Means for Underwear

Abstract

Underwear, such as boxer shorts or long underwear, intended to be used by men. The underwear being provided at its upper end with a first elastic band or panel forming an integral part of the underwear and extending around the entire circumference of the waistband of the underwear. The underwear is provided with a second elastic band, string or panel. The second elastic band, string or panel is in the form of a continuous band extending along at least a part of the circumference of an underwear beneath the intended position of a scrotum in a front of the underwear, skewed upwards along the intended position of the groin of a male towards the upper end of the intended position of the buttocks of the male, extending along the intended position of a male hip bone, in spaced relation with the first elastic band or panel

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to underwear meant to be used by men, such as for example boxer shorts, long underwear or pajamas, that is fitted at its upper part with a first elastic waist band or elastic panel that extends around the whole part of the hip lining, preferably forming an integral part of said underwear and further provided with a second elastic band or panel.

2. Description of the Related Art

Scrotum is a protuberance of skin and muscles containing and protecting the testicles and is located between penis and anus. In specific situations, such as during physical exercise, sexual activities or when scrotum is exposed to cold temperatures, the muscle fibers in scrotum contract, contracting the surface of the skin so that the surface of the skin wrinkles and becomes thicker. Thus the testicles will be moved closer to the body. On the other hand when scrotum is exposed to heat, or is in a state of relaxation, the muscles in scrotum becomes soft and relaxed. The relaxed muscle fibers make the testicles move away from the body and hang more or less freely downwards. Due to gravity and in view of the fact that most types of men's underwear pulls the testicles towards the body, together with the fact that most men to-day are sitting most of the time, the pocket of skin and muscle fibers are stretched, making the skin of the scrotum to become in contact with the inside of the thighs. The effect of such stretching increases as men becomes older and thus the “length of scrotum” becomes even longer.

It is well known fact that when human skin touches human skin, heat is produced. In order to avoid excessive heating, the perspiration glands of the body produce secrete fluids in the form of sweat. For many men whose skin of the scrotum has been stretched, this may cause more or less chronic condition of higher temperature in the scrotum. This partly chronically excessive heat may develop fungus in the skin around the crutch and cause allergic reactions. Because temperatures seek equilibrium, the whole area around scrotum will be heated, so that excessive heat is also spread to the testicles, in the pelvic and rectum region and in the prostate. Resent research has proved that when the reproduction organs for men are exposed for excessive heat, the quality of the seamen will decrease and thus the ability to reproduction. When this heating continues over a period of time, both sterility and infertility might occur as well as a reduced stiffness of the erected penis.

For most men over 50 years of age, a medical term, called Benin Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP) may occur, i.e. a term related to the increase in size of the prostate gland. When this gland is growing and eventually is exposed to stress in one way or another, the prostate gland, which surrounds the urine tube, is imposing a pressure on the urine tube, causing thinner urine jet as well as more frequent need for urination. Men who have this suffering, need to get up several times during nights to urinate. There are no definite final research or theory why the prostate gland is growing for older men, but a probable cause may be stress in connection with the overheating and cooling of the scrotum and pelvic region.

The modern way of living involves a lot of sitting down, and conventional underwear presses either the scrotum towards the thighs or allows the scrotum to hang leaning towards the thighs. When the testicles are pressed against the pelvic, or the crutch, heat is produced, also spreading to rectum and the prostate gland which is situated just few centimeters away from where the scrotum is situated.

As previously mentioned scrotum has been created in order to hang “outside” men's body, so that the temperature of the scrotum may be cooled. The ideal temperature in scrotum is considered to be about one to two degrees Celsius below body temperature. It is assumed that the process with a higher than normal temperature in scrotum and in the areas around it for older men, followed by the body's attempt to cool down by secreting sweat, causes a stress situation to the prostate gland with the following of problematic symptoms of BPH—frequently urinating, thin and low pressure urine jet as well as the fact that the urine bladder is not completely emptied, and that this causes an unwanted need for frequent urination, at least during the night.

Furthermore there is a tendency with modern boxer shorts to manufacture them in an elastic fabric, which contributes to pushing penis and scrotum in towards the body, whereby the detrimental effects mentioned above will be increased.

