Shape enhancing garment

Abstract

A shape enhancing garment to be worn upon a wearers body for the purpose of increasing or enhancing a visual buttock profile of the wearer is described. The shape enhancing garment is characterised in that it includes an outer rear fabric portion and an inner rear fabric portion arranged in an overlying manner. The shape enhancing garment further includes a first pocket and a second pocket, each pocket located upon an inner surface of the inner rear fabric portion. Each pocket is arranged to receive a shape defining pad and to retain the shape defining pad therein such that, in use, each shape defining pad is disposed adjacent a buttock of the wearer so as to create a visual buttock profile that is enhanced. A shape defining pad for use in a shape defining garment is also described, as is a method of manufacture of said shape defining pad.

1 . A shape enhancing garment to be worn upon a wearers body for the purpose of increasing or enhancing a visual buttock profile of the wearer, wherein the shape enhancing garment comprises:
 an outer rear fabric portion and an inner rear fabric portion arranged in an overlying manner; and   a first pocket and second pocket, each pocket located upon an inner surface of the inner rear fabric portion, each pocket being arranged to receive a shape defining pad and to retain the shape defining pad therein such that, in use, each shape defining pad is disposed adjacent a buttock of the wearer so as to create a visual buttock profile that is enhanced.   
   
   
       2 . A shape enhancing garment according to  claim 1 , wherein each pocket has a periphery having a shape with a generally straight portion, the straight portion being arranged adjacent and substantially parallel to a waistband of the garment. 
   
   
       3 . A shape enhancing garment according to  claim 2 , wherein the straight edge is located within a range of 0.5 cm to 3 cm below the waistband. 
   
   
       4 . A shape enhancing garment according to  claim 1 , wherein each pocket has a shape and size similar to that of the shape defining pad received therein so as to maintain the pad in a substantially fixed position upon being received by each respective pocket. 
   
   
       5 . A shape enhancing garment according to  claim 4 , wherein an outer periphery of each pocket is of a size that is between 1 mm to 4 mm larger than a size of each respective shape defining pad. 
   
   
       6 . A shape enhancing garment according to  claim 1 , wherein two or more outer rear fabric portions are provided in an overlying manner, the outer rear fabric portions assisting to conceal joining between the inner rear fabric portion and pockets. 
   
   
       7 . A shape enhancing garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a pair of hipster or low-rise underwear or briefs. 
   
   
       8 . A shape enhancing garment according to  claim 6 , wherein the garment is a swimsuit. 
   
   
       9 . A shape defining pad for use in a shape enhancing garment, wherein the shape defining pad comprises:
 a central portion with a surrounding peripheral portion having an outermost edge, the outermost edge defining a shape comprising an arc having two ends, the ends being connected by a generally straight portion, the generally straight portion being arranged, in use, below and substantially parallel to a waistband of the shape enhancing garment; and   a convex outer face having a shape and configuration arranged to define a desired buttock profile when an inner face of the shape defining pad is placed adjacent a buttock of the wearer of the shape enhancing garment.   
   
   
       10 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 9 , wherein the pad has a thickness that generally decreases outwardly from the central portion towards the peripheral edge such that the peripheral edge has a minimum thickness. 
   
   
       11 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 9 , wherein the central portion has a maximum thickness in the range of 0.5 to 3 cm. 
   
   
       12 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 11 , wherein the central portion has a maximum thickness in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 cm. 
   
   
       13 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 9 , wherein the convex outer face is an irregular convex outer face wherein curvature of the outer face is greater adjacent the straight portion. 
   
   
       14 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 9 , wherein the outermost edge is generally uneven. 
   
   
       15 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 14 , wherein the uneven outermost edge is formed from a multitude of broken open-cell foam cells. 
   
   
       16 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 9 , wherein a length of the pad from the straight portion to an opposing side is in the range of 12 to 17.5 cm. 
   
   
       17 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 16 , wherein the length is in the range of 14 to 17 cm. 
   
   
       18 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 9 , wherein a width of the pad is in the range of 12 to 19 cm. 
   
   
       19 . A shape defining pad according to  claim 18 , wherein the width is in the range of 14 to 16 cm. 
   
   
       20 . A method of manufacture of a shape defining pad for use in a shape enhancing garment, the method comprising:
 subjecting a section of heat-formable foam to a heat press process in a mould casing, the section of foam having a convex upper surface and the foam having a size and shape that substantially matches the outermost edge of the pad;   the mould casing defining the shape and configuration of the pad such that upon compression of the foam, the foam is compressed substantially evenly throughout to create a pad that has substantially uniform density.