UNDERPANTS

Abstract

Disclosed herein are underpants, which are configured by combining ergonomic three dimensional patterns with the basic function as underwear, thus allowing a wearer to have an effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks and feel comfortable. The underpants of the present invention are characterized in that several front and rear pieces having different patterns, which are produced through cutting a fabric sheet that is stretchable in one way or in two ways such that the pieces have predetermined sizes and different shapes corresponding to respective parts of the body of a wearer in consideration of both the body line of the wearer and the movement of the muscles of the wearer's body during active movement of the wearer, are sewn together, so that, when the wearer moves, the force caused by the movement uniformly and diagonally acts in the underpants upwards and outwards from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in a symmetrical Y-shaped or V-shaped line of action due both to the stretchable directions in the pattern pieces and to the movement of the parts of the wearer's body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, in general, to underpants, which can provide an effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks and can provide comfort to wearers. More particularly, the present invention relates to underpants, in which several front and rear pieces having different patterns, which are produced through cutting a fabric sheet that is stretchable in one way or in two ways such that the pieces have predetermined sizes and different shapes corresponding to respective parts of the body of a wearer in consideration of both the body line of the wearer and the movement of the muscles of the wearer's body during active movement of the wearer, are sewn together, so that, when the wearer moves, the force caused by the movement uniformly and diagonally acts in the underpants upwards and outwards from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in a symmetrical Y-shaped or V-shaped line of action due both to the stretchable directions in the pattern pieces and to the movement of the parts of the wearer's body. Thus, the underpants of the present invention make the line of the buttocks become tensioned and attractive and, at the same time, stably and comfortably support the penis and scrotum of a male wearer using a scrotal pattern part, which is inclined to one side.

BACKGROUND ART

Briefs, which are a kind of simple underpants, were invented by Ms. Sakurai, a Japanese woman in her fifties, who took notice of the idea that the underpants functioning as underwear for simply covering the pubic parts of persons do not need to be long. Thus, she cut a Tetoron bag, which is a polyester bag, such that openings were formed in the Tetoron bag to receive the legs of a person therein, thereby inventing the briefs. As described above, the underpants in the early days had a simple function of covering the pubic parts of persons. However, as human culture has developed, the function of the underpants has variously developed. Thus, the underpants in recent days have several basic functions, such as the protection of the skin of the wearer's body, keeping of warmth, absorption of moisture, improvement in activity and a physiological function, in addition to the typical function thereof for covering the pubic parts of the wearer's bodies. Further, a function of fashion has been added to the underpants in recent days, so that the underpants have been designed with a variety of patterns, colors and appearances capable of meeting the requirements of persons desiring aesthetic value.

For example, in Korea, to the middle of 1980s, white underpants for men had occupied the main stream of the market for underpants. However, as Jockey, the licensed brand of France, was introduced to Korea in the latter half of 1980s, underpants became colored and a variety of underpants having various patterns and colors were developed to meet the requirements of consumers. Of course, although underpants in recent days are produced to fulfill the basic functions thereof, new materials having excellent expansion and contraction capable of providing good comfort to wearers have been used as the materials of the underpants according to the emphasis of the recent trend of visual fashion rather than of the function of a pleasant feeling accomplished by moisture absorption and moisture emission. In other words, the requirements of consumers of underpants in recent days have been moved to new values taking a serious view of activity, comfortable wearing feel and fashion in addition to the basic physiological function of the underpants.

However, the underpants, which have been developed and marketed in recent days, merely present activity and beauty as underwear in addition to the basic functions thereof. To meet the desired roles of underpants in the future, the basic physiological function of the underpants must be subdivided and the detailed functions of the subdivided physiological function must be accomplished. Further, it is necessary to promote the fashion of the underpants having a new concept developed in consideration of human aesthetics in addition to the visual beauty as underwear.

When dressing well, the wearer can present his/her beauty most efficiently. To dress well, it is very important to present the beauty of the silhouette of his/her body in addition to the visual image.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above requirements and an object of the present invention is to provide underpants, which comprise a plurality of pieces which are designed as three-dimensional patterns and are cut from a fabric sheet that is stretchable in one way or in two ways such that the pieces correspond to respective parts of the body of a wearer and, when the wearer moves, the force caused by the movement uniformly and diagonally acts in the underpants upwards and outwards from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in a symmetrical Y-shaped or V-shaped line of action due both to the stretchable directions in the pattern pieces and to the movement of the parts of the wearer's body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide underpants, which can provide an effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks, maintain the beautiful line of the buttocks and reduce the wearer's discomfort due to the force that uniformly and diagonally acts in the underpants upwards and outwards from the lower portion of the vertical central axis in the symmetrical Y-shaped or V-shaped line of action.

