US3220410A

US3220410A - Undergarment

Info

Publication number: US3220410A
Application number: US325052A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sloan Gerald
Original assignee: Exquisite Form Ind Inc
Current assignee: Exquisite Form Ind Inc
Priority date: 1963-11-20
Filing date: 1963-11-20
Publication date: 1965-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-30

Description

G. SLOAN UNDERGARMENT Nov. 30, 1965 Filed Nov. 20, 1963 FIG. 1

FIG

lNvENToR Gerold Sloan BYy 0,:

' ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,220,410 UNDERGARMENT Gerald Sioan, Spring Valley, NX., assigner to Exquisite Form Industries, Inc., New York, NSY., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 325,052 7 Claims. (Cl. t28-159) The present invention relates, generally, to garments.

More particularly, this invention pertains to un-dergarments particularly adapted for use by the male species, which garment is generally referred to as briefs, shorts, tightsj and trunks At the outset, it is to be understood that, while the present invention is illustrated as applied to an undergarment comprising leg structures of comparatively short length, the same is equally applicable to that type of male undergarment comprising leg structures extending the full length of the body and substantially to the ankles thereof.

Heretofore, male undergarments, as opposed to female undergarments, have been suggested primarily for hygienic and health purposes. However, there is presently a demand for such undergarments that are capable of performing a Wide variety of additional functions.

For example, there is presently a demand for male undergarments that are soI constituted and arranged as to be capable of idealizing the geometries of the male figure. However, while garments are available that attempt to present figure control, such garments are uncomfortable tovwear. Additionally, while figure control is a recognized desidertum, criteria such as posture control, and a garment that is so constituted and arranged as to perform one or more of the functions of a surgical garment, such as proper support in the region of the back required as a result of an injury thereto, while yet not presenting the discomforts of such a garment, have been substantially, if not completely, ignored.

Still further, and of prime importance, is the problem frequenty and particularly encountered by males of obese proportions specifically in the area of the crotch. More specically, the obese male uses a device, such as a suspender, to pull an outer garment, for example, his slacks or pants, upwardly of the body. As a result, undergarments as are presently available ride upwardly and into the crotch, with a resulting extreme discomfort, and even a profuse irritation or rash A still further problem of prime importance with existing undergarments is that they are formed with the necessary opening in the front in such a manner as to present great difficulty in providing egress therefrom in the known manner.

Accordingly, having in mind each and every one of the above disadvantages, and others that are considered readily apparent to those skilled in the art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an undergarment particularly adapted for use by the male, said undergarment being so constituted, congured and arranged as to develop iigure controlling pressures for the male body in degrees that render such garment capable of tending to idealize the geometry of the male figure, capable of providing posture control, and capable of performing certain functions of a surgical garment, such as presenting proper support in the lower region of the back, necessitated by an injury thereto, which undergarment is yet perfectly suitable for hygienic and health purposes, and is completely comfortable during use.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment particularly adapted for use by the male, said undergarment being so constituted, configured and arranged as to develop figure controlling pressures for the male body in degrees that render such gar- 3,229,4i@ Patented Nov.. 30, 1965 ICCl ment capable of performing each and every one of the functions above described, said undergarment, further, comprising a plurality of generally centrally disposed panels positioned in partial overlapping relationship with respect to one another, the transverse dimensional extent of one of said panels being greater than the other, enabling the presentation of a generally vertically opening transversely extending aperture, facilitating the egress therefrom in a known manner readily and with little, if any, difliculty.

