CHEST BINDER

Abstract

A 180-degree rotatable chest binder for compressing, flattening and stabilizing the breasts of the wearer. The chest binder is constructed of inner and outer layers, each made of four panels, joined together along the neck opening, arm openings and bottom openings of the wearer. This design permits the inner and outer layers to move independently, serving the two different functions of moving with the body for comfort while also compressing the chest.

Claims

1. A chest binder comprising: an inner layer and an outer layer joined at a neck opening, a first arm opening, a second arm opening and a bottom opening; the inner layer comprising: a first panel comprising a first torso panel, a first shoulder portion, and a second shoulder portion, wherein the first shoulder portion and the second shoulder portion are spaced from each other and extend from the first torso panel to define at least a portion of the neck opening; a second panel comprising a second torso panel, a third shoulder portion, and a fourth shoulder portion, wherein the third shoulder portion and the fourth shoulder portion are spaced from each other and extend from the second torso panel to define at least a portion of the neck opening; third and fourth panels with first and second longitudinal edges; the first longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels joined to the longitudinal edges of the first torso panel; the second longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels joined to the longitudinal edges of the second torso panel; the first shoulder portion joined to the third shoulder portion at a first shoulder seam, and the second shoulder portion joined to the fourth shoulder portion at a second shoulder seam; and the outer layer comprising: a fifth panel comprising a third torso panel, a fifth shoulder portion, and a sixth shoulder portion, wherein the fifth shoulder portion and the sixth shoulder portion are spaced from each other and extend from the third torso panel to define at least a portion of the neck opening; a sixth panel comprising a fourth torso panel, a seventh shoulder portion, and an eighth shoulder portion, wherein the seventh shoulder portion and the eighth shoulder portion are spaced from each other and extend from the sixth panel to define at least a portion of the neck opening; seventh and eighth panels with first and second longitudinal edges; the first longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels joined to the longitudinal edges of the third torso panel; the second longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels joined to the longitudinal edges of the fourth torso panel; the fifth shoulder portion joined to the seventh shoulder portion at the third shoulder seam, and the sixth shoulder portion joined to the eighth shoulder portion at the fourth shoulder seam.

2. The chest binder of claim 1 wherein: the inner and outer panels are made of an elastic material; the first longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels are shorter than the longitudinal edges of the first torso panel when the first torso panel, third panel and fourth panel are all in a relaxed state; the first longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels are shorter than the longitudinal edges of the third torso panel when the third torso panel, seventh panel and eighth panel are all in a relaxed state; the first longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels are joined to the longitudinal edges of first torso panel with the first longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels in a stretched state such that the first longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels are coextensive with the longitudinal edges of the first torso panel and there is more tension above a fixed point than below the fixed point, the fixed point being located below the bust line of the wearer when the chest binder is worn with the second and fourth torso panels covering the bust of the wearer; and the first longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels are joined to the longitudinal edges of the third torso panel with the first longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels in a stretched state such that the first longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels are coextensive with the longitudinal edges of the third torso panel and there is more tension above the fixed point than below the fixed point.

3. The chest binder of claim 2 wherein: the first and second longitudinal edges of the third, fourth, seventh and eighth are curved such the minimum width of each of the third, fourth, seventh and eighth panels occurs at a point between the top and bottom of each of the longitudinal edges.

4. The chest binder of claim 1, wherein: the outer layer and inner layer of the chest binder are joined at the neck opening and arm openings by: folding a portion of the outer layer along the neck opening in the direction of the inner layer; folding a portion of the inner layer along the neck opening in the direction of the outer layer over an elastic band; and stitching together the folded over portion of the outer layer, folded over portion of the inner layer, the elastic band and the inner layer; the outer layer and inner layer of the chest binder are joined at the bottom opening by: folding a portion of the inner layer along the bottom opening in the direction away from the outer layer; folding a portion of the outer layer along the bottom opening over the folded portion of the inner layer; and stitching together the folded over portions of the outer layer and inner layer, and the outer layer and inner layer.

5. The chest binder of claim 1 wherein the shoulder seams are configured to be located behind the top of the shoulder of the wearer.

