US3054112A - Maternity garment - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 18, 1962 L. L. M MANN MATERNITY GARMENT Filed Sept. 24, 1959 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

LUCILLE MC MANN BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,054,112 MATERNITY GARMENT Lucille L. McMann, Mishawaka, Ind. (Blue Ridge Summit, Pa.)

Filed Sept. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 842,121 6 Claims. (Cl. 2-76) The present invention relates to maternity garments and more particularly to an adjustable skirt or underskirt for wear during pregnancy.

During the period of pregnancy when the figure is expanding and body movements tend to become increasingly awkward, it is desirable to wear dresses which are not only adjustable to the changing dimensions, but also minimize the awkwardness of the body as well as give the illusion of the normal figure. Conventional maternity skirts have been expandable by a variety of means. Wraparound skirts are easily adjustable; however, they tend to separate in some positions such as sitting and in addition, as the figure expands, the hemlines of the skirts become uneven. Pull gathered skirts also develop uneven hemlines, they give a bulky appearance, and they are uncomfortable since they depend on drawstrings or other belt means around the expanded waistline for their support which bind the wearer.

Another conventional expandable skirt is the separate type with a hole over the abdomen, supported by a drawstring or belt means around the waistline; however, this type is also binding and uncomfortable, adding to the natural awkwardness during this period. It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide a garment for maternity wear which will expand with the wearers size maintaining a neat hemline and be attractive as well as comfortable to the wearer.

Another object is to provide a skirt adaptable to the popular narrow silhouette which gives the illusion of slimness', hiding the awkwardness of the figure and which is suspended from the shoulders for greater comfort to the wearer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a skirt or underskirt for maternity wear which is easy for the wearer to put on in spite of the awkwardness characteristic of pregnancy and which adjusts automatically to the expanding figure.

A further object is to provide a versatile maternity garment adaptable to be either an underskirt or a skirt, which is automatically adjustable and comfortable to wear, yet which is simple and economical to manufacture.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the garment being worn, the novel features of the skirts construction being shown in broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the skirt, showing details of construction; and

FIGURE 3 is a detail view of the bodice placket.

Referring to the drawing, numeral designates a maternity dress consisting of overblouse 12 and my skirt 14. The skirt in this embodiment is made in two parts, the bodice 16 and skirt portion 18, and these parts are sewed or otherwise firmly secured together. Darts 20 and 22 are provided near the sides at the waistline for a neat fit over the part f the figure which does not increase in size substantially. A shown, the support for the skirt is provided by relatively broad shoulder straps 24 which bear the weight of the skirt without binding or other discomfort. The bodice is closed by means of a placket 25 with buttons 26 and 27 and button holes 26' and 27', respectively, in an easily reached position so that no other placket or opening means in a hard to 3,054,112 Patented Sept. 18, 1962 reach position is necessary, thus making it possible for the wearer to get into the garment and secure it easily without twisting or stretching. This bodice arrangement also contributes to the neat fit of the garment, in that it can be expanded to accommodate enlargement during the final stages of pregnancy. In the early stages button 27 can be used in hole 26'; later the two buttons are used in the manner shown; and in the final stages, button 26- is used in hole 27.

One of the principal features of the garment is the hole or opening 28 which extends from immediately under the bust to below the area of expansion of the abdomen, and which is sufficiently wide to leave free and unobstructed the entire expansion area of the body during pregnancy. The opening in the embodiment shown is defined by a U-shaped portion 30 in the skirt extending downwardly from the top and by an inverted U-shaped portion 32 in the bodice extending up from the bottom a portion of the distance to the neck opening 34. The material along the two U-shaped portions is preferably reinforced with a facing 36 and 36, or the like.

Opening 28 is covered by the loose overblouse conventional for maternity wear, and since there are no restricting edges over the expansion area and no drawstring or belt means at the waistline, the garment can be worn throughout the advanced period of pregnancy in complete comfort. The combination of the broad shoulder straps and adequate front opening provides comfort to the wearer, while the front placket of the bodice makes it easy to put on and take oil even during the advanced awkward stage of pregnancy. This combination can be incorporated into any style of skirt so that the garment can be adapted to the latest fashion, keeping the wearers silhouette attractive in spite of the expanded figure.

In the embodiment shown, the skirt 18 is of the same material as blouse 12, while bodice 16 is of lighter material suitable for an undergarment. For use as an underskirt, the entire garment can be made of the same material. It can also be made in one piece, fitted by means of darts or the like, rather than as an attached bodice and skirt, the important requirements being that the bodice and skirt are attached so that the skirt hangs from the shoulders for its support, and that the bodice portion fasten in front where the placket is easily accessible for the wearers convenience and comfort.

While only one embodiment has been described in detail herein, further modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A maternity garment, comprising a skirt portion, a bodice having a pair of shoulder straps and a neckline and being secured to and supporting said skirt, means defining an unobstructed U-shaped opening with a continuous uninterrupted edge in the front of said skirt and extending downwardly from the top thereof, means defining an unobstructed inverted U-shaped opening in the front of said bodice extending upwardly from the bottom of the bodice a portion of the distance to the neckline, the size of the opening in said skirt at the top thereof and the opening in said bodice at the bottom thereof being the same, an expandable placket extending between the upper portion of the opening in said bodice and the neckline, adjustable button means closing said placket for selectively varying the width thereof, and a plurality of darts in the adjoining margins of said skirt and bodice on opposite sides of said opening therein.

2. A maternity garment, comprising a skirt portion, a bodice having a pair of shoulder straps and a neckline and being secured to and supporting said skirt, means defining an unobstructed U-shaped opening with a continuous uninterrupted edge in the front of said skirt and extending downwardly from the top thereof, means defining an unobstructed inverted U-shaped opening in the front of said bodice extending upwardly from the bottom of the bodice a portion of the distance to the neckline, the size of the opening in said skirt at the top thereof and the opening in said bodice at the bottom thereof being the same, an expandable placket extending between the upper portion of the opening in said bodice and the neckline, and a pair of horizontally spaced buttons and button holes closing said placket for selectively varying the width thereof.

3. A maternity garment, comprising a skirt portion, a bodice having a pair of shoulder straps and an opening for the wearers neck and being secured to and supporting said skirt, means defining an unobstructed U-shaped opening with a continuous uninterrupted edge in the front of said skirt and extending downwardly from the top thereof, means defining an unobstructed inverted U-shaped opening in the front of said bodice extending upwardly from the bottom of the bodice a portion of the distance to the neck opening, the adjacent edges of said openings registering with one another, an expandable placket extending between the upper portion of the opening in said bodice and the opening for the wearers neck, and releasable means closing said placket for selectively varying the width thereof.

4. A maternity garment, comprising a skirt portion, a bodice having a pair of shoulder straps and an opening for the wearers neck and being secured to and supporting said skirt, means defining an unobstructed U-shaped opening with a continuous uninterrupted edge in the front of said skirt and extending downwardly from the top thereof, means defining an unobstructed inverted U-shaped opening in the front of said bodice extending upwardly from the bottom of the bodice a portion of the distance to the neck opening, the adjacent edges of said openings registering with one another, an expandable placket extending between the upper portion of the opening in said bodice and the opening for the wearers neck, and a means for selectively varying the Width of said placket.

5. A maternity garment, comprising a skirt portion, a bodice having a pair of shoulder straps secured to and supporting said skirt, means defining a broad unobstructed opening with a continuous uninterrupted edge in the front of said skirt and extending downwardly from the top thereof, means defining a broad unobstructed permanent opening in the front of said bodice extending upwardly from the bottom of the bodice a portion of the distance to the top, an expandable placket extending between the upper portion of the opening in said bodice and the top, and releasable means closing said placket for selectively varying the width thereof.

6. A maternity garment, comprising a skirt portion, a bodice having a pair of shoulder straps secured to and sup porting said skirt, means defining a broad unobstructed opening with a continuous uninterrupted edge in the front of said skirt and extending downwardly from the top thereof, means defining a broad unobstructed permanent opening in the front of said bodice extending upwardly from the bottom of the bodice a portion of the distance to the top, an expandable placket extending between the upper portion of the opening in said bodice and the top, and a pair of horizontally spaced buttons and button holes closing said placket for selectively varying the width thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,065,027 Budweiser June 17, 1913 1,372,977 Prokesch Mar. 29, 1921 2,014,619 Hunley Sept. 17, 1935 2,014,620 Hunley Sept. 17, 1935 2,259,236 Wellins et a1. Oct. 14, 1941 2,521,409 Richony Sept. 15, 1950 2,548,143 Christiansen Apr. 10, 1951

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