Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
LOWER BODY GARMENT FOR MATERNITY
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to maternity wear for a pregnant
woman's lower body.
BACKGROUND
[0002] U.S. Patent No. 8,968,051 discloses a crossover maternity panel that
may be attached to
any lower garment worn throughout pregnancy and post-partum body changes. The
crossover
maternity panel may be a belly panel comprised of a single piece of fabric or
multiple pieces
connected with seams, and wrap around from the front to the back of the
wearer. The portions may
overlap in the back of the wearer as they decrease in height to create a
crossover triangular section
that provides support to the lumbar region of the wearer. The crossover
maternity panel may be
attached to any lower garment such as a pant, short, skirt, skort, or the
like. The flexible and
stretchable material of the crossover maternity panel allows the wearer to
have support for the
enlarged belly, support for increased pressure and laxity on the wearer's
sacroiliac joints and lower
back, as well as comfort and mobility.
[0003] U.S. Patent No. 9,730,476 discloses maternity garments intended for
use by pregnant
women throughout the entirety of their pregnancy. In one exemplary
arrangement, the maternity
garments include a built-in support belt and a belly bump portion. The
maternity garment may
further include leggings. In some arrangements, the maternity garment is
formed of light
compression weaves in areas such as the baby bump area and the leggings area
of the garment,
while the areas around the periphery of the baby bump, as well as the back
area of the garment are
formed of slightly stronger compression weave so as to provide needed support
and lift in these
areas. Finally, the area associated with the middle of the back of the
pregnant woman may be
formed of an even stronger compression weave so as to provide even greater
support in this area
to deal with the troublesome soreness and pain often had by pregnant woman as
the pregnancy
progresses.
[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0122372 discloses
garments to support a
distended abdomen. For example the garment comprises an abdominal panel
displaced beneath
and in a position to support a distended abdomen, said panel being formed from
an anisotropic
elastomeric fabric that stretches in a latitudinal direction; side panels
secured to a side of said
-1-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
abdominal panel, each side panel extending upwards and to a rear of said
abdominal panel and
being formed from an isotropic elastomeric fabric having a modulus of
elasticity at least 1.5 times
greater than said abdominal panel; and a back panel positioned over a lumbar
region attached to
said side panel.
[0005] U. S . Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0309265 discloses a
garment having
specific supportive panels for providing adequate back and belly support; in a
preferred
embodiment the garment is an exercise garment. The supportive panels of the
garment are made
of composites of expandable materials giving structural support to the garment
such that the
wearer's back is stabilized and the belly is supported to prevent drastic
pitch, roll or yaw
movements during exercise. The expandable materials are designed to yield such
that excessive
pressure against the belly is not caused as such pressure, found in garments
of the prior art, can
inflict pain to the musculature and skin surface of the wearer. The expandable
materials provide
support and allow for the natural growth of the body during pregnancy,
providing a desirable
combination of a supportive exercise garment that can be used throughout the
gestation period.
[0006] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0015087 discloses
garments that can be
worn during early stages of pregnancy and postpartum. The garments shape or
contour the stomach
or abdomen regions of the wearer to give the abdomen a smoother and slimmer
appearance. The
garments comprise at least one shaper stitch region that is adapted to apply a
compressive force to
the wearer's abdomen to shape the stomach or abdomen regions of the wearer.
[0007] U. S . Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0320737 discloses a
garment, which
includes a belly panel, a back panel, a front portion, and a contoured front
seamwork positioned
between the belly panel and the front portion. The contoured front seamwork
attaches the belly
panel and the front portion and extends substantially in a U-shape to provide
support to a
protruding belly.
SUMMARY
[0008] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that
are further described
below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key or essential
features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an
aid in limiting the scope
of the claimed subject matter.
-2-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
[0009] According to one example of the present disclosure, a lower body
garment comprises a
pair of legs having an upper edge configured to be located below a wearer's
pregnant belly and a
waistband connected to the upper edge of the pair of legs. The waistband
comprises a front
waistband portion configured to substantially cover the wearer's pregnant
belly and a rear
waistband portion configured to cover the wearer's sacroiliac joints, and
which, together with the
front waistband portion, is configured to encircle the wearer's torso. The
rear waistband portion
comprises a rear three-layer section having an inner layer of fabric
configured to contact the
wearer's skin, an outer layer of fabric configured to face outwardly from the
wearer, and a middle
layer of material between the inner and outer layers of fabric. The front
waistband portion
comprises a front three-layer section having the inner layer of fabric, the
middle layer of material,
and the outer layer of fabric, and a front section having no middle layer of
material. Recovery of
the front and rear three-layer sections is greater than recovery of the inner
and outer layers of fabric
together without the middle layer of material.
