Abstract: Non-perforated tear lines for removal and evacuation of contents of disposable undergarments such as training pants. Non-perforated tear lines include a series of bond sites which are shaped, sized, spaced and arranged to provide a zone of weakness to permit severance of nonelasticized portions as well as elastic disposed in the waistband, the body of the pant, and the elastic leg bands for complete removal. Bond sites are formed by displacing a portion of material such that a thickened outer edge defines a weakened area of reduced thickness. Thus, elastic in the waistband may be disposed continuously 360 degrees around the wearer's waist, and elastic in the leg bands may be disposed continuously 360 degrees around the wearer's legs. In addition, improved pants having elasticized ear flaps in the body of the pants can be conveniently removed from the wearer.

Abstract: The invention discloses a panty-type undergarment having a support panel which has a greater resistance to stretch than the rest of the undergarment for lifting and separating the cheeks of a wearer's buttocks. The support panel is substantially anchor-shaped and includes a vertical strip and upwardly curving portions which extend toward and along a portion of the undergarment leg openings. The undergarment is circularly knit and includes modified knit regions to form the portions forming the support panel. A method and blank for making the panty with the lift and separation support are also disclosed.

Abstract: Clothing garments and other articles include an elastic laminated sheet having the properties of stretchability and recoverability. The elastic laminated sheet is formed from a nonwoven fibrous web and an elastomeric film laminated to at least one entire web surface. The laminate is incrementally stretched along lines substantially uniformly across its length and width and throughout its depth to form a stretchable and recoverable composite. The elastic laminated sheet is uniquely suited for use in athletic and active wear garments. The composite is also useful for single use or throw away clothing articles such as medical or surgical garments, throw away bathing suits, underpants, undershirts, and garments used in the handling of hazardous or waste materials.

Abstract: The invention discloses a legged panty having strategically-located support panels for minimizing the appearance of undesirable body bulges, particularly along a wearer's stomach, hips and thighs. The panty is circularly knit, and the support panels are integrally knit using a modified knit structure to provide these regions with a greater resistance to stretching, particularly coursewise stretching. In a preferred form of the invention, first and second support panels extend vertically along the outer side of the leg portions, to correspond with the outer thigh regions of a wearer. The panty legs are finished via an integrally knit turned welt located at their terminal ends. The panty also desirably includes a U-shaped or anchor shaped support panel about the gluteal crease region in order to provide support for the buttocks, and additional yarn courses provide areas of added fabric fullness, particularly at the regions corresponding to the buttock cheeks.

Abstract: This invention provides an exceptionally expandable sheet elastic complex which consists of an elastic body sheet and a sheet backing material which is mounted on either one or both sides of it, these two members being bonded together along multiple, oblong, mutually parallel bonding sections, and in which multiple, mutually parallel channels are formed between the two members because the width of the sheet backing material between mutually adjacent bonding sections is greater than that of the elastic body sheet. The sheet backing material does not accept more than the minimum constraint of the elastic body sheet, and its waveform surface has excellent properties as a material for use in sanitary products. The invention also provides a process for manufacturing this sheet elastic complex.

Abstract: A circular knit one-piece garment blank, lower torso garment, and method of making same having a welt portion and a tubular knit body with front, back and side portions. The front portion contains a spot control area wherein bulkier yarns are included to impart an elastic character throughout the area and to impart the characteristics of a foundation garment to the area.

Abstract: An undergarment including an outer layer and a coextensive inner lining. The undergarment is substantially rectangular and it also includes fastening elements adjacent the sides for securing the undergarment to the wearer. Elastic ruffles extend along each side of the undergarment from adjacent the middle of the garment to adjacent the fastening elements. When the garment is worn the elastic ruffles are present on each side of the front portion of the undergarment to cause the garment to conform to the curves of the wearer. The ruffles terminate at the crotch of the wearer. The undergarment is of such a width that the back portion will cup in, where it meets the ruffles, at the back of the inside of the legs.

