EASY-ON UNDERWEAR GARMENT
An underwear garment comprising multiple panels but forming a single garment is described. The panels are formed to allow a person to put on the garment without having to balance, bend, stretch, or otherwise have to maneuver a garment over the feet and up the legs. A primary panel forms a back for the garment and has a first flap and a second flap that are connected via a connection mechanism to form a partial front of the garment. The primary panel is connected to a front panel to form a crotch of the garment. The front panel connects to the primary panel via a connection mechanism, which upon connecting, the front panel forms the front for the garment and a portion of the front panel and a portion of the primary panel overlap.
This application is a continuation of Design Patent Application 29/444,838, filed Feb. 4, 2013, entitled “Underwear Garment”, which is a continuation of 29/413,035, filed Feb. 9, 2012, entitled “Panty Garment”, and will issue on Mar. 12, 2013 as Patent No. D677447, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUNDMany individuals are unable to wear traditional underwear and generally find it difficult to balance on one leg or even to sit down and bend at the knee or hip to pull on their underwear. Others may find it difficult to fit a leg through the hole of a traditional underwear garment, for example, because of a cast or other medical impediment. Still others who require assistance to get dressed, and caregivers who assist incapacitated individuals, find it difficult to use traditional underwear that must be maneuvered over the feet, up the legs, and over the hips. Therefore individuals who are temporarily or chronically disabled, or who otherwise find it difficult to put on a traditional underwear garment unassisted, or difficult and embarrassing to be assisted with a traditional underwear garment, will appreciate underwear that is easy to put on without assistance or with minimal assistance, but that doesn't look bulky or like a diaper, maintaining individual independence and dignity.
The foregoing and other aspects of various embodiments of the present invention will be apparent through examination of the following detailed description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which similar reference numbers are used to indicate functionally similar elements.
An underwear garment comprising multiple panels but forming a single garment is described. The panels are formed to allow a person to put on the garment without having to balance, bend, stretch, or otherwise have to maneuver a garment over the feet and up the legs. The garment is designed to replace traditional underwear garments that are difficult to put on. The underwear garment is formed from a primary panel that forms a back for the garment. The primary panel also has a first flap and a second flap that are connected via a connection mechanism and form a part of the front of the garment. The primary panel connects to a front panel to form a crotch of the garment. The front panel connects to the primary panel via a connection mechanism, including a plurality of connection elements placed on each of the front panel and the primary panel. Upon connecting the front panel to the primary panel, the front panel forms the front for the garment and a portion of the front panel and a portion of the primary panel overlap.
Embodiments of the underwear garment are designed to resemble any traditional design of an underwear garment, for example, a women's brief, a women's bikini, a men's brief, or a men's boxer. Embodiments of the underwear garment are designed to provide additional protection for incontinence, including by providing space for extra padding, for disposable padding, or for absorbing netting. Embodiments of the underwear garment are designed to provide a compression garment that is easy to put on by using elastic materials. As traditional compression garments must be pulled over the feet, up the legs, and over the hips, the elasticity of the fabric makes pulling on the traditional garment extremely difficult. Therefore, a garment that is easy to put on as described herein while maintaining the compression effect will be appreciated. Such an embodiment can be used by individuals who are unable to maneuver on a traditional compression garment. Embodiments of the underwear garment are designed to be adjustable by providing multiple connection mechanisms spaced to provide for different sizes.
By connecting the first flap 140 and the second flap 150, the primary panel 105 can be wrapped around the body and closed in the front without requiring the wearer to balance on one leg, bend at the knee or waist, or otherwise maneuver the garment over the feet and up the legs. Then the wearer can reach between the legs to pull the front panel 110 to the front of the body. As shown, the front panel 110 and the primary panel 105 may be connected via a central portion 180 that forms the crotch of the underwear garment. The central portion 180 may include additional padding for comfort, may include a removable insert or netting for additional absorbency, or may otherwise function as a traditional panty garment.
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The front panel 210 of the underwear garment 200 may attach to the primary panel 205 by tucking the corners of the front panel 210 under the primary panel 205. Then via a connection element on the front of the front panel 210, connecting the front panel to a connection element on the underside or inside of the primary panel 205. For example, the front or outside of the front panel 210 may have a strip of Velcro or other connection mechanism that connects to the back or inside of the primary panel 105, for example by a similarly placed strip of Velcro. The front panel 210 may alternatively be attached to the primary panel 205 via one or more snaps, hooks, or other connecting mechanism. As previously noted, the front panel 210 and the primary panel 205 may be connected via a central portion 280 that forms the crotch of the underwear garment 200.
