WOMEN'S ACCESSIBLE BOTTOM GARMENT

Abstract

A woman's bottom garment provides a concealed accessible opening for elimination. A relief area may be positioned primarily on the back side of the garment while the wearer is in a standing posture, and may shift forward sufficiently when the wearer sits or squats so as to allow elimination when the free edges of the panels in the relief area are pulled away from each other. The embodiments reduce the number of seams in contact with areas that may chafe, such as the inner thighs and groin area, and reduce the bulk of the material of the accessible covering.

Description

BACKGROUND

The inventive subject matter is generally directed to a bottom garment for women that covers at least the buttocks, crotch, and lower pelvis, e.g., pants, leggings, shorts, underwear and the like. Traditionally, a woman wearing such a garment needs to remove the garment at least partially in order to relieve herself without soiling the garment, resulting in exposure of skin and/or the genitals. This degree of exposure may be undesirable, for example, in conditions lacking privacy, or in harsh climate conditions such as extreme cold or strong winds.

Various solutions to this problem provide garments that have an opening over the crotch area that allows elimination without removing or pulling the garment down. In some cases, the garments have fasteners such as zippers, snaps, hooks or hook-and-loop closures to keep the opening closed when not in use, but that may cause the garment to be bulky or apply pressure uncomfortably to the wearer. Other garments provide fastener-less overlapping panels with free edges that can be pulled apart to create an opening for elimination. The overlapping panels may be positioned over the crotch of the garment, adding bulk which may reduce comfort and breathability in the crotch, and/or may have seams in contact with skin that may cause chafing.

In short, conventional bottom garments have the foregoing and other disadvantages, and there is a need for improved garments that allow for discrete elimination when needed, and comfort when elimination is not needed, for example.

SUMMARY

The inventive subject matter generally relates to bottom garments for women that have an opening covered by access panels. The overlapping access panels, when pulled apart, create the opening that can be used for elimination without having to remove or pull down the garment. When the opening is not needed for elimination, the access panels are positioned in the rear or seat of the garment, and do not add bulk or seams in the crotch. The bottom garment is comfortable in athletic or other activities due to the positioning and shape of the access panels on the seat or rear rather than over the crotch, which minimizes bulky layers and seams in areas that might chafe. The access panels are not visible from the front. The access panels shift forward over the crotch area when the wearer is in a seated or squatting position, due to the elasticity of the panels and the close-fit of the garment on the body. The access opening can also be pulled forward elastically as needed and will return to its rear, closed position when released and the wearer stands up. The seams of the panels merge into the inner leg seams to reduce the number of seams and reduce potential chafing areas.

In one possible embodiment, the inventive subject matter is directed to a woman's bottom garment that includes a body-encircling material portion having a front side, a back side, a right leg portion and a left leg portion; a right leg extending below the right leg portion and a left leg extending below the left leg portion; an inner leg seam extending from an inner part of the right leg to an inner part of the left leg through a crotch; and a relief area, positioned on the back side behind the inner leg seam, having a perimeter defined by an arcuate first side seam and a linear second side seam. The relief area may comprise a right material panel and a left material panel partially overlapping one another, each panel having a first side, a second side and a free edge, wherein the first sides of the panels are connected to the back side at the arcuate first side seam and wherein the second sides of the panels are connected to a respective leg at the inner leg seam. The relief area lies in a first position behind a genital region of a wearer when the wearer is in an upright posture, and in a second position over the genital region of the wearer when the wearer is in a seated or squatting posture.

The free edge of one of the left panel or the right panel is adapted to be pulled away from, respectively, the right leg or the left leg to create an opening for elimination when the wearer is in a seated or squatting posture.

The front side of the body-encircling portion may include a front center seam extending from a top of the body-encircling portion vertically to the inner leg seam.

The back side of the body-encircling portion may include a rear center seam extending from a top of the body-encircling portion to a top of the arcuate first side seam.

The left panel and right panel may overlap in the relief area by about 10-30% of the surface area of the panels.

The free edge of a panel may include at least one of: elastic tape, elastic adhesive, or a flat seam.

