US20140047620A1

US20140047620A1 - Ergonomic underwear for men

Info

Publication number: US20140047620A1
Application number: US13/843,044
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory Gordon Ingalls; Thomas John Huntsman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-19
Filing date: 2013-03-15
Publication date: 2014-02-20

Abstract

An underwear garment for use by a human male that may be characterized as including a suspended genital receiving section formed by a modified front section of the underwear and an attached partition inside the front section of the underwear. The partition has 4 edges. The top edge that is unattached to the garment. The top edge has an elastic rim, attached above the base of the genitals, and has a positive parabolic curve with the vertex extending rearward and downward. The rim curve is also concave toward the user. The rim is attached at a negative rearward and medial angel, the elastic is covered in fabric. The rim seam is on the partition posterior surface. The partition posterior surface is concave front-to-back, while perpendicularly convex. The side edges of the partition are convex towards each other. The bottom edge is attached at the rear base of the garment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

61/684,801

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to men's underwear, and more particularly to men's underwear briefs designed to enhance user's groin comfort and health. Applicable U.S. patent classifications to the present invention are: Class 2, subclasses 401, 403, 404; and Class 602, subclasses 41, 60, 61, 67, 70. Concisely, the subject matter of the present invention is underwear, particular to men, with leg portions, and also a suspensory bandage covering support particularly to support or protect the external genitalia of a male without the need for a separate garment to affix the device to the body.
The current state of technology and design in underwear for the male genitalia is ineffective. The typical briefs, boxers, and boxer-briefs in the marketplace simply ignore the natural demands of the male body. Existing men's underwear designs lack genital support, don't prevent genital irritation, and do little, if any, to provide for genital comfort. Alas, the current state of technology lacks men's underwear that, at the users discretion, can ergonomically isolate the male genitalia from other portions of the users skin in the crotch area. Following are examples of attempts and flaws in the current state of art.
Patent No. 12/000,966, assigned to Saxx Apparel, entitled Underwear Garment for a Male is an inadequate design because the internal device has no rearward boundary, thus lacking solution for irritation from scrotum and perineum contact. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,869, issued to Zhang, entitled Men's Underwear With Support Pocket, is also inadequate. Although the internal device does have a rearward boundary, it simply partitions the shaft from the scrotum ignoring potential scrotum, perineum and inner thigh irritation.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,676,863, issued to Cutlip, entitled, Men's Underwear, is technically deficient because the attachment points of the device being both at the waistband and widely separated does not allow for user discretion to place genitalia in or out of the device, creates unnecessary contact of the device to the wearers thighs, and complicates construction of the device adding superfluous attachment seems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,003, issued to Gwinn, entitled Protective Boxer Shorts, has technical deficiencies with the ergonomic design, having the “pocket” opening parallel to the waistband neglecting the curve of the wearers groin and genitalia. The “pocket” being similar to a patch-pocket seen on t-shirts is simply ineffectual to suit the dimensions of the male external genitalia and perineum.
Problems in the state of technology can be summarized as follows. Conventional underwear and existing art does not separate the genitalia from the perineum and legs. The underwear either lack rearward partition for behind the genitals or lack accommodation for the entire external genitalia. Of the art that has attempted to isolate the male genitalia from other skin in the wearer's groin, it is not surprising why the art has not noticeably commercialized. The art is not ergonomic to the user because the entry to the device is not ergonomic and the device itself is not ergonomic. In most cases the device is a patch pocket inside the underwear, arbitrary to the male genitalia, groin, and perineum needs. Specifically, the attachment design, exposed elastic rim, and rim curvature of prior art do not create an ergonomic entry for the wearers when using the devices. The attachment location of the “pocket” sides, lack the depth and proximity to suit the genitalia while the posterior surface curve of the pockets do not fit the wearer's perineum.
As evidenced by the marketplace, prior art has failed to successfully create a men's underwear garment that ergonomically isolates the users genitals at their discretion.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resolves the ergonomic deficiencies of existing men's underwear by incorporating the form of the male genitalia, perineum, and inner thighs into the design of the underwear and partition to ergonomically seclude the male genitalia at the users discretion. The receiving section formed by the partition adjacent to the wearer's genitals is curved and suspended create and ergonomic entry on the genitalia while the surfaces of the partition and underwear are patterned to create and ergonomic surface to the genitalia, perineum, and inner thighs of the wearer. The dimensions of the partition provide proximal support to the genitalia while simultaneously increasing the space for air circulation and a longer range of genitalia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of garment 1 engaged by human.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of garment 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an rear view from top showing the downward concavity of the rim 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of engaged receiving section 15.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of disengaged receiving section 15.

