Abstract
An improved, substantially elongated gusset and/or crotch panel, incorporated into garments for humans' lower bodies. This novel, uniquely shaped, and scaled gusset significantly enhances wearers' comfort by eliminating seams, material transitions, stitching, and other mechanisms or methods of attachment from within the boundaries of a defined protected region, which coincides with the wearer's sensitive genital area. The gusset is preferably constructed from at least one layer of material, and may feature additional layers. In preferred embodiments, the elongated gusset and/or crotch panel is incorporated into girl/boy short-style undergarments, bikini-style undergarments, thong-style undergarments, pajama-bottom style garments, and other lower-body garments.
Claims
1. A lower body garment comprising: a body including a protected portion configured to cover a protected region of a wearer and an unprotected portion configured to cover an unprotected region of the wearer outside of the protected region of the wearer, the body having a front face and a rear face opposite the front face, and a crotch portion extending between the front face of the body and the rear face of the body; a gusset located on the body and configured to substantially cover the protected region of the wearer and at least a portion of the front face, the crotch portion, and the rear face, the gusset comprising: two side edges, a top front edge, and a rear edge that collectively form an outer edge that defines an outline of the gusset, the top front edge being within the front face of the body, the gusset extending to the rear edge located at the rear face of the body; a transverse axis bisects an elongated length of the gusset, wherein a portion of the gusset bound by the transverse axis, a first portion of each of the side edges and the top front edge defines a front area of the gusset, and a portion of the gusset bound by the transverse axis, a second portion of each of the side edges and the rear edge defines a rear area of the gusset, the front area and the rear area both extending from the crotch portion and to the outer edge; and the front area of the gusset being larger than the rear area of the gusset and wherein the rear area of the gusset is located near the rear face of the body, the front area of the gusset is located near the front face of the body, and the rear face of the body includes more surface area than the front face of the body.
2. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the gusset is a separate piece of fabric from the body.
3. The lower body garment of claim 1, further comprising a waistband and wherein the outline is spaced from the waistband.
4. The lower body garment of claim 1, further comprising a seam connecting the gusset to the body, wherein the seam is configured to be located only within the unprotected region of the wearer.
5. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the waistband comprises a stretchable top portion around a top circumference of the body.
6. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the gusset extends 75% of a length measured from a bottom point of the lower body garment to the waistband.
7. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the gusset extends 83% of a length measured from a bottom point of the lower body garment to the waistband.
8. The lower body garment of claim 1, further comprising leg openings defined by the body, the seam connecting the gusset to the body and at least a portion of the seam being spaced from the leg openings.
9. The lower body garment of claim 1, wherein the rear face is configured to project outward more than the front face.
10. A lower body garment comprising: a body having a front face and a rear face opposite the front face, and a crotch portion extending between the front face of the body and the rear face of the body; a gusset attached to the body and comprising: two side edges, a top front edge, and a rear edge that collectively form an outer edge, the top front edge being at or near the front face of the body and the rear edge being at or near the rear face of the body; a transverse axis bisecting an elongated length of the gusset, wherein a portion of the gusset bound by the transverse axis, a first portion of each of the side edges and the top front edge defines a front area of the gusset, and a portion of the gusset bound by the transverse axis, a second portion of each of the side edges and the rear edge defines a rear area of the gusset, the front area and the rear area both extending from the crotch portion and to the outer edge; and the front area of the gusset is larger than the rear area of the gusset and wherein the rear area of the gusset is located at or near the rear face of the body, the front area of the gusset is located at or near the front face of the body, and the rear face of the body includes more surface area than the front face of the body.
11. The lower body garment of claim 10, wherein the gusset is a separate piece of fabric from the body.
12. The lower body garment of claim 10, further comprising a waistband and wherein the outline is spaced from the waistband.
13. The lower body garment of claim 10, further comprising a seam connecting the gusset to the body, wherein the seam is configured to be located only within the unprotected region of the wearer.
14. The lower body garment of claim 10, wherein the waistband comprises a stretchable top portion around a top circumference of the body.
