on the right front shaping region 9, or vice versa. FIG. 12 demonstrates a variety of strap configurations, including traditional (utilizing the outer rear shoulder strap tabs 33, 35), criss-cross (utilizing either the outer rear shoulder strap tabs 33, 35, as shown, or the inner rear shoulder strap tabs 37, 39), halter (where a single shoulder strap 17 extends between the left front shaping region 7 and the right front shaping region 9 using only the front strap tabs 21, 23) or narrow (utilizing the inner rear shoulder straps tabs 37, 39). Though the removable back adjuster 41 is shown bridging the space 27 with all of the strap configurations of FIG. 12, it should be understood that it does not have to be worn with any of these strap configurations. The combined removability of the back adjuster 41 and the variety of shoulder strap configurations give the shaping garment 1 an even greater degree of versatility to adapt to the wide variety of special occasion garment styles.

FIG. 3 shows the interior view of the front side of one embodiment of the shaping garment 1, as if the garment has been turned inside out. Left and right portions 47, 49 of an elastic band extend from the front side 3 to the rear side 5 of the shaping garment 1, as shown in FIG. 4. The elastic band serves to keep the shaping garment 1 in place on the wearer. It also increases comfort by stretching as the wearer moves, and provides a degree of fit flexibility to the garment 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band extend laterally along the front side 3 and are positioned inferior to the left and right breast supporting portions 13, 15. In this embodiment, the elastic band is positioned underneath the exterior-most layer of fabric 50 on both the front and rear sides 3, 5, such that it cannot be seen from the outside of the shaping garment 1. However, in other embodiments the elastic band could potentially form part of the exterior-most layer of fabric 50, either on the front side 3, the rear side 5, or both. While the elastic band of FIGS. 3 and 4 is divided into left and right portions 47, 49, in alternate embodiments the elastic band may remain undivided and extend fully across the front side 3. The height of the elastic band, from its inferior-most point to its superior-most point, is about 1.77 inches in the embodiment shown. However, in other embodiments the height of the elastic band can be from about 0.25 inches to about 4.00 inches. In still other embodiments, the height of the elastic band could be from about 0.25 inches to about 15.00 inches.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band are attached to the exterior-most layer of fabric 50, adjacent the front and rear superior edges 12, 43, with a lateral elastic band seam 48. The lateral elastic band seam 48 integrates the elastic band into the left and right front shaping regions 7, 9 and the left and right back shaping regions 29, 31 of the shaping garment 1. The lateral elastic band seam 48 extends laterally across a superior region 56 of the elastic band, whereas the inferior region 54 of the elastic band remains unattached. However, in other embodiments, the inferior region 54 can also be attached to the exterior-most layer of fabric 50. In the embodiment shown, lateral elastic band seam 48 is sewn to exterior-most layer of fabric using a zig-zag stitch. However, any number of stitch types that can stretch with the elastic band can be used to form lateral band seam 48. For example, other alternative stitch types could include, but are not limited to, a two or three needle bottom cover stitch, or a two or three needle top and bottom cover stitch. It is also possible to include one or more additional lateral band seams, such as the one shown as a dotted line and seen above seam 48 in FIG. 4.

