Undergarment with rapid donning and doffing capability whilst wearing pants and shoes

Abstract

An undergarment having rapid donning and doffing capability without the wearer needing to remove his pants and shoes. The apparatus consists of a single unit of wearable fabric having a body portion and two identically long extending left and right leg segments. Three closure systems, containing male parts and female counterparts, are separated and sewn at opposite, respective sides of the undergarment. The two sides of the body portion are wrapped around the waist in the front of the lower abdomen perpendicular to the waist and the closure system fastened thereupon enveloping the waist, buttocks, hips, and lower abdomen. Thereafter, the sides of the extending left leg segment are pulled around the leg and the closure system fastened along the inner leg thereupon enveloping the left leg. The same process is repeated on the right leg thereupon forming a complete undergarment. Dismantling simply means unfastening all the closure systems and removing the undergarment. The fabric incorporated should retain body heat, control moisture, and be elastic so to stretch around the body. The closure systems could be any combination of zippers, snaps, and/or pile-type fasteners.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional (Utility) Patent Application is in regards to a previous Provisional Application No. 61/121,898 which was filed on Dec. 11, 2008.

The title of this Non-Provisional (Utility) Patent Application should replace that of the Provisional Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This claimed invention relates to undergarments, specifically long underwear also known as thermal underwear and long johns, used for cold-weather protection, and most specifically, undergarments that are easily applied and removed without the need to remove the pants and shoes in order to do so.

2. Description of Prior Art

The use of undergarments for the sake of providing additional warmth and protection to the legs of its wearer in cold weather is most commonly referred to as long underwear and are familiar in concept, function, and design varying mainly in fabrics and materials used in their construction.

Whereas it is a vain attempt at keeping the legs warm by wearing only pants in cold weather, therefore long underwear provide an additional barrier between the flesh and the pants of the wearer. Nevertheless, many people forgo wearing long underwear in cold weather because of the annoyances and tedious process that is involved with the wearing thereof.

Conventional long underwear is a type of undergarment most commonly made of a soft fabric or thermally insulated fabric that is stepped into and pulled up around the waist. Generally, there is tight-fitting elastic around the ankles to prevent the undergarment from riding up the legs. Upon removal, many times the socks of the wearer are pulled off as well.

The main deterrent of wearing long underwear is that indoors, the wearer becomes overly heated with the wearing thereof. Yet, removing the long underwear is not a simple, convenient task whereas the wearer must first remove his pants and shoes in order to doff the long underwear. Therein the process becomes tedious having to remove the shoes, pants, and long underwear and redress wherein the same scenario is repeated to go back outdoors. Another issue is that conventional long underwear add additional bulk, as they lie beneath the pants, often causing the undergarment to ride up the buttocks, legs, and crotch.

Known prior art pertaining to undergarments, especially long underwear, are U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,922 issued May 18, 1999 to Vargason; U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,330 issued April 1974 to Bowcut; U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,126 issued Jul. 23, 1991 to Wruck et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,890 issued Jul. 7, 1998 to Shah.

Though these aforementioned patents may attempt to be successful for their intended purposes, and similarly offer an undergarment with quick donning and doffing capability, they neither compete nor resemble this present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With respect to all known prior art pertaining to undergarments, specifically long underwear, for cold-weather protection, it is the objective of this present invention to provide a novel means for the rapid donning and doffing thereof whilst wearing pants and shoes.

It is a secondary objective of this present invention to introduce an undergarment that is better contoured so to prevent the undergarment from riding up the crotch, legs, and buttocks at the same time reducing additional bulk.

Both the cut of the fabric and placement of closure systems are the necessary components that make this invention novel and its objectives successful.

The invention herein discloses a novel undergarment for cold-weather protection maintaining the inherent advantages of wearing long underwear nevertheless eliminating the deterrents discussed in the background of the invention, pertaining to the known prior art.

The present undergarment is a single cut and sewn unit of wearable fabric composing a main body portion with left and right extending leg segments.

Three closure systems containing male parts and female counterparts are separated and sewn to opposite sides of the main body portion and to the left and right extending leg segments.

Both sides of the main body portion are pulled around the waist meeting along the middle of the lower abdomen and the closure system is fastened thereupon enveloping the waist, hips, buttocks, and lower abdomen in the undergarment and thereafter leaving the left and right extending leg segments to dangle around the legs.

Both sides of the left extending leg segment are pulled around the leg and the closure system fastened along the entire inner leg ending above the upper calf thereupon enveloping the left leg in the undergarment.

Both sides of the right extending leg segment are pulled around the leg and the closure system fastened along the entire inner leg ending above the upper calf thereupon enveloping the right leg in the undergarment.

It is realized that the undergarment is formed and the body is enveloped therein only after the closure systems have been fastened. The legs of the undergarment end below the knees and rest above the upper calves enabling the wearer easy access to the closure systems after his pants are pulled down and preventing the legs of the undergarment from riding up the legs of the wearer.

It is also realized that when the undergarment is formed and the body enclosed therein that a natural void of fabric occurs under the groin where all the closure systems meet. This void prevents the undergarment from riding up the crotch and buttocks whilst making the wearing of underwear beneath the undergarment both possible and comfortable.

The fabric used in the creation of this present invention should retain body heat, control moisture, and be elastic. The cut of the fabric is graded for sizing and cut to follow the natural contour of the body. The types of closure systems incorporated in this invention are defined as, but not limited to, zippers, pile-type fasteners, and snaps and any combination thereof may be employed.

In respect of the aforementioned objectives, this novel undergarment should neither be restricted to any particular fabric and/or closure systems as to limit its maximum effectiveness nor should the fabric and/or closure systems differ so greatly that the objectives become unrealized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an open view of the outside surface of the undergarment with all three closure systems unfastened. The closure systems illustrated herein are zippers.

FIG. 2 is an open view of the inside surface of the undergarment with all three closure systems unfastened. The closure systems illustrated herein are zippers.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a human torso with legs enveloped within the undergarment with all three closure systems fastened. The closure systems illustrated herein are zippers.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a human torso with legs enveloped within the undergarment with all three closure systems fastened. The closure systems illustrated herein are zippers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In reference to FIG. 2, the design of this present undergarment is best conceived. This novel undergarment is constructed from two panels of wearable fabric 2 sewn together thereupon forming a single unit having an approximate 12″ seam 4 and having a main body portion 12 and identical left extending leg segment 14 and right extending leg segment 16.

The main body portion 12 has a right side 21 and a left side 20 whereon the male part 1 and female counterpart 3 of a closure system are separated and sewn respectively.

The left extending leg segment 14 has a right side 31 and a left side 30 whereon the male part 5 and female counterpart 7 of a closure system are separated and sewn respectively.

The right extending leg segment 16 has a right side 41 and a left side 40 whereon the male part 9 and female counterpart 11 of a closure system are separated and sewn respectively.

Additional fabric 13 is sewn over the closure systems to reinforce and cover the exposed male and female parts 1,3,5,7,9,11 on the inside surface therefore preventing contact with the flesh. An elastic waistband 15 is sewn over the top of the main body portion 12 therefore adding additional stretch to the undergarment.

In reference to FIG. 1, the utilization and formation of the undergarment are best demonstrated through the use of the illustration.

The left side 20 and right side 21 of the main body portion 12 are pulled around the waist so to meet perpendicularly to the navel thereafter fastening the male and female parts 1,3, to envelope the buttocks, hips, waist, and lower abdomen.

The left side 30 and right side 31 of the left extending leg segment 14 are pulled around the leg so to meet along the entire inner left leg thereafter fastening the male and female parts 5,7 to envelope the left leg.

The left side 40 and right side 41 of the right extending leg segment 16 are pulled around the leg so to meet along the entire inner right leg thereafter fastening the male and female parts 9,11 to envelope the right leg.

What differentiates this present invention from all other prior art regarding undergarments is the rapid donning and doffing capability whilst remaining in pants and shoes. This undergarment is actually formed onto the body of the wearer whereas other undergarments require the removing of pants and shoes before stepping into and out thereof. While other prior art may have the same objective, this present invention makes maneuvering simple and efficient by allowing the wearer to simply pull down his pants, wrap the undergarment around his waist, fasten the closure systems and pull up his pants. Removing the undergarment is even easier allowing the wearer to pull down his pants, unfasten the undergarment, and pull up his pants. Since the undergarment is a single unit, there are no lost pieces to worry about or assembly required.

The present invention also contains a naturally occurring void of fabric under the groin preventing the undergarment from riding up the crotch and buttocks.

The length of the legs of the undergarment are also cut so to rest above the upper calves allowing easy access to the closure systems and preventing the undergarment from creeping up the legs of the wearer.

The fabric should retain body heat, control moisture, and be elastic while the closure systems incorporated may be any combination of zippers, snaps, and/or pile-type fasteners. Minor changes in placement of closure systems and fabric may occur due to individual sizes.

Claims

1. An undergarment comprising

a single unit of wearable fabric whereon three closure systems each having a male part and female counterpart are sewn to the inner surface thereof;

said unit is formed from two identical panels of continuous fabric sewn together thereafter forming a seam in the middle of said inner surface approximately 12″ in length;

said unit contains a main body portion and identically long left and right extending leg segments;

said body portion is reinforced with 2″ high waistband sewn at the top thereof;

said fabric is measured and cut so that when the undergarment is formed it fits the contour of the of the legs, waist, buttocks, and hips;

said closure systems are one short set and two identically longer sets;

whereby each said set contains a said male part and said female counterpart;

said body portion has a continuous right side and left side;

whereupon a said male part and said female counterpart are separated and sewn respectively to the said right side and said left side of the said body portion;

said left and right extending leg segments each have a right side and left side;

whereupon a said male part and said female counterpart are separated and sewn respectively to the said right side and said left side of the said left extending leg segment;

whereupon a said male part and said female counterpart are separated and sewn respectively to the said right side and said left side of the said right extending leg segment;

said undergarment envelops the hips, buttocks, waist, and lower abdomen after both said sides of said body portion are wrapped around the waist and thereafter the said closure system fastened perpendicularly to the navel;

wherein said left and right extending leg segments dangle around the respective legs;

said undergarment envelops the left leg after both said sides of the said left extending leg segment are wrapped around the leg and thereafter the said closure system fastened along the inner left leg;

said undergarment envelops the right leg after both said sides of the said right extending leg segment are wrapped around the leg and thereafter the said closure system fastened along the inner right leg;

said undergarment is naturally void of said fabric around the groin after all three closure systems have been fastened;

said undergarment has a said inside surface and an outside surface whereby the inside surface is in contact with flesh;

said male and female parts of said closure systems protrude just beyond said sides of said undergarment so to fasten the said closure systems from the said outside surface;

said backs of said male and female parts of said closure systems are covered by fabric on the said inside surface so to not contact the flesh.

2. An undergarment in which the said closure systems as defined in claim 1 are zippers

whereby the said male parts of said closure system contain a slider to connect the teeth of said male and female parts.

3. An undergarment in which the said closure systems as defined in claim 1 are pile-type fasteners

whereby said male parts of said closure systems are sewn on the said outside surface so to overlap with its female counterpart.

4. An undergarment in which the said closure systems as defined in claim 1 are snaps

whereby the said male parts of said closure systems protrude through said inside surface of said undergarment;

whereby the said female counterparts of said closure systems protrude through the said outside surface of said undergarment.