6. The chest binder of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and fourth panels are between 0.02% to 0.2% smaller in size than the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth panels.

7. The chest binder of claim 6 wherein the third, fourth, seventh and eighth panels are 25% to 35% wider along the edge that forms the arm opening than the edge that forms the bottom opening.

8. The chest binder of claim 2 wherein: the second longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels are shorter than the longitudinal edges of the second torso panel when the second torso panel, third panel and fourth panel are all in a relaxed state; the second longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels are shorter than the longitudinal edges of the fourth torso panel when the fourth torso panel, seventh panel and eighth panel are all in a relaxed state; the second longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels are joined to the longitudinal edges of the second torso panel with the second longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels in a stretched state such that the second longitudinal edges of the third and fourth panels are coextensive with the longitudinal edges of the second torso panel and there is more tension above a fixed point than below the fixed point, the fixed point being located below the bust line of the wearer when the chest binder is worn with the second and fourth torso panels covering the bust of the wearer; and the second longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels are joined to the longitudinal edges of the fourth torso panel with the second longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels in a stretched state such that the second longitudinal edges of the seventh and eighth panels are coextensive with the longitudinal edges of the fourth torso panel and there is more tension above the fixed point than below the fixed point.

9. The chest binder of claim 7 wherein: the inner and outer layers are fabricated using a fabric which stretches more in the crossgrain direction; and wherein the fabric for at least one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth panels is cut on the crossgrain direction.

10. The chest binder of claim 9 wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth panels is cut on the crossgrain direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures wherein:

[0040] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the chest binder of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the chest binder of the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the chest binder taken along the lines 3-3 in FIG. 1 in the direction shown by the arrows;

[0043] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the chest binder taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 1 in the direction shown by the arrows; and

[0044] FIG. 5 is a front view of left side panel and a portion of the right side of the rear panel of the present invention shown in an unjoined state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0045] With reference to FIG. 1, the details of the construction of chest binder 100 are illustrated. The chest binder of the present invention, shown its fully assembled state, consists of an outer layer of interconnected panels and an inner layer of interconnected panels. The outer layer of panels comprises outer front panel (i.e., fifth panel) 110, outer left side panel (i.e., seventh panel) 115, outer rear panel (i.e., sixth panel) 120, and outer right side panel (i.e., eighth panel) 125. The inner layer of panels comprises the inner front panel (i.e., first panel, not shown), inner left side panel (i.e., third panel, not shown), inner rear panel (i.e., second panel) 140 and inner right side panel (i.e., fourth panel) 145. The outer and inner panels are joined at the neck opening (which comprises scoop neck 113 and V-neck 114), left arm opening 116, right arm opening 117 and bottom opening 118.

[0046] Turning to the outer layer of construction, outer front panel 110, comprises an outer front torso panel, outer left front shoulder portion 111 and outer right front shoulder portion 112 configured to extend over the left and right shoulders of the wearer. The left and right shoulder portions are spaced from each other and extend from the torso panel to define a portion of the neck opening.

[0047] Outer left front shoulder portion 111 of outer front panel 110 is joined to the outer left rear shoulder portion 121 of outer rear panel 120 along seam (i.e., third shoulder seam) 151. Outer right front shoulder portion 112 of outer front panel 110 is joined to the outer right rear shoulder portion 122 of outer rear panel 120 along seam (i.e., fourth shoulder seam) 152.

[0048] The shoulder seams, including shoulder seams 151 and 152 and the first and second shoulder seams joining the left and right shoulder portions of the inner front and inner rear panels are located behind the top of the shoulder at the high point shoulder (i.e., the traditional focal location of the weight bearing forces of the chest binder), rather than the top of the shoulder. The construction of the chest binder is such that the weight distribution of the wearer's breast tissue is distributed around the body instead of on the shoulder blade, as would be the case with a conventional brassiere.