In some embodiments, the exterior-most layer of fabric 50 can be formed of a knit material, for example, a warp knit material. In some embodiments, the exterior-most layer of fabric 50 is a tricot material. In some embodiments, the exterior-most layer of fabric 50 can be a microfiber material. In some embodiments, the exterior-most layer of fabric 50 can include nylon and elastane, for example, 49% nylon and 51% elastane. The outer component can, in some embodiments, be about 190 grams per square inch. The exterior-most layer of fabric 50 can be cut as shown in FIG. 13. For example, if the fabric is a knit fabric, the courses can be aligned lengthwise in a superior to inferior direction along the shaping garment 1.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the left portion 47 of the elastic band is affixed to a left side 51 of a U-shaped wire 52, and the right portion 49 of the elastic band is affixed to the right side 53 of the U-shaped wire 52. The U-shaped wire may be enclosed in a wire casing to facilitate its attachment to the shaping garment 1. The purpose of the U-shaped wire 52 is to provide additional breast support, limiting the amount that left and right breast supporting portions 13, 15 can move away from the U-shaped space 11 during wear. The shape of the U-shaped wire 52 is comfortable and gives the wearer many options for different plunging necklines by leaving a large portion of the lower chest exposed. FIG. 5 shows the front side 3 of the shaping garment 1 on a wearer. The U-shaped wire 52 enhances cleavage by limiting the extent that the wearer's breasts can separate (despite breast supporting portions 13, 15 not being directly attached to each other). The U-shaped wire is shown in greater detail in FIG. 11. The wire can be rectangular in cross section such that it will lay flat against the wearer's chest. Alternatively, the U-shaped wire 52 could be square, circular, or elliptical in cross section. The wire of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is about 0.13 inches thick, the thickness t being measured as the greatest distance between one side of the U-shaped wire 52 and the other side of the U-shaped wire 52. The height h of the U-shape made by the wire 52 is about 2.25 inches (from the inferior-most point of the U to the superior-most point of the U) and the width w of the U-shape made by the wire 52 is about 2.50 inches (from the left side of the U to the right side of the U). In other embodiments, the thickness of the wire 52 could range from 0.05 to 0.50 inches, the height of the U-shape could range from 0.50 to 4.00 inches, and the width of the U-shape could range from 0.5 to 4.00 inches.

Left and right breast supporting portions 13, 15 can each include an inner breast cup and an outer breast cover. In some examples, the breast supporting portions 13, 15 can also include a strip of supporting fabric at the lateral sides of the breast supporting portions 13, 15.

The strip of supporting fabric can be positioned between an inner, foam cup and the outer layer of fabric, remaining hidden to the wearer. The strip of supporting fabric increases the rigidity of the lateral sides of breast supporting portions 13, 15, to prevent it from stretching and to provide additional breast support during wear, as shown in the side view of the shaping garment 1 on a wearer in FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 shows the interior view of the rear side of one embodiment of the shaping garment 1, as if the garment has been turned inside out. Removable back adjuster 41 is shown adjoining the left and right back shaping regions 29, 31 and bridging the space 27. In the embodiment shown, the left portion 47 of the of the elastic band attaches to the left side 55 of the removable back adjuster, and the right portion 49 of the elastic band attaches to the right side 57 of the removable back adjuster.

FIG. 10 is an exterior view showing additional detail of an example embodiment of a removable back adjuster 41 and the left and right closure mechanisms, 59, 61. In this embodiment, a portion of each of the left and right closure mechanisms 59, 61 is located on the removable back adjuster 41, whereas the corresponding portion of each of the left and right closure mechanisms 59, 61 is located on the left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band, enabling the removable back adjuster 41 to be attached to the left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band. In this embodiment, the left and right closure mechanisms comprise hooks 63 and eyes 65. The eyes 65 are positioned on the left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band, and the hooks 63 are positioned on both the left and right exterior sides of the removable back adjuster 41, curving outward and away from the wearer. However, the hooks and eyes could take any variety of positions and orientations, so long as they serve to attach the removable back adjuster 41 to the left and right back shaping regions 29, 31 of the shapewear garment 1. Furthermore, the left and right closure mechanisms could comprise any of a known variety of closure mechanisms, including, but not limited to snaps, ribbon ties, zippers, hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro®), buttons and/or one or more slidable hook fasteners. A slidable hook fastener includes a slidable hook that lays generally flat against the wearer's body. The slidable hook can attach to an elongated loop or, in some embodiments, to another slidable hook fastener.

Referring still to FIG. 10, a highly elastic region 67 is positioned between the portions of the left and right closure mechanisms 59, 61 located on the removable back adjuster 41. In the embodiment shown, the highly elastic region 67 can be approximately the same height as the left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band. The highly elastic region 67 may be formed of the same material as the elastic band. However, in other embodiments the highly elastic region 67 of the removable back adjuster 41 can be a different height and/or a different material that the left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band. The height h of the highly elastic region 67 can be, for example, from about 0.25 inches to about 4.00 inches. In the embodiment shown, the width w of the back adjuster 41, from the left-most point to the right-most point, is about 2.50 inches. However, the width can range anywhere from about 0.50 to about 5.00 inches.

Methods of making the shaping garment 1 are also disclosed. The method of making can include cutting a left rear panel 69 from a fabric sheet such that the left rear panel 69 narrows as it extends toward a superior portion of the left rear panel to create a narrowing left superior rear portion, and cutting a right rear panel 71 from a fabric sheet such that the right rear panel 71 narrows as it extends toward a superior portion of the right rear panel to create a narrowing right superior rear portion. The method can further include attaching a portion of a left closure mechanism 59 to the right edge of the narrowing left superior rear portion, and and attaching a portion of a right closure mechanism 61 to the left edge of the narrowing right superior rear portion. The right inferior edge of the left rear panel 69 can be sewn to a left inferior edge of the right rear panel 71 to form a rear side 5 of the shaping garment. The narrowing left superior rear portion and the narrowing right superior rear portion can remain unattached, thereby defining the space 27 in the rear side 5 of the shaping garment 1. The joining of the left and right rear panels form a central back seam 32. In some examples, central back seam 32 can be formed using an overlock stitch. However, any variety of stitch types can be used to form the central back seam. The method can also include sewing the rear side 5 of the shaping garment to a front panel 73 to form left and right side seams 75, 77 and a front side 3 of the shaping garment 1. Some embodiments of the methods of making the shaping garment 1 can include attaching a removable back adjuster 41 to the left and right closure mechanisms 59, 61, to bridge the space 27.

Some methods can include attaching at least one elastic band along an interior, superior edge 43 of the rear side 5 of the shaping garment 1. For example, a left portion 47 of an elastic band can be extended from the interior, rear side 5 of the shaping garment 1 to the front side 3 of the shaping garment 1, and a right portion 49 of an elastic band can be extended from the interior, rear side 5 of the shaping garment 1 to the front side 3 of the shaping garment 1. The left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band can be attached to a U-shaped wire 52 on the front side 3 of the shaping garment 1. The methods can also include attaching a left facing elastic to the right edge of the narrowing left superior rear portion and attaching a right facing elastic to the left edge of the narrowing right superior rear portion.

In some embodiments, the left and right breast supporting portions 13, 15 can be constructed as follows. A first layer of foam is covered (flat) on a top side with a first layer of fabric and on a bottom side with a second layer of fabric. The first and second fabric layers are bonded or laminated to the layer of foam. The foam surrounded by the first and second fabric layers is then molded with heat to the shape of the cup. A third, outer layer of fabric is molded separately, then sewn to the front of the cup. In some embodiments, fabrics used in cup construction are able to withstand high temperatures and take the shape of the mold while remaining pliable. In some embodiments, a strip of supporting fabric can be positioned between the layers, at the lateral sides of the breast supporting portions 13, 15.

In some embodiments of the methods, left and right breast supporting portions 13, 15 can be attached along a superior edge 12 of the front side 3 of the shaping garment 1. A superior region 56 of the elastic band or superior regions 56 of the left and right portions 47, 49 of the elastic band can be attached to an interior, superior edge 12 of the front panel 73 and to the inferior edges of the left and right breast supporting portion 13, 15. Finally, a superior edge 12 of the front panel 73 can be attached to a U-shaped wire 52 or to a casing that encloses the U-shaped wire 52. The U-shaped wire 52 or the casing that encloses the U-shaped wire 52 can be attached the left and right elastic band portions 47, 49 and to the left and right breast supporting portions 13, 15.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 illustrate front and back views of a garment having a stretchable gusset panel 120. The garment includes a front body panel 112, a back body panel 114, a right leg portion 136 and a left leg portion 138. Each leg portion is attached to the front body panel 112 and the back body panel 114. The right leg portion 136 encircles the right leg space 130, and the left leg portion 138 encircles the left leg space 132. In certain embodiments, the front body panel 112, the back body panel 114, the right leg portion 136 and the left leg portion 138 are separate pieces of fabric and are attached with a seam, bonding, or other attachment method known in the art. In other embodiments, the front body panel 112, the back body panel 114, the right leg portion 136 and the left leg portion 138 are formed continuously from the same piece of fabric. In certain embodiments, the right leg portion 136 and the left leg portion 138 are formed continuously with the front body panel 112 and/or the back body panel 114, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. In other embodiments, the right leg portion 136 and the left leg portion 138 are attached to the front body panel 112 and the back body panel 114 by a seam, by bonding, or by other methods of joining fabric known in the art. In some embodiments, the front body panel 112 may be formed of multiple separate pieces of fabric attached with a seam or other attachment method (for example, a seam extending up the center of the front side of the garment). In some embodiments, the back body panel 114 may be formed of multiple separate pieces of fabric attached with a seam or other attachment method (for example, a seam extending up the center of the back side of the garment). The front body panel 112 and back body panel 114 can comprise any fabric known in the art for use in shapewear or other undergarments.

The undergarments disclosed herein include a gusset panel 120 located in a crotch region of the undergarment. The gusset panel 120 can be a separate piece of material than the front or back body panels 112, 114. It can be joined to one or both of the front and/or back body panels 112, 114 by a seam or bonding. FIG. 16 illustrates an exterior view of a gusset panel 120. The gusset panel 120 has a front gusset panel edge 122, a back gusset panel edge 124, and two lateral gusset panel edges 126 extending between the front gusset panel edge 122 and the back gusset panel edge 124. At least a portion of each of the two lateral gusset panel edges 126 are not attached to the front body panel 112 or back body panel 114. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the two lateral gusset panel edges 126 are unattached to any other portion of the garment. By contrast, the front gusset panel edge 122 is attached along the lower edge 116 of the front body panel, and the back gusset panel edge 124 is attached along the lower edge 118 of the back body panel (the dotted lines along the front gusset panel edge 122 and back gusset panel edge 124 illustrate where the gusset panel is attached to the garment). In certain embodiments, the gusset panel 120 is continuously knitted to one or both of the front body panel 112 and the back body panel 114.

One or more access spaces 142, 144 are located in the crotch portion, allowing the wearer to stretch the gusset panel 120 aside removing the garment. In the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 14-16, the right leg portion 136 and one lateral gusset panel edge 126 define a first access space 142, and the left leg portion 138 and a second lateral gusset panel edge 126 define a second access space 144. In some embodiments, one of the lateral gusset panel edges can be attached to a leg portion, while the other lateral gusset panel edge remains unattached, forming a single access space. The dotted lines extending from the right access space 142 and left access space 144 illustrate a seam in the leg portions. This is to give context to the figure and is not intended to limit the invention.

The gusset panel 120 is not intended to be limited to any particular shape. In certain embodiments, the gusset panel is generally rectangular in shape, with linear front and back gusset panel edges 122, 124 that are equal in length. In other embodiments, such as the one shown in FIG. 16, the front gusset panel edge 122 and/or back gusset panel edge 124 may be curved, and the back gusset panel edge may be wider than the front gusset panel edge. As used herein, the width indicates a direction from left to right across the gusset panel 120. The length indicates a direction from front to back across the gusset panel 120. In certain embodiments, the gusset panel is one layer of fabric. In other embodiments, the gusset panel is two or more layers of fabric. The two or more layers of fabric can be attached by a seam, by bonding, or by other methods known in the art for joining more than one layer of fabric.

The gusset panels disclosed herein are formed of stretchable fabrics so that they can be stretched to the side, as shown in FIG. 17. The fabric of the gusset panel 120 has high elongation properties, such that it generally lays flat against the body of the wearer, but is also able to be stretched to the side. In some embodiments, the gusset panel 120 has a higher elasticity than the front body panel 112 and/or the back body panel 114. The tension force of the fabric can be determined by test method ASTM D4964-1996 (2008), Tensile Testing Machine, Constant Rate of Extension. A loop specimen of 250 millimeters in loop length is placed around the clamps of a testing machine. The machine speed is 500 millimeters/minute. The specimen is cycled three times from zero to 100 Newton (N) load. During the third extension-load cycle, the percent elongation is measured, as is the tension force at 30%, 50%, and 70% elongation. In certain embodiments, the gusset panel fabric has a tension force in the length direction of from about 0 N to about 0.4 N at 30% elongation, from about 0.2 N to about 3 N at 50% elongation, and from about 1 N to about 6 N at 70% elongation. In certain embodiments, the gusset panel fabric has a tension force in the width direction of from about 0

N to about 0.4 N at 30% elongation, from about 0.2 N to about 3 N at 50% elongation, and from about 1 N to about 6 N at 70% elongation. In certain embodiments, the gusset panel has an elongation of from about 100% to about 700% in the length direction at 100 N load. In certain embodiments, the gusset panel has an elongation from about 100% to about 700% in the width direction at 100 N load.