A further object of the present invention is to provide underpants, in which the respective pattern pieces are designed as curved patterns, so that, when wearing the underpants, the underpants maintain the three-dimensional appearances of the buttocks and provide natural comfort to the wearer.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide underpants, in which a scrotal pattern part, which is configured to cover and protect the penis and scrotum of a male wearer, is inclined to one side from the vertical central axis at a predetermined angle of inclination, so that, when wearing the underpants, the penis and scrotum of the male wearer can be stably and comfortably supported in the underpants.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide underpants, in which mesh tapes, having excellent air permeability and excellent expansion and contraction, are used, such that the transmission of lifting and shaping functional strong pressure to the front sheet part of the underpants can be released, thus providing improved comfort and improved ventilation effects to the underpants at locations around the penis and scrotum of a male wearer, thereby maintaining a pleasant and comfortable state in the underpants.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide underpants, in which the patterns of the respective pieces are ergonomically designed in consideration of both the body line of the wearer and the movement of the muscles of the wearer's body during active movement of the wearer, thus providing an excellent effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks and comfortably supporting the penis and scrotum of a male wearer.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides underpants, which comprise a waist band surrounding the waist of a wearer and defining an upper opening having a predetermined size; and an underpants body comprising front and rear sheet parts formed through cutting into predetermined sizes, the front and rear sheet parts being sewn along a lower edge of the waist band and sewn together along edges thereof into a single body, with two lower openings having predetermined sizes defined at respective opposite locations on the lower end of the underpants body, wherein the front sheet part (40) comprises: a plurality of fabric pattern pieces having predetermined sizes and different shapes, which are formed through cutting a fabric sheet such that the pattern pieces are stretchable in one way or in two ways, wherein the fabric pattern pieces of the front sheet part (40) comprise: one-way stretchable left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42), which are not stretchable in upward and outward diagonal directions from a lower portion of a vertical central axis in the front sheet part (40) and are sewn to left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), which extend forwards from a rear side of the underpants, using left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a), which have predetermined widths and air permeability and are stretchable in two ways; left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45), which are coupled together into a three-dimensional structure, are stretchable in two ways, and are sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) using middle mesh tape (48), which is curved downwards to form a U-shaped appearance and has air permeability and is stretchable in two ways; and left/right-lower-front pieces (43, 43a), which have two-ply structures and no rubber band and are stretchable in two ways and are sewn to a central-lower piece (46), which is stretchable in two ways, at a lower end of the front sheet part, in which the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45) are sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) using the middle mesh tape (48), wherein a scrotal pattern part, which comprises both the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45) and the middle mesh tape (48), is inclined to the left or right from the vertical central axis at a predetermined angle of inclination and the front sheet part (40) is connected to the waist band, which is designed as a curved shape to lower a middle portion thereof rather than left and right side portions when a person wears the underpants, and a force diagonally acts in the underpants upwards and outwards from the lower portion of the vertical central axis in a V-shaped line of action due to both movements of parts of the body of the wearer and the directions of actions relatively acting in the respective pattern pieces, which are the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) connected both to the one-way stretchable left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) and to the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) extending forwards from the rear side of the underpants such that the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) release the transmission of lifting and shaping functional strong pressure to the front sheet part; the middle mesh tape (48) releasing both the lifting and shaping functional pressure reduced by the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) and pressure acting both on the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) and on the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45), thus preventing pressure from being strongly applied to a scrotal part of the wearer; the central-lower piece (46) connected to the middle mesh tape (48); and the left/right-lower-front pieces (43, 43a) symmetrically connected to left and right sides of the central-lower piece (46).

The rear sheet part (50) comprises: a plurality of fabric pattern pieces having pre-determined sizes and different shapes, formed through cutting a fabric sheet such that the pattern pieces are stretchable in one way, wherein the fabric pattern pieces of the rear sheet part (50) comprise: the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) connected to the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42); and left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) and left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) symmetrically sewn to lower ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) such that they are stretchable in one predetermined way, wherein the rear sheet part (50) is connected to the waist band, which is designed as a curved shape to so that a middle portion thereof is lower, rather than the left and right side portions, when a person wears the underpants, and a force diagonally acts in the rear sheet part (50) upwards and outwards from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in the rear sheet part (50) in either a symmetrical Y-shaped or a symmetrical V-shaped line of action due to both movements of parts of the body of the wearer and the directions of actions relatively acting in the respective pattern pieces, which are the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) and the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a), which are not stretchable in upward and outward diagonal directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis; and the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a), which are not stretchable in upward directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis.

Further, in the front sheet part, the scrotal pattern part, which comprises both the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45) and the middle mesh tape (48), may be inclined to the left from the vertical central axis at an angle (θ1) of 40°˜85°. Further, the scrotal pattern part may be inclined to the right from the vertical central axis at an angle (θ2) of 95°˜140°.

Further, in the rear sheet part, the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) and the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a), which are connected to the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42), are symmetrically connected to each other such that they are not stretchable in the upward and outward diagonal directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis, wherein, when the underpants are worn by a person, a force diagonally acts in the rear sheet part (50) upwards and outwards from the lower portion of the vertical central axis in the rear sheet part (50) along either the symmetrical Y-shaped or the symmetrical V-shaped line of action due to both the movements of the parts of the wearer's body and the directions of actions relatively acting in the respective pattern pieces, such that the component forces are uniform and symmetrical with each other at a leftward angle (θ3) of 10°˜75° and at a rightward angle (θ4) of 105°˜170°.

