UNDERPANTS GARMENT

Abstract

An underpants garment to be worn by a user has a waist opening and two leg openings. A first portion of the underpants faces a crotch region of the user, and a second portion faces a buttocks, sides, and front hip regions of the user. A first attachment region extends from the waist opening to a first of the two leg openings. The first attachment region releasably couples the first portion to the second portion along a first side of the user's crotch region. A second attachment region extends from the waist opening to a second of the two leg openings. The second attachment region releasably couples the first portion to the second portion along a second side of the user's crotch region.

Claims

1. A garment comprising underpants adapted to be worn by a user, said underpants having a waist opening and two leg openings, said underpants having a first portion adapted to face a crotch region of the user, said underpants having a second portion adapted to face a buttocks, sides, and front hip regions of the user, said underpants having a first attachment region extending from said waist opening to a first of said two leg openings, said first attachment region releasably coupling said first portion to said second portion along a first side of the crotch region, and said underpants having a second attachment region extending from said waist opening to a second of said two leg openings, said second attachment region releasably coupling said first portion to said second portion along a second side of the crotch region.

2. A garment as in claim 1, further comprising an elastic material coupled to said first portion along said waist opening.

3. A garment as in claim 2, wherein said elastic material extends between said first attachment region and said second attachment region.

4. A garment as in claim 3, wherein said elastic material is at least partially encased by said first portion.

5. A garment as in claim 1, further comprising elastic material coupled to said first portion and said second portion, wherein said elastic material elasticizes said waist opening.

6. A garment as in claim 1, further comprising elastic material coupled to said first portion and said second portion, wherein said elastic material elasticizes said waist opening and said two leg openings.

7. A garment as in claim 1, further comprising at least one pocket coupled to at least one of said first portion and said second portion, said at least one pocket adapted to face at least one of the crotch region and the buttocks of the user when said underpants are worn by the user.

8. A garment as in claim 1, wherein snaps are disposed along said first attachment region and said second attachment region.

9. A garment comprising underpants adapted to be worn by a user, said underpants having a waist opening and two leg openings, said underpants having a first portion adapted to face a crotch region of the user, said underpants having a second portion adapted to face a buttocks, sides, and front hip regions of the user, said underpants having a first attachment region extending from said waist opening to a first of said two leg openings, said first attachment region having first releasable couplings cooperating between said first portion to said second portion along a first side of the crotch region, and said underpants having a second attachment region extending from said waist opening to a second of said two leg openings, said second attachment region having second releasable couplings cooperating between said first portion to said second portion along a second side of the crotch region.

10. A garment as in claim 9, further comprising an elastic material coupled to said first portion along said waist opening.

11. A garment as in claim 10, wherein said elastic material extends between said first attachment region and said second attachment region.

12. A garment as in claim 11, wherein said elastic material is at least partially encased by said first portion.

13. A garment as in claim 9, further comprising elastic material coupled to said first portion and said second portion, wherein said elastic material elasticizes said waist opening.

14. A garment as in claim 9, further comprising elastic material coupled to said first portion and said second portion, wherein said elastic material elasticizes said waist opening and said two leg openings.

15. A garment as in claim 9, further comprising at least one pocket coupled to at least one of said first portion and said second portion, said at least one pocket adapted to face at least one of the crotch region and the buttocks of the user when said underpants are worn by the user.

16. A garment as in claim 9, wherein said first releasable couplings and said second reliable couplings comprise snap couplings.

17. A garment comprising underpants adapted to be worn by a user, said underpants having a waist opening and two leg openings, said underpants having a first portion adapted to face a crotch region of the user, said underpants having a second portion adapted to face a buttocks, sides, and front hip regions of the user, elastic material coupled to said first portion and said second portion, wherein said elastic material elasticizes said waist opening, said underpants having a first attachment region extending from said waist opening to a first of said two leg openings, said first attachment region having a first set of snap couplings cooperating between said first portion and said second portion along a first side of the crotch region, and said underpants having a second attachment region extending from said waist opening to a second of said two leg openings, said second attachment region having a second set of snap couplings cooperating between said first portion and said second portion along a second side of the crotch region.

18. A garment as in claim 17, wherein said elastic material coupled to said first portion is at least partially covered by said first portion.

