Upper and lower torso garments having an improved band

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9578900-B2
Application number	US-201514716418-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2015
Priority date	Mar 1, 2013
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A circularly knitted upper or lower torso garment, such as a brassiere or brief, and method of forming a circularly knitted brassiere are provided, the garment having a circularly knitted body formed of inner and outer layers, the circularly knitted body having at least one torso or waist band, the inner and outer layers overlapping along a fold line, and an elastomeric band positioned between the inner and outer layers proximate the fold line.

First claim

We claim:

1. A lower torso garment, comprising:
a. a circularly knitted body, the circularly knitted body having a pair of leg openings, a crotch portion between the leg openings and a waist opening;
b. a waist band formed at the waist opening by folding a portion of the knitted body to provide an inner and an outer layers overlapping along an upper fold line; and
c. an elastomeric band comprising a thermoplastic elastomer film and positioned between the inner and outer layers proximate the upper fold line;
wherein the thermoplastic elastomer film has a thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 0.3 mm; and
wherein the modulus of the thermoplastic elastomer film is between about 1.0 and about 4.0 kilograms when measured with a static load of 7 kilograms at 60% elongation.

2. The lower torso garment of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer film comprises polyamide.

3. The lower torso garment of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer film has a modulus that is greater than the modulus of the circularly knitted body.

4. The lower torso garment of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric band is coated on at least one side for adhesively affixing the elastomeric band to at least one inner surface of the inner and outer layers of the circularly knitted body.

5. The lower torso garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment is a boxer, a brief, a boxer brief, panties, pantyhose or shapewear.

6. The lower torso garment of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer film comprises a width between about 0.75 inches and about 1.25 inches.

7. The lower torso garment of claim 1 , wherein the modulus of the thermoplastic elastomer film is greater than about 1.0 kilograms when measured with a static load of 7 kilograms at 40% elongation.

8. The lower torso garment of claim 1 , wherein the modulus of the thermoplastic elastomer film plus the inner and outer layers of the garment is between about 1.0 and about 4.0 kilograms when measured with a static load of 7 kilograms at 60% elongation.

Assignees

• Hbi Branded Apparel Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Abbott Michael D
• Warren Roger D

Classifications

• A41B9/02

  Drawers or underpants for men, with or without inserted crotch or seat parts · CPC title

• A41C1/003

  Panty-girdles · CPC title

• A41B2500/10

  Knitted · CPC title

• A41B9/001 Primary

  Underpants or briefs (specially adapted for men A41B9/02; specially adapted for ladies A41B9/04) · CPC title

• A41F9/00

  Belts, girdles, or waistbands for trousers or skirts · CPC title