According to the above-mentioned present invention, when a person wearing the underpants moves, the force caused by the movement uniformly and diagonally acts in the underpants upwards and outwards from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in a symmetrical Y-shaped or V-shaped line of action due both to the stretchable directions in the pattern pieces and to the movement of the parts of the wearer's body. Thus, the muscles (glutei maximi) of the buttocks of the wearer are naturally supported and tensioned upwards by the underpants without drooping, so that the line of the buttocks from the buttocks to the tight becomes tensioned and attractive, and, at the same time, the underpants provide comfort to the wearer. Further, the scrotal pattern part of the front sheet part, which is configured to cover and protect the penis and scrotum of a male wearer, is inclined to one side from the vertical central axis, so that, when wearing the underpants, the penis and scrotum of the male wearer can be stably and comfortably supported in the underpants. Further, the mesh tapes, having excellent air permeability and excellent expansion and contraction, are used, such that the transmission of lifting and shaping functional strong pressure to the front sheet part of the underpants can be released, thus providing improved comfort and improved ventilation effects to the underpants at locations around the penis and scrotum of a male wearer, thereby maintaining a pleasant and comfortable state in the underpants. Thus, the present invention provides underpants, which are designed with a new idea seeking human aesthetics and providing an effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks along with comfort to the scrotal part of the wearer's body in consideration of the activity of the wearer's body.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

As described above, the present invention provides underpants. When wearing the underpants, the muscles of the buttocks of a wearer are naturally supported and tensioned upwards by the underpants without drooping due to the force uniformly and diagonally acting in the underpants upwards and outwards from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in a symmetrical Y-shaped or V-shaped line of action due both to the stretchable directions in a plurality of fabric pattern pieces, which are sewn together such that the pattern pieces are stretchable in one way or in two ways, and to the movement of the parts of the wearer's body. Thus, the line of the buttocks from the buttocks to the tight becomes tensioned and attractive. Further, the penis and scrotum of a male wearer, regardless of the physical and physiological differences between Orientals and Occidentals and individual physical and physiological variation, can be stably and comfortably supported by a scrotal pattern part, which is inclined to one side at a predetermined angle of inclination. Further, mesh tapes used in the underpants release the transmission of lifting and shaping functional strong pressure to the front sheet part of the underpants, thus providing improved comfort and improved ventilation effects to the underpants, thereby maintaining a pleasant and comfortable state in the underpants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing underpants according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 through 8 illustrate the patterns of respective pieces of the front sheet part shown in FIG. 1, in which:

FIG. 2 illustrates the pattern of a left-upper-front piece having an asymmetric structure;

FIG. 3 illustrates the pattern of a right-upper-front piece having an asymmetric structure;

FIG. 4 illustrates the patterns of a left-lower-front piece and a right-lower-front piece, having a symmetric structure;

FIG. 5 illustrates the pattern of a left scrotal piece;

FIG. 6 illustrates the pattern of a right scrotal piece;

FIG. 7 illustrates the pattern of a lower piece having an asymmetric structure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the pattern of a mesh tape;

FIG. 9 illustrates the states of the expansion and contraction in the pieces of the underpants shown in FIG. 1, which correspond to respective parts of the wearer's body;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating angles of inclination defined in a three-dimensional scrotal pattern part comprising the left and right scrotal pieces shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a rear view showing the underpants according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 12 through 14 illustrate the patterns of respective pieces of a rear sheet part shown in FIG. 5, in which:

FIG. 12 illustrates the patterns of a left-upper-rear piece and a right-upper-rear piece, having a symmetric structure;

FIG. 13 illustrates the patterns of a left-lower-rear piece and a right-lower-rear piece, having a symmetric structure; and

FIG. 14 illustrates the patterns of a left-middle-rear piece and a right-middle-rear piece, having a symmetric structure;

FIG. 15 illustrates the states of expansion and contraction in the pieces of the underpants shown in FIG. 11, which correspond to respective parts of the wearer's body;

FIG. 16 illustrates the states of expansion and contraction in the patterns of the left-upper-rear piece and the right-upper-rear piece, which have the symmetric structure as shown in FIG. 11 and are removed from the front sheet part of the underpants;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating angles of force acting in the underpants along the directions D and D′ due to the characteristics of the two-way expansion and contraction in the patterns of the left-upper-rear piece, the right-upper-rear piece, the left-middle-rear piece and the right-middle-rear piece, shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the front part of the underpants according to the present invention when a person wears the underpants;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the rear part of the underpants according to the present invention when a person wears the underpants; and

FIG. 20 is a side view illustrating the side part of the underpants according to the present invention when a person wears the underpants.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing underpants according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 through 8 illustrate the patterns of respective pieces of a front sheet part shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 2 illustrates the pattern of a left-upper-front piece having an asymmetric structure; FIG. 3 illustrates the pattern of a right-upper-front piece having an asymmetric structure; FIG. 4 illustrates the patterns of a left-lower-front piece and a right-lower-front piece, having a symmetric structure; FIG. 5 illustrates the pattern of a left scrotal piece; FIG. 6 illustrates the pattern of a right scrotal piece; FIG. 7 illustrates the pattern of a lower piece having an asymmetric structure; and FIG. 8 illustrates the pattern of a mesh tape.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes underpants having upper and lower openings. The underpants comprise a waist band (20), which closely surrounds the waist of a wearer without drooping and defines an upper opening having a predetermined size. An underpants body (30) is sewn along the lower edge of the waist band and closely covers the body of the wearer, with two lower openings having predetermined sizes defined at respective opposite locations on the lower end of the underpants body.

