NL2023911B1 - Underwear Item for a Male - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a male underwear item comprising of at least two different fabrics, the item comprising a) a front panel; b) a back panel; c) a waist band; and d) a lining configured and positioned at the inside of the front panel for providing direct 5 contact to the genitalia, wherein the lining comprises at least in part of a bamboo-derived fabric.

Description

UNDERWEAR ITEM FOR A MALE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of underwear and more specifically relates to an underwear garments or items for a male user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION Undergarments are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, and usually comprising of a single layer of fabric.

They serve to keep outer garments from being soiled or damaged by bodily excretions, to lessen the friction of outerwear against the skin, to shape the body, and to provide concealment or support for parts of it.

Undergarments are generally of two types, those that are worn to cover the torso and upper body, and those to cover the waist.

Different styles and shapes of undergarments are generally worn by female and male users. Male users usually wear briefs, boxer briefs or boxer shorts. Often, these currently used male undergarments employ stretchable fabrics comprising synthetic or natural/cotton fibres which allow a tight fit, and good freedom of movement. However, these fabrics tend to have a low heat dissipation, and are also difficult to maintain hygienically due to the relatively low washing temperatures that may be employed. Yet further, such garments may not provide sufficient comfort and support of male genitals due the relatively hard touch and may cause problems with temperature dilatation of the scrotum. A suitable solution is desired.

Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in US20090139003A1, which discloses the use of a glued or sewn in crotch liner using a bamboo fabric liner in a cotton underwear item, or DE2D1211004945, which disclose an insertable apparel. However, these disclosures do not result in a complete solution to the above issues.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known underwear art, the present invention provides a novel underwear garment for a male. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide underwear promoting comfort and support for males.

Accordingly, the present invention relates a novel underwear garment for a male according to the appended claims. In a preferred embodiment of the subject underwear garment for a male, the undergarment comprises an underwear item having a front panel, a back panel, a pouch, a waist band, and a genital lining, wherein the lining comprises a fabric that at least in part is derived from bamboo cellulose fibres.

The front panel supports male genitals and the back panel supports a male buttock. The lining preferably stretches from the back panel to the front panel, but at least covers the area occupied by the genitalia, i.e. scrotum and/or penis.

The underwear preferably comprises multiple fabrics for comfort and compression. The underwear may comprise no-seam technology for advanced comfort. The underwear does preferably not comprise a seam between the pouch and the back panel.

The front panel preferably comprises an inner fabric layer comprising at least in part bamboo-derived fibres, providing breathability and optimized additional space for the comfort and support.

The fabrics preferably comprise moisture wicking materials and are breathable. The underwear may comprise two or more different fabrics including cotton, wool, flax, hemp, silk, and natural based viscose and Lyocell fibres and bamboo derived fibres.

Bamboo is an eco-friendly and multifunctional plant. Bamboo clothing has recently entered the textile market with a claim for its antimicrobial properties, and without wishing to be bound to any particular theory, it is believed that the main antibacterial agents naturally present in bamboo fibres are located in the lignin portion.

According to the present invention, bamboo fabric comprises a cloth, yarn, woven or non- woven fabric that is at least in part comprising bamboo-derived fibres.

While historically used only for structural elements, such as bustles and the ribs of corsets, in recent years, different technologies have been developed that allow bamboo fibre to be used for a wide range of textile and fashion applications. Bamboo-derived yarn can also be blended with other textile fibres such as hemp or spandex.

The leg portion of the underwear is designed to prevent the leg portion from riding up thighs of the user-wearer. The fabrics are configured for compression. The waist band may comprise elastic fabrics. The waist band is moisture wicking. The underwear are designed for support and the comfort of a user-wearer while acting as a male compression and holding the male genitals in a desired position. The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an underwear item. Preferably, a pair of underwear should provide support, comfort, breathability, wicking capability, odour control, and ease of motion and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable underwear item to avoid the above-mentioned problems. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present disclosure, underwear item, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. FIGURES 1-5 shows a frontal view illustrating an underwear item according to different embodiments of the disclosure. The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Preferred embodiments of the invention are now described in detail. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an underwear item to improve comfort and support of the male primary genitals, providing support, comfort, breathability, wicking capability, odour control and ease of motion with the use of at least three differently composed fabrics.

The front panel includes an interior lining comprising a second inner fabric layer that provides breathability optimized additional space for comfort, which also allows male genitalia to remain in place with a reduction in constant movement or adjustments needed for males. It also acts as a comfortable male compression for men with larger genitalia to remain comfortable while still having space in the area where you want it most.

The present invention helps define and support a user-wearer's posterior while wearing. The underwear may advantageously give male genitalia support by eliminating the seam covering the perineum of the male form for superior comfort.

The front panel includes a pouch formed form an inner lining which separates and supports male genitalia from the legs, and which provides for comfort, odour control and improved temperature control.

The outer layer provides mainly support and restriction, whereas the inner layer is in direct contact with the genitalia, and provides odour control through inherent antimicrobial activity, temperature control through high heat dilatation, and wickability, and comfort though a very soft feel obtained from a low surface roughness and high fibre count.

Preferably, in a preferred embodiment bamboo-derived fabric layers are soft, open weave, bamboo viscose fibre materials, which form a natural breathable cushioning layer or environment.

Bamboo is the vernacular term for perennial, giant woody evergreen plants in the grass family Poaceae (syn. Gramineae); subfamily Bambusoideae.

The term bamboo-derived material herein refers to a viscose rayon, which is a fibre made by dissolving the cellulose in the bamboo, and then recreating a fibre. Rayon thus is a semi-synthetic fibre made by chemically reshaping cellulose. Generally, celluloses extracted from bamboo are particularly suitable for processing into bamboo viscose rayon, as follows: In this process, typically bamboo leaves and the soft inner pith from the bamboo trunk are extracted using a steaming process, and then are mechanically crushed to extract the cellulose. The fibres are then treated with lye, and carbon disulfide is added to form sodium cellulose xanthate. After time, temperature, and various inorganic and organic additives,

including oxidation through air contact, determining the final degree of polymerization, the xanthate is acidified to regenerate the cellulose and release dithiocarbonic acid that later decomposes back to carbon disulfide and water. The thus formed polymer is then extruded through mechanical spinnerets. Viscose fibres thus manufactured from bamboo has 5 environmental advantages over viscose made with cellulose extracted from wood pulp or form cotton, in that bamboo crops may be grown on marginal land unsuitable for forestry. Accordingly, the present process further comprises a method for preparing bamboo derived viscose fibres and yarn, comprising the steps of i) crushing bamboo culm into smaller fractions and soaked in a solution of 18 % NaOH at 20 to 25 °C for 1 to 3 h to form alkali cellulose; ii) pressing to remove excess NaOH solution, crushing by a grinder and leaving to dry for 24 h; and iii) adding CS: to the bamboo alkali cellulose to sulfurize the compound, causing it to gel; and iv) removing remaining CS; by evaporation due to decompression, resulting in sodium xanthogenate; and v} Adding a dilute solution of NaOH to the cellulose sodium xanthogenate to dissolve it into a viscose solution consisting of about 5 % NaOH and 7 to 15 % bamboo fibre cellulose; and vi) forcing the viscose solution through spinneret nozzles into a larger container of diluted sulfuric acid solution to harden the viscose and reconvert it to cellulose bamboo fibres; and vii) spinning the fibres into yarns. Such fibres were found to have a high humidity permeability, and hence in particular exhibit a wicking behaviour, resulting in a cooler environment. n a preferred embodiment, the layers are soft, open weave, bamboo material comprises of between 47-90%bamboo by weight. However, in other forms, the mesh material is a blend of bamboo material and cotton or other fibres. In a preferred form, the bamboo material is a bamboo grass material, including fibres made from bamboo grass. The bamboo material or bamboo blend material forms a natural breathable cushioning layer or environment.

