Abstract
An adjustable intra-clothing device for supporting at least a portion of the torso of a person that may be free of any boning. An article of clothing for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person that may conform to the natural curvature of the torso of the person. An adjustable corset for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person that may provide a compressive force around the torso of the person.
Claims
1. An adjustable intra-clothing device for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person, comprising: a supporting sleeve configured to wrap around the torso of the person; and a plurality of support straps connected to an exterior of the supporting sleeve and configured to at least partially wrap around the torso of the person, the plurality of straps being parallel to one another and evenly vertically spaced from one another, wherein each of the plurality of support straps has a first end and a second end and being configurable in a first, non-supporting position in which the first end is detached from the second end and a second, supporting position in which the first end is engaged with the second end, and wherein the device is permanently sewn into a lining of an article of clothing.
2. The adjustable intra-clothing device of claim 1, wherein the device is concealable within the lining of the article of clothing by engaging a zipper on a back of the article of clothing.
3. An article of clothing for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person, comprising: an outer clothing layer, an inner clothing layer forming a lining, the outer and inner clothing layers forming a cavity located therebetween, and a plurality of support straps connected directly to the lining and contained within the cavity, the plurality of support straps being configured to at least partially wrap around the torso of the person, the plurality of straps being parallel to one another and evenly vertically spaced from one another, wherein each of the plurality of support straps has a first end and a second end and being configurable in a first, non-supporting position in which the first end is detached from the second end and a second, supporting position in which the first end is engaged with the second end.
4. The article of clothing of claim 3, further comprising an internal layer, the internal layer being between the outer clothing layer and the inner clothing layer, the internal layer covering the plurality of straps and being sewn to the inner clothing layer in spaces located between each of the plurality of straps.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. At least one of the embodiments of the present invention is accurately represented by this application's drawings which are relied on to illustrate such embodiment(s) to scale and the drawings are relied on to illustrate the relative size, proportions, and positioning of the individual components of the present invention accurately relative to each other and relative to the overall embodiment(s). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the present invention is not limited to the scaled drawings and that the illustrated proportions, scale, and relative positioning can be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the broadest descriptions set forth in any portion of the originally filed specification and/or drawings. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of an article of clothing 10 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person. The article of clothing 10, in this example, is a dress. The article of clothing 10 has a back 12 with the seam 14 running vertically along a portion of the back 12. The article of clothing 10 is seen in a first, unsupported position 16 wherein the intra-clothing support device 30 (shown in FIG. 3) has not been engaged within the dress.
(3) FIG. 2 is a front view of an article of clothing 10 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person. The article of clothing 10, in this example, is a dress. The article of clothing 10 has a back 12 with the seam 14 running vertically along a portion of the back 12. The article of clothing 10 is seen in a second, supported position 18 wherein the intra-clothing support device 30 (shown in FIG. 4) has been engaged within the dress. The sides of the dress are shown to have a natural curvature 20 matching that of the person wearing the dress.
(4) FIG. 3 is a partial, front view of the intra-clothing support device/corset 30 shown partially exposed through the opened seam 14. The seam 14 is opened by a zipper 22. Here, the intra-clothing support device 30 has a supporting sleeve 32 which wraps around the user's torso. The intra-clothing support device 30 also comprises a plurality of support straps 34 connected to a back 40 of the device 30. Each of the plurality of support straps 34 have a first end 54 and a second end 52. Located on the first end 54 is a first connecting member 36. Located on the second end 52 is a plurality of second connecting members 38. Because the first connecting members 36 of each of the plurality of support straps 34 are not engaged with corresponding second connecting members 38 of each of the plurality of support straps 34, each of the plurality of support straps 34 are shown in a first, unsupported position 16. Also, a cavity 24 is shown within the article of clothing 10. This cavity 24 allows the device 30 to be partially or wholly contained within the article of clothing 10.
(5) FIG. 4 is a partial, front view of the intra-clothing support device 30 shown partially exposed through the opened seam 14. The seam 14 is opened by a zipper 22. Here, the intra-clothing support device 30 has a supporting sleeve 32 which wraps around the user's torso. The intra-clothing support device 30 also comprises a plurality of support straps 34 connected to a back 40 of the device 30. Each of the plurality of support straps 34 have a first end 54 and a second end 52. Here, the first connecting members 36 of each of the plurality of support straps 34 are shown to be engaged with corresponding second connecting members 38 of each of the plurality of support straps 34. The engagement of each of the plurality of support straps 34 shows the device 30 in the second, supported position 18. By way of example, this figure shows different support straps 34 being tightened to different lengths by engaging the first connecting members 36 with different second connecting members 38 that are located on the same support strap 34. When a first connecting member 36 is connected to a second connecting member 38 that is located further away in the first, unsupported position 16, the result is that the support strap 34 will become tighter and a portion of the second end 52 will be covered by the first end 54.
