in various forms.
For example, the present invention is applicable not only to the garments
described in the above embodiments, but also to foundation garments such as
girdles and bodysuits, and various other garments such as swimsuits,
leotards, sportswear, and outerwear. Furthermore, the present invention is
applicable not only to panties for daily use but also to sanitary panties and
panties for light incontinence protection, for example.
Explanation of Reference Numerals
[0030]
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100, 200, 300, 400: panties
11: front section
12: back section
101, 201: front body member
5 102, 202: back body member
103, 203, 303: crotch section
304R, 404R: right body member
304L, 404L: left body member
403R: crotch section (right part)
10 403L: crotch section (left part)
500: conventional panties
501: front body member
502: back body member
503: crotch section
L: back centerline
Li: initial leg edge-indicating line
L2: gluteal fold-indicating line
