UNDERGARMENT

Abstract

An undergarment adapted to support overlying trousers includes an undergarment waistband and one or more thickened segments affixed to the waistband. The one or more thickened segments are adapted to engage and support a waistband of trousers disposed over the undergarment waistband.

Description

This is a utility patent application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. Ser. No. 62/553,193 filed on Sep. 1, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

At a high level, the present disclosure is directed to an undergarment having a waistband portion and including a structure at that waistband portion which supports and retains an overlying garment at or near the region of a wearer's waist. In particular, the undergarment includes a retainer structure disposed at or carried by the waistband portion which serves to keep the overlying garment in position at the wearer's waist.

BACKGROUND

The basic structure of trousers is well known. However, as background and with reference to FIG. 1, a pair of trousers 100 includes at least a waistband portion 102, leg portions 104 joining at a crotch portion 106, a front rise portion 108, and a corresponding rear rise portion (not visible in this view). The trousers 100 may further optionally include one or more side pockets 110, rear pockets (not visible in this view), and a fly 112 which may be selectively opened or closed such as by zippers, buttons, snaps, hook and loop material, etc.

Garments such as trousers 100 are typically worn with the topmost or waistband portion 102 held at or near a wearer's (not shown) waist area. To retain the trousers 100 in this position, conventional devices such as belts, suspenders, or inclusion of elastic bands or other elastic structures at or within the waistband portion 102 are used. While effective for their intended purpose, devices such as belts and elastic bands can apply pressure to the wearer's waist or abdominal area. Likewise, suspenders may cause pressure and/or chafing of the wearer's shoulder area, and if too short can also cause the trouser crotch portion 106 to apply pressure to the wearer's groin area. Accordingly, a need is identified in the art for alternative structures for retaining a garment such as trousers 100 in position at or near the wearer's waist.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an undergarment adapted to support overlying trousers is provided, comprising an undergarment waistband and one or more thickened segments disposed on the undergarment waistband. The one or more thickened segments are adapted to engage and support a waistband of trousers disposed over the undergarment waistband.

In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more thickened segments defines an interior holder and optionally a closure for the holder.

The undergarment may comprise a single thickened segment affixed to the undergarment waistband. In one possible embodiment, the single thickened segment is disposed along a portion of the undergarment waistband. In an alternative embodiment, the single thickened segment is disposed around an entirety of the undergarment waistband.

The undergarment may comprise a single thickened segment affixed to the undergarment waistband. In one possible embodiment, the single thickened segment is disposed along a portion of the undergarment waistband. In an alternative embodiment, the single thickened segment is disposed around an entirety of the undergarment waistband.

In another aspect of the disclosure, an undergarment adapted to support overlying trousers is provided, comprising an undergarment waistband and a plurality of thickened segments affixed to the undergarment waistband and adapted to engage and support a waistband of trousers disposed over the undergarment waistband, the plurality of thickened segments consisting of first and second thickened segments disposed at opposed sides of the undergarment waistband and a third thickened segment disposed at a rear of the undergarment waistband. As before, at least one of the plurality of thickened segments may define an interior holder optionally having a closure.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure, an undergarment adapted to support overlying trousers is provided, comprising an undergarment waistband and first and second thickened segments disposed at to opposed sides of the undergarment waistband. As before, at least one of the plurality of thickened segments may define an interior holder optionally having a closure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the undergarment and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional pair of trousers;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an undergarment including a waistband according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the waistband of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the waistband of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the waistband of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the waistband of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the waistband of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the waistband of FIG. 2.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the undergarment, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To solve the above-identified and other problems, with reference to FIG. 2 there is shown an embodiment of an undergarment 200 having an undergarment waistband portion 202 including a waistband portion-mounted retainer 204. The undergarment 200 may be configured as any suitable type of undergarment, including without intending any limitation a boxer-style undergarment, a brief-style undergarment, a boxer-brief-style undergarment, a panty-style undergarment, a trunk-style undergarment, a bikini-style undergarment, long underwear or so-called “long johns,” and others. In the description, reference is made to orientation of various features at a front, rear, or sides of an undergarment or a garment. The skilled artisan will appreciate that these orientations refer to portions of the undergarment or garment when worn by a wearer.

The present disclosure makes reference primarily to trousers or pants as the disclosed overlying garment. However, it will be appreciated that the disclosure contemplates that the overlying garment may be any garment intended to be worn with a top or waist portion being held substantially at or near a wearer's waist, including without intending any limitation trousers or pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, and others. Accordingly, the disclosure will not be held to be limiting in this regard.

In the depicted embodiment, the retainer 204 is a thickened band or segment of material disposed at the undergarment waistband portion 202, provided by filling adjacent panels or tubes of material with a filler, sealing or stitching the adjacent panels or tubes shut, and attaching the so-created thickened band or segment to the undergarment waistband portion. This may be done by any suitable method, including without intending any limitation by stitching, by adhesive, or other fastening methods. Alternatively, the retainer 204 may be provided by filling some or all of an interior of the undergarment waistband portion 202 with a suitable filler material.