[0010] According to one aspect, the middle layer of material is a plastic
film that is self-bonded
to at least one of the inner and outer layers of fabric in each of the front
and rear three-layer
sections.
[0011] According to another example of the present disclosure, a lower body
garment
comprises a pair of legs joined at front and rear rise portions and together
defining a front upper
edge configured to be located on the underside of a wearer's pregnant belly
and together defining
a rear upper edge configured to be located proximate the wearer's lower back.
A waistband is
coupled to the front and rear upper edges of the pair of legs. The waistband
comprises a front
waistband portion coupled to the front upper edge and configured to
substantially cover the
wearer's pregnant belly and a rear waistband portion coupled to the rear upper
edge and configured
to cover the wearer's lumbar region, and which, together with the front
waistband portion, is
configured to encircle the wearer's torso. The rear waistband portion
comprises a rear reinforced
section having at least three layers, including a rear inner layer of fabric
configured to contact the
wearer's skin, a rear outer layer of fabric configured to face outwardly from
the wearer, and a rear
middle layer of material between the rear inner and outer layers of fabric.
The front waistband
portion comprises a front reinforced section having at least three layers,
including a front inner
layer of fabric configured to contact the wearer's skin, a front outer layer
of fabric configured to
face outwardly from the wearer, and a front middle layer of material between
the front inner and
-3-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
outer layers of fabric. The front waistband portion also comprises a front
unreinforced section
comprising at least one of the front inner and outer layers of fabric, but
lacking the front middle
layer of material. An elastic modulus of the rear reinforced section is
greater than an elastic
modulus of the rear inner and outer layers of fabric together without the rear
middle layer of
material. An elastic modulus of the front reinforced section is greater than
an elastic modulus of
the front inner and outer layers of fabric together without the front middle
layer of material.
[0012] According to one aspect, the front and rear middle layers of
material are non-textile
mesh. Optionally, the non-textile mesh is a polystyrene mesh that is 130
microns thick, has a
weight of 50 grams per square meter, and has apertures having a diameter of
less than 3
millimeters.
[0013] According to one aspect, the front middle layer of material is self-
bonded to at least one
of the front inner and outer layers of fabric and the rear middle layer of
material is self-bonded to
at least one of the rear inner and outer layers of fabric.
[0014] According to another example of the present disclosure, a lower body
garment
comprises a pair of legs joined at front and rear rise portions and together
defining a front upper
edge configured to be located on the underside of a wearer's pregnant belly
and together defining
a rear upper edge configured to be located proximate the wearer's lower back.
A waistband is
coupled to the front and rear upper edges of the pair of legs. The waistband
comprises a front
waistband portion coupled to the front upper edge and configured to
substantially cover the
wearer's pregnant belly and a rear waistband portion coupled to the rear upper
edge and configured
to cover the wearer's lumbar region, and which, together with the front
waistband portion, is
configured to encircle the wearer's torso. The rear waistband portion
comprises a reinforced
section having a rear inner layer configured to contact the wearer's skin, a
rear outer layer
configured to face outwardly from the wearer, and a rear middle layer of high-
modulus film self-
bonded between the rear inner and outer layers. The front waistband portion
comprises a front
reinforced section having a front inner layer configured to contact the
wearer's skin, a front outer
layer configured to face outwardly from the wearer, and a front middle layer
of high-modulus film
self-bonded between the front inner and outer layers. The front waistband
portion also comprises
a front unreinforced section that does not include the front middle layer of
high-modulus film. An
elastic modulus of the front and rear reinforced sections is greater than an
elastic modulus of
portions of the waistband that do not include the front or rear middle layers
of high-modulus film.
-4-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
[0015] According to one aspect, the front and rear middle layers of high-
modulus film are mesh
film. Optionally, the front and rear middle layers of high-modulus film are a
polystyrene mesh
film that is 130 microns thick, has a weight of 50 grams per square meter, and
has apertures having
a diameter of less than 3 millimeters.
