Convertible shape control garment

Abstract

An article of clothing having a shape control feature. In one embodiment, the article of clothing may comprise a main body comprising a cavity for receiving a portion of a torso of a wearer and an edge defining an opening into the cavity; a tubular sleeve formed of a shape control material, the tubular sleeve forming a shape control cavity, the tubular sleeve coupled to the main body so that the shape control cavity and the cavity of the main body are in spatial cooperation with one another; and the tubular sleeve extending from the edge of the main body so that at least a portion of a middle torso of the wearer is located within the shape control cavity and circumscribed by the tubular sleeve.

1 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a main body comprising:
 a lower torso cavity for receiving a lower torso of a wearer; and 
 a first annular top edge defining a waist opening into the lower torso cavity: 
   a tubular sleeve formed of a shape control material, the tubular sleeve forming a shape control cavity and terminating in a second annular top edge defining a torso opening, the tubular sleeve coupled to the main body so that the shape control cavity and the lower torso cavity are in spatial cooperation with one another; and   the tubular sleeve convertible between: (1) an extended state in which said tubular sleeve extends from the first annular top edge of the main body and at least a first portion of a middle torso of the wearer is located within the shape control cavity and circumscribed by the tubular sleeve; and (2) a retracted state in which said tubular sleeve is folded so that the first portion of the middle torso of the wearer is not located within the shape control cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has a circumferential modulus of X 1  at 30% and a circumferential modulus of X 2  at 50%, wherein a ratio of X 2 :X 1  is in a range of 1.5 to 2.0. 
     
     
         3 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has a circumferential modulus of X 1  at 30% and a circumferential modulus of X 3  at 70%, wherein a ratio of X 3 :X 1  is in a range of 2.0 to 3.0. 
     
     
         4 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has a circumferential modulus of X 1  at 30%, a circumferential modulus of X 2  at 50%, a circumferential modulus of X 3  at 70%, and wherein X 1  is in a range of 1.2 lbs. to 1.5 lbs., X 2  is in a range of 2.1 lbs. to 2.7 lbs., and X 3  is in a range of 3. lbs. to 3.8 lbs. 
     
     
         5 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has an axial modulus of Y 1  at 30% and an axial modulus of Y 2  at 50%, wherein a ratio of Y 2 :Y 1  is in a range of 1.7 to 1.9. 
     
     
         6 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has an axial modulus of Y 1  at 30% and an axial modulus of Y 3  at 70%, wherein a ratio of Y 3 :Y 1  is in a range of 2.5 to 2.7. 
     
     
         7 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has an axial modulus of Y 1  at 30%, an axial modulus of Y 2  at 50%, an axial modulus of Y 3  at 70%, and wherein Y 1  is in a range of 1.6 lbs. to 2.1 lbs., Y 2  is in a range of 2.9 lbs. to 3.6 lbs., and Y 3  is in a range of 4.0 lbs. to 5.2 lbs. 
     
     
         8 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve is a circular knit fabric or a warp knit fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The article of clothing of  claim 9  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has a weight in a range of 7.0 oz/yd 2  to 8.0 oz/yd 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve comprises between 50 wt % to 60 wt % nylon and between 40 wt % to 50 wt % spandex. 
     
     
         11 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has a circumferential modulus, and wherein the shape control material self-supports the tubular sleeve in the extended state by virtue of the circumferential modulus exerting a compression force on the middle torso of the wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein said main body is in the form of a swimsuit bottom, a pair of shorts, a pair of pants, a skirt, a piece of intimate apparel or a hosiery. 
     
     
         13 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of the middle torso is an under bust portion of the wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The article clothing of  13  wherein when the tubular sleeve is in the retracted state, a second portion of the middle torso remains located within the shape control cavity, and wherein the second portion of the middle torso is a midriff portion of the wearer. 
     
     
         15 . The article of clothing of  claim 14  wherein the tubular sleeve is folded upon itself in the retracted state and circumscribes the midriff portion of the wearer. 
     
     
         16 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a lower portion, a middle portion, and an upper portion, and wherein the lower portion is coupled to the main body and the middle portion is tapered relative to the lower and upper portions. 
     
     
         17 . The article of clothing of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve is sewn to the main body. 
     
     
         18 . The article of clothing of  claim 17  wherein the main body is formed of a different material than the tubular sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a main body comprising:
 a lower torso cavity for receiving a lower torso of a wearer; and 
 a first annular top edge defining a waist opening into the lower torso cavity; 
   a tubular sleeve formed of a shape control material, the tubular sleeve forming a shape control cavity and terminating in a second annular top edge defining a torso opening, the tubular sleeve coupled to the main body so that the shape control cavity and the lower torso cavity are in spatial cooperation with one another; and   the tubular sleeve extending from the first annular top edge of the main body so that at least a portion of a middle torso of the wearer is located within the shape control cavity and circumscribed by the tubular sleeve.   
     
     
         20 . The article of clothing of  claim 19  wherein the portion of the middle torso is a midriff portion of the wearer. 
     
     
         21 . The article of clothing of  claim 20  wherein the tubular sleeve is folded over itself and can be unfolded to circumscribe an under bust portion of the wearer. 
     
     
         22 . The article of clothing of  claim 19  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has a circumferential modulus of X 1  at 30% and a circumferential modulus of X 3  at 70%, wherein a ratio of X 3 :X 1  is in a range of 2.0 to 3.0. 
     
     
         23 . The article of clothing of  claim 19  wherein the shape control material of the tubular sleeve has a circumferential modulus, and wherein the shape control material self-supports the tubular sleeve about the portion of the middle torso by virtue of the circumferential modulus exerting a compression force on the portion of the middle torso of the wearer. 
     
     
         24 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a main body comprising a cavity for receiving a portion of a torso of a wearer and an edge defining an opening into the cavity;   a tubular sleeve formed of a shape control material, the tubular sleeve forming a shape control cavity, the tubular sleeve coupled to the main body so that the shape control cavity and the cavity of the main body are in spatial cooperation with one another; and   the tubular sleeve extending from the edge of the main body so that at least a portion of a middle torso of the wearer is located within the shape control cavity and circumscribed by the tubular sleeve.