Cooling Undergarment

Abstract

An undergarment is provided which provides for concurrent communication of compression and cold temperature to a surgical area of a vasectomy patient. The undergarment is formed of elastic material which will impart compression when stretched. A holding pocket on a front portion of the undergarment body accepts a removably engageable cooling pack which when positioned within the holding pocket will communicate cold temperatures to the surgical area.

Claims

1. An undergarment apparatus for concurrent communication of compression and cold temperature to a surgical area of a vasectomy patient comprising: an undergarment having a body formed of elastic material, said body configured with a front wall and a first leg portion for insertion of a first leg of a user therethrough and a second leg portion for insertion of a second leg of said user therethrough; a holding pocket positioned on said front wall, said holding pocket having an interior cavity positioned between a pocket front wall and said front wall of said body; a pocket opening at an upper end of said holding pocket; said interior cavity of said holding pocket extending from said upper end to a lower end thereof located between said first leg portion and said second leg portion; and a cooling pack, said cooling pack for positioning into said interior cavity of said holding pocket whereby cool temperature from said cooling pack is communicated to the body of a user of said undergarment wearing it in an as-worn position.

2. The undergarment apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said cooling pack having a first portion and a second portion thereof; said first portion having tapering between two angled side edges thereof, from a wider area thereof adjacent said second portion to a pointed end of said first portion; and said angled side edges during sliding contact with sides of said interior cavity, curving said first portion into said lower end of said interior cavity during insertion of said cooing pack through said pocket opening and into said interior cavity.

3. The undergarment apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: said interior cavity of said holding pocket tapering from a widest portion thereof at said pocket opening to a narrowest portion thereof at said lower end of said interior cavity.

4. The undergarment apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: indicia positioned upon said cooling pack, said indicia formed of temperature sensitive ink; said indicia having a first color which indicates a temperature of said cooling pack is of a colder temperature between 25-45 degrees Fahrenheit; and said indicia having a second color indicating the cooling pack has reached a non-therapeutic temperature above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. The undergarment apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: indicia positioned upon said cooling pack, said indica formed of temperature sensitive ink; said indicia having a first color which indicates a temperature of said cooling pack is of a colder temperature between 25-45 degrees Fahrenheit; and said indicia having a second color indicating the cooling pack has reached a non-therapeutic temperature above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. The undergarment apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: indicia positioned upon said cooling pack, said indica formed of temperature sensitive ink; said indicia having a first color which indicates a temperature of said cooling pack is of a colder temperature between 25-45 degrees Fahrenheit; and said indicia having a second color indicating the cooling pack has reached a non-therapeutic temperature above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. The undergarment apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: said second portion of said cooling pack positioned between substantially parallel second portion sidewalls; said second portion sidewalls having a first length extending from a rear edge of said cooling pack to said first portion thereof; said angled sidewalls having a second length extending from respective intersections with said second portion sidewalls to said pointed end; and said first length being longer than said second length.

8. The undergarment apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: said second portion of said cooling pack positioned between substantially parallel second portion sidewalls; said second portion sidewalls having a first length extending from a rear edge of said cooling pack to said first portion thereof; said angled sidewalls having a second length extending from respective intersections with said second portion sidewalls to said pointed end; and said first length being longer than said second length.

9. The undergarment apparatus of claim 5, additionally comprising: said second portion of said cooling pack positioned between substantially parallel second portion sidewalls; said second portion sidewalls having a first length extending from a rear edge of said cooling pack to said first portion thereof; said angled sidewalls having a second length extending from respective intersections with said second portion sidewalls to said pointed end; and said first length being longer than said second length.

10. The undergarment apparatus of claim 6, additionally comprising: said second portion of said cooling pack positioned between substantially parallel second portion sidewalls; said second portion sidewalls having a first length extending from a rear edge of said cooling pack to said first portion thereof; said angled sidewalls having a second length extending from respective intersections with said second portion sidewalls to said pointed end; and said first length being longer than said second length.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the undergarment herein. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 depicts the device herein showing an exploded view of the undergarment device configured for imparting compression against and cooling to, the surgical area of a vasectomy and showing a preferred tapered cooling pack for insertion into a formed holding pocket.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device in an as-used positioning upon a patient or user.

[0026] FIG. 3 depicts a sectional view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the curved compressive holding pocket having a bottom or lower end thereof positioned on the central area of the body in-between the first leg portion and second leg portion to impart compression from the garment and cooling from an inserted cooling pack to the surgical area.