Yet another primary object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment particularly adapted for use by the male, said undergarment being so constituted, configured and arranged as to develop figure controlling pressures for the male body in degrees that render such garment capable of performing each and every one of the functions above described, said undergarment, further, comprising a pouch particularly adapted for use in the known manner, said pouch comprising, in turn, one of said generally centrally disposed panels and a band or panel xedly associated therewith and with each of the leg sections of said garment, each of said bands being distendable in at least one of a plurality of directions and extending from the front to the rear of the garment, said bands, further, being particularly adapted to fold generally medially thereof and therealong for cooperation with said one panel, increasing the capacity of said pouch, and for cooperation with said leg sections for encompassing that portion of the male body known as the inner thighs, enabling the presentation of an undergarment for the male that will not ride upwardly into the region of the crotch, with a resulting extreme irritation thereto, even in the instance of a male of obese proportions.

A still further primary object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment particularly adapted for use by the male, said undergarment being so constituted, configured and arranged as to develop figure controlling pressures for the male body in degrees that render such garment capable of performing each and every one of the functions above described, said undergarment, further, comprising a generally circumferentially extending waist band of substantial transverse dimensional extent, said waist band being so constituted and arranged as to develop tensile forces in one of a plurality of regions longitudinally thereof that are greater than the forces developed in another of said longitudinally extending regions, presenting an undergarment for the male that provides a greater degree of circumferential waist line control in the narrowest region of the male Waist, and a lesser degree of said control in that region of the male body tapering generally vertically upwardly from and radially outwardly of the waist, which garment will not ride upwardly during use With an extreme degree of attendant discomfort.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specication following taken with the drawing, which together show, illustrate, describe and disclose a preferred embodiment or modication of the invention and what is now considere-d to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an undergarment for the male species constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 `is a view similar to FIG. l, but illustrating the undergarment from rearwardly thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the undergarment illustrated in FIGS. l and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated therein an undergarment, particularly adapted for use by the male species, and generally designated by the reference character 10. The garment 1d comprises a body encompassing or encircling panel, generally designated by the reference character 12, of such dimensional extent as to extend completely transversely of the rear or back of the male body 14, as illustrated in FIG. 2, around the sides thereof, and partially transversely of the front of the body, terminating generally centrally thereof. The body encircling panel 12 may be fabricated of any suitable material, and preferably is fabricated of a material that is distendable in each of a plurality of directions, that is, having elastic threads extending in each of said directions, as illustrated by the arrows in the drawing. The panel 12, further, is comprised of a plurality of leg sections 16, extending generally vertically downwardly therefrom, said sections being particularly adapted to partially encompass or encircle the thighs 18 of the body 14.

As pointed out above, the body encircling panel extends forwardly of the body 14, and terminates generally centrally thereof. A plurality of

frontal panels

20 and 22 are disposed generally centrally and frontally of the garment 10, and are xedly structurally associated with or connected to the panel 12 in any suitable manner, as by means of opposed lines of stitching 24.

The panels-20 and 22 may be fabricated of any suitable material, and, for example, may be fabricated of the same material as the panel 12. In choosing the material from which the panel 22 is fabricated, hygienic conditions at that location of the male torso should be kept in mind. In this instance, it may be desirable to fabricate the panel 22 from a material that differs from that of the panel 12. The material chosen may be distendable in each of the directions indicated by the arrows in the drawing.

As illustrated in the drawing, the longitudinal dimensional extent or length of the garment is greater than the transverse dimensional extent or width thereof. In this same connection, the longitudinal dimensional extent of each of the panels and 22 is predetermined so that, when connected to the panel 12, the former are disposed in a partial overlapping relationship with respect to one another. Each panel is of a configuration simulating that of an inverted truncated cone. In this connection, it is to be particularly noted that the width of the panel 2) is substantially equal to the distance between opposed lines of stitching 24, while the same dimension of the panel 22 is greater than that distance. Accordingly, the lower edge 26 of the panel 20 generally follows the contour of the body 14 at that location and is disposed generally flush thereagainst, while the upper edge 28 of the panel 22 extends forwardly or outwardly of the panel 20, as indicated in FIG. l by the generally downwardly extending curvilinear configuration of the edge 28. There is formed therefore a transversely extending generally vertically upwardly opening aperture 30 providing egress from the garment 1t) in the known manner.