[0016] According to one aspect of any of the above examples, the front
reinforced section is
located at least along a lower edge of the front waistband portion.
Optionally, the front reinforced
section makes up at least a lower quarter of the front waistband portion and
the front unreinforced
section makes up at least an upper third of the front waistband portion.
[0017] According to one aspect of any of the above examples, the front
reinforced section is
also located along an upper edge of the front waistband portion and the front
unreinforced section
is located vertically between the front reinforced sections along the lower
and upper edges of the
front waistband portion.
[0018] According to one aspect of any of the above examples, the rear upper
edge is configured
to be located proximate the wearer's sacroiliac joints.
[0019] According to one aspect of any of the above examples, the front and
rear middle layers
of high-modulus film are made of a plastic. Optionally, the plastic is
polystyrene.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The present disclosure is described with reference to the following
Figures. The same
numbers are used throughout the Figures to reference like features and like
components.
[0021] FIGURE 1 illustrates a front view of a first example of a lower body
garment.
[0022] FIGURE 2 illustrates a right side view of the lower body garment FIGURE
1.
[0023] FIGURE 3 illustrates a rear view of the lower body garment of FIGURE 1.
[0024] FIGURE 4 illustrates a front view of a second example of a lower body
garment.
[0025] FIGURE 5 illustrates a rear view of the lower body garment of FIGURE 4.
[0026] FIGURE 6 illustrates a front view of a third example of a lower body
garment.
[0027] FIGURE 7 illustrates a rear view of the lower body garment of FIGURE 6.
[0028] FIGURE 8 illustrates one example of a reinforced section of the
lower body garment.
[0029] FIGURE 9 illustrates another example of a reinforced section of the
lower body
garment.
-5-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] According to one example of the present disclosure, as shown in
FIGURES 1-3, a lower
body garment 10 comprises a pair of legs 12 having an upper edge 14 configured
to be located
below a wearer's pregnant belly when the lower body garment 10 is worn and a
waistband 16
connected to the upper edge 14 of the pair of legs 12. Specifically, the pair
of legs 12 are joined at
front and rear rise portions 13, 15 and together define a front upper edge 14a
configured to be
located on the underside of a wearer's pregnant belly and together define a
rear upper edge 14b
configured to be located proximate the wearer's lower back. The waistband 16
comprises a front
waistband portion 16a coupled to the front upper edge 14a and configured to
substantially cover
the wearer's pregnant belly. By "substantially cover the wearer's pregnant
belly," it is meant that
the front waistband portion 16a is of a height that is configured to reach
above the wearer's navel,
and optionally to extend onto the top side (fundus) of her protruding belly.
In some examples, the
front waistband portion 16a is dimensioned to be able to touch or nearly touch
the wearer's ribcage
after covering the top of her belly. The waistband 16 also comprises a rear
waistband portion 16b
coupled to the rear upper edge 14b and configured to cover the wearer's lumbar
region. In some
examples, the rear upper edge 14b of the pair of legs 12 is configured to be
located proximate the
wearer's sacroiliac joints. In some examples, the rear waistband portion 16b
is configured to cover
the wearer's sacroiliac joints, while in other examples, the rear waistband
portion 16b is configured
to begin just above the wearer's sacroiliac joints. The rear waistband portion
16b, together with
the front waistband portion 16a, is configured to encircle the wearer's torso.
The front waistband
portion 16a and the rear waistband portion 16b may each be made of a single
panel of material or
may be made of multiple panels of material stitched together along generally
vertically extending
seams. In another example, the front waistband portion 16a and the rear
waistband portion 16b are
both made from the same seamless knit tube.
[0031] The rear waistband portion 16b comprises a rear reinforced section
18, the extent of
which is outlined and provided with partial hatching. Referring also to FIGURE
9, the rear
reinforced section 18 has at least three layers, including a rear inner layer
of fabric 20 configured
to contact the wearer's skin, a rear outer layer of fabric 24 configured to
face outwardly from the
wearer, and a rear middle layer of material 22 between the rear inner and
outer layers of fabric 20,
24. In one example, the rear reinforced section 18 is a three-layer section
having the inner layer of
fabric 20, the outer layer of fabric 24, and the middle layer of material 22
between the inner and
-6-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
outer layers of fabric 20, 24. The front waistband portion 16a comprises a
front reinforced section
26, the extent of which is outlined and provided with partial hatching, also
having at least three
layers, including a front inner layer of fabric 20 configured to contact the
wearer's skin, a front
outer layer of fabric 24 configured to face outwardly from the wearer, and a
front middle layer of
material 22 between the front inner and outer layers of fabric 20, 24. In one
example, the front
reinforced section 26 is a three-layer section having the inner layer of
fabric 20, the middle layer
of material 22, and the outer layer of fabric 24. The front waistband portion
16a also comprises a
front section 28 having no middle layer of material 22. The front section 28
therefore has only one
or both of the inner layer of fabric 20 or/and the outer layer of fabric 24.
In other words, the front
section 28 comprises at least one of the front inner and outer layers of
fabric 20, 24, but lacks the
front middle layer of material 22 and therefore is unreinforced.
[0032] In some examples, the front reinforced section 26 (e.g., three-layer
section) is located at
least along a lower edge 30 of the front waistband portion 16a. According to
one alternative, as
shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the front reinforced section 26 makes up at least a
lower quarter of
the front waistband portion 16a, and the front unreinforced section 28 having
no middle layer of
material 22 makes up at least an upper third of the front waistband portion
16a. The front reinforced
section 26 extends laterally across the entire front waistband portion 16a and
connects to the rear
reinforced section 18 just behind each of the wearer's hips. The front
reinforced section 26 may
be narrowest (in a vertical direction) near the front of each of the wearer's
hip bones, and may
widen toward the center front of the front reinforced section 26 and toward
the rearmost ends of
the front reinforced section 26, where the front reinforced section 26
connects to the rear reinforced
section 18. The rear reinforced section 18 has a bottom edge 32 adjacent the
rear upper edge 14b
of the pair of legs 12 and extends to the upper edge 34 of the rear waistband
portion 16b.
[0033] The front and rear reinforced sections 26, 18 are composite panels
having different
properties than areas of the waistband 16 that do not include the middle layer
of material 22. The
middle layer of material 22 may have a higher elastic modulus, recovery,
and/or stretch than the
inner or outer layers of fabric 20, 24, which affects the elastic modulus,
recovery, and/or stretch of
the reinforced sections 26, 18 overall. According to one example, the middle
layer of material 22
is made of a polymer, and more particularly, the front and rear middle layers
of material 22 are
made of a plastic. Preferably, the plastic is polystyrene. In other examples,
the middle layer of
material 22 is polyolefin or a shape memory polymer. In some examples, the
middle layer of
-7-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
material 22 is a non-woven material, and in a more particular example, the
front and rear middle
layers of material 22 are a non-textile mesh. The mesh may be formed by
gravure printing,
extruding, screen printing, or additive printing polymer onto a release sheet,
from which the
polymer can be removed once set. In other examples, the polymer could be
directly applied onto
the inner or outer layer of fabric 20, 24 in a mesh pattern. In other
examples, the middle layer of
material 22 is netting. The netting may be a woven fabric netting. For
example, the netting may
comprise polyethylene and thermoplastic elastomer threads.
[0034] The mesh or netting may have any shape of apertures, such as square,
diamond, circular,
ovular, parallelogram, or rectangular apertures. The size of the apertures
will generally be on the
order of 1 to 3 millimeters or less. The thickness of the mesh or netting may
be 100-160 microns,
more particularly 130 microns. The mesh or netting may have a weight of 30gsm-
70gsm, more
particularly 50gsm. The porosity (fraction of open area to total area) of the
mesh or netting may
be 30 to 50%, more particularly 35 to 40%.
[0035] One example of a particularly appropriate mesh is a 100% polystyrene
mesh that is 130
microns thick and has a weight of 50gsm, with apertures of 1-3 millimeters or
less. A preferred
mesh is a 100% polystyrene film that is 130 microns thick, has a weight of
50gsm, has apertures
measuring less than 3 millimeters in diameter (preferably 0.9 to 1.1
millimeters major diameter
and 0.8 to 0.95 millimeters minor diameter), has an average porosity of 40%,
has an elongation of
about 120% from 0.1kg to lkg, has a modulus in the machine direction of about
1.2 N/50mm and
in the transverse direction of about 0.8 N/50mm, and has a recovery of about
88%. Some
appropriate meshes are available from Meiwa Gravure Co., Ltd. of Higashi-Osaka
City, Japan.
The modulus, elongation, and recovery of such a mesh do not change
significantly with
temperature, such as when the mesh is on-body as part of the lower body
garment 10. Thus,
incorporating the mesh into the lower body garment 10 can provide increased
modulus, high
stretch, and fast recovery to the fabric laminates of the front and rear
reinforced sections 26, 18.
[0036] Some other types of appropriate mesh and/or netting are sold under
the trademark
CONWEDTM from Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. of Alpharetta, Georgia.
[0037] Note that the overall modulus, stretch, and recovery of the
laminated panels will depend
on the fabrics with which the mesh or netting is laminated. In one example,
the inner and outer
layers 20, 24 on either side of the middle layer 22 are weft-knitted interlock
nylon-spandex fabric.
In further examples, the inner and outer layers of fabric 20, 24 can be woven
or knit and can be
-8-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
made of natural or synthetic yarns or blends thereof. The outer layer used in
the front reinforced
section 26 can be the same as or different from the outer layer used in the
rear reinforced section
18. Likewise, the inner layer used in the front reinforced section 26 can be
the same as or different
from the inner layer used in the rear reinforced section 18, and the middle
layer used in the front
reinforced section 26 can be the same as or different from the middle layer
used in the rear
reinforced section 18. In other examples, the inner and outer layers of fabric
20, 24 can be made
of the same fabric.
[0038] Although the front and rear reinforced sections 26, 18 are shown and
described as
including three layers, it is possible that the front and rear reinforced
sections 26, 18 could include
more than three layers. In one example, two or more layers of the middle layer
of material 22 could
be provided. In another example, two or more layers of material (e.g., fabric)
can be provided
between the middle layer of material 22 and the wearer. In another example,
two or more layers
of material (e.g., fabric) can be provided externally of the middle layer of
material 22. Further, the
front unreinforced section 28 of the front waistband portion 16a could include
both the inner and
outer layers of fabric 20, 24, only the inner or outer layer of fabric 20 or
24, or could include an
inner and/or outer layer of fabric that is different from those used in the
front reinforced section
26.
[0039] According to some examples, the middle layer of material 22 is
bonded to at least one
of the inner and outer layers of fabric 20, 24. As shown in FIGURE 9, the
middle layer of material
22 is bonded to both the inner and outer layers of fabric 20, 24, such that it
is sandwiched
therebetween to form a three-layer laminate. In one particular example, the
bonding is self-bonding
(i.e., no adhesive is required) accomplished by application of heat and
pressure to the three layers.
That is, the front middle layer of material 22 is self-bonded to at least one
of the front inner and
outer layers of fabric 20, 24, and the rear middle layer of material 22 is
self-bonded to at least one
of the rear inner and outer layers of fabric 20, 24. This can be accomplished
by selection of a
middle layer of material 22 that softens enough during heat pressing to
permanently bond to a layer
with which it is heat-pressed. In particular, the preferred 100% polystyrene
mesh provided from
Meiwa Gravure Co., Ltd. noted hereinabove self-bonds to nylon-spandex fabric
upon application
of heat (e.g., 150-180 degrees C) and pressure (e.g., 3-5 bar) for 10-20
seconds. In another
example, adhesive may be applied between the layers 20, 22, 24 to bond them
together. As shown
in FIGURE 8, the inner layer of fabric 20 and middle layer of material 22 may
be bonded together,
-9-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
and the outer layer of fabric 24 may float with respect to the middle layer of
material 22. The outer
layer of fabric 24 can be connected to the middle layer of material 22 and
inner layer of fabric 20
along the edges of the panel of layers, such as by stitching or bonding. This
may make the
reinforced sections 26, 18 more aesthetically appealing from the outside of
the lower body garment
10, in cases where the bonding of the middle layer of material 22 to the inner
and outer layers of
fabric 20, 24 causes the fabric to have a dimpled or otherwise less smooth
appearance.