The right leg portion is connected to the left leg portion by a front center seam extending from a top of the body-encircling portion vertically to the inner leg seam and by a rear center seam from the top of the body-encircling portion to a top of the arcuate first side seam. The inner leg seam and the front center seam may be substantially perpendicular. The free edge of the left panel may not parallel to the rear center seam, and may be positioned to the right of the rear and front center seams, and the free edge of the right panel may not be parallel to the rear center seam, and may positioned to the left of the rear and front center seams.

The arcuate side of a panel may meet the linear side at an acute angle. The acute angle may between about 15-55 degrees.

The material of the body-encircling portion may be one of: an elastic knit material, an elastic woven material, an elastic non-woven material, an elastic non-knitted material.

The material of the right and left panels may be one of: an elastic knit material, an elastic woven material, an elastic non-woven fabric, or an elastic non-knitted material.

The right and left panels may have the same shape.

The free edges of the right and left panels may not be parallel to each other.

The right and left panels may overlap a first amount proximal to the arcuate side, and a second amount proximal to the linear side, wherein the first amount is larger than the second amount.

An area defined by the overlapped panels may be substantially triangular.

The first side may comprise an arcuate side, and the second side may comprise a linear side.

The woman's bottom garment may include an outer right leg seam and an outer left leg seam. The inner leg seam may be the length of the linear second side seam.

In another possible embodiment, the inventive subject matter is directed to a method of making a woman's bottom garment that includes forming a body-encircling material portion having a right leg portion and a left leg portion, a front side, and a back side by connecting the back side to the front side at an inner leg seam and a front center seam perpendicular to the inner leg seam; positioning a relief area on the back side behind the inner leg seam, the relief area comprising a right material panel and a left material panel partially overlapping one another, each panel having a first side, a second side and a free edge; connecting the first sides of the panels to the back side of the body-encircling portion at an arcuate first side seam; connecting the second sides of the panels to a respective leg portion at the inner leg seam; and connecting the body-encircling material portion at the back side at a rear center seam extending tangentially vertically from the arcuate first side seam.

In another possible embodiment, the inventive subject matter is directed to a woman's bottom garment, comprising: a body-encircling material portion having a front side, a back side, a right leg portion and a left leg portion; a right leg extending below the right leg portion and a left leg extending below the left leg portion; an inner leg seam extending from an inner part of the right leg to an inner part of the left leg through a crotch; and means for providing a covered accessible opening positioned on the back side behind the inner leg seam. The means for providing the covered accessible opening may lie in a first position behind a genital region of a wearer when the wearer is in an upright posture, and in a second position over the genital region of the wearer when the wearer is in a seated or squatting posture.

The garment may be formed as a single unitary or woven construct.

The foregoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list of embodiments and features of the inventive subject matter. Persons skilled in the art can appreciate other embodiments and features from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings. These and other embodiments are described in more detail in the following detailed descriptions and the figures.

The following is a description of various inventive lines under the inventive subject matter. The appended claims, as originally filed in this document, or as subsequently amended, are hereby incorporated into this Summary section as if written directly in.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended figures show embodiments according to the inventive subject matter, unless noted as showing prior art.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a garment according to various embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the garment show in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows left and right panels of a relief area according to various embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows an area of overlap of the panels in the relief area according to various embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows a cut-away view of the garment while worn in a standing posture.

FIG. 6 shows a cut-away view of the garment while worn in a squatting or seated posture.

FIG. 7 shows a view from below the wearer while the wearer is in a standing posture.

FIG. 8 shows a view of the crotch area of the garment when the panels are in an overlapped position.

FIG. 9 shows a view of the crotch area of the garment when the panels are pulled apart to reveal the opening.

FIG. 10 shows a view of the crotch area of a garment where the panels are not the same shape, in an overlapped position.

FIG. 11 shows a view of the crotch area of the garment when the panels in FIG. 10 are pulled apart to reveal the opening.

FIG. 12 shows a rear view of an alternate embodiment of a garment

FIG. 13 shows a cut-away view of the garment in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows a front view of another alternate embodiment of a garment.

FIG. 15 shows a rear view the garment in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representative embodiments according to the inventive subject matter are shown in FIGS. 1-15, wherein the same or generally similar features share common reference numerals.