Abstract: A hygienic panty is comprised of a front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion, and if desired, side portions, conventionally joined to form a waist opening and two leg openings, the crotch portion comprising an outer layer made from a waterproof material and an inner layer of any suitable material, and the front portion and back portion comprising an outer layer made from a waterproof material, an inner layer, and at least one absorbent interliner sandwiched between the inner layer and outer layer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to composite nonwoven fabrics and processes for producing the same. The fabric includes a layer of inelastic continuous or staple fibers formed from a blend of polyethylene and polypropylene laminated to an extensible web, such as a polyolefin film. Preferably, the composition of the fibers ranges between 5 to 50 percent by weight of polypropylene with the balance made up of polyethylene. The nonelastic fibers are capable of being highly elongated upon mechanical stretching without adversely impacting fiber tie down. Accordingly, a smooth, strong, coherent fabric is obtained, which is especially well suited for incorporation into disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, incontinence briefs and feminine hygiene products.

Abstract: A women's' abdominal support undergarment includes a waistband of horizontally elastic material with its ends joined to the side edges of a one piece control panel of horizontally elastic corset elastic different from the waistband material. The waistband is substantially more elastic than the control panel. The waistband and upper segment of the control panel form a horizontally aligned waist encircling portion on a standing wearer and have a smooth, continuous upper edge. A lower segment of the control panel cooperates with a panty portion and a thong portion to define a depending transverse portion of the garment.

Abstract: A rape preventing undergarment is formed from flexible cut-resistant cable and covered with fabric. The cable forms a crotch covering web with very small openings. Each side of the crotch covering web is attached to a leg encircling cable free at one end which can be wrapped around the thigh and then length adjusted and removably locked into a cable clasp at the front end of the crotch covering. A waist encircling cable is attached by cable to the rear of crotch covering and in front descends to also lock into one of the cable clasps. The cable clasps are arranged to both be locked by a single padlock. The device is easily adjusted to fit snugly so that it cannot be pulled aside, yet it is comfortable and easily removed when unlocked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a male undergarment brief which through simple construction forms a defined genital pouch and a secured leg opening edge. The brief includes front and rear panels. The front panel comprises two knitted cotton panels having identical shapes which are obversely stitched together thereby forming overlapping fly openings. The two knitted panels provide for a pair of concave lower edges which make up a portion of the leg openings. The concave edges are provided with elastic strips which in their unstretched condition are approximately 2/3 the length of the concave edges. The elastic strips are each stretched to the length of the concave edges and then secured thereto. With the contraction of the elastic strips, a shirring takes place on the panels forming a genital pouch and secure leg openings.

Abstract: Disposable pants having a front body comprising a sheet having elastic stretchability in the transverse direction and a rear body comprising a sheet having no elastic stretchability. The sheets are bonded to each other with a transverse dimension of the front body in its transversely contracted state being smaller than a transverse dimension of the rear body so that laterally opposite waist sides of the user's body wearing the pants may be covered by a part of the rear body.

Abstract: A relatively simple frame for use in bikini bottoms or briefs includes two lengths of wire which are bent to define mirror images of each other, the lengths defining a major portion of an oval of sufficient length to extend around the crotch of a wearer between a V-shaped line across the rectus abdominous muscle in the front and the sacrum in the rear of the wearer. Each of the lengths of wire includes a straight, vertical rear portion extending downwardly from an inverted L-shaped top rear end to approximately the bottom center of the crotch area, and a front portion flaring outwardly and upwardly from the vertical plane of the straight rear portion to a top end and then downwardly to the vertical plane of the rear portion. The two lengths of wire are interconnected using conventional cable connectors to define a T-shaped rear and a generally triangular front with a V-shaped depression in the top thereof.

Abstract: A protective device primarily intended for female water skiers inhibits flow of water into the female reproductive organs. In the preferred embodiment, the lower portion of a swimsuit includes a pocket in the crotch region and a slit on the interior wall of the crotch for providing access to the pocket. In an alternate embodiment, the swimsuit includes a region of hook or loop fasteners disposed on the interior wall of the crotch region. In the preferred embodiment, a deflector which comprises outer layers of a soft, resilient material and a thin inner layer of more rigid, fluid impervious material is placed either in the pocket or secured by complementary hook and loop fasteners. An alternate embodiment comprehends a generally hourglass shaped sponge which is fabricated of open or preferably closed cell foam and which is placed in the pocket or includes complementary hook and loop fasteners for securing to the crotch region of the swimsuit.

