GB2465336A - An undergarment to cover the genitals but not the anus - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment 1 for men or women includes a waistband 2, a front panel 4 and two straps 6. The front panel extends between the waistband and a junction region (14, fig 2), the straps attach the junction region to the waistband. The junction region is located at the wearer's perineal region and the front panel extends over the wearer's genitalia. The straps extend to either side of the wearer's anus, preferably under a wearer's buttocks and around to a frontal region of the waistband. The waistband and/or the straps may be made from the same piece of material as the front panel. The straps may be adjustable and preferably form an angle of 30 to 90 degrees to each other at the junction. The garment can be worn to prevent, treat or reduce the spread of infection between the anus and vulva, and minimise the risk of perineal abscess formation.

Description

1 Garment 3 We, Professor-Emeritus Calbert Inglis Phillips MB ChB MD PhD DPH DO FRCS Eng 4 & Ed FRCOphth FBOA(Hon), of 5 Braid Mount Crest, Edinburgh, EH1O 6JN, Scotland, UK and Professor Charles Victor Clark MB ChB MD DSc ChM C Biol Fl 6 Biol FAIBioI FRCS Ed FRCOphth FRACO FRACS FRMS FAAO, of 20 St. Catherine's 7 Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1NU, Scotland, UK, do hereby declare that the invention for 8 which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be 9 performed, are as described in and by the following statement.

11 Field of the Invention

13 The invention relates to a garment, such as an item of underwear, swimwear or 14 fashion wear.

16 Background to the Invention

18 The anatomy of the female uro-genital area predisposes to infection due to the 19 proximity of the anus and vagina. Both orifices are characterised by a flora of bacteria and viruses and possibly also fungi and parasites. The anatomical area 21 separating the vagina and anus is the perineum, a short tract which is particularly 22 susceptible to infections leading, in some cases, to abscess formation requiring 23 surgery. Many currently fashionable forms of female underwear, e.g. thongs, provide 24 a direct physical line of contact between the vagina and anus, thereby promoting the 1 potential for cross-infection and abscess formation. Indeed, the development of 2 abscesses in the female is highest in the second to fourth decades, which is probably 3 the time of maximum usage of a thong as an item of female underwear.

There are two primary anatomical routes of infection which are addressed by the 6 present invention. Firstly, in females, infections can be transmitted directly between 7 the anus and vagina-urethra by the direct abrasive contact from existing underwear, 8 especially the thong. The current fashion for tight underwear promotes the risk of 9 infection by this route, particularly in the 15-35 age group, the period of highest cross-infection. Secondly, in both males and females, the risk of loss of a hair follicle is 11 exacerbated by direct abrasive contact of current underwear which may also produce 12 dermatitis in a moist, wet, sweaty environment. It should be noted that perineal 13 abcess is a surgical emergency, requiring an operation for debridement of the 14 abscess followed by daily painful "packing" for up to two months. Measures to minimise these risks are important, including the avoidance of mechanical irritation 16 and infection and dermatitis.

18 Accordingly, there is an unmet need for means to reduce the risk of infection by either 19 route (in the case of females) or by the second route (in the case of males).

21 Furthermore, the invention also takes into account the role of fashion in society.

22 From time immemorial, clothing has been selected with a balance between 23 appearance and comfort, with appearance often providing the major stimulus. For 24 example, although thongs may be uncomfortable for the wearer, they are often selected as the only available alternative to avoid the appearance of "visible panty 26 line" (VPL), which is a significant feature of fashion design. Thus, the invention aims 27 to provide means to reduce the risk of infection in females and males, while providing 28 a garment which is suitable for the fashion conscious and which may be considered 29 more comfortable to wear than a thong.

31 Summary of the invention

33 According to the present invention there is provided a garment comprising a 34 waistband portion, an anterior portion, and two strap portions, wherein the anterior portion extends from the waistband portion to a junction region from which the two 36 strap portions extend to the waistband portion, wherein the garment is formed and 37 arranged such that, in use, the anterior portion extends over a wearer's vulva (in the 1 case of a garment adapted for females) or male genitalia (in the case of a garment 2 adapted for males) and the junction region is located in the wearer's perineal region 3 such that the strap portions extend to either side of the wearer's anus.

Preferably, the wearer's anus is left uncovered. Thus, there is not a continuous body 6 of fabric extending from the wearer's anus to the wearer's vulva or male genitalia as 7 appropriate. This reduces the likelihood of the formation of perineal abscesses in 8 females and males and, in the case of females, reduces the risk of cross-infection 9 between the anus and vulva or urethra, or vice versa.

11 Thus, the garment may be adapted to be worn by females, in which case the anterior 12 portion extends over the wearer's vulva and the junction region is located between 13 the wearer's anus and vulva. Alternatively, the garment may be adapted to be worn 14 by males, in which case the anterior portion extends over the wearer's scrotum and penis, and the junction region is located between the wearer's anus and scrotum.

17 The anterior portion typically tapers from the waistband portion towards the junction 18 region. The anterior portion may comprise a generally wedge shaped front panel 19 which tapers to an apex. A short connecting portion may extend between the apex of the front panel and the junction region.

22 The strap portions typically extend laterally and anteriorly from the junction region, 23 and are typically arranged to extend under a wearer's buttocks to join the waistband 24 portion anteriorly of a wearer's coronal plane. However, the strap portions may alternatively extend across a wearer's buttocks and join the waistband portion in the 26 region of, or posteriorly to, a wearer's coronal plane.

28 The angle between the strap portions, where they extend from the junction region, to 29 either side of the wearer's anus, is typically between 3Q0 and 9Q0 31 The strap portions are typically fixedly joined to the waistband portion. However, the 32 strap portions may be adjustably joined to the waistband portion, for example, they 33 may terminate in loops which are slidable along the waistband portion. The length of 34 the strap portions may be adjustable to fit a wearer.

36 The waistband portion and anterior portion are preferably formed from a continuous 37 piece of fabric. The strap portions and the anterior portion may also be formed from a 1 continuous piece of fabric, without seams, to increase comfort. Accordingly, the 2 entire garment may be made from a single piece of fabric.

4 Description of the Drawings

6 An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with 7 reference to the following Figures in which: 9 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a garment according to the present invention; 11 Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the garment; 13 Figure 3 is a side elevation of the garment; Figure 4 is a plan section of the garment from below; 17 Figure 5 is a front elevation of the garment, while worn; 19 Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the garment, while worn; 21 Figure 7 is a side elevation of the garment, while worn; and 23 Figure 8 is a plan section from below of the garment, while worn.

Detailed Description of an Example Embodiment

27 Figures 1 to 8 illustrate a garment according to the invention which is designed for 28 use as an item of female underwear, swimwear or fashion wear. The garment, 29 shown generally as 1, comprises a waistband 2 (functioning as the waistband portion), a front panel 4 (functioning as the anterior portion), and two straps 6 31 (functioning as the strap portions). The front panel is generally wedge shaped, 32 having a relatively broad upper edge 8, where it intersects the waistband, and a 33 relatively narrow apex region 10. A short, elongate connecting portion 12, extends 34 from the apex region to a junction region 14. Each strap extends from the junction region to a respective junction 16 with the waistband. The straps, the front panel, the 36 connecting portion and the waistband together define left and right leg holes 18.

1 The garment is designed so that the apex of the front panel, where the front panel 2 joins with the straps, is located between the wearer's vulva and anus. As with other 3 items of underwear, the garment is typically provided in a range of sizes, suitable for 4 wearers of different dimensions.

6 When worn, a continuous body of fabric extends from the waistband over the front of 7 a wearer's pubic region, urinary meatus and vulva, to the perineum. However, the 8 anus is left exposed, and so there is not a continuous body of fabric extending 9 between the anus and vulva. This significantly reduces the risk of infections being transmitted from a wearer's anus to the vagina, or vice versa. This is in contrast to 11 conventional panties and thongs, which can receive and retain bacteria from the anus 12 or the vagina, and transmit these bacteria therebetween due to the forwards and 13 backwards movement of fabric which extends continuously between the anus and the 14 vulva. Furthermore, there is a reduction in the risk of mechanical irritations and abrasions which could otherwise lead to infective dermatitis and perineal abscess 16 formation around the anus.

18 As can be seen from Figures 5 through 8, the straps typically extend under a wearer's 19 buttocks, and round the hips, to join the waistband near the front. This arrangement holds the garment firmly in place, so that the apex of the front panel remains between 21 the wearer's vulva and anus 20. The straps are typically resilient (for example, 22 slightly elasticated), to enable them to hold the garment in place.

24 The garment is made from materials commonly used for panties and thongs, such as cotton, silk, lace or synthetic fibres, and may be elasticated.

27 Although it is preferable for the garment to be provided in a wide range of sizes and 28 shapes, to fit wearers of different dimensions, a certain amount of adjustability can be 29 provided, by the inclusion of length adjusting members in the straps, for example, length adjusting members such as those which are commonly used in a bra straps, to 31 enable the length of the straps to be varied. Similarly, the waistband may be of 32 variable length. Although the straps are typically fixedly attached to the waistband, 33 they may alternatively be adjustably attached. For example, the straps may 34 terminate with studs which can be used to locate the straps at different locations along the waistband, depending on the preference of the wearer. The straps may 36 terminate in a loop, which extends around the waistband, enabling the straps to be 37 slid along the waistband.

1 Although sunbathing should not be encouraged, due to the significant risks of skin 2 cancer associated with this activity, it is also noted that as the straps of the garment 3 are typically relatively long and thin, they might be moved backwards and forwards 4 during sunbathing, to reduce the appearance of tanning lines.

6 The garment is designed to prevent diseases which can develop by virtue of the 7 transmission of micro-organisms between the anus and the vagina and/or urethra, or 8 vice versa, as well as the prevention of perineal abscesses cause by mechanical 9 irritation and abrasion.

11 Furthermore, the garment may avoid "visible panty line", particularly in embodiments 12 where the straps extends under the buttocks. As there is not a part which extends 13 between the cleft of the buttocks, it may be considered more comfortable to wear 14 than a conventional thong.

16 In an alternative embodiment, a garment may be provided which is adapted to the 17 male anatomy, in which the anterior portion extends over the wearer's penis and 18 scrotum and the junction region is located between the anus and the scrotum. This 19 arrangement reduces the risk of infective dermatitis and perineal abscess formation aroundtheanus.

22 Further modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the invention 23 herein disclosed.

Keyto Figures 27 1 -Garment 28 2 -Waistband 29 4 -Front panel 6-Straps 31 8-Upper edge of front panel 32 10-Apex of front panel 33 12 -Short connecting portion 34 14-Junction region 16 -Junction between straps and waistband 36 18-Left and right leg holes 37 20 -Wearer's anus