Auxetic bands and panels for bottom garments and garments incorporating the same

Abstract

A garment includes an auxetic device having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a top edge extending between the first end and the second end, and a bottom edge opposite the top edge. The first end and the second end are fixed to another portion of garment. At least one of the top edge or the bottom edge is free between the first end and the second end. The auxetic device has a Poisson ratio less than or equal to zero when stretched in a direction extending between the first end and the second end.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 an auxetic device having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a top edge extending between the first end and the second end, and a bottom edge opposite the top edge, the first end and the second end being fixed to another portion of garment, at least one of the top edge or the bottom edge being free between the first end and the second end, the auxetic device having a Poisson ratio less than or equal to zero when stretched in a direction extending between the first end and the second end.   
     
     
         2 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the auxetic device includes a plurality of unit cells disposed between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The garment according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of unit cells are arranged to have a reentrant structure. 
     
     
         4 . The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front panel and a rear panel joined together at side seams to form outer edges of the garment, the front panel and the rear panel define a top opening configured to be positioned adjacent a waist of a wearer; and   a support band extending about the top opening, the support band configured to maintain a position of the garment relative to the waist of a wearer.   
     
     
         5 . The garment according to  claim 4 , wherein the auxetic device forms a portion of the support band, the auxetic device forming a portion of the support band above the rear panel or forming a portion of the support band above one of the side seams. 
     
     
         6 . The garment according to  claim 4 , wherein the first end is attached to the support band adjacent one of the side seams defined between the front panel and the rear panel and the second end is attached to the support band adjacent the other side seam. 
     
     
         7 . The garment according to  claim 4 , wherein the front panel includes a fly assembly having a first side and a second side, the fly assembly configured to selectively secure one side of the front panel to another side of the front panel, the first end of the auxetic device attached to the first side of the fly assembly and the second end attached to the second side of the fly assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve that defines a tunnel, the first end and the second end of the auxetic device each including a solid area portion, the sleeve closed about each solid area portion of the first end and the second end such that the auxetic device is enclosed within the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front panel and a rear panel joined together at side seams to form outer edges of the garment, the front panel and the rear panel define a top opening configured to be positioned adjacent a waist of a wearer; and   a body contact fabric, the auxetic device sandwiched between the front panel and the body contact fabric, the body contact fabric having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the auxetic device attached to the front panel or the rear panel along one of the first edge or the second edge, the body contact fabric configured to conceal the auxetic device.   
     
     
         10 . The garment according to  claim 9 , wherein the first end and the first edge are stitched together to attach the auxetic device and the body contact fabric to the front panel or the rear panel. 
     
     
         11 . An auxetic band for a garment, the auxetic band comprising:
 an auxetic device having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a top edge extending between the first end and the second end, and a bottom edge opposite the top edge, the auxetic device having a Poisson ratio less than or equal to zero; and   a sleeve of stretch fabric having a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end opposite the first sleeve end, the sleeve of stretch fabric dimensioned to house the auxetic device therein, the first end of the auxetic device fixed to the sleeve adjacent the first sleeve end and the second end of the auxetic device fixed to the sleeve adjacent the second sleeve end, at least one of the top edge or the bottom edge free to move relative to the sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The auxetic band according to  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is dimensioned to accommodate an increase in surface area when the auxetic device is stretched in a direction extending between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         13 . A garment comprising:
 an auxetic band according to  claim 11 , wherein a top edge of the auxetic band is positioned at or below a waistband of the garment or a bottom edge of the auxetic band is positioned at a waistband of the garment.   
     
     
         14 . A garment comprising:
 a support band configured to position a top portion of the garment about or adjacent a waist of a wearer;   an auxetic device having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the auxetic device having a Poisson ratio less than or equal to zero, the auxetic device secured to the support band such that at least one edge of the auxetic device is free to move with respect to the support band.   
     
     
         15 . The garment according to  claim 14 , wherein the auxetic device forms a portion of the support band. 
     
     
         16 . The garment according to  claim 14 , wherein the auxetic device includes a top edge secured to the support band or below the support band such that the auxetic device forms a belly support panel of the garment below the support band. 
     
     
         17 . The garment according to  claim 16 , wherein the auxetic device includes a bottom edge, the bottom edge substantially free from the rest of the garment. 
     
     
         18 . The garment according to  claim 14 , wherein the auxetic device extends above the support band of the garment. 
     
     
         19 . The garment according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a front panel; and   a body contact fabric panel secured to the front panel, the auxetic device positioned between the body contact fabric panel and the front panel with the body contact fabric panel preventing the auxetic device from contacting the skin of a wearer.   
     
     
         20 . The garment according to  claim 19 , further comprising a pocket formed of pocket fabric, the pocket fabric disposed between the front panel and the auxetic device.