Abstract:
An anti-riding undergarment having a waistband; at least one fabric portion, having a top portion attached to the waistband and a bottom portion divided into two leg portions; a seam extending vertically along a rear seat portion of the undergarment from a point on the fabric portion positioned between the two leg portions to the waistband; and one or more bands spanning the seam.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates generally to undergarments, and more specifically to undergarments with prevent uncomfortable creasing or riding-up. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Information relevant to attempts to address similar problems can be found in the following references, which are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by inclusion in this section:
         (1) U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,771, issued Apr. 15, 1986 to Williams;   (2) U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,078, issued Mar. 17, 2009, to Bernard et al.;   (3) U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,062, issued Apr. 8, 2003, to Amsel et al.;   (4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,463, issued Nov. 25, 2003, to Bonnin;   (5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,854, issued on Dec. 24, 1991 to Davis;   (6) US Patent Publication 2009/0320184 A1, filed Jun. 27, 2008, by Schaefer;   (7) US Patent Publication 2006/0206993 A1, filed Mar. 18, 2004, by Bonnin;   (8) EP 1772069 A2, filed Oct. 6, 2005, by Herbert et al.;   (9) U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,425, issued Oct. 26, 1982, to Jones et al.;   (10) U.S. Pat. No. 2,450,168, issued Sep. 28, 1948, to Schwartz;   (11) U.S. Pat. No. 2,166,012, issued Jul. 11, 1939, to T. L A Maida; and   (12) Re 21,624, issued Nov. 19, 1940, to Dann.       

     However, each one of these reference suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages, which are not admitted to have been known in the art by inclusion in this section: the devices require inserts, require removing an undergarment in pieces rather than the normal way of removing undergarment, merely improve aesthetics of wearers profile by accentuating the shape without providing for comfort, attempt to increase comfort by displacing the normal location of seams, attempt to increase comfort by providing an alternative to an undergarment altogether, merely attempt to solve problem of leg-parts of undergarments from folding and riding up; merely attempt to increase comfort of front portions of undergarments. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need to prevent uncomfortable creasing of the rear seat of undergarments, also known as riding-up, or wedgie-ing, while being completely unnoticeable to the wearer, and also not affecting the overall shape of the body. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an undergarment that satisfies the need to prevent uncomfortable creasing, also known as riding-up, or wedgie-ing, while being completely unnoticeable to the wearer, and also not affecting the overall shape of the body. 
     Various embodiments relate to an anti-riding undergarment having a waistband; at least one fabric portion, having a top portion attached to the waistband and a bottom portion divided into two leg portions; a seam extending vertically along a rear seat portion of the undergarment from a point on the fabric portion positioned between the two leg portions to the waistband; and one or more bands spanning the seam. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1 : shows a rear perspective view of an inventive undergarment; 
         FIG. 2 : shows a rear view of an inventive undergarment; 
         FIG. 3 : shows a side view of an inventive undergarment; 
         FIG. 4 : shows a band according to various embodiments; and 
         FIG. 5 : shows a pocket according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention as well as to the examples included therein. All numeric values are herein assumed to be modified by the term “about,” whether or not explicitly indicated. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited value (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances, the term “about” may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an undergarment  100  is shown on the body of a user  101 . The undergarment  100  includes at least one fabric portion  114 , a waistband  102 , and a seam  105 . The seam  105  can be a portion of the undergarment  100  at which pieces of the at least one fabric portion  114  or a plurality of fabric portions overlap and are stitched together, or can simply be an axis along the seat of the undergarment, extending vertically from a point between the user&#39;s legs  104  to a central portion of the waistband  102 . The undergarment  100  includes one or more bands  103 . 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , each of the one or more bands  103  can be positioned to span the seam  105 . The one or more bands  103  span the seam  105  at an angle within a range having a lower limit and/or an upper limit. The range can include or exclude the lower limit and/or the upper limit. The lower limit and/or upper limit can be selected from 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, and 170 degrees. For example, according to certain preferred embodiments, the one or more bands  103  span the seam  105  at an angle of from 30 to 150 degrees. According to particularly preferred embodiments, the one or more bands  103  span the seam  105  at an angle of about 90 degrees. Each band  103  can span the seam  105  at the same angle as other bands  103 , or at different angles compared to other bands  103 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the one or more bands  103  can span a horizontal portion of the rear seat of the undergarment  100 . The horizontal portion of the rear seat of the undergarment  100  spanned by the one or more bands  103  can have a distance  107  that can be a percentage of the overall width  108  of the rear seat of the undergarment  100 . The distance  107  spanned by the one or more bands can be within a range having a lower limit and/or an upper limit. The range can include or exclude the lower limit and/or the upper limit. The lower limit and/or upper limit can be selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, and 160% of the overall width  108  of the rear seat of the undergarment  100 . For example, according to certain preferred embodiments, the distance  107  spanned by the one or more bands can be from 1 to 100% of the overall width  108  of the rear seat of the undergarment  100 . According to certain preferred embodiments, the distance  107  spanned by the one or more bands can be about 80% of the overall width  108  of the rear seat of the undergarment  100 . It should be understood that in embodiments where the distance  107  spanned by the one or more bands is greater than 100% of the overall width  108  of the rear seat of the undergarment  100 , the one or more bands wrap around the side of the undergarment and, therefore, are not limited to the rear seat portion of the undergarment  100 . Each band  103  can span a unique distance  107  of the rear seat of the undergarment  100  or each band  103  can span the same distance  107  of the rear seat of the undergarment  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the one or more bands  103  can span a vertical portion of the seam  105 . The vertical portion of the seam  105  spanned by the one or more bands  103  can have a distance  111  that can be a percentage of the overall length  112  of the seam  105 . The distance  111  spanned by the one or more bands can be within a range having a lower limit and/or an upper limit. The range can include or exclude the lower limit and/or the upper limit. The lower limit and/or upper limit can be selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, and 160% of the overall length  112  of the seam  105 . For example, according to certain preferred embodiments, the distance  111  spanned by the one or more bands can be from 1 to 100% of the overall length  112  of the seam  105 . According to certain preferred embodiments, the distance  111  spanned by the one or more bands can be about 80% of the overall length  112  of the seam  105 . 