[0049] Outer left side panel 115 is joined at the first longitudinal edge to the outer front torso panel of outer front panel 110 along seam 153. Outer left side panel 115 is joined at the second longitudinal edge to the outer rear torso panel of outer rear panel 120 along seam 154. Similarly, outer right side panel 125 is joined at the first longitudinal edge to the outer front torso panel of outer front panel 110 along seam 155 (not shown). Outer right side panel 125 is joined at the second longitudinal edge to the outer rear torso panel of outer rear panel 120 along seam 156.

[0050] The corresponding inner panels, (inner front panel, inner left side panel, inner rear panel and inner right side panel) of which only inner rear panel 140 and inner right side panel 145 can be seen in FIG. 1, are similarly interconnected to form the inner layer of the chest binder. The only seam visible joining the panels of the inner layer in the perspective view of FIG. 1 is seam 157, joining inner right side panel 145 with inner rear torso panel of inner rear panel 140.

[0051] Outer front panel 110 (and the inner front panel) is designed with scoop neck 113 and outer rear panel 120 (and inner rear panel 140) is designed with V-neck 114. Scoop neck 113 and V-neck 114 form the neck opening. Chest binder 100 is 180-degree rotatable depending on the neckline the wearer desires. When chest binder 100 is rotated so that V-neck 114 is at the front of the wearer, outer rear panel 120 acts as the outer front panel and the outer front panel 110 acts as the outer rear panel.

[0052] The upper portion of inner rear panel 140 is joined to the upper portion of outer rear panel 120, and the upper portion of the inner front panel (not shown) is joined to the upper portion of outer front panel 110 at the neck opening by seam 165, which travels along the neck opening, specifically V-neck 114 and scoop neck 113. Seam 165 connects these panels by use of an anchored understitch so that the inner and outer layers can move independently.

[0053] The understitching is done by folding over the end portion of the outer panel layer in the direction of the inner panel layer and folding over the end portion of the inner panel layer in the direction of the outer panel layer (i.e., creating an overlip portion) and placing elastic band 170 within the cavity created by folding over the inner layer, and then connecting the inner and outer panels by stitching the inner layer, elastic, folded over portion of the inner layer and folded over portion of the outer layer together. Details of this stitch are discussed in more detail in the discussion of FIG. 3. In embodiments, the inner panel, the overlip of the inner panel, the elastic, and overlip of the outer panel are sewn together through the use of one line of stitch, as shown in seam 165, but in other embodiments other stitch types such as a zigzag stitch may be used.

[0054] The same understitching used at the neck opening is also used around the perimeter of left arm opening 116 and right arm opening 117 to join the inner and outer layers of the chest binder.

[0055] In addition to being joined along the neck opening, left arm opening and right arm opening, the inner and outer layers of the chest binder of the present invention are also joined along the bottom opening. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the inner and outer layers are connected at bottom opening 118 through the use of a double stitch comprising stitches 150a and 150b to form the seam at the bottom opening. Details on this seam are shown in FIG. 4. Two line stitches (seam 150, comprising line stitch 150a and line stitch 150b) are shown around the circumference of the chest binder at the lower portion of the outer front, side and back panels. The line stitches 150a and 150b join the outer panels and inner panels (as shown in the detail on FIG. 4). Joining the inner layer and outer layer of the chest binder at neck opening 113, right arm opening, left arm opening, and bottom opening only, permits the inner and outer layers of the chest binder to move independently, serving the two different functions of moving with the body for comfort while also compressing the chest.

[0056] Turning to FIG. 2, an exploded view of the chest binder is shown showing the inner and outer panels prior to being joined to form the inner and outer layers of the chest binder. Outer front panel 210, outer left side panel 215, outer rear panel 220 and outer right side panel 225 are each shown with their corresponding inner panels, namely inner front panel 230, inner left side panel 235, inner rear panel 240 and inner left side panel 245. The outer panels can be joined together by one of a number of means, including stitching, fabric glue, or seam welding. The inner panels can be joined in a similar manner.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, the inner panels are coextensive with the outer panels except along the portions of the inner and outer panels that form the neck opening (along scoop neck 213 and V-neck 214) and the left arm opening and right arm opening. In embodiments (not shown), inner front panel 230 does not include inner left front shoulder portion 231 and inner right front shoulder portion 232. Similarly, in embodiments (not shown) the inner rear panel does not include inner left rear shoulder portion 241 and inner right rear shoulder portion 242.

