WAISTBAND WITH SLIMMING EFFECT

Description

BACKGROUND

Many attempts have been made in the prior art patent literature to create garments which allow a wearer to achieve a more fashionable, i.e., thinner figure.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,968,139 discloses a lower body garment with shaping benefits. The lower body garment may comprise an outer garment and a control panel inside the outer garment, such that the control panel is not visible from the outside of the outer garment. The control panel may have a rectangular shape and line a full circumference of an interior waist of the outer garment. Further, the control panel may be anchored to the outer garment at a top edge seam of the outer garment. In certain aspects, the lower body garment may be a legging, pant or skirt.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,683,616 discloses a slimming outer garment covering at least a portion of a wearer's lower torso having a garment torso portion for covering the wearer's lower torso with an encircling top edge and a transition band having an edge attached to the garment torso portion along the encircling top edge. The transition band has face-to-face interconnected elastic inner and outer members, where the inner member has a generally straight configuration when in an independent unstretched state and the outer member has an upwardly-directed curved contour when in an independent unstretched state.

However, prior art slimming garments typically fit tightly to the body of a wearer which can cause discomfort and the slimming effect is less than would be desired by many wearers.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention discloses a waistband insert for garments positioned below the top edge of the waistband. This gives the appearance that the top edge of the waistband is separated from the skin of the user's waist. Since the user's waist is visually thinner than the pants or shorts, the user will appear thinner.

According to an aspect of the present invention disclosed herein, there is provided a garment, comprising: a garment body; and a waistband, wherein the waistband is configured to separate the top edge of the waistband circumferentially from the skin of the wearer to create an appearance the wearer is thinner.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating an appearance the wearer of a garment is thinner, comprising separating the waistband of the garment circumferentially by positioning an insert in between layers of fabric at the inner aspect of the waistband.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a garment according to the present invention on the body of a wearer.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the garment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the present invention is to give the appearance that the user is thinner, since the skin of the user's midriff will be separated from the waistband circumferentially.

When a woman wears a crop top shirt, if the midriff skin folds over the edge of the waistband of the pants or shorts, it gives the appearance of obesity of the midriff. The current invention allows a woman to wear similar size pants or shorts while wearing a crop top.

FIG. 1 illustrates a garment according to the present invention on the body of a wearer.

In a preferred embodiment, a semirigid material is disposed in between layers of fabric at the inner aspect of the waistband 12 of garment 10, which could be pants, shorts, a skirt, etc.

The top of the waistband is separated from the user's skin by about a ½ inch (the distance could vary, although ½ inch may be optimal). About ¾ of an inch to an inch (again, the distance could vary, though this may be optimal) below the top edge of the waistband, the waistband is positioned in contact with the wearer's skin. The visible top edge of the waistband is separated from the user's skin. Since the top edge of the waistband is separated from the skin of the midriff, it gives the appearance that the user is thin or at least thinner.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the garment according to the present invention.

Semirigid material insert 14 is sewn into waistband 12 of pants 10 and extends circumferentially around the entire waist in a preferred embodiment, although in alternate embodiments may not extend the entire way around but may be positioned, for example, only in the portion of the waistband corresponding to the wearer's front or only in the portions of the waistband on the left and right parts of the user's waist.

In a preferred embodiment, semirigid material insert 14 has the consistency of rubber, foam, polymer, or plastic, and is positioned in between layers of fabric in the waistband.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, semirigid material insert 14 is shaped like a “D” on a cross-sectional view of the right side of the wearer's waist (the left side of FIG. 2), and a backwards “D” on a cross-sectional view of the left side of the wearer's waist (the right side of FIG. 2). The curved portion of the “D” is closer to the wearer's waist than the straight portion.

In addition, the entire waistband itself can be made semirigid with plastic or other material to maintain its shape with the top edge away from the user's skin. The waistband is vertical and parallel to the skin of the user's midriff.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

For example, the insert could be rigid, i.e., made of a metal or hard plastic material.

The insert could alternatively be leather or soft cotton and of a thickness enough to achieve an effect as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

The insert could be solid cylindrical or tube-shaped rather than “D” shaped.

The insert could also be square, rectangular, triangular or any other shape.

The insert could be detachable from the waistband and secured by Velcro (hook and latch), belt loops on the inner aspect of the waistband, an adhesive, or a magnet.

The insert can be a variety of distances from the top edge of the waistband.

The insert can be a variety of thicknesses.

The waistband could not be an insert but instead be a part of the waistband material itself, i.e., denim, etc., such that denim, cotton, or other fabric is folded over on itself in a roll configuration.

The waistband can be non-parallel to the user's skin and can be angled towards or away from the user's skin.

The vertical portion of the waistband can be rigid or semirigid to maintain its shape away from the user's waist.

Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the present invention, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.

Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed.