FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of functional slimming shorts. More specifically, the present application relates to a unique body shaper or undergarment with the function of shaping up body periphery, correcting centre of gravity and/or position of spine column, preventing hip joint diseases and cellulites, and increasing sports efficiency when the subject wears it in daily life.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fat accumulates result in grave consequences in various parts of body such as abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, etc.

Firstly, centre of gravity of people with weight increase changes. Vertical axis of human body is an imagined line drawn vertically through the center of human body in a standard starting position. The more uniform the body weight is allocated around the vertical axis, the less the whole spine and its segments are loaded and the pressure of corresponding skeletal muscles groups. In the process of accumulation of intra-abdominal fat, the stomach is standing out forward and provokes the development of pathological loads on certain vertebrae and sites of skeletal muscles, which leads to characteristic deformations of the locomotor system.

Secondly, human spines with weight increase change. The load on vertebrae in the case of normal weight is distributed evenly, and spine could easily adapt to short-term loads. But in case of increased weight, the vertebrae gets out of its shape and the intervertebral disks become less elastic.

Thirdly, the pelvis of people with weight increase hurt. The human pelvis represents a strong arch construction for transferring the weight of head and superior extremities onto the femoral heads. The optimum biomechanical conditions exist at a normal inclination of the pelvis at 45-65°. When the body weight increases and the centre of gravity is displaced, the pelvis is exposed to axial rotation. It raises probability of impellent function restrictions of the coxofemoral joints, and of development of arthritis.

Fourthly, the lymph and blood circulation get worse and the interstitial liquid exchange is disturbed.

Last but not least, with weight increase, changes of body contours affect not only one's physiology but also one's psychology. So there is strong need to make one's figure appear trim.

There are a number of undergarments and bodysuits that are designed to provide a good appearance and help weight reduction.

WO2010/0371 16 has disclosed, for example, a shaper wear garment including a one-piece founding which comprises a compression material having one area of firm support and at least one area of light support.

WO2010/102378A1 has disclosed an undergarment with positioned non-stretched bands that are more resistant than the fabric that is used to construct the remainder of the undergarment.

However, there are problems with the above-mentioned conventional body shapers. The common modeling compression underwear has only a horizontal direction of condensing force and puts the gravity center in an incorrect position, longtime-wearing and performing activities in these shorts even cause soreness of muscles and more pain of spinal and pelvis of the wearer who suffers obesity.

Therefore there is an urgent need in the undergarment industry to provide novel functional slimming shorts to help wearers correct gravity centre and/or spinal position, promote preventive maintenance, reduce cellulites, increase sports efficiency and keep body healthy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel functional slimming shorts and its application.

An important object of the invention is to provide a functional slimming body shaper that allows users to tone and build muscle while wearing. Special radial and longitudinal modeling inserts and elements could tighten the problems zones, reallocate and correct muscles in those places. The superfluous fat deposits will disappear, abdomen decreases, the waist gets subtle, and the buttocks get roundish.

Another object of the invention is to provide a functional slimming body shaper minimizing injuries caused by increasing fat. The shapers in this application could put gravity center in an almost correct position, correct spine position and change the bending angle of the pelvic axis in the case of obesity.

Still another object of the invention is directed to increase blood and lymph flow and vascularization in a controlled manner. In a preferred embodiment, the slimming shorts contain bamboo fiber with considerable quantity of micro pores which facilitate unique air permeability. Thus the shorts help the wearers keep natural balance of humidity and body temperature.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method to lose weight and keep fit. The method comprises the steps of: wearing the slimming shorts of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: doing physical exercises in the slimming shorts.

In the first aspect, the present invention provides a functional slimming shorts or undergarment (1) comprising thigh section (2) , waist-shaping section (3) , abdomen-shaping section (4) , and adjusting band (7) which extends from lower side of the waist-shaping section (3) and is used to adjust centre of gravity.

In another exemplary embodiment, the adjusting band (7) comprises two side adjusting bands (7b) and a central adjusting band, the side adjusting bands (7b) and the central adjusting band are interconnected or form a unified entity.

In another exemplary embodiment, the side adjusting bands (7b) and the central adjusting band present a shape of "ω "together. In another exemplary embodiment, the adjusting band (7) comprises two side adjusting bands (7b) which are interconnected or form a unified entity, presenting a shape of "U".

