Male undergarment with protective pouch
A male undergarment that comprises a body encircling member, including a front piece and a rear piece; an elastic waist band attached to the encircling member; a scrotum receiving section formed by a portion of the front piece and by an adjacent inwardly positioned piece of fabric and a pouch, adapted to retain the scrotum therein and defined by the scrotum receiving section and by a separate border element. The pouch is produced in such a way that the border element is attached to the scrotum receiving section. The border element is configured to contact the groin when the undergarment is worn, so as to reduce friction between the scrotum and groin.
This application claims the benefit of Israeli Patent Application No. 165728, filed Dec. 12, 2004, which is incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of male undergarments. More particularly, the invention relates to male underpants of improved comfort having a pouch for receiving the scrotum of a wearer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNumerous types of male underpants produced with a pouch for receiving the scrotum of a wearer have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,666, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,026,517, and 6,295,651, and WO 00/45655 teach a pouch which prevents direct contact between the scrotum and the groin, to avoid discomfort or diseases caused by perspiration. The pouch covers the scrotum with substantially no support or restriction. However, although the aforementioned prior art male underpants reduce the accumulation of perspiration, none of these references disclose a satisfactory solution to the problem of friction between the pouch and the legs of a person who wears the undergarment, while walking or running. Therefore, it would be desirable to further increase the conduction of perspiration and reduce friction while positioning the scrotum in an optimal position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a male undergarment with a pouch for receiving the scrotum of a wearer.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a male undergarment having a scrotum receiving pouch which can conduct perspiration more effectively than that of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a male undergarment which can reduce the friction between the pouch and the legs of a person who wears the undergarment, while walking or running.
It is still an object of the present invention to provide a male undergarment which can reduce the pressure applied on the legs of a person who wears the undergarment.
It is yet an object of the present invention to provide a male undergarment which continuously extends the support of the scrotum toward the rear part of the groin.
It is yet another object of the present invention to maintain the scrotum in an essentially fixed optimal position.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a male undergarment comprising:
a) a body encircling member including a front piece and a rear piece;
b) an elastic waist band attached to said encircling member;
c) a scrotum receiving section formed by a portion of said front piece and by an adjacent inwardly positioned piece of fabric; and
d) a pouch adapted to retain the scrotum therein and defined by said scrotum receiving section and by at least one separate border element, said pouch being produced in such a way that said at least one border element is attached to said scrotum receiving section,
wherein the at least one border element is configured to contact the groin when the undergarment is worn, whereby to reduce friction between the scrotum and groin.
The at least one border element preferably has a width which progressively increases from one end thereof to an intermediate region thereof, for facilitating the conduction of perspiration from the groin. The intermediate region of increased width of a border element is substantially proximate to a crotch region of the undergarment.
The at least one border element is sufficiently flexible so as to be longitudinally folded as a result of the pressure exerted thereon by the inner thighs as the undergarment is worn.
The pouch is adapted to prevent lateral movement of the scrotum towards the groin, and is formed with a three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape. The outwardly protruding shape may be formed by means of a plurality of pleats substantially parallel to the waist band and extending in opposite directions from said at least one border element to a medial portion of said inwardly positioned piece of fabric. Alternatively, the outwardly protruding shape may be formed by means of a seam which longitudinally extends along a medial portion of inwardly positioned piece of fabric from the waist band to a crotch region. Alternatively, the outwardly protruding shape may be formed by means of regions of predetermined levels of shrinkage. The outwardly protruding shape may be formed by means of a horizontal seam which extends along the medial portion.
The inwardly positioned piece of fabric is attached to the front piece by means of seams, e.g. unseen seams, extending from the waist band to the at least one border element. The at least one border element is preferably attached to the scrotum receiving section by means of the unseen seams.
In one embodiment of the invention, the inclination of each border element with respect to the scrotum receiving section is variable. The border element may be U-shaped. Alternatively, two border elements may be employed. In one aspect, one attachment point of each border element is on the front piece and the other attachment point is on the rear piece.
Preferably, the at least one border element is perforated, for providing ventilation. The at least one border element reduces friction and may also provide other benefits.