The underpants body (30) comprises: a front sheet part (40) comprising a plurality of fabric pattern pieces having predetermined sizes and different shapes, which are formed through cutting a fabric sheet such that the pattern pieces are stretchable in one way or in two ways; and a rear sheet part (50) connected to the front sheet part and comprising a plurality of fabric pattern pieces having predetermined sizes and different shapes, which are formed through cutting a fabric sheet such that the pattern pieces are stretchable in one way.

The waist band (20) is designed to have a curved shape so that the middle portions thereof, rather than the left and right side portions, are lowered, so that, when a person wears the underpants, the middle portions of the waste band are moved upwards, thus allowing the force to diagonally act upwards and outwards from the lower portions of vertical central axes in the front and rear sheet parts, sewn to the waist band, along either Y-shaped or V-shaped lines of action.

The front sheet part (40) is designed to maintain the three-dimensional shapes of the buttocks of a wearer and provide comfort to the scrotal part of the wearer. The front sheet part (40) comprises left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42), which are cut to have predetermined sizes and shapes and are not stretchable in the upward and outward diagonal directions from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in the front sheet part. The left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) are sewn to left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), which extend forwards from the rear side of the underpants, using left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a), which have predetermined widths and air permeability and are stretchable in two ways. Left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45), which are coupled together into a three-dimensional structure and are stretchable in two ways, are sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) using a middle mesh tape (48), which is curved downwards to form a U-shaped appearance and has air permeability and is stretchable in two ways. Left/right-lower-front pieces (43, 43a), which have two-ply structures and no rubber band and are stretchable in two ways, are sewn to a central-lower piece (46), which is stretchable in two ways, at the lower end of the front sheet part, in which the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45) are sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) using the middle mesh tape (48).

In FIG. 2, the pattern of the left-upper-front piece (41) of the front sheet part (40) is made of a fabric sheet, which is stretchable in one predetermined way, with three straight sides having different lengths and three curved sides extending between the three straight sides. Of the three curved sides, the upper curved side, which extends between a first end of the longest straight side and a first end of the shortest straight side, is curved outwards. The remaining two curved sides, which extend between the respective second ends of the longest and shortest straight sides and opposite ends of the middle length straight side, are curved inwards, so that the left-upper-front piece (41) forms a shape similar to the blade of a spear. The pattern of the right-upper-front piece (42) is made of a fabric sheet, which is stretchable in one predetermined way, with two straight sides having different lengths and three curved sides. Of the three curved sides, two upper curved sides extend from respective first ends of the two straight sides and meet together. Described in detail, the first upper curved side, which extends from the first end of the longer straight side, is curved inwards, while the second upper curved side, which extends from the first end of the shorter straight side, is curved outwards until it meets the first upper curved side to form an inverted V-shape. The lower curved side, which extends between the second ends of the two straight sides, is curved inwards, so that the right-upper-front piece (42) forms a shape similar to a boomerang. The pattern of each of the left/right-lower-front pieces (43, 43a) is made of a fabric sheet, which has a two-ply structure and is stretchable in two ways, into a rectangular shape, with four sides having different lengths. The left/right-lower-front pieces (43, 43a) are placed at locations around which the body of the wearer is not likely to move. Thus, the left/right-lower-front pieces (43, 43a) are designed as two-ply structures without rubber bands in an effort to provide comfort to the active parts of lymph nodes of the wearer's body.

Further, the pattern of the left scrotal piece (44) is made of a fabric sheet, which is stretchable in two ways, with one straight side and two curved sides, which extend from the opposite ends of the straight side until they meet together. Of the two curved sides, the left curved side is more rapidly curved outwards in comparison with the right curved side. The pattern of the right scrotal piece (45) is made of a fabric sheet, which is stretchable in two ways, with one straight side and two curved sides, which extend from opposite ends of the straight side until they meet together. Of the two curved sides, the right curved side is more rapidly curved outwards than the left curved side. The central-lower piece (46) is made of a fabric sheet, which is stretchable in two ways, with two left and right straight sides having different lengths and four curved sides. Of the four curved sides, the first curved side extends between the first ends of the two straight sides and is located so as to form an upper curved side, the second and third curved sides extend from the respective second ends of the two straight sides and are located so as to form left and right curved sides, and the fourth curved side extends between the ends of the second and third curved sides and is located so as to form a lower curved side. The first, second and third curved sides, which are the upper, left and right curved sides, are curved inwards such that they form an asymmetric shape. The fourth curved side, which is the lower curved side, is curved outwards. Further, the width (W) of the narrowest part between the left and right curved sides of the central-lower piece (46) may be differently designed according to the difference between the bodies of men and women, such that the piece (46) for men is narrow, while the piece (46) for women is wide. Further, the central-lower piece (46) is preferably designed to form right angles in consideration of both the distance (S) from the narrowest part to a part corresponding to the buttock and the shapes of the buttocks, thus sufficiently supporting the buttocks.

