UNDERGARMENT

Abstract

The device is an undergarment such as a girdle or panty hose. The user has access to the crotch area with a zipper or slits around the crotch area to allow the user to place, check, remove or replace a sanitary napkin and attend to personal hygiene.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/042,799 filed Apr. 4, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to undergarments and, more particularly, this invention relates to girdles and pantyhose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, to have girdles and other foundation undergarments with compression portions. There are also undergarments with zippers in the front or side portions. However, the zipper is only to allow the bottom portion of the garment to be removed. It is also well known that there are girdles with detachable or snap attached crotch portions. Snaps and zippers tend to be uncomfortable for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides the user with access to the crotch area of a compressive undergarment. A disadvantage of the conventional girdle or pantyhose is that the user must remove the garment while using the bathroom or to place, remove or replace a feminine or sanitary napkin. Those garments that provide an opening tend to become soiled with use because of the size, location and arrangement of the opening. The present invention provides access to the crotch with a fastener, preferably a zipper, beginning generally adjacent to the top opening of the undergarment and continuing generally through the crotch portion and terminating on the rear portion of the undergarment. In this embodiment, a panty liner is attached to the interior surface of the crotch area protecting the user from discomfort from the fastener. Although a zipper is the preferred fastener for an opening to provide user access to the crotch area, snaps, hooks, hook and loop, pins or magnets may be used.

A panty liner is preferably sewn to the interior surface of the crotch area. The panty liner is preferably aligned with the axis of the crotch portion of the undergarment and attached at the center portion of the panty liner. This permits the panty liner opposing edges along the longitudinal axis to be lifted and to receive wings of a sanitary napkin. In another embodiment, the liner is removably attached to the crotch portion of the undergarment by snaps, hooks, hook and loop, pins or magnets.

An alternative embodiment provides access to the crotch area while being worn by the user through at least one slit. Preferably, the undergarment has two opposing slits through the garment. The user can lift the fabric at the crotch portion away from the body. A sanitary napkin can be received by the fabric of the crotch portion and any wings threaded though the slots to secure the sanitary napkin.

Another embodiment is the undergarment with the panty liner attached to the interior surface of the crotch portion without access by the user using zipper or slit.

Another embodiment, not shown, is a combination camisole shaper and bra with the undergarment. The at least the front lower portion of the camisole shaper is attached to the top opening of the undergarment.

Preferably, a plurality of apertures of predetermined size through the undergarment is included to provide for ventilation.

While the term undergarment is used, it is intended to include girdle, tights, panty hose and athletic form fitting wear.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an undergarment that conveniently allows the user to attend to personal hygiene without removing the undergarment

Another object of the present invention is to provide user access to the crotch portion of the under garment to place, remove and replace a sanitary napkin.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide ventilation for the user though a plurality of apertures through the fabric of the garment.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a combination girdle or pantyhose and shaper camisole bra with the camisole shaper and bra attached to the undergarment top.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the undergarment with zipper.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view with the panty liner shown interior to the undergarment with broken lines.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the panty liner.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the undergarment with the front portion opposing slits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIG. 1. The undergarment which is a girdle, shaper or panty hose generally referred to as 10 has a top opening 11, a front portion 15, an inner surface 16, a rear portion 17, a crotch portion 19, and two leg openings 21. At least part of the front portion has a compressive portion 13 although the entire garment may be compressive. A panty liner 30 having a predetermined length and width is attached to the crotch portion 19. FIG. 2 shows the panty liner attached to the inner surface 16. Referring to FIG. 3, preferably the panty liner 30 is attached by stitching 31 at its central portion. The longitudinal edges 33 can be elevated so that the panty liner 30 receives a sanitary napkin with wings. The panty liner 30 is preferably attached to the crotch portion 19 with stitching 35. In another embodiment snaps, hook and loop fasteners can also be used to attach the panty liner 30 to the crotch portion and therefore the panty liner 30 is removably attached to the crotch portion 19.

The user has access to the panty liner 30 through at least one slit 40. The at least one slit 40 is through the front portion 15. This permits the user to place, check, remove and replace a sanitary napkin on the panty liner 30.