Abstract: In general, bikini bottoms or briefs are somewhat unimaginative in terms of shape, uncomfortable and expensive to produce. A relatively simple frame for use in bikini bottoms or briefs includes two lengths of wire which are bent to define mirror images of each other, the lengths defining a major portion of an oval of sufficient length to extend around the crotch of a wearer between a V-shaped line across the rectus abdominous muscle in the front and the sacrum in the rear of the wearer. Each of the lengths of wire includes a straight, vertical rear portion extending downwardly from an inverted L-shaped top rear end to approximately the bottom center of the crotch area, and a front portion flaring outwardly and upwardly from the vertical plane of the straight rear portion to a top end and then downwardly to the vertical plane of the rear portion.

Abstract: A swim suit bottom for both genders having a unique attachment of each end thereof to the user. The swim suit bottom is formed into a single flexible fabric cover having a narrow mid section sized to cover the crotch area and widening at either end thereof to define a front and a back panel. When fully extended over the user in an in-use position, the front panel covers essentially the pubic area and the back panel covers a central buttocks area of the user. The back panel is supported in position by a slender resilient arcuate band which only partially encircles and biasingly engages against the lower torso, extending across the lower back, up around the right and left iliac crests and diagonally downward toward, but not to, the stomach and pubic area. The front panel is held in position by a strip of replaceable double-sided adhesive tape adhered adjacent the end margin of the front panel and then across the skin of the upper pubic area below the stomach.

Abstract: An undergarment characterized by a loose comfortable fit in the seat, upper abdomen and leg areas and by a snug, supporting fit in the crotch area. The undergarment includes a relatively narrow expansible waistband component for encircling the waist of the wearer, a relatively loose, woven non-stretch fabric seat, upper abdomen and leg component attached to and carried by the waistband component for providing a loose, comfortable fit in the seat, upper abdomen and leg areas of the wearer and a relatively stretchable crotch component attached to and positioned in relation to the leg, upper abdomen and seat component to snugly support the crotch of the wearer. Embodiments are disclosed which include a multi-layer crotch with enhanced moisture management capacity and a crotch which includes a pouch for holding a separate moisture absorbing pouch.

Abstract: A disposable garment of pants type, such as a disposable diaper of pants type, is constructed by attaching respective leg-hole surrounding flaps and waist-hole surrounding flaps to respective opposite side edges extending longitudinally of a basic assembly for the garment which comprises at least a topsheet and a backsheet. The leg-hole surrounding flaps and the waist-hole surrounding flaps respectively cooperate to form a pair of leg-holes. A pair of shoulder straps can be easily prepared by making a slit which extends longitudinally of the garment on each waist-hole surrounding flap. A disposable garment of the present invention is featured in its simple construction and easy production.

Abstract: A disposable wearing article of pants type having a front body and a rear body comprising respectively at least a liquid-permeable topsheet and a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and elastic members along a waist-hole and respective leg-holes. The front and rear bodies are attached together along their laterally opposite side edges. The longitudinally opposite ends of the respective elastic members are located on the opposite side edges of the front and rear bodies, and the opposite side edges of the front and rear bodies are intermittently attached together so as to avoid the elastic members.

Abstract: A man's undergarment ergodynamically designed to have the combined quality and characteristics of a brief and an athletic supporter and which is of scant dimensions and fits snugly about a man's body with leg openings of such size as to provide additional comfort to the wearer. The system comprises four major parts, a waistband, a front panel, a back panel, and a 3-dimensional raised insert stitched in an oval shaped cutout in the front panel to act as a cradle and provide support without crush. Elastic edges are provided on the leg openings. Each of the parts are designed so that when sewn together, they provide a perfect fit for each size.

