ATHLETIC SHORTS GARMENT APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED INTERFEMORAL GUSSET AND SURROUNDING MODESTY PANEL

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and useful athletic shorts garment apparatus with improved interfemoral gusset and surrounding modesty panel. This invention is believed to be useful by offering an apparatus which stays in place when in use, does not ride-up the legs, prevents chafing, provides a flared modesty panel that is flattering, accommodates all hip sizes and hides the body shape and contours of the user, has readily accessible large pockets for carrying items, has a double gusset located between the legs to prevent splitting that can occur from a single seam, allows for the addition of a drawstring, and is reversible. The aforementioned existing apparatus in the field is indicated to be used by athletes, most commonly women who are runners, walkers, tennis players and the like.

Claims

1. An athletic shorts garment apparatus with improved interfemoral gusset and surrounding modesty panel comprising: a) a waistband complex having an anterior face connected to a posterior face along a left waistband seam and a right waistband seam, said waistband complex exhibiting a top shorts complex seam edge and a bottom shorts complex seam edge; b) a shorts garment complex having a left leg structure and a right leg structure connected along a central anterior seam and a central posterior seam, said shorts garment complex exhibiting a top shorts garment complex seam edge, a left leg structure bottom shorts garment seam edge and a right leg structure bottom shorts garment seam edge, said left leg structure having an anterior left interfemoral gusset seam edge and a posterior left interfemoral gusset seam edge, said right leg structure having an anterior right interfemoral gusset seam edge and a posterior right interfemoral gusset seam edge, said top shorts complex seam edge is attached to the bottom shorts complex seam edge of the waistband complex; c) an improved interfemoral gusset attached to the shorts garment complex along the anterior right interfemoral gusset seam edge, the posterior right interfemoral gusset seam edge, the anterior left interfemoral gusset seam edge, and the posterior left interfemoral gusset seam edge, said improved interfemoral gusset having a generally oblong hexagonal shape; d) a modesty panel which is generally a semicircular shape which is assembled and connected along a side seam to create a conical or skirt shape, said modesty panel having a top modesty panel seam edge and a bottom modesty panel hem edge, where said top modesty panel seam edge is attached to the bottom waistband complex seam edge; e) an angled left leg cuff which is folded over and attached to the left leg structure bottom shorts garment seam edge and attached improved interfemoral gusset; and f) an angled right leg cuff which is folded over and attached to the right leg structure bottom shorts garment edge and attached improved interfemoral gusset.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the anterior face of the waistband complex further comprises a zipper presented horizontally, having a top zipper edge and a bottom zipper edge, said zipper attached to a upper zipper pocket panel along the top zipper edge and a lower zipper pocket panel along the bottom zipper edge and thereby collectively creating a zipper pocket complex with a left zipper pocket complex edge and a right zipper pocket complex edge, said zipper complex attached to a left side of a right waistband panel along the left zipper pocket complex edge, said zipper complex attached to a right side of a left waistband panel along the right zipper pocket complex edge.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the waistband complex further comprises a waistband complex inner lining attached along the top seam edge and the bottom seam edge of the waistband complex, thereby creating an interior void between the waistband complex inner lining and the anterior face and the posterior face of the waistband complex.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the shorts garment complex further comprises a plurality of pockets attached to the right leg structure.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the shorts garment complex further comprises a plurality of pockets attached to the left leg structure.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 where the left leg structure, the right leg structure, the angled left leg cuff, the angled right leg cuff, improved interfemoral gusset are made of a wicking 4-way material such as spandex.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a the placement or printing of a decorative element on the exterior of the apparatus, said decorative element can be a pattern, text, an image, logo or advertisement.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the top seam edge of the waistband complex is anti-roll elastic.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the waistband complex further comprises a plurality of drawstring holes to allow the addition of a drawstring.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the modesty panel further comprises at least one perforation to allow a cord such as an earphone cord to pass through.

11. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the improved interfemoral gusset is angled and double-layered.

12. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the zipper further comprises an ornamental zipper pull.

13. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the waistband complex inner lining is made of a wicking 4-way material such as spandex.

14. The apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the waistband complex further comprises a drawstring inserted through the drawstring holes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is an anterior view of an athletic shorts garment apparatus with improved interfemoral gusset and surrounding modesty panel according to the present invention with modesty panel partially raised to show underlying shorts garment apparatus features;

[0015] FIG. 2 is an anterior view of the apparatus according to the present invention with modesty panel lowered;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a posterior view of the apparatus according to the present invention with modesty panel lowered;

[0017] FIG. 4 is an anterior detail view of the apparatus according to the present invention showing the features of the underlying shorts garment;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a posterior detail view of the apparatus according to the present invention showing the features of the underlying short garment;

[0019] FIG. 6 is an anterior detail view of the apparatus according to the present invention shown in its environment, worn by an athlete, and showing the fit of the shorts garment, location of the improved interfemoral gusset and modesty panel when in use; and

[0020] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the apparatus according to the present invention showing the unassembled components of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] As described above, the present invention provides a new and useful athletic shorts garment apparatus with improved interfemoral gusset and surrounding modesty panel. This invention is believed to be useful by offering an apparatus which stays in place when in use, does not ride-up the legs, prevents chafing, provides a flared modesty panel that is flattering, accommodates all hip sizes and hides the body shape and contours of the user, has readily accessible large pockets for carrying items, has a double gusset to prevent splitting that can occur from a single seam, allows for the addition of a drawstring, and is reversible. The following description and accompanying drawings disclose at least one version of such a device.

