US3411511A

US3411511A - Combined maternity support and garter belt

Info

Publication number: US3411511A
Application number: US592079A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicholas A Marino
Original assignee: Sears Roebuck and Co
Current assignee: Sears Roebuck and Co
Priority date: 1966-11-04
Filing date: 1966-11-04
Publication date: 1968-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-19

Description

Nov. 19, 1968 N. A. MARINO COMBINED MATERNITY SUPPORT AND GARTER BELT Filed Nov. 4, 1966 v -/N vE/vr /e Nl'c/zolczs' A. Manna v /W-M-'OI United States Patent COMBINED My invention relates in general to a type of garment designed primarily to be worn by women in an advanced stage 'of pregnancy and performing a plurality of functions, viz, to provide support for the lower part of the pendulous .abdomen and also for the hose.

Various attempts have been made in the past to provide satisfactory garments of this character, such as Blatt Patent No. 2,710,486 and others. Such art, as exemplified in the aforesaid Blatt patent, suggests a belt including a relatively narrow band positioned exclusively beneath the abdomen of the wearer in effective upward supporting engagement therewith together with garter attachments.

As a result of my extensive studies of this problem, I find that a woman in this condition requires support beyond that proposed by Blatt. With support disposed exclusively below the abdomen, the latter in pendulous condition is likely to overhang such a narrow band, which will have a tendency to cut into the soft body tissues, resulting in considerable discomfort to the wearer. The more advanced the stage of pregnancy, the more uncomfortable the garment is likely to be.

After considerable study, I have evolved a garment of the character referred to which I consider a marked improvement over those previously known. In accordance with my invention, I provide a belt carrying a plurality of longitudinally elastic bands of substantial width crossed in X-formation over the lower abdomen and extending downwardly and forwardly from positions of attachment to the belt over each of the thighs, adjacent an extreme upper side portion thereof and below the waist, to a median point of the front of each upper thigh at a height .approximately on a level with the pubic area. Said bands cross each other slightly above the pubic region and are attached as by stitching at each end to garter straps also carried by the belt.

Thus, the aforesaid bands apply gentle supporting pressure to the lower abdomen distributed over an area of the lower front portion thereof, extending diagonally upwardly from the front-upper thighs over the lower abdomen to the hips adjacent the hip joints. This arrangement results in greatly increased comfort to the wearer.

Incidental to my invention, the abdomen-supporting bands cross each other and are preferably stitched together at a point directly above the pubic area, resulting in increased firm support at this point and added comfort.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the appended drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein,

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a garment embodying my invention as seen on the human figure,

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view, also as seen on the human figure, and

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the same.

The numeral representsa. garment embodying my invention and including a waistband or belt portion 12 which is relatively narrow and longitudinally elastic. Said belt may be provided with suitable means for adjusting the length thereof to fit the girth of the wearer, such as

suitable buckles

13, 13, through which the waistband is fed to form a loop portion 15.

The belt 12 extends across the back of the waist and forwardly and downwardly to provide garter straps 1 8, 18. (FIG. 2.)

The

garter strap portions

18, 18 extend over the upper extremities of the hip, adjacent the hip joint, and thence forwardly and downwardly over the front-upper thigh, as seen clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Rear garter straps

23, 23 .are attached to belt 12 as by stitching 'at

points

25, 25, adjacent the hip joint.

For abdominal support I provide a pair of longitudinally

elastic bands

30, 30 which cross each other in X- formation at an .angle of about to form a diamondshaped area 32 positioned slightly above the pubic region, the bands 30 being preferably stitched together as at S, S. It will be noted that

bands

30, 30 are of substantially greater Width than the waistband and garter straps, being preferably at least twice their width. At their upper extremities said

abdominal bands

30, 30 are attached as by stitching to

garter straps

18 and 23 approximately at their juncture point 25, while the lower extremity of each of said abdominal bands is attached as by stitching to

garter straps

18, 18, the abdominal bands joining the garter straps approximately at a right angle therewith, as seen clearly in FIG. 1, and at a level approximately that of the pubic region, as seen in FIG. 1. Each band 30 may be stitched .at the lower end to a garter strap 18 as at 26, to form an approximate right angle therewith, and at its upper end to the other garter strap 18, as at 27.

The

bands

30, 30 are preferably lined in felt or the like for added comfort. 1

It will be seen that I have provided a vastly improved abdominal supporter for pregnant females. The crossed

bands

30, 30 distribute firm but yielding support over a region from the front-upper thighs and extending diago nally upwardly to the upper extremities of the side portions of the thighs to points adjacent the hip joints and crossing the lower pelvic region above the pubic area. The crossing of the bands at this point provides increased support by reason of their being stitched together to form the diamond-shaped area 32. Thus, the latter provides greater resistance to stretching than other portions of bands 30.

It will also be noted that the garter straps contribute substantially to the efficient functioning of the abdominal support by exerting yielding downward tension because of their attachment to the hose.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination body-supporting garment and hose supporter, comprising,

(a) a longitudinally elastic waistband,

(b) a first pair of elastic garter-supporting straps extending forwardly and downwardly in continuation of said waistband and adapted to engage the hose adjacent the front median portion of the wearers thighs,

(c) a second pair of elastic garter-supporting straps secured to said first pair generally over the wearers hip joint, adjacent the side-upper thigh and at a height intermediate the wearers waist and crotch, and

(d) a pair of longitudinally elastic bands of substantial width adapted to extend over the lower abdomen for supporting the latter, said bands being in X-forrn-ation and each of said bands being secured at its upper end to one each of said first and second pairs of garter straps adjacent their juncture point and secured at its lower end to one of said first pair on the opposite side of the wearers body from said upper end.

2. A combination as in claim 1, wherein said bands are stitched to each other at their crossing zone to provide a 3 double thickness of fabric disposed immediately above the wearers pubic area for providing added abdominal support at said crossing zone.

3. A combination as in claim 1, wherein said bands cross each other slightly above the pubic area at an angle of about 120.

4. A combination as in claim 3, wherein said bands are stitched together at their zone of crossing to form a reinforced, generally diamond-shaped area of less elasticity than the major portion of said bands, so as to provide increased abdominal support at said area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,033,957 7/1912 Shultz 128-579 2,710,486 6/1955 Blatt 128579 3,130,731. 4/ 1964 Zdan 1'28-'579 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A COMBINATION BODY-SUPPORTING GARMENT AND HOSE SUPPORTER, COMPRISING, (A) A LONGITUDINALLY ELASTIC WAISTBAND, (B) A FIRST PAIR OF ELASTIC GARTER-SUPPORTING STRAPS EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY IN CONTINUATION OF SAID WAISTBAND AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE HOSE ADJACENT THE FRONT MEDIAN PORTION OF THE WEARER''S THIGS, (C) A SECOND PAIR OF ELASTIC GARTER-SUPPORTING STRAPS SECURED TO SAID FIRST PAIR GENERALLY OVER THE WEARER''S HIP JOINT, ADJACENT THE SIDE-UPPER THIGH AND AT A HEIGHT INTERMEDIATE THE WEARER''S WAIST AND CROTCH, AND