As will be appreciated, the retainer 204 has a sufficient thickness dimension T whereby the retainer will frictionally engage a wearer's waist and/or hipbones and at least the waistband portion 102 of another garment such as trousers 100, supporting and keeping the trousers in place, and preventing them from sliding down the wearer's body/legs without need of other devices such as belts, suspenders, or other known retention devices. The retainer 204 may comprise a solid thickness of material or may be configured as an empty cylinder filled with a suitable filler material. In embodiments, the retainer 204 may be configured as a thickened band of material made of or comprising an elastic material, or as an empty cylinder fabricated of an elastic or non-elastic material and filled with a suitable filler material. The retainer 204 may be attached to the undergarment waistband portion 202 on an exterior surface or an interior surface thereof.

The retainer 204 may be a single structure spanning the entire circumference of the undergarment waistband portion 202 as shown in FIG. 2. In alternative embodiments, the retainer 204 may comprise a retainer 204 including two or more portions 204a, 204b disposed at a front interior and a rear interior of the undergarment waistband portion 202 (see FIG. 3) or two or more portions 204c, 204d disposed at opposed sides of the undergarment waistband portion 202 (see FIG. 4). In other alternative embodiments, the retainer 204 may comprise a single portion 204e disposed at a rear of the undergarment waistband portion 202 (FIG. 5) or a single portion 204f disposed at a front of the undergarment waistband portion 202 (FIG. 6). In still yet other alternative embodiments, the retainer 204 may comprise a plurality of portions 204g . . . 204x (see FIG. 7 showing portions 204g . . . 204o) arranged in a spaced-apart configuration about the circumference of the undergarment waistband portion 202. As will be appreciated, the portions 204g . . . 204x may be positioned in a spaced-apart configuration about the entire circumference of the undergarment waistband portion 202 as shown, or may be positioned in a spaced-apart configuration only at one or both of the front and/or the rear of the undergarment waistband portion 202, or only at one or both opposed sides of the undergarment waistband portion 202 (embodiments not shown).

In yet another alternative embodiment, the retainer 204 may comprise three portions 204a, 204b, 204c, with portion 204a disposed at a rear of the undergarment waistband portion 202 and portions 204b and 204c disposed at opposed sides of the undergarment waistband portion 202.

In still yet other embodiments (see FIG. 2), the retainer 204 and/or retainer portions 204a, etc. (not shown in this view) may include one or more holders, i.e. pockets or interior compartments 206 allowing the hidden storage of items such as cash, keys, credit cards, etc. The pockets or interior compartments 206 may be accessible via a slit (similar to a pocket) or may be selectively closeable such as by a zipper, button, snap, hook and loop material, or other suitable closure system.

A wearer may don the undergarment 200, whereby the retainer 204 is disposed substantially at the wearer's waist or hip area. Next, the wearer may don an overlying garment 100, such as trousers, shorts, a skirt, etc. Optionally, the wearer may include a belt associated with the overlying garment 100. As will be appreciated, the retainer 204 engages the waistband portion 102 of the overlying garment 100 and/or the belt, likewise retaining the overlying garment waistband portion substantially at the wearer's waist or hip area.

The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. An undergarment adapted to support overlying trousers, comprising:

an undergarment waistband; and

one or more thickened segments disposed on the undergarment waistband and adapted to engage and support a waistband of trousers disposed over the undergarment waistband.

2. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more thickened segments defines an interior holder.

3. The undergarment of claim 2, wherein the at least one thickened segment interior holder comprises a closure.

4. The undergarment of claim 1, comprising a single thickened segment affixed to the undergarment waistband.

5. The undergarment of claim 4, wherein the single thickened segment is disposed along a portion of the undergarment waistband.

6. The undergarment of claim 4, wherein the single thickened segment is disposed around an entirety of the undergarment waistband.

7. The undergarment of claim 1, comprising a plurality of thickened segments affixed to the undergarment waistband.

8. The undergarment of claim 7, wherein the plurality of thickened segments are disposed at spaced intervals around an entirety of the undergarment waistband.

9. The undergarment of claim 7, wherein the plurality of thickened segments consist of first and second thickened segments disposed at opposed sides of the undergarment waistband and a third thickened segment disposed at a rear of the undergarment waistband.

10. The undergarment of claim 7, wherein the plurality of thickened segments consist of a pair of thickened segments disposed at opposed sides of the undergarment waistband.

11. An undergarment adapted to support overlying trousers, comprising:

an undergarment waistband; and

a plurality of thickened segments affixed to the undergarment waistband and adapted to engage and support a waistband of trousers disposed over the undergarment waistband, the plurality of thickened segments consisting of first and second thickened segments disposed at opposed sides of the undergarment waistband and a third thickened segment disposed at a rear of the undergarment waistband.

12. The undergarment of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of thickened segments defines an interior holder.

13. The undergarment of claim 12, wherein the at least one thickened segment interior holder comprises a closure.

14. An undergarment adapted to support overlying trousers, comprising:

an undergarment waistband; and

first and second thickened segments disposed at to opposed sides of the undergarment waistband.

15. The undergarment of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of thickened segments defines an interior holder.

16. The undergarment of claim 15, wherein the at least one thickened segment interior holder comprises a closure.