Undergarment having multiple waistbands and associated method of manufacture
The present invention provides an undergarment that includes a lower pants portion configured to encompass the legs and crotch of a wearer, the lower pants portion comprising a first waistband made of a substantially-elastic material. The undergarment also includes an upper waist portion configured to encompass the waist of the wearer, the upper waist portion comprising a waist panel and a second waistband made of a substantially-elastic material, wherein at least a portion of the waist panel is disposed between the first waistband and the second waistband when the undergarment is worn by the wearer, and wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in at least a partially-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
The present invention relates generally to the clothing field. More specifically, the present invention relates to an undergarment, such as a pair of men's boxer briefs, boxer shorts, briefs, or the like, having multiple waistbands and an associated method of manufacture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is a current fashion trend among young adults, teenagers, and pre-teenagers to wear “baggie” pants. “Baggie” pants are typically over-sized, low-slung, full-length pants or shorts that ride on the hips of a wearer. Examples of such “baggie” pants include, but are not limited to, over-sized, low-slung denim pants and shorts, cargo pants and shorts, military pants and shorts, and athletic pants and shorts. “Baggie” pants typically allow the wearer to partially expose their undergarment above the waistband of their “baggie” pants, especially the waistband of their undergarment. This fashion display is acceptable and, in fact, desirable in today's youth culture. Today's young adults, teenagers, and pre-teenagers often wear multiple undergarments underneath their “baggie” pants for the purpose of exposing multiple waistbands above the waistband of their “baggie” pants. These waistbands may be embroidered or otherwise adorned with a variety of manufacturer's indicia, labels, graphics, and/or the like, thus making a desirable fashion statement.
One problem with wearing multiple undergarments underneath “baggie” pants or the like for the purpose of exposing multiple waistbands above the waistband of the “baggie” pants or the like is that a wearer may become hot and/or uncomfortable due to the excessive amount of fabric that they are wearing underneath their “baggie” pants or the like. In other words, sweating, bunching, and binding are significant problems. Another problem with wearing multiple undergarments underneath “baggie” pants or the like for the purpose of exposing multiple waistbands above the waistband of the “baggie” pants or the like is that the panels and the openings for providing access to the interior portion of each of the undergarments, individually, may become misaligned, making access to the interior portion of the multiple undergarments, collectively, difficult.
Thus, what is needed is a single, lightweight undergarment that may be worn underneath “baggie” pants or the like and that has multiple waistbands that may be exposed above the waistband of the “baggie” pants or the like. There should be easy access to the interior portion of the undergarment and the undergarment should be fashionable. Each of the multiple waistbands should be suitable for displaying a variety of manufacturer's indicia, labels, graphics, and/or the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn various embodiments, the present invention provides a single, lightweight undergarment, such as a pair of men's boxer briefs, boxer shorts, briefs, or the like, that may be worn underneath “baggie” pants or the like and that has multiple waistbands that may be exposed above the waistband of the “baggie” pants or the like. There is easy access to the interior portion of the undergarment and the undergarment is fashionable. Each of the multiple waistbands is suitable for displaying a variety of manufacturer's or sponsor's indicia, labels, graphics, and/or the like.
In one specific embodiment of the present invention, an undergarment includes a lower pants portion configured to encompass the legs and crotch of a wearer, the lower pants portion comprising a first waistband made of a substantially-elastic material. The undergarment also includes an upper waist portion configured to encompass the waist of the wearer, the upper waist portion comprising a waist panel and a second waistband made of a substantially-elastic material, wherein at least a portion of the waist panel is disposed between the first waistband and the second waistband when the undergarment is worn by the wearer, and wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in at least a partially-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
In another specific embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing an undergarment includes providing a lower pants portion configured to encompass the legs and crotch of a wearer, the lower pants portion comprising a first waistband made of a substantially-elastic material. The method also includes providing an upper waist portion configured to encompass the waist of the wearer, the upper waist portion comprising a waist panel and a second waistband made of a substantially-elastic material, wherein at least a portion of the waist panel is disposed between the first waistband and the second waistband when the undergarment is worn by the wearer, and wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in at least a partially-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are described more fully herein below with reference to the following figures, in which:
In various embodiments, the present invention provides a single, lightweight undergarment, such as a pair of men's boxer briefs, boxer shorts, briefs, or the like, that may be worn underneath “baggie” pants or the like and that has multiple waistbands that may be exposed above the waistband of the “baggie” pants or the like. There is easy access to the interior portion of the undergarment and the undergarment is fashionable. Each of the multiple waistbands is suitable for displaying a variety of manufacturer's or sponsor's indicia, labels, graphics, and/or the like.
