CA2462208A1

CA2462208A1 - Athletic support garment

Info

Publication number: CA2462208A1
Application number: CA 2462208
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rebecca M. Mclellan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-29
Filing date: 2004-03-29
Publication date: 2005-09-29

Abstract

An athletic support garment is disclosed. The athletic support garment has a n elastic waistband, a protective genital support pouch made of a wicking material, an d elastic leg straps. The waistband and leg straps hold the garment in place to prevent movement of th e garment. The pouch provides the genital area with warmth by wicking away the body's moisture, while at the same time preventing inclement weather or cold temperatures from chilling the genital area.

Description

2 BACKGROUND
[0001 ] Devices and garments for protecting portions of the human body against injury during strenuous work and athletic activity are known in the art. The most commonly known garments are the athletic supporter and the protective cup, which are both used to provide different degrees of protection for the genital region of the body from impact. The athletic supporter or jock strap is primarily used to support the genital region. The protective cup is used to protect the genital region from injury due to an impact blow.
[0002] In an attempt to improve the comfort of an athletic support, J.V.
Rotello in his U.S.
Patent, 3,963,022 issued June 15, 1976 discloses using a single piece of elastic waistband. The elastic waistband is intended to seek its own proper position on the wearer's body for maximum comfort and, at the same time, provide adjustability to accommodate both long and short torsos as well as broad and thin torsos. An elastic waistband, with Velcro fasteners in the harness of a panel support is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,622,962 issued November 18, 1986 to R.D. Kauffnan.

[0003] In difficult environmental conditions, such as cold (both indoor and outdoor), wind, rain and sleet, the male genital area can become chilled to the point of discomfort. To avoid this, additional layers of clothing may be worn. However, when participating in active or strenuous sports, the additional layers of clothing may hamper movement, become sodden with perspiration, or cause other body part to become uncomfortably warm etc.
SUMMARY

[0004] The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described below relate to an athletic support garment for use on a body having a waist, genitals, and legs. The athletic support garment includes: an elastic waistband operative to fit around the waist of said body; a pouch formed of a layer of wicking material having a top and a bottom, the top coupled with the waistband, the pouch operative to support the genitals of said body;
at least one elastic left leg strap having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled with the waistband, the second end coupled with the pouch, operative to fit behind the legs of said body; and at least one elastic right leg strap having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled with the waistband, the second end coupled with the pouch, operative to fit behind the legs of said body; whereby the waistband, pouch, left leg strap and right leg strap cooperate to fit closely to said body and prevent movement of the garn~ent on said body.

[0005] Further aspects and advantages of the invention are discussed below in conjunction with the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0007] FIG. 2 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the present invention;
and

(0008] FIG. 3 depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Herein, the phrase "coupled with" is defined to mean directly connected to or indirectly connected through one or more intermediate components.

[0010] Refernng now to FIG. I , a front view of an embodiment of an athletic support garment 1 is depicted. The athletic support garment 1 has an elastic waistband 3. The elastic waistband 3 is coupled with a protective genital support pouch 5 and two elastic material straps 7, 9. The straps 7, 9 are further coupled with the pouch 5 at strap coupling points 11, 13. The pouch 5 may be sewn to the waistband 3, the pouch 5 may be sewn to the straps 7, 9 and the straps 7, 9 may be sewn to the waistband 3. Alternately, any appropriate attachments may be used to couple the pouch 5 to the waistband 3, the pouch 5 to the straps 7, 9 and the straps 7, 9 to the waistband 3.

[0011] Refernng now to FIG. 2, a side view of an embodiment of the athletic support garment 1 of FIG 1 is depicted, and the strap coupling point 11 may be seen more clearly. The strap coupling point 11 is positioned to minimize and/or eliminate chafing to the genital area. The pouch 5 is coupled with the waistband 3 at pouch coupling point 25. In one embodiment, the pouch 5 is attached to the outside of the waistband 3 to prevent chafing to the waist of the wearer. The strap 7 is coupled with the waistband 3 at waistband coupling point 27. In one embodiment, the strap 7 is attached to the outside of the waistband 3 to prevent chafing to the waist of the wearer.