19. A garment as in claim 17, wherein said elastic material further elasticizes said two leg openings.

20. A garment as in claim 17, further comprising at least one pocket coupled to at least one of said first portion and said second portion, said at least one pocket adapted to face at least one of the crotch region and the buttocks of the user when said underpants are worn by the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the body-facing surface of an underpants garment in its unfolded and unclosed state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the underpants garment in FIG. 1 with the sides of the back portion thereof folded in;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a front view of the underpants garment in FIG. 2 as worn by a user with the front portion thereof folded up and attached to the back portion at attachment regions lying along opposing sides of the user's crotch region;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the body-facing surface of an underpants garment in its unfolded and unclosed state in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0014] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the body-facing surface of an underpants garment in its unclosed state in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring now to the drawings, simultaneous reference will be made to FIGS. 1-3 where an underpants garment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown and is referenced generally by numeral 10. By way of an illustrative example, underpants garment 10 is a woman's bikini style. However, it is to be understood that the novel features of the present invention to be described herein can be used in variety of women's and men's underpants styles without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0016] To provide a full understanding of the present invention, underpants garment 10 is shown in its completely unfolded and flat pre-use configuration in FIG. 1, is shown in its partially folded configuration in FIG. 2, and is shown in its fully folded and assembled/as-worn configuration in FIG. 3. Each of the figures will be referenced simultaneously herein and specific figures will be noted when a specific feature is best illustrated in that figure.

[0017] Underpants garment 10 presents a generally T-shaped structure (FIG. 1) in its completely unfolded state. In FIG. 1, the body-facing surface of underpants garment 10 faces out of the page. Fabric(s) used for underpants garment 10 can be any fabric typically used for underpants construction. The T-shaped structure of underpants garment 10 includes the top of the T-shaped structure or T-region 12 as it will be referred to herein, and a trunk region referenced by numerals 14 and 16. T-region 12 of this T-shaped structure forms the covering structure that faces a wearer's buttocks as well as the wearer's side and front hip regions. The top region 14 of the T-shape's trunk forms the covering structure that faces at least the lower portion of a wearer's crotch region. Top region 14 can incorporate additional comfort and/or absorbent material (not shown) without departing from the scope of the present invention. The bottom region 16 of the T-shape's trunk forms the covering structure that faces the upper portion of a wearer's crotch region.

[0018] The sides 12S of T-region 12 and the sides 16S of bottom region 16 define attachment regions of releasable couplings that allow underpants garment 10 to be put on or taken off without being pulled over one's feet and legs. For example and in the illustrated embodiment, the releasable couplings include a snap tape 20 and a snap tape 30. Snap tape 20 (FIG. 2) is attached to sides 12S at the outer surface of underpants garment 10. Snap tape 20 has three snap receptacles 22 coupled thereto. In general, while at least two such snap receptacles would be provided on snap tape 20, more than three can be provided without departing from the scope of the present invention. Sides 16S have a corresponding snap tape 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) attached thereto at the body-facing surface of underpants garment 10. Snap tape 30 has three snap studs 32 coupled thereto. Each of snap studs 32 is positioned for alignment with a corresponding snap receptacle 22 when underpants garment 10 is fully folded and assembled/worn (FIG. 3). Snap tapes 20 and 30 are typically commercially available as a set as is known in the art. The positions of snap receptacles and snap studs could be reversed without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, it is to be understood that other types of releasable couplings could be used (e.g., hook-and-loop fastening systems, hook-and-eye fastening systems, etc.) at the attachment regions without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0019] Elasticity for underpants garment 10 is provided by, for example, elastic tape (e.g., a decorative elastic tape, an elastic tape integrated with the fabric of underpants garment 10, etc.) coupled to one or more edge regions of underpants garment 10. For example and in the illustrated embodiment, elastic tape 40 is coupled to a top edge 12T of T-region 12, a bottom edge 12B of T-region 12, along both sides 14S of top region 14, and a top edge 16T of bottom region 16. When underpants garment 10 is fully assembled with each of snap studs 32 engaging a corresponding snap receptacle 22 (FIG. 3), elastic tapes 40 at top edge 12T and top edge 16T align and cooperate to define an elastic waistband of underpants garment 10 at its waist opening 50. At the same time, elastic tapes 40 at bottom edge 12B and sides 14S align and cooperate to define elasticized leg openings 60 (FIG. 3). It is to be understood that while elastic material is generally desired at one or more portions of the garment's waist opening 50, elastic material may or may not be included at the sides/edges that define the garment's leg openings 60 depending on the style of the underpants garment.