Another embodiment of the undergarment has a zipper 40 having one end beginning at a predetermined spacing from the top opening 11 and terminating a predetermined location on the rear portion of the undergarment 21. The zipper 40 allows the user to place, check, remove and replace a sanitary napkin on the panty liner 30. Additionally, the user is not required to remove the undergarment while using the bathroom attending to personal hygiene. The zipper 40 in the open position protects the undergarment from soiling.

Another embodiment is the undergarment 10 as described above, but without the user access so that the panty liner 30 is attached as described above, but without zipper 40.

Another embodiment of the undergarment is shown in FIG. 4. Preferably two opposing slits 42 are located generally adjacent and generally parallel to the crotch portion. This allows the user to lift the fabric of the crotch portion 19 of the undergarment. This permits the user to place, check, remove and replace a sanitary napkin on the interior surface 16 on the crotch portion 19 and attend to personal hygiene without removing the undergarment. This also allows the use of a sanitary napkin without a panty undergarment.

The undergarment can be combined with a camisole shaper (not shown), with or without a bra. The camisole shaper at least lower front portion is attached to the top opening 11.

The undergarment leg openings are sized to terminate on the user buttocks, upper thigh, lower thigh, knee, shin, foot ankles or foot to provide partial or full shaping. The upper opening can terminate at the waist or below the breast. The undergarment also includes pantyhose.

The undergarment has a plurality of apertures 44 of predetermined size. This affords the user ventilation. The apertures are located through a portion or substantial portion of the undergarment. An alternative embodiment is to locate the apertures in a portion of the undergarment.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An undergarment for user having a compressive portion, an inner surface, a top opening, an inner surface, two leg openings, a crotch portion between respective leg openings, a front portion and a rear portion comprising:

a panty liner having a predetermined width;

a means for attaching said panty liner to such crotch portion of such undergarment; and

a means for access to said panty liner at a predetermined location in such front panel of such undergarment.

2. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said panty liner to such crotch portion is one of sewing, hooks, hook and loop, snaps, buttons and magnets.

3. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein said means of access to said panty liner is a zipper.

4. An undergarment according to claim 3 wherein said zipper is located with one end beginning at a predetermined spacing from such top opening and terminating at a predetermined location on the rear portion of such undergarment.

5. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein said panty liner has a longitudinal axis, central portion that is attached, opposing edges along said longitudinal axis where and said opposing edges that are not attached to said crotch portion to allow the attachment of wings of a feminine napkin.

6. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein said undergarment leg openings terminates at one of such users buttocks, upper thigh, lower thigh, shin and ankle and foot.

7. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein said undergarment has a plurality of ventilation apertures of a predetermined size.

8. An undergarment according to claim 1 further having a camisole shaper attached to such top opening.

9. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein said means for access to said panty liner is at least one slit having a predetermined length is located generally adjacent to such crotch area.

10. An undergarment according to claim 9 having 2 opposing slits generally adjacent to such crotch area.

11. An undergarment according to claim 10 wherein said 2 opposing slits are generally parallel to such crotch area.

12. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein said means for access to said panty liner is at least one slit having a predetermined length is located within such crotch area.

13. An undergarment according to claim 12 having 2 opposing slits within such crotch area.

14. An undergarment according to claim 13 wherein said 2 opposing slits are generally parallel to such crotch area.

15. An undergarment according to claim 1 having a plurality of apertures located in a portion of the undergarment.

16. An undergarment according to claim 1 having a plurality of apertures located in a substantial portion of the undergarment.

17. An undergarment for user having a an compressive portion, an inner surface, a top opening, an inner surface, two leg openings, a crotch portion between respective leg openings, a front portion and a rear portion comprising:

a panty liner having a predetermined width; and

a means for attaching said panty liner to such crotch portion of such undergarment.

18. An undergarment according to claim 17 wherein said means for attaching said panty liner to such crotch portion is one of sewing, hooks, hook and loop, snaps, buttons and magnets.

19. An undergarment according to claim 17 wherein said panty liner has a longitudinal axis, central portion that is attached, opposing edges along said longitudinal axis where and said opposing edges that are not attached to said crotch portion to allow the attachment of wings of a feminine napkin.