15. The lower body garment of claim 10, wherein the gusset extends 75% of a length measured from a bottom point of the lower body garment to the waistband.
16. The lower body garment of claim 10, wherein the gusset extends 83% of a length measured from a bottom point of the lower body garment to the waistband.
17. The lower body garment of claim 10, further comprising leg openings defined by the body, the seam connecting the gusset to the body and at least a portion of the seam being spaced from the leg openings.
18. The lower body garment of claim 10, wherein the rear face is configured to project outward more than the front face.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pattern pieces that comprise the body of an undergarment for women into which the elongated gusset piece is incorporated, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view of a single body pattern piece with two non-symmetrical halves relative to a horizontal axis, and identifies a general protected region, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(3) FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an elongated gusset piece with a front edge having an outline of a recognizable shape, as incorporated into an undergarment for women constructed from a single body pattern piece, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(4) FIG. 4 is a plan view of an elongated gusset piece with top portion forming an outline of a recognizable shape, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(5) FIG. 4A is a front elevation view of the elongated gusset piece shown in FIG. 4 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(6) FIG. 4B is a rear elevation view of the elongated gusset piece shown in FIG. 4 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(7) FIG. 4C is a right and left side elevation view of the elongated gusset piece shown in FIG. 4 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(8) FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of an elongated gusset piece as attached onto a body pattern piece of commensurate size, which was then attached to a stretchable waistband loop, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(9) FIG. 6 is a plan view of a gusset, which was formed by attaching an elongated gusset liner pattern piece onto a body pattern piece of commensurate size, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(10) FIG. 6A is a front elevation view of the gusset shown in FIG. 6 which may be constructed from multiple fabric layers.
(11) FIG. 6B is a rear elevation view of the gusset shown in FIG. 6 which may be constructed from multiple fabric layers.
(12) FIG. 6C is a right and left side elevation view of the gusset shown in FIG. 6 which may be constructed from multiple fabric layers.
(13) FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the gusset shown in FIG. 6 without the waistband.
(14) FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of an elongated single-ply gusset piece, as affixed to a boy/girl short-style undergarment for women, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(15) FIG. 9 is a plan view of an elongated gusset piece as shown in FIG. 8, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(16) FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of an elongated gusset piece with a front edge having an outline of a recognizable shape, as affixed to a bikini-style undergarment, and constructed from a single body pattern piece, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(17) FIG. 11 is a plan view of an elongated gusset piece with top portion forming an outline of a recognizable shape, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention as seen in FIG. 10.
(18) FIG. 11A is a front elevation view of the elongated gusset piece shown in FIG. 11 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(19) FIG. 11B is a rear elevation view of the elongated gusset piece shown in FIG. 11 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(20) FIG. 11C is a right and left side elevation view of the elongated gusset piece shown in FIG. 11 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(21) FIG. 12 is a plan view of an elongated gusset pattern piece having a central rectangular section and front and rear sections with curved edges, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(22) FIG. 12A is a front elevation view of the elongated gusset pattern piece shown in FIG. 12 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(23) FIG. 12B is a rear elevation view of the elongated gusset pattern piece shown in FIG. 12 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(24) FIG. 12C is a right and left side elevation view of the elongated gusset pattern piece shown in FIG. 12 which may be constructed from multiple layers.
(25) FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the elongated gusset pattern piece shown in FIG. 12 as incorporated into garment bottoms, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
(26) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of garment bottoms with raw seams moved to the exterior face of the garment out of direct contact with sensitive genital protected region.
(27) FIG. 15 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 14 taken along the line 15-15.
(28) FIG. 16 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 14 taken along the line 16-16.
(29) FIG. 17 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 14 as referenced in FIG. 16.
(30) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a pajama pants embodiment of the invention with a substantially rectangular gusset piece.
(31) FIG. 19 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 18 along the line 19-19 of FIG. 18.
(32) FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 18 showing a 2-ply gusset with a pant leg.
(33) FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 20 as referenced in FIG. 20.
