Garment with integral belly flattening and methods for manufacturing same

Abstract

A belly-flattening garment includes a legging garment having an upper waistline and an upper portion, an elastic waistband having a lower edge fixed to the waistline and an upper edge above the waistline, a zipper extending from the upper portion to the upper edge, and a elastic girdle insert disposed within the waistband and within the upper portion and having opposing fastening portions releasably securing to one another and free from both the waistband and the upper portion and a securing portion opposite the zipper and having a top edge fixed to the waistband to form the only fixed connection of the girdle insert to either the waistband or the garment. The garment is one of the group consisting of pants, jeans, sports pants, shorts, chinos, slacks, khakis, capris, leggings, jeggings, skorts, jumpsuits, long skirts, and short skirts. The waistband is between 2⅜ and 3 inches in height.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A belly-flattening item of clothing, comprising:
 a garment having:
 at least one leg portion; and 
 an upper portion connected to the at least one leg portion and having:
 a waistline defining a top of the upper portion; and 
 a cut at an angle to the waistline defining a pair of first zipper edges; 
 
   an elastic waistband having:
 a lower edge fixed to the waistline to define an interior surface; and 
 opposing second zipper edges aligned with and adjacent a respective one of the pair of the first zipper edges; 
   a zipper having zipper opposing parts connected to respective adjacent pairs of the first and second zipper edges; and   an elastic girdle insert disposed within the waistband and within the upper portion and having a body extending vertically from the waistband through the waistline and to an extent below the waistline at the upper portion, the body having:
 a pair of opposing fastening portions releasably securing to one another at different fastening positions and free from both the waistband and the upper portion of the garment; and 
 a rear portion opposite the fastening portions and having a top edge fixed to the interior surface of the waistband. 
   
     
     
         2 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg portion is one of:
 two leg portions forming a pair of pants; and   one leg portion forming a skirt.   
     
     
         3 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment is one of the group consisting of pants, jeans, sports pants, shorts, chinos, slacks, khakis, capris, leggings, jeggings, skorts, jumpsuits, long skirts, and short skirts. 
     
     
         4 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein the waistline has a circumferential extent and the elastic waistband is connected along the entire circumferential extent. 
     
     
         5 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic waistband is between approximately 1 inches and approximately 5 inches in height. 
     
     
         6 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic waistband is between approximately 2⅜ inches and approximately 3 inches in height. 
     
     
         7 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein the girdle insert is fixed only to the waistband at the top edge of the rear portion. 
     
     
         8 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper portion has opposing side seams and a back seam; and   the top edge of the rear portion of the girdle insert is fixed to the waistband from a first of the side seams to the back seam and to the other of the side seams.   
     
     
         9 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the fastening portions have a top edge and a bottom edge both free from both the waistband and the upper portion. 
     
     
         10 . The clothing according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposing fastening portions comprise an adjustable fastener selected from one of the group consisting of:
 at least one eyelet and a row of horizontal hooks;   a row of eyelets and rows of hooks;   a vertical row of eyelets and vertical rows of hooks; and   a hook-and-loop fastener.   
     
     
         11 . A belly-flattening item of clothing, comprising:
 a legging garment having:
 an upper portion; and 
 an upper waistline having a circumferential length and defining a first zipper opening at an angle to the waistline to segment the circumferential length and permit opening of the upper portion; 
   an elastic waistband having:
 an upper edge; and 
 a lower edge fixed to the waistline to define:
 a second zipper opening aligned with the first zipper opening; and 
 an interior surface; 
 
   a zipper at the first and second zipper openings forming a single zipper connector from the first zipper opening of the upper portion to the upper edge of the waistband; and   a elastic girdle insert disposed within the waistband and within the upper portion and having a body extending vertically from the waistband through the waistline and past at least some of the upper portion, the body having:
 a pair of opposing fastening portions releasably securing to one another at different fastening positions and free from both the waistband and the upper portion of the garment; and 
 a securing portion opposite the fastening portions and having a top edge fixed to the interior surface of the waistband to form the only fixed connection of the girdle insert to either the waistband or the garment. 
   
     
     
         12 . The clothing according to  claim 11 , wherein the legging garment is one of the group consisting of pants, jeans, sports pants, shorts, chinos, slacks, khakis, capris, leggings, jeggings, skorts, jumpsuits, long skirts, and short skirts. 
     
     
         13 . The clothing according to  claim 11 , wherein the lower edge of the waistband is fixed to an entirety of the circumferential length of the waistline. 
     
     
         14 . The clothing according to  claim 11 , wherein the elastic waistband is between approximately 2⅜ inches and approximately 3 inches in height. 
     
     
         15 . The clothing according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the upper portion has opposing side seams and a back seam; and   the top edge of the securing portion of the girdle insert is fixed to the waistband from a first of the side seams to the back seam and to the other of the side seams.   
     
     
         16 . The clothing according to  claim 11 , wherein the pair of opposing fastening portions comprise an adjustable fastener selected from one of the group consisting of:
 at least one eyelet and a row of horizontal hooks;   a row of eyelets and rows of hooks;   a vertical row of eyelets and vertical rows of hooks; and   a hook-and-loop fastener.   
     
     
         17 . The clothing according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the fastening portions have a top edge and a bottom edge both free from both the waistband and the upper portion. 
     
     
         18 . A belly-flattening garment, comprising:
 a legging garment having an upper waistline and an upper portion;   an elastic waistband having:
 a lower edge fixed to the waistline; and 
 an upper edge above the waistline; 
   a zipper extending from the upper portion to the upper edge of the waistband; and   a elastic girdle insert disposed within the waistband and within the upper portion and having:
 opposing fastening portions releasably securing to one another and free from both the waistband and the upper portion; and 
 a securing portion opposite the zipper and having a top edge fixed to the waistband to form the only fixed connection of the girdle insert to either the waistband or the garment. 
   
     
     
         19 . The clothing according to  claim 18 , wherein the legging garment is one of the group consisting of pants, jeans, sports pants, shorts, chinos, slacks, khakis, capris, leggings, jeggings, skorts, jumpsuits, long skirts, and short skirts. 
     
     
         20 . The clothing according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the elastic waistband is between approximately 2⅜ inches and approximately 3 inches in height;   the upper portion has opposing side seams and a back seam; and   the top edge of the securing portion of the girdle insert is fixed to the waistband from a first of the side seams to the back seam and to the other of the side seams.