[0012] Refernng now to FIG. 3, a back view of an embodiment of the athletic support garment 1 is depicted on a body 15. The waistband 3 fits snugly around the waist 17. The straps 7, 9 fit snugly below the buttocks 19 and behind the legs 21, 23.

[0013] The waistband 3 may be of any dimension of comfort to the wearer. In one embodiment it is between 2 to 4 inches in width.

[0014] The protective genital support pouch 5 is positioned to be in contact with the genital region of the body 15 to provide support. The pouch 5 is made of at least one layer of wicking material such as Polartec~ Powerdry Fabrics, manufactured by Malden Mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts, that wicks moisture away from the genital area, provides breathability, and so maintains warmth and dryness in the genital area, thereby reducing the risk of heat stress build-up related to active outdoor and/or indoor sports. Alternately, the pouch 5 may be made of two or more layers of material. In this case, the innermost layer that is in contact with the genital region is formed of a wicking material. The outer layers) may also be formed of wicking materials, or may be formed from some other material, such as a windproof material. Where the material is a windproof material, it may be a breathable stretch polyurethane membrane. The layers may be manufactured separately, or may be manufactured as one sheet of fabric composed of multiple layers.
Various materials and layers may be employed depending on temperature, environmental conditions and so forth.

[0015] The straps 7, 9 may be of any dimension of comfort to the wearer. In one embodiment they are between '/4 to 1 inch in width. In one embodiment, as depicted in FIG
1 to 3, there is one strap 7 for the left leg 21, and one strap 9 for the right leg 23.
Alternately, multiple straps may be used for each leg.

[0016] In operation, the waistband 3, pouch 5 and straps 7, 9 cooperate to fit the garment 1 closely to the body 15 and prevent movement of the garment 1 on the body 15.
Specifically, the elastic nature of the waistband 3 and straps 7, 9 cooperate to hold the pouch 5 closely around the genital area of the body 15. This multi-purpose outdoor; inclement weather use athletic support garment 1 provides the genital area with warmth by wicking away the body's moisture, while at the same time preventing inclement weather or cold temperatures from chilling the genital area while the wearer is participating in rigorous athletic activity. By wicking away moisture from the genital area, the painful chafing is reduced or eliminated. The garment 1 is lightweight, easily donned, does not have excess material that would hamper the wearer, and is practical.

[0017] It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

The Embodiments of the Invention in which an Exclusive Property or Privilege is Claimed are Defined as Follows:

1. An athletic support garment for use on a body having a waist, genitals, and legs comprising:

an elastic waistband operative to fit around the waist of said body;

a pouch formed of a layer of wicking material having a top and a bottom, the top coupled with the waistband, the pouch operative to support the genitals of said body;

at least one elastic left leg strap having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled with the waistband, the second end coupled with the pouch, operative to fit behind the legs of said body;

at least one elastic right leg strap having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled with the waistband, the second end coupled with the pouch, operative to fit behind the legs of said body;

whereby the waistband, pouch, left leg strap and right leg strap cooperate to fit closely to said body and prevent movement of the garment on said body.

2. The athletic support garment of Claim 1, wherein the waistband further comprises an inner side and an outer side, the inner side being in contact with said body, and further wherein the pouch is coupled with the outer side of the waistband.

3. The athletic support garment of Claim 1, wherein the pouch further comprises an outer layer.

4. The athletic support garment of Claim 3, wherein the outer layer comprises a layer of wicking material.

5. The athletic support garment of Claim 3, wherein the outer layer comprises a layer of wind blocking material.

6. The athletic support garment of Claim 5, wherein the wind blocking material comprises a layer of breathable stretch-polyurethane.

7. The athletic support garment of Claim 1, wherein the waistband has a width of two to four inches.

8. The athletic support garment of Claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic right leg strap, and at least one elastic left leg strap each have a width of between 1/2 to 3/4 inches.