Undergarment embodying an internal compartment to support and shield male genitalia from radiation and the wearer's thighs

An undergarment having an internal pouch for shielding male genitalia from radiation as well as separating the scrotum from the inner thighs, the undergarment providing a crotch gusset defining an anterior opening of the undergarment. An anterior panel depends from the waistband of the undergarment adjacent to the anterior opening. A barrier layer extends downwardly in a sloped configuration between the waistband and a posterior portion of the crotch gusset. A longitudinal slit formed in and centrally located in the barrier layer allows the male genitalia to be received in a phallic pouch defined by the anterior panel. A lateral connection between each of two opposing lateral edges of the barrier layer and the crotch gusset defines a gap between the anterior panel and the barrier layer as well as define a scrotal pouch disposed posterior to pendulous pouch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 29/870,539, filed Jan. 30, 2023, as a Continuation thereof, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protective undergarments and, more particularly, to an undergarment embodying an internal pouch to protect male genitalia from radiation and separate the genitals from the wearer's thighs.

When wearing lower undergarments, the location and pendulous nature of male genitalia presents at least two problems.

First, located protuberantly in relation to the anterior surface of a person's midsection, male genitalia are on the forefront of bombarding electromagnetic radiation emitted from electronic devices. As a result, the penis and testicles are constantly absorbing electromagnetic radiation from all directions; for instance, most cell phones are kept in the pockets of pants, which are located within inches of the male genitals. Similarly, laptop computers are placed on top of the thighs and are therefore located within a few inches of the male genitals.

Second, male genitals tend to stick to inner thighs due to a combination of weather conditions (for instance, hot and humid weather) and the body's natural resting positions (for instance, standing, sitting, walking), creating discomfort. Usually, this discomfort results in requiring the male to manually separate their genitals from their thighs by tugging the genitals or by separating their legs in a distance wide enough for the genitals to become unstuck from the thighs: social norms dictate that such correction be done covertly when in public.

The primary deficiencies with current apparatus aimed at solving the above-mentioned radiation-bombardment problem is that they simply take existing standard underwear designs (which do not have an internal pouch for the male genitals) and replace the fabric with (or add an additional layer thereon) radiation-blocking fabric. Therefore, current designs of radiation-blocking underwear do not sufficiently protect the male genitals from radiation from all angles due to the large openings in the standard underwear design (leg and waistband openings). Furthermore, this approach of swapping out for or adding an additional layer of radiation-blocking fabric requires a significant amount of fabric to construct the entire underwear, and radiation-blocking fabric is expensive to produce; therefore, the current solutions are expensive for consumers relative to standard underwear due to the high consumption of radiation-blocking fabric. Moreover, these existing radiation-blocking undergarments use a standard undergarment design without an internal enclosure for the male genitalia. Additionally, the primary problems with current apparatus aimed at solving the issue of the male genitals sticking to inner thighs is that the internal pouch that is added does not sufficiently and effectively keep the male genitals from falling out of the pouch, thus making contact with the inner thighs. When the wearer is standing still, the current apparatuses seem to work, but as soon as the wearer walks, runs or sits, the male genitals fall out of the pouch.

As can be seen, there is a need for an undergarment embodying an internal pouch to protect male genitalia from radiation and separate the genitals from the wearer's thighs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an undergarment embodying two components for shielding male genitalia from deleterious radiation. The first component is an internal pouch enclosure (where the male genitals reside), wherein the enclosure is made with radiation-blocking fabric, creating an internal compartment that surrounds and protects the male genitals from radiation from almost all angles (front, sides, top, bottom and back). In other words, the present invention provides a full protective shield around the male genitals from all directions. The internal pouch is made with radiation-blocking fabric that blocks most electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) from passing through the fabric and reaching the male genitalia.

The second component of the present invention includes an anterior panel of radiation-blocking fabric that is used to make the front crotch part of an underwear design so that the anterior panel disposed between the wearers' genitalia and the external environment).