Each of the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) and the middle mesh tape (48) is made of a fabric strip, which has air permeability and is stretchable in two ways. The left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) release the transmission of lifting and shaping functional strong pressure of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), extending forwards from the rear side of the underpants, to the front sheet part, and elastically move during active movement of a wearer, thus providing a comfortable wearing feel to the wearer. The middle mesh tape (48) releases both the lifting and shaping functional pressure reduced by the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) and pressure acting on the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42), thus preventing the pressure from being strongly exerted on the scrotal part of the wearer. Further, the middle mesh tape (48) provides improved ventilation effects to the scrotal part of the wearer's body and prevents the scrotal part from becoming wet with sweat, and reduces the body temperature of the wearer, thereby being good for the health of the wearer.

Further, in the drawings, the scrotal pattern part, which comprises both the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45) and the U-shaped middle mesh tape (48), which is curved downwards, is inclined to the right from the vertical central axis at a predetermined angle of inclination. However, it should be understood that the scrotal pattern part may be inclined to the left from the vertical central axis at a predetermined angle of inclination in consideration of the physical and physiological characteristics of Orientals and Occidentals. When a man wears the underpants of the present invention having the above-mentioned construction, the scrotum of the wearer is naturally located in the middle portion and the penis is naturally located in the left or right portion inside the scrotal pattern part according to the inclined direction of the scrotal pattern part, thus being comfortable. Further, when the penis of the wearer undesirably becomes stiff, the penis is stably seated inside the scrotal pattern part without showing signs, so that the present invention remarkably reduces the sizes of underpants for men. Further, the underpants of the present invention can be stably worn by men having unusual bodies, thus improving the beauty of the silhouettes of their outer garments.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the angles of inclination defined in the three-dimensional scrotal pattern part comprising the left and right scrotal pieces shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the drawing, the three-dimensional scrotal pattern part, which comprises both the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45) and the downward curved U-shaped middle mesh tape (48), sewn together in the front sheet part, may be inclined to the left from the vertical central axis at an angle (θ1) of 40°˜85° or to the right from the vertical central axis at an angle (θ2) of 95°˜140° in consideration of the physical and physiological differences of the penises between Orientals and Occidentals and individual physical and physiological variation.

FIG. 11 is a rear view showing the underpants according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 12 through 14 illustrate the patterns of respective pieces of the rear sheet part shown in FIG. 11, in which FIG. 12 illustrates the patterns of the left/right-upper-rear pieces, having a symmetric structure; FIG. 13 illustrates the patterns of left/right-lower-rear pieces having a symmetric structure; and FIG. 14 illustrates the patterns of left/right-middle-rear pieces having a symmetric structure.

As shown in FIG. 11, the rear sheet part (50) is sewn to the lower edge of the waist band (20), which is designed to have a curved shape to lower the middle portion thereof, rather than the left and right side portions, when a person wears the underpants, thus forming three-dimensional shapes of the buttocks and providing comfort to the wearer. Described in detail, in the rear sheet part (50), the left and right sides of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) are designed as curved shapes such that they are connected to the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42). Further, left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) and left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) are symmetrically sewn to the lower ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) such that they are stretchable in one predetermined way.

As shown in FIGS. 12 through 14, the pattern of each of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), which constitute the rear sheet part (50), is made of a fabric sheet, which is stretchable in one way, with one straight side and two curved sides, which extend from opposite ends of the straight side until they meet each other. Of the two curved sides, the upper curved side is curved outwards, while the lower curved side is primarily curved outwards and secondarily curved inwards until it meets the upper curved side. The pattern of each of the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) is made of a fabric sheet, which is stretchable in one way, with two opposite straight sides having different lengths and two curved sides extending between the opposite ends of the two straight sides. Of the two curved sides, the upper curved side is primarily curved inwards and is secondarily curved outwards in a direction from the shorter straight side to the longer straight side, while the lower curved side is curved inwards. The pattern of each of the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) is made of a fabric sheet, which is stretchable in one way, with two opposite straight sides having different lengths and three curved sides. Of the three curved sides, the upper curved side, which extends between the first ends of the two straight sides, is curved inwards, the first lower curved side, which extends from the second end of the longer straight side, is curved inwards, and the second lower curved side, which extends from the second end of the shorter straight side, is curved outwards until it meets the first lower curved side to form a V-shape.