(34) FIG. 22 is a perspective exploded view of the pieces of a pajama pants embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
(35) In a first preferred embodiment (girl short #1), there are three body pattern pieces as shown in FIG. 1: an elongated gusset pattern piece 1, a front pattern piece 2, and a rear pattern piece 3. Front pattern piece 2 and rear pattern piece 3 are attached along the sides 4 of the legs, parallel to the wearer's hips. Gusset pattern piece 1 can be constructed from a single layer of any material, including the same fabric as the body pieces, and of any suitable material, such as but not limited to cotton, silk, modal or bamboo. Gusset pattern piece 1 can also comprise one or multiple layers of material, which can be the same or different material than the rest of the garment. As shown, gusset pattern piece 1 is placed on top of the inner face of one additional gusset pattern piece and attached along its edges, thereby forming a multi-ply gusset 1. Gusset 1 can also be cut into a recognizable shape, such as the outline of a logo icon; or any recognizable shape, figure, or outline As seen in FIG. 1, the top portion 6 of gusset 1 forms the outline of a feline shape. Front pattern piece 2 features a cut-out 7; where top portion 6 of gusset 1 substantially nests with cut-out 7 in such a way that there is slight overlap for attachment. Gusset 1 is placed over cut-out 7 on front pattern piece 2 and attached along the overlap or nesting area. Cut-out 7 on front pattern piece 2 preferably extends a sufficient distance up the inner front face 8 of front pattern piece 2 toward the waistband, so as to avoid stitching, seams, fabric transitions, or other discomfort-causing phenomena within the protected region 11, as shown in FIG. 2. It has been determined that a gusset extending from a bottom edge of an undergarment, (as when it is on a flat surface where the 2 leg openings are situated next to each other) to approximately 75% towards the waistband will generally avoid the protected region. Of course, depending upon the size of and rise of the garment and the wearer, the gusset may extend from approximately 33% to 100%. Rear pattern piece 3 also features a cut-out 9, where the rear portion 10 of gusset 1 fits into cut-out 9 in such a way that there is slight overlap for attachment. Rear portion 10 of gusset 1 is attached to rear pattern piece 3 along this slight overlap, such that the resulting material juncture seam is located outside of protected region 11. The edges can include a top front edge near the top portion 6 and a read edge near the rear portion 10. The gusset 1 can include a front area 1a near the front face 16, and a rear area 1b near the rear face 17, where in the garment is configured to project outward more at the rear face 17 as compared to the front face 16, and/or the rear face 17 has more surface area than the front face 16. The front area 1a of the gusset 1 is larger than the rear area 1b of the gusset 1. As shown, the gusset 1 includes two side edges, the top front edge, and the rear edge that collectively form an outer edge that defines an outline. A transverse axis bisects an elongated length of the gusset 1, wherein a portion of the gusset 1 bound by the transverse axis, a portion of each of the side edges and the top front edge define the front area 1a of the gusset 1, and a portion of the gusset 1 bound by the transverse axis, a portion of each of the side edges and the rear edge define a rear area 1b of the gusset 1.
(36) In a second preferred embodiment (girl short #2), as seen in FIG. 2, there is a single body pattern piece 12 with two non-symmetrical halves (relative to a horizontal axis 13) that is folded over horizontal axis 13 and attached along the sides 14, parallel to the wearer's hips, to form the body of the undergarment 15, as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, there are no seams along the front face 16 or rear face 17 of undergarment body 15, or in protected region 11. An elongated gusset piece 18 (such as shown, for example in FIGS. 3, 4) may be affixed to the middle section 19 of body piece 12, such that the attachment runs along the top and bottom, or along the four edges, of gusset piece 18. Gusset piece 18 can become wider as it extends outward along inner front face 16 and rear face 17 of the body piece 12 toward the waistband 21. The front edge 22 of gusset piece 18 extends at least to a point above protected region 11, and extends sufficiently up inner front face 16 of body piece 12 toward waistband 21. The rear edge 23 of gusset 18 is attached to body piece 12, also outside of protected region 11, as seen in FIG. 3. Front edge 22 of gusset piece 18 can be fashioned into a recognizable shape, or figure, or outline, such as the outline of a logo icon, with front edge 22 of gusset piece 18 preferably extending at least up inner front face 16 of body piece 12 to be outside protected region 11. As shown, gusset piece 18 extends approximately 83% from the bottom edge of garment 15 to the waistband. Gusset piece 18 can be constructed from a single layer, or multiple layers, of any, material including the same material as body piece 12, such as but not limited to cotton, silk, modal, or bamboo, or any other fabric or material.
