GB2085710A - Knickers - Google Patents

Abstract

An undergarment is provided with a ventilated portion 7 which is adjacent the perineum of a wearer when the undergarment is worn. The ventilated portion allows a relatively large amount of oxygen to be present at the perineum of the wearer. This makes it impossible for an anaerobic bacteria at the perineum to survive and thus substantially reduces the chances of infection of the urinary tract of the wearer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Knickers The present invention relates to undergarments, for instance of the types known as underpants, panties, and knickers.

According to the invention, there is provided an tindergarment having a ventilated portion arranged to be adjacent the perineum of a wearer when the undergarment is worn.

- Preferably, the ventilated portion is made from a material which is more porous than the material of remainder of the undergarment. The material of the ventilated portion may comprise a crotcheted portion.

The ventilated portion of the undergarment allows a relatively large amount of oxygen to be present at the perineum of the wearer. This provides a nonhostile environment for anaerobic bacteria at the perineum and thus substantially reduces the chances of infections of the urinary tract. The ventilated portion need not be limited to being adjacent the perineum when the undergarment is being worn, but can, for instance, extend so as to be adjacent the anus and/or gentalia.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a front view of an undergarment, in the form of a pair of underpants, constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates the undergarment of Figure 1 being worn.

The undergarment shown in the drawings com prises a pair of underpants for men, but could be readily adapted to provide a pair of "panties" for women, knickers, a combination undergarment ("long-johns"), or the like. The undergarment comprises a trunk portion 1 to be worn about the pelvic area of the body. At the top of the trunk portion 1, there is provided an elasticated waistband 2 and an ornamental lace edging 3. At the lower corners of the trunk portion 1, there are provided holes 3 through which the legs 4 of the wearer extend. The holes 3 are also provided with elasticated band 5 for gripping the legs of the wearer and lace edging 6.

A ventilated portion 7 is provided where the undergarment is in contact with the perineum of the wearer. The ventilated portion is in the form of a loosely-woven or crotcheted material which is con necked to the trunk portion 1 by stitching or the like.

The ventilated portion 7 thus provides substantially increased ventilation to the perineum of the wearer and consequently permits a large amount of oxygen from the atmosphere to be in the area of the perineum.

The relatively large amount of oxygen in the area of the perineum prevents or substantially reduces the growth and survival or anaerobic bacteria on the perineum. Such bacteria are present in the faeces and can, with conventional undergarments, give rise to symptoms of the urinary tract such as urgecny, nocturia, dysuria associated with infection of the bladder or prostate, enuresis and incon";nence.

However, because of the presence of the ventilated portion 7 in the area of the perineum, the chances of such infections are greatly reduced or eliminated.

Accordingly, need for conventional treatment, such as antibiotic treatment, coupled with particular attention to personal hygiene is also to reduce or eliminate these troubles. This is of advantage because conventional treatment of infections resulting from anaerobic bacteria is difficult as it is not always possible to isolate the bacteria concerned and to provide specific treatment therefor. In the past, such infections have been treated by symptomatic and palliative treatment consisting of eradication of bacteria, treatment by broad spectrum antibiotics, and symptomatic measures. Thus, regular washing of the perineum from front to back of the perineum together wearing of the undergarment provided with the ventilated portion 7 substantially eliminates the need for such treatment.

1. An undergarment having a ventilated portion arranged to be adjacent the perineum of a wearer when the undergarment is worn.

2. An undergarment as claimed in claim 1, in which the ventilated portion is made from a material which is more porous than the material of the remainder of the undergarment.

3. An undergarment as claimed in claim 2, in which the material of the ventilated portion comprises a crocheted portion.

4. An undergarment substantially as hereinbe fore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Knickers The present invention relates to undergarments, for instance of the types known as underpants, panties, and knickers. According to the invention, there is provided an tindergarment having a ventilated portion arranged to be adjacent the perineum of a wearer when the undergarment is worn. - Preferably, the ventilated portion is made from a material which is more porous than the material of remainder of the undergarment. The material of the ventilated portion may comprise a crotcheted portion. The ventilated portion of the undergarment allows a relatively large amount of oxygen to be present at the perineum of the wearer. This provides a nonhostile environment for anaerobic bacteria at the perineum and thus substantially reduces the chances of infections of the urinary tract. The ventilated portion need not be limited to being adjacent the perineum when the undergarment is being worn, but can, for instance, extend so as to be adjacent the anus and/or gentalia. The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a front view of an undergarment, in the form of a pair of underpants, constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates the undergarment of Figure 1 being worn. The undergarment shown in the drawings com prises a pair of underpants for men, but could be readily adapted to provide a pair of "panties" for women, knickers, a combination undergarment ("long-johns"), or the like. The undergarment comprises a trunk portion 1 to be worn about the pelvic area of the body. At the top of the trunk portion 1, there is provided an elasticated waistband 2 and an ornamental lace edging 3. At the lower corners of the trunk portion 1, there are provided holes 3 through which the legs 4 of the wearer extend. The holes 3 are also provided with elasticated band 5 for gripping the legs of the wearer and lace edging 6. A ventilated portion 7 is provided where the undergarment is in contact with the perineum of the wearer. The ventilated portion is in the form of a loosely-woven or crotcheted material which is con necked to the trunk portion 1 by stitching or the like. The ventilated portion 7 thus provides substantially increased ventilation to the perineum of the wearer and consequently permits a large amount of oxygen from the atmosphere to be in the area of the perineum. The relatively large amount of oxygen in the area of the perineum prevents or substantially reduces the growth and survival or anaerobic bacteria on the perineum. Such bacteria are present in the faeces and can, with conventional undergarments, give rise to symptoms of the urinary tract such as urgecny, nocturia, dysuria associated with infection of the bladder or prostate, enuresis and incon";nence. However, because of the presence of the ventilated portion 7 in the area of the perineum, the chances of such infections are greatly reduced or eliminated. Accordingly, need for conventional treatment, such as antibiotic treatment, coupled with particular attention to personal hygiene is also to reduce or eliminate these troubles. This is of advantage because conventional treatment of infections resulting from anaerobic bacteria is difficult as it is not always possible to isolate the bacteria concerned and to provide specific treatment therefor. In the past, such infections have been treated by symptomatic and palliative treatment consisting of eradication of bacteria, treatment by broad spectrum antibiotics, and symptomatic measures. Thus, regular washing of the perineum from front to back of the perineum together wearing of the undergarment provided with the ventilated portion 7 substantially eliminates the need for such treatment. CLAIMS

1. An undergarment having a ventilated portion arranged to be adjacent the perineum of a wearer when the undergarment is worn.

2. An undergarment as claimed in claim 1, in which the ventilated portion is made from a material which is more porous than the material of the remainder of the undergarment.

3. An undergarment as claimed in claim 2, in which the material of the ventilated portion comprises a crocheted portion.

4. An undergarment substantially as hereinbe fore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.