Shaping undergarment and method of its manufacture

Abstract

A shaping undergarment includes a front panel and a rear panel connected thereto, forming an undergarment having first and second hip regions. A frictional band attached to the undergarment extends along at least a portion of the rear panel between the first and second hip regions. The frictional band may extend substantially continuously between the first and second hip regions, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, may be a single continuous band. When worn, the frictional band frictionally engages the wearer's skin to uplift and extend the wearer's buttocks. The frictional band may be totally or partially obscured from view. The material properties of the frictional band, such as its coefficient of friction with skin and elastic modulus, and its path along the undergarment, may be designed to achieve a particularly aesthetically pleasing result for the wearer of the shaping undergarment.

1 . A shaping undergarment, comprising:
 a front panel;   a rear panel connected to said front panel and forming therewith an undergarment having a first hip region and a second, opposite hip region; and   a frictional band attached to said undergarment and extending along at least a portion of said rear panel between said first hip region and said second hip region.   
   
   
       2 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein said frictional band comprises a polymeric band. 
   
   
       3 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein said frictional band comprises a polymer-coated band. 
   
   
       4 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein said frictional band extends substantially continuously from said first hip region to said second hip region. 
   
   
       5 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein a segment of said frictional band extends adjacent at least one of a first leg opening in said undergarment and a second leg opening in said undergarment. 
   
   
       6 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein said frictional band is at least partially obscured from external view. 
   
   
       7 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 6 , further comprising a camouflaging feature at least partially obscuring said frictional band from external view. 
   
   
       8 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 7 , wherein said frictional band is integrated with said camouflaging feature 
   
   
       9 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second hip regions are adjacent a waist opening of said undergarment. 
   
   
       10 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein an end of said frictional band is removably attached to said undergarment. 
   
   
       11 . The shaping undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein said frictional band comprises a elastic frictional band. 
   
   
       12 . A method of manufacturing a shaping undergarment, the method comprising:
 attaching a front panel to a rear panel, forming thereby an undergarment having a first hip region and a second, opposite hip region; and   attaching a frictional band to the undergarment extending along at least a portion of the rear panel between the first hip region and the second hip region.   
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein attaching a frictional band to the undergarment comprises attaching a polymeric band to the undergarment. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein attaching a frictional band to the undergarment comprises attaching a polymer-coated band to the undergarment. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein attaching a frictional band to the undergarment comprises attaching a substantially continuous frictional band to the undergarment between the first hip region and the second hip region. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising camouflaging at least a portion of the frictional band from external view. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein camouflaging at least a portion of the frictional band from external view comprises attaching a camouflaging feature to the undergarment. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising integrating the frictional band with the camouflaging feature. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein attaching a frictional band to the undergarment comprises removably attaching an end of the frictional band to the undergarment. 
   
   
       20 . A buttocks-shaping clothing article, comprising:
 an undergarment; and   means for frictionally engaging and uplifting a wearer's buttocks attached to a rear panel of said undergarment.