Abstract: The means comprises a support insert pad protruding inward within the crotch portion of any men's garments that are worn next to the skin. The support insert pad is positioned to be behind the testicles of the male to provide a lifting and support platform for the testicles while allowing for the rest of the garment to hold the genitals stable against the body. The shape of the insert support pad is in a crescent form that fits the vacant area behind the user's scrotum.

Abstract: A relatively wide elastic waistband is provided to encircle the waist of the wearer and has elastic stretchability primarily in the longitudinal direction. A pair of tubular legs is provided with upper ends connected to the waistband. The upper end portions of the tubular legs are adapted to surround the opposed hips of the wearer and the lower end portions are adapted to encircle the upper thighs of the wearer and define lower leg openings surrounding the lower thighs of the wearer. A crotch panel extends throughout the medial portion and crotch of the wearer with opposite ends being connected to the medial front and rear portions of the waistband. The crotch panel is preferably formed of two panel members with the front panel member having an open mesh stitch construction while the rear panel has the usual closed stitch plain knit construction.

Abstract: Comfort pants having cushioned buttocks portions. The pants comprise a pair of boxer-like shorts having a rear, reinforced panel including a pair of pads which are disposed on either side of a center line of the rear panel at locations thereon corresponding to those portions of a wearer's buttocks which come into contact when the wearer is seated on a flat surface.

Abstract: An undergarment that retains urine and other body fluids comprises an upper, or body, portion made of a knitted fabric, and a lower, or crotch, portion made of a woven, non-woven or knitted fabric. The crotch portion is coated with a modified polyester urethane polymer which prevents passage of body fluids, yet allows for some of the body condensate to escape by moisture vapor transmission. Because the crotch material is coated, rather than laminated, the garment body and crotch portion can be assembled without using special sewing needles, methods or speeds.

Abstract: An undergarment is fabricated with a body portion of a size and configuration to cover the lower torso of a person and with an upper body encircling opening and lower leg encircling openings. The garment is further sized to extend from proximate a person's waist to proximate where a person's legs join their lower torso and so as to cover at least the lower buttock cheeks of a person. Inside panels extend down and within each side of the panty and then in an arc across the area thereof to be disposed proximate a person's lower buttock cheeks. A relatively thin piece of foam rubber is sewn between the inside panel and the body portion fabric in the area thereof to be disposed proximate a persons buttock cheeks to shape and uplift the buttock cheeks. In an alternate embodiment the inside panel only extends across the area of the lower buttock cheeks.

Abstract: An article including at least one segment which is capable of being elastically shirred along at least a portion of its length subsequent to manufacture of the article, preferably by mechanical manipulation of a predetermined portion of the elastically shirrable segment. The predetermined mechanically manipulatable portion of the elastically shirrable segment preferably comprises an elastomeric monomer which is maintained in a prestretched and tensioned condition in the desired direction of shirring. The opposed ends of the elastically shirrable segment in the article are interconnected to one another through the prestretched and tensioned elastomeric member.

Abstract: A garment to be worn on the lower part of the body for the retention of body fluids includes a body portion and a crotch portion. The body portion has a waist opening and the body and crotch portion form leg openings. A laminated fabric is disposed at least in the crotch portion for the retention of body fluids. The laminated fabric is liquid-proof, breathable and elastic. A preferred form of the laminated fabric includes a thermoplastic film layer and a fiber-containing material layer. The film layer is disposed inside the garment when the garment is worn.

Abstract: A garment for securely supporting a person while allowing freedom of movement that includes a front outer shell of at least one-way stretchable fabric, a first liner stretchable in at least one direction and having the same general shape as the front outer shell when attached along its periphery. A support member of one-way vertifcally stretchable fabric to permit stretching for vertical movement while providing lateral support is attached at least along its upper edge and one other edge. A rear outer shell is shaped and has complementary edges for attaching it to the front outer shell and liner. Elastic is placed in some of the seams to provide support for the garment.

Abstract: A washable reuseable sanitary panty designed to be worn during menses, normally occurring in non-pregnant women about every four weeks, from menarche to menopause. The sanitary panty is intended to be worn with a tampon or sanitary napkin to prevent leakage and soiling of outer garments. The panty comprises a highly elastic woven or knit fiber outer covering configured in the shape of a panty and a contiguous non-woven plastic film inner layer extending through the crotch, the inner layer being liquid water impermeable/water vapor permeable and of at least equal non-directional elasticity as the outer covering. In the preferred embodiment the panty is constructed of a spandex polyurethane fiber outer covering and a soft smooth microporous plastic film inner layer sewn to the outer layer. Both the outer and inner layer as well as the stitching are substantially unaffected by repeated washing and heated drying without the need for special care.

Abstract: The invention comprises a new and improved garment having pant legs which are shaped at the inseam so as to conform to the natural anatomical shape of the thigh. The front and back of the pant leg assume difference curvatures such that when they are sewn to a seamless crotch piece such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,989, the garment will not rise up or bind on the wearer when the wearer sits, bends, walks or performs any other physical motion.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of manufacturing knitted briefs and the briefs made by the method. In accordance therewith, two separate seamless tubular blanks are knit each with a knit-in waistband, a body portion and a crotch portion. The tubular blanks are each slit walewise, and the free coursewise edges of the crotch portions are sewn together by a crotch seam.Thereafter the side edges of the combined blank are trimmed to define the leg openings, and narrow elastic is sewn to the side edges. The side edges of the body portions are then sewn together. The yarn at the crotch area is then bulked to further reduce the crotch width.

Abstract: Elastic pants or briefs for holding a disposable diaper in place, provided in both the front and back piece with elastic threads which define a central portion tapering towards the crotch of the pants, and/or with a central area extending up from the crotch portion, which is more loosely crocheted or knitted than the rest of the pants, thereby achieving effective tightening of the underlying disposable diaper against the body of the user.

Abstract: A purpose of the disclosed method is to impart gathers and elasticity to a relatively inelastic film, membrane, or web substrate, through elastic banding with a viscoelastic hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA). Typically, the resulting elastic-banded substrate product (e.g. 40) will be cut into discrete units and formed in to garments or body-encircling members such as disposable diapers. One step of the preferred method involves extruding a ribbon or band (13 or 113) comprising a viscoelastic hot melt PSA, which PSA has unusually high cohesion, stretchiness, and elasticity without excessive loss of adhesive bonding strength. (The viscoelastic behavior of the PSA is believed to be determined, at least in part, by the relative size of its crystalline domains and its rubbery domains and the glass transition temperatures and softening point of its components.

Abstract: The present panty is formed of first and second seamless tubular knit blanks each of which includes an inwardly turned welt on one end, a predetermined length of body yarn and inwardly contracted mock rib areas formed by incorporating elastic yarn therein. The inwardly contracted mock rib area of one seamless blank is much longer than the other and is adapted to form the crotch area of the panty. Cotton yarn is incorporated on the inwardly contracted mock rib areas and forms inwardly extending terry loops. The seamless blanks are longitudinally slit and then joined together by a transverse seam extending across and connecting the inwardly contracted mock rib areas and opposite side seams are formed along opposite sides of the body portions of each blank and the inwardly turned welts to complete the panty and join the waistband and form a waist opening.

Abstract: A garment having a seamless crotch is described. The seamless crotch of the present invention may be used in conventional pants, such as dress pants and jeans, as well as in shorts. In conventionally lengthed pants, an essentially curved diamond-shaped crotch piece with concave edges and long tapering sections which extend down the insides of the legs of the garment is sewn into the garment. Forces generated by the assumption of a sitting position or by the raising of a leg of the wearer of the garment which would otherwise cause the garment to ride up the crotch are redirected in the area of the crotch. In the crotch piece there is no center seam along the crotch and the seams of the crotch piece curved in directions becoming transverse through the crotch so that the garment therefore does not ride up the crotch. In another embodiment a pair of shorts is described in which the crotch piece is truncated.

Abstract: A short girdle made of elasticized material including a front body (4) formed with front leg hole portions (3a and 3a') on opposite sides of its lower edge, and a rear body (2) formed with rear leg hole portions (3b and 3b') on opposite sides of its lower edge. An abdomen keep cloth member (4) is sewed to one of a front side surface and a rear side surface of the front body (4) and extends downwardly from an upper edge (5) of the front body toward a central portion of its lower edge in such a manner that the width thereof is successively reduced, and an extension of the abdomen keep cloth member extending downwardly therefrom and connected to a central portion of the lower edge of the rear body constitutes a crotch cloth member formed with inner leg hole portions (3c and 3c') each located on one of opposite sides of the crotch cloth member.

Abstract: A method of diaper manufacture whereby adhesive is applied directly to the moisture impervious web for attachment thereto of elastic ribbons to make a shirred diaper.

Abstract: A self-adhering elastic comprises a block copolymer having glassy endblocks and an amorphous midblock, a midblock resin and an endblock resin.

Abstract: A laminated structure having a gathered marginal area which provides an improved fit about a portion of the human body, said laminated structure comprising an elastic member disposed between first and second substrates of flexible gatherable material, said elastic member comprising a plurality of interconnected longitudinally extending elastic elements defining apertures therebetween, the longitudinally extending elements having different cross-sectional areas to provide varying degrees of tension across the width of the marginal area and the first and second substrates of said laminated structure being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Abstract: The panty hose, or other type of lower body garment, includes a pair of legs and a panty portion with a crotch patch or insert in the crotch area. The crotch insert is formed by severing a predetermined length from a strip of fabric having a width substantially corresponding to the desired width of the crotch insert so that the insert is substantially diamond-shaped with two of the sides being defined by the diagonal cut lines and the remaining two sides being defined by opposite side edges of the strip. The severing of the strip of fabric to form the diamond shaped crotch insert takes place at the location where the panty hose are formed to eliminate the problem heretofore and encountered in handling crotch inserts of the type which are die cut from wide widths of fabric.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a continuous elastic ribbon is fed to a diaper web assembly station in a stretched condition. While traveling to the assembly station, an adhesive is applied to discrete lengths of the elastic ribbon at regularly spaced intervals. Simultaneously, discrete absorbent core segments as well as webs of moisture-impervious backsheet material and moisture-pervious topsheet material are fed to the diaper web assembly station. At the station, the stretched elastic ribbon is adhered to the moisture-impervious backsheet web in the discrete areas of the elastic which are covered by adhesive at predetermined points along the length of said web. After the adhesive has set up, the assembled web and the elastic contained therein is severed in its unadhered areas, whereupon the unadhered end portions become relaxed and inactive without affecting the functionality of the adhered portions in the ultimate assemblage.

Abstract: This invention relates to a support intended primarily to prevent abdominal and/or inguinal hernias from bulging while the garment is worn. The garment consists of a one-piece, approximately I-shaped fabric with a front and rear area connected by a narrow neck portion passing through the crotch. Tension on the supporting fabric is provided by elastic bands which are stitched to the front and rear sections and pass over the hip. The garment, with a slight modification to accommodate anatomical differences, can equally serve males and females. The support comes in two styles basically of the same design and structure. One style is for one or two-sided hernias, and the other style is for one-sided hernias only. The left and right-sided supports are symmetrical opposites. An optional stiffener may be added to any style.

Abstract: An outer garment is provided with an interlining of graduated thicknesses, thickest around the upper chest and shoulder areas, thinner around the collar and lapel areas, a little less thick in area from below the buttons to about the lapel area, and least thick from below the button area to the lower edge of the garment. A single layer of interlining material extends the full length of the garment from the bottom edge to the lapel and collar areas; a second layer is superposed on the first layer extending from just below the button area to the collar; and a third layer is superposed upon the previous two layers but extending from above the area of the buttons through and past the lapels and around to the shoulder. The two or more layers or thicknesses are secured together along the overlapped portions thereof and at points on lines spaced therebetween.