Referring to
The lower pants portion 12 of the undergarment 10 also includes a first waistband 22 configured to encompass the waist of the wearer. The first waistband 22 is sewn or otherwise suitably joined to the first leg panel 16, the second leg panel 18, and the crotch panel 20 (or to any other panels that may be used) and is made of one or more natural or synthetic materials, such as a cotton fabric, a nylon fabric, a blended fabric, a substantially-elastic material, or the like. Preferably, the first waistband 22 has an elasticity that is sufficient to hold the lower pants portion 12 of the undergarment 10 snugly around the waist of the wearer. In general, the first waistband 22 has a width of between about 0.5 inches and about 3 inches, and a circumference of between about 10 inches and about 50 inches, although other suitable dimensions may be used. Optionally, the first waistband 22 includes a belt (not shown) and/or loops (not shown) for supporting a belt. The first waistband 22 is suitable for displaying a variety of manufacturer's or sponsor's indicia 24, labels, graphics, and/or the like.
The upper waist portion 14 of the undergarment 10 includes a waist panel 26 configured to encompass the waist of the wearer and a second waistband 28. The waist panel 26 is made of one or more natural or synthetic materials, such as a cotton fabric, a nylon fabric, a blended fabric, a substantially-elastic material, or the like. Although one (1) panel is illustrated and described herein, any suitable number of panels may be used. The second waistband 28 is sewn or otherwise suitably joined to the waist panel 26 (or to any other panels that may be used) and is made of one or more natural or synthetic materials, such as a cotton fabric, a nylon fabric, a blended fabric, a substantially-elastic material, or the like. Preferably, the second waistband 28 has an elasticity that is sufficient to hold the upper waist portion 14 of the undergarment 10 snugly around the waist of the wearer. In general, the second waistband 28 has a width of between about 0.5 inches and about 3 inches, and a circumference of between about 10 inches and about 50 inches, although other suitable dimensions may be used. Optionally, the second waistband 28 includes a belt (not shown) and/or loops (not shown) for supporting a belt. The second waistband 28 is suitable for displaying a variety of manufacturer's or sponsor's indicia 30, labels, graphics, and/or the like.
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Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it should be noted that other embodiments and examples may perform the same functions and/or achieve similar results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope and spirit of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
Claims
1. An undergarment, comprising:
- a lower pants portion configured to encompass the legs and crotch of a wearer, the lower pants portion comprising a first waistband made of a substantially-elastic material; and
- an upper waist portion configured to encompass the waist of the wearer, the upper waist portion comprising a waist panel and a second waistband made of a substantially-elastic material, wherein at least a portion of the waist panel is disposed between the first waistband and the second waistband when the undergarment is worn by the wearer, and wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in at least a partially-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
2. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a partially-spaced-apart and partially-intersecting relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
3. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a fully-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
4. The undergarment of claim 3, wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a substantially-parallel relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
5. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the lower pants portion further comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to an interior portion of the undergarment.
6. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the upper waist portion further comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to an interior portion of the undergarment.
7. The undergarment of claim 6, wherein the waist panel comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to the interior portion of the undergarment.
8. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein a lower edge of the waist panel is joined to an upper edge of the first waistband.
9. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein a lower edge of the waist panel is joined to a lower edge of the first waistband.
10. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein a lower edge of the waist panel is joined to an interior portion of the lower pants portion.
11. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the first waistband is configured such that it may be pulled down and away from the waist panel and the second waistband.
12. The undergarment of claim 11, wherein the lower pants portion is configured such that a portion of the lower pants portion may be pulled down and away from the waist panel and the second waistband.
13. A method for manufacturing an undergarment, comprising:
- providing a lower pants portion configured to encompass the legs and crotch of a wearer, the lower pants portion comprising a first waistband made of a substantially-elastic material; and
- providing an upper waist portion configured to encompass the waist of the wearer, the upper waist portion comprising a waist panel and a second waistband made of a substantially-elastic material, wherein at least a portion of the waist panel is disposed between the first waistband and the second waistband when the undergarment is worn by the wearer, and wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in at least a partially-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a partially-spaced-apart and partially-intersecting relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a fully-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a substantially-parallel relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the lower pants portion further comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to an interior portion of the undergarment.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the upper waist portion further comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to an interior portion of the undergarment.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the waist panel comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to the interior portion of the undergarment.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising joining a lower edge of the waist panel to an upper edge of the first waistband.
21. The method of claim 13, further comprising joining a lower edge of the waist panel to a lower edge of the first waistband.
22. The method of claim 13, further comprising joining a lower edge of the waist panel to an interior portion of the lower pants portion.
23. The method of claim 13, further comprising configuring the first waistband such that it may be pulled down and away from the waist panel and the second waistband.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising configuring the lower pants portion such that a portion of the lower pants portion may be pulled down and away from the waist panel and the second waistband.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 2, 2004
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2005
Inventor: Kenneth MacGeorge (Charlotte, NC)
Application Number: 10/858,733