(6) FIG. 5 is a top, cross-sectional view of the intra-clothing support device 30 shown within the article of clothing 10 of FIG. 2 as taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2. Here, an outer layer 48 and an inner layer 50 of the article of clothing 10 can be seen. The corset device 30 can be seen located between the outer layer 48 and the inner layer 50. The corset 30 and the article of clothing 10 can be seen wrapping around a torso 46 of the person wearing the device 30. The sides 26, and front 28, of the article of clothing 10 are also seen in FIG. 5.
(7) FIG. 6 is a close-up, partial, top cross-sectional view of the intra-clothing support device/corset 30 as seen in FIG. 5. This figure illustrates the layering of the article of clothing 10 and the device 30. In this embodiment, the supporting sleeve 32 is omitted as the supporting sleeve 32 exists as the material connecting adjacent support straps 34. Here, a support strap 34 can be seen in the second, supported position 18 as the first end 54 is layered over the second end 52 and a first connecting member 36 is engaged with one of the plurality of second connecting members 38. It can also be seen that the seam 14 is closed by the zipper 22 thereby covering the device 30 from the outside as the outer layer 48 is the outermost piece of material.
(8) FIG. 7 is a close-up, partial, top cross-sectional view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the intra-clothing support device/corset 30 as seen in FIG. 6. Here, the first and second connecting members 36, 38 have been substituted for hook and loop material 60, such as Velcro?. The engagement of the hook and look material 60 is shown at reference numeral 62.
(9) FIG. 8 is a front, cross-sectional view of the intra-clothing support device 30 shown within the article of clothing 10 of FIG. 5 as taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 5. Here, it can be seen that the device 30 is free-floating in between the outer layer 48 and the inner layer 50 of the article of clothing 10. It can also be seen how each of the plurality of straps 34 are evenly vertically spaced from one another. Free floating can mean that after the corset is secured to the person the dress can move up and down for the best fit. Alternatively, free floating can mean that the corset can move up and down relative to the height of the clothing prior to securing the corset to the user at which point the corset and the dress are vertically positioned on the user.
(10) FIG. 9 is a front, cross-sectional view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the intra-clothing support device 30 shown within the article of clothing 10 as seen in FIG. 8. In this alternative preferred embodiment, the supporting sleeve 32 is located on the outside of the plurality of straps 34. The sections of the supporting sleeve 32 located vertically between each of the plurality of straps 34 are connecting to the inner layer 50 by stitches 44.
(11) FIG. 10 is a front view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the corset 30. In this embodiment, the corset 30 is not located within the lining of an article of clothing or a dress. This corset 30 can be worn underneath clothing. This embodiment of the corset 30 can also be freely slid into the lining of a dress or other article of clothing. This alternative embodiment of the corset 30 can also be worn as clothing by itself without further articles of clothing being layered over the top it or underneath it.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
(12) Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words right, left, up, and down designate the directions as they would be understood by a person facing drawings unless specified otherwise. At least one of the embodiments of the present invention is accurately represented by this application's drawings which are relied on to illustrate such embodiment(s) to scale and the drawings are relied on to illustrate the relative size, proportions, and positioning of the individual components of the present invention accurately relative to each other and relative to the overall embodiment(s). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the present invention is not limited to the scaled drawings and that the illustrated proportions, scale, and relative positioning can be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the broadest descriptions set forth in any portion of the originally filed specification and/or drawings. The words outer and inner refer to directions away from and toward, respectively, the geometric center of the specified element, or, if no part is specified, the geometric center of the article of clothing 10 and/or the intra-clothing support device/corset 30. The terms downward and upward refers to directions above (or away from) and below (or toward) the referenced surface of the article of clothing 10 and/or the intra-clothing support device/corset 30, unless specified otherwise. The terms forward and front refer to a direction in front of the referenced structure which faces the front of the device or forward from the device, and the term rear and back refers to a direction behind the reference structure which faces the back of the device or rearward from the device. The terms axial and radial refer to directions along torso 46, respectively. The terms touching, abutting, against, and contacting when used in connection with two surfaces is defined as meaning being positioned anywhere between actual touching of two surfaces to being in facing orientation and within a range of zero (0) to one (1) inches (or zero (0) to two point five four (2.54) centimeters) apart or less, which includes actual contact. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that when a range is provided such as (for example) an angle/distance/number/weight/volume/spacing being between one (1 of the appropriate unit) and ten (10 of the appropriate units) that specific support is provided by the specification to identify any number within the range as being disclosed for use with a preferred embodiment. For example, the recitation of a percentage of copper between one percent (1%) and twenty percent (20%) provides specific support for a preferred embodiment having two point three percent (2.3%) copper even if not separately listed herein and thus provides support for claiming a preferred embodiment having two point three percent (2.3%) copper. By way of an additional example, a recitation in the claims and/or in portions of the specification of at least twenty (20?) degrees, provides specific literal support for any angle greater than twenty (20?) degrees, such as twenty-three (23?) degrees, thirty (30?) degrees, thirty-three-point five (33.5?) degrees, forty-five (45?) degrees, fifty-two (52?) degrees, or the like. The language at least one of A, B, and C, as used in the claims and in corresponding portions of the specification, means any group having at least one A; or any group having at least one B; or any group having at least one C;and does require that a group have at least one of each of A, B, and C. More specifically, the language at least two/three of the following list (the list itemizing items 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), as used in the claims, means at least two/three total items selected from the list and does not mean two/three of each item in the list. The term interior (or inside, within, etc.), as used in the claims and corresponding portions of the specification means the area proximate to the center of the invention. The term exterior (our outside, etc.) similarly defines the area not in proximity to the center of the invention. Additionally, the words a and one are defined as including one or more of the referenced items unless specifically stated otherwise. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
(13) Referring generally to FIGS. 1-10, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, preferred embodiments of an adjustable intra-clothing device/corset 30 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person and/or an article of clothing 10 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person are disclosed. More specifically, FIGS. 1-10 illustrate multiple preferred embodiments of the device/corset/clothing 10, 30. This device/corset/clothing 10, 30 greatly improves the ease with which a corset may be worn, a corset may be donned, and the comfortability and concealability of a corset. It is preferred, but not required, that the device/corset/clothing 10, 30 is lightweight, easy to don and doff, low-profile, and useable with a variety of dresses and other articles of clothing.
(14) Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, an article of clothing 10 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person can be seen. The article of clothing 10 may comprise a dress. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure the article of clothing 10 may also be any other type of garment worn around the torso such as a t-shirt, a crop-top, a tank-top, a sweater, a sweatshirt, or the like, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure at least a portion of torso includes any portion (i.e., the abdomen, the chest, and/or the whole torso), or all, of the body located between the shoulders/neck of a person to the waist of a person without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(15) Referring still generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, the article of clothing 10 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of a person may comprise a seam 14 running vertically along a back 12 of the article of clothing 10. The seam 14 can be opened or closed by engaging a zipper 22. Opening the seam 14 may expose the corset/device 30 and allow a user to access the corset/device 30. Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the article of clothing 10 may be seen not tightened around the torso 46 of a person. This means that the plurality of straps 34 (shown in FIG. 3) may be in a first, unsupported position 36. Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the article of clothing 10 may be seen tightened around the torso 46 of a person. This means that the plurality of straps 34 (shown in FIG. 4) may be in a second, supported position 38. When the straps 34 are in the second, supported position 38, the article of clothing 10 may follow a curvature 20 of the torso 26 of the person. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the curvature 20 may be the natural curvature of the body (i.e., the resting shape of the body) or a sinched-in curvature of the body (i.e., the profile of the body being less than the resting shape) without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(16) Referring now generally to FIGS. 3 and 4, the device/corset 30 for supporting at least a portion of a torso 46 of a person can be seen within the article of clothing 10. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate form this disclosure that the article of clothing 10 is one embodiment of the present invention which includes the device/corset 30 while the device/corset 30 without the surrounding article of clothing 10 is also a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
