UNDERGARMENT WITH SHIRT RETAINER

Abstract

Disclosed is an undergarment for inhibiting unwanted movement of a shirt during wear by an end-user. The undergarment has a front, a back, a torso opening defining a top, and a pair of leg openings defining a bottom. The undergarment includes an elastic retainer band extending along the circumference of the undergarment at a position proximal to the top of the undergarment, which provides a gap between the undergarment and the retainer band. The retainer band is adapted to the front of the undergarment at an approximately middle position of the front. The undergarment allows each half of a shirt to pass between the retainer band and the undergarment with sufficient tension to inhibit unwanted movement of the shirt during wear.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,049 filed Apr. 15, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an undergarment, and more particularly, to an undergarment allowing for easy securement of a shirt thereby minimizing unwanted movement of the shirttails while the shirt is tucked into an outer garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unwanted movement of a shirt, especially a buttoned shirt, is a common problem that has afflicted men and women for many years. Men and women wearing shirts tucked in outer garments, such as pants, shorts and skirts, prefer a neat or taut appearance exhibited when the shirt appears securely tucked into the garment. A neat appearance is considered especially important for individuals who wear formal or military attire.

However, individuals often experience the phenomenon of the shirttails rising up their torsos during wear. The result of this unwanted movement is the shirt appears loose or baggy around the torso of the wearer. Such an appearance is unwanted because the wearer may be considered, in some circles, to appear disheveled or sloppy.

Over the years, many attempts have made to inhibit the rising shirttail phenomenon with limited success. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,671,222 to Hochberg (“Hochberg”) discloses a man's undergarment with a waistband 11 having an elastic loop 13 extending in an upward direction perpendicular to waistband 11 at the front middle position of the undergarment. Elastic loop 13 is designed to loop around the nearest shirt button 14 prior to inserting the button into its respective shirt buttonhole. While the shirt should remain taut in such a configuration, looping elastic material around a shirt button may be challenging to individuals with limited hand dexterity such as the elderly.

Another attempt to inhibit rising shirttails is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,109 to Hironaga (“Hironaga”). Hironaga discloses an undergarment 10 with two elastomeric extensions 12 extending upward from leg openings 10b. Each extension 12 includes button 14 positioned at the end opposite from leg opening 10b. Button 14 is used in combination with clip 16 having both an enlarged circular portion for insertion of button 14 and a reduced circular portion for locking button 14 after it is inserted into clip 16. To maintain a taut appearance, the shirt fabric is first wrapped over button 14 which in turn is inserted into the enlarged portion of clip 16. The user then moves clip 16 so that button 14 engages the reduced portion thereby locking in place button 14 and the shirt fabric. While the shirt should remain taut in such a configuration, button/clip configuration of Hironaga may be challenging to individuals with limited hand dexterity such as the elderly. Likewise, the repeating stretching of the shirt fabric with the button/clip configuration may lead to premature wear of the fabric especially if the shirt is made from a delicate material.

A more recent attempt to inhibit rising shirttails is disclosed in U.S. Publication No.: 20100235969 to Issacson et al. (“Issacson”). Issacson also discloses an undergarment for securing a shirt in a taut position. The undergarment 12 includes fabric strips 14 extending upwardly from either the front side 10 or back side 26 of undergarment 12. Each strip 14 is provided with a hold-down device 20, which is removably attachable to shirt fabric 22. Hold-down device 20, for example, can be in the form of a clasp 36 provided with a plurality of teeth 38 to grip shirt fabric 22. Teeth 38 can be provided with a protective layer 40 to inhibit ripping or otherwise damaging fabric 22 by teeth 38. While the shirt should remain taut in such a configuration, clasp arrangement of Issacson may also be challenging to individuals with limited hand dexterity such as the elderly. Moreover, repeated clasping of the shirt fabric may lead to premature wear of the fabric as recognized by Issacson in teaching that a protective layer may be incorporated in the clasp.

