BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to wearing apparel. More particularly, it relates to men's or boys'undergarment and sport shorts or pants, which prolongs the comfort of the wearer with a simple yet effective comfort panel attached to the front part of the undergarment or shorts.
More recently, some prior art undergarments have attempted to solve the discomfort problem concerning proper air circulation to the genitals of the wearer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,088 discloses an improvement in the form of a rectangular section of fabric pouch attached at the leg portions and near the crotch portion, which is like a shelf or ledge since it is not large enough to completely encircle the male genitalia. Although this improved underwear structure provides more comfort compared to conventional male underwear, it does not provide adequate support of the male genitalia as it is designed to not encircle the male genitalia.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,355 discloses a male undergarment formed of two basic elements. The first element is a tubular body portion and the second element is a genital-covering panel, which is attached to the outer front section of the underwear. Although the underwear of this invention addresses the problem of perspiration control, it does not provide adequate support of the male genitalia because the genital-covering panel allows too much freedom of movement of the genitalia.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to men's or boys'undergarment and shorts, which prolongs the comfort of the wearer with a simple yet effective comfort panel attached to the front part of the undergarment, shorts or pants. In one embodiment, a male underwear includes a front portion, a rear portion, a waistband attached to the front and rear portions, a pair of leg openings, and a comfort panel. The comfort panel includes a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges, and an opening for receiving male genitalia. The comfort panel is at least partially attached to the interior of the front portion of the underwear. The side edges of the comfort panel may be left unattached or at least partially attached to the front portion of the underwear from the bottom edge of the front portion continuing up toward the waistband of the front portion. The top edge of the comfort panel is at least partially attached along the bottom edge of the waistband of the front portion of the underwear. The bottom edge of the comfort panel may be left unattached or at least partially attached along the bottom edge of the front portion of the underwear. A standard fly portion may be added to the underwear if desired. The comfort panel can also include a partial waistband, which is at least partially attached to the waistband of the underwear. A comfort pouch, which is at least partially attached to the front portion of the underwear and to the comfort panel below the opening for receiving male genitalia, can also be added for additional support and comfort.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS There are shown in the drawings certain exemplary embodiments of the invention as presently preferred. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed as examples, and is capable of variations within the scope of the appended claims. In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary male underwear;
FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view of the interior of the underwear ofFIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway view of the interior of another embodiment of the underwear ofFIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of the interior of a boxer-type embodiment of the underwear ofFIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway side view showing the comfort pouch; and
FIG. 6 is a front view of the interior of an exemplary male shorts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSFIG. 1 shows an exemplary brief-typemale underwear100. It is well known that bikini and boxer style underwear are also popular where generally bikini style male underwear has a lower waistline and no fly opening and the boxer type typically has a looser fit and tubular extensions for the leg openings. Male underwear which includes all of the elements of the invention, greatly prolongs the comfort of the wearer with a simple yet effective comfort panel attached to the front part of the underwear.
As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the invention of the brief-type includes afront portion110, arear portion120, awaistband130 attached to thefront110 and rear120 portions, a pair ofleg openings140, and acomfort panel150. Thecomfort panel150 includes atop edge152, abottom edge154, twoside edges156, and anopening160 for receiving male genitalia. Thecomfort panel150 is at least partially attached to theinterior115 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100. Theside edges156 of thecomfort panel150 are at least partially attached along theleg openings140 and may be left unattached or at least partially attached continuing up toward thewaistband130 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100. Thetop edge152 of thecomfort panel150 is at least partially attached along thebottom edge132 of thewaistband130 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100. Thebottom edge154 of thecomfort panel150 may be left unattached or at least partially attached along thebottom edge114 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100.
Similarly, in another embodiment, shown inFIG. 3, theunderwear100 includes afront portion110, a rear portion120 (shown inFIG. 1), awaistband130 attached to thefront110 and rear120 portions, a pair ofleg openings140, and acomfort panel150. However, in this embodiment, thecomfort panel150 also includes apartial waistband135 in addition to atop edge152 which is attached to thepartial waistband135, abottom edge154, twoside edges156, and anopening160 for receiving male genitalia. Thiscomfort panel150 is also at least partially attached to theinterior115 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100. As shown inFIG. 3, theside edges156 of thecomfort panel150 are at least partially attached along theleg openings140 and may be left unattached or at least partially attached continuing up toward thepartial waistband135 of thecomfort panel150. Thepartial waistband135 of thecomfort panel150 is at least partially attached to thewaistband130 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100. Thebottom edge154 of thecomfort panel150 may be left unattached or at least partially attached along thebottom edge114 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100.