(17) Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the corset/device 30 can be seen through the opened seam 14 as the seam 14 may have been opened by engaging the zipper 22. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the zipper 22 may be substituted for any suitable closure device such a plurality of buttons or the like without departing from the scope of the present invention. The corset/device 30 may be free floating within a cavity 24 formed in the article of clothing 10. The cavity 24 may be formed between an outer layer 48 and an inner layer 50 (shown in FIG. 5) of the article of clothing 10. The corset/device 30 may comprise a supporting sleeve 32. The supporting sleeve 32 may be configured to wrap around the torso 46 of a person. The corset/device 30 may also comprise a plurality of support straps 34 connected to an exterior or an interior of the supporting sleeve 32. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 shows the plurality of support shafts 34 being connected to the exterior of the supporting sleeve 32. Each of the plurality of straps 34 may have a first end 54 and a second end 52, opposite the first end 54. The first end 54 and the second end 52 may be free ends and may not be connected to the supporting sleeve 32. The first end 54 may comprise a first connecting member 36. The first connecting member 36 may comprise a hook. The second end 52 may comprise a plurality of second connecting members 38. The plurality of second connecting members 38 may comprise loops. The first connecting member 36 may be configured for engagement with the second connecting members 38. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that any suitable device, such as hook and loop material like Velcro? (shown in FIG. 7), buttons and holes, or the like, for locking into engagement the first end 54 with the second end 52 may be substituted for the hooks and loops of the first connecting member 36 and the plurality of second connecting members 38 without departing from the scope of the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would also appreciate from this disclosure that the first connecting member 36 and the plurality of second connecting members 38 may be made of metal, ceramic, plastic, polymers, or any other suitable material without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(18) Still referring to FIG. 3, the first connecting member 36 may be seen not engaged with the second connecting members 38. This means that each of the plurality of straps 34 may be in the first, unsupported position 16. This also means that the plurality of straps 34 may only partially wrap around the torso 46 of the person wearing the device/corset 30. Each of the plurality of support straps 34 may also be evenly vertically spaced from each other of the plurality of support straps 34. Each of the plurality of support straps 34 may also be horizontally extending around the torso 46 of the person. Each of the plurality of support straps 34 may also be parallel to each other of the plurality of support straps 34.
(19) Referring now to FIG. 4, each of the plurality of support straps 34 can be seen in the second, supporting position 18. In the second, supporting position 18, a first connecting member 36 of a specific one of the plurality of support straps 34 may be engaged with any one of the plurality of second connecting members 38 of that specific one of the plurality of support straps 34. By engaging the first connecting member 36 of a specific one of the plurality of support straps 34 with different ones of the plurality of second connecting members, the tightness of that specific one of the plurality of support straps 34 may be freely adjustable. By way of example, the fourth one of the plurality of support straps 34 from the bottom seen in FIG. 4 is tighter than the tenth one of the plurality support straps 34 from the bottom. Because the first end 54 and the second end 52 may not be connecting to the support sleeve 32, the first end 54 may overlap and may be outside of the second end 52. A length of the first and second ends 52, 54 that are free and not connected to the support sleeve 32 may range from two (2) inches to twelve (12) inches. More preferably, the length of the first and second ends 52, 54 that are free and not connected to the support sleeve 32 may range from four (4) inches to eight (8) inches. Because each of the plurality of support straps 34 may be configured for engagement with itself, the relative tightness of each of the plurality of support straps 34 may differ from each other of the plurality of support straps 34.
(20) Referring generally to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the plurality of support straps 34 may be made of an elastic material. When each of the plurality of support straps 34 may be in the second, support position 18, the stretched elastic material of the support straps 34 may comprise a compressive force which may provide support and sculpting to the torso 46 of the person. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the material of the support straps 34 may be any suitably elastic, strong, supportive, and independently-fastenable material as desired without departing from the scope of the present invention. Due to the elastic and supportive nature of the horizontally-extending plurality of support straps 34, any and all rigid, inflexible, and vertically-extending boning is omitted from the present invention.
(21) Referring now to FIG. 5, the entire device/corset 30 may be seen within the article of clothing 10. The article of clothing 10 may comprise an outer layer 48 and an inner layer 50. The device/corset 30 may be located between the outer and inner layers 48, 50 of the article of clothing 10. The article of clothing 10 and the device/corset 30 may also be seen wrapping around the torso 46 of the person wearing the device/corset 30. The device/corset 30 may be permanently sewn into the article of clothing 10, or the device/corset may be free-floating and freely insertable into and removable from the lining of the article of clothing 10. The sides 26 and the front 28 of the article of clothing 10 may also be seen in this figure. The layering the first end 54 over the second end 52 then the plurality of straps 34 are in the second, supporting position 18 may also be seen.
