Undergarment for absorbing perspiration

Abstract

The garment has sleeves that are wider than twice the distance between the wearer's shoulders and armpits. These sleeves form folds of sleeve material under the armpits that absorb perspiration and prevent staining the outer garment. Attached to lingerie, the sleeves have bights formed in the sleeve material. These bights prevent the sleeve material from gathering, or bundling, as the lingerie shoulder straps are adjusted to adapt to the wearer's physique, thereby establishing a smooth transition from the sleeves to the lingerie that avoids forming unsightly humps in the outer garment surface. When the sleeves are used with a body shirt, a crotch strap is provided on the body shirt to stabilize the body shirt on the wearer's torso and to prevent the body shirt from “riding up” on the wearer's torso during strenuous physical activity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A garment to be worn with lingerie for absorbing perspiration comprising: 
 at least one sleeve having sleeve ends, an arm hole in said sleeve between said sleeve ends having a dimension greater than twice the distance between the wearer's shoulder and armpit, said sleeve forming folds under the armpit to absorb the perspiration, means for attaching one of said sleeve ends to the lingerie, and said attaching sleeve end having at least one bight formed therein, said bight having a depth of one-half to two-thirds of the distance along said sleeve between said two sleeve ends for adapting said sleeve to the lingerie to establish a smooth surface across said sleeve and the lingerie.    
     
     
         2 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the bight comprises a triangle, said triangle having a base formed in the attaching sleeve end and having an altitude of more than one-half of the distance along said sleeve between said two sleeve ends.  
     
     
         3 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the lingerie has a shoulder strap of selectively adjustable length and said means for attaching one of said sleeve ends to the lingerie further comprises means for attaching said sleeve end to the adjustable shoulder strap.  
     
     
         4 . A garment according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for attaching one of said sleeve ends to the adjustable shoulder strap further comprises stitching.  
     
     
         5 . A garment according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for attaching one of said sleeve ends to the adjustable shoulder strap further comprises a hem formed in said sleeve end to enclose the shoulder strap.  
     
     
         6 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching one of said sleeve ends to the lingerie further comprises means for selectively attaching said sleeve to the lingerie.  
     
     
         7 . A garment for absorbing perspiration covering the wearer's torso comprising sleeves on the garment, said sleeves each having a dimension of not less than twice the distance between the wearer's shoulder and armpit, said sleeves each forming folds under the respective armpits for absorbing perspiration, a strap on the garment for wear under the wearer's crotch, and fastening means on said strap for selectively attaching said strap to the garment and to stabilize the garment on the wearer's torso.  
     
     
         8 . A garment according to  claim 7 , wherein said fastening means comprise snap fasteners.  
     
     
         9 . A garment according to  claim 7 , wherein said fastening means comprise a Velcro fastener.  
     
     
         10 . A garment to be worn with lingerie according to  claim 1 , wherein the lingerie comprises a combination bra and slip, at least one shoulder strap on said bra portion of said combination bra and slip, said at least one sleeve being attached to said at least one shoulder strap.