The inventive subject matter generally relates to a bottom garment for women that provides a covered accessible opening for elimination without adding bulky layers or excess seaming in the crotch area, improving comfort. The covered accessible opening of bottom garment may include two partially overlapping panels that can be manually pulled apart to reveal the opening. The covered accessible opening may be positioned on the rear or seat of the bottom garment, behind a center leg seam line, such that when the wearer is in a standing posture, the panels are not visible from the front of the garment, and the overlapped portion of the panels is behind the opening to the urethra, and may be behind the entire genital area of the wearer. When the wearer crouches, squats, or sits, the overlapped portion of the panels shifts forward over the genital area sufficiently to allow elimination when the panels are pulled open.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of a woman's bottom garment 100. The garment 100 may include a body-encircling portion 110 and, optionally, a waist panel 102. The body-encircling portion 110 and waist panel 102 may generally, when worn, cover the buttocks, hips and pelvic area of the wearer.

The garment 100 may include a right leg 112a and a left leg 112b. (As used herein, “right” and “left” are defined according to the perspective of the wearer.) The legs 112 may be a continuation of the fabric used to form the body-encircling portion 110. The legs 112 may be generally tubular, and may have a continuous single leg seam 114 positioned on the inner side of the legs 112 that extends from the bottom opening of one leg, through a crotch region 116, to the bottom opening of the opposite leg. The crotch region 116 refers to the area between a wearer's legs that is generally downward facing when the wearer is in a standing posture.

The right and left sides of the body-encircling portion 110 may be connected together at a front center seam 118. The front center seam 118 may connect perpendicularly to the leg seam 114 in the crotch region 116. The front center seam 118 may end at the top of the body-encircling portion 110. In an embodiment, there may be no seams on the outsides of the legs or hips. Accordingly, the front side of the garment may “connect” to the back side of the garment at the inner leg seam 114. That is, the material that forms the right or left side of the garment may be continuous and seamless from a front side of the leg seam 114 around that leg to the back side of the leg seam.

When included, the waist panel 102 may be connected to the body-encircling portion 110 at a waist seam 104, which may be perpendicular to the front center seam 118.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the woman's bottom garment 100. The back side of the garment 100 includes a relief area 220. The relief area 220 provides a covered accessible opening, and has an outer perimeter defined by an arcuate side seam 224 and a linear side seam 226. The seams 224 and 226 meet at the points 221. The relief area 220 includes a right panel 222a and a left panel 222b that overlap partially. The linear side seam 226 may join each panel 222 with the front side of the legs 112 at the leg seam 114. The linear side seam 226 may refer to the part of leg seam 114 that is between the points 221. The linear side seam 226 joins two pieces of material (the panel material and the leg material), and is thus no bulkier than the leg seam 114 lower on the legs, which joins the front side of the legs to the back side of the legs.

In alternative embodiments, the arcuate side seam 224 may have shapes other than the smooth curve as shown. For example, the seam 224 may be polygonal, with a plurality of straight line segments angled with respect to each other to form a generally curved shape, or may be formed by three sides of a square or rectangle.

The arcuate side seam 224 joins another side of each panel to a respective side of the back side of the body-encircling portion 110. That is, the curved side of left panel 222b is connected to the left back side above the left leg 112b, and the curved side of the right panel 222a is connected to the right back side above the right leg 112a.

Each panel 222a, 222b has a respective free edge 228a, 228b. The free edge 228 is connected at a top point to the arcuate side seam 224 and at a bottom point to the linear side seam 226 but is not connected to any other material along its length. As illustrated, right panel 222a overlaps left panel 222b and thus only the free edge 228a is visible from the outside of the garment 100. In another embodiment, the left panel 222b may overlap the right panel 222a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the overlapping panels provide complete coverage of the buttocks of the wearer. This coverage is in place in both a standing posture and a seated or squatting posture.

The left and right parts of the back side of the body-encircling portion 110 above the relief area 220 may be joined at a rear center seam 218. The bottom point of the rear center seam 218 may connect tangentially at the top of the arcuate side seam 224. The top point of the rear center seam 218 may end at the top of the body-encircling portion 110 or may be connected perpendicularly to the waist seam 104. Alternatively, the top of the relief area 220 may be at the top of the body-encircling portion, with no separate side seam.

