US20030101502A1 - Combined apparel and indicator of sexual proclivity, availability and safety - Google Patents

Abstract

An item of apparel for the visible indication of sexual proclivity, availability, and safety, in which the apparel has an exterior surface and a cavity-forming pouch attached to the exterior surface, which is generally rectilinear and preferable square, having a width greater than or equal to 2½ inches in width. The pouch is comprised of a material, preferably elasticized, like spandex, and potentially of a clear material for rendering visible a removably retained condom. The apparel is an undergarment, shirt or trousers.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to the field of apparel design, particularly to the field of apparel having the functional utility of removable retention of items, and more particularly to the field of apparel for indication of sexual proclivity, availability and safety.[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• There can be little question that we live in an age of sexuality, where openness to sexual desire abounds, and indications of availability are sought that are greater than the mere presence or absence of a wedding band. Additionally, clothing has not only been created to achieve function and self-expression, but also to connote various aspects of personality and sexuality.[0002]
• With the advent of AIDS and abundance of other sexually transmitted diseases (“STD's”), the condom has found a unique place in medical history, for not only does it diminish accidental or unintentional pregnancy, but it also serves as a barrier to, and protection from the transmission of STD's. However, the condom is hidden, typically contained in the wallet of a male, the purse of a female, or the night stand next to the bed. In functional use, in the throws of passion, the partners must fumble with a wallet or drawer to remove the item for use.[0003]
• Additionally, while certain males and females are reluctant to employ a condom (for fear that it may diminish the pleasure of a sexual encounter), its utility in preventing STD's is obvious and apparent. The timing for a discussion of such “protection” may be left to the encounter itself, and the consequences may be the pressured abstinence from the activity or use of the condom.[0004]
• Certain condom-type devices embedded in clothing are known in the art, as shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,009,649 and 5,797,890. However, such devices are designed to be worn and used by males suffering incontinence, and thus are worn about the genitalia, hidden from public view. Unknown in the art is an item of apparel for holding a condom for later use, where the item of apparel is also an indicator of sexual proclivity, availability and safety.[0005]
• Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an item of apparel that provides retention of an unused condom.[0006]
• It is a further object of the present invention to provide an item of apparel that presents as an indicator to others that its wearer is sexually active, but also interested in safe sex.[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.[0008]
• The foregoing objects and other objects of the invention are achieved through an item of apparel for the visible indication of sexual proclivity, availability, and safety, in which the apparel has an exterior surface and a cavity-forming pouch attached to the exterior surface, which is generally rectilinear and preferable square, having a width greater than or equal to 2½ inches in width. In this manner, the pouch is designed to be roughly ¼ inch larger in width than the normal condom contained relatively flat in a wrapper or disk for removal and use.[0009]
• The pouch is comprised of a material, preferably elasticized, like spandex, and potentially of a clear material for rendering visible a removably retained condom. The pouch can also be comprised of the same or different material than that used in the article of clothing. When made of a clear material, the condom can be visibly seen in its wrapper through the clear material or window.[0010]
• The pouch can alternatively be comprised of a “spandex-type” material. While it is recognized that spandex is a registered trademark of another, a “spandex-type” material provides elasticity without loss of form.[0011]
• The apparel is an undergarment, shirt or trousers, and the pouch placed visibly thereupon. When an undergarment is used, preferably a man's brief, the pouch is placed proximate to the elastic for easy access and removable of a retained condom. When the pouch is placed upon a shirt, it preferably at waist level for both statement quality and also for ease of access. Likewise, when placed upon a pair of trousers it is visibly placed just below the waist for the same reasons.[0012]
• In an alternative embodiment, the pouch is embroidered or otherwise lettered with an indicator of its contents, to further enhance the visual effect.[0013]
• In operation, when an item of apparel is configured in accordance with the subject invention, the nature of the pouch and its contents is known to the observer. Thus, when placed upon a shirt or trousers, the observer recognizes that the wearer is prepared for a safe sexual encounter, and thus the typical dialogue concerning both sex and its safety is foreshortened by the use of the subject invention.[0014]
• Thus, the subject invention features a duality of functionality. First, the invention provides consistent and ready availability of a condom in a known location for user or his/her partner. In this manner, the uncertainty, embarrassment, and fumbling to locate a condom in the heat of sexual encounter is minimized. The subject invention thereby provides security, peace of mind, and confidence that a condom is easily accessible.[0015]
• Second, when the wearing apparel is configured in accordance with the subject invention, the wearer is signaling his or her interest in sex to another potential sexual partner. Thus, the subject invention features an instantaneous, unambiguous communication in the courting process, thereby minimizing the confusion normally associated therewith. Furthermore, the subject invention importantly communicates a strong, specific interest only in “safe sex.”[0016]
• Additionally, the subject invention features a significant social purpose in minimizing the potential of unprotected sex and the concomitant risk of tragic consequences that are harmful to a civilized society including, without limitation, unwanted pregnancies and life and health threatening diseases. Rather, the subject invention by its nature features and promotes safety in sexual encounters to the public, and particularly to the relevant sixteen (16) to twenty-five (25) year old segment.[0017]
• Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.[0018]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements through the several views:[0019]
• FIG. 1 is frontal perspective view of an undergarment configured with a pouch for the removable retention of an unused condom, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention;[0020]
• FIG. 2 is a planar view of the pouch shown in FIG. 1, setting forth preferred dimensions;[0021]
• FIG. 3 is a side view of the undergarment shown in FIG. 1, with the pouch displayed;[0022]
• FIG. 4 is a frontal perspective view of a female brassiere configured with a pouch for the removable retention of an unused condom, under an alternative embodiment of the subject invention;[0023]
• FIG. 5 is a frontal perspective view of a traditional undergarment configured with a pouch for the removable retention of an unused condom, under an alternative embodiment of the subject invention;[0024]
• FIG. 6 is a frontal perspective view of a shirt configured with a pouch for the removable retention of an unused condom, under a still further embodiment of the subject invention; and[0025]
• FIG. 7 is a frontal perspective view of a pair of trousers also configured with a pouch for the removable retention of an unused condom, under a yet still further embodiment of the subject invention.[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• In accordance with the subject invention, FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, wherein a man's[0027]briefs4 contains, proximate to the elastic waistband6 acondom cavity encasement2, above thecrotch region8. As shown in FIG. 1,encasement2 contains opening10 for insertion and extraction of a condom typically contained in a wrapper or other material, commercially available.
• FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of[0028]encasement2 with opening10, generally of a rectilinear size, having a width12 and alength14. In the preferred embodiment, where acondom16 generally has a width of 2¼ inches, the width12 ofencasement2 is 2½ inches to accommodate thecondom16. In an even more preferred embodiment, thelength14 and width12 are equal, dimensionally, and thus the rectilinear nature ofencasement2 is actually square.
• FIG. 3 shows a side view of a man's brief[0029]4 havingwaistband6, and shown withencasement2. As can be observed in this embodiment, the location ofencasement2 permits a non-interference with the walking or other motion of a wearer, while providing convenience of access.
• FIG. 4 shows a frontal view of a woman's[0030]brassiere18, configured with anencasement2 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the subject invention. It should be appreciated that “in the moment” of a sexual encounter, the visibility ofencasement2 creates an unambiguous signal to a male partner that the woman is prepared for a “safe sex” encounter.
• FIG. 5 shows a traditional pair of men's[0031]briefs20, configured with anencasement2 in accordance with yet another alternative embodiment of the subject invention.
• FIG. 6 shows a[0032]shirt22 having anencasement2 for visible retention of a condom. Recognizing that a shirt is worn in a host of social occasions, it can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the existence ofencasement2 proximate to the waist of a wearer is itself a statement to others that the wearer is prepared for a safe sexual encounter.
• FIG. 7 shows a pair of[0033]trousers24, also configured withencasement2 which creates the visible statement indicated above.
• While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.[0034]

