A GARMENT HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY LOCATED ACCESS APERTURE

Abstract

There is provided a garment comprising a frontward access aperture portion defining a substantially centrally located access aperture; and an interiorly located barrier panel fastened between lateral edges of the frontward access aperture portion. In use the interiorly located barrier panel is substantially taught such that the interiorly located barrier panel bears against the genitals to substantially prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access aperture; and the interiorly located barrier panel pulls inner edges of the access aperture towards each other so as to substantially close the access aperture. Furthermore, the interiorly located barrier panel defines an upper downward deflectable edge such that the wearer may insert a finger through the access aperture to deflect the deflectable edge downwards to allow access to the genitals so as to be able to pull at least a portion of the genitals through the access aperture.

Claims

1. A garment comprising: a frontward access aperture portion defining a substantially centrally located access aperture; and an interiorly located barrier panel fastened between lateral edges of the frontward access aperture portion such that in use: the interiorly located barrier panel is substantially taught such that: the interiorly located barrier panel bears against the genitals to substantially prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access aperture; and the interiorly located barrier panel pulls inner edges of the access aperture towards each other so as to substantially close the access aperture; and the interiorly located barrier panel defines an upper downward deflectable edge such that: the wearer may insert a finger through the access aperture to deflect the deflectable edge downwards to allow access to the genitals so as to be able to pull at least a portion of the genitals through the access aperture.

2. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interiorly located barrier panel is adapted such that the location of the upper downward deflect of edge is substantially just sufficiently high enough to cover the genitals to prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access aperture.

3. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access aperture is substantially elongate and vertically aligned.

4. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access aperture portion is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration and wherein the access aperture portion is biased towards the closed configuration.

5. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access aperture portion is an elasticised.

6. A garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the access aperture portion is elasticised by way of elastic stitched within stitching of the access aperture portion.

7. A garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the access aperture portion is elasticised by way of at least one elastic portion.

8. A garment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the access aperture portion comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion movable with respect to each other to selectively define the access aperture.

9. A garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first portion and the second portion are adapted for substantial adjacent collocation in a closed configuration.

10. A garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first portion and the second portion are adapted to overlap in a closed configuration.

11. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frontward access aperture portion is adapted to bulge to accommodate the genital in use.

12. A garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frontward access aperture portion is adapted to substantially assume a closed configuration when the access aperture portion bulges forward to accommodate the genital in use.

13. A garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frontward access aperture portion is shaped to bulge.

14. A garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frontward access aperture portion is elasticised to bulge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0041] FIGS. 1-5 show garments according to the prior art;

[0042] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a “boxer” style garment comprising an access aperture in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a “brief” style garment comprising an access aperture in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; AND

[0044] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a “boxer” style garment comprising an access aperture in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0045] FIGS. 12 and 13 show a “brief” style garment comprising an access aperture in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0046] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

[0047] Before the structures, systems and associated methods relating to the garment having a substantially centrally located access aperture are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular configurations, process steps, and materials disclosed herein as such configurations, process steps, and materials may vary somewhat. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the disclosure will be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

[0048] In describing and claiming the subject matter of the disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.

[0049] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0050] As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “characterised by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[0051] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[0052] In the embodiment that follow, there will be described garments providing a substantially centrally located access aperture allowing for the access of the male genital in a manner that overcomes or at least substantially ameliorates the above-mentioned disadvantages of prior art arrangements of inaccessibility, discomfort and the like.

[0053] Specifically, referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a front view of a garment 300 according to a first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown an inside out view of the garment 300 of FIG. 1.

[0054] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the boxer-style garment whereas FIGS. 8 and 9 show the brief-style garment which will be described in further detail below.

[0055] Now, as is apparent, the garment 300 provides an access aperture 105 located substantially centrally of the front of the garment 300. In this manner, the garment 300 provides easy access to the male genital without discomfort.