The free edges 228 may be positioned off-center, i.e. to the left and right on the rear center seam 218. In some embodiments, the free edges 228 may not be parallel to the rear center seam 218. In some embodiments, the free edges 228 may not be parallel to each other.

Although the legs 112 as shown are relatively long, the legs 112 may be longer or shorter. For example, the legs 112 may extend only to the lower end of the relief area 220, e.g., to points 221, to mid-thigh, to just above the knee, to below the knee, to mid-calf, or to the ankle.

The garment 100 may be generally form-fitting, meaning that the material of the garment conforms to the shape of the wearer's body, e.g., is in contact with the body, without hanging loosely. In an embodiment, the entire garment 100 is form-fitting. In another embodiment, the body-encircling portion 110 and the relief area 220 are form-fitting, while the legs below the relief area 220 may be looser fitting.

The garment may be made of a variety of elastic materials, for example, elastic woven materials, elastic knitted materials, elastic non-woven, non-knitted materials. The material of garment 100 may be made from natural materials, such as cotton, bamboo, or wool, from synthetic material such as polyester, rayon, nylon, or polyurethane, or from a blend of two or more natural and/or synthetic materials. In an embodiment, the entire garment 100 may be made from the same material. In another embodiment, the materials of the body-encircling portion 110, the relief area 220, the waist panel 102, and/or the legs 112 may differ from the materials of one or more of the other garment parts.

The seams 104, 114, 118, 218, 224 and 226 may generally be flat, e.g., a Butt seam, or serged, and may also behave at least somewhat elastically. The seams may be stitched, e.g., with a zig-zag stitch, covering stitch, or a chain stitch.

In an alternate embodiment, the garment 100 may have outer seams along the outside faces of the legs 112 instead of the inner leg seam 114. In such an embodiment, the relief area 220 would still include the linear seam 226 portion of the inner leg seam 114, but the inner leg seam would not extend below the point 221.

In various embodiments, the garment may be formed as a unitary knit or woven construction that is partly or completely seamless. In such an embodiment, the inner leg seam may refer to the vertical center of the inner legs of the garment, the front center seam may refer to the vertical center line of the front part of the garment, the rear center seam may refer to the vertical center line on the back of the document. The relief area may not be defined by seams, but may still have two free edges that overlap as described above and below and that are positioned behind the inner leg “seam”.

FIG. 3 shows the left and right panels 222 separate from each other and not connected to a garment. The panels 222 may have the same shape as each other. That is, the two panels 222 can be arranged, when loose, such that each exactly overlaps the other. Alternatively, the panels 222 may have different shapes with respect to each other. Each panel may have three sides: the free edge 228, an arcuate side 334, and a linear side 336. The arcuate side 334 may have a curved top that may straighten to be linear and ending at the point 221. The linear side 336 may be substantially linear. In some embodiments, the top of the linear side 336 may curve slightly near the free edge 228 to accommodate the transition of the leg into the crotch region. The linear side 336 may be shorter than the arcuate side 334, for example, one half of the length, one third of the length, one quarter of the length, two-thirds of the length, and so forth.

In an embodiment where the arcuate side seam 224 is not a smooth curve, the arcuate side 334 of the panels may have linear components to allow the arcuate side 334 of the panel to be connected to and match the arcuate side seam 224.

Where the arcuate side 334 meets the linear side 336, at point 221, the two sides may form an angle 330. The angle 330 may be an acute angle, for example, 45, 30, 15, or 55 degrees.

The free edges 228 may be straight, or may have some curvature. The free edges 228 may be finished, for example, with an elastic tape or a flat bonded tape, and/or may be finished with a sewn flat seam. The free edges 228 may have some degree of elasticity, such that when the wearer pulls free edges 228a and 228b away from each other, the freed edges stretch, allowing the opening revealed by their separation to be enlarged.

FIG. 4 shows the area of overlap 402 of the panels 222 in the relief area 220. As shown, the top points of the free edges 228a and 228b are separated by a linear distance w1, and the bottom points of the free edges are separated by a linear distance w2. The distance w1 may be longer than w2. In an embodiment, in a non-limiting example, w1 may be about 5 inches, while w2 may be about 1.25 inches. The lengths of w1 and w2 may be determined in part by the size of the garment, although the relationship of w1 to w2 may be determined by a constant ratio, e.g., 5:1, 4:1, 5:2, 3:1. Thus, an amount of overlap of the panels proximal to the arcuate side of the perimeter may be greater than an amount of overlap of the panels proximal to the linear side of the perimeter.