US 20050268380 A1 discloses a prior art underwear for men where an elastic ribbon is incorporated in the apparel in order to lift penis and scrotum up and/or away from the body.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,940 B1 discloses a prior art underwear for men where an elastic ribbon is incorporated in the apparel in order to lift penis and scrotum away from the body.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,940 B1 discloses a prior art underwear for men fitted with a perforated pocket intended to provide for a good heat regulation and a moisture removing effect by means of ventilation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,342 (B1) discloses a known men's underwear which is designed with a ribbon that are stretched as a continual string where an elastic ribbon is incorporated in the apparel in order to lift penis and scrotum away from the body.

It is therefore a need to find a solution which as much as possible eliminates or at least reduces the nuisance and effects mentioned above, and where scrotum is prevented from being pressed towards the body in a unfortunate or detrimental way, and which also is comfortable to wear without any restrictions and also being independent of movements and positions of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide a solution preventing unnecessary or undesired heat production, developed in the crutch and thus at least partly problems caused by BPH.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple solution which is not uncomfortable to wear and which is not only functioning when the wearer is in certain body positions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a solution that prohibits formation of chronically moisture in the form of sweat, which may cause fungus, and eczema in the area of men's crutch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solution that it may be integrated in for example a boxer shorts or a long under trousers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solution that is loose and comfortable to use and at the same time distributing the lifting powers in a comfortable way.

The objects of the present invention are achieved by a solution that is closer defined in the independent patent claims.

Embodiments of the invention are defined by the accompanying dependent patent claims.

According to the present invention an elastic separation device for scrotum is provided, avoiding or at least substantially reducing direct contact between scrotum and the skin of the thighs, whereby unwanted development of heat may be avoided. The separation device may be in form of integrated, preferably independent elastic bands or elastic panels that may be sown or woven into the underwear so that said separation means may form an integrated, permanent or a exchangeable part of the underwear. When scrotum in a comfortable way is separated from bodily contact with the thighs, as well as avoiding direct press or strain on the scrotum or testicles, scrotum obtains a more normal condition at a lower temperature, so that scrotum more frequently may be preserved in its original firm shape with contracted muscle fibers and wrinkled skin may be cause a lasting original condition.

Alternatively the separating means may be placed outside the underwear as a separate unit. This may also be attached outside of an existing underwear or as a unit woven into the garment.

The embodiment may be formed as a separate, independent and adjustable band which for example may be arranged on existing underwear,

In any case the length of the elastic band or panel, which either may be sown into the underwear or serving as an independent unit, is so long that it can preferably be just a bit shorter than the circumferential line or string, drawn from under the scrotum and around the bullocks and back to its starting point under scrotum. Alternatively said circumferential length may correspond to a line drawn from the top of one buttock, around the hip along the inguen or groin on one side to an attachment point beneath the scrotum, near rectum, and the up along the inguen or groin back to above the other buttock, i.e. extending more or less as a continuous string around the entire body.

The length of the elastic band or panel, either sown into or woven into the underwear, or the embodiment forming a separate unit, has a length so that it can be stretched as a more or less continuous string from one side of the body under scrotum and up to each opposite side of the hips. Alternatively the band may be stretched around the whole of the circumstance of the body or underwear.

Tests performed with the present solution show that the temperature on the surface of the scrotum becomes lower and may be maintained at a more uniform level.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiment of the invention shall in the following be described in greater detail, referring to accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a part of the body of a person dressed with the underwear according to the present invention, seen from the front;

FIG. 2 shows schematically a part of the body seen from the behind, dressed with underwear according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows schematically a part of the body seen in perspective from one side, dressed with underwear according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment giving the same effect, but intended to be placed on top of an already, conventional underwear;

FIG. 5 shows schematically another embodiment of the arrangement according to present invention, using a panel for separating the scrotum and the remaining part of the body;

FIG. 6 shows schematically an embodiment provided with a sweat absorbing material in front; and

FIG. 7 shows schematically an alternative embodiment of the invention, provided with an adjustable fly means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows schematically a part of a body 10 viewed from the front of a person dressed with the underwear 11, while FIG. 2 shows the same view seen from behind. FIG. 3 shows the same view seen in perspective from the side. In order to compensate for the shape of the masculine genitals the underwear is designed with seams, so that a bulge 13 is created. The underwear is in a conventional way fitted with a elastic waistband 14 and holes for the legs 15. As indicated in the Figures, a band 17 is used. Said band 17 may be continuous, or it may be provided with two ends (not shown), enabling possible adjustment the length of the band 17, thereby giving the intended separation of scrotum from the thighs. As indicated in FIGS. 1-3 the band 17 is intended to be drawn out around at least a major part of the body, preferably the entire part of the body, i.e. down under scrotum in the crutch 16 so that scrotum will be in a position away from the body and up on both side along the ingunen ant to the top of or along the buttocks, thereby securing sufficient separating tension for separating the scrotum from the thighs.

