Belly covering garment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a garment worn during different stages of pregnancy and different stages of postpartum body changes. A garment upper portion has a belly panel that is expansible to cover and fit over a growing abdomen during different stages of pregnancy, and a garment lower portion having a first torso encircling circumference that recedes downward to make way for expansion of the belly panel. The garment upper portion has a second torso encircling circumference to hold the garment up and in place over the torso.

1. A garment portion having an attached belly panel portion comprising:
 an expansible belly panel adapted to substantially cover a wearer's entire belly region, said belly region comprising an area beginning just beneath the wearer's breast area and extending over the wearer's abdomen to a lower abdomen region beneath the wearer's belly, said belly panel comprising:
 an upper edge portion defining a first encircling circumference about a wearer's torso that is at or above the wearer's upper abdomen region, and 
 a lower edge portion spaced from the upper edge portion and defining a second encircling circumference about the wearer's lower abdomen region; 
 
 and 
 a garment lower portion, in communication with the lower edge portion, having a torso encircling circumference that recedes downward to make way for expansion of the belly panel. 
 
     
     
       2. The garment portion of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of trousers attached to said lower edge portion. 
     
     
       3. The garment portion of  claim 2 , wherein said trousers comprise denim jeans. 
     
     
       4. The garment portion of  claim 3 , wherein said denim jeans comprise one or more pockets and a sewn zipperless fly front. 
     
     
       5. The garment portion of  claim 1 , further comprising a skirt attached to said lower edge portion. 
     
     
       6. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein said belly panel is adapted to cover the wearer's belly region during different stages of weight gains and losses. 
     
     
       7. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein said belly panel is adapted to substantially cover and fit over different body types. 
     
     
       8. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the belly panel is elastically expansible and contractible. 
     
     
       9. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the belly panel is seamless to fit comfortably while being worn. 
     
     
       10. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the belly panel is foldable to comprise a folded band. 
     
     
       11. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the belly panel is woven or knitted with elastic, stretchable strands. 
     
     
       12. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein a top edge margin of the belly panel is folded over and sewn or knitted to an inside of the belly panel fabric. 
     
     
       13. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the belly panel comprises a double layer tubular structure. 
     
     
       14. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the belly panel further comprises a partial waistband extending across a back side of the lower edge portion and extending down into side seams of an article of clothing connected thereto. 
     
     
       15. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the belly panel further comprises one or more belly-cradling stitches or knitted tension to cradle the wearer's abdomen region. 
     
     
       16. The garment portion of  claim 1 , wherein the lower edge portion is configured to extend downward with a parabolic shape to accommodate the wearer's expanding belly region. 
     
     
       17. The garment portion of claim 15, wherein the stitches or knitted tension extend along multiple paths arranged in an elliptical pattern that curves, so as to cradle a curved abdomen. 
     
     
       18. The garment portion of claim 1, further comprising a series of stitches or knitted tension in a backside of the garment portion to provide spinal and back support against the wearer. 
     
     
       19. The garment portion of claim 18, wherein the series of stitches or knitted tension extends along a pattern of multiple stitch paths. 
     
     
       20. The garment portions of claim 1, wherein the belly panel defines a tubular structure that is shaped and formed as a hyperboloid cylinder to fit a body type having a tapered torso. 
     
     
       21. The garment portion of claim 1, wherein the belly panel defines a tubular structure that is shaped and formed as straight-sided cylinder to fit a body type having a correspondingly shaped torso.