[0022] Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 there is shown an athletic shorts garment apparatus with improved interfemoral gusset and surrounding modesty panel shown generally 1. The apparatus comprises a waistband complex 2 having an anterior face 2a connected, usually by stitching or sewing with thread, to a posterior face 2b along a left waistband seam 2c and a right waistband seam 2d. The waistband complex 2 exhibits a top shorts complex seam edge 2e and a bottom shorts complex seam edge 2f.

[0023] The apparatus also comprises a shorts garment complex 3 which is made from a left leg structure 3a and a right leg structure 3b which are connected along a central anterior seam 3c and a central posterior seam 3d. When connected the said shorts garment complex 3 exhibits a top shorts garment complex seam edge 3e, a left leg structure bottom shorts garment seam edge 3f and a right leg structure bottom shorts garment seam edge 3g.

[0024] The left leg structure 3a of the apparatus also has an anterior left improved interfemoral gusset seam edge 3h and a posterior left improved interfemoral gusset seam edge 3i. Likewise, the right leg structure 3b has an anterior right improved interfemoral gusset seam edge 3k and a posterior right improved interfemoral gusset seam edge 3m.

[0025] The said top shorts garment complex seam edge 3e is attached to the bottom waistband complex seam edge 2f of the waistband complex.

[0026] The apparatus further comprises an improved interfemoral gusset 4 which is attached to the shorts garment complex 3 along the anterior right improved interfemoral gusset seam edge 3k, the posterior right improved interfemoral gusset seam edge 3m, the anterior left improved interfemoral gusset seam edge 3h, and the posterior left improved interfemoral gusset seam edge 3i. The improved interfemoral gusset 4 is a generally oblong and hexagonal in shape and when the apparatus is worn is situated between the legs of the wearer. The improved interfemoral gusset 4 can also be angled and double-layered to minimize chaffing, shifting, and riding-up of the apparatus when worn by the user, most typically an athlete.

[0027] Further, the apparatus comprises a modesty panel 5. The modesty panel 5, when unassembled, presents generally in a semicircular shape. When assembled and connected along a side seam 5a the modesty panel 5 creates a conical or skirt shape which has a top modesty panel seam edge 5b and a bottom modesty panel hem edge 5c. The top modesty panel seam edge 5b is attached to the waistband complex 2 of the apparatus. When assembled, the modesty panel 5 is flared and accommodates all hip sizes and be flattering to the figure of the user.

[0028] An angled left leg cuff 6 is folded over and attached to the left leg structure bottom seam edge 3f and attached improved interfemoral gusset 4. An angled right leg cuff 7 is folded over and attached to the right leg structure bottom seam edge 3g and attached improved interfemoral gusset 4.

[0029] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the anterior face 2a of the waistband complex 2 further comprises a zipper pocket complex 8e. The zipper pocket complex 8e comprises a zipper 8 presented horizontally which has a top zipper edge 8a and a bottom zipper edge 8b. The zipper 8, which may have an ornamental zipper pull 8m, is attached to a upper zipper pocket panel 8c along the top zipper edge 8a and a lower zipper pocket panel 8d along the bottom zipper edge 8b and thereby collectively creating a zipper pocket complex 8e. The zipper pocket complex 8e exhibits a left zipper pocket complex edge 8f and a right zipper pocket complex edge 8g, and is attached to a left side 8h of a right waistband panel 8i along the left zipper pocket complex edge 8g and to a right side 8j of a left waistband panel 8k along the right zipper pocket complex edge 8f. The apparatus 1 can be worn with the zipper pocket complex 8e worn to the front or the back of the user.

[0030] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the waistband complex 2 further comprises a waistband complex inner lining 9 attached along the top waistband complex seam edge 2e and the bottom waistband complex seam edge 2f. Therefore an interior void or pocket is created between the waistband complex inner lining 9 and the anterior face 2a and the posterior face 2b of the waistband complex 2.

[0031] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the shorts garment complex 3 further comprises a plurality of pockets 10 attached to the right leg structure 3b, the left leg structure 3a, or both. These pockets 10 and the waistband zipper pocket complex 8e, if present, can be strategically placed, conceal contents therein, as well as be flattering to the wearer and readily accessible.

[0032] Although the apparatus can be made out of any material, it is envisioned that an embodiment exists where at least the left leg structure 3a, the right leg structure 3b, the angled left leg cuff 6, the angled right leg cuff 7, the improved interfemoral gusset 4, and waistband complex inner lining 9 if present are made of a wicking 4-way material such as spandex. The properties of this material maximize the new, useful, and non-obvious features of the inventionspecifically combating chaffing, shifting and riding-up of the garment when worn by an athlete. Also, the top seam edge 2e of the waistband complex 2 can be made using anti-roll elastic. It is envisioned that the garment is designed and created without the use of rubber, silicon or latex strips, which have been shown to be ineffective in the prior art.

[0033] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the waistband complex 2 further comprises a plurality of drawstring holes 11 to allow the addition of a drawstring 13. Also, the modesty panel 5 may comprise at least one perforation 12 to allow a cord such as an earphone cord to pass through.

[0034] It is also envisioned that the placement or printing of a decorative element on the exterior of the apparatus will be practiced. The decorative element can be a pattern, text, an image, advertisement or equivalent.

[0035] The dimensions of the apparatus can be any size that will accommodate the body shapes and sizes of a variety of wearers.

[0036] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.

[0037] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0038] All the features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0039] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. As for means for elements, the applicant intends to encompass within the language any structure; presently existing or developed in the future that performs the same function. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.