AU2003301230B2 - A garment - Google Patents

Description

A GARMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to garments in particular but not exclusively to a novel undergarment, beach or swimwear without a waistband and wherein the garment imparts the impression no briefs are being worn underneath clothes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior art fashionable garments are well known. The aim of fashion designers in this field is to design garments, particularly for women's fashion, that appear as if none are actually being worn. Such prior art designs have included hipster briefs, g-strings, the Brazilian thong which is also used as beach or swimwear and other designs, which invariably have a narrow support member passing between the cheeks of the wearer's buttocks. Invariably these briefs are also supported by a horizontal rear waistband. Such designs are prone to the problems of "riding up" the wearers body as a result of frictional contact with the outer garment, in most cases, pants or jeans, thereby causing discomfort by applying pressure to the perineal region of the wearer, colloquially known in Australia as a "wedgie". The wearer is continually required to adjust the position of the garment by pulling it through the outer clothing, which can be embarrassing and unsightly.

In addition, the top of the waistband of the inner garment is often exposed due to its riding up between the legs of the outer garment and this is especially evident when the wearer is bending over thereby revealing the garment over the top of outer garments such as shorts, trousers and skirts. The problem is exacerbated, as designs get briefer which do not position or locate the crutch panel without continual adjustment and discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, a smooth profile or contour of the buttocks cannot be attained in the interest of fashion by having a waistband or a panty line outlining the buttocks. In the modeling industry, this is often solved by models themselves not wearing any garments.

This however is not practical in the case of everyday wear nor for hygienic reasons.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an garment which alleviates some of the disadvantages of prior art garments as herein before mentioned or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION In one aspect therefore, the invention resides in a garment including in combination a crutch panel defined by a top edge and bottom edge, said top and bottom edges joined by side edges, said top and bottom edges and side edges defining top and bottom corners respectively on either side of the panel, a pair of leg encircling strap members, each strap member extending from a top corner to a corresponding bottom corner on either side of the panel, wherein in use, the strap members encircle each leg of a wearer preferably below the wearers hip line and extend under each buttock and the crutch panel is located and positioned without any portion of the garment covering the cheeks of the buttocks or extending across the back of the wearer.

In another aspect therefore, the invention resides in an garment including in combination a crutch panel defined by a top edge and bottom edge, said top and bottom edges joined by side edges, said top and bottom edges and side edges defining top and bottom corners, respectively on either side of the panel, a pair of leg encircling strap members, each strap member extending from a top corner to a corresponding bottom corner on either side of the panel, wherein in use, the strap members encircle each leg of a wearer preferably below the wearers hip line and extend under each buttock whereby each buttock is supported and lifted and the crutch panel is located and positioned without any portion of the garment covering the cheeks of the buttocks or across the back of the wearer to present a smooth contour of the buttocks and the wearer's back when covered by an outer garment.

Preferably, the crutch panel or the entire garment can be made of a disposable material.

Preferably the disposable material is an absorbent material adapted to absorb bodily fluids.

Preferably the leg encircling strap members are elasticised or are made of materials to look invisible and may include length adjustment means, for example, buckles or velcro means or hook and eye.

Alternately the strap members can be detachable from the crutch panel.

Preferably the crutch panel has a floating inner lining for preventing contact between and the inner surface of the crutch panel and the crotch of the wearer.

Preferably the garment or at least the crutch panel is of a stretchable material, for example, Lycra or nylon, and the inner lining is of an inert non-yeast propagating material such as pure cotton or cotton lycra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention be better understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein, Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention as an undergarment, Figures 2 and 3 show front, rear and side views of the invention as worn by a wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a preferred example of an undergarment herein described according to the invention.

The undergarment 10 comprises a substantially triangular crutch panel 12 having strap members 14, 16 extending from the top corners 12a, 12b on either side of the crutch panel and joining the bottom corners 12c, 12d of the crutch panel.

Preferably the crutch panel 12 is made of Lycra or nylon with an inner lining (not shown) of pure cotton to counteract any possibility of yeast based infections.

Preferably the front of the crutch panel 12 can have embroidery 13 or ornamental additions.

In order to use the undergarment, the wearer steps into the strap membersl4, 16, which encircle the legs of the wearer.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the undergarment 10 worn by the wearer 20 does not have a rear waistband and therefore this will not show through any clothes.

As shown in the rear view in Figure 3, the leg encircling members uplift the buttocks 20a, 20b to provide a better profile or contour beneath the clothes.

As shown in the side view in Figure 2, the leg encircling straps 14 extend on either side of the wearer's legs 20c from the top of the crutch panel 12a to the bottom of the crutch panel 12c and is angled downwards from front to rear.

As shown in the rear view in Figure 3, no strap members will be visible through clothing. Preferably the strap members 14, 16 are elasticised to provide a better fit or are typically a one size fits all fitting. In the alternative the strap members can have adjustment means such as Velcro tabs or adjustable buckles.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (9)

1. A garment including in combination a crutch panel defined by a top edge and bottom edge, said top and bottom edges joined by side edges, said top and bottom edges and side edges defining top and bottom corners, respectively on either side of the panel, a pair of leg encircling strap members, each strap member extending from a top corner to a corresponding bottom corner on either side of the panel, wherein in use, the strap members encircle each leg of a wearer and extend under each buttock and the crutch panel is located and positioned without any portion of the garment covering the cheeks of the buttocks or across the back of the wearer.

2. A garment including in combination a crutch panel defined by a top edge and bottom edge, said top and bottom edges joined by side edges, said top and bottom edges and side edges defining top and bottom corners, respectively on either side of the panel, a pair of leg encircling strap members, each strap member extending from a top corner to a corresponding bottom corner on either side of the panel, wherein in use, the strap members encircle each leg of a wearer and extend under each buttock whereby each buttock is supported and lifted and the crutch panel is located and positioned without any portion of the garment covering the cheeks of the buttocks or across the back of the wearer to present a smooth contour of the buttocks and the wearer's back when covered by an outer garment.

3. A garment according to claim 1 or 2 wherein, the crutch panel or the entire garment can be made of a disposable material.

4. A garment according to claim 3 wherein, the disposable material is an absorbent material adapted to absorb bodily fluids.

5. A garment according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, the leg encircling strap members are elasticised.

6. A garment according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the leg encircling strap members include length adjustment means, typically buckle or Velcro fastening means.

7. A garment according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein, the strap members are detachable from the crutch panel.

8. A garment according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, the crutch panel has a floating inner lining for preventing contact between and the inner surface of the crutch panel and the crotch of the wearer.

9. A garment according to claim 8 wherein, the garment or at least the crutch panel is of a stretchable material, for example, Lycra or nylon, and the inner lining is of an inert non-yeast propagating material such as pure cotton.