(37) For both the first and second preferred embodiments, body pieces 2, 3, 12, 15 of the undergarments can be made from one or more of a multitude of materials, including but not limited to cotton, polyester, lace, silk, modal, bamboo, rayon, LYCRA (a type of spandex fiber), or spandex. Stretchable waistband 21 can be included around the upper circumference of body 15 of the undergarment. Stretchable leg bands 24 can also be attached around the circumference of each leg hole, where leg bands 24 and leg portions of the undergarment have varying dimensions, which are properly scaled and adjusted for varying material elasticity so as to accommodate the leg circumference of wearers sized 0-24, and XS through XXL. Leg bands 24 can preferably be made from material that camouflages and/or contains perceived imperfections on the wearer's upper thigh and lower buttock region.
(38) In a third preferred embodiment (the thong), as shown in FIG. 5, the body 26 of the gusset is preferably cut from a single pattern piece. Across a vertical axis 27 of body pattern piece 26, there are two substantially symmetrical halves. The vertical outer edge of each half is generally concave. The horizontal edge at the top 29 of body pattern piece 26 is preferably approximately 6 inches in front and approximately 2 inches in the back at the bottom 30 of body pattern piece 26, but the dimensions can range from about inch to about 8 inches or more. The width 31 at the narrowest point of the crotch region of body pattern piece 26 is preferably approximately one half inch and most preferably within the range of to 2 inches.
(39) Maintaining width 31 while increasing the length of horizontal edge at bottom 30 of body pattern piece 26 provides greater surface area on what will become the rear outer face of the undergarment, which preferably will provide space for the placement of a logo icon or other identifying characteristic 36, as seen in FIG. 7. Body pattern piece 26 can be made from many different possible materials, including any fabric, such as but not limited to cotton, polyester, lace, silk, modal, lace, or rayon, but the entire body piece 26 is preferably comprised of one or more layers of material, in which all layers are individually comprised of a single piece of the utilized material. Additional gusset liner pattern pieces may be cut to be commensurate in size with the dimensions of body pattern piece 26. Multiple gusset liner pattern pieces may comprise or be placed on top of the inner face of the body pattern piece 26 and attached along their outermost borders 33 outside protected region 11, thereby forming a one-, or multiply gusset 34 (see FIG. 7). Gusset liner pattern pieces 26 can be constructed from a single piece of any material, or may be multiple layers of any material, preferably and such as but not limited to cotton, silk, modal, bamboo, or rayon. The top and bottom edges 29, 30 of gusset 26 are attached to opposite sides of a stretchable waistband loop 37, which may be made from stretchable material, such that the resulting article is a thong-style undergarment (see FIG. 5). Due to the single body pattern piece 26 and overlaid gusset liner design, there are no seams in protected region 11 and no uncomfortable transitions from the gusset or gusset liner material to the body material anywhere within the borders of the protected sensitive genital region 11.
(40) In a fourth preferred embodiment, as seen with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a boy/girl-shorts style garment 32 includes a preferably one- or multi-ply gusset 28. Gusset 28 extends from a point towards the bottom and rear of the garment 32 outside of the protected area 11 to a point at the front of garment 32 substantially at waistband 37. Preferably, garment 32 consists of just two body pieces 28, 55 of material attached only along the edges 50, 51, and 52 of gusset 28. Also preferably, gusset 28 liner is single-ply material, but may comprise multiple plies of any material.