Claims (20)

I claim:

1. An item of apparel having a surface, comprising a pouch attached to the surface, for the visibly apparent, removable retention of a condom.

2. The item of apparel ofclaim 1, wherein said pouch is rectilinear, and is greater than or equal to 2½ inches in width.

3. The item of apparel ofclaim 2, wherein said pouch is square.

4. The item of apparel ofclaim 1, wherein said pouch is comprised of an elasticized material.

5. The item of apparel ofclaim 1, wherein said pouch is comprised of a spandex-type material.

6. The item of apparel ofclaim 1, wherein said pouch further comprises a top surface, and said top surface is comprised of a clear material for rendering visible a removably retained condom.

7. The item of apparel ofclaim 1, wherein said apparel is an undergarment.

8. The item of apparel ofclaim 7, wherein said undergarment is a man's briefs.

9. The item of apparel ofclaim 7, wherein said undergarment is a brassiere.

10. The item of apparel ofclaim 1, wherein said apparel is a shirt.

11. The item of apparel ofclaim 1, wherein said apparel is a pair of trousers.

12. A visible indicator of sexual proclivity, availability, and safety, comprising:

(a) an item of apparel having an exterior surface; and

(b) a cavity-forming pouch attached to said exterior surface of said item of apparel for the removable retention of a condom.

13. The visible indicator ofclaim 12, wherein said pouch is rectilinear, and is greater than or equal to 2½ inches in width.

14. The visible indicator ofclaim 13, wherein said pouch is square.

15. The visible indicator ofclaim 12, wherein said pouch is comprised of an elasticized material.

16. The visible indicator ofclaim 12, wherein said pouch is comprised of a spandex-type material.

17. The visible indicator ofclaim 12, wherein said pouch further comprises a top surface, and said top surface is comprised of a clear material for rendering visible a removably retained condom.

18. The visible indicator ofclaim 1, wherein said apparel is selected from the group consisting of an undergarment, shirt and trousers.

19. The visible indicator ofclaim 7, wherein said undergarment is a man's briefs.

20. The item of apparel ofclaim 7, wherein said undergarment is a brassiere.

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