In another exemplary embodiment, the adjusting band (7) provides a lifting force with a direction of "/* "to buttocks of wearers, and a pull-down force with a direction of 'V " to the abdomen section of wearers, so that position of gravity center of wearer is adjusted.

In another exemplary embodiment, the shorts or undergarment further comprises assistant adjusting band (6) corresponding to the musculus gluteus medius.

In another exemplary embodiment, the assistant adjusting band (6) and side adjusting bands (7b) and/or central adjusting band are interconnected or form a unified entity together.

In another exemplary embodiment, the adjusting band (7) and the resistance section located in the abdomen-shaping section (4) form a unified entity together.

In another exemplary embodiment, the two sides of waist-shaping section (3) are equipped with muscle massage area corresponding to the musculus abliquus externus abodominis.

In another exemplary embodiment, the adjusting band (7) is made of a non-stretchy or hard-stretchy material that is relatively more resistant than those materials used to construct the remainder of the slimming shorts or undergarment.

In another exemplary embodiment, the adjusting band (7) is made of a high-elastic bamboo fabric material.

In another exemplary embodiment, the muscle massage area of waist-shaping section (3) is comprised of latticed protuberances or points or the equivalent thereof.

In another exemplary embodiment, the abdomen-shaping section (4) has muscle massage area corresponding to the musculus rectus abodominis.

In another exemplary embodiment, the thigh section (2) further comprises elastic band.

In the second aspect, the present invention provides a use of the functional slimming shorts or undergarment of the first aspect in the correction of position of gravity center and position of spine column of human with overweight, enforcement of skeletal muscles, weight reduction, prevention of joint diseases and cellulites.

In the third aspect, the present invention provides a method of correction of position gravity center and/or position of spine column of human with overweight, comprising the steps of wearing the functional slimming shorts or undergarment of the invention, e.g., in daily life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the Figures. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of invention.

Figure 1 shows four types of human muscles:

A means musculus rectus abdominis (rectus muscle of abdomen);

B means musculus obliquus externus abdominis (abdominal external oblique muscle);

C means musculus gluteus maximus (gluteus maximus muscle);

D means musculus gluteus medius (gluteus medius muscle).

Figure 2 shows position of gravity center in a person with normal weight (left) and shift of the center gravity in a person with overweight (right) .

Figure 3 shows the shapers in this application could put gravity center in an almost correct position and its close-up view.

Figure 4 shows the displacement of vertical axis and gravity centre in overweight person and correction of gravity centre by means of wearing the slimming shapers in this application.

Figure 5 shows normal human spine with normal weight (left) and human spine with increased weight (right).

Figure 6 shows correction of spine position by means of the functional slimming shapers in this application.

Figure 7 shows normal position of pelvis regarding the vertical axis and the gravity centre (left) and changes of the bending angle of the pelvic axis in case of obesity (right) .

Figure 8 shows restoration of pelvic axis angle by means of wearing slimming shapers in this application.

Figure 9 shows frontal view of the functional slimming shorts.

Figure 10 shows posterior view of the functional slimming shorts.

Figure 1 1 shows forcing direction of the functional slimming shorts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Upon extensive and intensive researches, the inventors have successfully created functional slimming shorts as described herein. The shorts (1) comprises leg section (2), waist portion (3) , tight reinforcing abdomen section (4) and elastic resistant band (5) , two elongated lateral bands or side bands (7) and the assistant adjusting band (6) . The elastic reinforcement around the lower abdomen section (4) provides the greatest amount of resistive force in a correct manner, thus exercising great of muscles while in daily life.

Unless specifically defined, all terms used herein have the meanings or definitions that would be ordinarily understood or used by those of skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Definition

As used herein, the terms "undergarment", "underwear", "shorts", "shapers" and all other similar terms are used synonymously and interchangeably to describe a garment or clothing that is worn under outer clothing, usually close to the skin. For greater certainty, the terms are used to designate garments or clothing not only worn close to the skin, but also on the upper part of the body (i.e., the abdomen) or the lower part of the body (i.e., the buttocks, hips and thighs) or the combination. The functional slimming shorts are useful for both man and women.