FIG. 4 shows schematic another embodiment of the arrangement according to present invention. The embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 is of a type intended to be placed on top of conventional underwear as a separate add-on unit. The embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4 comprises a separate string or a band 17 configured to extend around the body of a male. At one end the string or the band 17 is provided with a means 19, such as for example one part of a Velcro unit, while the other end of the string or the band 17 may be configured with a corresponding part of a Velcro unit, thereby enabling inter-attachment and/or length adjustment of the string or band 17. The band or string 17 is configured to extend from the spine region around the hip along the ingunen or groin on one side down below and under the scrotum and up on the other side along the ingunen or groin on the other side over the hip and back to the spine region for attachment with the opposite end of the string or band 17. Further one end of a second string or band 18 is attached to surrounding string or band 17 in the region configured to be behind the scrotum, i.e. in the region between the scrotum and rectum. Said string or band 18 is configured to extend from said attachment point between the two buttocks and up to the attachment point for said two ends of the string or band 17. It should be appreciated that the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 also may includes a pocket like unit (not shown), intended to be attached to the string or band 17, for example by being sewed on to said band 17 or attached in any other suitable manner covering the male genitals. In such case, said embodiment is for example suitable as a sleeping model for those males who prefer to sleep naked, but suffer from heat generation in the crutch with a consequential development of fungus or eczema. The lower end of said pocket extends beneath and behind the scrotum when the separating bag arrangement is in its intended position, thereby securing the required separation. In addition the pocket like unit 18 may at its upper edge in front be provided with two frontal bands that at its fitted with each side of the band 17 with respect to the ingunen, for example attached by means of a Velcro arrangement. The band 17 might either be sown permanently in the pocket 18 or it might run more or less freely through a channel along with the upper edge of the pocket. Further, the pocket may preferably have a somewhat smaller height on the side intended to face towards the body when said band 17 is in its intended position.

The band 17 may as mentioned above be in the form of an integrated unit or a separate unit. The length of the band 17 may be adjustable, i.e. it may either be fixed with a button, or that it will be attached together with Velcro material.

The band 17 according to the present invention may in a simple manner be sewed or woven into the garment 11 or it may be placed as an elastic band on top of the garment and under scrotum, near rectum, or directly on the skin. Alternatively, the band may run more or less freely in ducts or channels in the garment. If it is sewed in an elastic band or panel in the underwear 11, and such band 17 is stretched somewhat in this process, the underwear will automatically be adapted to the size of the wearing male.

Alternatively the separate unit may be in the form of an adjustable elastic band or panel 17 as indicated in FIG. 5. Even if the panel 17 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 extends more or less inclined or skewed in a linear manner, it should be appreciated that the panel can follow the curve of the groin. This will mean that the panel 17 has a curve upwards towards the side of the hips. Even this embodiment is drawn around more or less the entire circumference of the body.

Whether the elastic band or panel 17 are sewed into the underwear or it constitute a separate part, it will be just a little shorter than the circumference of a string extending from under the scrotum, upwards along the groin, around the back over the buttocks and downwards along with the groin on opposite side and back to point of its start. When the embodiment is integrated in the underwear as defined above, i.e. running over the buttocks and along the groins to a point beneath scrotum close to rectum, the functioning of the arrangement will not change even if the person is sitting, walking or bowing down. This means that it is not necessary to make any adjustments of the embodiment during different activities or body movements, nor will said means impose any strain on the testicles. In order to ensure maximum comfort a pad or cup with softening character may be included in the region where the scrotum will be in touch with the fabric of the underwear. In addition the fabric panel 17 in front of the underwear may be made of a non-elastic fabric or configured for giving room for the penis and scrotum so that the genitals are not pressed against the body. With this panel of fabric are meant the area above the point where the elastic band or the elastic band is attached beneath the scrotum. In this way it is avoided the penis and scrotum are pressed against the body and at the same time, said embodiment will give a small lifting effect, thereby avoiding skin contact between the scrotum and the thighs.