Accordingly, the panels 222 may overlap by a percentage of the total surface area of one panel, generally by less than 100%. In some embodiments, the percentage of overlap may be between about 5% to about 35%, for example, 10%, 20%, or 30%. Having a relatively small percentage of overlap reduces the overall bulk and weight of material in the relief area, improving comfort, breathability, and the visual aspects of the garment.

The shape of the area of overlap 402 may be determined according to the shape of the panels, and the percentage and positioning of the overlap. As shown, for example, the shape may be substantially triangular. Also, as shown, the shape of the overlapped portion may be symmetrical about the center line, as defined by the center seams 118, 218. Alternatively, when the panels have a different shape with respect to each other, the shape of the overlapped portion may be asymmetrical with respect to the center line.

FIG. 5 shows a cut-away side view of the garment 100 while worn in a standing posture. In particular, the view shows the left leg 112b of the garment, the left panel 222b and the free edge 228a of the right panel. The front center seam 118 meets the leg seam 114/linear side seam 226 perpendicularly.

In the illustrated embodiment, the leg seam 114/linear side seam 226 is worn in approximately the center of the inner leg, between the front side and the back side of the leg 112. This places the leg seam 114/linear side seam 226 behind the genital area 502. As used herein, the genital area 502 refers to the area on female anatomy between and including the vaginal opening and the urethral opening, e.g., the area covered by the labia.

Accordingly, the relief area, e.g., panels 222, is also positioned behind the genital area 502 while the wearer is in a standing posture. The relief area of the garment may cover the anus of the wearer (not shown) while the wearer is in a standing posture.

FIG. 6 shows a cut-away side view of the garment 100 while worn in a squatting or seated posture. As in FIG. 5, the view shows the left leg 112b of the garment, the left panel 222b and the free edge 228a of the right panel. When the wearer sits or squats, the angle between the legs 112 and the body-encircling portion increases from roughly 0 degrees to 30, 40, up to 90 degrees, or possibly greater than 90 degrees in a deep squat. The elasticity of the garment causes the relief panel to shift relative to the genital area 502, which is now positioned substantially behind the leg seam 114/linear side seam 226. Consequently, when the free edges 228 are drawn away from each other to reveal an opening, as will be shown below, the wearer may urinate or defecate through the opening without soiling the garment.

FIG. 7 shows a view of the garment from below the wearer while the wearer is in a standing posture. FIG. 7 shows, again, that the leg seam 114 is positioned behind the genital area 502, which is centered on the front center seam 118.

The right panel 222a is shown as overlapping, e.g., outside of, the left panel 222b so that the free edge 228a of the right panel 222a is visible from the outside, while the free edge 228b of the left panel 222b is not visible from the outside. In another embodiment, the left panel 222b may overlap the right panel 222a. Of note is that the part where the panels 222 overlap may be the only part of the garment having two layers of material, reducing the bulk of the garment compared to many conventional solutions. Further the overlapped part is generally away from the genital area 502, which improves comfort and breathability for that area.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the relief area on the garment from below the wearer, in closed and open configurations, while the wearer is in a squatting or seated posture. FIG. 8 shows a view of the crotch area of the garment when the panels are closed, e.g., in an overlapped position. Of note is that, as in FIG. 6, a seated or squatting posture of the wearer has caused the relief area of panels 222a and 222b to shift forward over the genital area 502.

FIG. 9 shows a view of the crotch area of the garment when the panels are pulled apart to reveal the opening. The wearer has pulled each free edge 228a and 228b across the center line (as defined by center seams 118 and 218) away from the other to create the opening 902. The wearer is then free to perform the necessary elimination function without exposing any additional parts of the body and without soiling the garment.