A boxer-type embodiment of the invention with apartial waistband135 is shown inFIG. 4. In this embodiment, thecomfort panel150 also includes apartial waistband135 in addition to atop edge152 which is attached to thepartial waistband135, abottom edge154, twoside edges156, and anopening160 for receiving male genitalia. Thiscomfort panel150 is also at least partially attached to theinterior115 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100. As shown inFIG. 4, theside edges156 of thecomfort panel150 may be left unattached or at least partially attached to thefront portion110 of theunderwear100, continuing up toward thepartial waistband135 of thecomfort panel150. Thepartial waistband135 of thecomfort panel150 is at least partially attached to thewaistband130 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100. Thebottom edge154 of thecomfort panel150 may be left unattached or at least partially attached along thebottom edge114 of thefront portion110 of theunderwear100.
FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of acomfort pouch180. Thecomfort pouch180 is at least partially attached to the interior of thefront portion110 and thecomfort panel150, below the opening for receiving male genitalia (not shown). Thecomfort pouch180 can be attached to brief-type, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, bikini-type (not shown), or boxer-type underwear, shown inFIG. 4, with or without a partial waistband135 (shown inFIGS. 3 and 4). The addition of thecomfort pouch180 provides additional support and comfort to the wearer. Obviously, various sizes and shapes of the pouch can be added to the underwear based on the preference of the wearer. It is preferred however, that acomfort pouch180, which provides the maximum comfort and support be added to the underwear.
In yet another embodiment, shown inFIG. 6,male shorts200 includes afront portion210, a rear portion (not shown), awaistband230, where the waistband is attached to thefront210 and rear220 portions, a pair ofleg openings240, aliner panel270, and acomfort panel250. Theliner panel270, includes afront portion275 and a rear portion (not shown), each portion including atop edge272, abottom edge274, two legopening edges276, and twoside edges278. Thecomfort panel250 includes atop edge252, abottom edge254, twoside edges256, and an opening260 for receiving male genitalia, where thecomfort panel250 is at least partially attached to theinterior275 of theliner panel270. Theside edges256 of thecomfort panel250 may be left unattached or at least partially attached to theliner panel270 from thebottom edge274 of theliner panel270 continuing up toward thetop edge272 of theliner panel270. Thetop edge252 of thecomfort panel250 is at least partially attached along thetop edge272 of theliner panel270. Thebottom edge254 of thecomfort panel250 may be left unattached or at least partially attached along thebottom edge274 of theliner panel270.
The comfort and support of male sports shorts such as jogging shorts, swim shorts and bike shorts would be greatly improved by attaching a comfort panel. The embodiment shown inFIG. 6 closely resembles boxer-type underwear. It is readily appreciated that a comfort panel can be added to a pair of shorts which resembles a bikini-type or brief-type underwear (such as jogging shorts, swim shorts and bike shorts, etc.) shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and3. In bikini-type or brief-type shorts, the side edges of the comfort panel are at least partially attached to the liner panel along the two leg opening edges and the side edges of the comfort panel may be left unattached or at least partially attached to the liner panel continuing up toward the top edge of the liner panel. When a partial waistband is added, the side edges of the comfort panel may be left unattached or at least partially attached to the liner panel continuing up toward the partial waistband of the comfort panel, where the partial waistband is at least partially attached to the waistband.
A comfort pouch, shown inFIG. 5 can be added to male shorts. Again, comfort and support of male sports shorts such as jogging shorts, swim shorts and bike shorts would be greatly improved by attaching a comfort pouch. The comfort pouch is at least partially attached to the interior of the liner panel (instead of the front portion) and the comfort panel, below the opening for receiving male genitalia. The comfort pouch can be attached to brief-type, bikini-type, or boxer-type shorts, with or without a partial waistband. The addition of thecomfort pouch180 provides additional support and comfort to the wearer. Obviously, various sizes and shapes of the pouch can be added to the shorts based on the preference of the wearer. It is preferred however, that acomfort pouch180, which provides the maximum comfort and support be added to the shorts.
Astandard fly portion147, shown inFIG. 1 may be added to the underwear if desired. Of course, any of the waistband, the leg openings of the underwear and the liner panel, and the opening for receiving male genitalia, can be at least partially elastic.
The invention having been disclosed in connection with the foregoing variations and examples, additional variations will now be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The invention is not intended to be limited to the variations specifically mentioned, and accordingly reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing discussion of preferred examples, to assess the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed.