Garment with lowered waist portion

Abstract

A garment comprises a span member having a right upper portion, a left upper portion, and a lower middle portion and defining an open space between the right and left upper portions. A waistband is connected to the right and left upper portions of the span member. The span member is substantially rigid such that movement of the right upper portion away from the left upper portion is resisted, and such that circumferential tension is maintained along the waistband sufficient to maintain the garment in a desired location on a wearer's body. The fabric of the garment is attached to the span member to form a garment with an open space between the right and left upper portions of the span member.

1 . A garment comprising:
 a span member comprising a right upper portion, a left upper portion, and a lower middle portion, the span member thereby defining an open space between the right upper portion and the left upper portion;   a waistband connected at a right end thereof to the right upper portion of the span member and connected at a left end thereof to the left upper portion of the span member;   wherein the span member is substantially rigid such that movement of the right upper portion away from the left upper portion is resisted, and such that circumferential tension is maintained along the waistband sufficient to maintain the garment in a desired location on a wearer's body; and   wherein fabric of the garment is attached to the span member to form a garment with an open space between the between the right and left upper portions of the span member.   
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the garment is configured such that one of a lower portion of an abdomen of the wearer, a hip of the wearer, and an upper portion of a buttock of the wearer is exposed through the open space. 
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the waistband is resilient to facilitate donning the garment. 
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the waistband comprises a releasable fly opening to facilitate donning the garment. 
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein me waistband comprises loops at each end thereof, and comprising pegs extending from the right and left upper portions of the span member and extending through the loops. 
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the waistband comprises vertically oriented loops at each end thereof, and wherein the right and left upper portions of the span member are provided by substantially vertical and parallel legs extending through the loops. 
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 6  further comprising a tab extending laterally from a top end of at least one leg and operative to prevent a loop from sliding up off the leg. 
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the span member defines apertures in the right and left upper portions thereof and wherein the waistband is connected to the span member through me apertures. 
   
   
       9 . The garment of  claim 1  comprising loops extending from the right and left upper portions of the span member and wherein ends of the waistband extend through the loops. 
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a belt around the outside of the garment over the waistband, and releasably attached to the right and left upper portions of the span member. 
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 10  wherein ends of the belt are attached to buckle members attached to the right and left upper portions of the span member. 
   
   
       12 . The garment of  claim 11  comprising pegs extending from the right and left upper portions of the span member through the fabric, and wherein the buckle members are attached to the pegs. 
   
   
       13 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the span member comprises one of metal, ceramic, plastic, and nylon. 
   
   
       14 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the span member comprises stainless steel. 
   
   
       15 . The garment of  claim 1  comprising padding between at least a portion of the span member and an inside of the garment 
   
   
       16 . A method of making a garment, the method comprising:
 providing a span member comprising a right upper portion, a left upper portion, and a lower middle portion, the span member thereby defining an open space between the right upper portion and the left upper portion;   connecting a waistband at a right end thereof to the right upper portion of the span member and at a left end thereof to the left upper portion of the span member;   wherein the span member is substantially rigid such that movement of the right upper portion away from the left upper portion is resisted, and such that circumferential tension is maintained along the waistband sufficient to maintain the garment in a desired location on a wearer's body, and   attaching fabric of the garment to the span member to form a garment with an open space between the between the right and left upper portions of the span member.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the garment is configured such that one of a lower portion of an abdomen of the wearer, a hip of the wearer, and an upper portion of a buttock of the wearer is exposed through the open space. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  comprising providing a resilient waistband to facilitate donning the garment 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  comprising providing a releasable fly opening to facilitate donning the garment. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising a belt around the outside of the garment over the waistband, and releasably attached to the right and left upper portions of the span member. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein ends of the belt are attached to buckle members attached to the right and left upper portions of the span member. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1  comprising providing padding between at least a portion of the span member and an inside of the garment. 
   
   
       23 . A belt for use with a garment comprising a span member having a right upper portion, a left upper portion, and a lower middle portion, the garment including a waistband attached at each end thereof to the span member, the garment thereby defining an open space between the right upper portion and the left upper portion of the span member, the belt comprising a buckle member at each end thereof adapted for releasable attachment to corresponding ones of the right and left upper portions of the span member.