(22) Referring now to FIG. 6, the engagement of the first connecting member 36 with one of the plurality of second connecting members 38 may be seen in more detail. The hook of the first connecting member 36 may be fed through the hole of one of the second connecting members 38. This engagement may lock the first connecting member 36 into engagement with the second connecting member 38. This embodiment of the present invention also highlights how the support sleeve 32 may comprise the material connecting adjacent support straps 34 without providing a constant sleeve or backing for all of the support straps 34 simultaneously. FIG. 6 may also highlight the layering of the device/corset 30 between the outer layer 48 and the inner layer 50 of article of clothing 10 in more detail. The zipper 22 closing the seam 14 may also be seen in greater detail.
(23) Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative preferred embodiment of the device/corset 30 as seen in FIG. 6 is shown. Here, the first and second connecting members 36, 38 may be replaced by a length of hook and loop material, such as Velcro?. This may allow for the adjustability of each of the plurality of support 34 to be increased as the engagement of the first and second connecting members 36, 38 is no longer limited to the number of second connecting members 38 located on the second end 52 of each of the plurality of support straps 34.
(24) Referring now to FIG. 8, an alternative preferred embodiment of the article of clothing 10 with the corset/device 30 may be seen. Here, the supporting sleeve 32 may be omitted and the plurality of support straps 34 may be attached directly to the inner layer 50 of the article of clothing 10. FIG. 8 also highlights the vertical spacing between each of the plurality of support straps 34. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the spacing between each of the plurality of support straps 34 may be even, as shown, or the spacing between each of the plurality of support straps 34 may be uneven, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(25) Referring now to FIG. 9, an alternative preferred embodiment of the article of clothing 10 with the corset/device 30 seen in FIG. 8 is shown. In this embodiment, the support sleeve 32 may be located on the outside of the plurality of support straps 34. The support sleeve 32 may be permanently connected to the inner layer 50 of the article of clothing 10. The support sleeve 32 may be connected to the inner layer 50 by stitches 44 located in the spaces between adjacent support straps 34. In this way, the majority of the plurality of support straps 34 may be concealed beneath the supporting sleeve 32. The plurality of support straps 34 may also be free floating within the slots formed between the support sleeve 32 and the inner layer 50.
(26) Referring now to FIG. 10, an alternative preferred embodiment of the device/corset 30 may be seen. Here, the corset/device 30 may be free-standing and not located within the lining of an article of clothing 10. The corset/device 30 may have similar elements to that of previously disclosed embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the corset/device 30 shown in FIG. 10 may be worn on it's own or strictly under other garments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The device/corset 30 shown in FIG. 10 may also be configured for free insertion into, and removal from, the lining an article of clothing 10.
(27) One advantage of the article of clothing 10 including the device/corset 30 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of person may be to provide support and sculpting to the body and figure of a person using the present invention. This support and sculpting may be provided by a plurality of elastic supports straps 34 instead of the rigid, vertically-extending boning used for traditional corsets.
(28) Another advantage of the article of clothing 10 including the device/corset 30 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of person may be to allow the person using the device to tighten the device according to the torso's natural curvature instead of having the curvature predefined by rigid boning used in traditional corsets. Because each of the plurality of straps 34 can be tightened independently from each other of the plurality of straps 34, the different varied lengths can allow the device/corset 30 to conform more naturally to the user.
(29) Another advantage of the article of clothing 10 including the device/corset 30 for supporting at least a portion of a torso of person may be to allow the user to fasten and engage the connecting members 36, 38 without assistance. The nature of the hooks and plurality of loops, or Velcro?, may allow each of plurality of support straps 34 to be individually fastened by the person wearing the device/corset 30 without the complicated lacing employed by traditional corsets.
(30) One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the various components and elements of the present invention may be constructed of any suitably strong, wear-resistant, flexible (where desired), and inexpensive metals, polymers, alloys, plastics, fabrics, and other materials without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(31) One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that device elements, as well as materials, shapes and dimensions of device elements, as well as methods other than those specifically exemplified can be employed in the practice of the invention without resort to undue experimentation. All art-known functional equivalents, of any such materials and methods are intended to be included in this invention. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed, described in the specification, and/or shown in the figures. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention.
