WO2022203602A1

WO2022203602A1 - Lower body garment

Info

Publication number: WO2022203602A1
Application number: PCT/SG2022/050157
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ishan Melantha AMBALANGODA LIYANAGE; Jalanthiran Selvarajah
Original assignee: Mas Intimates (Pvt) Ltd; MATTEUCCI, Gianfranco
Priority date: 2021-03-25
Filing date: 2022-03-23
Publication date: 2022-09-29

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a lower body garment (100) for a user. The lower body garment (100) comprises: a body fabric (120); a stretchable waistband (130) joined to the body fabric (120) for holding the lower body garment (100) against the user's waist; stretchable leg hems (140) joined to the body fabric (120) for holding the lower body garment (100) against the user's legs; and a buffer fabric (150) joined to the body fabric (120) and configured to support at least part of the user's buttocks, wherein the buffer fabric (150) is more stretchable than the body fabric (120) in at least a first direction between the waistband (130) and the leg hems (140).

Description

LOWER BODY GARMENT

Cross Reference to Related Application(s)

The present disclosure claims the benefit of Singapore Patent Application No. 10202103087S filed on 25 March 2021 , which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a lower body garment such as boxers.

Background

Users may wear lower body garments such as everyday boxers and those who participate in leisure / active lifestyles may wear more functional garments like active boxers. For example, users who participate in sports activities may wear lower body garments such as performance boxers to improve their performance. However, the leg hems of existing lower body garments commonly ride up the user’s legs during such activities. This causes discomfort to the user and the user needs to constantly adjust the garment back to the desired comfort level.

Therefore, in order to address or alleviate at least the aforementioned problem or disadvantage, there is a need to provide an improved lower body garment.

Summary

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is a lower body garment for a user. The lower body garment comprises: a body fabric; a stretchable waistband joined to the body fabric for holding the lower body garment against the user’s waist; stretchable leg hems joined to the body fabric for holding the lower body garment against the user’s legs; and a buffer fabric joined to the body fabric and configured to support at least part of the user’s buttocks, wherein the buffer fabric is more stretchable than the body fabric in at least a first direction between the waistband and the leg hems.

A lower body garment according to the present disclosure is thus disclosed herein. Various features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, by way of non-limiting examples only, along with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a lower body garment.

Figure 2 illustrates a back view of the lower body garment.

Figure 3 illustrates various views of the lower body garment as performance boxers.

Detailed Description

For purposes of brevity and clarity, descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a lower body garment in accordance with the drawings. While aspects of the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with the embodiments provided herein, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the present disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the present disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents to the embodiments described herein, which are included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. Flowever, it will be recognized by an individual having ordinary skill in the art, i.e. a skilled person, that the present disclosure may be practiced without specific details, and/or with multiple details arising from combinations of aspects of particular embodiments. In a number of instances, known systems, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, depiction of a given element or consideration or use of a particular element number in a particular figure or a reference thereto in corresponding descriptive material can encompass the same, an equivalent, or an analogous element or element number identified in another figure or descriptive material associated therewith.

References to “an embodiment / example”, “another embodiment / example”, “some embodiments / examples”, “some other embodiments / examples”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) / example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment / example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment / example” or “in another embodiment / example” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment / example.

The terms “comprising”, “including”, “having”, and the like do not exclude the presence of other features / elements / steps than those listed in an embodiment. Recitation of certain features / elements / steps in mutually different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these features / elements / steps cannot be used in an embodiment. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more than one. The use of 7” in a figure or associated text is understood to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated. The recitation of a particular numerical value or value range herein is understood to include or be a recitation of an approximate numerical value or value range. The terms “first” and “second” are used merely as labels or identifiers and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their associated terms.

