Reducing shorts

United States Patent ^[l,[ 3,589,366

<td> [72]</td><td> Inventor</td><td> Jack Vincent Feather Oakland, Calif.</td>

<td> [21]</td><td> Appl. No.</td><td> 94,442</td>

<td> [22]</td><td> Filed</td><td> Dec. 2,1970</td>

<td> [45]</td><td> Patented</td><td> June 29,1971</td>

<td> [73]</td><td> Assignee</td><td> Biophysical Research &amp; Development Corporation Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 887,227, Dec. 22,1969, now abandoned.</td>

[54] REDUCING SHORTS

Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

152] U.S. Cl.......................

[51] lot. Cl...........................................

128/293

Α6Π7/00

[50] Field of Search............................................ 128/293

362, 363, 379,402; 9/310.9, 334—335, 343

[56] References Cited

UNITED STATES PATENTS

1,041,012 10/1912 Burke...........................

1,314,185 8/1919 Combs.........................

2,346,019 4/1944 Gerich........

2,426,726 9/1947 Combs ....Ξ.7..............

2,569,742 10/1951 Austin....

2,749,914 6/1956 Braley.......

3,134,993 6/1964 McCoy.....................

3,307,554 3/1967 Thorntonetai..............

9/334

9/334

9/334

9/334

9/334

128/402

9/334 128/293

Primary Examiner— Charles F. Rosenbaum Attorney—Bruce &amp; McCoy

ABSTRACT: A pair of inflatable Bermuda-type shorts to be worn for exercising and weight reducing.

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PATENTED JUN291971

3,589,366

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INVENTOR.

JACK VINCENT FEATHER

BY

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PATENTED JUN291971

3,589,366

SHEET 2 OF 4

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PATENTED &gt;291971

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JACK VINCENT FEATHER

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PATENTED JUN291971

3,589,366

SHEET U OF 4

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3,589,366

REDUCING SHORTS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part application of copending U.S. Pat Application Ser. No. 887,227 for Weight Reducing Shorts, Filed Dec. 22, 1969 and now abandoned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

No prior art has been uncovered which is directly related to the inflatable pants of the present invention. There are certain types of nonporous, nonabsorbent sweat suits which are worn for sweating off weight, but none of them are of the inflatable variety.

Prior art belts of the type used in combination with the inflatable pants of this invention are disclosed in applicant’s copending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 886,880 for Weight Reducing Belt, filed Dec. 22, 1969.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a pair of weight-reducing pants. They comprise an inflatable pair of shorts which extend from the region of the wearer’s midsection to above the knee. The pants are constructed of a material having a nonporous and nonabsorbent exterior surface. An inflating means is provided to permit the surrounding length and width of the pants to be inflated by the wearer while the pants are being worn. There is also provided means whereby the pants may be maintained in an inflated condition without attention from the wearer.

In one embodiment of the invention, each of the pant legs is provided with a seam running along the entire length of the side of the leg to allow the pant leg to be snugly fitted to the leg of a wearer.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a one-piece pair of shorts is provided with an integral inflatable belt to be worn around the waist of a wearer.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a pair of weight-reducing pants which can be inflated to insure extensive continuous contact of the pants with the body of the wearer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pair of weight-reducing pants which are made of a nonporous and nonabsorbent material to increase the sweating of the wearer beneath the pants.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pair of weight-reducing pants which can be adjusted to fit various-sized persons and shrinking waistlines, abdomens, hip sizes and thighs.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pair of weight-reducing pants which can be inflated by the wearer while the pants are being worn.