[0056] It should be noted that the term “substantially centrally” should be construed broadly but sufficiently to distinguish the embodiments described herein from the existing prior art arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In general terms, the term “substantially centrally” means that the access aperture lies substantially on or adjacent the lateral centre of the garment 300 as is demarcated by the centre demarcation 110.

[0057] Now, more specifically, the garment 300 comprises a frontward access aperture portion 305. The frontward access aperture portion 305 defines the substantially centrally located access aperture 105. The substantially centrally located access aperture 105 allows for the selected passage of the male genital therethrough in use.

[0058] Furthermore, and referring specifically now to FIG. 7, and so as to prevent the inadvertent passage of the male genital through the access aperture 105 in use, the garment 300 further comprises an interiorly located barrier panel 405 adapted for selectively barring the access aperture 105 in use. The barrier panel 405 not only prevents the inadvertent passage of the genital through the access aperture 105, but also provides the tension to hold the forward access aperture portion together in a closed configuration.

[0059] As such, in use, to gain access to the male genital, the user will move the barrier panel 405 out of the way, such as by moving the barrier panel 405 downwards, such as by insertion of a finger through the access aperture 105 to gain access to the barrier panel 405 so as to subsequently allow the male genital to pass through the access aperture 105.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the garment 300 is close-fitting such that the access aperture presses against the genitals so as to suit the garment 30 to be worn as an undergarment, such as underwear and the like. As such, as can be appreciated from the company drawings, the barrier panel 405 prevents the genitals from inadvertently protruding through the access aperture 105 even while the genitals exert force on the access aperture 105. It should be noted however that in other embodiment, the garment 300 could be loosefitting also.

[0061] Specifically, the garment comprises the frontward access aperture portion defining the substantially centrally located access aperture 105; and the interiorly located barrier panel 405 fastened between lateral edges 315 of the frontward access aperture portion.

[0062] As such that in use the interiorly located barrier panel 405 is substantially taught such that the interiorly located barrier panel 405 bears against the genitals to substantially prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access aperture 105.

[0063] Furthermore the interiorly located barrier panel 405 pulls inner edges of the access aperture towards each other so as to substantially close the access aperture. It should be noted that “substantially close” should not be necessarily construed as being completely closed and, when being substantially closed, the access aperture may comprise a small opening. However, when being substantially closed, the access aperture 105 should be construed as not being wide-open.

[0064] Yet further, the interiorly located barrier panel 405 defines an upper downward deflectable edge 410 such that the wearer may insert a finger through the access aperture 105 to deflect the deflectable edge downwards to allow access to the genitals so as to be able to pull at least a portion of the genitals through the access aperture.

[0065] As can be appreciated from FIG. 7, the downward deflectable edge 410 is located just sufficiently high so as to cover a sufficient portion of the genitals so as to prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access aperture 105. In other words, in a preferred embodiment, as opposed to the barrier panel 405 extending all the way upwards such that the downward deflectable edge 410 is located substantially near the top of the garment 300 requiring the user to deflect the barrier panel all the way downwards, the downward deflectable edge 410 is rather located at a suitable height just sufficient to cover the genitals to prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access aperture such that the user need only deflect the downward deflectable edge 410 downwards to uncover the genitals.

[0066] Now, it should be appreciated that the access aperture 105 may take on differing shapes and dimensions within the purposive scope of the embodiments described herein of allowing access to the male genital.

[0067] However, in a preferred embodiment, as is given in FIG. 1, the access aperture portion 305 is adapted such that the access aperture 105 is substantially elongate and vertically aligned. The vertical alignment conforms with the natural stitching of the garment 300, especially where the frontward access portion 305 comprises a first portion 320a and a second portion 320b movable with respect to each other to selectively define the access aperture 105. The first portion 320a and the second portion 320b are stitched to the remainder of the garment 300 by outward lateral stitching 315.

[0068] Now, the access aperture portion 305 is configurable in an open configuration and closed configuration. In this manner, when configured in the open configuration, the access aperture 105 would be dilated so as to allow the passage of the male genital therethrough whereas in the closed configuration, the access aperture 105 would be less dilated.

