SOUS-VETEMENT POUR HOMME

UNDERGARMENT FOR MEN

Abrégé français

L'invention porte sur un article de sous-vêtement pour homme (1) qui comporte un vêtement présentant un côté avant (4), un côté arrière (5) et une bande de taille (6) définissant une ouverture de taille. Le vêtement définit de plus des ouvertures respectives (7) pour les jambes gauche et droite d'une personne qui le porte, et comprend une région d'entrejambe, reliant les côtés avant et arrière, qui est située, lors de l'utilisation, entre les jambes de la personne qui le porte. Le vêtement est conformé de façon à recevoir des organes génitaux externes mâles de la personne qui le porte. Il est pourvu d'une paire de bandes de support allongées (9) qui s'étendent de la bande de taille et qui sont reliées à celle-ci, à des emplacements espacés le long de celle-ci sur le côté avant. Les bandes se croisent en un point de croisement sur le côté avant, à un emplacement entre la bande de taille et les organes génitaux externes de la personne de façon à fournir un certain support abdominal sur le côté avant, et sont incurvées de façon à passer autour de chaque côté des organes génitaux externes de la personne, et à continuer par la région d'entrejambe vers le côté arrière, de façon à fournir ainsi un certain support pour les organes génitaux externes de la personne. Les bandes se croisent à un emplacement de croisement sur le côté arrière, et sont reliées à des emplacements espacés sur la bande de taille sur le côté arrière et s'achèvent au niveau de celles-ci.

Abrégé anglais

An item of men's underwear (1) comprises a garment having a front side (4), a rear side (5), and a waistband(6) defining a waist opening. The garment further defines respective openings (7) for the left and right legs of a wearer, and includes a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides and which in use is located between the wearer's legs. The garment is shaped to accommodate a wearer's male external genitalia. It is provided with a pair of elongate support bands (9) extending from and being connected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side. The bands cross each other at a crossing point on the front side at a position between the waistband and the wearer' s external genitalia to provide a measure of abdominal support on the front side, are curved to pass around either side of the wearer's external genitalia and continue via the crotch region to the rear side, to thereby provide a measure of support for the wearer's external genitalia. The bands cross each other at a crossing point on the rear side, and are connected to and terminate at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side.

Revendications

6
Claims
1. An item of men's underwear comprises a garment having a front side, a
rear side,
and a waistband defining a waist opening; the garment further defining
respective
openings for the left and right legs of a wearer, and including a crotch
region connecting
the front and rear sides and which in use is located between the wearer's
legs; the garment
being shaped to accommodate a wearer's male external genitalia and being
provided with
a pair of elongate support bands extending from and being connected to the
waistband at
spaced positions therealong on the front side; the bands crossing each other
at a crossing
point on the front side at a position between the waistband and the wearer's
external
genitalia to provide a measure of abdominal support on the front side, being
curved to pass
around either side of the wearer's external genitalia and continuing via the
crotch region to
the rear side, to thereby provide a measure of support for the wearer's
external genitalia,
and the bands crossing each other at a crossing point on the rear side, and
being connected
to and terminating at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side.
2. An item of men's underwear according to Claim 1, wherein the garment is
formed
from fabric which provides a close fit, the fabric, apart from the support
bands, being
stretchabIe.
3 An item of men's underwear according to Claim 1, configured as a brief.
4. An item of men's underwear according to Claim 1, provided with leg
portions
adapted in use to cover upper portions of the wearer's thighs.
5. An item of men's underwear according to Claim 1, configured as long-
johns with
leg portions extending along the wearer's legs.
6 An item of men's underwear according to Claim 1, configured as a pair of
tights
with leg portions extending along the wearer's legs and terminating in foot
portions.
7. An item of men's underwear according to Claim 1, wherein the garment is
formed
from fabric in which the fabric of the support bands is relatively inelastic
in the

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longitudinal direction of the support bands compared to the elasticity of the
fabric
elsewhere in the garment.
8. An item of men's underwear according to Claim 7, wherein the support
bands are
provided as tapes or pre-formed bands sewn or fixed to said remaining fabric
while that
fabric is in an unstretched state, whereby said fabric elsewhere in the
garment is adapted to
create a pouch in use for the wearer's external genitalia between the support
bands on the
front side between the crossing point and the crotch region.
9. An item of men's underwear according to Claim 7, wherein the support
bands are
provided as seams formed in the fabric of the garment, the fabric being
adapted to create a
pouch in use for the wearer's external genitalia between the said seams on the
front side
between the crossing point and the crotch region.
10. An item of men's underwear according to Claim 7, wherein the garment is
provided with an opening for manual access, while the garment is being worn,
to the
genitalia for urination, the opening running alongside one curved portion of
support band
on the front side.
11. An item of men's underwear according to Claim 1, wherein the bands pass
from
the front side to the rear side via the crotch region without crossing in the
crotch region.
12. A method for supporting a user's external genitalia in men's underwear,
the
method comprising providing elongate support bands in a garment of the kind
having a
front side, a rear side, a waistband defining a waist opening, respective
openings for the
left and right legs of a wearer, and a crotch region connecting the front and
rear sides and
which in use is located between the wearer's legs, the bands extending from
and being
connected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side,
crossing each
other at a crossing point on the front side at a position between the
waistband and the
wearer's external genitalia to provide a measure of abdominal support on the
front side,
being curved to pass around either side of the wearer's external genitalia and
continuing
via the crotch region to the rear side, to thereby provide a measure of
support for the
wearer's external genitalia, crossing each other at a crossing point on the
rear side, and
being connected to and terminating at spaced positions on the waistband on the
rear side.

