Upper body garment

Abstract

To provide an upper body garment which achieves both bust stability and comfortable fit and follows movement of the body.SOLUTION: An upper body garment in which a cup part 11 is incorporated in a body main body part 15 includes: cup support cloths 12; shoulder straps 13; and a bottom cloth 14. The shoulder straps 13 are provided on upper parts of the cup part 11 and the cup support cloths 12, and the bottom cloth 14 is a tubular member having a width of 40 mm to 90 mm in a length direction, which is provided below the cup part 11 and surrounds and fits the torso of a wearer in a circumferential direction. The cup support cloths 12 are provided at parts near armpits on a front side of the cup part 11, and are formed in shapes which do not cover a bust top position T of the cup part 11 and cover a cup bottom point and an intersection S between a horizontal line Lc passing through the cup bottom point and a mid-armpit line Ls of the wearer. In the cup support cloths 12, upper parts are fixed to the shoulder straps 13 and lower parts are fixed to the bottom cloth 14, and a fixed part is not provided in an area between the upper parts and the lower parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to upper body garments. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, upper-body garments with cups built into or integrated into tank tops, camisoles, etc. have been known as cupped tops (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Many people who have worn such upper-body garments comment that they "gently cover the bust, are not restrictive, and are comfortable to wear." On the other hand, some feel that the support and stability of the bust are insufficient compared to when wearing a bra. Specifically, some people have expressed opinions such as, "The support for the bust is insufficient for going out," or "The cups feel like they're just floating on the bust and not tightly fitted." Furthermore, because the cups are fixed to the outer fabric, they can sometimes float or slip due to body movement, etc. However, many people have given up on these issues, thinking that they are unavoidable because they are cupped tops, or that they are not suitable for wearing out. For this reason, studies have been conducted to reduce the floating and slippage of the cups (see, for example, Patent Document 3), but the results have not been satisfactory. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-193302 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-52173 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-125716 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide upper body clothing that provides both bust stability and a comfortable fit, and that follows the movement of the body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the upper body garment of the present invention comprises: An upper body garment in which the cup portion is built into the body main body portion, Includes cup support fabric, shoulder straps and bottom fabric, The shoulder straps are provided on the cup portion and the upper portion of the cup support cloth, The lower edge cloth is a tubular member that is provided below the cup portion, surrounds the wearer's torso in the circumferential direction, and fits tightly to the wearer's torso. The width in the length direction is 40 mm to 90 mm. the cup support cloth is provided on the outer side of the cup portion near the armpit, and is formed in a shape that does not cover the bust top position of the cup portion but covers the cup bottom point and the intersection point between a horizontal line passing through the cup bottom point and the wearer's mid-axillary line, The cup support cloth is characterized in that its upper portion is fixed to the shoulder strap and its lower portion is fixed to the bottom edge cloth, and no fixed portion is provided in the area between the upper portion and the lower portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide upper body clothing that provides both bust stability and a comfortable fit, and that follows the movements of the body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an example of upper body clothing of the present invention, where FIG. 1(A) is a front perspective view showing a top with cups according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1(B) is a back view showing a top with cups according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the bust area of ​​the built-in member of the top with cups according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3]3(A) and (B) are diagrams showing the movement of the skin around the bust (changes in expansion and contraction) when the arms are raised and lowered. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional top with cups. [Figure 5] 5(A) and (B) are diagrams showing the state of the clothing in the wearing evaluation. [Figure 6] 6(A) and (B) are diagrams showing the bust shape in the wearing evaluation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In the upper-body garment of the present invention, it is preferable that the front center end of the lower portion of the cup support cloth is located closer to the front center than the cup lower point.

[0009] In the upper-body garment of the present invention, it is preferable that the lower side edge of the cup support cloth is located closer to the back than the intersection of the horizontal line passing through the lower point of the cup and the mid-axillary line.

[0010] In the upper-body garment of the present invention, it is preferable that the built-in member including the cup portion, the cup support cloth, and the lower edge cloth is suspended inside the main body portion by the shoulder straps.