[0027] FIG. 4 depicts a sectional view showing the undergarment, as in FIG. 3, with a cooling pack inserted into the interior cavity of the holding pocket where it automatically curves and maintains shape on insertion.

[0028] FIG. 5 depicts a mode of the device herein in which the holding pocket is positioned upon a front wall of the undergarment thereof and has a portion thereof which curves to a position between the two legs of the user and adjacent the surgical area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the underwear garment device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only. They are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device or engagements thereto have to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0030] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-5, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 a depiction of the front side of the device 10 herein in an exploded view thereof. Shown is the undergarment 12 which is configured with elastic material to allow the body 14 of the undergarment to stretch and retract to provide biased compressive contact as it is positioned on the user or patient.

[0031] The material forming the body 14 of the undergarment 12, thus, will stretch as it is positioned on the body of the user or patient. This is preferred in order that a portion of the body 14 forming the front wall 16 thereof continuously communicates compression to the surgical area 18, such as is shown in FIG. 4. By surgical areas 18 is meant the scrotum area of the user or patient generally located in the front of the body and extending between the legs of the patient and areas of the skin proximal thereto.

[0032] The body 14 of the undergarment, in the form of briefs, includes a front wall 16 and includes a first leg portion 15 and a second leg portion 17 configured for insertion of the legs of the user therethrough to an as-worn position. A central area 19 of the body 14 extends down the front wall 16 and into a lower area in-between the first leg portion 15 and second leg portion 17 and continues in between the two leg portions to an intersection with a rear panel 23 (FIG. 2) of the body 14 of the undergarment 12.

[0033] Shown, engaged to the central area 19 of the front wall 16 of the body 14 of the undergarment 14, is a holding pocket 20 positioned on the front wall 16. The holding pocket 20 has a pocket front wall 36 extending to a pocket opening 21 at an upper end and where the pocket front wall 36 is also formed, preferably, of elastic fabric like the body 14. The pocket front wall 36 and the interior cavity 27 of the pocket defined by it, tapers to a narrower area of the pocket and interior cavity 27 which curves between the two leg portions, as shown in FIG. 4. A rear wall of the holding pocket 20 may be a portion of the body 14 such as the front wall 16 and a portion of the body 14 in the central area 19 of the undergarment 12. Alternatively, the holding pocket 20 may be formed with its own rear wall of elastic material which is engaged to the front wall 16 of the body 14. Where employed with the tapering cooling pack 22, a tapering or narrowing of the shape of the holding pocket 20 at the lower end thereof toward and including where it covers the central area 19 is preferable. This tapering at the lower end of the holding pocket 20 was found to better urge the first portion 24 of the cooling pack 22 to curve automatically during insertion and thereby position a portion thereof over the surgical area in the central area 19.

[0034] Also depicted is the cooling pack 22 which is removably positionable within the holding pocket 20. Such allows the user to employ a plurality of such cooling packs 22 whereby while one cooling pack 22 is operatively positioned in the holding pocket 20, the others may be cooling in a refrigerated device, such as refrigerator or freezer.

[0035] As shown, the tapering shape of the first portion 24 of the cooling pack 22 is preferred as in experimenting it was found that having a first portion 24 of the cooling pack 22 which is tapered between the side edges 26 extending inward to a point at the front end 35 of the cooling pack 22 rendered the cooling pack 22 more easily inserted into the holding pocket 20. This taper, as can be seen, forms a pointed end at said front end 35. The taper also defines an insertion direction for the user which is preferred in order that the indicia 32 is properly positioned for viewing for current temperature of the cooling pack 22.

[0036] Further, as already noted, it was found in experimentation that by forming the taper with the two side edges 26 on either side of the first portion 24 of the cooling pack 22, in a length that is equal to or slightly longer than the length of the side edges 28 on opposing sides of a second portion of the cooling pack 22, that the first portion 24 and areas of the second portion 20 will automatically curve during insertion into the holding pocket 20. The higher weight or mass of the upper end of the cooling pack above the shorter and tapering lower end, was found to help push the first portion 24 to form the curve when inserted. This is most important in that the automatic curve wraps the area of the first portion 24 in between the side edges 26 thereof and an area of the second portion 30, adjacent thereto, around the scrotum of the user wearing the undergarment 12. Other shapes of the first portion 24 did not afford this function.