FIG. 6 illustrates a section view of profile showing anterior surface 14 of the partition 9 showing the concavity of the rim 16 toward the wearer and the angled attachment 18 of the rim 16.

FIG. 7 illustrates a section view of profile showing posterior surface 13 of the partition 9.

FIG. 8 illustrates a section view from the rear, showing the space 20 to store exotic objects, and showing the rim attachment 18 height and width.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device that meets the natural support, irritation, and comfort demands of the male genitalia. The device is a modified garment 1 that is worn around the lower torso with an ergonomic fabric partition 9 that creates an optional receiving section 15 to seclude the wearers genitalia from inner-thigh and perineum skin of the wearer.
The garment has specifically designed walls to accommodate the wearers body. The garment has a front wall 2 adjacent to the wearer's pelvis, a back wall 4 adjacent to the wearer's buttocks, two side walls 3 adjacent to the wearer's hips, and a base wall 5 adjacent to the wearer's perineum, wherein the front wall 2 has a bulge 8 extending away from the wearer and adjacent to the convex curve of the wearers genitals. The garment has leg openings 6 and a waist opening 7. The preferred embodiment is a pair of form-fitting men's boxer briefs, comprised of natural and/or synthetic fabric, with an elastic waistband wrapped in the garment fabric, wherein the fabric has four-way stretch elastic properties and wicking agents.
The partition 9 has specifically designed edges and attachments to facilitate an ergonomic junction with the wearer's body. The partition 9 has a concave top edge 10 with an elastic rim 16, a bottom edge 12 that extends to the junction of the garments base wall 5 and back wall 4, and two side edges 11 that are symmetrically convex towards each other. The partition 9 is attached along it's two side edges 11 to the interior surface of the front wall 2 of the garment 1 adjacent to the wearers genitalia, connected along it's bottom edge 12, and unconnected at the top edge 10. In addition the partition has uniquely designed surfaces to fit the surface of the wearer. The partition has a posterior surface 13 that is convex from the side edges 11 and concave from the top 10 to bottom edge 12 as well as an anterior surface 14 that is concave toward the front wall 2 of the garment. The preferred partition 9 is comprised of natural and/or synthetic fabric, wherein the fabric has four-way stretch elastic properties and wicking agents.
Unlike current technology, this partition 9 is ergonomic to the users body. Because the wearers perineum surface is caudally convex, the concave posterior partition surface 13 naturally fits the wearer. Because the wearer's perineum surface between the thighs is laterally arched, the lateral convex curve of the partition 9 posterior surface 13 is naturally congruent to the wearer. By attaching the partition 9 near the sides of the wearer's genitalia and curving the side edges 11 symmetrically convex towards each other, the partition 9 provides more direct support to the wearers genitalia and naturally descends in-between the users thighs.
Additionally the present invention fills the void in the previous artwork to fully accommodate for the comfort of the wearers genitalia. Because the bottom edge 12 of the partition 9 extends to the junction of the base wall 5 and the back wall 4, the partition 9 utilizes the entire depth of the garment 1 creating a voluminous receiving section 15 that accommodates and longer range of genitalia and a provides for more air volume to circulate through the receiving section 15. In addition, this bottom edge 12 attachment adds a novel space 20 to store exotic objects.
A rim 16 around the top edge 10 of the partition 9 is ergonomically designed to the user. An elastic band is attached along the top edge 10 of the partition 9 forming an elastic rim 16. The elastic rim 16 is wrapped in the fabric of the partition 9 and any seams 17 from attaching the elastic band are on the posterior surface 13 of the partition 9. The rim 16 is laterally concave toward the front wall 2 of the garment 1, with the vertex 19 of the rim 16 simultaneously extending towards the back wall 4 and the base wall 5 of the garment 1. Additionally, the rim 16 is attached 18, at a simultaneous negative caudal and medial angle, to the interior surface of the garment 1 front wall 2 above the base of the wearers genitals but below the garment opening 7 for the wearer's upper torso.
Unlike current technology, the present invention has created an entry to the receiving section 15 that is ergonomic to the users groin and genitalia. Because the rear of the male genital is convex both toward the rear and downward, the rim 16 curve, orientation and angled attachment 18 create the optimal geometry to seclude the genitals in the receiving section 15 at minimal tension to the wearer. Moreover, because the rear of the genitals contact the rim 16 while in the receiving section 15, the fabric covered elastic rim 16 and posterior seam 17 further minimizes the users perception of genitalia seclusion. Combined with the bulge 8 in the front wall 2 of the garment 1, this rim 16 maximizes inconspicuous sensation to the wearer enabling ergonomic seclusion of the wearer's genitals.
Additionally, the collaboration of elements in the present invention makes use of the receiving section 15 is optional to the wearer. The proximal attachment of the partition side edges 11 near the genitalia avoid excess partition 9 material, the elastic property of the partition rim 16, and the bulge 8 in the front wall 2 of the garment 1 allow the top edge 10 of the partition 9 to inverse and rest substantially flush against the front wall 2 of the garment 1. Thus, different front-to-back positioning of the top edge 10 enable the user to optionally seclude the genitalia, or only the penis, or none of the genitalia, within the receiving section 15.
Assembly and manufacturing may occur by connecting the partition 9 inside the garment 1, with the preferred method of connection via conventional seaming methods. The garment 1 may exist before the partition 2 is attached, in which case the partition 9 is preferably attached to the existing vertical and base seams of the garment 1 to minimize pattern junctures. However, the best mode is to attach the partition 9 while constructing the intimates, to simultaneously use the seams that join the garment patterns to affix the partition pattern. The seaming may be done by hand or machine, but preferably a flat-lock stitch or cover-stitch to reduce sensibility to the wearer.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for the external male genitalia, the device comprising:

