Abstract:
Running shorts, active wear, pants, or another garment to be worn by a woman that allows urination while standing without removal or lowering of the garment. The garment has overlying flaps and may have a flap frame.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The Present application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/214,267 filed Apr. 22, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Garments, particularly running or other shorts having significant length, leggings, or other active wear for a female to wear to make urination while standing more convenient. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Females who need to urinate often need to take more time and expose more parts of their body than males do. This is a problem in many settings, especially when there is no convenient restroom, for example when a female is on a long recreational run. This is also a problem for females in the military, construction, and many other situations. This is exacerbated by the knowledge that to maintain peak performance and to be medically safe, one should be well hydrated during these activities. This means the participant must consume liquids, further strengthening the need to urinate. Women, who need to urinate outdoors by fully pulling down their running shorts or pants, expose more of their bodies than a male would during urination. Thus, if observed from a distance, a woman&#39;s urination stance is more obvious than a man who is nonchalantly urinating. 
         [0004]    One solution to the problem has been a variety of funnel-like devices that a woman may carry. When needed, the devices are pressed against the female anatomy. Examples of these devices can be found for sale through the internet, or other places. These devices usually have an angled spout so that the urine may be aimed forward and away from the body, as a male does. However this solution requires carrying the funnel while running, or performing other outdoor activities. 
         [0005]    The other common method of urinating in an area without toilet facilities is simply pulling down the pants or shorts and squatting. However, this is difficult in several ways. For one, the pants bridging from one leg to the other, for example at the ankle area, make it difficult to aim a urination stream to avoid the garment. Second, pants at the ankles prevent spreading of the legs, and may cause a person to stumble. However removing the pants from at least one leg takes longer, exposes more of the body, and may require shoe removal. If pants removal is attempted without shoe removal, the chances of stumbling are further increased. 
         [0006]    These problems for a woman runner are even more significant during the cold weather, when long pants are worn rather than shorts, and when leaves have fallen making it more difficult to find a location that is visually isolated. Further, in the winter it is usually the case that park restrooms are shut down and locked to prevent freezing. 
         [0007]    To improve the enjoyment and safety of running, co-ed training, and other activities that females engage in, there is a need for a garment that allows females to urinate more quickly, less obviously, and with less exposure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A garment worn by a woman that allows urination while standing without removal or lowering of the garment. The garment has overlying flaps that when pulled away from each other expose the urethra, but when released cover the urethra. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a person standing in a position to use a first embodiment of the device. An arrow illustrates the direction of urination. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial front perspective view of  FIG. 1  for the purposes of orientation in subsequent figures. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3C  are sequential, and from the view taken as indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 2 . These figures illustrate the device and method of use. Specifically,  FIG. 3A  is the undisturbed garment.  FIG. 3B  is partially opened and  FIG. 3C  is fully opened. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A-4C  are cross-section views taken generally along lines  4 A- 4 A,  4 B- 4 B, and  4 C- 4 C in  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are schematic representations of a second embodiment of the device, and method of use. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A-6C  are schematic representations of a third embodiment of the device, and method of use with views similar to those illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG.1  illustrates a person  8  wearing a garment  10  with the left leg  12  aft, the right leg  14  forward, and urination path  16  represented by an arrow. The garment  10  will work equally well if the position of the two legs is reversed. Leg positions other than forward and aft may also be used, however forward and aft leg positions have demonstrated to be particularly well suited for using garment  10 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is provided to help in understanding subsequent FIGS. From the vantage point as presented on the page, the person&#39;s left leg  12  is on the right side of the page; however, it is still the left leg. References to “left”, “right”, “front” (or forward, or the like), and rear (or aft, dorsal, or the like) will be used herein referring to the directions we usually refer to when speaking about our own bodies.  FIG. 2  has an arrow indicating the vantage point for  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a view of the crotch area  18  of the garment  10 . Garment  10  has four panels: a left front  20 , a left rear  22 , a right front  24  and a right rear  26 . Front seam  28  and rear seam  30  connect corresponding left and right panels, while right seam  32  and left seam  34  connect corresponding forward and rear panels. In a garment (not shown) without the inventive features of garment  10 , the four seams would meet at an approximate center point  36 . However, the seams of garment  10  are truncated by a flap-frame  38  that will be described with reference to  FIG. 4A  as well. Center point  36  is part of a theoretical plane (not shown) bifurcating the right half of a person from the left half. 