As used herein, the term "muscles" means muscles taking part in formation of frame of human body.

The exemplary muscles are showed in Figure 1 :

A. Musculus rectus abdominis (rectus muscle of abdomen);

B. Musculus obliquus externus abdominis (abdominal external oblique muscle);

C. Musculus gluteus maximus (gluteus maximus muscle);

D. Musculus gluteus medius (gluteus medius muscle).

As used herein, the term "centre of gravity" and "gravity center" can be exchanged, and are used to describe the mean location of all the mass in a body. The centre of gravity of a person is not constant and is changing with years. For example, at newborns, the centre of gravity is at the top of umbilicus, in 2 years it is at umbilicus level, in 5 years below umbilicus level. The changing is caused by growth of a body and natural change of proportions in the course of growing. The centre of gravity of adult people with normal weight is located at level between the second and the third sacral vertebra in the upper part of the pelvis.

Due to the fact that fat accumulation in various parts of a body is unequal, the body contours are changed during weight gaining. In process of accumulation of intra abdominal fat, the stomach starts to stand out forward and to put pressure upon an anterior abdominal wall, pelvic bones and spine. Shifting of the gravity centre is occurred (Fig. 2).

The present application provides a novel underwear having function of correcting centre of gravity in overweight people. Due to verified ergonomic style and the anatomic inserts corresponding to directions of action of the basic groups of muscles in this area of a human body, the underwear redistributes tissues of anterior abdominal wall more close to vertical axis of the body. It allows to correct body gravity centre displaced to almost starting point (Fig. 3)

As used herein, the term "vertical axis" is used to describe a vertical axis of human body which is an imagined line drawn vertically through the gravity centre of human body in a standard starting position. The basic vertical load on the spine is allocated along that line. The more uniform the body weight is allocated around the vertical axis, the less is the pressure loaded on corresponding skeletal muscles. The distribution of additional mass of overweight people is unequal in various parts of body. To restore stability in vertical position, overweighed people deflect the top half of their trunk backwards which provokes development of pathological loads on certain vertebrae and sites of skeletal muscles. To restore stability in vertical position, overweighed people deflect the top half of their trunk backwards. Thus, it also appears a displacement of a vertical axis of a body of the person (Fig. 4).

The slimming shorts of the invention can tighten the abdomen. Thus, the vertical axis of the human body and the spine column returns to its almost physiological position (Fig. 4).

As used herein, the term "spine column" is used to describe separate vertebras fastened by joints. The spine column system provides elasticity and mobility of the body. The load on vertebrae is distributed evenly in case of normal weight, while in case of hard work (weight-lifting, jumps, etc.), the load on certain segments can be multiplied by many times. However, the spine easily adapts to such short-term loads. When people gain too much weight, the load begins to be permanent. That leads to the spinal changes and intervertebral disks become less elastic (Figure 5) .The vertebrae start getting out of their shape, and the joints become less elastic. The slimming shorts of this invention could correct the spinal position and reinforce frame function of skeletal muscles by reducing negative impact of the excessive weight on the spine (Figure 5).

The slimming shorts of the invention have the feature of fixing muscles in right place and reducing load on the spine. It is provided by specially selected direction of the inserts which correspond to anatomy of the basic muscles forming the muscular structure of the inferior part of human body. Corrected load redistribution onto the lumbar muscles and spine decreases the back pains (Figure 6).

As used herein, the term "pelvis" represents a strong arch construction for transferring weight to the femoral heads. The optimum biomechanical inclination is 45-65° (Figure 7, left). When the body weight increases and the gravity centre is displaced, the pelvis is exposed to axial rotation. It raises probability of impellent function restrictions of the coxofemoral joints, development of arthritis and arthrosis (Figure 7, right).

The slimming shorts of the invention provide a method to decrease negative consequence with weight gain by the functional compressive inserts which approach the displaced gravity centre to its almost initial physiological position (Figure 8).

As used herein, the term "cellulite" means an unusual adipose tissue consisting of modified fatty in which the lymph and blood circulation worsen. Cellulitis exists not only in the overweighed, but also in those who doesn't suffer obesity.

As used herein, the term "caloric burn" means that there is a consumption of energy (i.e., calories) that is a benefit and advantage of the undergarment of the present application. Generally, the undergarment of the invention could induce the caloric burn when it is worn.

