Shaping Garment with Hidden Control Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The plus-size market, particularly for women, lacks affordable and comfortable outerwear options that provide shaping and support without revealing the body shape, as existing solutions like shapewear can be expensive and uncomfortable.
Innovation Solution
A lower body outer garment, such as pants or leggings, featuring integrated mesh reinforcement and control panels made of stretch fabric with spandex or elastomeric materials, providing 360° shaping and support while maintaining a modest appearance, with features like a shallower waistband, optional pockets, and back coverage to lift and smooth the buttocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If shapewear is used to compress and shape the wearer, then a smoother and cleaner fit is achieved, but the garment becomes expensive and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into distinct functional zones with different levels of compression. Control panels are strategically placed in specific areas (abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, buttocks) rather than applying uniform compression throughout, allowing targeted shaping while maintaining comfort in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the garment have different material properties and compression levels. The control panels use stretch knit fabric with varying degrees of elasticity in different zones, providing localized shaping where needed while allowing more freedom of movement in other areas.
2Shape
If shapewear is used to compress and shape the wearer, then a smoother and cleaner fit is achieved, but the garment becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The shaping function is merged with the outerwear garment itself rather than requiring a separate shapewear layer. The control panels are integrated directly into the pants or leggings, combining the functions of outerwear and shapewear into a single garment, thereby eliminating the need for expensive layered combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides outerwear coverage, fashion styling, and body shaping all in one piece. The control panels are designed to work with various body types and can be incorporated into different styles of pants and leggings, making the solution universally applicable.
3Strength
If control panels are integrated into the outer garment, then support and definition are provided, but the internal support system must be concealed for a smooth appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The control panels are constructed from stretch knit fabric that acts as a flexible shell, conforming to the body's contours while providing structural support. The thin film nature of the stretch material allows it to remain invisible under outerwear while maintaining its shaping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the control panels are carefully engineered with specific elastomeric content and knit structures that change the physical parameters of the fabric to provide compression while remaining visually imperceptible through the outer garment layers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The garment offers a comfortable and affordable solution for women to participate in fashion trends by providing support and definition to the waist, hips, thighs, and buttocks, balancing control with comfort and concealing the internal support system for a smooth appearance.
Implementation Method 1
control panels made of stretch fabric with spandex or elastomeric materials, providing 360° shaping and support
Data Source
AI summary
A lower body outer garment, such as a pant or legging, is provided which has a construction and hidden support which helps to redefine the wearer's appearance. The support is in one embodiment provided in the form of internal mesh re-enforcing panels that lift the buttocks and flatten the tummy. The invention also relates to twill or denim fabric versions of the lower garment, and includes the front and rear power control panels having strategic hem placement to avoid cutting into fleshy areas on the wearer or to lift and sculpt both the front and backside of the wearer.