COMBINATION DRESS SHIRT AND UNDERGARMENT
An undergarment, comprising: a collar portion made of a first dress shirt material; an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirt portion and a back upper short portion attached to the collar portion, the upper shirt portion made of a first dress shirt material, the front upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and the back upper shirt portion being above the height of the underarm of the wearer; a lower body portion having a front and back, the lower body portion made of second fabric material.
The present invention relates to garments and in particular upper body garments and undergarments.
In the apparel industry, dress shirts are worn by most individuals in the work place and recreationally under suits and sweaters. They are frequently bulky, itchy, too warm and uncomfortable. Also, it is expensive dry cleaning shirts for each wear. Accordingly, the present invention solves each of these problems.
Another issue the present invention is intended to address is body smoothing. The stomach area is a common “problem area” for men and women. Currently, body smoothing undergarments must be worn in addition to the dress shirt. When trying to achieve body slimming, adding another bulky layer as in standard dress shirts is not desirable. Also, the shape of dress shirts when worn under a sweater and suit jackets is bulky and does not create a desirable silhouette.
Finally, a problem with shirts worn under sweaters and jackets is that they may not stay put (either riding up or having shirt tails hanging out).
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to garments and in particular upper body garments and undergarments.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an undergarment is provided, comprising: a collar portion made of a first dress shirt material; an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirt portion and a back upper short portion attached to the collar portion, the upper shirt portion made of said first dress shirt material, the front upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and the back upper shirt portion being above the height of the underarm of the wearer; a lower body portion having a front and back, the lower body portion made of second fabric material.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an undergarment is provided, comprising: a collar portion made of a first dress shirt material; an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirt portion and a back upper short portion attached to the collar portion, the upper shirt portion made of a first dress shirt material, the front upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and the back upper shirt portion being above the height of the underarm of the wearer; a lower body portion having a front and back, the lower body portion made of second wicking fabric material; a left sleeve portion and a right sleeve portion in communication with the lower body portion, wherein the left sleeve portion and right sleeve portion are made of a second wicking fabric material.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an undergarment (10) is provided comprising: a collar portion (12) made of a first dress shirt material; an upper shirt portion (14) having a front upper shirt portion (16) and a back upper short portion (18) attached to the collar portion (12), the upper shirt portion (14) made of the first dress shirt material, the front upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and the back upper shirt portion (18) being above the height of the underarm of the wearer and below the shoulders of the wearer; a lower body portion (20) having a front lower body portion (22) and back lower body portion (24), the lower body portion (20) is made of a second fabric material, which may be a wicking fabric material. It should be understood that the term upper shirt portion (14) refers to both the front upper shirt portion (16) and a back upper short portion (18). The front upper shirt portion (16) and back upper short portion (18) may be separate pieces or a single piece with different portions. Similarly the lower body portion (20) includes the front lower body portion (22) and back lower body portion (24), which may be separate pieces of fabric or a single piece of fabric with separate portions. There may also, optionally, be sleeves. As shown, there may be a left sleeve portion (28) and a right sleeve portion (26) in communication with the lower body portion (20). The left sleeve portion (28) and right sleeve portion (26) are made of the second wicking fabric material. As shown, the front upper shirt portion is generally u shaped. This is important, as it is important the front upper shirt portion gives the appearance of a full dress shirt. Accordingly, it must dip in the front low enough to accommodate a sweater (for example a v-neck sweater) worn over the undergarment (10) such that the upper shirt portion (14) and collar portion (12) are the only parts that can be seen and are made to look like a dress shirt. The first dress shirt material may be between 93 and 97 percent polyester, preferably 95 percent polyester and between 3 and 7 percent elastane, preferably 5 percent elastane. The term elastane refers to spandex, which may be sold under the brand name Elaspan®. Elaspan® is utilized in circular knit, weaving, covering, and other textile applications where fabric stretch and recovery is required. ELASPAN® fiber can be found in hosiery, denim (such as stretch jeans), intimate apparel (underwear, bras, etc), sportswear, and ready-to-wear garments such as shirts and dresses. Stretch solutions obtained with ELASPAN® spandex provide both highly desired comfort for the consumers, and superior technical quality at a competitive cost for the textile fabrics manufacturers. Elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It is stronger and more durable than rubber, its major non-synthetic competitor. It is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that was invented in 1959 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPont's Benger Laboratory in Waynesboro, Va. The material was patented by the Spanjian brothers—Robert and Richard—and was further used in their company, Spanjian Sportwear. When first introduced, it revolutionized many areas of the clothing industry. The product name “Spandex” was given to the Spanjian family after DuPont recognized their contributions. “Spandex” is the preferred name in North America; in many European countries it is referred to as “elastane”. A brand name associated with spandex is Lycra®. A suitable second fabric material may be a 60 denier LYCRA®. Denier is a unit of measure for the linear mass density of fibers. It is defined as the mass in grams per 9,000 meters. The first dress shirt material may also be “no-iron” material, reducing the need for dry cleaning.
