UNDERPANTS

Abstract

A garment for a person's lower body comprises a waistband, the waistband comprising a strip of elasticated material having a first end and a second end. A front panel is connected to and extends between the first end and the second end. The front panel extends from the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the person. The front panel is formed of one of an inelastic fabric and a stretch fabric.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a garment for a person's lower body. In particular but not necessarily exclusively, this invention relates to an undergarment.

BACKGROUND

Many types of lower body garments include an elastic waistband which extends continuously around the wearer's waist. The purpose of such a waistband is to hold the garment in place on the wearer's body, whilst permitting the garment to be removed easily.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment for a person's lower body comprising a waistband, the waistband comprising a strip of elasticated material having a first end and a second end. A front panel is connected to and extends between the first end and the second end. The front panel extends from the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the person. The front panel is formed of one of an inelastic fabric and a stretch fabric.

The inventors have appreciated problems with prior art lower body garments in which the waistband includes a continuous loop of elasticated material. For wearers with abdominal problems (for example, wearers suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or wearers recovering from abdominal operations, such as caesarean sections), such a waistband can put stress on the abdomen, which can cause discomfort to the wearer and exacerbate the wearer's abdominal problems. The above-described garment includes a front panel which extends from the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the wearer. This means that the force which is carried through the strip of elasticated material is distributed through a larger area of the front panel, thereby reducing the stress in the front panel. This reduces the stress on the wearer's abdomen, thereby avoiding or at least mitigating the above-described problems.

In addition to the above, for a prior art lower body garment in which the waistband includes a continuous loop of elasticated material, a gap forms between the wearer's body and the waistband at points in between the hips and the abdomen. This is because the hips and abdomen extend outwardly different distances. The front panel extending below the waistband to cover the lower abdominal region avoids this problem, as the front panel's larger area allows it to deform more easily than a strip of elastic and to follow the profile of the wearer's body. This means that for everyday use, the design improves the fit of the garment, as the garment sits flush to the wearer's body. This improved fit offers greater comfort to the wearer. Further, the removal of pressure on the abdominal region and the improved conformity between the garment and the wearer's body reduces localised stresses on the wearer's body leading to improved performance for sportswear.

In an embodiment, the strip of elasticated material extends partially around the front of the garment. This means that the waistband better holds the garment in place on the wearer's body, but still avoids stress on the abdomen.

In an embodiment, the front panel extends from a top of the waistband to a crotch region of the garment. This may simplify the manufacture of the garment.

In an embodiment, the width of the front panel increases from the waistband towards the crotch region. The increasing width of the front panel ensures that the garment is comfortable around the wearer's genitals. This is particularly important for men's garments.

In an embodiment, the garment further comprises a rear panel which connects to the strip of elasticated material, the front panel at the crotch region and side portions of the front panel. In an embodiment, the rear panel is a single piece of fabric. This simplifies the manufacture of the garment.

In an embodiment, the front panel connects to the first end and the second end via a pair of seams. In an embodiment, the pair of seams extends from the waistband along the side portions of the front panel, connecting the front panel to the rear panel. This simplifies the manufacture of the garment.

In an embodiment, the garment is an undergarment. In an embodiment, the garment is a pair of briefs.

In an embodiment, the garment comprises twin stitching around each leg opening of the garment. The twin stitching helps to prevent wear of the garment at the leg openings. In an embodiment, the twin stitching comprises flatlocking inside the garment. The flatlocking increases the comfort for the wearer.

In an embodiment, the front panel is a single piece of fabric. This simplifies the manufacture of the garment.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides underpants comprising a waistband, having a strip of elasticated material extending around the top of the underpants and partially around the front of the underpants, thereby forming a c-shape. A front panel is connected to and extends across the top of the waistband between ends of the elasticated strip. The front panel has lower elasticity than the strip of elasticated material. The front panel extends downwardly from the top of the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the person.

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides an undergarment for a person's lower body including a waistband that includes a strip of elasticated material having a first end and a second end. A front panel is connected to and extends between the first end and the second end. The front panel is formed of a single piece of fabric and extends from the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the person, and the front panel. Additional stitching is provided across the front panel between the ends of the elasticated material, the additional stitching forming a twin needle additional seam as a secure stitching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an undergarment in the form of underpants;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the undergarment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of an undergarment in the form of underpants.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there are shown front and rear views of a garment 100 for a person's lower body. The garment 100 is an undergarment. More specifically, the garment 100 is a pair of briefs.

The garment 100 comprises a waistband 102. The waistband 102 extends around the top of the garment 100. The waistband 102 is suitable to be worn on a person's trunk. The waistband 102 comprises a strip of elasticated material 104 and a front panel 106. The strip of elasticated material 104 has a first end 107 and a second end 108. The front panel 106 connects to and extends between the first end 107 and the second end 108. The strip of elasticated material 104 extends partially around the front of the garment, thereby forming a c-shape.

The front panel 106 may be of lower elasticity than the strip of elasticated material 104. The front panel 106 may be inelastic. Alternatively, the front panel may be formed of a so-called stretch fabric. The front panel 106 is preferably formed of a single piece of fabric.

The front panel 106 extends downwardly below the waistband. More specifically, the front panel 106 extends from the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the person. More specifically, the front panel 106 extends from the top of the waistband 102 to a crotch region 110 of the garment 100. The garment 100 further comprises a rear panel 112. The rear panel 112 connects to the bottom of the strip of elasticated material 104. The rear panel 112 connects to the front panel 106 at the crotch region 110. The rear panel 112 connects to side portions 114 of the front panel 106. The rear panel 112 is a single piece of fabric. However, it will be appreciated that the rear panel 112 may be made of multiple pieces of fabric, which may be joined by seams.