(41) In a fifth preferred embodiment (the bikini-style), as seen in FIG. 10, the elongated gusset 20 is incorporated into a low-rise, bikini-style undergarment 25. The body of the undergarment can be constructed from multiple pattern pieces or a single pattern piece, as described above in preferred embodiments one and two, respectively. Gusset 20 can be made from a single layer of any material, or multiple layers of one type of material, including but not limited to any material, such as cotton, silk, modal, or bamboo. Alternatively, gusset 20 can be made from any number of layers, where some, all, or none of the layers are made from the same material.
(42) In a sixth preferred embodiment (pajama bottoms #1), as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, an elongated gusset 38 (see FIG. 12) comprises a crotch panel of a lower body garment. Gusset 38 can be incorporated onto any lower body garments as described herein and, as shown, is incorporated into of a pair of pajama bottoms 40. Gusset 38 has a central rectangular section 41 and a front section 42 and a rear section 43 with curved edges 44. Curved edges 44 of front section 42 and rear section 43 are tapered where sections 42, 43 meet central rectangular section 41. Front section 42 and rear section 43 of gusset 38 can be either the same size or different sizes. Alternatively, rear section 43 can be omitted altogether, or rear section 43 of gusset 38 can simply be generally rectangular. In a further preferred embodiment, the entire gusset 39 can be substantially rectangular.
(43) As shown in FIG. 13, the leg pieces 46 of pajama bottoms 40 are sewn along the edges of gusset 38. Front section 42 of gusset 38 preferably extends at least 33% up the inner front face of pajama bottoms 40 toward the waistband 47 and, in any case, outside of protected region 11. Rear section 43 of gusset 38, if present, preferably extends sufficiently up the inner rear face of pajama bottoms 40 toward waistband 47. The relative distance will, of course, change depending on the overall size, shape, and rise of the garment. Gusset 38 can be made from a single layer of the same material from which the other pattern pieces of pajama bottoms 40 are made. Gusset 38 can also be constructed from one or more layers of different fabrics cut to be the same size and shape that are joined together. The top layer in multi-ply embodiments can be made of any material, such as but not limited to cotton, silk, flannel, jersey, or fleece. Preferably, the bottom layer in multiply embodiments can be made from the same fabric as the other pattern pieces of pajama bottoms 40.
(44) As shown in FIGS. 14-17, an alternative lower body pajama-style garment 60 is provided. In this embodiment, the garment 60 consists generally of two pant leg pieces 62, 64, and a waistband 66. In prior art pajama pants, the seams of the leg pieces that are sewn together to construct the pants are stitched such that the extra material that protrudes from the stitching exists on the inside of the pants, and four seams converge in a central location in the genital region. Moreover, pajama pants are often constructed of bulkier materials such as flannel, fleece, and the like; which causes the seams to be especially thick, which renders the location of the seams in the protected region especially problematic. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, all of the seams 67 that traverse any part of the protected region are configured such that the material 70 that extends from the seam extends external of the pants 60, as seen best with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. This novel construction, having all crotch seams on the outer face, external to the wearer provides increased comfort to the wearer.
(45) In another preferred embodiment, a novel gusset 70 is utilized in a pajama-pant garment 75, as seen in FIGS. 18-22, which adds additional comfort to the wearer. Gusset 70 is substantially rectangular, and when incorporated into pants 75 extends from the front of waistband 77 of pants 75 to the rear of waistband 77. As shown in FIGS. 20-22, gusset 70 may comprise one piece of material, or multiple pieces of material, and can be sewn into waistband 77 of pants 75. Furthermore, gusset 70 provides the attachment means between pant legs 76, 78 of pants 75, as best seen with respect to FIG. 22. This construction of pants 75 utilizing gusset 70 provides superior comfort to the wearer while also mitigating upward migration of the garment that tends to occur through normal use of such garments.
(46) For each preferred pajama-bottom embodiments, all seams can be moved to the exterior face of the garment such that the raw seams are out of direct contact with protected region 11, and are thus visible on the outside of the garment when it is worn, as seen best with reference to FIGS. 14-17.
(47) Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above description or the attached exemplary drawings. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appearing herein below and any equivalents thereof as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