[0011] In the upper-body garment of the present invention, it is preferable that a hanging cloth be provided between the upper back side of the body main body portion and the upper back side of the lower side cloth.

[0012] The upper-body garment of the present invention will be described below using examples. However, the present invention is not limited to or restricted by the following examples. Note that the drawings referred to below are schematic, and the dimensional ratios of objects depicted in the drawings may differ from the dimensional ratios of actual objects. The dimensional ratios of objects may also differ between drawings.

[0013] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a cupped top (tank top) 100 according to a first embodiment of the upper-body garment of the present invention. FIG. 1(A) is a front perspective view, and FIG. 1(B) is a back view. In FIG. 1(A), the wearer's body line is indicated by a two-dot chain line to indicate the position of the wearer's mid-axillary line Ls. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the bust area of ​​the built-in components of the cupped top 100 with the front body portion of the main body 15 omitted. The cupped top 100 of this embodiment is an upper-body garment in which cups 11 are built into the main body 15, and its main components are a pair of cups 11, a pair of cup support cloths 12, a pair of shoulder straps 13, and a bottom cloth 14. In this embodiment, the pair of left and right cups 11 are formed as an integrated cup at the center front, and the pair of shoulder straps 13 are attached to the upper parts of the cups 11 and cup support cloth 12.

[0014] The lower cloth 14 is a tubular member that is provided below the cup portion 11, surrounds the wearer's torso in the circumferential direction, and fits closely to the wearer's torso, and has a width of 40 mm to 90 mm in the length direction.

[0015] Bras and conventional tops with cups have side fabric (back fabric) that extends from both sides of the cup to the back, encircling the bust area when worn. However, the underarm area (near the base of the arm) where the side fabric (back fabric) is located stretches the most on the torso when the arm is raised. This makes it difficult for the garment to follow body movements. Furthermore, with a structure like conventional tops with cups, in which the component equivalent to a bra is sewn to the main body of the garment, there is a problem in that it is prone to a chain reaction of fitting problems (slippage and cramping) caused by body movements.

[0016] Skin stretching due to raising and lowering the arms decreases the further down (toward the waist) the armpits are from the sides of the torso (base of the arms). Figure 3 shows the movement of the skin around the bust (changes in stretching) when the arms are raised and lowered. To observe skin movement, a verge line (BJ) was drawn with a marker on the skin surface near the bust with the arms lowered, along with grid lines. Figure 3(A) shows the state with the arms lowered, and Figure 3(B) shows the state with the arms raised. L1 is the underbust line when standing with the arms lowered, L2 is the front neck line when standing with the arms lowered, and L3 is the verge side line. The shape of the square and grid enclosed by the grid lines in each state was observed to understand skin movement. As is clear from the figure, skin stretching increases when the arms are raised in the area outside the verge and beside the torso (near the shaded squares). Furthermore, the shape of the bust changes with the movement of the skin, and the bust volume expands vertically while moving inward, as if unfolding from its folded state when standing, and the underbust line also rises. In contrast, it can be seen that the skin below the inner vestibule and under the armpits stretches less when the arms are raised. During everyday movements such as raising and lowering the arms, movements between (A) and (B) are repeated. With conventional structures, the cups are unable to keep up with these repeated movements, and the cups move with the stretch of the skin and bust caused by the movement of the body when the arms are raised, and are unable to return to their original state when the body returns to its original position.

[0017] Therefore, the present invention is characterized by the fact that the lower edge cloth 14, which surrounds and fits tightly around the wearer's torso circumferentially based on the skin stretching around the bust during everyday activities such as raising and lowering the arms, is located below the cup portion 11 rather than on the side, thereby shifting away from the area where the skin is most stretched, thereby improving stability. Therefore, the lower edge cloth 14 is preferably located below the base (the elastic part of the underbust line) of a conventional garment such as a brassiere. In other words, the lower edge cloth 14 is attached below the side cloth (back cloth) of a conventional brassiere. Furthermore, to provide stable support for the bust even when located below the cup portion 11, the lower edge cloth 14 is a tubular member with a width of 40 mm to 90 mm in the length direction. The width is preferably 60 mm to 90 mm. With this width, the lower edge cloth 14 will be positioned vertically between the sixth rib (top) and the twelfth rib (bottom) when worn. This position avoids areas of the body where clothing is likely to dig in, so even if it fits snugly around the torso, it is less likely to feel constricting and uncomfortable. Furthermore, because it is wide, even if the same tightening force is applied, the force per unit area is dispersed, so it can provide support without feeling too tight. The lower edge cloth 14 may extend down to the wearer's waist. While the area around the shoulder blades is also considered a place with a large range of motion, the lower edge cloth 14 is located below the shoulder blades, so it has little effect on the clothing's ability to follow the movement of the shoulder blades.