In another embodiment of the invention, the periphery of each border element is completely attached to the scrotum receiving section.
In one aspect, each border element is longitudinally folded in two before being attached to the scrotum receiving section.
In one aspect, the pouch is provided with a phallus receiving pocket.
In one aspect, the intermediate region of increased width of a border element is substantially perpendicular to a crotch region of the undergarment.
In one aspect, the at least one border element is inelastic.
In one aspect, the medial portion of the scrotum receiving section is seamless.
In one aspect, the intermediate region of increased width of a border element droops into the crotch region.
The male undergarment may have a substantially triangular shape (i.e bikini, slip, brief,) or may be a boxer type undergarment (i.e. knitted boxer, trunk, square-cut boxer, boxer-brief).
The present invention is also directed to a male undergarment which has an integral friction reducing region of a corresponding leg portion adjoining the groin when the undergarment is worn, each of said friction reducing region being made from perforated functional fabric. A portion of the front piece of the undergarment between the two friction reducing regions assumes a three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape.
In one aspect, an elastic strip is stitched to the portion of friction reducing region which is in closest proximity to the groin, for resisting excessive outward movement of the scrotum.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the drawings:
One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
As shown in
Pouch 20 is defined by the two-ply scrotum receiving section and by a separate U-shaped border element 23, which is attached to the scrotum receiving section by means of unseen seams 25 and 26, is adapted to retain the scrotum centered within the pouch, preventing lateral movement of the scrotum towards the groin. The two ends of border element 23 are attached to seam ends 25 and 26, respectively, at attachment points 28 and 29, respectively, slightly above bottom edge 9. Seam ends 25 and 26 are generally produced by a folded fabric which is concealed by a portion of the front piece and of the pouch, and are arranged such that they do not irritate the scrotum and do not significantly inwardly protrude into the pouch. Since the curved portion of such seams is further concealed by the border element and the seam therefore appears to be comprised from two elements when viewed from the interior of the undergarment, the seam ends will be referred to hereinafter as “unseen seams.” Unseen seams 25 and 26, each of which joins front piece 5, inwardly positioned fabric 22, the outwardly positioned fabric, and border element 23, follow the periphery of the scrotum receiving section.
Border element 23 is made of a perforated functional fabric, such as Mesh Friction-Free® fabric providing good ventilation, high flexibility, good conduction of perspiration and comfortable fit. The border element is advantageously made from inelastic material, in order to prevent constriction of the scrotum.
The fabric of border element 23 is two-ply, which may be one piece of fabric folded in two or two pieces which are stitched together. Border element is attached to unseen seams 25 and 26. With reference to
When the undergarment is worn, border element 23 is arranged to contact the commissures of the groin, thereby reducing friction between the scrotum and groin when walking, running, or being engaged in any other activity. Due to its flexibility, border element 23 is longitudinally folded by the pressure exerted by the inner thighs as the undergarment is worn. Such longitudinal folds further reduce friction between the scrotum and groin and further assist in the absorption of perspiration.
Pouch 20 assumes a three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape by virtue of medial seams 19. A seam 19 longitudinally extends from waist band 12 to border element 23, along a medial portion of each of the inwardly and outwardly facing fabrics of the scrotum receiving section, attaching the right and left sides of the corresponding fabric. It will be appreciated that the three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape may also be achieved by any other means such as darts, pleats, molds, and laterally extending seams.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
While prior art undergarments have elastic elements which directly contact the scrotum or groin, causing significant discomfit, border elements 27 are positioned such that they contact the groin when the undergarment is worn so that friction between the scrotum and the groin may be reduced. As shown in
The three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape may also be produced by a plurality of darts (not shown), which extend laterally from a border element 27 to a medial portion of the inwardly positioned piece of fabric of the scrotum receiving section in opposite directions and are substantially parallel to the waist band. Accordingly, the outward protrusion of the pouch progressively increases from a border element until the distal end of each dart, i.e. the end distant from the border element. Alternatively, the outwardly protruding shape may be produced by one or more longitudinally extending medial seams, if so desired.