To discern the products according to the present invention, preferably, the structure of the viscose rayon filament made from bamboo pulp is determined by thermogravimetric analysis, component analysis by X-ray fluorescence, and/or crystallinity evaluation with the crystal structure parameter by wide angle X-ray intensity distribution measurement. Since the crystallinity of the bamboo rayon fibre was found to be lower than of wood or cotton- derived fibres, applicants found that there was a difference between cellulose components of the filaments, and that the difference may bring about the difference of performances of the woven or knitted fabrics of bamboo fibre as compared to fibres made from conventional wood pulp or cotton linter.

Viscose rayon filaments according of the invention and made from the bamboo cellulose comprise a lower content of a-cellulose components compared with the filament made from wood or a cotton linter cellulose, and there is much content of y-cellulose, other low-molecular-weight celluloses and the like.

Without wishing to be bound to any particular theory, it is estimated that the reason for that the content of the a-

cellulose component of the filament is low because, in the viscose process in which a strong alkali and sulphur dioxide are reacting, the relatively low molecular weight components in molecular distribution of the a-cellulose component are further decomposed into a lower molecular weight due to the chemical effect of the molecular weight adjustment in the aging process and due to the use of the viscose spinning solution of alkali xanthate.

As the content of B-cellulose component in bamboo is high, it is estimated to further decompose into low molecular weight and content of a- or B-cellulose decreases.

At such viscose wet spinning method, although there are centrifugal type spinning method and a continuous spinning method, the continuous spinning method capable of making fibre thin by drawing is preferable because its molecular orientation is good to thereby improve fibre property, and excellent in uniformity of dyeing.

In addition, a centrifugal spinning method, so-called cake winding method is insufficient in drawing effect because the distance of spinneret and pot cannot be freely changed.

And, a-cellulose content of the bamboo filament is low compared to conventional rayon in which wood pulp or cotton linter is used.

For those reasons, in the centrifugal spinning method, the filament is easy to be affected by the difference of winding tensions between inner and outer layers, to thereby cause difference of dyeing ability between winding layers and it becomes necessary to use layers separately, thus brings about inconvenience of use.

With regard to the present invention, JIS Handbooks 32-Paper and Pulp 2004 may advantageously be referred to regarding measurement of the content of a- and B-cellulose and the content of other components.

In item g), entitled “Property and Test of Pulp Paper and Cardboard” of the handbook, the term “a-cellulose” is defined as “the component which remains undissolved when pulp or cellulose fibre is treated with 17.5% sodium- hydroxide solution and then diluted to 10%". Advantageously, this content serves as a criterium for judging the quality of a sample, and also is referred to in JIS P8101 and JIS P90002. On the other hand, regarding the term “B-cellulose”, this is described as “the component which precipitates when the filtrate of pulp or cellulose fibres is neutralized with acetic acid”. In a preferred embodiment, the bamboo-derived fabric comprises a yarn containing a cellulose-based viscose filament, wherein the cellulose is derived from bamboo. The cellulose-based filament is preferably made from a bamboo source, unlike similar fibres that use wood pulp or cotton linter pulp as a raw material. According to the present invention, such a filament may advantageously be prepared by making a pulp from a bamboo source, macerating and refining the pulp to obtain cellulose in an alkaline solution such that the bamboo solids dissolve to obtain a cellulose solution, and then subjecting the cellulose solution to an expansion under high pressure through a nozzle, thereby forming a fibre; and by spinning the cellulose-derived fibre to obtain a yarn.

Although previously not known, a continuous filament may thus be industrially obtained by using bamboo as a raw material, and by dissolving and spinning it, whereby the present invention also includes the step of refining the cellulose at the stage of bamboo pulp. Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in Figures 1 to 5, various embodiments of the underwear item 10 are shown. With reference to the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, a conventional pair of so-called boxer style briefs 10 are modified in the present invention by adding an interior lining 18a, preferably constructed of a bamboo-derived breathable fabric, for the purpose of isolating the genitalia, in particular scrotum and phallus {not shown), into the pouch compartment 18, thereby isolating the genitalia from contacting the inner thighs and legs of a user wearing the briefs.