[0018] The cup support cloth 12 is provided on the front side of the cup portion 11 (the side away from the skin when worn) near the armpit (outside the verge). Because the cup support cloth 12 supports the cup portion 11, it needs a certain amount of area. It is shaped so that it does not cover the bust top position T of the cup portion 11, but covers the cup underside and the intersection S between a horizontal line Lc passing through the cup underside and the wearer's mid-axillary line Ls (the line outside the body side (side)). In this embodiment, the cup support cloth 12 is a substantially triangular piece of fabric. By extending the shape covering these points, particularly the lower edge of the cup support cloth 12 extending to the intersection S, the cup support cloth 12 covers the edge of the cup portion 11 and ensures sufficient area on the armpit side, thereby preventing problems such as the armpit edge of the cup portion 11 from floating. Pulling the shoulder straps 13 when worn also provides stable support for the stretchy skin at the armpits. If cup support cloth 12 is formed toward the front without covering intersection S, the area covering the underside and armpits of cup portion 11 will be small, and force will be applied only to a narrow area. If force is applied only to a narrow area, it will not follow the movement of the body well, so it is important that the shape covers intersection S. By ensuring the area of ​​cup support cloth 12 with the above shape, cup portion 11 can be worn stably and pressure can be secured in areas where adhesion is required, such as the armpit edges of cup portion 11, where adhesion to the body tends to weaken with movement.

[0019] The cup support cloth 12 is attached at its upper portion to the shoulder straps 13 and at its lower portion to the bottom edge cloth 14, with no attachment in the area between the upper and lower portions. The left and right sides of the cup support cloth 12 are not directly attached to the cup portion 11 but are free like a hammock, allowing the two left and right sides to stretch freely. The cup support cloth 12 follows the force from the shoulder straps 13 and stretches, following the movement of the skin and the deformation of the bust to support the cup portion 11. In Figure 2, the left side of the dashed line shows the state with the hand down, and the right side shows the state with the hand raised. When the hand is raised, the cup portion 11 stretches along with the bust, becoming longer and longer, thereby supporting the bust in response to the stretching of the skin, so that the cup portion 11 continues to fit the bust even with repeated movements. The wide bottom edge cloth 14, located in an area with minimal skin movement and pressure, supports the function of the cup support cloth 12.

[0020] The front center end of the lower part of the cup support cloth 12 is preferably located closer to the front center than the cup bottom point of the cup portion. Also, the armpit end of the lower part of the cup support cloth 12 is preferably located closer to the back than the intersection S of the horizontal line Lc passing through the cup bottom point and the wearer's mid-axillary line Ls.

[0021] The lower end of the cup support cloth 12 may be fastened to the bottom cloth 14 near the cup bottom. Depending on the thickness of the lower part of the cup portion 11, the fastening position may be adjusted appropriately, and the cup support cloth 12 and bottom cloth 14 may be fastened to each other around the under-bust line rather than directly below the cup bottom.

