US2239972A

US2239972A - Undergarment

Info

Publication number: US2239972A
Application number: US219725A
Authority: US
Inventors: Erwin F Rauser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-07-18
Filing date: 1938-07-18
Publication date: 1941-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1958-04-29

Description

Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNDERGARMENT Erwin F. Rauser, Milwaukee, Wis.

.Application July 18, 1938, Serial No. 219,725 (CL2-224) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in undergarments.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an undergarment of the trunk type for men which will fit snugly around the waist and hips of the wearer and which will furnish desirable support at the crotch portion without sacrificing comfort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment of the class described having a crotch section extending from the waistband at the front of the garment to the waistband at the rear, wherein a fly opening is formed adjacent a side edge of said crotch section and wherein there is an inner iiap associated with said fly opening which extends from the leg portion of the garment to the waistband to furnish, in conjunction with the crotch section, supporting strength beneath that portion of the garment which is normally weakened by the fly opening, the major strains being borne by said waistband.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment as above described wherein said structure tends to normally maintain the ily opening in a neat closed condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide an undergarment of the type above described wherein the crotch section is of onepiece construction from the waistband at the front to the waistband at the rear, to thereby eliminate seams and provide increased comfort for the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure as above described wherein said one piece crotch section has approximately the same size and shape at the front and rear of the garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment as above described wherein the sides or body sections are formed of relatively stretchable body conforming fabric, particularly in a lateral direction, and wherein the crotch section is formed of stronger less stretchable material which is relatively inextensible in the vertical direction of the garment to furnish desired support.

A further object of the invention is to provide an undergarment which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is strong and durable, and well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved undergarment and all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1' is a front view of the garment;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;

Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Referring rst to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the numeral I0 designates a waistband which is preferably formed of elastic material or elastic fabric. The crotch section designated generally by the numeral II and shown alone in Fig. 5 is preferably formed of 1 x 1 ribbed material with the, 'ribs extending longitudinally so that the section is relatively inextensible in the vertical direction of the garment. The crotch section has side edges I2 and I3 at the front of the garment which taper upwardly to a point short of meeting at the waistband, the end I4 of said crotch section being joined to the waistband. The crotch section is of substantially similar shape and width at the rear of the garment as shown in Fig. 2 and has side edges I5 and I6 which taper upwardly to the waistband, the end Il being connected to said waistband at the rear of Ithe garment.

Body side sections I8 and I9 at the front of the garment have their upper edges secured to the waistband as at 2li and 2i, and the section I9 has a side edge secured to the edge I2 of the crotch section throughout the length of said edge. The section I8 is unsecured to the edge I3 of the crotch section for a'limited distance upwardly to the point 22, and from said point 22 yto the waistband, the section I8 is secured to the upper portion of the side I3 of the crotch section. This provides a ily opening from the point 22 downwardly to the leg, and the free edge of the crotch section adjacent said opening may be suitably hemmed as at 23. Beneath the ily opening and secured to the edge of the body section I8 throughout its length is a iiap 24 (see Fig. 3) which is formed from a section of material having the shape shown in Fig. 4, the edge portion 25 being doubled over to form the hem 26. The lower end of the flap 24 is secured within the hem 27 of the leg portion to a part of the material forming the crotch section II. The upper end of the flap 24 is secured to the waistband as at 28 and to the opposite side of the crotch section where the latter is joined to the opposite body portion as at 29. Thus this ap provides a reinforcement extending from the waistband to the leg opening beneath the normally weakened fly opening part of the garment, and the structure is further such that the hemmed flap 23 is normally maintained in a neat closed condition as shown in Fig. l.

The sections I8 and I9 are preferably formed of Swiss rib knitted material with the ribs extending vertically of the garment so that sections are relatively elastic in a transverse direction to provide a snug flt around the hips of the wearer.

At the rear of the garment sections 30 and 3| of very similar shape to the sections I 8 and I9 in front, and preferably formed of the same material, are secured at one side edge to the edges I5 and I6 of the rear of the crotch section, and at opposite side edges to the adjacent edges of the frontl sections I8 and I9 as at 32 and 33. The lower portions of the sections I8, I9, 30 and 3l and portions of the crotch section cooperate to provide snug fitting leg openings.

In the 'form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the main portion of the garment is formed in an identical manner to the form of the invention heretofore described, except that the sections of` material are varied slightly in shape to provide leg openings 3@ and 35 which are cut upwardly more sharply than the leg openings of the form shown in Fig. l; and to the material adjacent said leg openings, tubular leg members 36 and 3l are secured, said leg members being preferably formed of Swiss rib knitted material.

Inasmuch as the main portion of this garment is constructed in the same manner as the garment of Fig. 1, it will not be again described, and

corresponding parts of the invention of Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are designated by primed numerals corresponding to the numerals used for corresponding parts in the principal form of the invention.

From the above it is apparent that a garment has been provided which can be very economically manufactured and'whih will be snug fitting and comfortable. It is further apparent that by using the one-piece crotch section extending from the waistband at the front of the garment to the waistband at the rear of the garment, 'that a very eicient supporter structure is furnished. While the one-piece crotch structure is an '1mportant feature of the present invention and is comprehended in certain of the claims, it is obvious, however, that this crotch piece may be formed of more than one piece, and as far as certain features of the novelty of the garment are concerned, it is contemplated that the invention cover the use of a crotch section formed of either one or more pieces.

It is also apparent that a novel method of forming a fly opening has been provided without sacrificing strength, because of the fact that the inner flap 24 extends from the leg opening entirely up to the waistband so that all strains at this part of the garment and beneath the normally weakened fly opening portion can be carried by said flap 24 which is strongly supported by the waistband, and this same feature is .present i both forms of the invention.

It is preferred that the angle of the fly opening be approximately 30 degreesy or less for most efcient cooperation with this type of structure.

The crotch portion, as well as the ilap 24, are preferably formed of 1 x l rib material in double weight, or in lieu of the double weight, a double thickness may be employed.

In the claims, the term leg`openings" contemplates either the openings of Fig. 3 bounded by the hems 2l, or the openings of Fig. 6 bounded by the seams 34 and 35.

Although only two forms of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that varlous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a trunk type of undergarment having leg openings and having a waistband, a crotch secl tion having a narrow upper end secured to the front central portion of the waistband and extending downwardly at the front of the garment, the side edges oi' said crotchsection in the front of the garment diverging downwardly to points intermediate the front of the leg openings, body portions having side edges connected to said diverging side edges oi' said crotch section and having upperedges connected to the waistband and having lower edges terminating at the leg openings, the side edge of one of said body sections being unconnected to the adjacent diverging side edge of the crotch section from an intermediate point down to a point intermediate the front of the leg opening to provide a fly opening,

and said side of the body having its upper part above the fly opening connected to said diverging edge of the crotch section, and a flap extending from said side edge of the body section throughout the length of said section and having its lower end secured to the garment at the leg opening and having its upper end secured to the waistband, said flap being overlappedby the adjacent edge of the crotch section and by the free unconnected part thereof whereby said flap forms a reinforcement beneath the weakened fly opening part of the garment and a connection between the waist band and the leg opening.

2. In a trunk type of undergarment having leg openings and having a waistband, a crotch section having a narrow upper end secured to the front central portion of the waistband and extending downwardly at the front of the garment. the side edges of said crotch section in the front of the garment diverging downwardly to points intermediate the front of the leg openings, body portions having side edges connected to said diverging'side edges of said crotch section and having upper edges connected to the waistband and having lower edges terminating at the leg openings, the side edge of one of said body sections being unconnected to the adjacent diverging side edge of the crotch section from an intermediate point down to a point intermediate the front of the leg opening to provideva ily opening, and said side of the body having its upper part above the fly opening connected to said diverging edge of the crotch section, said body portion being formed of material which is loosely knit and relatively stretchable, and a flap formed of closely knit stronger material connected to said side edge of said body section throughout its length and having its lower end secured to the garment at the leg opening and its upper end secured to the waistband, said flap being overlapped by the adjacent edge of the crotch section and by the free unconnected part thereof whereby said flap forms a reinforcement beneath the weakened ily opening part of the garment and a relatively strong connection between the waistband and the leg opening.

ERWIN F. RAUSER.