     It should be noted that a seam is not required. In embodiments where the undergarment  100  does not include a seam  105 , the one or more bands can span a vertical portion of the rear seat of the undergarment corresponding to the location of a seam. The location of a seam can be the vertical distance from the waistband  102  to the crotch area of the undergarment, located at the point where the undergarment divides to accommodate the user&#39;s  101  legs  104 . 
     The one or more bands  103  can take a variety of shapes, including but not limited to rectangular, trapezoidal, square, circular, and oval. Particularly preferred embodiments utilize rectangularly-shaped bands. The one or more bands  103  can be placed on the back panel or the rear seat portion of the undergarment  100  and can stretch such that they cover the gluteus maximus. To facilitate stretch ability of the bands  103 , the bands can be include a variety of materials, such as cotton, polyester, nylon, plastic, polypropylene, elastic. It should be noted that as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the bands  103  are shown in a curved configuration. According to preferred embodiments, however, the illustrated curvature can be due to the elastic nature of the bands  103 , which have a non-curved shape, such as a rectangular shape. Alternatively, the bands  103  can have a curved shape. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the one or more bands  103  can have a height  108  extending along the seam  105  within a range having a lower limit and/or an upper limit. The range can include or exclude the lower limit and/or the upper limit. The lower limit and/or upper limit can be selected from 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, 12, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7, 13.8, 13.9, 14, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9, 15, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5, 15.6, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 16, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8, 16.9, 17, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8, 17.9, 18, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4, 18.5, 18.6, 18.7, 18.8, 18.9, 19, 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.7, 19.8, 19.9, and 20 cm. For example, according to certain preferred embodiments, the one or more bands  103  can have a height  108  extending along the seam  105  of from 4 to 10 cm. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the one or more bands  103  can have a thickness  109  within a range having a lower limit and/or an upper limit. The range can include or exclude the lower limit and/or the upper limit. The lower limit and/or upper limit can be selected from 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025, 0.03, 0.035, 0.04, 0.045, 0.05, 0.055, 0.06, 0.065, 0.07, 0.075, 0.08, 0.085, 0.09, 0.095, 0.1, 0.105, 0.11, 0.115, 0.12, 0.125, 0.13, 0.135, 0.14, 0.145, 0.15, 0.155, 0.16, 0.165, 0.17, 0.175, 0.18, 0.185, 0.19, 0.195, and 0.2 cm. For example, according to certain preferred embodiments, the one or more bands  103  can have a thickness  109  of from 0.001 to 0.01 cm. The thickness can be adapted to be thin and flat so the bands  103  do not create discomfort while the user  101  is sitting. 
     The undergarment  100  can include a number of bands  103  within a range having a lower limit and/or an upper limit. The range can include or exclude the lower limit and/or the upper limit. The lower limit and/or upper limit can be selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, and 110. For example, according to certain preferred embodiments, the undergarment  100  can include a number of bands  103  in a range of from 6 to 10. 
     The one or more bands  103  can be spaced relative to one another at a distance  110  within a range having a lower limit and/or an upper limit. The range can include or exclude the lower limit and/or the upper limit. The lower limit and/or upper limit can be selected from 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, and 10 cm. For example, according to certain preferred embodiments, the one or more bands  103  can be spaced relative to one another at a distance  110  of from 2 to 5 cm. According to certain preferred embodiments, the bands  103  are spaced by distance  110  and are not connected to allow for better curvature, which aids in comfort during sitting or other activities. 
     The one or more bands  103  can be secured to the undergarment  100  in a variety of ways. For example, the bands can be subjected to heat and have acetone applied until it meshes with the fabric. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the back panel can have a stitched non-accessible pocket  113  to encompass one or more bands  103 . The bands can be laid out onto the back panel, and then the pocket  113  can be placed on top of the bands, and then sewn shut. This option ensures that the wearer is not subjected to the texture of the bands, but rather the fabric of the pocket  113 , which wearers are accustomed to. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. 
     All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.