Meanwhile, FIG. 17 is a view illustrating the angles of force acting in the underpants along the directions D and D′ due to the characteristics of the two-way expansion and contraction in the patterns of the left/right-upper-rear pieces and the left/right-middle-rear pieces shown in FIG. 16. As shown in the drawings, the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) and the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a), which are connected to the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42), are symmetrically connected to each other such that they are not stretchable in the upward and outward diagonal directions D and D′ from the lower portion of the vertical central axis. Thus, when a person wears the underpants, the force may diagonally act in the rear sheet part upwards and outwards from the lower portion of the vertical central axis in the rear sheet part along the symmetrical Y-shaped line of action due to both the movements of the parts of the wearer's body and the directions of actions relatively acting in the respective pattern pieces, such that the component forces are uniform and symmetrical with each other at a leftward angle (θ3) of 10°˜75° and at a rightward angle (θ4) of 105°˜170°. Alternatively, the force may diagonally act in the rear sheet part upwards and outwards in the directions C and C′ from the lower portion of the vertical central axis in the symmetrical V-shaped line of action, as shown in FIG. 15.

The fabric sheet used in the present invention must endure strong pressure in comparison with typical fabric sheets so that the fabric sheet is preferably made of excellent fibers having long fiber lengths. To make a strong fabric sheet, the fibers of the fabric sheet are more intensively twisted in a three-dimensional manner, unlike typical fibers, so that the fibers of the fabric sheet have high strength, high elasticity, excellent restoring force, and excellent moisture absorption and moisture emission in comparison with typical fibers. Thus, the underpants made of the fabric sheet always remain in a pleasant and comfortable state. Further, the underpants produce less fuzz even when the underpants are used over a lengthy period of time, thus providing a feeling as if old underpants were new underpants. Described in brief, the underpants of the present invention are preferably made of one-way stretchable or two-way stretchable fabric sheets.

The operational effects of the underpants according to the present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be described hereinbelow.

FIG. 9 illustrates the states of expansion and contraction in the pieces of the underpants shown in FIG. 1, which correspond to respective parts of the wearer's body. FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the front part of the underpants according to the present invention when a person wears the underpants. FIG. 20 is a side view illustrating the side part of the underpants according to the present invention when a person wears the underpants.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 18, at locations around the scrotal pattern part of the front sheet part (40), the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) are designed such that they are not stretchable in upward and outward diagonal directions Z and Z′ from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in the front sheet part. Meanwhile, the left/right-lower-front pieces (43, 43a), the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45), the central-lower piece (46) and the mesh tapes (47, 47a, 48) are designed as curved shapes such that they are stretchable in two ways. Thus, when a wearer moves as shown in FIG. 18, the force caused by the movement uniformly acts in the front sheet part in upward and outward diagonal directions Z and Z′ from the lower portion of a vertical central axis along a symmetrical V-shaped line of action due both to the stretchable directions in the pattern pieces and to the movement of the parts of the wearer's body. In the above state, the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42), each of which is stretchable only in one predetermined way, elastically control the central-lower piece (46) and the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45) according to the application of the force to the front sheet part, thus providing comfort to the scrotal part of the wearer's body. Further, in the waist band (20), which is designed to have a curved shape so that the middle portion thereof, rather than the left and right side portions, is lowered, the axes of the left/right side parts (1-C, 1-C′) are agreeable with the force, which acts in the upward and outward diagonal directions Z and Z′ from the lower portion of the vertical central axis along the symmetrical V-shaped line of action, based on the sides of the wearer's body, due to the expansion and contraction of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), which extend forwards from the rear side of the underpants. Thus, the underpants provide an effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks to the wearer and provide comfort to the scrotal part of the wearer's body.

In the underpants, both the pressure of the central-lower piece (46), which is connected to the middle mesh tape (48), and the pressure of the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a), which are symmetrically connected to the left and right sides of the central-lower piece (46) and provide the effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks, are released by the middle mesh tape (48), so that each of the left/right-lower-front pieces (43, 43a) is preferably designed as a two-ply structure without a rubber band, and provides comfort to the active parts of lymph nodes of the wearer's body.

Further, the scrotal pattern part, which is made by combining the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45) with the middle mesh tape (48), is inclined to the left or right from the vertical central axis, thus stably and comfortably supporting the penis and scrotum of a male wearer therein and improving the beauty of the silhouettes of outer garments of the wearer.

The width (W) of the narrowest bottom part of the central-lower piece (46) may be differently designed according to the difference between the bodies of men and women such that the piece (46) for men has a narrow width, while the piece (46) for women has a wide width. Further, the distance (S) from the narrowest bottom part of the central-lower piece (46) to a part corresponding to a buttock of a wearer is designed to form a rapid angle of inclination in consideration of the shape of the buttocks, so that the narrowest bottom part provides comfort to the wearer and the central-lower piece (46) sufficiently supports the buttocks.

The left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) are connected to the waist band (20), which is designed to have curved shape so that the middle portion thereof, rather than the left and right side portions, is lowered. The left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) are also connected both to the one-way stretchable left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42), which are not stretchable in the upward and outward diagonal directions Z and Z′ from the lower portion of a vertical central axis in the front sheet part, and to the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) extending forwards from the rear side of the underpants. The left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) release the transmission of lifting and shaping functional strong pressure to the front sheet part. Further, the middle mesh tape (48) releases both the lifting and shaping functional pressure reduced by the left/right mesh tapes (47, 47a) and pressure acting both on the left/right-upper-front pieces (41, 42) and on the left/right scrotal pieces (44, 45), thus preventing the pressure from being strongly exerted on the scrotal part of the wearer's body. The middle mesh tape (48) also provides improved ventilation effects to the scrotal part of the wearer's body, thus preventing the scrotal part from becoming wet with sweat and reducing the body temperature of the wearer, thereby being good for the health of the wearer.