The interior of the undergarment is shown in
Pouch 40 assumes a three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape by virtue of seams 42. A seam 42 longitudinally extends from waist band 12 to border element 33, along a medial portion of each of the outwardly positioned fabric of the scrotum receiving section and fabric 32, attaching the right and left sides of the corresponding fabric. It will be appreciated that the three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape may also be achieved by any other means such as darts, pleats, molds, and laterally extending seams.
In another embodiment of the invention, a male undergarment of the boxer type is illustrated in
While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A male undergarment comprising:
- a) a body encircling member including a front piece and a rear piece;
- b) an elastic waist band attached to said encircling member;
- c) a scrotum receiving section formed by a portion of said front piece and by an adjacent inwardly positioned piece of fabric; and
- d) a pouch adapted to retain the scrotum therein and defined by said scrotum receiving section and by at least one separate border element, said pouch being produced in such a way that said at least one border element is attached to said scrotum receiving section,
- wherein the at least one border element is configured to contact the groin when the undergarment is worn, whereby to reduce friction between the scrotum and groin.
2. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one border element has a width which progressively increases from one end thereof to an intermediate region thereof, for facilitating the conduction of perspiration from the groin.
3. The male undergarment according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate region of increased width of a border element is substantially proximate to a crotch region of the undergarment.
4. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one border element is sufficiently flexible so as to be longitudinally folded as a result of the pressure exerted thereon by the inner thighs as the undergarment is worn.
5. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the pouch is formed with a three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape.
6. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the pouch is adapted to prevent lateral movement of the scrotum towards the groin.
7. The male undergarment according to claim 5, wherein the outwardly protruding shape is formed by means of a seam which longitudinally extends along a medial portion of an inwardly positioned piece of fabric from the waist band to a crotch region.
8. The male undergarment according to claim 5, wherein the outwardly protruding shape is formed by means of darts.
9. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly positioned piece of fabric is attached to the front piece by means of seams extending from the waist band to the at least one border element.
10. The male undergarment according to claim 9, wherein the inwardly positioned piece of fabric is attached to the front piece by means of unseen seams.
11. The male undergarment according to claim 10, wherein the at least one border element is attached to the scrotum receiving section by means of the unseen seams.
12. The male undergarment according to claim 4, wherein the inclination of each border element with respect to the scrotum receiving section is variable.
13. The male undergarment according to claim 12, wherein one attachment point of each border element is on the front piece and the other attachment point is on the rear piece.
14. The male undergarment according to claim 12, wherein the border element is U-shaped.
15. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the male undergarment has a substantially triangular shape.
16. The male undergarment according to claim 1, which is a boxer type undergarment.
17. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one border element is perforated, for providing ventilation
18. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the periphery of each border element is completely attached to the scrotum receiving section.
19. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein each border element is longitudinally folded in two before being attached to the scrotum receiving section.
20. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein each border element is of a single ply.
21. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the pouch is provided with a phallus receiving pocket.
22. The male undergarment according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate region of increased width of a border element is substantially perpendicular to a crotch region of the undergarment.
23. The male undergarment according to claim 5, wherein the outwardly protruding shape is formed by means of pleats.
24. The male undergarment according to claim 5, wherein the outwardly protruding shape is formed by means of regions of predetermined levels of shrinkage.
25. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one border element is inelastic.
26. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the medial portion of the scrotum receiving section is seamless.
27. The male undergarment according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate region of increased width of a border element droops into the crotch region.
28. A male undergarment, which has an integral friction reducing region of a corresponding leg portion adjoining the groin when the undergarment is worn, each of said friction reducing region being made from perforated functional fabric.
29. The male undergarment according to claim 28, wherein a portion of the front piece of the undergarment between the two friction reducing regions assumes a three-dimensional outwardly protruding shape.
30. The male undergarment according to claim 28, wherein an elastic strip is stitched to the portion of friction reducing region which is in closest proximity to the groin, for resisting excessive outward movement of the scrotum.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 9, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 27, 2006
Inventors: Alona Stankowski (Upper Nazareth), Iris Yemini (Hod Hasharon), Eliyahu Emanuel (Carmiel), Ayelet Yaacov (Kfar Hairn)
Application Number: 11/298,900
International Classification: A41B 9/02 (20060101);