Boxer shorts

Abstract

The disclosure relates to boxer shorts with internal fabric panels to reduce or prevent contact between male genitalia and the thigh of the wearer. This construction likewise aids in the hygiene and comfort of the wearer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to boxer shorts for men, with a partitioned front portion, to reduce contact with the wearer's thighs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The discomfort and irritation associated with undergarments, such as boxer shorts, are well known to men. In particular, contact between genitalia and the thigh is problematic, causing sweating, sticking, hygiene problems, distraction and consternation. Additionally, it can be awkward or embarrassing to make adjustments in public.

Typical accommodations to these problems are to wear larger sizes of boxer shorts or to attempt to ignore the irritation.

Moreover, boxer shorts may be considered less than attractive in private and/or sexual situations. While tighter fitting briefs may be undergarments may be compelling for such situations, these can likewise be uncomfortable and may impede fertility, which may or may not be a problem for some wearers.

Some examples of prior art boxer shorts which have attempted to deal with at least some of these concerns are U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,462 entitled “Male Pant-Type Garments with Internal Suspensory Support Structure” issued on Jan. 10, 1995 to Morgan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,958 entitled “Underwear with Partitioning Liner”, issued on Oct. 3, 1989 to Webster and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 509,945 entitled “Male Underwear with a Genitalia Pouch” issued on Sep. 27, 2005 to Ogle.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide undergarments for men which are comfortable.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide undergarments for men which are hygienic.

It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to provide undergarments for men which are attractive.

It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to provide undergarments for men which do not tend to impede fertility.

These and other objects are attained by providing boxer shorts for men. The boxer shorts typically retain the outline of traditional boxer shorts. However, a fabric panel is installed in each leg of the boxer shorts so that when the shorts are worn, a fabric panel is provided between the genitals and the thigh. The fabric panels are typically shaped as a crescent on top to conform to body shape and to enhance adjustability based upon how high the boxer shorts are worn. Moreover, the fabric panels are spaced to provide sufficient for genitalia so as to not impede a “free spirit” feeling while walking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention, partially in phantom, with a portion of a human male body shown in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention, with a portion of a human male body shown in phantom.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention, with a portion of a human male body shown in phantom.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along plane 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along plane 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along plane 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one sees that FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 are front, side and rear plan views of the boxer shorts 10 of the present invention. Boxer shorts 10 typically have a front right exterior fabric panel 12, front left exterior fabric panel 14, rear right exterior fabric panel 16 and rear left exterior fabric panel 18 (“left” and “right” being from the perspective or orientation of the wearer) formed in a well-known configuration to provide right leg aperture 20, left leg aperture 22, crotch 24 and waist aperture 26. Boxer shorts 10 are typically made from an anti-wrinkle cotton material, both those skilled in the art will recognize a wide range of equivalent materials after review of the present disclosure. An elastic waistband 28 is formed around waist aperture 26 which is, in turn, formed around the top of the exterior fabric panels 12, 14, 16, 18. Elastic waistband 28 can be replaced by a drawstring (not shown). Right vertical seam 30 is formed between front and rear right exterior fabric panels 12, 16. Likewise, left vertical seam 32 is formed between front and rear left exterior fabric panels 14, 18. Front central vertical seam 34 is formed between front right and left exterior fabric panels 12, 14, running from crotch 24 to the top of panels 12, 14. As best shown in FIG. 7, front central vertical seam 34 further typically includes a flap-type structure 36 therein which is bounded by front lateral vertical seams 38, 40. Front lateral vertical seams 38, 40 are typically spaced further apart than corresponding seams in the typical prior art boxer shorts. Rear central vertical seam 42 is formed between rear right and left exterior panels 16, 18, running from crotch 24 to the top of panels 16, 18. As shown in best in FIG. 4, front and rear central seams 34, 42 join in the lower central crotch area.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7, right and left interior fabric panels 46, 48 extend from a lower portion of rear central vertical seam 38 (in crotch 24) to front lateral vertical seams 38, 40 which are formed laterally adjacent to front central vertical seam 34. Left and right interior fabric panels 46, 48 thereby form a third aperture, with a roughly cylindrical shape, for male genitalia thereby achieving the objects described above. As shown in FIG. 6, left and right interior fabric panels 46, 48 can be formed in a crescent shape in that it is wider at the bottom than at the top thereof.

Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A male undergarment including:

at least one exterior fabric panel shaped to form a waist aperture, a right leg aperture and a left leg aperture, wherein a crotch area is formed between said right leg aperture and said left leg aperture; and

first and second interior fabric panels extending from said crotch area to said at least one exterior fabric panel thereby forming a roughly cylindrical aperture configuration to hold the wearer's genitalia away from the wearer's thighs while being substantially free of vertical support of the wearer's genitalia.

2. The male undergarment of claim 1 wherein said at least one exterior fabric panel includes a front left panel, a front right panel, a rear right panel and a rear left panel.

3. The male undergarment of claim 2 wherein said exterior fabric panels are joined to adjacent exterior fabric panels by generally vertical seams.

4. The male undergarment of claim 3 wherein said generally vertical seams include a front vertical seam joining said front left panel to said front right panel and a rear vertical seam joining said rear left panel to said rear right panel.

5. The male undergarment of claim 4 wherein said front vertical seam and said rear vertical seam join in said crotch area.

6. The male undergarment of claim 5 wherein said a first end of said first interior fabric panel is attached to a lower portion of said rear vertical seam, a second end of said first interior fabric panel is attached to a first front seam parallel and adjacent to said front vertical seam, a first end of said second interior fabric panel is attached to a lower portion of said rear vertical seam and a second end of said second interior fabric panel is attached to a second front seam adjacent to said front vertical seam.

7. The male undergarment of claim 6 wherein said first and second interior fabric panels are crescent shaped.