[0058] In embodiments, the inner and outer panels each contain notches to serve two functions: (a) aid the optical alignment of the inner and outer panels when they are being joined at the neck opening, left and right arm openings and bottom opening, and (b) aid in the creation of a mismatched seam of two differing zones of stretch and compression along the longitudinal edges of the side panels and corresponding longitudinal edges of the torso panels of the inner and outer front and back panels (i.e., along the side panel seams).

[0059] In embodiments, the alignment of the inner and outer panels and the creation of the mismatched seam is effectuated without the use of notches.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 2, the inner and outer front panels contain notches 275a-275u, the inner and outer left side panels contain notches 278a-278h, the inner and outer right side panels each contain notches 276a-276h, and the inner and outer rear panels contain notches 277a-277x.

[0061] Notches 275b-275t, 276a-276c, 276f, 276h, 277c-277v and 278a-278c, 278f, 278h are used for optical alignment. Notches 278d, 278e, 278g, 277w, 277x, 277a, 277b, 276d, 276e, 276g, 275u and 275a are used to help create the mismatched seam. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the rear panels are shown with pairs of notches, 277a and 277b, 277e and 277f, 277s and 277t, 277w and 277x to help distinguish the rear panel from the front panel. Similarly, the edges of the side panels that join with the rear panels have double notches (notches 276d and 276e, 278d and 278e) in order to aid the manufacturer of the chest binder in properly joining the panels together. While these double notches have been chosen in this embodiment to differentiate the rear panels from the front panels, any other configuration of notches can be used for optical alignment.

[0062] The location of the notches along the edge of the panels, namely notches 275a, 275u, 278d, 278e, 278g, 277w, 277x, 277a, 277b, 276d, 276e, and 276g, located at a fixed point below the bust line of the wearer when the chest binder is worn with the corresponding panel covering the bust of the wearer, is important as each of these notches operates as an anchor point of the corresponding mismatched seam, creating stretch above and below the anchor point, when the panels are joined, with the most tension and least stretch located across the chest in order to maximize compression. FIG. 5 addresses the details on this mismatched seam configuration.

[0063] As seen in FIG. 2, the inner panels, along the neck opening, left arm opening and right arm opening are designed to be of a smaller dimension than the corresponding outer panels. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the inner panels are designed to be approximately 0.08% smaller than the corresponding outer panels. However, the inner panels range from 0.02%-0.2% smaller than the outer panel.

[0064] As seen in FIG. 2, the left side panel (comprising outer left side panel 215 and inner left side panel 235) is wider at the top and tapers as it reaches the bottom of the chest binder. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the left side panel is approximately 25%-35% wider at the top of the side panel than it is at the bottom of the side panel. The right side panel is of similar dimensions.

[0065] Turning to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the chest binder is illustrated, taken along the lines 3-3 in FIG. 1 in the direction shown by the arrows.

[0066] To create the understitch illustrated in FIG. 3, end portion 320a of outer rear panel 320 is folded over inward in the direction of the inner rear panel (creating an overlip portion) so that it adjoins end portion 340a of inner rear panel 340, which is similarly folded over in the direction of the outer panel 320 to create an overlip portion. End portion 340a of inner rear panel is folded over elastic band 370, which is located within the cavity formed by the folded over inner rear panel. Seam 365 passes through inner panel 340, elastic band 370, end portion 340a, and end portion 320a to join the inner and outer layers of the chest binder. Though shown specifically with respect to the joining of the inner and outer rear panels in FIG. 3, this understitch configuration is used throughout the perimeter of the neck opening (with reference to FIG. 1, neck opening 119, along V-neck 114, scoop neck 113, and the perimeter of left arm opening 116 and right arm opening 117), connecting the various outer and inner layers that form these openings. Use of elastic band 370 provides structure and security around seam 365 at the neck and arm openings. Stitching in this manner (where seam 365 does not pass through outer layer 320) provides the chest binder with a clean seam along the neck and arm openings.