a) a garment to be engaged around the lower portion of the wearer's torso having a front wall adjacent to the wearer's pelvis, a back wall adjacent to the wearer's buttocks, side walls around the wearer's hips, a base wall adjacent to the wearers perineum in between the wearer's thighs, each wall having an interior and exterior surface, and openings for the wearer's legs and upper torso, wherein said front wall has a bulge extending away from the wearers body creating space to receive the wearers genitals;

b) an ergonomic fabric partition, having a top edge, bottom edge, two side edges, a posterior surface and anterior surface, connected along it's two side edges and bottom edge to the interior surface of the front wall of said garment, unconnected at the top edge, wherein the anterior surface of the partition is substantially laterally concave toward the interior surface of the garment, creating an optional receiving section between the anterior surface of the partition and the interior surface of the garment front wall; and

c) an elastic rim that is wrapped in the fabric of the partition, laterally concave toward the interior surface of the garment, with the vertex of the rim simultaneously extending towards the back wall and the base wall of the garment, attached along the top edge of the partition with the seam from the attachment placed on the posterior surface of the partition, and attached, at a simultaneous negative caudal and medial angle, to the interior surface of the garment front wall above the base of the wearers genitals but below the garment opening for the wearer's upper torso, whereby complementing the convex curve of the wearers groin creating an ergonomic juncture, reducing tension to the wearers genitalia that comes from a perpendicular attachment angle, eliminating irritation from exposed elastic to the wearers genitalia, and removing the contact between the wearers genitalia and the seam from the elastic attachment to the partition.

2. The device, as stated in claim 1, wherein the fabric is made of natural fibers.

3. The device, as stated in claim 1, wherein the fabric is made of synthetic fibers.

4. The device, as stated in claim 1, wherein the garment is a pair of form fitting boxer-briefs.

5. A device for the external male genitalia, the device comprising:

b) an ergonomic fabric partition, having a top edge, a bottom edge that extends to the junction of the garments base wall and back wall, two side edges that are symmetrically convex towards each other, a posterior surface that is convex as it extends medially from the side edges and concave as it extends from the front wall toward the bottom edge, an anterior surface that is substantially laterally concave toward the interior surface of the garment, connected along it's two side edges to the interior surface of the front wall of said garment adjacent to the wearers genitalia, connected along it's bottom edge, and unconnected at the top edge, creating an receiving section for the wearers genitalia that accommodates a longer range of genitalia, fits naturally along the wearers pelvis and between the wearers thighs, provides proximal support to the wearer's genitalia, and is congruent to the lateral arch of the wearers perineum; and

c) an elastic rim attached along the top edge of the partition and attached to the interior surface of the garment front wall above the base of the wearers genitals but below the garment opening for the wearer's upper torso, wherein the rim has a positive parabolic curve toward the garment front wall.