The panel 22 extends from the front of the garment 10, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. l and 3, to the rear thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 2, where it is again lixedly structurally associated with the body encircling panel 12 in any suitable manner, as by means of stitching 32. In accordance with this construction, the panel 22, in conjunction with other component parts of the garment 10, presently to be described, comprises a distendable variable capacity pouch, generally designated by the reference character 34, which pouch is particularly adapted to function during use, in the known manner.

A plurality of inner distendable panels 36 extends from the front of the garment 1@ to the rear thereof, and is ixedly associated with the lower panel 22 as by means of stitching 38. These panels may be fabricated of any suitable material, and may be fabricated of the same material as the body encircling panel 12, in which case the panels 36 will be distendable in each of a plurality of directions. It is to be understood that, regardless of the material, the panels 36 are to be fabricated so as to be distendable in at least one of Stich directions.

The inner panels, in extending from the front to the rear of the garment 10, are of such longitudinal dimensional extent or length as to partially encompass or encircle the thighs 18. Accordingly, it can be seen that the inner panels 36 are particularly adapted to cooperate structurally with the lower panel 22, thus comprising a component part or element of the pouch 34, and, additionally, particularly adapted to cooperate structurally with the leg sections 16, in completely encircling the thighs thus comprising a component part or element of and completing such leg sections.

A waist encircling or encompassing control band 40 is fixedly associated with or connected to the garment 10, in any suitable manner, as by means of stitching 42. The waist control band is of substantial transverse dimensional extent or width, as opposed to be relatively nar row, and is even of the order of three inches. This band may be fabricated of any suitable material, and preferably is so fabricated and arranged as to be distendable in only one direction, that is, longitudinally thereof, as indicated by the directional arrows in the drawing. In addition, in fabricating the band 40, the elastic threads extending longitudinally of the upper half or region thereof are chosen to present a greater degree of resiliency than the elastic threads extending longitudinally of the lower half or region of the band. This is of particular significance when it is realized that the body 14 tapers upwardly and outwardly of the narrowest region thereof, namely, the waist. Accordingly, in addition to achieving the desired control in the area of the waist, there is also achieved the desired comfort and posture control in that area and in the area thereabove.

A leg encircling or encompassing control band 144 is fxedly associated with each of the leg sections 16 and with the inner panels 36, in any suitable manner, as by means of the stitching 46. The bands 44 may be of substantial transverse dimensional extent or width, as opposed t0 be relatively narrow, and may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as the material from which the band 40 is fabricated. As opposed to the latter, however, the bands 44 preferably are fabricated to present the same degree of resiliency completely of the width and the length thereof. As pointed out above, the leg sections 16, which are completed by the inner panels 36, are particularly adapted to completely encompass or encircle the thighs 18. The control bands 44 are particularly adapted to perform the same function, and, additionally, provide the proper control and support therefor, While, at the same time, yielding complete comfort.

In use, the transversely extending generally vertically opening aperture 30 provides and facilitates ready egress from the garment 10, in the known manner. The inner bands 36, inasmuch as they are positioned adjacent the crotch of the body 14, fold generally medially of the transverse dimensional extent or width thereof, one half being particularly adapted to cooperate with the panel 22 in forming the pouch 34, and the other half being particularly adapted to cooperate with the leg sections 16 in completing the same and completely encircling the thighs 18. In this manner, there is provided a pouch 34 that performs in use in the known manner, regardless of the size of the male 14. In addition, the portion folding into juxtaposition with the thighs presents more than enough material for the control as well as the comfort thereof. Of particular significance is the fact that the folding of the inner panels 36 to cooperate with the pouch 34 and the leg sections 16 precludes the garment 10 from riding generally upwardly of the body 14 and into the crotch thereof, particularly in the instance when the male is of obese proportions.

