WO2001035773A1

WO2001035773A1 - Panty with side opening in crotch

Info

Publication number: WO2001035773A1
Application number: PCT/DK2000/000632
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik ØRUM; Joan JØRGENSEN
Original assignee: Oerum Henrik; Joergensen Joan
Priority date: 1999-11-16
Filing date: 2000-11-15
Publication date: 2001-05-25
Also published as: AU1382001A

Abstract

Product description: the feature of the invention is that a side opening is provided at each side of two-panel crotch in a (female) panty, enabling the wings on a sanitary pad to be concealed. Purpose: to ensure that the wings on a sanitary pad, which are normally positioned on the outside of a panty, are concealed between the 'upper' and 'lower' panels of a crotch, while relieving the user of chafing and irritation where the pad is normally in contact with the skin of the inner thigh. Knowledge of similar invention: knowledge exists of a similar Japanese invention described in JP 10014980. However, the present invention differs significantly from the Japanese invention.

Description

Panty with side opening in crotch

Description

The side opening in the new invention normally measures 7 cm to 9 cm; however, the opening may be displaced somewhat to the front or rear of the crotch depending on the type of panty for which it is made.

Furthermore, the inner panel of the crotch is narrower than the outer panel at the openings, varying from 0 mm to 4 cm, but is typically about 5 mm narrower, with the advantage that when the wings of the pad are folded into the sides, they are concealed completely by the outer panel as seen from the outside.

The sides of the crotch are also provided with elastic ribbon or other elastication to ensure that when forming part of a panty, the panel is stretched along the sides so as to keep the openings closed.

The wings of the pad are folded into the opening at each side of the two-panel crotch in such manner that they (the wings) cannot be seen when the panty is used, the wings being concealed between the material layers.

The invention is a combination panty (a simple and easy system) which can be used as a sanitary pad holder, an incontinence pad holder and as an ordinary panty.

The pattern/design/material of the crotch are not of critical importance, numerous types being available.

The invention is illustrated in appendix 1 and described in appendix 2.

Existing model

The crotch normally used in a panty consists of two panels of material which are stitched or otherwise joined at the edges. The front and rear of the crotch is stitched or otherwise attached to the rest of the panty. Direct knowledge of similar invention

We have knowledge of a Japanese invention described in JP10014980, which is similar to ours to some extent but which is not of a practically useful design, whereas ours is a creative innovation which is simple and easy to use.

The Japanese invention features two flaps on the inner panel of the crotch. The wings of the pad are placed on these flaps and the two are folded together between the two panels of the crotch so that the wings are concealed from the outside.

The disadvantages of this are that

• it is difficult to secure the wings of a sanitary pad to flaps of this type since the wings will typically be of the same type of material as the panty and, therefore, cannot easily be held in position by the two panels of the crotch as described in the Japanese application, a thin material in contact with the material tending to slip out;

• the addition of an extra layer of material (the flaps) between the panels of the crotch increases the amount of material in the crotch by 50% since there are then three layers on top of each other;

• the extra layer of material and stitching is clearly visible through the outer panel of the crotch;

• the invention does not conform to the trend in which increasingly thinner pads are being used to meet demands from women that the wearing of a sanitary pad should not be apparent;

• the panty cannot be used as a general panty since the flaps are very likely to slip out of the openings, to hang down and become visible from outside;

• since the use of elastic materials is not specified as part of the invention, it is difficult, if not impossible, to use the panty. Our invention differs significantly from the Japanese invention

Our invention differs significantly from the Japanese invention in that it does not feature flaps. Because flaps are not used: the panty can be used to hold an ordinary sanitary pad without wings, unlike the Japanese invention, in which the flaps tend to hang down, unlike our invention, in which the panels of the crotch are pressed together when the panty is used, so that the openings are not visible; the panty can be worn as an ordinary garment (i.e. without a sanitary pad). This is not true of the Japanese invention, in which the flaps tend to hang dov n, unlike our invention, in which the panels of the crotch are pressed together and pressed outward by the elasticated edge when the panty is used, so that the openings are not visible;

- the material thickness is reduced by 33% since there is no 'flap material' to be folded between the panels of the crotch; additional stitching is avoided in our invention; additional material is avoided in our invention; the result is a more homogeneous product which all women can use; - the panty is less expensive to produce; the panty is a more aesthetic product which does not have the appearance of being used for menstrual protection.

Finally, our invention differs from the Japanese invention in that the sides of the inner and outer panels are elasticated. This gives the panty the function that when the pad is to be inserted while wearing the garment, the panty (and crotch) are pushed down over the thighs, causing the crotch to arch downward. This causes the elasticated edges to become less distended, with the result that it is easier to insert the wings of the pad between the two panels of the crotch. When the panty is pulled up, the sides of the crotch are automatically stretched lengthwise from front to rear. Therefore, it is very important to provide elasticated edges or a similar feature at the sides of the inner and outer panels of the crotch, to ensure that the wings remain in place and do not slip out. This improvement contributes significantly to ensuring that the wearing of sanitary protection by a woman shall not be visible, and that a panty and sanitary pad shall be as thin as possible.

Conclusion

Our invention differs significantly from the Japanese invention.

We consider that our invention also differs significantly from the Japanese invention since even small improvements in this particular clothing category (panties and sanitary pads) have been awarded patents and, furthermore, that this creative innovation is also of very significant practical importance.

Additional flaps do not belong in an application in which sanitary pads are becoming thinner and thinner.

In our view, the fact that even small improvements in sanitary pads can be patented is a clear indication that the even greater improvements offered by our panty should also be patentable.

APPENDIX 2

Explanation of sketches in appendix 1 :

Fig. 1

This shows the panty /crotch from underneath/outside and represents the outer layer of the panty, which is not in contact with the body.

'b' indicates the crotch with openings 'a' at each side, enabling the wings of a sanitary pad to be inserted between the outer and inner material layers and, thereby, concealed.

Fig. 2

This shows the panty /inner panel of the crotch, which is in contact with the body.

V indicates the crotch with openings 'a' at each side, enabling the wings of a sanitary pad to be inserted between the outer and inner material layers and, thereby, concealed.

Fig. 3

This shows the panty with a sanitary pad or similar liner with wings.

The pad is denoted 'd', while the wings 'e' are shown inserted between the outer and inner material layers and are, thereby, concealed.

Re Figs. 1, 2 and 3

The points at which 'a' and 'b' respectively are joined to 'F are typical of how the crotch/bottom panel are attached/stitched to the rest of the panty.

Claims

Patent claims

The feature of the invention is that a side opening is provided at each side of two-panel crotch in a panty, enabling the wings on a sanitary pad to be concealed. The side opening may vary from 3 mm to 40 cm.

Purpose of invention

The purpose of the invention is to prevent the visible appearance of wings from the outside of the panty. The user also avoids chafing and irritation of the inner thigh, where the pad is normally in contact with the skin.