In some embodiments, the opening 902 may be created automatically when the wearer squats or sits, without having to manually pull the free edges apart. Alternatively, the opening 902 may open partially automatically, and the wearer may pull the free edges apart further to enlarge the opening.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an alternate embodiment where the panels are not the same shape. For example, right panel 1022a may be larger than left panel 1022b. Free edges 1028a and 1028b may be positioned on the same side relative to the center line defined by center front seam 1018. As seen in FIG. 11, in the illustrated embodiment, only one free edge, e.g., free edge 1028a, may need to be pulled aside to expose the opening 1102. This may be possible when one of the panels, e.g. panel 1022b, does not extend past the center line.

FIG. 12 shows a rear view of an embodiment of a garment 1200. The garment 1200 may be similar to the garment 100. The relief area 1220 may have a smaller surface area relative to the relief area 220. The rear seam 1218 may, accordingly, be relatively longer than the rear seam 118. When worn, the relief area 1220 may cover less of the buttock area of the wearer due to its smaller surface area and may, accordingly, be less visible compared to the relief area 220 while still providing a covered accessible opening.

In an embodiment, the free edges, e.g., free edge 1228a, may have a larger degree of curvature compared to the free edges 228. This may provide a larger opening when the free edges 1228 are pulled away from each other.

FIG. 13 shows a cut-away side view of the garment 1200 while worn in a standing posture. In particular, the view shows the left leg 1212b of the garment, the left panel 1222b and the free edge 1228a of the right panel. The front center seam 1318 meets the leg seam 1214/linear side seam 1226 perpendicularly.

The inner leg seam 1214/linear side seam 1226 may be positioned on the inner leg 1212b slightly forward of a center line, instead of substantially on the center line as in the garment 100. For example, if the width of the leg 1212b, when laid flat, is 8 units, the inner leg seam may be positioned, for example, at 3 units, 3.5 units, 3.8 units, or 2.9 units from the front of the leg, rather than at the 4 unit distance.

Because the inner leg seam 1214 is slightly forward of center, the front of the relief area 1120 is also shifted forward slightly. Accordingly, some part of the back of the genital area 502 may be covered by the front of the relief area while the wearer is in a standing posture. When the wearer sits or squats (not shown), the relief area 1120 may be positioned somewhat more forwardly, compared to the relief area 220.

FIG. 14 shows a front view of an embodiment of a garment 1400. FIG. 15 shows a rear view of the garment 1400. The garment 1400 may have outer leg seams 1418a, 1418b instead of a center seam. The front side of the garment, e.g., the front of the waist-encircling portion and the front of the legs 1412 may be a unitary piece of material. Similarly, the back side of the garment, not including the relief area, may be a second unitary piece of material. The back side may be joined to the front side at the inner leg seam 1414 and the outer leg seams 1418a, b. The relief area may be joined to the rest of the garment at the arcuate seam 1424 and the linear seam 1426. Alternatively, the entire garment may be a single unitary knit or woven construct without seams 1418, 1424, 1426, or 1414.

Accordingly, embodiments of the woman's bottom garment may provide a concealed accessible opening for elimination. The relief area may be positioned primarily on the back side of the garment, and may shift forward sufficiently when the wearer sits or squats so as to allow elimination when the free edges of the panels in the relief area are pulled away from each other. The embodiments reduce the number of seams in contact with areas that may chafe, such as the inner thighs and groin area, and reduce the bulk of the material of the accessible covering, compared to conventional solutions.

As used herein, “and/or” means “and” or “or”, as well as “and” and “or.” Moreover, all patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes. The principles described above in connection with any particular example can be combined with the principles described in connection with any one or more of the other examples. Accordingly, this detailed description shall not be construed in a limiting sense, and following a review of this disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the wide variety of fluid heat exchange systems that can be devised using the various concepts described herein. Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein can be adapted to various configurations without departing from the disclosed principles.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed innovations. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the disclosed inventions are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of this disclosure, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or “step for”.

