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EP-4736689-A1 - SHAPEWEAR GARMENTS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME

EP4736689A1EP 4736689 A1EP4736689 A1EP 4736689A1EP-4736689-A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein are shapewear garments comprising X-shaped panels and methods of making the same. Including, the method comprising: a) applying an adhesive to a first fabric; b) curing said adhesive on the first fabric; c) cutting an X-shaped panel from the first fabric; d) bonding said X-shaped panel to a second fabric using the adhesive, thereby forming a shaping region; and e) forming the shapewear garment from the second fabric.

Inventors

  • ALLEN, WENDY HANSON
  • Higginbotham, Katie
  • Schroeder, Emilie

Assignees

  • Spanx, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251003

Claims (15)

  1. A method of making a shapewear garment, the method comprising: a) applying an adhesive to a first fabric; b) curing said adhesive on the first fabric; c) cutting an X-shaped panel from the first fabric; d) bonding said X-shaped panel to a second fabric using the adhesive, thereby forming a shaping region; and e) forming the shapewear garment from the second fabric.
  2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fabric comprises a knit fabric or satin, and the second fabric comprises a knit fabric or mesh.
  3. The method of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the adhesive is thermally activated, optionally wherein the adhesive comprises thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), thermoplastic polyamide elastomer (TPA), or any combination thereof.
  4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein step a) comprises covering from about 30% to about 100% of the surface area of the first fabric with the adhesive; optionally wherein step a) comprises applying the adhesive in a dot-matrix pattern.
  5. The method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein step b) comprises allowing the adhesive to cool for from about 30 minutes to about 24 hours.
  6. The method of any one of claims 1-5, wherein step c) is executed by a rotary knife, a laser, or a straight knife.
  7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, wherein step d) is executed by a roller fuse or flat press; optionally wherein the roller fuse or flat press operates at a temperature of from about 130°C to about 180°C and exerts a pressure of from about 2 bar to about 5 bar; optionally wherein step d) has a duration of from about 10 seconds to about 25 seconds.
  8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein step e) comprises: i) cutting the second fabric to pattern; and ii) sewing the pattern together to form the shapewear garment.
  9. A garment made by the method of any one of claims 1-8.
  10. The garment of claim 9, wherein top arms of the X-shaped panel extend to an upper edge of the garment.
  11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the top arms of the X-shaped panel extend completely around the upper edge of the garment; optionally wherein the garment comprises a waistband on the inside or outside of the garment, and the top arms of the X-shaped panel extend across or underneath all of the waistband.
  12. The garment of any one of claims 9-11, wherein bottom arms of the X-shaped panel extend around a wearer's thighs.
  13. The garment of claim 12, wherein bottom arms of the X-shaped panel extend under a wearer's buttocks and to a wearer's inner thighs.
  14. The garment of any one of claims 9-13, wherein the shaping region has: an elongation of from about 20% to about 70%; a modulus of from about 15 N to about 50 N; and/or a percent recovery of from about 80% to about 100%.
  15. The garment of any one of claims 9-14, wherein the garment is shorts, pants, or a body suit.

Description

BACKGROUND This application relates to the field of shaping apparel. Consumers are demanding shapewear which mitigates the prominence or appearance of the abdomen, back, arms, and legs. Outer shapewear garments with shaping components are fashionable and desirable for the convenience of abdomen, back, arms, and legs shaping without needing to wear a separate shaping undergarment. Such garments are often tightly form-fitting to give the wearer the desired shaping effect. Existing shaping apparel, however, presents problems due to the tightness and construction of the garment. Shapewear has to be stiff and tight enough that it can constrict the wearer's body to provide a shaping effect. At the same time, it must still provide a sleek appearance to avoid creating a pinched shape around the shaping regions of the garment. A need therefore exists for shapewear with improved shaping components and methods of making the same. Accordingly, a solution that addresses the above-mentioned shortcomings is desired and provided herein. BRIEF SUMMARY Disclosed herein are methods of making shaping garments by creating an X-shaped shaping panel bonded to the garment and garments made therefrom. The stiffness of the bonded region improves the shaping effect of the X-shaped panel while maintaining the flexibility of the remainder of the garment. Advantageously, the disclosed methods can provide a stiff, bonded shaping region without adding unnecessary extra thickness that would cause the shaping region of the garment to be visible when the shaping garment is worn underneath an outer garment. In an aspect, provided is a method of making a shapewear garment, the method including: a) applying an adhesive to a first fabric; b) curing said adhesive on the first fabric; c) cutting an X-shaped panel from the first fabric; d) bonding said X-shaped panel to a second fabric using the adhesive, thereby forming a shaping region; and e) forming the shapewear garment from the second fabric. In some aspects, the first fabric can include a knit fabric. In other aspects, the first fabric can include satin. In some aspects, the adhesive can include thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), thermoplastic polyamide elastomer (TPA), or any combination thereof. In some aspects, the adhesive can be thermally activated. In some aspects, step a) can include applying the adhesive in a dot-matrix pattern. In some aspects, step a) can include covering from about 30% to about 100% of the surface area of the first fabric with the adhesive. In some aspects, step b) can include allowing the adhesive to cool for from about 30 minutes to about 24 hours. In some aspects, step c) can be executed by a rotary knife, a laser, or a straight knife. In some aspects, the second fabric can include a knit fabric. In other aspects, the second fabric can include mesh. In some aspects, step d) can be executed by a roller fuse or flat press. In some aspects, the roller fuse or flat press can operate at a temperature of from about 130°C to about 180°C. In some aspects, the roller fuse or flat press can exert a pressure of from about 2 bar to about 5 bar. In some aspects, step d) can have a duration of from about 10 seconds to about 25 seconds. In some aspects, step e) can include: i) cutting the second fabric to pattern; and ii) sewing the pattern together to form the shapewear garment. In another aspect, provided is a garment made by any of the disclosed methods. In some aspects, top arms of the X-shaped panel can extend to an upper edge of the garment. In some aspects, the top arms of the X-shaped panel can extend completely around the upper edge of the garment. In some aspects, the garment can include a waistband on the inside or outside of the garment, and the top arms of the X-shaped panel can extend across or underneath all of the waistband. In some aspects, the bottom arms of the X-shaped panel can extend around a wearer's thighs. In some aspects, the bottom arms of the X-shaped panel can extend under a wearer's buttocks and to a wearer's inner thighs. In some aspects, the shaping region can have an elongation of from about 20% to about 70%. In some aspects, the shaping region can have a modulus of from about 15 N to about 50 N. In some aspects, the shaping region can have a percent recovery of from about 80% to about 100%. In some aspects, the garment can be shorts or pants. In other aspects, the garment can be a body suit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The device or garment is explained in even greater detail in the following drawings. The drawings are merely exemplary to illustrate the structure of garments and certain features that may be used singularly or in combination with other features. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a lower body garment in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the lower body garment shown in FIG. 1.FIG. 3 is a front persp