[0069] In a preferred embodiment, the access aperture portion 305 is biased towards the closed configuration. In this manner, the access aperture 105 normally assumes the less dilated or closed configuration until such time that access is required.

[0070] So as to bias the access aperture portion 305 to the closed configuration, in one embodiment, the access aperture portion 305 is elasticised. In this manner, the elasticity of the access aperture portion pulls the access aperture portion 305 to the closed configuration.

[0071] In one embodiment, the access aperture portion 305 is elasticised by at least one of the first portion 320a and the second portion 320b comprising elastic such that the portion 320 tends naturally to the closed configuration.

[0072] In another embodiment, the access aperture portion 305 comprises inwardly located stitching 325 located substantially adjacent the access aperture 105 wherein the stitching 325 comprises elastic stitched within the stitching.

[0073] As alluded to above, the tension provided by the barrier panel 405 also pulls the panel 320 towards each other such that the access aperture portion 305 takes on the closed configuration.

[0074] Now, in the closed configuration, the first portion 320a and the second portion 320b may be adapted for substantial adjacent collocation. However, in other embodiments, the first portion 320a and the second portion 320b are adapted to overlap in the closed configuration. The degree of overlap may vary depending on the application, but an overlap of about 1 cm may be appropriate in certain embodiments. The overlap allows the forward access aperture portion 305 to remain in the substantially closed configuration despite bulging outwards such as under the pressure from the male genital.

[0075] In a further embodiment, the frontward access aperture portion 305 is adapted to bulge to accommodate the shape of the genital in use. It should be noted that the frontward access aperture portion 305 is adapted to assume the closed configuration when the access aperture portion 305 bulges forward to accommodate the genital in use. In this manner, the access aperture portion 305 does not substantially assume the open configuration under the pressure of the genital in use. However, in other embodiments, the access aperture portion 305 may open slightly, or even entirely under the pressure of the genital, wherein the genital is constrained by the interiorly located barrier 405.

[0076] In one embodiment, the access aperture portion is shaped to bulge to accommodate the genital in use. However, in other embodiments, the frontward access aperture portion may be elasticised to bulge under the pressure of the genital in use.

[0077] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown the interior barrier panel 405 in further detail.

[0078] As alluded to above, the barrier panel 405 comprises the downward delectable edge 410. In use, the user could insert a finger or the like through the access aperture 105 to gain access to the downward delectable edge 410 so as to move the movable portion 410 downwards to allow the passage of the genital through the access aperture 105.

[0079] It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the downward delectable edge 410 could move in other manners and directions, such as along any substantially vertical or horizontal path. For example, the delectable edge 410 could move upwards to allow access through the access aperture. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the barrier panel 405 is configured such that the downward delectable edge 410 is located at a convenient height sufficient to cover the genital so as to event the inadvertent protrusion of the genital from the access aperture 105.

[0080] In one embodiment, the access aperture portion 305 comprises outer lateral stitching 315 and wherein the barrier panel 405 is stitched to the access aperture portion at the outer lateral stitching 315.

[0081] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 now, there is shown the brief-style garment 400. As is apparent, the brief style garment 400 comprises truncated thigh portions so as to take on the characteristic brief style as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0082] However, as is apparent, the garment 400 in this embodiment yet comprises the substantially centrally located access aperture 105. As is apparent, the access aperture 105 is located substantially in line with the centre demarcation 110.

[0083] Referring now to the inside out view of the garment 400 as is shown substantially in FIG. 9, it is apparent that the interior barrier panel 405 takes on a differing configuration. Specifically, the interior barrier panel 405 takes wider configuration, so as to reach further spaced apart lateral stitching 315. However, the barrier panel 405 operates in the same manner as is described above.

Interpretation

Embodiments

[0084] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[0085] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0086] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[0087] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

[0088] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

[0089] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as “forward”, “rearward”, “radially”, “peripherally”, “upwardly”, “downwardly”, and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

[0090] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[0091] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

[0092] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[0093] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0094] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the garment industries.