The garment 100 comprises a pair of leg openings 116. The leg openings 116 are formed in the front panel 106 and the rear panel 112. The leg openings 116 are on either side of the crotch region 110.

The width of the front panel 106 increases from the waistband 102 towards the crotch region 110. More specifically, the width of the front panel 106 increases from the waistband 102 up to the leg openings 116. The width of the front panel 106 decreases from its highest point in the leg opening 116 into the crotch region 110. The rear panel 112 extends partially around the front of the garment 100. The increasing width of the front panel up to the leg openings 116 ensures that the garment is comfortable around the wearer's genitals. This is particularly advantageous for men's garments. It will be appreciated that in other garments (in particular but not necessarily exclusively women's garments), the front and rear panels may be shaped differently. The width of the front panel may be constant or the front panel may be tapered towards the crotch region.

The connection 118 between the strip of elasticated material 104 and the rear panel 112 extends around the bottom of the strip of elasticated material 104, along its entire length. The connection 118 between the rear panel 112 and the strip of elasticated material 104 may comprise a seam.

The front panel 106 connects to the first end 107 and the second end 108 via a pair of seams 120. The pair of seams 120 further extends from the waistband 102 along the side portions 114 of the front panel 106, thereby connecting the front panel 106 to the rear panel 112. The front panel 106 may include a further seam running across its middle in a direction which, in use, is across the wearer's body. This further seam may be substantially parallel to the connection 118 between the strip of elasticated material 104 and the rear panel 112. Such a seam offers more support to the genitals. The front panel may connect to the rear panel at the crotch via a seam at the base of the garment (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).

The garment 100 comprises twin stitching 122 around each of the leg openings 116. The twin stitching 122 is on the edges of the front panel 106 in the crotch region 110 and on the edges of the rear panel 112. The twin stitching 122 comprises flatlocking inside the garment 100.

In use, the waistband 102 extends around the wearer's trunk. The wearer's legs are received by the leg openings 116. The crotch region 110 is between the wearer's legs. The front panel 106 sits on the wearer's abdomen. The front panel 106 extending below the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region results in a reduced stress in the front panel 106, when compared to the stress in the strip of elasticated material. This reduces stress in the wearer's abdomen, giving increased comfort for wearers with abdominal problems, and preventing exacerbation of the abdominal problems. Additionally, the improved fit of the garment 100 results in increased comfort for all wearers and improved performance for sportswear.

Referring to FIG. 3, a pair of underpants 300, broadly similar to the undergarment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a waistband 302 comprising a strip of elasticated material 304 and a front panel 306, all of which are as described above for the waistband 102, elasticated strip 104 and front panel 106 of the undergarment embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that additional stitching 308 is provided across the front panel between the ends of the elasticated material 304. Preferably, as shown, this is positioned in-line with the bottom of the waistband, although other positions may be used. The stitching 308 preferably forms a twin needle additional seam as a secure stitching. This helps to maintain structure of the garment and retain shape after washing.

The skilled person will be able to envisage other garments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, the garment may be a pair of trousers or shorts, or a skirt or kilt.

Claims

1. A garment for a person's lower body comprising a waistband, the waistband comprising:

a strip of elasticated material having a first end and a second end; and

a front panel connected to and extending between the first end and the second end,

wherein the front panel extends from the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the person, wherein the front panel is formed of one of an inelastic fabric and a stretch fabric.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the front panel is formed of a single piece of fabric.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the strip of elasticated material extends partially around the front of the garment.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the front panel extends from the waistband to a crotch region of the garment.

5. The garment of claim 4, wherein a width of the front panel increases from the waistband towards the crotch region.

6. The garment of claim 5, further comprising a rear panel which connects to:

the strip of elasticated material;

the front panel at the crotch region; and

side portions of the front panel.

7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the rear panel is a single piece of fabric.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the front panel connects to the first end and the second end via a pair of seams.

9. The garment of claim 8, wherein the pair of seams extends from the waistband along the side portions of the front panel, connecting the front panel to a rear panel.

10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is an undergarment.

11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the garment is a pair of briefs.

12. The garment of claim 11, wherein the garment comprises twin stitching around each leg opening of the garment.

13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the twin stitching comprises flatlocking inside the garment.

14. The garment of claim 12, wherein the width of the front panel increases from the waistband up to the leg openings of the briefs.

15. The garment of claim 1, further comprising additional stitching across the front panel between the ends of the elasticated material.

16. The garment of claim 15 wherein the additional stitching is positioned in-line with the bottom of the waistband.

17. The garment of claim 16 wherein the stitching forms a twin needle additional seam as a secure stitching.

18. Underpants comprising a waistband, having a strip of elasticated material extending around the top of the underpants and partially around the front of the underpants, thereby forming a c-shape; and

a front panel connected to and extending across the top of the waistband between ends of the elasticated strip, the front panel having lower elasticity than the strip of elasticated material,

wherein the front panel extends downwardly from the top of the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the person.

19. The underpants of claim 18, wherein front panel is formed of a single piece of fabric.

20. An undergarment for a person's lower body comprising:

a waistband that includes a strip of elasticated material having a first end and a second end;

a front panel connected to and extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the front panel is formed of a single piece of fabric and extends from the waistband to cover a lower abdominal region of the person, and

additional stitching across the front panel between the ends of the elasticated material, the additional stitching forming a twin needle additional seam as a secure stitching.