[0022] In the upper-body garment of the present invention, the internal components, including the cup portion 11, cup support cloth 12, and bottom edge cloth 14, are preferably suspended inside the main body portion 15 by shoulder straps 13. In this embodiment, the cup portion 11 and cup support cloth 12 are sewn to the shoulder straps 13, and the position at which the cup support cloth 12 is sewn to the shoulder straps 13 is higher than the position at which the cup portion 11 is sewn to the shoulder straps 13. Because the internal components are connected only by the shoulder straps 13, the main body portion 15 does not need to fit snugly to the body, and can be used in loose-fitting or oversized garments. Alternatively, the cup support cloth 12 may be attached to the upper end of the cup portion 11, and the shoulder straps 13 may extend from the upper end of the cup portion 11. In addition, by designing the cup support cloth 12 to be smaller than the cup portion 11 and stretching the fabric of the cup support cloth 12 and attaching it to the middle of the shoulder strap 13 (above the sewing position between the cup portion 11 and the shoulder strap 13), the adhesion of the cup support cloth 12 to the cup portion can be increased, thereby improving the stretching effect when raising and lowering the arms.

[0023] If the upper body garment is a tank top, camisole, or other garment with shoulder straps on the main body, the shoulder straps may be wide or made of the same fabric. For example, the upper part of the cup support fabric 12 may be stretched to form a halter neck type strap.

[0024] In this embodiment, a hanging cloth 16 is provided between the upper back portion of the body main body portion 15 and the upper back edge of the lower cloth 14 (see FIG. 1(B)). The hanging cloth 16 is provided for ease of putting on and taking off. When wearing a cupped top, it is recommended to put both legs through the bottom, like putting on a skirt. This is because the lower portion of the cups is not fixed, and if you try to put it on from above, the cups may get caught or turn inside out. In the upper-body garment of the present invention, the lower cloth 14 is fixed below the cup portion 11 on the front body side, but has no other connected parts. Therefore, if the back side of the lower cloth 14 is completely loose, it can be difficult to know where to put it through when trying to put it on from below. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a hanging cloth 16 between the upper back edge of the body main body portion 15 and the upper back edge of the lower edge cloth 14, which is less likely to affect the ability of the garment to conform to the body when worn, and to connect the body main body portion 15 and the lower edge cloth 14. The hanging cloth 16 is preferably made of a stretchable material, with its left and right ends separated from the body main body portion 15 so as not to hinder the movement of the lower edge cloth 14. A structure in which the lower edge cloth 14 is connected to the shoulders of the garment body using a member such as stretchable tape may also be used. On the other hand, a backless design with a wide opening at the back may also be used for tops with cups.

[0025] The cup portion 11 of the upper-body garment of the present invention can be of any shape and material. It may be a structure in which separate left and right cups are joined together, or a structure in which the left and right cups are integrally molded. In the case of a molded cup with an integrated base, the lower edge cloth 14 may be integrated with the base. Also, in the case of a cup shape such as that shown in Figure 2, a base cloth 17 may be provided on the underside of the cup portion and connected to the lower edge cloth 14. The base cloth 17 can be made of a fabric having the same degree of stretchability as the cup support cloth 12, and is preferably arranged so that the garment can stretch as much in the vertical direction (up and down).

[0026] The optimum materials for the internal components are stretchable circular knit fabric, two-way tricot, spandex-based materials that are less likely to become stuffy, and free-cut materials that are comfortable against the skin. The cup support fabric 12 and the lower edge fabric 14 may be made of the same material. The lower edge fabric 14 is preferably attached so that its circumferential stretch is greater than its vertical stretch when worn. The cup support fabric 12 is preferably attached so that its vertical stretch is greater than its horizontal stretch. Materials for the main body portion include spandex-based bare jersey, bare smooth, Tencel stretch denim, and outerwear knit materials that do not contain spandex. Materials for the shoulder straps 13 include stretch tape, stretchable circular knit fabric, and flat tape made from two-way tricot cut into shoulder strap shapes.

[0027] As described above, many conventional cupped tops have a half-top-type component with cups inside the main body, and the half-top-type component is sewn to the neckline and armholes of the top. Therefore, when attempting to add cups to a top with long sleeves, the garment is prone to cramping with arm movement. This can lead to design constraints, such as adding a seam to the sleeve. However, the upper-body garment of the present invention can be effectively applied to sleeved tops because it suppresses the effects of slipping up due to body movement.

[0028] [Objective evaluation of wearing] An objective wear evaluation was conducted on two types of tops: a cupped top 100 according to the present invention (as shown in FIG. 1 ) and a conventional cupped top 400 (as shown in FIG. 4 ) worn by the same monitor (size M, bust step 2). The results of observing the state of the bust area as a function of movement are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 . In FIGS. 5 and 6 , (A) shows the state of the top with cupped top 100 worn, and (B) shows the state of the conventional cupped top 400 worn. FIG. 5 shows the state of the garments in the wear evaluation. Grid lines were drawn on each garment before it was worn, and the results were obtained by observing how it fit after raising and lowering the arms in everyday movements. FIG. 6 compares the wear conditions using moiré fringes captured by a 3D measurement device around the bust. In each figure, the left image shows the subject before raising a hand, the center image shows the subject raising one hand (left hand), and the right image shows the subject lowering the hand after raising it and returning to the same position as the left image.

[0029] Here, the conventional cupped top 400 is a garment constructed with a half-top-type member with molded cup portions 41 inside a tank top. The half-top-type member is connected to the cup portions 41, base fabric 42, and side fabric 43, and this member is sewn to the outer fabric (main body portion) at the shoulders, around the neck, and at the armholes. The bottom end of the half-top-type member is formed at the underbust line. The cupped top 100 and the conventional cupped top 400 use the same material for the cup portions and outer fabric (main body portion). The cup support fabric 12 and lower edge fabric 14 of the cupped top 100 are made of stretchy circular knit fabric, and the shoulder straps 13 are made of stretch tape.

[0030] Comparing the cupped top 100 of the present invention with the conventional cupped top 400, the moiré pattern around the bust top and from the lower point of the verge (right hand) to the outside of the verge remains almost constant with changes in movement, compared to the conventional cupped top 400. It can be seen that the cupped top 100 follows the skin's stretch, maintaining a high top position and stabilizing the bust in all positions. While the cupped top 100 of the present invention does not have any fabric around the torso, the grid pattern of the cup support fabric 12 covering the outside of the verge has very little change in vertical and horizontal balance with changes in movement (before, during, and after hand raising), so circumferential and vertical forces are applied evenly, supporting the lower bust. This is thought to result in a high and stable bust position.

[0031] In contrast, when wearing a conventional cupped top and raising and lowering one's arms, the bottom ends of the side fabric extending from both sides of the cup to the back and the half-top-type stretch tape slip up, causing the fabric to fold and loosen, lifting the sides of the cup and loosening the lower part. With the conventional cupped top 400, the underbust portion of the garment slips up when the arm is raised, but does not return to its original position when the arm is returned to its original position. With the conventional structure, wrinkles appear on the side of the arm that is raised, from the lower point of the verge to the outer verge (lower edge area). This phenomenon occurs near the base of the arm, where the skin stretches the most on the torso. This is thought to be due to the fact that the bust is supported in an inherently unstable position (where the skin moves), and the one-piece assembly method used in conventional products is prone to a chain reaction of defects and is unable to accommodate body movements.

[0032] Furthermore, with the conventional structure, the grid lines indicate that the outer side of the vest and the side fabric covering the sides of the torso tend to be stretched circumferentially before the hand is raised. The cups are slightly raised on the outer side of the vest, surrounded by the two-dot chain line in Figure 5(B), and the action of raising the hand causes the outer side of the vest, which was stretched vertically and tending to be raised, to open up further circumferentially. After the hand is raised, fabric pools in the side fabric on the outer side of the vest, and the base fabric is also folded, causing the bust area to flow downward toward the armpits. This is presumably because support around the bust is primarily provided by circumferential forces in conventional products, and the force pulling the cups, side fabric, and base fabric on the outer side of the vest in the vertical direction is small.

[0033] This evaluation shows the results of the monitors in Bust Step 2, but the tendency for high stability was the same regardless of the Bust Step. Here, Bust Step is a classification of the changes in bust that occur with aging, based on shape, etc., as follows: STEP 0: Round shape. Not drooping. STEP 1 The volume of the upper chest decreases (the sides become thinner). STEP 2 The lower part of the bust sags and the nipples point downward. STEP 3: The bust flows outwards. The bust itself sags.

[0034] [Subjective evaluation of wearing] Seven monitors wearing the cupped top 100 of the present invention and the conventional cupped top 400 were asked to wear each of them, perform movements such as rotating their shoulders, twisting, stretching, and raising and lowering their arms, and comment on the comfort of wearing them.

[0035] Six out of seven women answered that the cupped top 100 of the present invention provided a sense of stability for the bust as movements changed. Additionally, six out of seven women answered that the cupped top 100 of the present invention provided a good fit between the cups and the bust as movements changed. When asked which top they would prefer to use, seven out of seven women answered that it was the cupped top 100 of the present invention. When asked why they wanted to use the cupped top 100 of the present invention, the answers given were "It's comfortable to wear, but it provides the support and security of a bra," "It seems like it could be used when going out," and "It fits like you're wearing a bra."

[0036] As described above, it has been found that the cupped top, which is the upper body garment of the present invention, is comfortable to wear with reduced pressure, yet can follow the movements of the body and provides a sense of stability for the bust.

[0037] The present invention has been described above using a tank top as a cupped top as a specific example of an embodiment. However, the upper-body garment of the present invention is not limited to these specific examples and can take various forms. For example, in addition to everyday clothing such as the above-described embodiments, the present invention can be applied to other innerwear and outerwear, sports-related cupped tops in general, swimsuits, and various other upper-body garments with cupped tops. It can also be applied as nightwear such as pajamas. Top styles include strap-type camisoles, tank tops, all-in-ones, and dresses. The top length can be midi-length, half-length, standard length, or long length, and can also be used as a bra. Furthermore, there are no restrictions on the sleeve style of the top, and sleeved tops are particularly effective. The body portion (outer fabric) of the upper-body garment can be either a fitted or loose-fitting type. [Industrial Applicability]

[0038] The upper body garment of the present invention can be embodied in various forms, and can be applied to various types of upper body garments, such as foundation garments, sportswear, and outerwear, in addition to the garments described in the above embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 100 cup tops 11 Cup section 12 cup support cloth 13 Shoulder straps 14 Bottom fabric 15 Body part 16 Hanging cloth 17 Base fabric Lc: A horizontal line passing through the bottom of the cup Ls midaxillary line Intersection of the horizontal line passing through the lower point of the S cup and the mid-axillary line T Bust top position BJ Burgess Line L1 Underbust line in standing position with arms down L2 Standing neck line with arms down L3 Burgess side line 400 Cup Tops (conventional) 41 cups 42 Base fabric 43 Side fabric

Claims

1. An upper body garment in which the cup portion is built into the body main body portion, Includes cup support fabric, shoulder straps and bottom fabric, The shoulder straps are provided on the cup portion and the upper portion of the cup support cloth, The lower edge cloth is a tubular member that is provided below the cup portion, surrounds the wearer's torso in the circumferential direction, and fits tightly to the wearer's torso. The width in the length direction is 40 mm to 90 mm, the cup support cloth is provided on the outer side of the cup portion near the armpit, and is formed in a shape that does not cover the bust top position of the cup portion but covers the cup bottom point and the intersection point between a horizontal line passing through the cup bottom point and the wearer's mid-axillary line, The cup support cloth has an upper portion fixed to the shoulder straps, a lower portion fixed to the bottom cloth, and no fixed portion provided in the region between the upper portion and the lower portion.

2. 2. The upper-body garment according to claim 1, wherein the cup support cloth has a front center side end of a lower portion located closer to the front center side than the cup lower point.

3. 2. The upper-body garment according to claim 1, wherein the cup support cloth has a side edge at the lower part that is positioned closer to the back than the intersection of a horizontal line passing through the lower point of the cup and the mid-axillary line.

4. 2. The upper body garment according to claim 1, wherein the built-in member including the cup portion, the cup support cloth, and the lower edge cloth is suspended inside the body main body portion by the shoulder straps.

5. 2. The upper-body garment according to claim 1, further comprising a hanging cloth provided between the upper back portion of the body main body portion and the upper back edge of the lower edge cloth.

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