[0040]
As noted, inclusion of the middle layer of material 22 into a composite fabric
panel
changes the properties of the reinforced sections 26, 18 as compared to non-
reinforced sections of
the waistband 16. In some examples, recovery of the front and rear reinforced
sections 26, 18 is
greater than recovery (the tendency of a material to return to its original
dimensions once a load is
removed) of the inner and outer layers of fabric 20, 24 together without the
middle layer of material
22. Additionally, the elastic modulus of the rear reinforced section 18 as a
composite panel is
greater than the elastic modulus of the rear inner and outer layers of fabric
20, 24 together (e.g.,
sewn or bonded into a two-layer panel) without the rear middle layer of
material 22, and the elastic
modulus of the front reinforced section 26 as a composite panel is greater
than the elastic modulus
of the front inner and outer layers of fabric 20, 24 together (e.g., sewn or
bonded into a two-layer
panel) without the front middle layer of material 22. This is due to the
elastic modulus of the
middle layer of material 22, which is greater than the moduli of the inner and
outer layers of fabric
20, 24 alone (i.e., as a single layer of fabric) or together (e.g., sewn or
bonded into a two-layer
panel). Further, stretch of the front and rear reinforced sections 26, 18 may
also be greater than
stretch of the inner and outer layers of fabric 20, 24 alone or together, but
without the middle layer
of material 22. This is due to the middle layer of material 22 holding the
knit of the inner and outer
layers of fabric 20, 24 together closer than they might otherwise be held were
the middle layer of
material 22 not included in the composite panel, thereby allowing the knit of
the inner and outer
layers of fabric 20, 24 to be stretched more upon application of tensile
force. Recovery, elastic
modulus, and stretch may be determined using the ASTM testing standards for
same or their
equivalents. In one example, elastic modulus can be approximated by measuring
the load on a test
specimen of the material at a given elongation. Given the measured load,
original length of the
specimen, change in length of the specimen at the given elongation, and the
negligible cross
sectional area of the specimen, the elastic modulus can be determined.
-10-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
[0041] In one example, the loads at 50% elongation of two test specimens
were measured in
order to determine the effect of the middle layer of material on a composite
panel. The first test
specimen included two nylon-spandex weft knit interlock fabrics layered one on
top of the other.
The second test specimen included two layers of the same nylon-spandex weft
knit interlock fabric,
but with the preferred 100% polystyrene mesh provided from Meiwa Gravure Co.,
Ltd.
sandwiched between and self-bonded to the two layers of fabric. Both test
specimens had the same
dimensions. The load at 50% elongation of the first test specimen was 1.66
lbf, while the load at
50% elongation of the second test specimen was 2.46 lbf. Thus, the load at 50%
elongation (and
correspondingly the elastic modulus) of the three-layer composite panel
including the middle layer
of material 22 increased by 48% in comparison to a panel with the same two
fabric layers but no
middle layer of high-modulus material.
[0042] The high stretch, recovery, and elastic modulus of the front and
rear reinforced sections
26, 18 provide a supportive, very slight compressive feel to the wearer. The
front reinforced section
26 applies upward lifting force to the bottom of her belly, while the rear
reinforced section 18
applies an inward compressive force on her sacroiliac joints and/or lower
back. In some examples,
the rear waistband portion 16b and rear reinforced section 18 thereof are
configured to extend up
along the wearer's entire lumbar region, providing support to that area as
well.
[0043] FIGURES 4 and 5 show another example of a lower body garment 110 in
which the
front reinforced section 126 is located at least along a lower edge 30 of the
front waistband portion
16a and makes up at least a lower quarter of the front waistband portion 16a.
Here, a lower edge
36 of the front reinforced section 126 is slightly offset from the shared
front upper edge 14a of the
pair of legs and the lower edge 30 of the front waistband portion 16a. This
may provide a bit less
compression just below the front reinforced section 126, allowing for the
front waistband portion
16a to stretch with less recovery as the wearer's belly grows larger in this
gap. The upper edge 38
of the front reinforced section 126 can be configured to be located at or
above the wearer's navel,
to provide the feel of extra support under the entirety of the wearer's belly.
The rear waistband
portion 16b (FIGURE 5) is entirely comprised of the rear reinforced section
118. The front and
rear reinforced sections 126, 118 can be as described hereinabove.
[0044] According to another alternative of the lower body garment 210 as shown
in FIGURES
6 and 7, besides the front reinforced section 226 being located at least along
a lower edge 30 of
the front waistband portion 16a, the front reinforced section 226 is also
located along an upper
-11 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
edge 40 of the front waistband portion 16a. The front unreinforced section 228
having no middle
layer of material 22 is located vertically between the lower and upper parts
of the front reinforced
section 226 along the respective lower and upper edges 30, 40 of the front
waistband portion 16a.