The internal pouch with radiation-blocking fabric is constructed and connected to the undergarment in a way that allows the male genitalia to pass through an opening in the radiation-blocking fabric into an enclosure that is made entirely of the radiation-blocking fabric so that the genitalia is surrounded by the radiation-blocking fabric. The anterior panel of radiation-blocking fabric blocks radiation from the front, top and bottom directions because when the undergarment is worn, the radiation-blocking anterior panel wraps around the front, top and bottom of the male genitalia. Because the male genitals pass through an opening in a radiation-blocking barrier layer and into an enclosure, the radiation-blocking fabric of the enclosure also acts as a barrier between the male genitals and the thighs so that there is no contact between the male genitals and the thighs.

The present invention has a radiation-blocking design that is significantly smaller in surface area than the prior and current apparatus, but more effective at surrounding the male genitals from almost all angles. As a result, the present invention requires approximately eight times less radiation-blocking fabric to create than current apparatus. This allows the present invention to be produced much cheaper than the current apparatus, and therefore can be sold to consumers at a much lower price.

In one aspect of the present invention, undergarment having an internal pouch for shielding male genitalia from radiation, the undergarment further includes a crotch gusset interconnecting two leg holes of the undergarment, wherein an anterior edge of the crotch gusset defines an anterior opening of the undergarment; an anterior panel depending from a superior portion of the undergarment adjacent the anterior opening; a barrier layer extending in a sloped configuration between said superior portion to a posterior portion of the crotch gusset; a longitudinal slit formed in and centrally located in the barrier layer; an inferior edge of the anterior panel connected to said anterior edge of the crotch gusset so as to form a phallic pouch therebetween; and a lateral connection between each of two opposing lateral edges of the barrier layer and the crotch gusset, wherein the lateral connections extend between said anterior edge and said posterior portion of the crotch gusset, thereby defining a gap between each lateral connection and the anterior panel, and wherein the barrier layer defines a scrotal pouch disposed posterior to said anterior edge.

In another aspect of the present invention, the undergarment further provides the following: wherein the phallic pouch is configured to accommodate a penis of a wearer of the undergarment, wherein the scrotal pouch is configured to accommodate a scrotum of the wearer of the undergarment, wherein the anterior panel and the barrier layer comprise radiation blocking material, wherein an anterior connection directly connects the barrier layer and the superior portion, wherein a posterior connection directly connects the barrier layer and said posterior portion further providing a front panel depending directly from said superior portion, wherein an inferior edge of the front panel defines, in part, a superior edge to the anterior opening, wherein a superior edge of the anterior panel directly connects to the front panel, wherein the superior portion is a waistband, and wherein the waistband is superior to a superior edge of the anterior panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS.1through8, the present invention provides an internal compartment100embodied in an undergarment10for supporting and protecting male genitalia34,36.

The undergarment10may have the typical elements of an undergarment, including a waistband60to engage the waist of the wearer. Though it is understood that the waistband60may, in some embodiments, not be an identifiable band, but merely an upper periphery of the undergarment. From the waistband60a front panel50and rear panel70depend. Typically, these front and rear panels depend from a waistband seam, though not in all embodiments. Bottom peripheries of these front and rear panels define, in part left and right leg holes90. A crotch gusset80interconnects these left and right leg holes90along a medial, inferior portion of the undergarment10. The rearward latitudinal edge of the crotch gusset80is attached to the rear panel70by way of the rear seams87.

The internal compartment100includes a barrier layer12spanning the crotch region of the undergarment10, along the interior thereof. The barrier layer12extends from an anterior point18to a posterior connection point(s)26of said interior of the undergarment10. The anterior connection point18may be adjacent or at the waistband of the undergarment10. In some embodiments, the anterior connection point18may be along a waistband seam. The posterior connection point(s)26are at a substantial lower elevation along the crotch reach of the undergarment10, thereby resulting in the barrier layer12sloping downward at an approximately 45-degree angle as it extends from the anterior point18. The posterior connection point(s)26may be along the rear seam87of the crotch gusset80.

A superior lateral connection point20, on each side of the barrier layer12, may connect a superior portion of a lateral edge the barrier layer12to a front panel50of the undergarment10. An inferior lateral connection point24, on each side of the barrier layer12, may connect inferior portions of the lateral edge of the barrier layer12to the crotch gusset80of the undergarment10adjacent to the wearer's perineum is. The inferior lateral connection points24extend from the posterior connection points26toward the respective superior lateral connection point20, but not all the way thereto, thereby defining a gap22(or unconnected edge of the barrier layer12) therebetween. The gap22exists between the anterior superior lateral connection point20and a distal end of respective inferior lateral connection point24.

An anterior slot14may be formed in the barrier layer12. The anterior slot may extend from adjacent the waistband/anterior connection point18to more than half of the longitudinal length of the barrier layer12(the longitudinal axis deemed extending between the anterior and posterior connection points18and26). A rear slot16may extend from adjacent the posterior connection points to less than a third of the longitudinal length of the barrier layer12. Each of the anterior and posterior slots14,16may be generally U-shaped and have a rounded end that face each other as illustrated inFIG.3.

The anterior slot14communicates with an anterior, phallic pouch60. The phallic pouch60is defined, along an anterior portion, by an anterior panel28. The anterior panel28depends from the waistband of the undergarment10, and, on its other, inferior end, connects along a distal medial edge38of the crotch gusset80, as shown inFIG.6, generally at elevation between the anterior and posterior connection points18,26. The inferior edge of the anterior panel28may connect along a portion of a front latitudinal edge85, by way of a front seam. Because of the pendulous sizing of the anterior panel28, the anterior, phallic pouch60is defined between the anterior panel and the barrier layer12.

When worn, the penis34of the wearer resides in the anterior or phallic pouch60, as illustrated inFIG.8, while their scrotum36resides in an adjunct, scrotal pouch62. To so reside in the phallic pouch60and the scrotal pouch62, the penis34and scrotum36, respectively are first placed through the anterior slot14, Then, to so place the penis34in the anterior pouch60, the penis34is urged through a pouch opening defined, along a superior perimeter, by the inferior edge32of the front panel50. The scrotal pouch62is separated by the anterior, phallic pouch60by way of the distal medial edge38, which is critical to the comfort of the wearer. Specifically, the sub-pouch depends or extends inferiorly more than the anterior pouch60, whereby the distal medial edge38, in effect, acts a fulcrum that bears some of the weight the anterior panel28and the barrier layer12. Also, the front panel50may be disconnected from the anterior panel28so as to define a horizontal fly, through which the wearer can place their penis34through to urinate.

Along the surface of the anterior panel28a radiation-blocking liner30may be provided. This radiation-blocking liner30may be present along an inner surface of the barrier layer12, in some embodiments. Alternatively, barrier layer12may be made with radiation-blocking fabric. When the male genitalia pass through the anterior slot14so that the barrier fabric12rests on the sides and behind the male genitalia, the barrier layer12blocks radiation coming from the sides and behind the genitalia from reaching the male genitalia. The anterior panel28, in some embodiments, may be made with radiation-blocking fabric. The anterior panel28and barrier layer12are dimensioned and adapted so that when the wearer wears the undergarment, the anterior panel28rests in front of and partially below the genitals, while the barrier layer12shields the remaining bottom coverage of the genitals as well as left and right sides of the male genitalia and therefore blocks radiation coming from the front, below and left and right directions of the genitalia from reaching the male genitalia.

The undergarment holds the barrier layer12and anterior panel28in place and around the male genitalia so that the barrier layer12and the anterior panel28properly form the three-dimensional enclosure inside the undergarment for the male genitalia to rest in when the undergarment is worn.

A method of manufacturing the present invention may include the following. A manufacturer may provide a U-shaped piece (barrier layer12) cut out from the center to form the anterior slot14for the male genitalia to pass through. After the genitalia passes through the smaller U-shaped opening, the barrier layer12rests behind and to the sides of the male genitalia as well as rests below the perineum area because the anterior of the barrier layer12is connected (through stitching, adhesion, bonding, or the like) to waistband of the undergarment10(near the mons pubis), the posterior of the barrier layer12is connected (through stitching, adhesion, bonding, or the like) to the posterior portion of the crotch gusset80along its rear gusset seam87of the undergarment10(near the wearer's perineum and gluteal cleft), and the left and right sides of the posterior half of the barrier layer12are connected (through stitching, adhesion, bonding, or the like) to the crotch gusset80or gusset of the underwear10. By connecting the barrier layer12to the undergarment10in these locations, a deeper, more spacious three-dimensional shape is created by the barrier layer12when wearing the undergarment. By connecting the barrier layer12to the anterior gusset seam in a downward sloped configuration, the pouch is constructed in a way where wearing the garment causes the barrier layer12to stretch and form a three-dimensional, diagonal shape inside the undergarment10. The bottom part of the barrier layer12conforms around a wearer's perineum, and the top part of the barrier layer12conforms around the wearer's mons pubis.

In addition to the “U”-shaped anterior slot14cut out from the center of the barrier layer12, the left and right sides of the top half of the barrier layer12is cut in a straight vertical line. When connecting the barrier layer12to the undergarment10, the straight vertical left and right sides of the barrier layer12are not connected to the undergarment10, therefore, creating a hole between the undergarment and the barrier layer12on the left and right sides. This enables the barrier layer12to stretch more and create a 3-dimensional shape that offers more room for the male genitalia, to create a more form-fitting fit for the undergarment, have a better fit for the male genitalia and create the barrier layer12for the wearer to separate their genitalia from their thighs. The two-gap22construction method, when combined with connecting the barrier layer12to the posterior gusset seam of the crotch gusset80, are essential for achieving the deep, diagonal three-dimensional shape inside the undergarment.

The bottom part of the barrier layer12has a smaller, upside-down U-shape cut out from the barrier layer12to create the posterior slot16near the wearer's perineum. The primary purpose of this posterior slot16is to reduce the amount of fabric required to make the barrier layer12as well as to increase airflow around the wearer's genitals. The combination of the posterior slot16and the side gaps22is to offer greater airflow and ventilation around the wearer's genitals and perineum area.

The second component is the anterior panel28that sits in front of the male genitalia, even when the genitalia pass through the opening in the barrier layer12. The anterior panel28is secured to the crotch area of undergarments that is usually located where the undergarment fly opening is. When the undergarment is worn, the anterior panel28curves to the left and right sides of the male genitalia as well as curves below the male genitalia.

The third component is an undergarment. Both the barrier layer12and anterior panel28are connected to the inside of an undergarment to create the three-dimensional genital enclosure.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. A male would wear the present invention very similarly to how they would wear regular undergarments. First, by placing their legs through the large waistband opening at the top and two large leg openings at the bottom of the undergarment and then pulling the undergarment up to their waist. Because the barrier layer is connected to the waistband of the undergarment as well as to the posterior gusset seam of the undergarment, the barrier layer stretches to a sloped configuration to create a three-dimensional enclosure for the male genitalia to rest in. When the undergarment is worn by the wearer, the barrier layer stretches vertically and therefore the U-shaped anterior slot at the superior portion of the barrier layer stretches well enough for the male genitalia to pass through the U-shaped opening naturally and unassisted (i.e., the wearer is not required to use their hands to assist in guiding or placing the male genitalia through the U-shaped opening).

After the undergarment is worn properly and securely at the wearer's waist, the male genitalia will naturally rest inside the three-dimensional enclosure that is made by the barrier layer and anterior panel. Because the barrier layer and anterior are both made with radiation-blocking fabric and because of how the barrier layer and anterior are connected to the undergarment, radiation will be blocked and not reach the male genitalia from several directions including the front, below, the sides and behind the male genitalia.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.