WO2015082902A1

WO2015082902A1 - A pair of briefs

Info

Publication number: WO2015082902A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/053574
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Sturman
Original assignee: Montfort Services Sdn. Bhd.
Priority date: 2013-12-02
Filing date: 2014-12-02
Publication date: 2015-06-11
Also published as: GB201321194D0; GB2520764A

Abstract

A pair of briefs (20; 80) comprises a main body (22) which includes front and rear panels (24, 26) which are formed of a stretchable fabric (28) that has a first elastic modulus. The front and rear panels (24, 26) include side edges (30A, 30B, 32A, 32B) which form therebetween leg openings (34). Each leg opening (34) includes a stretchable leg band (36) which extends around the perimeter (38) thereof. The leg bands (36) have a second elastic modulus which is greater than the first elastic modulus. The rear panel (26) has first and second buttock formations (42) which are shaped to receive a respective buttock (16) of a wearer. A portion of each leg band (36) which lies close to the corresponding buttock formation (42) includes a stretchable reinforced region (44) that has a third elastic modulus greater than the second elastic modulus.

Description

A PAIR OF BRIEFS

This invention relates to a pair of briefs. In some circumstances it is desirable for an undergarment, e.g. a pair of briefs, to be essentially invisible underneath another clothing garment. This is particularly challenging when the other clothing garment is close-fitting and existing solutions utilise a stretchable fabric for the main body of the briefs and look to avoid the inclusion of seams and other three-dimensional structural elements which would otherwise deform the outer garment and thereby be visible underneath the outer garment.

These existing solutions are difficult to detect underneath other close-fitting garments and as such typically are characterised as creating no 'visible panty line', i.e. no VPL. However, one drawback with such no-VPL briefs 10 is illustrated in Figure 1. More particularly, the leg openings 12 in no-VPL briefs 10 have a tendency when being worn to ride upwards into the cleft 14 between respective buttocks 16 of a wearer. This riding upwards creates significant discomfort for the wearer. Conventional means of inhibiting such riding upwards of the leg openings in an underwear garment include incorporating a compressive band around the perimeter of each leg opening to clamp the leg opening to a wearer's leg and thereby inhibit movement of the opening towards the wearer's buttock cleft. However, the compressive band can only exert a sufficiently large compressive force to achieve the necessary clamping effect by increasing its bulk. Accordingly, while riding upwards of the leg openings can be inhibited, the associated bulk of the compressive bands deforms an outer garment lying over the compressive bands with the result that the pair of briefs is readily visible underneath the outer garment.

It follows that there is a need for an improved pair of briefs which create no VPL while at the same time inhibit the riding upwards of the leg openings therein.

According to the invention there is provided a pair of briefs comprising a main body including front and rear panels formed of a stretchable fabric having a first elastic modulus, the front and rear panels including side edges which form therebetween leg openings, each leg opening including a stretchable leg band extending around the perimeter thereof, the leg bands having a second elastic modulus greater than the first elastic modulus, the rear panel having first and second buttock formations shaped to receive a respective buttock of a wearer, a portion of each leg band lying close to the corresponding buttock formation including a stretchable reinforced region having a third elastic modulus greater than the second elastic modulus.

The inclusion of respective buttock formations shaped to receive a buttock of a wearer reduces the extent to which an outermost region of a buttock has a tendency to pull the corresponding leg opening in the rear panel of the briefs inwards and upwards towards the buttock cleft.

Moreover, the inclusion of such buttock formations helps to avoid the briefs flattening a wearer's buttocks with the result that a more natural looking buttock shape is presented through the other outer garments, e.g. a buttock shape which is akin to that observed if no undergarment is worn.

In addition, including the respective reinforced region in each leg band provides an increased degree of stiffness in the portion of the leg band which is most strongly drawn inwards and upwards by the aforementioned outermost region of a corresponding buttock. Such an increased degree of stiffness helps to dissipate over a greater portion of the leg band any remaining inwards and upwards acting force imparted by the outermost region of the corresponding buttock, and so permits the inclusion of a leg band with a relatively low elastic modulus which is nevertheless sufficient to resist the much reduced urge on the reinforced region to move upwards. The need for each leg band to have only a relatively low elastic modulus means that it has a correspondingly low bulk such that it does not deform to any great extent an outer garment lying over it and therefore remains invisible under the outer garment.

It follows that a respective buttock formation and corresponding reinforced region work together to reduce the upwards acting force on the reinforced region and dissipate such a force more widely, with the result that a much lower degree of compression is required from the corresponding leg band such that it can have a very low bulk commensurate with creating no VPL. Preferably the rear panel includes first and second stretchable contour members each of which lies in use below a corresponding buttock formation to define a lower outline of a wearer's buttock, and each of which is operably associated with a corresponding reinforced region to in use couple the mass of a wearer's buttock to the said reinforced region.

Coupling the mass of a wearer's buttock to the corresponding reinforced region allows the mass to act against any remaining inwards and upwards urge imparted by the outermost region of a corresponding buttock, with the result that any compressive requirement by the associated leg band to inhibit movement of the reinforced region in an inwards and upwards direction is all but eliminated. Consequently the leg bands can have very low elastic modulus and commensurately very low bulk, such that they are essentially undetectable when lying below a close-fitting outer garment, i.e. they create no VPL.

Optionally each contour member has a fourth elastic modulus greater than the first elastic modulus and less than the third elastic modulus.

Such an elastic modulus allows each contour member to provide a desired degree of influence on the associated reinforced region and provide a desired degree of definition to the outline of a wearer's buttock, while at the same time not unduly impacting on the bulk of the briefs.

Each contour member may be secured to the corresponding reinforced region.

Such an arrangement establishes a direct physical connection between each contour member and the corresponding reinforced region to permit the transfer of the load imparted by the mass of a wearer's buttock to the said reinforced region.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each contour member overlaps with the corresponding leg band and the overlapping portions of contour member and leg band define the corresponding reinforced region.

In this manner respective elastic moduli of the overlapping contour member and leg band combine to create a region of greater elastic modulus, i.e. the third elastic modulus, which is greater than the elastic modulus of each said component acting alone.

Moreover, such an arrangement helps to ensure that a given contour member is adequately secured to the reinforced region by becoming an integral part thereof. Preferably the first and second contour members are formed from an elastomer.

Elastomers are resiliently deformable and exhibit a high coefficient of friction which can help to reduce the likelihood of a given contour member moving relative to a wearer's buttocks. Such a latter characteristic is particularly advantageous in, e.g. a pair of sports briefs.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention each of the first and second contour members is overlaid by an identically-shaped portion of the stretchable fabric from which the front and rear panels are formed.

Such an arrangement provides the briefs with a uniform appearance similar to conventional briefs which are more familiar to wearers. In addition, such overlying of the fabric portion reduces the coefficient of friction of each contour member which for certain types of activity, e.g. during every day wear, is desirable as it can help to provide greater comfort.

Optionally each of the first and second contour members so overlaid by an identically- shaped portion of the said stretchable fabric lies together with the said stretchable fabric portion between the corresponding leg band and rear panel.

Having each contour member and associated fabric portion lie below the corresponding leg band provides for a neat overall configuration which is less likely to cause irritation or discomfort to a wearer.

The first and second contour members may be formed from a unitary contour element.

The inclusion of a unitary contour element helps to ensure a uniform transfer of the load imparted by each of a wearer's respective buttocks to the corresponding reinforced region.

Preferably the unitary contour element has a double-curved profile which rises to a peak at a midpoint corresponding to a region midway between the first and second buttock formations.

Such an arrangement creates a desirable lower outline for a wearer's buttocks while reliably transferring the mass of each buttock to the associated reinforced region. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the main body includes a fabric gusset panel secured in the gusset region thereof, the gusset panel being spaced from each of the first and second contour members to define an interface region lying between the gusset panel and a respective contour member and corresponding leg band.

Spacing the gusset panel from each of the contour members and the corresponding leg band in the aforementioned manner results in the interface region maintaining a lower elastic modulus than each of the gusset panel, contour member and corresponding leg band. More particularly each interface region exhibits the same degree of stretch and flexibility as the remainder of the front and rear panels and so is able to accommodate extra movement of a wearer.

Optionally the front and rear panels of the main body are formed from a single piece of stretchable fabric having leg cut-outs formed therein, respective edges of the single fabric piece being secured to one another to define respective waist portions of the main body.

Forming the front and rear panels from a single piece of fabric helps to ensure that the stretchable characteristic of the fabric is maintained throughout the front and rear panels and is not disrupted by a discontinuity such as a seam or other barrier.

Alternatively the front and rear panels may formed from first and second pieces of stretchable fabric having leg cut-outs formed therein, respective edges of the first and second fabric pieces being secured to one another to define respective waist portions of the main body, and the first and second fabric pieces also being secured to one another at or adjacent to the first and second contour members.

The provision of first and second pieces means that each individual piece is smaller than, e.g. an equivalent single piece, such that the first and second pieces may be more easily handled, e.g. during manufacture of the briefs. Meanwhile securing those pieces together at or adjacent to the first and second contour members helps to maintain the stretchable characteristic of the fabric to a large degree throughout the front and rear panels.

There now follows a brief description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the following figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a conventional pair of no visible panty line briefs; Figure 2 shows a front view of a pair of briefs according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the pair of briefs shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows an inside view of a rear panel in the pair of briefs shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5(a) shows a single piece of stretchable fabric from which the pair of briefs shown in Figure 2 are made;

Figure 5(b) shows first and second pieces of stretchable fabric from which a pair of briefs according to another embodiment of the invention are made;

Figure 6 shows the pair of briefs shown in Figure 2 when worn; and

Figure 7 shows a portion of a pair of briefs according to a still further embodiment of the invention.

A pair of briefs according to a first embodiment of the invention are designated generally by reference numeral 20.

The first briefs 20 include a main body 22 which has front and rear panels 24, 26 that are formed of stretchable fabric 28 with a first elastic modulus. In the embodiment shown the stretchable fabric 28 is a 96% modal 4% elastane jersey fabric with a mass of approximately 180g/m². Such a fabric has so-called 'two-way' stretch characteristics, i.e. it is essentially equally stretchable in first and second perpendicular directions. Other two- way stretch fabrics may also be used however.

The front and rear panels 24, 26 include side edges 30A, 30B, 32A, 32B which form therebetween respective first and second leg openings 34. The front and rear panels 24, 26 also define between them a waist opening 35.

Each leg opening 34 has a stretchable leg band 36 which extends around the perimeter 38 thereof, and more particularly extends completely around the perimeter 38 of the associated leg opening 34.

Each leg band 36 is formed from an elastomer in the form of a polyurethane tape (not shown) over which lies a similar-shaped portion 40 of the same stretchable fabric 28 from which the front and rear panels 24, 26 are formed. Preferably the polyurethane tape is adhered to each of the front and rear panels 24, 26, and the fabric portion 40 is adhered to the polyurethane tape. In this manner each leg band 36 is configured to have a second elastic modulus which is greater than the first elastic modulus mentioned hereinabove. The rear panel 26, as shown most clearly in Figure 4, includes first and second buttock formations 42 each of which is shaped to receive a respective buttock 16 of a wearer. In the embodiment shown each buttock formation 42 has a circular dome shape which compliments the general shape of a wearer's buttock 16.

A portion of each leg band 36 which lies close to the corresponding buttock formation 42 includes a stretchable reinforced region 44. In the embodiment shown it is the portion of a given leg band 36 which lies closest to the corresponding buttock formation 42 which includes the reinforced region 44, although this need not necessarily be the case.

Each reinforced region 44 has a third elastic modulus which is greater than both the first and second elastic moduli. The rear panel 26 also includes first and second stretchable contour members 46, each of which lies below but spaced from a corresponding buttock formation 42. Each contour member 46 has a fourth elastic modulus which is greater than the first elastic modulus but less than the third elastic modulus. In the embodiment shown, each of the first and second contour members 46 is formed from an elastomer, although a silicone may also be used. Further in the embodiment shown, each contour member 46 is formed separately from the rear panel 26 of the briefs 20 and is then subsequently secured, e.g. adhered in place. In other embodiments of the invention, however, one or more of the contour members 46 may be sprayed or extruded into position on the rear panel 26.

Each contour member 46 is secured to the corresponding reinforced region 44. More particularly, in the embodiment shown each contour member 46 overlaps with the corresponding leg band 36 such that the portions of contour member 46 and leg band 36 which overlap one another define the corresponding reinforced region 44. Each contour member 46 and the corresponding leg band 36 are adhered to one another, e.g. by a heat and/or pressure activated adhesive. The contour members 46 are also adhered in the same manner to the rear panel 26. Overlapping a respective contour member 46 and corresponding leg band 36 results in the fourth elastic modulus of each contour member 46 being added to the second elastic modulus of the corresponding leg band 36 to give rise to the aforementioned third elastic modulus of each reinforced region 44. The fourth and second elastic moduli are such though that each reinforced region 44 remains stretchable so as to be able to adapt to and accommodate movement of a wearer. Each contour member 46 is formed from an elastomer, and more particularly a polyurethane. The contour members 46 may be a applied in the form of a tape, a sheet or any other prepared form. The contour members 46 may also be formed from a silicone.

In the embodiment shown the contour members 46 are formed from a unitary contour element 48 which has a double-curved profile which rises to a peak at a midpoint 52. The midpoint 52 corresponds to a region R lying midway between the first and second buttock formations 42.

In this way the unitary contour element 48 extends completely across the rear panel 26 between respective leg openings 34.

In addition to the foregoing the main body 22 includes a fabric gusset panel 54 which is secured in the gusset region 56 of the main body 22. One way in which the gusset panel 54 may be so secured is, as shown in Figure 4, by being adhered between each of the front and rear panels 24, 26 and a corresponding leg band 36.

The gusset panel 54 is spaced from each of the first and second contour members 46, i.e. the unitary contour element 48, to define an interface region 58 which lies between the gusset panel 54 and respective contour member 46 and corresponding leg band 36. As such each interface region 58 has the same first elastic modulus as the remainder of each of the front and rear panels 24, 26, i.e. a lower modulus than the fourth elastic modulus of the contour members 46 and the second elastic modulus of the leg band 36.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4, the front and rear panels 24, 26 of the main body 22 are formed from a single piece 60 of stretchable fabric 28 which has leg cut-outs 62 formed therein, as shown schematically in Figure 5(a). The respective edges 30A, 30B, 32A, 32B of the single fabric piece 60 are secured to one another to define respective waist portions 64 of the main body 22. In the embodiment shown the edges 30A, 30B, 32A, 32B are secured to one another by a seam (not shown) although other types of securing are also possible such as, for example, overlap bonding. In other embodiments of the invention, the front and rear panels 24, 26 may be formed from first and second pieces 66, 68 of stretchable fabric 28, as shown schematically in Figure 5(b). The first and second fabric pieces 66, 68 similarly have leg cut-outs 62 formed therein and respective edges 30A, 30B, 32A, 32B are again secured to one another to define respective waist portions of the main body 22. The first and second pieces 66, 68 are additionally secured to one another immediately adjacent to the intended position 70 of the first and second contour members 46.

Returning to the first pair of briefs 20 shown in Figures 2 to 4, in use each buttock formation 42 receives a corresponding buttock 16 of a wearer and each of the first and second contour members 46 defines a lower outline of a corresponding buttock, as shown in Figure 6.

In this way the extent to which an outermost region 72 of a buttock 16 has a tendency to pull the corresponding leg opening 34 in the rear panel 26 of the briefs 20 upwards towards the buttock cleft (not shown in Figure 6) is reduced.

In addition such buttock formations 42 help to avoid the briefs 20 flattening the buttocks 16 with the result that a more natural looking buttock shape is achieved, as also shown in Figure 6.

Meanwhile the contour members 46 couple the mass of each buttock 16 to the corresponding reinforced region 44. As a result the mass of each buttock 16 acts against any remaining upwards urge imparted by the outermost region 72 of each buttock 16, with the result that any compressive requirement by the associated leg band 36 to inhibit movement of the reinforced region 44 in an upwards direction is all but eliminated.

The leg bands 36 therefore have a very low elastic modulus and commensurately very low bulk, as shown in Figure 6, such that they are essentially undetectable when lying below a close-fitting outer garment.

As a result of the foregoing features the first briefs 20 when worn create no visible panty line and also do not ride upwards into the cleft between a wearer's buttocks 16, i.e. the first briefs 20 maintain essentially the same configuration relative to a wearer (as shown in Figure 6) throughout the normal range of movements, e.g. walking and sitting, a wearer undertakes. A pair of briefs 80 according to a second embodiment of the invention are shown in Figure 7. The second briefs 80 share a number of features with the first briefs 20 and like features share the same reference numerals. One way in which the second briefs 80 differ from the first briefs 20 is that each of the first and second contour members 46 is overlaid by an identically-shaped portion 82 of the stretchable fabric 28 from which the front and rear panels 24, 26 are formed. In addition, each of the first and second contour members 46, so overlaid by the identically-shaped fabric portion 82, lies together with the said fabric portion 82 below the corresponding leg band 36, and more particularly is sandwiched between the leg band 36 and the rear panel 26.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pair of briefs comprising a main body including front and rear panels formed of a stretchable fabric having a first elastic modulus, the front and rear panels including side edges which form therebetween leg openings, each leg opening including a stretchable leg band extending around the perimeter thereof, the leg bands having a second elastic modulus greater than the first elastic modulus, the rear panel having first and second buttock formations shaped to receive a respective buttock of a wearer, a portion of each leg band lying close to the corresponding buttock formation including a stretchable reinforced region having a third elastic modulus greater than the second elastic modulus.

2. A pair of briefs according to Claim 1 wherein the rear panel includes first and second stretchable contour members each of which lies in use below a corresponding buttock formation to define a lower outline of a wearer's buttock, and each of which is operably associated with a corresponding reinforced region to in use couple the mass of a wearer's buttock to the said reinforced region.

3. A pair of briefs according to Claim 2 wherein each contour member has a fourth elastic modulus greater than the first elastic modulus and less than the third elastic modulus.

4. A pair of briefs according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein each contour member is secured to the corresponding reinforced region.

5. A pair of briefs according to any of Claims 2 to 4 wherein each contour member overlaps with the corresponding leg band and the overlapping portions of contour member and leg band define the corresponding reinforced region.

6. A pair of briefs according to any of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the first and second contour members are formed from an elastomer.

7. A pair of briefs according to any of Claims 2 to 6 wherein each of the first and second contour members is overlaid by an identically-shaped portion of the stretchable fabric from which the front and rear panels are formed.

8. A pair of briefs according to Claim 7 wherein each of the first and second contour members so overlaid by an identically-shaped portion of the said stretchable fabric lies together with the said stretchable fabric portion between the corresponding leg band and rear panel.

9. A pair of briefs according to any of Claims 2 to 8 wherein the first and second contour members are formed from a unitary contour element.

10. A pair of briefs according to Claim 9 wherein the unitary contour element has a double-curved profile which rises to a peak at a midpoint corresponding to a region midway between the first and second buttock formations.

11. A pair of briefs according to any of Claims 2 to 10 wherein the main body includes a fabric gusset panel secured in the gusset region thereof, the gusset panel being spaced from each of the first and second contour members to define an interface region lying between the gusset panel and a respective contour member and corresponding leg band.

12. A pair of briefs according to any preceding claim wherein the front and rear panels of the main body are formed from a single piece of stretchable fabric having leg cut-outs formed therein, respective edges of the single fabric piece being secured to one another to define respective waist portions of the main body.

13. A pair of briefs according to any of Claims 2 to 11 wherein the front and rear panels are formed from first and second pieces of stretchable fabric having leg cut-outs formed therein, respective edges of the first and second fabric pieces being secured to one another to define respective waist portions of the main body, and the first and second fabric pieces also being secured to one another at or adjacent to the first and second contour members.

14. A pair of briefs generally as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.