And yet. another object of the instant invention is the provision of a pair of inflatable pants combined with a separate inflatable belt portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of applicant’s invention showing a pair of weight-reducing pants having open seams running up the side of each pant leg, in operative position on the body of a wearer;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a pattern layout for forming a onehalf portion of the pants of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a further embodiment of applicant’s invention showing an integral pair of inflatable shorts in an uninflated condition;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing the top end of the integral shorts of FIG. 4 with an adjustable inflatable weightreducing belt secured to a portion of the waistband thereof;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the integral pair of shorts of FIG. 4 in an inflated condition;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the integral pair of shorts of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross section of the shorts of FIG. 4 taken along line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross section of the shorts of FIG. 4 taken along line 9-9; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a pump to be used in inflating the shorts of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment of the weight-reducing pants of the present invention, a pair of inflatable Bermuda-type shorts have an open seam running up the outside portion of each of the legs from the bottom to the top on each side of the pair of pants. The two seams are held together by adjustable straps.

In a second embodiment of the inflatable weight-reducing pants of the present invention, the leg portions of the inflatable Bermuda-type shorts are integral tubular members and the shorts are provided with a plurality of separate chambers which are capable of being individually inflated to a suitable pressure by a wearer.

In a further embodiment, the inflatable weight-reducing shorts are provided with an adjustable, inflatable belt portion secured to the upper portion of the shorts.

Referring now to FIGS. 1—3 of the drawings, the weightreducing pants shown therein comprise a first combined leg and waist portion 11 for one half of the wearer’s body which includes a generally vertically disposed open seam having anterior and posterior edges 13, 15 which extend from the bottom 17 of the leg portion to the top 19 of the waist portion. The length of the pants ideally extends from just above the knee to the waist of the wearer.

The leg and waist portion 11 is constructed of two pieces of pliable nonporous plastic sheet material 21 having a nonabsorbent exterior surface typical of plastic. The pieces are sealed together along their free peripheral edges 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33,35,37. The edges are sealed together by heat and pressure or by means of any suitable adhesive.

The pants include means for adjustably fitting the pants to various-sized persons and to insure overall contact of the shorts with the body of the wearer. To effect this, a multiplicity of straps 39 are secured to one of the said anterior or posterior edges, preferably the posterior edge 15, and a set of strap engagement means such as D-rings 41 are secured to the other of the edges 13 spaced slightly inward thereof.

A flap 43, which is constructed of the same material as the combined leg and waist portion, is secured to either the anterior or posterior edge of the leg portion, preferably the anterior edge 13. This flap is extended around the wearer’s body to insure encircling contact of the pants with the body from the top edge 23,31 of the pants to the bottom edge 27 of the leg.

A second combined leg and waist portion, a mirror image of the first leg and waist portion, is secured to the first portion along at least a portion of the front-to-rear crotch seam 33,35, 37 of the waist portion.

The construction of the invention is difficult to show in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, only the pattern of one of the combined leg and waist portions, or one-half of the pants, is illustrated in FIG. 2. While it is difficult to conceptualize, it is quite evident from FIG. 1 what the pants comprise, and FIG. 2 is the actual pattern in miniature which could be easily enlarge and utilized by a garment maker to construct the pants.

When the two portions of the pants are sealed together as illustrated in FIG. 1, the strap means and the D-ring engagement means are face to face inside the pants as they are put on. The lower edge 27 of the pattern encircles one leg, while the upper edges 23, 31 encircle one-half of the wearer’s waist from front to rear. By joining the two portions only along the front and rear of the crotch seams 33, 37, an unsealed condition exists in the crotch of the pants at the bottom 35 of the crotch seam.

An inflating means is provided for permitting the wearer to inflate the entire length of the pants while he is wearing them. While any small air pump could be utilized, the preferred em3,589,366 bodiment includes a separate flexible tube 45 secured to each of the combined leg and waist portions and which communicate with the interior 47 of each combined portion to permit the pants to be inflated by the breath of the wearer one side at a time. The length of the tubes is sufficient to permit each to be insertable in the mouth of the wearer while the pants are being worn. The tubes are also provided with a means for maintaining the pants in an inflated condition without attention from the wearer. This can be effected simply by spring clips which permit the tubes to be sealed by compressing them. When each of the tubes is pinched, they can be tucked inside the pants during exercising.

