Upper garment having a pre-tensioned band and method for making the same

Abstract

This invention generally relates to a garment assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a garment assembly comprising an upper garment, a lower garment, and a removable liner. The removable liner is non-permanently interconnected to both the lower garment and the upper garment. The upper garment includes a pre-tensioned waistband.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 a) applying and maintaining a strain to an elastomeric band, the elastomeric band having opposing distal ends and opposing upper and lower edges;   b) attaching the lower edge of the elastomeric band to a waist edge of an upper garment while substantially maintaining the strain on the elastomeric band;   c) attaching the distal ends to at least one of each other or the upper garment;   d) removing the strain applied to the elastomeric band to form a pre-tensioned elastomeric band and a pre-tensioned upper garment edge;   e) interconnecting a removable liner to the upper garment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching by at least one of stitching, welding, and bonding. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnection between the removable liner and the upper garment is non-permanent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower edges of the pre-tensioned elastomeric band have differing tensions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper garment has opposing inner and outer surfaces and wherein the pre-tensioned elastomeric band is positioned adjacent to the inner surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some portion of the top edge of the pre-tensioned elastomeric band is attached to the upper garment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the top edge of the pre-tensioned elastomeric band is attached to the upper garment substantially about one or more locations where a seam of the upper garment intersects the pre-tensioned elastomeric band. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric band comprises at least one of a woven material, a non-woven material, an extruded material, and a cast elastomeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removable liner is comprised of at least one of nylon, polyester, and spandex. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 f) interconnecting a lower garment to the removable liner.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the interconnection between the lower garment and the removable liner is non-permanent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lower garment comprises an inner portion that extends from a bottom edge of a right leg to a bottom edge of a left leg. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 a) providing a pre-tensioned elastomeric band having opposing distal ends and opposing upper and lower edges;   b) providing an upper garment having a waist edge and an inner surface;   c) attaching the lower edge of the pre-tensioned elastomeric band to the waist edge of the upper garment, wherein the upper edge of the pre-tensioned elastomeric band is positioned adjacent to and tilted away from the inner surface of the upper garment shell;   d) attaching the distal ends to at least one of each other or the upper garment;   e) interconnecting a removable liner to the upper garment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the interconnection between the removable liner and the upper garment is non-permanent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the upper and lower edges of the pre-tensioned elastomeric band have differing tensions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the upper edge tilts away from the upper garment by a tilt angle of about 5 to about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the removable liner is comprised of at least one of nylon, polyester, and spandex. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the removable liner comprises two fastening loops disposed about a waist region of the removable liner. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 f) interconnecting a lower garment having an inner surface to the removable liner, wherein the lower garment comprises two fastening straps disposed on the inner surface of the lower garment and about a waist region of the lower garment, wherein the two fastening straps interconnect to the two fastening loops such that the lower garment interconnects with the removable liner.   
     
     
         20 . The method, comprising:
 a) providing a pre-tensioned elastomeric band having opposing distal ends and having:
 a first resilient fabric with a first resiliency, the first resilient fabric in the cross section being folded over upon itself at a fold to define a first portion, a second portion that overlaps the first portion, and a pocket between the first and second portions, the pocket being closed off at an upper edge and open at a lower edge; 
 a second resilient fabric with a second resiliency, the second resilient fabric in the cross section being disposed within the pocket, the second resilient fabric being operably secured to the first resilient fabric, said second resiliency greater than said first resiliency; 
 a first fastening structure that extends in a transverse direction through the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric to attach the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric together, the first fastening structure extending in the transverse direction through each of the first portion of the first resilient fabric, the second resilient fabric, and the second portion of the first resilient fabric; 
 a second fastening structure that extends in the transverse direction through the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric to attach the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric together, the second fastening structure extending in the transverse direction through the first portion of the first resilient fabric and the second resilient fabric, and the second fastening structure terminating in the transverse direction inside the pocket to stop short of extending through the second portion of the first resilient fabric; 
   b) providing an upper garment having a waist edge;   c) attaching the lower edge of the pre-tensioned elastomeric band to the waist edge of the upper garment;   d) attaching the distal ends of the pre-tensioned elastomeric band to at least one of each other or the upper garment;   e) interconnecting a removable liner to the upper garment.