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13. A method according to Claim 12, wherein the garment provides a close
fit, being
formed, apart from the support bands, from a stretchable fabric, the support
bands being
relatively inelastic in the longitudinal direction thereof compared to the
elasticity of the
fabric, and being provided as tapes or pre-formed bands sewn or otherwise
fixed to the
stretchable fabric while that fabric is in an unstretched state.
14. A method according to Claim 12, wherein the garment provides a close
fit, being
formed from a stretchable fabric, the support bands being relatively inelastic
in the
longitudinal direction thereof compared to the elasticity of the fabric
elsewhere in the
garment, and being provided as seams formed in the said fabric.

Description

= CA 02811173 2013-03-12
WO 2011/045560 PCT/GB2010/001889
UNDERGARMENT FOR MEN
Background
This disclosure relates to garments and more specifically to men's underwear.
Conventional men's underwear provides insufficient support for the male
external
genitalia, especially for men engaged in strenuous working or sporting
activities. As a
result sportsmen will often wear an athletic support, commonly termed a jock-
strap.
Summary
As will become clear from the detailed description of preferred embodiments
below, the present disclosure adopts a different approach.
In accordance with a first aspect of this disclosure, an item of men's
underwear
comprises a garment having a front side, a rear side, and a waistband defining
a waist
opening; the garment further defining respective openings for the left and
right legs of a
wearer, and including a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides and
which in use
is located between the wearer's legs; the garment being shaped to accommodate
a wearer's
male external genitalia and being provided with a pair of elongate support
bands extending
from and being connected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on
the front
side; the bands crossing each other at a crossing point on the front side at a
position
between the waistband and the wearer's external genitalia to provide a measure
of
abdominal support on the front side, being curved to pass around either side
of the
wearer's external genitalia and continuing via the crotch region to the rear
side, to thereby
provide a measure of support for the wearer's external genitalia; and the
bands crossing
each other at a crossing point on the rear side, and being connected to and
terminating at
spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side.
Having the bands cross on the rear side of the garment as well as being
connected
to the waistband on the rear side at spaced positions reduces the possibility
of the garment
being drawn into the gap between the wearer's buttocks.

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2
Preferred embodiments have one or more of the following features: The fabric
of
the garment provides a close fit, being formed, apart from the support bands,
from a
stretchable fabric. The garment is configured as a brief. Alternatively, the
garment is
provided with leg portions adapted in use to cover upper portions of the
wearer's thighs.
In a further alternative, the garment is configured as long-johns with leg
portions
extending along substantially the full length of the wearer's legs. The
garment may be
configured as a pair of tights, in a yet further alternative, with leg
portions extending along
substantially the full length of the wearer's legs and terminating in foot
portions. The
support bands are relatively inelastic in the longitudinal direction thereof
compared to the
elasticity of the remaining fabric of the garment. The support bands are
provided as tapes
or pre-formed bands sewn or otherwise fixed to the remaining fabric while that
fabric is in
an unstretched state, whereby the remaining fabric is adapted to create a
pouch in use for
the wearer's external genitalia between the support bands on the front side
between the
crossing point and the crotch region. The support bands are provided as seams
formed in
the fabric of the garment, the fabric being adapted to create a pouch in use
for the wearer's
external genitalia between the seams on the front side between the crossing
point and the
crotch region. The garment is provided with an opening for manual access,
while the
garment is being worn, to the genitalia for urination, the opening running
alongside one
curved portion of support band on the front side. The bands pass from the
front side to
the rear side via the crotch region without crossing in the crotch region.
In a second and alternative aspect thereof, this disclosure provides a method
for
supporting a user's external genitalia in men's underwear, the method
comprising
providing elongate support bands in a garment of the kind having a front side,
a rear side,
a waistband defining a waist opening, respective openings for the left and
right legs of a
wearer, and a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides and which in
use is located
between the wearer's legs; the bands extending from and being connected to the
waistband
at spaced positions therealong on the front side, crossing each other at a
crossing point on
the front side at a position between the waistband and the wearer's external
genitalia to
provide a measure of abdominal support on the front side, being curved to pass
around
either side of the wearer's external genitalia and continuing via the crotch
region to the
rear side, to thereby provide a measure of support for the wearer's external
genitalia,
crossing each other at a crossing point on the rear side, and being connected
to and
terminating at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side.

