GB2353693A

GB2353693A - Undergarment for men

Info

Publication number: GB2353693A
Application number: GB9920328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zbigniew Meres
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-28
Filing date: 1999-08-28
Publication date: 2001-03-07
Also published as: GB9920328D0

Abstract

An undergarment 30 for men comprising an inner layer 20 and an outer layer 10 attached to each other. A front portion 17 of the inner layer 20 is provided with an aperture 21. When a man wears the undergarment 30, his male genitalia are passed through the aperture 21, so that the inner layer 20 lies directly against the underlying skin, and the male genitalia is located between the inner and outer layers 20, 10 of the undergarment 30. The inner layer 20 may be made from a stretchable fabric such as a knitted fabric. An opening 4 may be provided in a front portion of the outer layer 10, wherein the outer layer 10 may take the form of any typical male undergarments such as boxer shorts, jockey shorts or long johns. The male undergarment 30 alleviates soreness caused by rubbing or chaffing between male genitalia and surrounding areas of skin.

Description

1 2353693 An hnproved Undergarment For Men The invention relates to an

undergarment for men, and in particular to an undergarment constructed to alleviate any soreness that a male wearer may experience as a result of rubbing or chaffing between his genitalia and other surrounding areas of skin.

Undergarments for men typically comprise a single layered garment made from either woven or knitted fabric. Such undergarments are usually made so that when they are worn, they surround the lower trunk region of the wearer's body meeting between the wearer's legs just below his crotch. An opening is normally provided in the front of the garment to allow access for urinating. The opening is typically an overlapping fly opening that is often closeable by means of buttons or the like.

Such typical male undergarments provide a barrier between a wearer's lower torso and his outer garments. They also protect the wearer's modesty when he is not wearing any outer garments. Typical male undergarments may prevent skin becoming sore due to aggravation from close fitting outer garments. However most typical male undergarments do not adequately prevent skin becoming sore as a result of rubbing or chaffing between a wearer's genitalia and surrounding areas of skin. Such rubbing or chaffing is most likely to occur when a wearer's skin becomes hot and sweaty, especially during periods of hot weather.

The invention aims to provide an undergarment for men that offers improved comfort both when walking and sitting down, by preventing the wearer's skin from becoming sore due to rubbing or chaffing between his genitalia and surrounding areas of skin.

2 According to the invention, an undergarment for men comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the inner and outer layers are attached to each other, and the inner layer includes an aperture in its front portion so that when the undergarment is worn, male genitalia is passed through the aperture such that the inner layer lies directly against the underlying skin, and the male genitalia is located between the inner and outer layers of the undergarment.

The inner layer provides the main advantage of such an undergarment for men. The provision of the inner layer, complete with aperture, means that when a man wears an undergarment according to the invention, a barrier can effectively be positioned between his genitalia and other surrounding areas of skin. Thus these two areas of skin are prevented from rubbing or chaffing together, consequently preventing the occurrence of any soreness.

As well as providing relief from rubbing or chaffing, for example during periods of hot weather, the undergarment of the invention may also prevent, to a certain extent, rubbing or chaffing resulting from minor incontinence problems or other uncomfortable genital dampness.

The outer layer of the undergarment of the invention offers the wearer the same advantages as typical undergarments, including protection from outer layer of clothing.

The aperture provided in the inner layer of the undergarment may be adjustable in size, and this adjustment, for example, may be effected by means of hook and loop fastening. This allows a man to adjust the aperture when wearing the undergarment, so ensuring that a comfortable fit can be obtained.

3 The inner and outer layers may be stitched together, and in a preferred embodiment they are stitched together along their seams. This ensures that when the undergarment is worn, the outer layer is prevented from 'riding around' the wearer's trunk region, which could lead to a certain amount of discomfort. The stitching is also advantageous in that it prevents the two layers from becoming separated when the undergarment is not being worn e.g. during washing of the undergarment.

It is also preferable that the outer layer is provided with an opening to provide access at the front of the undergarment, as in typical undergarments for men.

The inner layer of the undergarment may be made from a stretchable fabric. This provides comfort for the wearer in that it allows the inner is layer to fit snugly around the wearer's lower trunk region.

The inner layer of the undergarment may also be made from an absorbent fabric. This could be useful for men who suffer from minor incontinence.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner layer of the undergarment is made from a knitted fabric.

Reinforced machining may surround the aperture in the inner layer of the undergarment. The reinforced machining ensures that the aperture retains its shape which otherwise could adversely affect the comfort of the undergarment.

The nature or appearance of the outer layer of the undergarment of the invention may be chosen to meet with a wearer's personal tastes, as in 4 typical undergarments. For example, the outer layer may take the form of a pair of boxer shorts, a pair of jockey shorts or a pair of long johns.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows an outer layer of a male undergarment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows an inner layer of a male undergarment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 shows a male undergarment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, including the outer layer of Figure 1, and the inner layer of Figure 2 shown as a dotted line.

An outer layer 10 of a male undergarment in accordance with the invention is shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the outer layer is in the form of a pair of jockey shorts.

A front panel 7 and a back panel 8 of the outer layer 10 are stitched together along side seams 5, 6. They are also stitched together along a crotch seam 9 located between two leg openings 2, 3. An overlapping fly opening 4 is provided in the front panel 7 of the outer layer 10.

The outer layer 10 can be made from any type of woven or knitted fabric, including fabrics woven from cotton or silk.

An inner layer 20 of a male undergarment in accordance with the invention is shown in Fig. 2.

As with the outer layer 10 of Fig. 1, a front panel 17 and a back panel (not shown) are stitched together along side seams 15, 16. They are also stitched together along a crotch seam 19 located between two leg openings 12, 13.

An aperture 21 is provided in the front panel 17 of the inner layer 20.

The position of the aperture 21 in Fig. 2 is not shown relative to the rest of the inner layer 20. In use, the position of the aperture 21 is located so that when a man is wearing the completed undergarment 30 (Fig. 3), the aperture 21 is positioned at the top of the man's legs. The man's genitalia can then be comfortably inserted through the aperture 21, so that the inner layer lies between them and surrounding areas of skin with a minimal amount of distortion of the inner layer.

In this embodiment, the surrounding seam 22 is not shown clearly.

In a further embodiment, the surrounding seam 22 includes a section of hook and loop fastening. This allows the size of the aperture 21 to be adjusted.

In a yet further embodiment, the surrounding seam 22 is machined so that reinforced machining surrounds the aperture 21.

The inner layer 20 can be made from any fabric that provides a comfortable fit around a wearer's lower trunk region. In preferred embodiments the fabric is stretchable to ensure a snug and comfortable fit.

6 The fabric used in such embodiments may be a knitted fabric such as a lock-knit fabric.

An undergarment 30 in accordance with the invention is shown in Fig. 3. 5 In the completed undergarment 30, the inner layer 20 (shown in a dashed line) has been inserted inside the outer layer 10 so that corresponding openings are aligned with each other.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer layers 10, 20 are stitched together along their side seams 5, 6, 15 and 16. In further embodiments the inner and outer layers 10, 20 can be stitched together at different positions around the garment.

The waistband 11 that extends around the top of the outer layer 10 of the complete garment 30 is elasticated. This ensures that when the garment 30 is worn, the waistband 11 can be positioned around the wearer's waist, without the risk of the garment 30 falling down.

In farther embodiments, other methods of securing the undergarment 30 around a wearer's waist can be employed.

Claims

7 CLAIMS

1. An undergarment for men comprising an inner and outer layer, wherein the inner and outer layers are attached to each other, and the inner layer includes an aperture in its front portion so that when the undergarment is worn, male genitalia is passed through the aperture such that the inner layer lies directly against the underlying skin, and the male genitalia is located between the inner and outer layers of the undergarment.

2. An undergarment as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the aperture is adjustable in size.

3. An undergarment as claimed in Claims 2, wherein adjustment of 15 the size of the aperture is affected by means of hook and loop fastening.

4. An undergarment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the. er and outer layers are stitched together.

5. An undergarment as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the inner and outer layers are stitched together along their seams.

6. An undergarment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an opening is provided in a front portion of the outer layer.

7. An undergarment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner layer is made from a stretchable fabric.

8. An undergarment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the 30 inner layer is made from an absorbent fabric.

8

9. An undergarment as claimed in either of Claims 7 and 8, wherein the inner layer is made from a knitted fabric.

10. An undergarment as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the inner layer is 5 made from a lock-knit fabric.

11. An undergarment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein reinforced machining surrounds the aperture in the front portion of the innerlayer.

12. An undergarment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outer layer is in the form of a pair of boxer shorts.

13. An undergarment as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the 15 outer layer is in the form of a pair of jockey shorts.

14. An undergarment as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the outer layer is in the form of a pair of long johns.

15. An undergarment for men as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.