FIGS. 4 and 6—9 of the drawings illustrate a further embodiment of applicant’s invention, comprising an integral pair of shorts formed of four separate inflatable segments. The integral pair of shorts are merely slipped over the legs of a wearer in the same manner as any type of pants or shorts and a tie string at the top of the shorts is adjusted to hold the waist of the shorts snugly around the wearer.

As shown, this embodiment of the invention comprises an integral pair of Bermuda-type shorts 47 with left and right sealed together leg portions L, R, having upper sections 49 and a waistband 51. The right and left leg portions are preferably sealed together, along the central portion of the pants by heat or adhesive to form a sealed joint or seam 53 which extends from a point 55 at the front of the waistband through the crotch area 57 of the pants to a point 59 at the rear of the waistband. As shown in phantom line, the waistband 51 is provided interiorly with a waist-adjusting means, such as a tie string 61.

The two sealed together leg portions L, R, preferably constructed as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, are each divided into two separate segments 63, 65, 67, 69 having inflatable interior chambers. The first or outside segment 63, 67 of each leg portion substantially covers the outside leg and hip areas of a wearer and the second or inside segment 65, 69 of each leg portion covers the inside leg, crotch and a portion of the abdomen of a wearer.

The first or outside segment 63 of the right leg portion R is preferably connected to the second or inside segment 65 by means of front and rear sealed joints 71, 73 to form a composite right leg portion. The front sealed joint 71 extends from a point 75 at the front of the bottom of the right leg portion to a point 77 near the top of the waistband 51, while the rear sealed joint 73 extends from a point 79 at the rear of the bottom of the right leg portion to a point 81 near the top of the waistband.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 6—9, the sealed joints 71, 73 preferably do not extend all the way to the top of the waistband. The waistband is provided with a plurality of split portions 83 through which the tie string 61 is inserted. The split portions 83 together with the tie string also enable the waistband to be adjustably fitted around different wearers having different waist and hip sizes.

The segments 67, 69 of left leg portion L are similarly connected together along front and rear sealed joints 85, 87 to form a composite left leg portion.

The composite left and right leg portions L, R are then sealed together along the joint 53 to form the composite integral pants, more clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Each of the separate segments (63, 65, 67, 69 may be constructed in a variety of different ways. The outside segments 63, 67 of each leg portion may be integrally constructed from a single piece of folded over plastic or two separate pieces of pliable nonporous plastic sheet material sealed together, by heat or by adhesive means, along the free edges , The inside and outside segments of each leg portion may be integrally constructed from a plurality of separate sheets of plastic cut to shape and then sealed along the free edges thereof. The seams made by the sealed free edges of the segments are then sealed together at the joints 71, 73, 85, 87 to form the composite leg portions.

Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the construction of the separate segments, the interior chambers, and the composite integral pants are more clearly illustrated in an enlarged condition, for reasons of clarity. Each of the outside segments 63, 67 is made from two separate sheets of plastic material 89, 91, 93,95 sealed along its free edges to form airtight seams 97,99, 101, 103 containing airtight, inflatable interior chambers 105, 107 therebetween.

As shown, each of the inside segments 65, 69 is constructed from two separate sheets of plastic 109, 111, 113, 115 having U-shaped interior sections cut therefrom to allow these segments to fit around the crotch and over the abdomen of a wearer. The two separate sheets of plastic 109, 111 making up the inside section 65 are sealed along their free edges to form airtight seams 117, 119, 121, while the separate plastic sheets 113, 115 making up the inside section 69 are sealed along their free edges to form airtight seams 123,125,127. Separate airtight, inflatable, interior chambers 129, 131 are thereby produced between the sealed plastic sheets 109, 111, 113, 115.