6. The device, as stated in claim 5, wherein the fabric is made of natural fibers.

7. The device, as stated in claim 5, wherein the fabric is made of synthetic fibers.

8. The device, as stated in claim 5, wherein the garment is a pair of form fitting boxer-briefs.

9. A device for the external male genitalia, the device comprising:

a) a garment to be engaged around the lower portion of the wearer's torso having a front wall adjacent to the wearer's pelvis, a back wall adjacent to the wearer's buttocks, side walls around the wearer's hips, a base wall adjacent to the wearers perineum in between the wearer's thighs, each wall having an interior and exterior surface, and openings for the wearer's legs and upper torso, wherein said front wall has a bulge extending away from the wearers body creating space to better receive the wearers genitals;

b) an ergonomic fabric partition, having a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges that are symmetrically convex towards each other, a posterior surface, an anterior surface that is substantially laterally concave toward the interior surface of the garment, connected along it's two side edges to the interior surface of the front wall of said garment adjacent to the wearers genitalia, connected along it's bottom edge, and unconnected at the top edge, creating a receiving section between the anterior surface of the partition and the interior surface of the garment front wall; and

c) an elastic rim attached along the top edge of the partition and attached to the interior surface of the garment front wall above the base of the wearers genitals but below the garment opening for the wearer's upper torso, wherein the rim has a positive parabolic curve toward the garment front wall, whereby the collaboration of the bulge in the front wall, the elastic property of the rim, the curvature of the partition sides and the proximal attachment of the partition side edges enable the partition to rest substantially flush against the front wall so the wearer can choose whether to seclude his entire genitalia, his penis, or none of his genitalia in the receiving section.

10. The device, as stated in claim 9, wherein the fabric is made of natural fibers.

11. The device, as stated in claim 9, wherein the fabric is made of synthetic fibers.

12. The device, as stated in claim 9, wherein the garment is a pair of form fitting boxer-briefs.

13. A device for storing exotic objects, the device comprising:

a) a garment to be engaged around the lower portion of the wearer's torso having a front wall adjacent to the wearer's pelvis, a back wall adjacent to the wearer's buttocks, side walls around the wearer's hips, a base wall adjacent to the wearers perineum in between the wearer's thighs, each wall having an interior and exterior surface, and openings for the wearer's legs and upper torso, wherein said front wall has a bulge extending away from the wearers body creating space to better receive and store the exotic objects;

b) an ergonomic fabric partition, having a top edge, an ergonomic fabric partition, having a top edge, a bottom edge that extends to the junction of the garments base wall and back wall, two side edges that are symmetrically convex towards each other, a posterior surface and anterior surface, connected along it's two side edges and bottom edge to the interior surface of the front wall of said garment, unconnected at the top edge, wherein the anterior surface of the partition is substantially laterally concave toward the interior surface of the garment, creating an optional receiving section between the anterior surface of the partition and the interior surface of the garment front wall whereby the collaboration of the bottom edge extending to the junction of the base wall and back wall and the symmetrically convex side edges create a depth and space below the wearers perineum where exotic objects can be stored; and

14. The device, as stated in claim 13, wherein the fabric is made of natural fibers.

15. The device, as stated in claim 13, wherein the fabric is made of synthetic fibers.

16. The device, as stated in claim 13, wherein the garment is a pair of form fitting boxer-briefs.

17. A device for the external male genitalia, the device comprising:

a) a garment to be engaged around the lower portion of the wearer's torso having a front wall adjacent to the wearer's pelvis, a back wall adjacent to the wearer's buttocks, side walls around the wearer's hips, a base wall adjacent to the wearers perineum in between the wearer's thighs, each wall having an interior and exterior surface, and openings for the wearer's legs and upper torso, wherein said front wall has a bulge extending away from the wearers body;

18. The device, as stated in claim 17, wherein the fabric is made of natural fibers.

19. The device, as stated in claim 17, wherein the fabric is made of synthetic fibers.

20. The device, as stated in claim 17, wherein the garment is a pair of form fitting boxer-briefs.