The lower body portion second fabric material may be a seemless circularly knit two-ply fabric, which provides body smoothing properties. Accordingly, the portion that would be hidden under a sweater or suit jacket would be body slimming, reduce the bulkiness of a standard dress shirt, prevent sweat and may even have anti-bacterial properties. At least a portion of the lower body portion may have a vertical rib knit construction (48), this may provide additional body smoothing properties. A preferred knit construction is a 1×1 rib knit. The second wicking fabric material may be any fabric known to have wicking properties. Wicking fabrics are fabrics that actually lift moisture away from the skin. Wicking fabrics have been engineered with water-resistant coatings and a system of fibers that work like capillaries to carry water. Regular fabric—like cotton—soaks up water like a sponge, allowing water to penetrate all of its fibers. When that happens, you end up with a heavy, soaking wet shirt that sticks to your skin. But wicking fabrics, which are usually 80 to 90 percent polyester, are made of fibers that are designed to act like the capillaries in your body. When moisture builds up in the fabric, the fibers have the ability to transfer the water to a drier portion of the fabric without absorbing it-thanks to the water-resistant coating. Instead of getting bogged down with sweat, the fabric can stay drier and lighter. The present invention utilizes wicking fabrics in the portions of the body that typically may get sweaty or be wet, which is usually the back and underarms. However, the upper portion is a material that looks like a dress shirt, so the wearer can have a professional appearance and simultaneously avoid wetness. Some wicking fabrics even have a special dimpled feature that creates puckers in the fabric. These puckers act as small air bubbles, allowing more air to circulate over your skin and carry sweat away. More than any other type of fabric, wicking fabrics can actually provide a cooling effect during workouts. According to one embodiment the second wicking fabric material is between 80 and 90 percent polyester with nano-silver, preferably 87 percent polyester with nano-silver and between 10 and 20 percent elastane, preferably 13 percent elastane. Wicking fabrics may be sold under the brand names COOLMAX® and CLEANCOOL®. CLEANCOOL®, one wicking fabric material, is a multi-channel fiber that moves moisture from skin to the outer layer of the fabric faster than any other fabric (120 mm in 10 minutes). It also has anti-bacterial properties with nano-silver contained in the fabric, the fabric eliminates germs. It does not harm the human body and the anti-bacterial effect is almost permanent. It eliminates 99.9% of germs in 30 minutes.
According to one embodiment, the lower body portion may further comprise a front crotch portion (30) and a back crotch portion (32) the front crotch portion (30) being removably attachable to the back crotch (32) portion by an attachment means (34). Attachment means may be snap, hook, VELCRO®, hook and loop fastener, tie, or similar device.
According to another embodiment, the left sleeve and right sleeve are long sleeves and there is a left cuff portion (40) in communication with the left sleeve portion (28) and a right cuff portion (42) in communication with the right sleeve portion (26), the left cuff portion (40) and the right cuff portion (42) being made of the first dress shirt material. The left cuff portion and right cuff portion should look like a dress shirt, it may be a regular cuff or a french cuff. The left sleeve portion and right sleeve portion may be seemless circularly knit two-ply fabric or any other body smoothing fabric, the left sleeve portion and right sleeve portion may also have a rib knit construction. This may provide body smoothing properties as well as keep the shirt put and prevent movement. There may be additional control panels sewn in desired areas. For example, the front stomach area may have a control panel of two-ply fabric sewn in. There may also be a ruffle portion (50) in communication with the front upper shirt portion (16).
It should be understood that the foregoing relates to preferred embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. An undergarment, comprising:
- a collar portion made of a first dress shirt material;
- an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirt portion and a back upper short portion attached to said collar portion, said upper shirt portion made of said first dress shirt material, said front upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and said back upper shirt portion being above the height of the underarm of the wearer;
- a lower body portion having a front and back, said lower body portion made of second fabric material.
2. An undergarment as in claim 1, further comprising a left sleeve portion and a right sleeve portion in communication with said lower body portion, wherein said left sleeve portion and right sleeve portion are made of said second fabric material.
3. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein said first dress shirt material is between 93 and 97 percent polyester, preferably 95 percent polyester and between 3 and 7 percent elastane, preferably 5 percent elastane.
4. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein said second fabric material is a second wicking fabric material and is between 80 and 90 percent polyester with nano-silver, preferably 87 percent polyester with nano-silver and between 10 and 20 percent elastane, preferably 13 percent elastane.
5. An undergarment as in claim 1, said lower body portion further comprising a front crotch portion and a back crotch portion said front crotch portion being removably attachable to said back crotch portion by an attachment means.
6. An undergarment as in claim 2, further comprising a left cuff portion in communication with said left sleeve portion and a right cuff portion in communication with said right sleeve portion, said left cuff portion and said right cuff portion being made of said first dress shirt material.
7. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said lower body portion is a seemless circularly knit two-ply fabric.
8. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein said lower body portion having a vertical rib knit construction.
9. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein said left sleeve portion and said right sleeve portion are each seemless circularly knit two-ply fabric.
10. An undergarment as in claim 1, said left sleeve portion and said right sleeve portion having a rib knit construction.
11. An undergarment as in claim 1, further comprising a ruffle portion in communication with said front upper shirt portion.
12. An undergarment as in claim 1, wherein said second fabric materials is anti-bacterial.
13. An undergarment, comprising:
- a collar portion made of a first dress shirt material;
- an upper shirt portion having a front upper shirt portion and a back upper short portion attached to said collar portion, said upper shirt portion made of said first dress shirt material, said front upper shirt portion being generally u-shaped and said back upper shirt portion being above the height of the underarm of the wearer;
- a lower body portion having a front and back, said lower body portion made of second wicking fabric material;
- a left sleeve portion and a right sleeve portion in communication with said lower body portion, wherein said left sleeve portion and right sleeve portion are made of said second wicking fabric material.
14. An undergarment as in claim 13, wherein said first dress shirt material is between 93 and 97 percent polyester, preferably 95 percent polyester and between 3 and 7 percent elastane, preferably 5 percent elastane.
15. An undergarment as in claim 13, wherein said second wicking fabric material and is between 80 and 90 percent polyester with nano-silver, preferably 87 percent polyester with nano-silver and between 10 and 20 percent elastane, preferably 13 percent elastane.
16. An undergarment as in claim 13, said lower body portion further comprising a front crotch portion and a back crotch portion said front crotch portion being removably attachable to said back crotch portion by an attachment means.
17. An undergarment as in claim 13, further comprising a left cuff portion in communication with said left sleeve portion and a right cuff portion in communication with said right sleeve portion, said left cuff portion and said right cuff portion being made of said first dress shirt material.
18. An undergarment as in claim 13, wherein said lower body portion is a seemless circularly knit two-ply fabric.
19. An undergarment as in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said lower body portion having a vertical rib knit construction.
20. An undergarment as in claim 13, wherein said left sleeve portion and said right sleeve portion are each seemless circularly knit two-ply fabric.
21. An undergarment as in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said left sleeve portion and said right sleeve portion have a rib knit construction.
22. An undergarment as in claim 13, further comprising a ruffle portion in communication with said front upper shirt portion.
23. An undergarment as in claim 13, wherein said second wicking fabric materials is anti-bacterial.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 30, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 2, 2011
Inventor: Jamie Soriano (Shresbury, NJ)
Application Number: 12/627,416
International Classification: A41B 9/06 (20060101); A41B 1/00 (20060101);