[0067] Other seams, which do not provide as clean a seam along the neck and arm openings could also be used. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, seam 365 is created through the use of one line of stitch, but in other embodiments (not shown), these layers can be combined by one of any number of stitches such as a zigzag stitch.

[0068] Turning to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of the chest binder is illustrated, taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 1 in the direction shown by the arrows. FIG. 4 illustrates the two line stitches used to attach the outer and inner panels along the perimeter of the bottom opening (bottom opening 118 in FIG. 1). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, line stitches 450a and 450b are shown. In embodiments (not shown), only one line stitch is used. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom ends of the outer panel (outer front panel 410) and inner panel (inner front panel 430) are folded over, so that the end of inner front panel 430a and inner front panel 430 are both sandwiched between the end of outer front panel 410a and outer front panel 410 as show in FIG. 4. Line stiches 450a and 450b each pass through the end of outer front panel 410a, end of inner front panel 430a, inner front panel 430 and outer front panel 410 to form seam 450 and join the panels. This seam is carried through the perimeter of the bottom opening (bottom opening 118 in FIG. 1).

[0069] Turning to FIG. 5, a front view of the left side panel and a portion of the right side of the rear panel is shown before the panels are joined together, similar to the illustration in FIG. 2 (but in a non-exploded view). Specifically, outer rear panel 520, inner rear panel 540, outer left side panel 515 and inner left side panel 535 are shown deconstructed. The inner panels are coextensive with the corresponding outer panels, except they are both shorter along the portions shown which comprise the left arm opening. Inner and outer panel notches 577u through 577x, and left side panel notches 578a through 578h are also shown.

[0070] As seen in FIG. 5, the left side panel edge is shorter than the left edge (the visible edge in FIG. 5) of the rear panel. The inner and outer side panels are joined with the inner and outer front panels and inner and outer rear panels in a similar fashion and will be discussed herein with reference to the outer left side panel and outer rear panel, with the understanding that the inner and outer panels will be similarly joined together.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 5, left side panel edge 515aa (i.e., the second longitudinal edge of outer left side panel 515) is to be joined with outer rear panel edge 520aa. Both left side panel edge 515aa and rear panel edge 520aa are placed side-by-side. After taking into account the angular shape of the edges and the respective overall length of the edges, left side panel edge 515aa is shorter than rear panel edge 520aa when in a relaxed state.

[0072] In order to make the edges coextensive to create the required seam for the inner or outer panels, left side panel edge 515aa is stretched (possible because of the elastic nature of the fabric used to construct the inner and outer layers) so that the top of left side panel edge 515aa aligns with the top of rear panel edge 520aa and the bottom of left side panel edge 515aa aligns with the bottom of rear side panel edge 520aa. While stretching left side panel edge 515aa, to attain this alignment, notches 578e and 578d of left side panel edge 515aa are kept in alignment with notches 577w and 577x respectively of rear panel 520. When the side panel is in a relaxed (i.e., non-stretched state), edge 520aa of the rear panel is contracted, providing a compressive force on the front and rear panels to provide tension on the front and rear panels.

[0073] The placement of notches 578e, 578d and 577w and 577x, operate as anchor points, strategically placed at a fixed point an area below the bust area of the wearer when the chest binder is worn in a position where the rear panels cover the bust area. The notches create stretch above and below the anchor points (i.e., fixed points), with the most tension and least stretch located across the chest (i.e., bust area, as opposed to the rib cage) above the anchor points in order to maximize compression and less tension and most stretch located below anchor points. The least tension and most stretch are located at the arm opening on both the left and right sides and at the ribcage to increase comfort.

[0074] While notches 578d, 578e, 577w, 577x, are present in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, notches are not necessary to construct the chest binder of the present invention to align the various panels and identify the fixed point (i.e., anchor point) necessary to create the differing zones of stretch and compression along the longitudinal edges of the side panels and corresponding longitudinal edges of the torso panels of the inner and outer front and back panels (i.e., along the side panel seams).

[0075] Now that embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. The spirit and scope of the present invention is to be construed broadly.