FIG. 15 illustrates the states of expansion and contraction in the pieces of the underpants shown in FIG. 11, which correspond to respective parts of the wearer's body. FIG. 16 illustrates the states of expansion and contraction in the patterns of the left/right-upper-rear pieces, which have a symmetrical structure, as shown in FIG. 11, and are removed from the front sheet part of the underpants. FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the rear part of the underpants according to the present invention when a person wears the underpants.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 19, the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) and the waist band (20) connected to the upper ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) are designed to have a symmetrical curved shape. Thus, when a person wears the underpants, the rubber waist band (20), which is designed to have a curved shape to lower the middle portion thereof rather than the left and right side portions, is stretched in the arrow directions A, A′ as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 15, so that the middle portion (1-A) of the waist band, which is placed lower than a horizontal line extending between the left and right side portions, is lifted upwards. Further, due to the force acting both in the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), which are not stretchable in upward and outward diagonal directions from the lower portion of a vertical central axis (1-B), and in the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a), which are not stretchable in upward directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis, a force diagonally acts in the rear sheet part upwards and outwards in directions C and C′ from the lower portion of the vertical central axis along a symmetrical V-shaped line of action, and also acts in directions B upwards at locations around the vertical central axis. Thus, the underpants provide an effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks.

Further, the junction parts (2-A) between the lower end of the waist band (20) and the upper ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) are designed to have curved shapes, which are curved upwards. Due to the connection of the waist band (20) to the upper ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), when the underpants are worn by a person, the junction parts (2-A) are moved downwards by the force of the waist band until they form a horizontal line. Thus, the junction parts (2-A), which have been moved downwards, become enough and naturally support and shape the buttocks in a three-dimensional shape. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 16, the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) are not stretchable in the upward and outward diagonal directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis, and thus they can prevent the buttocks from spreading out. Further, the opposite sides (1-C, 1-C′) of the waist band function as the hubs of the force, so that the force uniformly acts in the upward and outward diagonal directions D and D′ from the lower portion of the vertical central axis along a symmetrical Y-shaped line of action, thus lifting and shaping the buttocks.

The curved shapes of the junction parts (2-B) between the lower ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) and the upper ends of both the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) and the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) cooperate with the curved shapes of the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) and support the curved shapes of the buttocks, thus maintaining the beautiful line of the buttocks.

The left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) have excellent expansion and contraction and high restoring force at the pyramid portion (E) shown in FIG. 16, so that, when a wearer is in a standing pose, an effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks is provided by the force naturally acting in the Y-shaped line of action. Further, due to the excellent expansion and contraction of the pyramid portion (E), when the wearer is in a seating pose, in which the surface area of the buttocks is about 1.5 times as large as the surface area thereof in the case of the standing pose, the underpants efficiently and naturally cover the expanded buttocks.

The left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) are designed to have curved shapes such that they efficiently and naturally support the curved buttocks and are not stretchable in vertical directions. Thus, both the force acting upwards from the middle part (1-A) of the waist of a wearer and the force diagonally acting upwards from the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) act vertically in the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a), so that the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) efficiently support the portions of the buttocks, which may easily droop. Further, the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) have excellent expansion and contraction and high restoring force in horizontal directions, thus efficiently and naturally supporting the enlarged buttocks when the wearer is in a seating pose.

The lower portions (4-A) of the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a) are designed to have almost horizontal shapes through a horizontal designing technique rather than a typical diagonal shapes, thus efficiently covering and supporting the most plump parts of the buttocks.

The left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) are designed to be stretchable in directions opposite to the stretchable directions of the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a), thus strongly pressing the buttocks and providing the beautiful line of the buttocks. When the surface area of the buttocks becomes enlarged in a seating pose of the wearer, the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) cooperate with the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a), thus efficiently and naturally covering and supporting the enlarged buttocks.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the left and right ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) are designed to extend to the front sheet part (40) and are connected both to the waist band (20) and to the mesh tapes (47, 47a). The lower ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) are connected both to the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a) and to the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a). Thus, when a wearer moves, a force uniformly acts in the upward and outward diagonal directions D and D′ from the lower portion of the vertical central axis along a symmetrical Y-shaped line of action due both to the movement of the parts of the wearer's body and to the stretchable directions in the pattern pieces, which are the left/right-upper-rear pieces (51, 51a) and the left/right-lower-rear pieces (52, 52a), designed to be not stretchable in the upward and outward diagonal directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis, and the left/right middle pieces (53, 53a), designed to be not stretchable upwardly from the lower portion of the vertical central axis. Thus, the underpants provide an effect of lifting and shaping the buttocks and maintain the beautiful line of the buttocks, and also provide comfort to the wearer.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for the construction of men's underpants, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be adapted to women's underpants, which are appropriately designed to have specific pattern structures of rear sheet pieces and an enlarged lower piece corresponding to the characteristics of women's bodies, thus having the function of lifting and shaping the buttocks, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. Underpants comprising a waist band surrounding the waist of a wearer and defining an upper opening having a predetermined size; and an underpants body comprising front and rear sheet parts formed through cutting into predetermined sizes, the front and rear sheet parts being sewn along a lower edge of the waist band and sewn together along edges thereof into a single body, with two lower openings having predetermined sizes defined at respective opposite locations on the lower end of the underpants body, wherein