In view of the above, there is still a need in the art for a means to secure shirttails in a taut position that is easy to use. This can be especially important for individuals with limited hand dexterity. There is also a need in the art for a means to secure shirttails in a taut position that does not unduly stress the shirt fabric and cause premature wear of the shirt material. Accordingly, it is an object of the present inventions to provide a means to secure shirttails in a taut position that is both easy to use and does not unduly stress the shirt fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously provides an undergarment with a unique means of securing a shirt while tucked in an outer garment while minimizing unwanted movement of the shirttails leading to a loose or baggy appearance. In accordance with the invention, the undergarment includes an elastic retainer band extending along the circumference of the undergarment at a position proximal to the top of the undergarment. The elastic retainer band is attached to the front of the undergarment at a middle position thereby allowing each half of the shirt to pass between the retainer band and the undergarment for securement. These and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a men's brief of the present invention including the shirt retaining means.

FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the men's brief depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the men's brief depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the men's brief depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the men's brief of the present invention as worn by an end-user.

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of a men's boxer brief of the present invention including the shirt retaining means.

FIG. 7 is a rear plan view of the men's boxer brief depicted in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the men's boxer brief depicted in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts the undergarment of the present invention as men's brief 10. Brief 10 includes a front 102 and a rear 104 with leg openings 106 defining a bottom of the undergarment and a torso opening 108 defining a top of the undergarment. As shown in FIG. 1, brief 10 also includes waist band 110 disposed adjacent to the top of the undergarment thereby delineating torso opening 108. Substantially perpendicular to waistband 110 is optional front seam 112 extending downward along front 102. Brief 10 also includes an elastic retainer band 200 extending along the circumference of brief 10 at a position proximal to torso opening 108 and waist band 110 and distal from leg openings 106. Retainer band 200 is adapted (i.e., attached) to brief 10 only at a single attachment position 202 located approximately in the middle of front 102 thereby allowing the ends of a shirt (not shown) to pass easily through gap 204 for securement, which is located between retainer band 200 and brief 10. Stated otherwise, retainer band 200 is free of any additional points of attachment to the undergarment to facilitate quick insertion of the shirttails through gap 204 for securement. Ease of access is especially important to individuals with limited hand dexterity.

Although the undergarment shown in FIG. 1 is a men's brief, any undergarment can incorporate the shirt retainer means of the present invention. For example, the undergarment can be a women's undergarment such as a panty or G-string. Likewise, undergarments for children may also include the shirt retainer means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of brief 10 illustrating the circumferential extension of elastic retainer band 200 free of additional attachment points in accordance with the invention. The circumferential extension of retainer band 200 without additional points of attaching provides gap 204 located between retainer band 200 and brief 10. Additional attachment points along the circumference of retainer band 200 would prevent the insertion of shirt ends (shown in FIG. 5) through gap 204 located between retainer band 200 and brief 10. FIG. 2 additionally depicts brief 10 having bottom seam 114 and top back seam 116, which are conventional in the construction of men's brief. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, men's briefs can be constructed in a variety of configurations.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of brief 10 illustrating the circumferential extension of elastic retainer band 200 free of additional attachment points in accordance with the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the circumferential extension of retainer band 200 without additional points of attaching provides gap 204 located between retainer band 200 and brief 10.

FIG. 4 depicts a top view of the brief 10 shown in FIG. 3 taken along lines 4-4. As more clearly shown in FIG. 4, the circumferential extension of elastic retainer band 200 along brief 10 proximal to waist band 110 provides gap 204 for insertion of shirt ends (shown in FIG. 5) thereby retaining the shirt during wear.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of an end-user wearing a buttoned shirt retained by brief 10 in accordance with the invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the shirttails are inserted through gap 204 (not labeled) positioned between brief 10 and elastic retainer band 200.