FIG. 6 shows schematically an embodiment more or less like the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the only major difference being that the front part 20 being made of a fabric of fibers made from bamboo as such fibers have an improved ability for absorbing moist, and still having an anti-bacterial and ventilating effect.

FIG. 7 shoes schematically an alternative embodiment of the present invention, where the front of the underwear is provided with an adjustable fly means 22, enabling opening of the fly 22 means for urinating. Said adjusting means 21,23,24 may also be employed in order to adjust the bulge of the fly 22. The fly means 22 comprises a flip 21 enabling opening of the fly 22, thereby enhancing the separation of scrotum from the thighs 15. The flip 21 is provided with a Velcro unit 23, while the underwear 11 is provided with a corresponding Velcro unit 24, enabling opening and closing of said flip 21. As indicated in the Figure, the Velcro means 24 on the underwear 11 extends in a vertical direction, enabling adjustment of the height of the locking point for the flip 21, while the Velcro means 23 on the flip 21 is arranged in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of the Velcro means 24 on the underwear 11, thereby also allowing for lateral adjustment, and hence the stretch and tightness of the flip 21 and the fly 22, if deemed necessary.

Research has shown that by using the embodiment according to the present invention the temperature of the skin of scrotum is lowered compared to use of conventional underwear, at the same time as scrotum to a larger degree, is preserving its original firm shape, even in relaxed condition.

As indicated in the Figures the bands and/or panels 17 form a sideway restriction for bulging out the fabric in the underwear, so that a pocket are formed in the region for penis and scrotum.

In order to ensure that the scrotum is not pressed against and towards the body, a pad and/or a cup formed support may be provided in connection to the bulging, functioning as a dampening means for pressure or thrust.

Even if the figures expose an underwear of the boxer type, it should be stated that protection may be applied to ordinary trousers.

Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. Underwear (11), such as for example boxer shorts or long underwear, intended to be used by men, said underwear at its upper end being provided with a first elastic band or panel forming an integral part of the underwear (11) and extending around the entire circumference of the waistband (14) of the underwear (11), and that said underwear (11) in addition is provided with a second elastic band, string or panel (17),

characterized in that said second elastic band, string or panel (17) is in the form of a band extending continuous along at least a part of the circumference of an underwear beneath the intended position of scrotum of a male person in front of the underwear (11), skewed upwards along the intended position of the groin of a male person in direction towards the upper end of the intended position of the buttocks of a male person, extending along the intended position of hip bone of a male, in spaced relation with said first elastic band or panel (14).

2. Underwear (11) according to claim 1, where said second band or panel (17) has a length that may optionally be adjusted.

3. Underwear (11) according to claim 1, where the band or panel (17) form a integrated part of the underwear. (11).

4. Underwear (11) according to claim 3, where the band or panel (17) runs into a channel formed in the underwear.

5. Underwear (11) according to claim 1, where the band or panel (17) is woven into the underwear (11).

6. Underwear (11) according to claim 1, where the band or panel (17) is made of a fabric that have the ability to absorb and possibly ventilate away moisture from the male body, so that the part lying towards the intended wearing person feels experiences a cooling effect and without moisture.

7. Underwear (11) according to claim 1, where the underwear (11) is provided with a pocket or cup which is intended to surround the vital part of scrotum intended to be positioned in said underwear (11).

8. Underwear (11) according to claim 6, where the side of the pocket which is intended to be directed towards the body of the wearer in dressed condition has a smaller height than the pocket or cup and preferable is a bit wider than the width of a scrotum.

9. Underwear (11) according to claim 1, where between the bands or panels (17) that are meant to positioned in the region under scrotum is arranged in a cup formed support for supporting scrotum and separating scrotum from the thighs.

10. Underwear (11) according to one of the claim 1, where the material forming the front (13) of the underwear is made of a woven material made from bamboo fibers.

11. Underwear (11) according to claim 2, where the band or panel (17) form an integrated part of the underwear (11).

12. Underwear (11) according to claim 7, where the side of the pocket which is intended to be directed towards the body of the wearer in dressed condition has a smaller height than the pocket or cup and preferable is a bit wider than the width of a scrotum.