This shape and positioning of the front reinforced section 226 provides
support under the wearer's
belly, but also provides a lifting force above her belly, to take strain off
her joints and back,
especially in the case where the front reinforced section 226 extends
downwardly along the sides
of her belly, connecting the upper and lower parts of the front reinforced
section 226 as shown
here. The front unreinforced section 228 can have a height chosen for a
desired end result or on-
body feel. Three exemplary outlines of the unreinforced section 228 with no
middle layer of
material 22 are shown at a, b, and c. For example, the outline "a" may be
preferred for a pair of
leggings for high impact sports, the outline "b" may be preferred for moderate
intensity sports, and
the outline "c" may be preferred for an everyday pair of leggings. The front
section 228 with no
middle layer of material 22 will stretch with less recovery and thus allows
the front waistband
portion 16a to change in dimension with the wearer as her belly grows
throughout pregnancy. As
with the second example, the rear waistband portion 16b (FIGURE 7) is entirely
comprised of the
rear reinforced section 218. The front and rear reinforced sections 226, 218
can be as described
hereinabove.
[0045] In any of the above examples, the front unreinforced section 28,
128, 228 having no
middle layer of material 22 may include only the inner layer of fabric 20 or
only the outer layer of
fabric 24 or may include one or more layers of material different from the
inner and outer layers
of fabric 20, 24. This may allow the front unreinforced section 28, 128, 228
to cover her belly even
more, with less compression than the front reinforced section 26, 126, 226, as
her belly grows.
[0046] Thus, the present disclosure is of a lower body garment 10, 110, 210
comprising a pair
of legs 12 joined at front and rear rise portions 13, 15 and together defining
a front upper edge 14a
configured to be located on the underside of a wearer's pregnant belly and
together defining a rear
upper edge 14b configured to be located proximate the wearer's lower back. A
waistband 16 is
coupled to the front and rear upper edges 14a, 14b of the pair of legs 12. The
waistband 16
comprises a front waistband portion 16a coupled to the front upper edge 14a
and configured to
substantially cover the wearer's pregnant belly and a rear waistband portion
16b coupled to the
rear upper edge 14b and configured to cover the wearer's lumbar region, and
which, together with
the front waistband portion 16a, is configured to encircle the wearer's torso.
The rear waistband
-12-
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
portion 16b comprises a reinforced section 18, 118, 218 having a rear inner
layer 20 configured to
contact the wearer's skin, a rear outer layer 24 configured to face outwardly
from the wearer, and
a rear middle layer 22 of high-modulus film self-bonded between the rear inner
and outer layers
20, 24. The front waistband portion 16a comprises a front reinforced section
26, 126, 226 having
a front inner layer 20 configured to contact the wearer's skin, a front outer
layer 24 configured to
face outwardly from the wearer, and a front middle layer 22 of high-modulus
film self-bonded
between the front inner and outer layers 20, 24. The front waistband portion
16a also comprises a
front unreinforced section 28, 128, 228 that does not include the front middle
layer 22 of high-
modulus film. The elastic modulus of the front and rear reinforced sections
26, 126, 226, 18, 118,
218 is greater than the elastic modulus of portions of the waistband 16 that
do not include the front
or rear middle layers 22 of high-modulus film.
[0047] In one example, the front and rear middle layers 22 of high-modulus
film are made of a
plastic. In one example, the front and rear middle layers of high-modulus film
are mesh film. While
the above-noted alternatives apply, preferably, the front and rear middle
layers of high-modulus
film are a polystyrene mesh film that is 130 microns thick, has a weight of 50
grams per square
meter, and has apertures having a diameter of less than 3 millimeters.
[0048] Although the lower body garments 10, 110, 210 shown herein are
leggings, the lower
body garments could instead be bike shorts, panties, or swim bottoms. The
lower body garment
could alternatively be a pair of looser shorts or pants including the above-
noted waistband 16
stitched to the upper edge 14 of the pair of legs.
[0049] In the present description, certain terms have been used for
brevity, clarity, and
understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond
the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and
are intended to be
broadly construed. The different assemblies described herein may be used alone
or in combination
with other systems. Various equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are
possible within the
scope of the appended claims.
-13 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-01-06
