Lower garment gusset reinforcement system for preventing frontal rise

A lower garment gusset portion reinforcement system is provided. The system embodies a gusset insert for operatively reinforcing the gusset portion. The gusset insert may be made of a breathable, stretchable material. The gusset insert may have an upper portion and a lower portion. The shape of the upper portion is defined by lateral edges that arcuately taper inwardly and backwardly toward the lower portion, so that the upper portion has a sloped thickness, while the lateral edges of the lower portion continuously arcuately tapers inwardly but provide a uniform thickness. The sloped thickness and tapering lateral width enables reinforcement of the associated gusset portion for preventing folding along a longitudinal axis, while still enabling the gusset insert to bend in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis about the thickness of the gusset insert so that it conforms to the wearer's lower torso.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to female undergarment and, more particularly, to a lower garment gusset reinforcement system for preventing frontal rise.

Every day women are inconvenienced with hiding their “frontal rise” (colloquially known as, “camel toe”) which is typically caused by the folding of the gusset portion within their underwear or pants.

Current solutions to this problem are insufficient. For example, some people use standalone inserts. Such inserts are very uncomfortable as they can separate from the surface of the underwear they are inserted into, and so uncomfortably move around, rather than move with the wearer's body. Moreover, such inserts are typically one-size-fits-all, and so simply aren't efficiently designed for the woman on the go. Furthermore, such inserts are made of non-breathable material, such as silicone, which is not safe for a woman's vaginal biochemistry.

As can be seen, there is a need for a lower garment gusset reinforcement system embodying a sewn-in breathable neoprene gusset insert dimensioned and adapted to conform to the wearer so that the gusset portion of their lower undergarment is reinforced against frontal rise. The neoprene gusset insert may be strategically sewn into the gusset portion by way of a fabric liner, enabling the neoprene gusset insert to stay in place, while providing a “barely there” feel which results in an ultra-comfort feel. The breathability of the neoprene insert is safe for vaginal biochemistry, while the stretchable nature of the neoprene insert allows for movement with a user's body by conforming thereto, essentially achieving a “to scale” effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, lower garment gusset portion reinforcement system, providing the following components: a gusset insert including the following: an upper portion defined by lateral edges that arcuately taper inwardly and backwardly toward the lower portion, so that the upper portion has a sloped thickness; a lower portion defined by lateral edges that arcuately taper inwardly but provide a uniform thickness; and the gusset insert made from a material that is both breathable and stretchable, wherein the upper portion is dimensioned and adapted to be located adjacent to the labia of a human wearer when the lower garment is worn; and an inner liner joined to an inner surface of the lower garment gusset portion so as to defined a pocket therebetween housing the gusset insert, whereby the gusset insert prevents the gusset portion from folding along its longitudinal axis yet the gusset insert is bendable about a latitudinal axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis for conforming to the human wearer, wherein the lower portion has a uniform thickness, and wherein the upper portion has a sloped thickness never thicker than the uniform thickness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a gusset reinforcement system providing a gusset insert for operatively reinforcing a gusset portion of a lower garment. The gusset insert may be made of a breathable, stretchable material. The gusset insert may have an upper portion and a lower portion. The shape of the upper portion is defined by lateral edges that arcuately taper inwardly and backwardly toward the lower portion, so that the upper portion has a sloped thickness, while the lateral edges of the lower portion continuously arcuately tapers inwardly but provide a uniform thickness. The sloped thickness and tapering lateral width enables reinforcement of the associated gusset portion for preventing folding along a longitudinal axis, while still enabling the gusset insert to bend in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis about the thickness of the gusset insert so that it conforms to the wearer's lower torso.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include a gusset reinforcement system100providing a gusset insert18for an undergarment40dimensioned and adapted to be worn around the lower torso of a female human wearer10. The undergarment40may include a waistband14and a gusset portion12. The gusset portion12may be dimensioned and adapted to be located adjacent to and extend between the anus and to just above the labia majora of the wearer10when the undergarment40is worn. The undergarment40may be made from durable, flexible material, such as 82% nylon/polyamid and 18% elastane, or the like.

The gusset insert18may have the same proportional shape of the gusset portion, but slightly less than coextensive with the gusset portion12. In certain embodiments, the periphery of the gusset insert18is approximately ⅛″ less narrow than the periphery of the gusset portion12, allowing for seams and stitching required as described herein. As a result, the gusset insert18may also be dimensioned and adapted to be located adjacent to and extend between the anus and to just above the labia majora of the wearer10when the undergarment40is worn. In doing so the gusset insert18may extend from an upper end30located just above the labia majora, and a lower end52located near the anus when the undergarment40is worn. The gusset insert18may be made of a breathable, stretchable material, such as neoprene, Mono30D, Poly130D, Spandex (OP)78D, and the like.

Referring toFIG. 5, the gusset insert18may have an upper portion24and a lower portion34, wherein the upper portions24extends from the upper end30to a transition point32, and wherein the lower portion34extends from the transition point32to the lower end52. The lateral edges15of the upper portion24arcuately tapers inwardly at an angle of convergence and backwardly at a slope toward the transition point32. The lateral edges15of the lower portion34arcuately tapers inwardly at the angle of convergence, but does not a slope toward the lower end52. As a result, the lower portion34has a generally uniform maximum lower thickness26/B, while the upper portion24tapers from said lower thickness B to a minimum upper thickness28/C, wherein such linear tapering is defined by the slope defined by A over (B-C).

For some embodiments, the thickness of ‘C’ is 1/32th of an inch, and the thickness of ‘B’ is ⅛thof an inch. The upper portion34may extend for a length ranging between ¾ and 1 ¼ inches, depending the size of the overall gusset reinforcement system100(extra-small size being the ¾″ and the extra-large size being 1 ¼″). The upper portion34may extend for a length ranging between 3 ⅜ and 4 5/16 inches, depending the size of the overall gusset reinforcement system100(extra-small size being the 3 ⅜″ and the extra-large size being 4 5/16″).

An inner liner16may be joined along the inner surface of the gusset portion12so as to define a pocket80for housing the gusset insert18. The inner liner16may be joined to the gusset portion12by way of stitching20and22or other joining methods. In certain embodiments, the pocket80may have a peripheral opening for removably and interchangeably slide the gusset insert therethrough. The inner liner16may be made from durable, flexible material, such as cotton jersey: 95% cotton and 5% spandex.

In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing the present invention includes the following. Once gusset insert18and inner liner16are cut, the inner liner16may be joined to the gusset portion12may be sewn together with a thread overlock joining crotch seam. This is then followed by any leg opening finish which may include ¼″ foldback and a ⅛″ wide baby double needle cover-stitch. The gusset portion12may now be secured to the waistband14, which leaves the remainder of a desired lower garment to be assembled, for example for making pants.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The gusset reinforcement system100disclosed above may be provided. A wearer10dons the undergarment40so that the lower portion34of the gusset insert18is located adjacent to the anus of the wearer10and the upper portion24is located adjacent to the labia majora of the wearer10when the undergarment40is worn. The gusset insert18, being made from an elastic, stretchable material, would conform to the shape of the user's lower torso, as illustrated inFIG. 3. The gusset reinforcement system100can be used and be operatively associated with the gusset portions of underwear, thongs, leggings, pants, swimsuits, bodysuits, and the like for reinforcing said gusset portions and preventing frontal tip.