In representative or exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, there is a lower body garment 100 for a user as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The lower body garment 100 may be any type of garment wearable on a lower body of the user, i.e. from the waist and below, who may be male or female. For example, the lower body garment 100 may include one of boxers, boxer briefs, trunks, midway briefs, and leggings. In some embodiments, the lower body garment 100 is a pair of performance boxers for a male user as shown in Figure 3. The lower body garment 100 may include a front pouch 110 for supporting a groin part of the male user.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower body garment 100 includes a body fabric 120, a waistband 130 joined to the body fabric 120, and leg hems 140 joined to the body fabric 120. The waistband 130 is stretchable for holding the lower body garment 100 against the user’s waist. The leg hems 140 are stretchable for holding the lower body garment 100 against the user’s legs.

The lower body garment 100 further includes a buffer fabric 150 joined to the body fabric 120. The buffer fabric 150 may optionally be joined to the waistband 130 and/or the leg hems 140. The buffer fabric 150 is configured to support at least part of the user’s buttocks. Further, the buffer fabric 150 is more stretchable than the body fabric 120 in at least a first direction between the waistband 130 and the leg hems 140. The first direction may be referred to as the vertical or lengthwise direction. The buffer fabric 150 may optionally be more stretchable than the body fabric 120 in the first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The second direction may be referred to as the horizontal or widthwise direction.

The higher stretchability of the buffer fabric 150 in the first direction and optionally the second direction compared to the body fabric 120 facilitates providing 3D capacity or volume for supporting at least part of the user’s buttocks. When the user wearing the lower body garment 100 is actively moving, such as walking, running, or working out the lower body, the lower body movements would create a tension force in the back of the lower body garment 100 in the first direction. This tension force in pulls and stretches the body fabric 120 and buffer fabric 150 at the back of the lower body garment 100, particularly around the user’s buttocks. As the buffer fabric 150 is more stretchable than the body fabric 120 in at least the first direction, the buffer fabric 150 is able to act as a buffering layer and absorb more of the tension force, resulting in the buffer fabric 150 being stretched more than the body fabric 120 in the first direction. Less of the tension force would be transferred to the body fabric 120 and further to the leg hems 140. The more stretchable buffer fabric 150 thus provides additional 3D capacity by stretching further at the user’s buttocks to maintain the required volume cover and stability during lower body movements.

The stretchability of the buffer fabric 150 in the first direction may be about 1 .05 to 2 times of the stretchability of the body fabric 120 in the first direction. The stretchability of the buffer fabric in the second direction may be about 0.8 to 2 times of the stretchability of the body fabric in the second direction. The body fabric 120 may include a stretch fabric material that allows the body fabric 120 to stretch in the first direction and/or the second direction by at least 60% at 7.5 pound-force. For example, a 3-inch width by 5-inch length section of the stretch fabric material can stretch until a length of 8 inches at 7.5 pound force. The buffer fabric 150 may include a bidirectional or 4-way stretch fabric material such as cotton, nylon, polyester, or any natural / synthetic blends containing elastane and/or spandex.

The body fabric 120 and buffer fabric 150 may be made of the same fabric material. Further, the body fabric 120 may include a stiffening material to reduce the stretchability of the body fabric 120 in at least the first direction, such that the buffer fabric 150 is more stretchable than the body fabric 120 in at least the first direction. For example, the stiffening material, such as a polymer material, can be bonded to or printed on the body fabric 120. Alternatively or additionally, to achieve the different stretchability in the first direction, the fabric materials are arranged differently for the buffer fabric 150 and body fabric 120, such that the stretchability of the buffer fabric 150 and the stretchability of the body fabric 120 are in different directions. For example, the same fabric material is a 2-way stretch fabric material that is stretchable in one direction. The buffer fabric 150 may be made such that the stretch direction of the fabric material is aligned to the first direction, and the body fabric 120 may be made such that the stretch direction of the fabric material is aligned to the second direction. Flence, the body fabric 120 is stretchable in the second direction but not the first direction, and the buffer fabric 150 is more stretchable than the body fabric 120 in the first direction. As described above, the waistband 130 and leg hems 140 are stretchable for holding the lower body garment 100 against the waist and legs, respectively, of the user, i.e. to grip the user’s waist and legs. When the lower body garment 100 is worn on the user, the waistband 130 stretches and exerts a pressure on the user’s waist, and similarly the leg hems 140 stretch and exert a pressure on the user’s leg. When the user is standing, the pressure exerted by the stretched waistband 130 may be about 9 to 14 mmHg, and the pressure exerted by the stretched leg hems 140 may be about 8 to 12 mmHg.

When the user is moving the lower body, the buffer fabric 150 absorbs more of the tension force, so that less of the tension force is transferred to the leg hems 140. There is less pull on the leg hems 140 by the body fabric 120 and the leg hems 140 are less likely to ride up the user’s legs. The leg hems 140 remain substantially fixed in place on the user’s legs and, together with the stretched waistband 130 which similarly remains substantially fixed in place on the user’s waist, secures the lower body garment 100 on the user even when the user is moving the lower body. As there is lower likelihood of the leg hems 140 riding up the user’s legs, the pressure exerted by the stretched leg hems 140 on the user’s legs need not be too high. The pressure can be maintained at a comfortable level for the user while still securing the lower body garment 100 on the user.

The stretchable waistband 130, stretchable leg hems 140, and buffer fabric 150 cooperate to secure the lower body garment 100 on the user’s body and prevents the leg hems 140 from riding up the user’s legs. The balance between the pressures exerted by the waistband 130 and leg hems 140 keeps the lower body garment 100 secured to the user’s body. This improves comfort to the user and the user does not need to constant adjust the lower body garment 100 during activities like sitting, standing, bending, walking, running, climbing, or working out the lower body, etc.

In addition to the pressures exerted by the waistband 130 and leg hems 140, the securing of the lower body garment 100 on the user’s body may also be affected by other factors such as friction between the leg hems 140 and the user’s skin, which is dependent on the material of the leg hems 140 and whether the user is sweaty. It will be appreciated that the exerted pressures may differ depending on the body size of the user, size of the lower body garment 100, and elastic / friction properties of the materials of the waistband 130 and leg hems 140.

To maintain constant comfortable pressure on the user’s waist and/or legs, the waistband 130 and/or leg hems 140 are preferably made of a soft stretch material that has a force-stretch profile that allows a large stretch with a low force, while minimizing discomfort to the user. The soft stretch material may include a bonded/printed composite material. For example, the waistband 130 and/or leg hems 140 can be made of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material such as X4zol™-J Fiber.

In some embodiments, the buffer fabric 150 and body fabric 120 are seamlessly knitted together using the same or different fabric materials, such that the buffer fabric 150 and body fabric 120 are separate zones within a single fabric. Similarly, the waistband 130 and/or leg hems 140 may be seamlessly knitted to the body fabric 120. For example, the leg hems 140 and body fabric 120 are made of the same fabric material with soft stretch properties, such that the soft stretch properties continue from the body fabric 120 to the leg hems 140. It will be appreciated that the waistband 130 and body fabric 120 may similarly be made of the same fabric material. In one embodiment, the body fabric 120, waistband 130, leg hems 140, and buffer fabric 150 are seamlessly knitted together in a single process as separate zones in a single fabric.

In some embodiments, the buffer fabric 150 is joined to the body fabric 120 by stretchable buffer seams 152. For example, the buffer fabric 150 and body fabric 120 are knitted, stitched, or bonded together with the stretchable buffer seams 152 in between. The stretchable buffer seams 152 act as an intermediate layer between the buffer fabric 150 and body fabric 120 to further absorb the tension force from the user’s lower body movements. This further reduces transfer of the tension force to the body fabric 120 and leg hems 140 and further prevents the leg hems 140 from riding up the user’s legs. The stretchable property of the buffer seams 152 keeps them in place and helps to secure the lower body garment 100 on the user’s body. Preferably, the buffer seams 152 are made of soft stretch yarns or filaments or bondable polymer material to provide added flexibility and comfort. For example, the stretchable buffer seams 152 comprise a soft stretch layer (such as Mobilon elastic layer or any soft stretch composite material) and threads / yarns that are stitched through the soft stretch layer. The threads / yarns themselves may be made of a soft stretch or elastic material. The waistband 130 may be similarly joined to the body fabric 120 by stretchable waistband seams 132, and the leg hems 140 may similarly be joined to the body fabric 120 by stretchable leg hem seams 142. The body fabric 120 may include a single fabric panel or multiple fabric panels joined together by body fabric seams 122 that may be stretchable like the buffer seams 152. In some embodiments, the lower body garment 100 may be a male garment that includes the front pouch 110. Like the buffer fabric 150, the front pouch 110 may be joined to the body fabric 120 by stretchable pouch seams 112, or may be seamlessly knitted with the body fabric 120. It will be appreciated that aspects of the stretchable buffer seams 152 may apply equally to the stretchable waistband seams 132, stretchable leg hem seams 142, stretchable body fabric seams 122, and stretchable pouch seams 112.

In the foregoing detailed description, embodiments of the present disclosure in relation to a lower body garment are described with reference to the provided figures. The description of the various embodiments herein is not intended to call out or be limited only to specific or particular representations of the present disclosure, but merely to illustrate non-limiting examples of the present disclosure. The present disclosure serves to address at least one of the mentioned problems and issues associated with the prior art. Although only some embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein, it will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure that a variety of changes and/or modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure as well as the scope of the following claims is not limited to embodiments described herein.

Claims

1. A lower body garment for a user comprising: a body fabric; a stretchable waistband joined to the body fabric for holding the lower body garment against the user’s waist; stretchable leg hems joined to the body fabric for holding the lower body garment against the user’s legs; and a buffer fabric joined to the body fabric and configured to support at least part of the user’s buttocks, wherein the buffer fabric is more stretchable than the body fabric in at least a first direction between the waistband and the leg hems.

2. The lower body garment according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer fabric is joined to the waistband and/or leg hems.

3. The lower body garment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the buffer fabric is more stretchable than the body fabric in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

4. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the stretchability of the buffer fabric in the first direction is about 1.05 to 2 times of the stretchability of the body fabric in the first direction; and/or the stretchability of the buffer fabric in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is about 0.8 to 2 times of the stretchability of the body fabric in the second direction.

5. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the body fabric is configured to stretch in the first direction and/or a second direction perpendicular to the first direction by at least 60% at 7.5 pound-force.

6. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the buffer fabric and body fabric comprises a same fabric material.

7. The lower body garment according to claim 6, wherein the body fabric further comprises a stiffening material to reduce stretchability of the body fabric in at least the first direction.

8. The lower body garment according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the same fabric materials are arranged differently for the buffer fabric and body fabric, such that the stretchability of the buffer fabric and the stretchability of the body fabric are in different directions.

9. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the buffer fabric comprises a bidirectional stretchable fabric material.

10. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the buffer fabric and body fabric are seamlessly knitted together.

11. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein buffer fabric is joined to the body fabric by stretchable buffer seams.

12. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the stretchable waistband and/or stretchable leg hems are made of a soft stretch material.

13. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the waistband is configured to exert a pressure of about 9 to 14 mmHg on the user’s waist.

14. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the leg hems are configured to exert a pressure of about 8 to 12 mmHg on the user’s legs.

15. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the stretchable waistband and/or stretchable leg hems are seamlessly knitted to the body fabric.

16. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the stretchable waistband and/or stretchable leg hems are joined to the body fabric by stretchable seams.

17. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising a front pouch joined to the body fabric.

18. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the front pouch and body fabric are seamlessly knitted together.

19. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the front pouch is joined to the body fabric by stretchable pouch seams.

20. The lower body garment according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the garment comprises one of boxers, boxer briefs, trunks, midway briefs, and leggings.