In accordance with the present invention, elastic retainer band 200 is made of any elastic material suitable for attachment to the undergarment. For example, retainer band 200 can be made from the same elastic material as waist band 110. Preferably, retainer band 200 is of sufficient length so that the circumference of web retainer band extending along brief 10 is at least equal to, or slightly greater than, the circumference of torso opening 108 to provide gap 204 and to avoiding crimping of the undergarment. This arrangement should minimize any discomfort to the wearer possibly attributable to the presence of extra elastic material on the undergarment. At the same time, this arrangement will provide sufficient tension (or pressure) against the undergarment fabric to retain shirttails inserted through gap 204 as depicted in FIG. 5. While the tension will be sufficient to retain the shirttails in position, the shirt fabric will not be stressed as compared to clasps and other mechanical retaining means well known in the prior art.

Likewise, in accordance with the present invention, elastic retainer band 200 can be attached to the undergarment (e.g., brief 10) at position 202 either permanently or removably. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, retainer band 200 is permanently attached to brief 10 via front seam 112 at position 202, which is proximal to waist band 110. Retainer band 200 can be permanently attached by any conventional means such as sewing, gluing, riveting and so on. Likewise, retainer band 200 can be removably attached by any conventional means such as Velcro, buttons, clasps and so on.

FIG. 6 depicts the undergarment of the present invention as men's boxer brief 20. Boxer brief 20 includes a front 102 and a rear 104 with leg openings 106 defining a bottom of the undergarment and a torso opening 108 defining a top of the undergarment. As shown in FIG. 6, boxer brief 20 also includes waist band 110 disposed adjacent to the top of the undergarment thereby delineating torso opening 108. Substantially perpendicular to waistband 110 is optional front seam 112 extending downward along front 102, which in turn intersects with optional front bottom seam 118. Boxer brief 20 also includes elastic retainer band 200 extending along the circumference of boxer brief 20 at a position proximal to torso opening 108 and waist band 110 and distal from leg openings 106. Retainer band 200 is adapted (i.e., attached) to boxer brief 20 only at a single attachment position 202 located approximately in the middle of front 102 thereby allowing the ends of a shirt (not shown) to pass easily through gap 204 for securement, which is located between retainer band 200 and boxer brief 20. Stated otherwise, retainer band 200 is free of any additional points of attachment to the undergarment to facilitate easier insertion of the shirttails. Ease of access is especially important to individuals with limited hand dexterity.

FIG. 7 depicts a rear view of boxer brief 20 illustrating the circumferential extension of elastic retainer band 200 free of additional attachment points in accordance with the invention. The circumferential extension of retainer band 200 without additional points of attaching provides gap 204 located between retainer band 200 and boxer brief 20. Additional attachment points along the circumference of retainer band 200 would prevent the insertion of shirt ends (not shown) through gap 204 located between retainer band 200 and boxer brief 20. FIG. 7 additionally depicts boxer brief 20 having top back seam 116 and front bottom seam 120, which are conventional in the construction of men's brief. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, men's boxer briefs can be constructed in a variety of configurations.

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of boxer brief 20 illustrating the circumferential extension of elastic retainer band 200 free of additional attachment points in accordance with the invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the circumferential extension of retainer band 200 without additional points of attaching provides gap 204 located between retainer band 200 and boxer brief 20.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. An undergarment for inhibiting unwanted movement of a shirt during wear, which comprises:

an undergarment having a front and a back, said undergarment including a torso opening defining a top and a pair of leg openings defining a bottom; and

an elastic retainer band extending along the circumference of said undergarment at a position proximal to said top of said undergarment to provide a gap between said undergarment and said retainer band, said retainer band being adapted to said front of said undergarment at an approximately middle position of said front thereby allowing each half of said shirt to pass between said retainer band and said undergarment with sufficient tension to inhibit unwanted movement of said shirt during wear.

2. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein said undergarment is a men's undergarment.

3. The undergarment of claim 2, wherein said men's undergarment is a brief

4. The undergarment of claim 2, wherein said men's undergarment is a boxer brief

5. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein said undergarment is a women's undergarment.

6. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein said women's undergarment is a panty.

7. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein said women's undergarment is G-string.

8. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein said retainer band is removably attached to said front of said undergarment.

9. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein said retainer band is permanently attached to said front of said undergarment.

10. The undergarment of claim 9, wherein said retainer band is sewn to said front of said undergarment.