Thus, in view of the many possible embodiments to which the disclosed principles can be applied, it should be recognized that the above-described embodiments are only examples and should not be taken as limiting in scope. All rights to claim the subject matter disclosed herein are reserved, including the right to claim any and all combinations of subject matter described herein, including but not limited to all that comes within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Claims

1. A woman's bottom garment comprising:

a body-encircling material portion having a front side, a back side, a right leg portion and a left leg portion;

a right leg extending below the right leg portion and a left leg extending below the left leg portion;

an inner leg seam extending from an inner part of the right leg to an inner part of the left leg through a crotch; and

a relief area, positioned on the back side behind the inner leg seam, having a perimeter defined by an arcuate first side seam and a linear second side seam, the relief area comprising a right material panel and a left material panel partially overlapping one another, each panel having a first side, a second side and a free edge, wherein the first sides of the panels are connected to the back side at the arcuate first side seam and wherein the second sides of the panels are connected to a respective leg at the inner leg seam;

wherein the relief area lies in a first position behind a genital region of a wearer when the wearer is in an upright posture, and in a second position over the genital region of the wearer when the wearer is in a seated or squatting posture.

2. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the free edge of at least one of the left panel or the right panel is adapted to be pulled away from, respectively, the right leg or the left leg to create an opening for elimination when the wearer is in a seated or squatting posture.

3. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the front side of the body-encircling portion comprises a front center seam extending from a top of the body-encircling portion vertically to the inner leg seam.

4. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the back side of the body-encircling portion comprises a rear center seam extending from a top of the body-encircling portion to a top of the arcuate first side seam.

5. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the left panel and right panel overlap in the relief area by about 10-30% of the surface area of the panels.

6. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the free edge of a panel comprises at least one of: elastic tape, elastic adhesive, or a flat seam.

7. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the right leg portion is connected to the left leg portion by a front center seam extending from a top of the body-encircling portion vertically to the inner leg seam and by a rear center seam from the top of the body-encircling portion to a top of the arcuate first side seam.

8. The woman's bottom garment of claim 7, wherein the inner leg seam and the front center seam are substantially perpendicular.

9. The woman's bottom garment of claim 7, wherein the free edge of the left panel is not parallel to the rear center seam, and is positioned to the right of the rear and front center seams, and wherein the free edge of the right panel is not parallel to the rear center seam, and is positioned to the left of the rear and front center seams.

10. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein for each panel, the arcuate side meets the linear side at an acute angle.

11. The woman's bottom garment of claim 10, wherein the acute angle is between about 15-55 degrees.

12. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the material of the body-encircling portion is one of: an elastic knit material, an elastic woven material, an elastic non-woven material, an elastic non-knitted material.

13. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the material of the right and left panels is one of: an elastic knit material, an elastic woven material, an elastic non-woven fabric, or an elastic non-knitted material.

14. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the right and left panels have the same shape.

15. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the free edges of the right and left panels are not parallel to each other.

16. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein right and left panels overlap a first amount proximal to the arcuate side, and a second amount proximal to the linear side, wherein the first amount is larger than the second amount.

17. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein an area defined by the overlapped panels is substantially triangular.

18. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, wherein the first side comprises an arcuate side, and wherein the second side comprises a linear side.

19. The woman's bottom garment of claim 1, comprising an outer right leg seam and an outer left leg seam.

20. The woman's bottom garment of claim 19, wherein the inner leg seam is the length of the linear second side seam.

21. A method of making a woman's bottom garment, comprising:

forming a body-encircling material portion having a right leg portion and a left leg portion, a front side, and a back side by connecting the back side to the front side at an inner leg seam and a front center seam perpendicular to the inner leg seam;

positioning a relief area on the back side behind the inner leg seam, the relief area comprising a right material panel and a left material panel partially overlapping one another, each panel having a first side, a second side and a free edge;

connecting the first sides of the panels to the back side of the body-encircling portion at an arcuate first side seam;

connecting the second sides of the panels to a respective leg portion at the inner leg seam; and

connecting the body-encircling material portion at the back side at a rear center seam extending tangentially vertically from the arcuate first side seam.

22. A woman's bottom garment, comprising:

a body-encircling material portion having a front side, a back side, a right leg portion and a left leg portion;

a right leg extending below the right leg portion and a left leg extending below the left leg portion;

an inner leg seam extending from an inner part of the right leg to an inner part of the left leg through a crotch; and

means for providing a covered accessible opening positioned on the back side behind the inner leg seam;

wherein the means for providing the covered accessible opening lies in a first position behind a genital region of a wearer when the wearer is in an upright posture, and in a second position over the genital region of the wearer when the wearer is in a seated or squatting posture.

23. The women's bottom garment of claim 22, wherein the garment is formed as a single unitary or woven construct.