UNDERGARMENT WITH AUDIO-EMITTING DEVICE
An underwear garment has a pocket for housing a sound-emitting device. The device plays a desired pre-recorded sound and is removable for the purpose of interchanging devices so different sounds may be chosen. The sounds can include popular song lyrics, school alma mater songs, and sports team cheers and theme songs. The device may have recording capabilities so the wearer may replay a personalized prerecorded message while wearing the undergarment.
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT(Not Applicable)
REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to garments and specifically to underwear having a sound-emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a few basic types of underwear garments, such as panties, sports briefs, and boxer shorts. Women's panties vary in material, color, style, and consumers purchase products which fit their own tastes. Children's undergarments include the ‘onesey’ for infants, and there is a multitude of licensed products with popular children's characters.
Many garments used for sports have been fashioned with a small pocket for the purpose of holding pedometers, portable-music playing devices, and personal items such as keys or money. There are novelty garments with noise pads, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,335, which has an audible squeaking noise at the elbows and feet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,364 is for a sound-generating outer garment, such as a coat, suit, or jacket. The garment includes extensive wiring and various switches for an AM/FM radio apparatus throughout the coat.
There is a multiplicity of novelty items which emit spoken words, tunes, and song lyrics. A more popular recent market item is a greeting card which contains a small sound-emitting device, whereupon activation (usually by opening the card) emits song lyrics or spoken words. The sound-emitting devices typically utilized in the novelty industry, especially in the greeting cards, are surprisingly small and unnoticeable in light of the quality of sound emitted.
An object of the invention is to provide a fashionable, comfortable garment that emits sound. Another object of the present invention is to provide licensed underwear garments which emit theme-song audio and maintain the characteristics of the underlying underwear style, whether it be women's panties, sports briefs, or an infantwear. Still another object of the present invention is to provide underwear garments which have an ability to emit a personal pre-recorded message.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is a novelty underwear garment that has a pocket for the purpose of holding a sound-emitting device therein. The device, upon actuation by a user, plays a pre-determined sound. The sound is typically a popular song lyric, but can also be a college sport team anthem or alma mater song. In an alternative embodiment, the device also has recording and playback capabilities, for the purpose of replaying a personalized message.
In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONLooking at
In another embodiment of the invention shown in
As seen in
In the preferred embodiment, the devices 22 and 42 are substantially circular or oval-shaped, in order to avoid rigid or sharp edges and corners, and minimize any additional padding that may be necessary for the pockets 18 and 48. The user must actuate the devices 22 and 42 in order to emit the sound, which is intended to be a pre-determined recording such as song lyrics or spoken words. The audio-emitting devices 22 and 42 are removable from the respective pockets 18 and 48, so that the various devices are interchangeable. The audio-emitting devices 22 and 42 may be any of those standard devices in the industry, such as those utilized in novelty greeting cards and interactive holiday display decorations, which require a user to perform a task such as opening the card or pressing a button to cause the sound to be emitted. In an alternative embodiment, a device may also contain a USB port for uploading a desired sound form a web-based system and database. Finally, in still another embodiment, a device may also have recording capabilities, for the purpose of hearing a personalized message. For example, a loved one can record a message and the wearer can listen to the message emitted from his or her underwear upon activating the device.
While certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. An undergarment, comprising: a waist portion connected to a back portion and a front portion, said back and front portions being merged at a crotch, the front portion having an internal side; wherein a pocket comprising a free edge portion and configured to house an audio-emitting device is affixed to said internal side of said front portion.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said undergarment is sports brief underwear.
3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said undergarment is women's panties.
4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the sides of the pocket are sewn on the inner side of the front portion along the greater part of the front portion, extending vertically.
5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the pocket is manufactured in a material which can be penetrated by air and/or moisture.
6. The invention of claim 1, wherein the pocket is manufactured in a material also being elastic.
7. The invention of claim 1, wherein said undergarment is an infant unitary body suit.
8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the pocket is detachable from the waistband.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2014
Inventor: STACY WINGATE (Burr Ridge, IL)
Application Number: 13/649,964
International Classification: A41B 9/14 (20060101); A41B 9/04 (20060101); A41D 11/00 (20060101); A41B 9/00 (20060101);