The seams 97, 99, 101, 103, 117, 119, 123 and 125 of each of the fabricated segments 63, 65, 67, 69 are then joined or sealed together, in any suitable manner, to form the joints 71, 73, 85, 87 to obtain the composite left and right leg portions L, R. The seams 121, 127, formed along the edges of the Ushaped openings (see FIG. 8) of each of the composite leg portions, are then sealed together to form the central joint 53 to obtain the composite integral pants, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Each of the interior chambers 105, 107, 121, 131 is preferably divided into a plurality of connecting sections by sealing or pressing together selected portions of the inside of each of the chambers along predetermined distances or lengths. These interior sections are connected by unsealed passages, and are formed in the chambers to insure, inter alia, maximum contact of the pliable, nonporous plastic interior of each of the leg portions and the waist portion of the shorts to the bare skin of a wearer, thereby insuring a snug fit and support of the waist, abdomen, hips and thighs of a wearer.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, sectors of each of the segments 63, 65, 67, 69 are divided into a plurality of separate sections including horizontally extending sections 133. These sections are formed by sealing selected horizontal or vertical lengths 135 of the inside portions of the separate sheets of plastic, in any suitable manner, such as by pressing and heating. A plurality of passages or spaces 137 are left between the sealed lengths 135 to allow air to flow between the separate sections of the pants.

The inner segments 65, 69 of each pant leg are further provided with front and rear vertically extending sections 143, 145 connected together by the sealed joint 53. These vertical sections 143, 145 form the upwardly extending arms of the Ushaped opening and, in the inflated position, press against the abdomen and rear areas, respectively, of a wearer. Each of the front vertical sections 143 is in fluid communication with the lower horizontal sections 133 and the rear vertical section 145.

Two large rear vertical sections 139, shown in FIG. 7, are formed in each outside segment 63, 67. One of these vertical sections 139 is more clearly shown in FIG. 4 as being bordered by the sealed joint 73 and the horizontal and vertical sealed lengths 135. As shown, the vertical sections 139 are in fluid communication with the horizontally extending sections 49, 133, by means of the passages or spaces 137. The vertical sections 139 preferably extend from the upper section 49 to the sealed bottom of the pant legs 141.

These enlarged vertical sections 139, in the inflated condition, provide firm contact with the buttocks and rear leg area of a wearer. The plurality of horizontal sections 133 at the front of the pants and along the interior portions of the legs further allow a wearer, when the pants are being worn in the inflated position, the required flexibility and freedom to do exercises, such as knee bends, running and the like.

3,589,366 §

Each of the four separate segments 63, 65, 67, 69 is provided with separate inflating means connecting with the interior chambers 105, 107, 129, 131 for permitting the wearer to inflate the entire length and width of each interior chamber of the pants while he is wearing them. While any type of inflating means may be used, including separate flexible tubes as shown at 45 in FIGS. 1 and 2, preferably each of the separate segments is provided with a separate valve 147 secured thereto and communicating with the respective inflatable interior chamber. Each of the valves (147) is provided with a stopper to maintain the individual separate segments in the inflated position without attention from the wearer.

A small air pump (FIG. 10) is preferably utilized to inflate the shorts when they are in their operative position on a wearer. This is accomplished by removing the stopper from each of the valves 147, placing the nozzle on the end of the pump tube into the valve and inflating the pants by squeezing the pump between the palms of the wearer’s hands. Each of the four separate chambers 105,107, 129, 131 and its respective sections are separately inflated by using the four separate valves, until the wearer is satisfied that the pants fit snugly all the way around his abdomen, thighs and hips. This insures that the necessary heat and pressure against the fatty tissues of the wearer’s body is provided to thereby obtain the most desirable results.

The separate sections49,133,139,143,145, when inflated, provide a plurality of separate locking or sealing areas which press the pliable nonporous, nonabsorbent material of the shorts against the bare skin of the wearer to induce sweating and prevent the escape of body heat from the wearer’s skin.

The upper sections 49 of the pants are separated from the waistband tube 51, which contains the drawstring, by sealed lengths 148, preferably formed by pressing and heat, across the width of the top portion of each segment to thereby form a sealed waist division running around the entire circumference of the pants. Vertical sealed lengths 135 are formed in the upper sections 49 and are preferably run into the sealed waist lengths 148 to allow the waist portion of the integral pants 47 to be bunched in the inflated position (FIGS. 6 and 7) when the drawstring is tightened.