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The front panel 310 of the underwear garment 300 may attach to the primary panel 305 by tucking the corners of the front panel 310 under the primary panel 305 and via a connecting mechanism on the front or outside of the front panel 310, connecting the front panel 310 to the underside of the primary panel 305. For example, the front of the front panel 310 may have a strip of Velcro or other attaching mechanism that connects to the back or the inside of the primary panel 305, for example by a similarly placed strip of Velcro. The front panel 310 may alternatively be attached to the primary panel 305 via one or more snaps, hooks, or other connecting mechanism. As previously noted, the front panel 310 and the primary panel 305 may be connected via a central portion 380 that forms the crotch of the underwear garment 300.
By connecting the first flap 440 and the second flap 450, the primary panel 405 can be wrapped around the body and closed in the front. Then the wearer can reach between the legs to pull the front panel 410 to the front of the body. As shown, the front panel and the primary panel may be connected via a central portion 480 that forms the crotch of the underwear garment.
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By connecting the first flap 540 and the second flap 550, the primary panel 505 can be wrapped around the body and closed in the front. Then the wearer can reach between the legs to pull the front panel 510 to the front of the body. As shown, the front panel and the primary panel may be connected via a central portion that forms the crotch of the underwear garment.
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The underwear garment may be designed with any of a variety of fabrics and types of materials, in different colors and prints and elastic waistbands of different colors may be provided. Any of the described embodiments may be manufactured with any known material, including for example elastic, cotton, or polyester.
According to one aspect of an embodiment, the underwear garments described herein may be manufactured with a spandex or otherwise stretchy elastic material, creating a compression garment that provides a slimming effect, and is easy to put on in the style of the embodiments described herein. Then if the primary panel, including the side flaps, of an underwear garment are made of an elastic material, when the connection mechanisms are fully fastened, the underwear garment may be have a slimming effect on the wearer. The front panel may additionally be made of an elastic material to create the slimming effect. Any of the described embodiments may be manufactured with a spandex material as described to create a compression garment.
According to one aspect of an embodiment, an underwear garment may have multiple fasteners or connection mechanisms to connect the side flaps and/or to connect the front flap to the primary flap. Then the wearer may connect the flaps or panels using one of the multiple connectors, each connector creating a different waist or leg size, and the adjustable underwear garment may be resized as appropriate. Any of the described embodiments may have multiple fasteners or connection mechanisms creating an adjustable garment. For example, an elastic, compression version of any of the described designs may have multiple different fasteners to connect the side flaps, creating an adjustable garment. Other materials may also be used in an adjustable underwear garment, for example, cotton, polyester, or other material. According to an embodiment, an adjustable underwear garment may be designed to be one size to “fit all”.
According to one aspect of an embodiment, the hem lines at the leg of the underwear garment are flattened, for example, to provide a more comfortable garment for individuals that remain seated or laying down for extended periods of time.
Although multiple different connection mechanisms are described herein, it will be understood that any known connector or fastener may be used.
While the invention has been described in detail above with reference to some embodiments, variations within the scope and spirit of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the invention should be considered as limited only by the scope of the appended claims
Claims
1. An underwear garment comprising:
- a primary panel to form a back for the underwear garment and having a first flap and a second flap, wherein the primary panel is connected to a front panel to form a crotch of the underwear garment;
- a first connection mechanism to connect the first flap and the second flap to form a waistband and a partial front for the underwear garment;
- a second connection mechanism to connect the front panel to the primary panel via a plurality of connection elements on each of the front panel and the primary panel;
- wherein upon connecting the front panel to the primary panel, the front panel forms a front for the underwear garment and a portion of the front panel and a portion of the primary panel overlap.
2. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the front panel has a plurality of connection elements on the outside and the primary panel has a plurality of connection elements on the inside and upon connecting the front panel and the primary panel via the connection elements, the front panel is partially covered by the primary panel.
3. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the primary panel has a plurality of connection elements on the outside and the front panel has a plurality of connection elements on the inside and upon connecting the front panel and the primary panel via the connection elements, the primary panel is partially covered by the primary panel.
4. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the underwear garment forms a women's bikini.
5. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the underwear garment forms a women's brief.
6. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the underwear garment forms a men's brief.
7. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the underwear garment forms a men's boxer.
8. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the crotch is padded.
9. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the crotch has a space for a removable pad.
10. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the first connection mechanism is selected from a group comprising a snap, a clasp, a hook, and a piece of Velcro.
11. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the second connection mechanism is selected from a group comprising a snap, a clasp, a hook, and a piece of Velcro.
12. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism are Velcro.
13. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanisms are fully engaged, the connection elements of the second connection mechanism are disguised with one or more decorative elements.
14. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the underwear garment is made of an elastic material to create a compression garment.
15. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the first connection mechanism is adjustable to provide for multiple waist sizes.
16. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the second connection mechanism is adjustable to provide for multiple leg sizes.
17. The underwear garment of claim 1, wherein the second connection mechanism is adjustable to provide for multiple abdomen sizes.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 7, 2013
Inventor: Susanne L. SHOEMAKER (Bronxville, NY)
Application Number: 13/837,529
International Classification: A41B 9/00 (20060101); A41B 9/02 (20060101); A41B 9/04 (20060101);