[0020] The above-described construction of underpants garment 10 provides greatly enhanced functionality while presenting an undergarment design that maintains a traditional appearance as illustrated in FIG. 3 where underpants garment 10 is shown positioned on a user where the user's torso and legs are referenced by dashed lines 100. The two attachment regions of underpants garment 10 (formed when snap tapes 20 and 30 are coupled to one another) lie along the garment's front immediately adjacent to or substantially aligned along opposing sides of the wearer's crotch region illustrated by the region between dashed lines 102. By virtue of this construction, attachment and detachment of the garment's releasable couplings (e.g., snaps in the described embodiment) can be readily accomplished by a user or caregiver. Further, the two attachment regions extend between waist opening 50 and a corresponding one of leg openings 60 to thereby allow underpants garment 10 to be put on or removed without the need to be pulled over one's feet and legs. This will allow a user to quickly change underpants garments without having to remove shoes, tights and/or pants. By using the above-described snap tapes and their positioning on underpants garment 10, the folded and assembled garment (FIG. 3) presents itself as a traditional underpants garment thereby eliminating any stigma associated with wearing the garment. Further, the folded and fully assembled garment provides elasticity in the waistband (and in the leg openings if desired) in the same fashion as conventional underwear thereby providing the user with a fit and feel to which they are accustomed.

[0021] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above as it can include one or more additional features that will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 where features already described herein will not be discussed further. Referring first to FIG. 4, an underpants garment 70 can include one or more pockets constructed on its body-facing surface. For example, a pocket 72 can be constructed on region 16 such that pocket 72 will rest over the central portion of a wearer's crotch region when underpants garment 70 is closed/worn. As would be understood in the art, pocket 72 can include a pocket body 72A open along one edge 72B thereof, and a pocket flap 72C providing access to and closing off open edge 72B. Pocket 72 can provide a wearer with a safe/secure place to store one's identification card, credit card, etc., thereby eliminating the need to carry a purse. Additionally or alternatively, a pocket 74 can be constructed on region 12 such that pocket 74 will rest over a portion of a wearer's buttocks when underpants garment 70 is worn. Pocket 74 can be sized/shaped to hold, for example, cushioning material (not shown) to alleviate pain associated with a variety of conditions (e.g., piriformis syndrome) that are brought on and/or exacerbated while one is sitting. Similar to pocket 72, pocket 74 includes a pocket body 74A that is open along one edge 74B thereof, and a pocket flap 74C providing access to and closing off open edge 74B.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 5, an underpants garment 80 includes a wide piece of soft elastic material 82 extending between snap tapes 30 and coupled to garment 80 at or immediately adjacent to snap tapes 30. Elastic material 82 is covered by an extension region 18 of underpants garment 80 that is coupled to region 16 thereof. For example, one edge 18A of extension region 18 can be integrated with region 16 and one edge 18B can be stitched to the body-facing surface of region 16. The width and softness of elastic material 82 will provide for gentle expansion of underpants garment 80 if/when a wearer experiences lower abdomen bloating.

[0023] The advantages of the present invention are numerous. The underpants garment provides a user and/or caregiver with the ability to change the user's underpants without removing clothes (e.g., pants, panty hose, etc.) from the user's legs. The underpants' attachment regions are easily accessed on both sides of a user's crotch to simplify putting them on and taking them off for both the self-sufficient user as well as users requiring dressing/undressing aid. When assembled/worn, the underpants garment looks and feels like a conventional undergarment thereby allowing the user to look and feel like they are wearing conventional underwear. This is particularly beneficial to the psyche of people that are wheelchair-bound or bedridden. The underpants garment can include additional comfort features (e.g., wide front and soft elastic, back pocket to hold cushion) and/or convenience features (e.g., concealed and secure front pocket) not currently available.

[0024] Although the invention has been described relative to several specific embodiments thereof, there are also numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, the present invention can be incorporated into other women's traditional underpants designs such as briefs, thongs, boy shorts, etc., as well as a variety of men's underpants designs to include briefs and boxers that can incorporate the traditional front flap found in men's underpants. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

[0025] What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: