Shapewear garment

Abstract

A shapewear garment includes a fabric layer, a resilient layer, a liquid-impermeable layer, and a liquid-absorbent layer. The fabric layer includes a waist section, a pelvis section, and a crotch section. The waist region and the pelvis region are designed to fit around a waist region and a pelvis region of the body. The crotch section is designed to fit over a crotch region between legs of the body. The crotch section extends between and connects a front pelvis portion and a rear pelvis portion to define a pair of leg apertures. The resilient layer is joined to the fabric layer. The resilient layer is designed to surround and exert a compressive force on a portion of the body. The liquid-impermeable layer is joined to the fabric layer at the crotch section. The liquid-absorbent layer is joined to and stacked on the liquid-impermeable layer.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not Applicable(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not Applicable(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not Applicable(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to shapewear garments and more particularly pertains to a new shapewear garment for controlling leaks due to incontinence or during menstruation. The new shapewear garment includes a built-in liquid-absorbent layer in the crotch of the shapewear garment.(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0007] The prior art relates to shapewear garments. The prior art, as best understood, does not disclose a shapewear garment that includes a fabric layer, a resilient layer, a liquid-impermeable layer, and a liquid-absorbent layer, wherein the liquid-impermeable layer is joined to the fabric layer at the crotch section, and the liquid-absorbent layer is joined to and stacked on the liquid-impermeable layer.(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above in a shapewear garment generally comprising a fabric layer, a resilient layer, a liquid-impermeable layer, and a liquid-absorbent layer. The fabric layer is designed to follow an outer contour of a body of a wearer. The fabric layer includes a waist section, a pelvis section, and a crotch section. The waist section is designed to fit around a waist region of the body. The pelvis section is designed to fit around a pelvis region of the body. The pelvis section includes a rear pelvis portion and a front pelvis portion. The crotch section is designed to fit over a crotch region between legs of the body. The crotch section extends between and connects the front pelvis portion and the rear pelvis portion to define a pair of leg apertures. The resilient layer is joined to the fabric layer. The resilient layer is designed to surround and exert a compressive force on a portion of the body to alter a visible appearance of the body. The liquid-impermeable layer is joined to the fabric layer at the crotch section. The liquid-absorbent layer is joined to and stacked on the liquid-impermeable layer.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a shapewear garment according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new shapewear garment embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0019] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the shapewear garment 10 generally comprises a fabric layer 12, a resilient layer 14, a liquid-impermeable layer 16, and a liquid-absorbent layer 18. The fabric layer 12 is designed to follow an outer contour of a body 60 of a wearer. The fabric layer 12 includes a waist section 20, a pelvis section 22, and a crotch section 24. The waist section 20 is designed to fit around a waist region 62 of the body 60. The pelvis section 22 is designed to fit around a pelvis region 64 of the body 60. The pelvis section 22 includes a rear pelvis portion 28 and a front pelvis portion 30. The crotch section 24 is designed to fit over a crotch region 66 between legs of the body 60. The crotch section 24 extends between and connects the front pelvis portion 30 and the rear pelvis portion 28 to define a pair of leg apertures 32. The resilient layer 14 is joined to the fabric layer 12. The resilient layer 14 is designed to surround and exert a compressive force on a portion of the body 60 to alter a visible appearance of the body 60. The liquid-impermeable layer 16 is joined to the fabric layer 12 at the crotch section 24. The liquid-absorbent layer 18 is joined to and stacked on the liquid-impermeable layer 16.

[0020] In the exemplary embodiment in the Figures, the fabric layer 12 includes a chest section 26 joined to the waist section 20. The chest section 26 has shoulder straps 34. However, this is only one possible embodiment as shapewear garments can come in many forms. For example, in one possible embodiment, the shapewear garment 10 could also have legging extensions, which can extend down the legs of the wearer, usually to the thighs or knees, but possibly even to the ankles. In another possible embodiment, the shapewear garment 10 could extend up to the neck of the wearer or include sleeve extensions.

[0021] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5, the resilient layer 14 is positioned at the waist section 20 of the fabric layer 12. The resilient layer 14 compresses the waist region 62 of the body 60 to create a slimming effect. However, this is one possible embodiment. In another possible embodiment, the resilient layer 14 can be located in the pelvis section 22 in addition to or as an alternative to the waist section 20. The resilient layer 14 can be located in other sections, as is well known in the shapewear industry.

[0022] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5, the liquid-impermeable layer 16 extends into the front pelvis portion 30 and the rear pelvis portion 28. The liquid-absorbent layer 18 extends into the front pelvis portion 30 and the rear pelvis portion 28.

[0023] In one possible embodiment, the liquid-absorbent layer 18 includes at least one of: cotton terry cloth, bamboo fabric, microfiber, hemp, microfleece, suedecloth, and blends thereof. In one possible embodiment, the liquid-impermeable layer 16 includes at least one of: polyurethane laminate, thermoplastic polyurethane, and vinyl or nylon backing.

[0024] In one possible embodiment, the shapewear garment 10 further includes an antimicrobial material joined to the liquid-absorbent layer 18 designed to inhibit odor and bacterial growth. The antimicrobial material includes at least one of: activated charcoal, bamboo charcoal fibers, copper-infused fibers, and silver-infused fabrics.

[0025] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6, the shapewear garment 10 is worn underneath another article of clothing. The liquid-absorbent layer 18 is positioned to received and absorb bodily fluids, such as urine or blood, exiting the body 60 due to incontinence or menstruation. The liquid-impermeable layer 16 prevents the bodily fluids from leaking out or through the shapewear garment 10. The liquid-absorbent layer 18 absorbs and traps the bodily fluids over the time the wearer is wearing the shapewear garment 10. When the wearer is done wearing the shapewear garment 10, the wearer can wash the shapewear garment 10 of any bodily fluids in order to reuse the shapewear garment 10.

[0026] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0027] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A shapewear garment comprising:a fabric layer, the fabric layer being configured to follow an outer contour of a body of a wearer, the fabric layer including:a waist section, the waist section being configured to fit around a waist region of the body,a pelvis section, the pelvis section being configured to fit around a pelvis region of the body, the pelvis section including a rear pelvis portion and a front pelvis portion, anda crotch section, the crotch section being configured to fit over a crotch region between legs of the body, the crotch section extending between and connecting the front pelvis portion and the rear pelvis portion to define a pair of leg apertures;a resilient layer, the resilient layer being joined to the fabric layer, the resilient layer being configured to surround and exert a compressive force on a portion of the body to alter a visible appearance of the body;a liquid-impermeable layer, the liquid-impermeable layer being joined to the fabric layer at the crotch section; anda liquid-absorbent layer, the liquid-absorbent layer being joined to and stacked on the liquid-impermeable layer.

2. The shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the liquid-impermeable layer extends into the front pelvis portion and the rear pelvis portion.

3. The shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the liquid-absorbent layer extends into the front pelvis portion and the rear pelvis portion.

4. The shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the fabric layer includes a chest section joined to the waist section, the chest section having shoulder straps.

5. The shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the resilient layer is positioned at the waist section of the fabric layer.

6. The shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the liquid-absorbent layer includes at least one of: cotton terry cloth, bamboo fabric, microfiber, hemp, microfleece, suedecloth, and blends thereof.

7. The shapewear garment of claim 1, wherein the liquid-impermeable layer includes at least one of: polyurethane laminate, thermoplastic polyurethane, and vinyl or nylon backing.

8. The shapewear garment of claim 1, further comprising an antimicrobial material joined to the liquid-absorbent layer configured to inhibit odor and bacterial growth, the antimicrobial material includes at least one of: activated charcoal, bamboo charcoal fibers, copper-infused fibers, and silver-infused fabrics.

9. The shapewear garment of claim 2, wherein the liquid-absorbent layer extends into the front pelvis portion and the rear pelvis portion.

10. The shapewear garment of claim 9, wherein the fabric layer includes a chest section joined to the waist section, the chest section having shoulder straps.

11. The shapewear garment of claim 10, wherein the resilient layer is positioned at the waist section of the fabric layer.

12. The shapewear garment of claim 11, wherein the liquid-absorbent layer includes at least one of: cotton terry cloth, bamboo fabric, microfiber, hemp, microfleece, suedecloth, and blends thereof.

13. The shapewear garment of claim 12, wherein the liquid-impermeable layer includes at least one of: polyurethane laminate, thermoplastic polyurethane, and vinyl or nylon backing.

14. The shapewear garment of claim 13, further comprising an antimicrobial material joined to the liquid-absorbent layer configured to inhibit odor and bacterial growth, the antimicrobial material includes at least one of: activated charcoal, bamboo charcoal fibers, copper-infused fibers, and silver-infused fabrics.

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