the front sheet part comprises: a plurality of fabric pattern pieces having pre-determined sizes and different shapes, which are formed through cutting a fabric sheet such that the pattern pieces are stretchable in one way or in two ways, wherein the fabric pattern pieces of the front sheet part comprise: one-way stretchable left/right-upper-front pieces, which are not stretchable in upward and outward diagonal directions from a lower portion of a vertical central axis in the front sheet part and are sewn to left/right-upper-rear pieces, which extend forwards from a rear side of the underpants, using left/right mesh tapes, which have predetermined widths and air permeability and are stretchable in two ways; left/right scrotal pieces, which are coupled together into a three-dimensional structure and are stretchable in two ways and are sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces using a middle mesh tape, which is curved downwards to form a U-shaped appearance and has air permeability and is stretchable in two ways; and left/right-lower-front pieces, which have two-ply structures and no rubber band and are stretchable in two ways and are sewn to a central-lower piece, which is stretchable in two ways, at a lower end of the front sheet part, in which the left/right scrotal pieces are sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces using the middle mesh tape, wherein a scrotal pattern part, which comprises both the left/right scrotal pieces and the middle mesh tape, is inclined to the left or right from the vertical central axis at a pre-determined angle of inclination and the front sheet part is connected to the waist band, which is designed as a curved shape to lower a middle portion thereof rather than left and right side portions when a person wears the underpants, and a force diagonally acts in the underpants upwards and outwards from the lower portion of the vertical central axis in a V-shaped line of action due to both movements of parts of the body of the wearer and the directions of actions relatively acting in the respective pattern pieces, which are the left/right mesh tapes connected both to the one-way stretchable left/right-upper-front pieces and to the left/right-upper-rear pieces extending forwards from the rear side of the underpants such that the left/right mesh tapes release transmission of lifting and shaping functional strong pressure to the front sheet part; the middle mesh tape releasing both the lifting and shaping functional pressure reduced by the left/right mesh tapes and pressure acting both on the left/right-upper-front pieces and on the left/right scrotal pieces, thus preventing the pressure from being strongly exerted on a scrotal part of the wearer; the central-lower piece connected to the middle mesh tape; and the left/right-lower-front pieces symmetrically connected to left and right sides of the central-lower piece.

2. The underpants according to claim 1, wherein the rear sheet part comprises: a plurality of fabric pattern pieces having predetermined sizes and different shapes, which is formed through cutting a fabric sheet such that the pattern pieces are stretchable in one way, wherein the fabric pattern pieces of the rear sheet part comprise: the left/right-upper-rear pieces connected to the left/right mesh tapes sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces; and left/right-lower-rear pieces and left/right middle pieces symmetrically sewn to lower ends of the left/right-upper-rear pieces such that they are stretchable in one predetermined way, wherein the rear sheet part is connected to the waist band, which is designed as a curved shape to lower a middle portion thereof rather than at the left and right side portions when a person wears the underpants, and a force diagonally acts in the rear sheet part upwards and outwards from a lower portion of a vertical central axis in the rear sheet part in either a symmetrical Y-shaped or a symmetrical V-shaped line of action due to both movements of parts of the body of the wearer and the directions of actions relatively acting in the respective pattern pieces, which are the left/right-upper-rear pieces and the left/right-lower-rear pieces, which are not stretchable in upward and outward diagonal directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis; and the left/right middle pieces, which are not stretchable in upward directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis.

3. The underpants according to claim 1, wherein the scrotal pattern part, which comprises both the left/right scrotal pieces and the middle mesh tape, is inclined to the left from the vertical central axis at an angle (θ1) of 40°˜85°.

4. The underpants according to claim 1, wherein the scrotal pattern part, which comprises both the left/right scrotal pieces and the middle mesh tape, is inclined to the right from the vertical central axis at an angle (θ2) of 95°˜140°.

5. The underpants according to claim 2, wherein the left/right-upper-rear pieces, the left/right-lower-rear pieces and the left/right middle pieces, which are connected to the left/right mesh tapes sewn to the left/right-upper-front pieces, are symmetrically connected to each other such that they are not stretchable in the upward and outward diagonal directions from the lower portion of the vertical central axis, wherein, when the underpants are worn by a person, a force diagonally acts in the rear sheet part upwards and outwards from the lower portion of the vertical central axis in the rear sheet part in either the symmetrical Y-shaped or the symmetrical V-shaped line of action due to both the movements of the parts of the wearer's body and the directions of actions relatively acting in the respective pattern pieces, such that the component forces are uniform and symmetrical with each other at a leftward angle (θ3) of 10°˜75° and at a rightward angle (θ4) of 105°˜170°.