MALE UNDERGARMENT FOR HOLDING ABSORBENT PAD

Abstract

A male undergarment that holds an absorbent pad has a waistband and first and second pant portions and a centered hole. A trapezoidal flap is placed over a front panel where the first and second sides of the trapezoidal flap are sewn into the garment, such that the sewn portion of the trapezoidal flap covers the hole. The unattached first and second sides of the trapezoidal flap are releasably secured to the garment via complimentary snaps and snap holders, such that when the snaps are engaged to the snap holders a pouch is formed by the trapezoidal flap and the garment.

Claims

1. A male undergarment, comprising a waistband and first and second pant portions terminating at leg holes and connected by a lower seam, and a front panel defined between the first and second pant portions and between the waistband and the lower seam, the front panel including a generally centered circular hole; a trapezoidal flap having a lower edge, first and second equal side edges, and a longer upper edge when compared with the lower edge, the trapezoidal flap attached to the seam at the lower edge and a lowermost portion of the first and second side edges are sewn into the front panel such that the sewn portion of the trapezoidal flap covers the hole; releasable fasteners attached to unattached portions of the first and second side edges of the trapezoidal flap for engagement with mating releasable fasteners on the front panel, such that when the releasable fasteners on the first and second side edges of the trapezoidal flap are connected to the mating releasable fasteners on the front panel, then a pouch is formed by the trapezoidal flap and the front panel.

2. The male garment of claim 1, wherein a releasable closure means is additionally placed on the longer upper edge of the trapezoidal flap for engagement with a mating releasable fastener on the front panel at the waistband to provide a closure for the pouch along an upper edge.

3. The male garment of claim 2, wherein the releasable fasteners are snaps.

4. The male garment of claim 2, wherein the releasable fasteners are hook and loop fastening material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pad that may be used with the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the garment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the garment with the flap partially folded down;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the garment with the flap fully folded down;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the garment on a user with the flap folded down;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the garment with the flap removed and the pad in place;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the garment with the flap open and the pad in place; and

[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the garment with the flap closed, enclosing the pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Absorbent pads used to assist those with incontinence are well known in the art. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/673,549 describes one such pad, depicted generally in FIG. 1. The pad 24 has a number of folds and creases that allow a male wearer to avoid urine from reaching the skin where it can create other health and safety concerns. The present invention is designed to carry the pad shown in FIG. 1 in a convenient and reliable manner that works for ambulatory and non-ambulatory wearers alike.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates an undergarment 50 that is designed to hold the pad 24 in a specially designed pouch. The undergarment 50 has a waistband 52 and first and second pant portions 54,56 terminating at leg holes 58. Approximately centered on the undergarment is a hole 60 (see FIG. 3) sized to allow a male genitalia to pass through so that the garment 50 fits snugly against the wearer's torso and legs. A seam 62 runs from a first leg hole to a second leg hole, and a trapezoidal flap 64 is attached to the seam 62 at the bottom edge of the flap. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the first and second sides 66 of the trapezoidal flap 64 is sewn into the respective first and second pant portions 54,56, such that the sewn portion 66 of the trapezoidal flap 64 covers the hole 60 while approximately half of the first and second sides of the trapezoidal flap 64 remain unattached to the garment 50 (see FIG. 4). The unattached first and second sides 70 of the trapezoidal flap 64 may be releasably secured to the garment 50 via complimentary snaps 72 and snap holders 74, such that when the snaps 72 are engaged to the snap holders 74 a pouch 80 is formed by the trapezoidal flap 64 and the garment 50. The pouch 80 is formed on the outer portion of the undergarment 50 between the front panel 68 of the garment and the trapezoidal flap 64, and is partially releasable, in that part of the pouch 80 is sewn into the garment and part of the pouch can be separated from the garment by releasable attachment mechanisms such as snaps, Velcro type hook and loop fastener material, buttons, and the like (hereafter snaps for convenience). The flap 64 folds down over the front panel 68 at the mid-sides where the sewn portion 66 of the flap 64 terminates, and then when the snaps 72 are engaged the flap 64 is attached along three sides of the garment and the pouch 80 is fully established. A closure snap 84 centered on the top side of the flap 64 adjacent the waistband 52 cooperates with the snap holder 86 to allow the pouch 80 to be closed from the top to prevent the pad 24 from coming out of the pouch 80 during sleep or through normal motion of the body.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates the garment 50 on a wearer, where the flap has been folded down for clarity. The hole 60 is centered on the front panel 68, below the waistband 52 and between the first and second pant portions 54,56, and sized to pass the wearer's genitalia 90 through. FIG. 5 illustrates the garment 50 with the wearer's genitalia through the hole. FIG. 6 illustrates the garment with the pad in place about the wearer's genitalia (still with the flap removed for clarity), and FIG. 6 illustrates the garment with the pad 24 in place and the flap removed to show the details. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the access of the pad 24 in the pouch 80 is enhanced by the capability of the flap 64 to partially fold over the front panel 68 once the snaps 72 are disengaged from the snap holders 74. This allows easy removal and replacement of the pads and allows the pads to be applied to the user with the garment 50 on. FIG. 8 shows the garment 50 on the wearer with the pad 24 (shown in shadow) in place, the snaps engaged to close the pouch 80 and fully secure the pad therein.

[0024] The present invention provides an expedient and comfortable garment that is designed to be used with absorbent pads to assist those with incontinence, and is well suited for user's who are ambulatory as well as non-ambulatory. The ease with which pads can be replaced using the present invention allows those who suffer from incontinence to carry a second pad in a pants pocket, and when the need arises simply excuse one's self to use the restroom. Once there, the trapezoidal flap can be quickly opened by releasing the snaps, the used pad removed and discarded, and the new pad applied easily. The pouch is then re-closed and the wearer can return to whatever activity he was engaged with prior. The pads and the design of the garment keep the garment itself dry and also prevent the wearer's skin from prolonged contact with any urine due to the absorbent material in the pad, so there is no leakage and no prolonged exposure of the wearer to the body fluid. The solution of the present invention greatly enhances a quality of life for those afflicted with moderate to severe incontinence.

[0025] The present invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment of the present invention using the inventor's best mode of carrying out the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize many modifications and substitutions that could be applied to the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the invention should include all such modifications and substitutions. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by any specific drawing or characterization in the detailed description of the invention, but rather by the words of the appended claims using the plain and ordinary meanings of those words in light of the descriptions herein.