As used herein, the terms "micro massage effect or MME" means undergarment possess massage effect and can influence blood circulation in the hypodermic cellulose. Uniform micro-massage activates microcirculation of blood and lymph in the hypodermic cellulose, promotes evacuation of liquid and natural detoxication. Micro-massage and the allocated pressure help positively influences beauty, smoothness and elasticity of skin. Procured with the shorts, abdomen, hips and buttocks massage raises the tone of muscles in the problem zones.

As used herein, the expression "non-stretch" or "hard- stretch" is used to describe the resistance bands (or equivalent thereof) that are an integral part of the undergarment, means that the fabric that constitute these bands (or equivalent thereof) are relatively more resistant (i.e., less stretchy or elastic) than the fabric that is used to construct the remainder of the undergarment.

The main advantages of the undergarments of this invention include:

(1) Correction of gravity center of people with overweight;

(2) Correction of spinal position and enforcement of skeletal muscles;

(3) Weight reduction;

(4) Prevention of joint diseases and cellulites;

(5) Micro massage effect;

(6) The elastic reinforcement around the lower abdomen section provides the greatest amount of resistive force in a correct manner and exercises great of muscles while in daily life.

The following exemplary embodiments further describe the present invention. Although the description referred to particular embodiments, it would be clear to one that the present invention may be practiced with variation of these specific details. Hence, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Example 1

As shown in Figs. 9-10, the functional slimming shorts (1) comprises thigh section (2) , waist-shaping section (3) , abdomen-shaping section (4) , and adjusting band (7) which extends from lower side of the waist-shaping section (3) and is used to adjust centre of gravity. The adjusting band (7) comprises two side adjusting bands (7b) which are interconnected, presenting a shape of "U".

As shown in Fig. 1 1 , the adjusting band (7) further provides a lifting force with a direction of "/* "to buttocks of wearers (right view) or a lifting force with a direction of " "to buttocks of wearers (left view) , and a pull-down force with a direction of 'V " to the abdomen section of wearers (right view) or a pull-down force with a direction of "\ "to buttocks of wearers (left view) . So the position of gravity center of wearer is adjusted. The shorts further comprise assistant adjusting band (6) corresponding to the musculus gluteus medius. The adjusting band (7) and the resistance section located in the abdomen- shaping section (4) form a unified entity together.

Example 2

The functional slimming shorts of example 1 are made except that the thigh section (2) further comprises elastic bands.

Example 3

Functional slimming shorts of example 1 are made except that the adjusting band (7) is made of a high-elastic bamboo fabric material. The material is relatively more resistant than those materials used to construct the remainder of the slimming shorts. Example 4

The two sides of waist-shaping section (3) of the shorts in example 1 are equipped with muscle massage area corresponding to the musculus abliquus externus abodominis, the abdomen-shaping section (4) has muscle massage area corresponding to the musculus rectus abodominis. The muscle massage area of waist-shaping section (3) is comprised of latticed protuberances.

Example 5

The functional slimming shorts of example 1 are made except that the adjusting band (7) comprises two side adjusting bands (7b) and one central adjusting band (not shown in Fig. 10) . The two side adjusting bands (7b) and central adjusting bands are interconnected and present a shape of "ω "together.

Example 6

In order to test the effects of functional slimming in this application, 20 volunteers were chosen and randomly divided into two groups. For each subject, the position of gravity center (or PGC) was measured using a body gravity dynamic measuring apparatus before and after wearing the functional slimming shorts of Example 1 (Group A) or Example 4 (Group B). After 2 months of wearing, the effects of correction were scored according to Table 1.

Moreover, fat content and body weight were measured respectively before and after the test.

Table 1

After 2 months of wearing the functional slimming shorts, the average scores of ten volunteers were 2.1 (Group A) and 2.2 (Group B). Most subjects also had lower fat content and less weight.

The results showed that the functional slimming shorts of the invention were useful to correct gravity center, reduce body weight and could help people to keep healthy.

All the documents cited herein are incorporated into the invention as reference, as if each of them is individually incorporated. Further, it would be appreciated that, in the above teaching of the invention, the skilled in the art could make certain changes or modifications to the invention, and these equivalents would still be within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims of the present application.