Figures 2 to 4 show similar embodiments, whereby the shape and form f the front panel and inner lining are varied to accommodate different styles and differently shaped bodies. Figure 5 shows a slightly different embodiment which also provides for front access to the phallus, thereby allowing a user to urinate without having to remove the underwear item.

Herein the inner lining 58a is configured and shaped such that the user may gain access to the phallus, whereby the areas in direct contact with the genitalia are covered with the bamboo-derived lining fabric. The shape and form of such lining is well within the skills of a skilled artisan, and hence will not be expanded upon further herein. Accordingly, underwear item 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications.

According to the invention, a conventional pair of so-called boxer style briefs 10 are modified by adding an interior lining 12, constructed of a bamboo-derived viscose fabric, for the purpose of isolating the genitalia into the compartment 18, thereby isolating the genitalia from contacting the inner thighs and legs of a user wearing the briefs. As seen in the interior of briefs 10, lining 12 is formed from one or two separate pieces of fabric attached to the laterally spaced apart compartment seams 26a.

Thelining 12 forms a extends upwardly from, and along, seams 26a so as to extend their uppermost edges upwardly substantially completely into the fold between the laterally outer sides of scrotum and the top of the inner thighs, along the fold of skin where the top of the inner thighs join the top of the scrotum along a lower-most aspect of the abdomen of a user. This joint, where the inner thighs and scrotum join along a fold line, is defined generally by both the shape and the location when worn of the upper-most arcuate edges of lining 12. The lining 12 is thus positioned to inhibit chaffing and to draw moisture away from where there would ordinarily be skin-to-skin contact and rubbing. Moisture generated at this location may then flow over the lining material which will wick away the moisture from the fold and thereby provides cooling, or at least the sensation of cooling. The lining 12 preferably extends from the waistband 22 to the perineum area 24 which extends under the buttocks of user. Preferably, front panel and lining are preferably formed so as to cup the genitalia, i.e. front panel and lining are preferably formed that the genitalia are cupped in a laterally opposed-facing relation, to inhibit skin-to-skin contact between a user's thighs and scrotum. Although positioned to extend generally orthogonally inwardly from the front of the brief, for example where the front of the brief is defined by plane A which generally contains the pair of seams 263, the laterally outward curvature of the side panels may be described as convex.

The material used advantageously in the side panels of the present invention preferably comprises a soft elasticized breathable mesh knit weave, more preferably comprising one or more synthetic elastic fabrics, such as polyamides or polyester.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims (13)

CONCLUSIONS 1. A piece of men's underwear comprising at least two different fabrics, the item comprising a. a front panel, b. a rear panel; c. a hip belt; and d. a lining consisting of viscose fibers mainly derived from bamboo cellulose positioned on the inside of the front panel to be in direct contact with the genitals, wherein the lining consists at least in part of a bamboo-derived fabric . An undergarment piece according to claim 1, wherein the fibers of the lining comprise a bamboo viscose microfibre. An undergarment according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fabric of the front and back panels comprises elastic synthetic fibers. An undergarment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fabric of the front and back panel comprises cotton fibers. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front panel and lining are formed as a concave portion intended to support the male genitalia. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric of the lining has a wick functionality. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner lining is smooth or comprises only a relatively small seam over a central portion for the genitals thereof. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner lining and the front panel are formed at least in part by pleating and stitching upper ends of the panel and the lining laterally inwardly so that they overlap an upper edge of the panel. pleated, and by extending them substantially up to the waistband. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric comprises a bamboo viscose fiber yarn comprising a filament of cellulosic fiber produced from a bamboo source. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric comprises a soft, open weave bamboo material comprising 47% to 90% by weight of bamboo-derived fibers. An undergarment according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the a-cellulose component content of the filament of a yarn is at least 80% by weight. An undergarment according to claim 11, wherein a total amount of o- and f-cellulose component in the filament is at least 90% by weight or more. An undergarment according to any preceding claim, wherein the filament is produced by a continuous spinning system of viscose rayon.