Although the shorts shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 may be extended in height to cover the waist of a wearer, the integral shorts of FIG. 4 are provided with an inflatable belt 149, shown in FIG. 5, secured to a portion of the sealed waist division 148 running along the front portion of the pants.

This belt 149 is preferably of the type disclosed in applicant’s copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 886,880, filed Dec. 22, 1969, and is constructed from either a rectangular piece of pliable nonporous plastic sheet material having a nonabsorbent exterior surface typical of plastic, folded over and sealed along the three edges thereof by heat and pressure or any suitable adhesive, or by sealing two separate rectangular sheets of pliable plastic sheet material along the four free edges thereof.

The belt 149 includes adjustable means for adjustable length securement of the belt around the wearer’s waist to permit the belt to fit various-sized persons and shrinking waistlines. The belt, in combination with the inflatable pants of the present invention, insures the most effective pressure against the waist, abdomen, hips and thighs of the wearer to provide resistance to the action of the wearer’s muscles during exercise and to prevent the escape of heat from the wearer’s body.

A multiplicity of straps 153 are secured to one end of the belt, by a suitable adhesive or other means on the sealed edge and strap engagement means, such as D-rings, are secured to one side of the belt spaced from the other end thereof toward the central front portion of the wearer.

As pointed out in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 886,880, by placing the D-rings at a position spaced from the end of the belt, a portion of the belt forms a flap which can be wrapped around the body of the wearer and then overlapped by the other end of the belt having the straps to insure encircling contact of the belt with the waist of the wearer.

The belt is also provided with a valve 147 connected with the interior thereof for permitting the wearer to inflate the entire length of the belt while same is being worn. The same pump used to inflate the pants may be connected to the valve 147 by removing its stopper, and the belt may be inflated in the same manner as the four interior chambers of the separate segments of the shorts.

While other equivalent means can be substituted for certain portions of the described construction of the present invention, the preferred embodiments disclosed herein have many advantages over the prior art and other weight reducing appliances currently on the market because the pressure the muscles have to work against during exercise can be varied by varying the amount of air put into the portions of the belt and the pants.

When a person begins to exercise, his muscles are relatively weak and cannot withstand continued resistance during exercise without strain and resulting ache and pain. As his muscles become conditioned to exercise, they can withstand ever greater resistance for longer periods and require such to develop further. The present invention permits this progressive exercise. When the wearer begins exercising, he utilizes only a small amount of air pressure in the belt and pants, but as his muscle tone becomes stronger more air pressure is put in the belt and pants to cause greater resistance during exercising.

Another advantage of the inflatable belt and pants is that they insure continuous contact thereof with the body of the wearer to increase the sweating rate of the wearer inside the belt and pants to help reduce the wearer’s abdomen, legs, hips and waistline.

A further advantage of the embodiment of applicant’s invention shown in FIGS. 4—9 is that the integral construction of the pants allows them to be slipped on by the wearer and the waist thereof adjusted by the tie string.

Moreover, the four separate interior chambers of the embodiment of FIGS. 4—9 allows the wearer more control over the pressure applied to each portion of his body covered by the shorts.

Still another advantage of the separate connecting sections formed in each of the chambers of the embodiment of FIGS. 4—9 is that a plurality of sealing means are provided whereby the heat of the wearer’s body is more readily trapped between the bare skin of the wearer and the pants. These separate sections further allow freedom of movement of the wearer to thereby allow him to perform any number of more strenuous exercises.

Finally, the combination of the separate inflatable belt secured to the inflatable pants form the most suitable overall combination to obtain the best results and to aid the wearer in reducing the size of his abdomen, hips, thighs and waistline.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the invention in its preferred form that it will fulfill all of the objects attributable thereto. While the invention has been illustrated and described in considerable detail, it is not to be limited to such details as have been set forth.