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3
Preferred implementations of this method include one or more of the following
features: The garment provides a close fit, being formed, apart from the
support bands,
from a stretchable fabric, the support bands being relatively inelastic in the
longitudinal
direction thereof compared to the elasticity of the fabric, and being provided
as tapes or
pre-formed bands sewn or otherwise fixed to the stretchable fabric while that
fabric is in
an unstretched state. The garment provides a close fit, being formed from a
stretchable
fabric, the support bands being relatively inelastic in the longitudinal
direction thereof
compared to the elasticity of the remainder of the fabric, and being provided
as seams
formed in the fabric.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, in
which:-
Fig. 1 is a front view of a pair of men's underpants in the configuration they
would
adopt when worn;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the underpants of Fig. 1 in the configuration
when
worn, as seen from below to show the crotch region thereof;
Fig. 3 is rear view of the underpants of Figs. 1 and 2 in the configuration
when
worn; and
Fig. 4 is a view of the underpants of Figs. 1 to 3 in the configuration when
worn, as
seen from a position partly to one side.
Description of Preferred Embodiments
The garment 1 shown in the accompanying drawings is a pair of men's underpants
in a close-fitting boxer-short configuration with a body portion 2 and short
left and right
leg portions 3 adapted to cover upper portions of a wearer's thighs. Garment 1
has a front
side 4, a rear side 5, a waistband 6 defining a waist opening, respective
openings 7 for the
left and right legs of a wearer, in this case at the distal ends of the leg
portions 3, and a
crotch region 8 connecting the front and rear sides and which in use is
located between the
wearer's legs.

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A pair of elongate support bands 9, suitably formed by tapes, which are
preferably
relatively inelastic in their longitudinal direction as compared with the
elasticity of the
fabric of the garment, or by seams, commence at and are connected to the
waistband 6 on
the front side of the garment. The bands 9 cross at a crossing point 10
located between the
waistband and the wearer's external genitalia in use, which provides a measure
of lower
abdomen core support, and are curved to pass around either side of the
wearer's genitalia
in use and via the crotch region 8 to the rear side 5, crossing each other at
a second
crossing point 11 on the rear side, before terminating at the waistband 6 on
the rear side.
In addition to providing a measure of abdominal support, the bands, by
crossing on the
front side, serve to define a portion 12 of the front side between the
crossing point 10 and
the crotch region 8 and confined between the respective support bands 9, which
is shaped
to accommodate the wearer's external genitalia, and in particular the scrotal
sac. To
provide support from beneath, the bands 9 are gathered close together in the
crotch region
8, or may even cross in this region, which arrangement is not excluded,
although we have
found that the slight bulge resulting from a crossing point in the region of
the perineum
may not be too comfortable for some wearers when sitting. Additional bands or
seams
(not illustrated) may extend between the two bands in the illustrated
embodiment to define
a gusset in the crotch region.
As a result, and especially when the garment is close fitting and preferably
formed,
apart from the support bands 9, from a stretch fabric, such as one
incorporating elastic
fibres such as fibres sold under the Trademark Lycra , the external genitalia
are supported
close to the body, enabling the user to comfortably engage in strenuous
activity such as
sports while wearing the garment, and without need for an athletic support as
such. The
bands are preferably sewn or otherwise fixed to the fabric of the garment
while that fabric
is in its unstretched state. Accordingly, this tends to create a pouch,
emphasised by
stretching the fabric, for comfortably accommodating the wearer's external
genitalia,
which pouch is fully supported by the bands 9. The adoption of crossing points
results in a
neater and firmer structure than one without crossing points, but still with
stretch where
required.
We have found that by providing a crossing point 11 on the rear side of the
garment and connecting the bands to the waistband at spaced positions on the
rear of the

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garment, this reduces the possibility for the garment to be drawn into the gap
between the
user's buttocks.
An opening 13 for manual access to the genitalia for urination without
undressing
5 is suitably provided in either left-handed or right-handed versions, the
opening running
alongside one of the support bands 9 on the front of the garment. Opening 13
is suitably
bounded on one side by the support band, and on its opposite side by a band
formed in a
similar manner to the support band and attached at its ends, at either end of
the opening
13, to the support band itself.
Although, the illustrated embodiment is configured as a pair of close-fitting
boxer-
shorts, it will be readily appreciated that the garment may be configured as a
brief without
leg portions, or as long-johns with leg portions extending along substantially
the full
length of the wearer's legs or even as complete tights additionally
incorporating foot
portions.

Dessin représentatif