Moreover, there is provided not only figure control, resulting from the provision of the waist control band 40 and the leg control bands 44, as Well as complete comfort due to the variable resiliency of the waist control band, particularly in the area above the waist expanding radially outwardly and upwardly of the body, but, in addition, posture control, particularly in the latter area, where it is of primary importance.

It is to be understood that terminology such as upper, lower, frontal or front, rearwardly or rear, and upwardly and downwardly, as used in the ensuing description and in the subjoined claims, along with other similar directional terminology, is to be construed and interpreted in-its normal and accepted sense. However, such terminology is not to be construed or interpreted in a limiting sense either in the ensuing description or the subjoinedclaims, since the same is used merely to facilitate an understanding of and to clearly set forth and particularly define the present invention.

While the invention has been shown, illustrated, described and disclosed in terms of an embodiment or modiiication which vit has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited by the precise embodiment or modification herein shown, illustrated, described or disclosed, such other embodiments or modifications intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope of the claims here appended.

I claim:

1. An undergarment particularly adapted for use by the male species comprising, in combination:

a body-encircling panel for encompassing the rear, the sides and at least a portion of the front of the male torso;

an upper and lower panel disposed at the front of said garment and being connected to said body-encircling panel at that location;

said upper and lower panels being disposed in partial overlapping relationship with one another to define a transversely extending vertically opening aperture; and

a plurality of inner panels extending from the front of said garment to the rear thereof;

said inner panels each being connected to said bodyencircling panel at the front and at the rear of said garment, and along an edge or side thereof to said lower panel;

said inner panels each being foldable longitudinally thereof to provide a portion that coacts with the lower panel in defining a distensible pouch of variable capacity useful in the known manner regardless of the dimensional extents of the male body.

2. An undergarment as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the transverse dimensional extent of said lower panel is greater than the same dimension of said upper panel.

3. An undergarment as defined in claim 2, wherein:

said body encircling panel further comprises:

a plurality of leg sections extending therefrom;

said inner panels being connected with said leg sections along an other edge or side thereof from the front to the rear of the garment;

said inner panels each defining an other portion that co-operates with said leg sections to completely encircle those portions of the male body known as the thighs,

4. An undergarment as defined in claim 3, wherein there is provided:

a waist encircling control band;

said waist band comprising, in turn:

a plurality of generally longitudinally extending resilient regions of substantial transverse dimensional extent;

the degree of resiliency of one of said plurality of regions being greater than that of an other.

5. An undergarment as defined in claim 4, wherein:

the said encircling panel is distendable in at least one of a plurality of directions;

said frontally disposed panels are each of them distendable in at least one of a plurality of directions; and

said inner panels are each of them distendable in at least one of a plurality of directions.

6. An undergarment particularly adapted for use by the male species comprising, in combination:

a body encircling panel;

said panel being of such transverse dimensional extent as to extend completely transversely of the rear of a male body, around the sides and'partially transversely of the front thereof;

said panel being distendable in each of a plurality of directions and comprising, in turn:

a plurality of opposed edges extending generally angularly completely longitudinally of said garment, and

a plurality of leg sections extending generally vertically downwardly therefrom and being particularly adapted to at least partially encompass that portion of the male body known as the thighs;l

an upper frontal panel disposed generally centrally and frontally of said garment and fixedly associated with the opposed edges of said encircling panel;

said frontal panel being distendable in each of a plurality of directions and being of a transverse dimensional extent substantially equal to the transverse distance between said opposed edges;

a lower frontal panel disposed generally centrally and frontally of said garment and fixedly associated with the opposed edges of said encircling panel;

said lower frontal panel being distendable in each of a plurality of directions and being of a transverse dimensional extent greater than the transverse distance between said opposed edges;

the longitudinal dimensional extent of each of said upper and lower frontal panels being such as to dispose the same in a partial overlapping relationship with respect to one another;

enabling the presentation of a transversely extending generally vertically upwardly opening aperture providing facile egress from the said garment in the known manner;

said lower frontal panel being of such longitudinal dimensional extent as to extend from the front to the rear of said garment;

a plurality of distendable inner panels fixedly associated with the lower frontal panel, and being of such longitudinal dimensional extent as to extend from the front to the rear of said garment,

said inner panels being distendable in at least one of a plurality of directions, and being structurally operatively associated with said lower frontal panel, enabling the presentation of a distendable variable capacity pouch useful in the known manner regardless of the dimensional extents of the body;

said lower frontal panel being structurally operatively associated with said leg sections, and being particularly adapted to at least partially encircle the said thighs;

said inner panels and leg sections being particularly adapted to completely encircle the said thighs;

a waist encircling control band fixedly associated with said distendable encircling panel and said upper frontal panel, and being of such longitudinal dimensional extent as to completely encircle a male body generally about that portion thereof known as the waist;

said waist band being distendable in at least one of a plurality of directions, and being of substantial transverse dimensional extent, said waist band comprising, in turn:

a plurality of generally longitudinally directed transversely extending resilient regions;

the degree of resiliency of one of said plurality of regions being greater than that of an other; and

a leg encircling control band ixedly associated with each of said leg sections and the said inner panels;

said leg control bands being distendable in at least one of a plurality of directions, and being particularly adapted to completely encircle that portion of the male body known as the thighs.

7. An underground particularly adapted for use by the male species comprising, in combination:

a body-encircling panel for encompassing the rear, the sides and at least a portion of the front of the male torso, and comprising:

a plurality of leg sections;

the transverse dimensional extent of said lower panel being greater than the same dimension of said upper panel; and the longitudinal dimensional extent of each of said panels being such as to dispose the same in partial overlapping relationship with respect to one another;

enabling the presentation of a transversely extending vertically opening aperture providing facile egress from the said garment in the known manner;

said inner panels each being connected to the leg sections of said body-encircling panel at the front and at the rear of said garment, and along one edge or side thereof to said lower panel;

said inner panels each being foldable longitudinally thereof to provide a portion that coacts with the lower panel in defining a distensible pouch of variable capacity useful in the known manner regardless of the dimensional extents of the male body, and another portion to co-operate with said leg sections to completely encircle those portions of the male body known as the thighs; and

a distensible waist encircling control band;

said control band comprising, in turn:

the degree of resiliency of one of said plurality of regions being greater than that of another.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,481 ll/1938 Chateld 12S-159 2,282,218 5/1942 Flesh 2-234 2,872,685 2/ 1959 Denbo 2-224 2,960,987 1l/196() Rockwell 12S-528 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. AN UNDERGARMENT PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE BY THE MALE SPECIES COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A BODY-ENCIRCLING PANEL FOR ENCOMPASSING THE REAR, THE SIDES AND AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE FRONT OF THE MALE TORSO; AN UPPER AND LOWER PANEL DISPOSED AT THE FRONT OF SAID GARMENT AND BEING CONNECTED TO SAID BODY-ENCIRCLING PANEL AT THAT LOCATION; SAID UPPER AND LOWER PANELS BEING DISPOSED IN PARTIAL OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER TO DEFINE A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING VERTICALLY OPENING APERTURE; AND A PLURALITY OF INNER PANELS EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF SAID GARMENT TO THE REAR THEREOF; SAID INNER PANELS EACH BEING CONNECTED TO SAID BODY ENCIRCLING PANEL AT THE FRONT AND AT THE REAR OF SAID GARMENT, AND ALONG AN EDGE OR SIDE THEREOF TO SAID LOWER PANEL; SAID INNER PANELS EACH BEING FOLDABLE LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF TO PROVIDE A PORTION THAT COACTS WITH THE LOWER PANEL IN DEFINING A DISTENSIBLE POUCH OF VARIABLE CAPACITY USEFUL IN THE KNOWN MANNER REGARDLESS OF THE DIMENSIONAL EXTENTS OF THE MALE BODY.