[0037] Also shown is indicia 32 positioned adjacent the second end of the cooling pack 22. This indicia is preferably formed with thermochromic ink or the like which changes color relative to temperature. The indicia 32 will, thus, have a first color which will indicate the cooling pack 22 is of a colder temperature, such as 25-45 degrees Fahrenheit, and have a second color which will show when the cooling pack 22 has reached a non-therapeutic temperature, such as above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

[0038] This indicia 32 is placed on a side surface of the cooling pack 22 at a point abutting the rear edge 34 of the cooling pack 22. This is preferred, because it allows the user to view the indicia 32 and current temperature of the cooling pack 22 without removing it from the holding pocket 20. The user can just pull downward on the pocket front wall 36 of the holding pocket 20 and the indicia 32 adjacent the rear edge 34 will be visible.

[0039] The undergarment 12 is shown in FIG. 2 in a side view of the device 10 herein in an as-used positioning of the undergarment 12. As shown, the body 14 of the elastic fabric undergarment is stretched and imparts compression against the body of the user. The holding pocket 20 is properly located to curve around, as in FIG. 4, and impart compression from the elastic material forming the body 14 and the pocket front wall 36 of the holding pocket 20 against the surgical area 18 (FIG. 4) of the user which in this case is curving around the scrotum. A sectional view of the undergarment 12 and the body 14 in this as-used positioning on a user or patient is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In FIG. 3 is shown the undergarment 12 with the body 14 stretched and contacting against the user in a biased contact. The holding pocket 20 is empty which is how the device 10 may be employed in time periods where the cooling pack 22 is not needed.

[0040] However, without removing the undergarment 12 from this as-used positioning, the user can easily insert the cooling pack 22 using the tapered first portion 24 as a visual guide for the correct insertion direction to achieve both the curved positioning of the cooling pack, shown in FIG. 4, and the proper positioning of the indicia 32. With the cooling pack 22 inserted into the holding pocket 20, as in FIG. 4, the user can easily pull the pocket front wall 36 of the holding pocket 20 downward or toward their feet, if standing, and view if the temperature of the cooling pack 22 is of a therapeutic level.

[0041] Additionally, as noted, the taper formed by the two side edges 26 of the first portion 24 of the cooling pack 20 also causes the cooling pack 22 to easily slide into the holding pocket 20 even with the compression of the elastic material forming the pocket front wall 36 imparting pressure against it. Still further, the cooling pack 22 will automatically curve around and into the scrotum or surgical areas 18 of the user while wearing the undergarment 12 in this as-used position, thereby eliminating the need to remove it to insert cooling packs 22 to curve into positions to communicate cold to the surgical area 18.

[0042] As is well known, subsequent to a vasectomy, removal and replacement of garments covering or contacting the surgical area 18 can at a minimum be uncomfortable and in many cases extremely painful. Thus, the formation of the device 10 to include both the communication of compression and cooling to the surgical area 18, where the cooling pack 22 can be removed when not needed and replaced as needed without removing or adjusting the position of the undergarment 12 body 14, is highly preferred.

[0043] Shown in FIG. 5 is a mode of the device 10 herein where the undergarment 12 is formed similar to an athletic supporter. This mode functions the same as that of FIGS. 1-4 in that the body 14 has a front wall 16 which curves at the lower end thereof toward the rear of the undergarment 15 and between the legs of the user. As shown, the holding pocket 20 is positioned upon a front wall 16 of the body thereof and curves to a position between the two legs of the user and under the surgical area 18.

[0044] This mode of the device 10 functions substantially the same as the other modes in that it is configured with a front wall 16 of elastic material which has a central area 19 which curves rearward at a lower end and is engaged to straps and thereby provides compression to the surgical area 18. The cooling pack 22, with the taper formed by the two side edges 26 of the first portion 24 thereof, will easily slide into and out of the holding pocket 20 and will curve therein during insertion to cover the surgical area 18 within the area of the holding pocket 20 which curves to cover that position.

[0045] Like the other versions of the device 10 herein, the cooling pack 22 is insertable and removable without removing the garment, and the user can easily check on the current temperature thereof by viewing the color of the indicia 32 by simply pulling downward on the elastic material forming the pocket front wall 36 of the holding pocket 20.

[0046] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the underwear garment device configured for the communication concurrently of compression and cooling to the surgical area of a vasectomy patient have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions of components for equivalent components and modifications variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.