         [0018]    Flap frame  38  is generally rectangular. With the order of description starting at the periphery and proceeding towards the center point  36 , there is a front stitch  40 , a left stitch  42 , a rear stitch  44 , and a right stitch  46 . Inward from those four stitch lines are edges of the four panels ( 20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ) indicated by solid lines  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56 . These edges may be finished to prevent unraveling by any method known in the clothing industry. Preferably, the panels are made of a weave that does not unravel. Flap frame  38  has an outer flap  58  and an inner flap  60 . Outer flap  58  has a movable outer edge  62 , a stationary edge  64  secured by stitch  42 , and a forward edge  68  and rear edge  70  at least partly secured by stitches  40  and  44  respectively. Inner flap  60  has a movable inner edge  72  shown with hidden lines, a stationary edge  74  secured by stitch  46 , and a forward edge  76  and rear edge  78  at least partly secured by stitch  40  and  44  respectively. Moveable edges  62 ,  72  are preferably curved as shown, with the bottom of the curve being toward their respective fixed edges to allow easier finger tip access for the purpose that will be described below. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIGS. 3B ,  3 C,  4 B, and  4 C, the use of the unique features of garment  10  will be described. First, in  FIG. 3B , the outer movable edge  62  of outer flap  58  has been pulled by the fingers of the user&#39;s left hand (not shown) in the direction of arrow B to the left side of the body close to the inner thigh of left leg  12 . Inner flap  60  continues to cover the user  8 . Second, and nearly simultaneously, the inner moveable edge  72  has been moved ( FIG. 3C ) by the right hand (not shown) in the direction of arrow C to the right side of the body next to the inner thigh on the right leg  14 . This exposes the female urethra  80  illustrated as an approximate location, making it possible for the user  8  to urinate along path  16  ( FIG. 1 ). It has been found that the legs&#39; position shown in  FIG. 1 , with one leg forward and one leg back, slightly spread, works particularly well. The hands continue to hold flaps  58 ,  60  apart until urination is complete. Most running shorts, leggings, or Capri pants for female runners are of stretchy fibers and weaves that stretch well and return to their original shape, making the flap frame  38  particularly convenient to use. This same material does not unravel, making it unnecessary to modify edges  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  in a way that may add undesirable bulk between the legs. 
         [0020]    Having described the first embodiment  10  by using  FIGS. 1 through 4C , a second embodiment  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 5A through 5C . Like numbers are used to illustrate similar elements. A closure in the form of a zipper  102  is substantially horizontal across the front of the garment  100 . Zipper  102  holds an outer flap  158  closed over an inner flap  160 . In use, the person unzips zipper  102 , opens flap  158  then  160 , and urinates. Optionally, inner cover  162  may be present to retain pubic hair from getting caught in zipper  102 . Zipper  102  is an example of an additional way to secure the flaps from opening. Many other embodiments can also be envisioned by one skilled in the art. 
         [0021]    Similarly,  FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate a third embodiment  200  with a fastener in the form of a zipper  202  holding an outer flap  258  over an inner flap  60  having a moveable inner edge  72 . Zipper  202  is located between the legs  12  and  14 , and is less visible than zipper  102 . Although a zipper has been illustrated, this may be another fastener, such as a hook and loop system. In use, the person unzips zipper  202 , opens flap  258  then  60 , and urinates as in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    While the foregoing description has set forth preferred embodiments of the present invention in particular detail, it must be understood that numerous modifications, substitutions, and changes can be undertaken without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the ensuing claims. The invention is therefore not limited to specific embodiments as described but is only limited as defined by the following claims.