Abdominal-restraint garment comprising a first elastic support structure and a second elastic support structure, and methods of assembling the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to abdominal-restraint garments comprising a lower-body garment, a first elastic support structure comprising an elastomer, and a second elastic support structure comprising the elastomer. In some embodiments, the first elastic support structure has a first superior edge attached to the lower-body garment at a waistband of the lower-body garment, a first lateral edge attached to a first sideseam of the lower-body garment, and a first medial edge attached to a first closure seam of the lower-body garment. In some embodiments, the second elastic support structure has a first superior edge attached to the lower-body garment at the waistband of the lower-body garment, a second lateral edge attached to a second sideseam of the lower-body garment, and a second medial edge attached to a second closure seam of the lower-body garment. The present disclosure also relates to methods of assembling the abdominal-restraint garments disclosed herein.

1 . An abdominal-restraint garment comprising:
 a lower-body garment;   a first elastic support structure comprising a first gradient of elasticity; and   a second elastic support structure comprising a second gradient of elasticity;   wherein the first elastic support structure has a first superior edge attached to the lower-body garment at a waistband of the lower-body garment, a first lateral edge attached to a first inner portion of the lower-body garment, and a first medial edge attached to a first closure seam of the lower-body garment,   wherein the second elastic support structure has a first superior edge attached to the lower-body garment at the waistband of the lower-body garment, a second lateral edge attached to a second inner portion of the lower-body garment, and a second medial edge attached to a second closure seam of the lower-body garment,   wherein the first elastic support structure and the second elastic support structure are 8% to 50% smaller than a corresponding space in the lower-body garment,   wherein the first elastic support structure and second elastic support structure are configured to extend across and compress a portion of the garment-wearer's abdominal region,   wherein the first elastic support structure is further attached to the lower-body garment along a first pocket seam, the attachment to the first pocket seam extending medially from a first lateral region of the lower-body garment and/or the second elastic support structure is further attached to the lower-body garment along a second pocket seam, the attachment to the second pocket seam extending medially from a second lateral region of the lower-body garment, and   wherein the first pocket seam extends through only the first elastic support structure and the lower-body garment, and/or the second pocket seam extends through only the second elastic support structure and the lower-body garment, and   wherein the attachment of the first and second elastic support structures to the lower-body garment along the first and second pocket seams define a first pocket area and a second pocket area.   
     
     
         2 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first inner portion of the lower-body garment is a first sideseam and/or the second inner portion of the lower-body garment is a second sideseam. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower-body garment is a pair of pants, jeans, a pair of shorts, a skirt, leggings, or tights. 
     
     
         5 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower-body garment comprises denim, twill, woven fabric, or knit fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower-body garment comprises a closure comprising a zipper. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises inferior edges that are not attached to the lower-body garment. 
     
     
         10 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises a double-layer of fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 10 , wherein the double-layer of fabric comprises elastic stitched between the two layers. 
     
     
         12 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises a single layer of fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure is attached to the lower-body garment using one of a group consisting of sewing, adhering, heat sealing, welding, gluing, bonding, laser cutting, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and second elastic support structure have a higher elasticity than the lower-body garment. 
     
     
         15 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or the second elastic support structure comprises spandex. 
     
     
         16 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises 50%-85% nylon and 15%-50% spandex. 
     
     
         17 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises a fabric that is from 146 grams per square meter to 220 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         18 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises a fabric having a maximum side shrinkage of 5%. 
     
     
         19 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises a fabric having a maximum warp shrinkage of 6%. 
     
     
         20 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises a fabric having a warp stretch such that the fabric stretches 109% to 136% under a 10 pound load. 
     
     
         21 . The abdominal-restraint garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic support structure and/or second elastic support structure comprises a fabric having a side stretch of 79% to 99% under a 10 pound load. 
     
     
         22 - 65 . (canceled)