Abstract:
An underwear system has a basic support structure comprising a waistband supporting a pair of leg straps that cross in the crotch region, and provide for openings at the front and rear, defined by the leg straps. The leg straps also define side openings on which leggings can be supported. Various attachments can be secured to the basic leg strap structure for protecting both female and male bodily parts.

Description:
The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/500,758, filed Sep. 5, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to articles of apparel, and in particular, to underwear which are suitable for use by male and female wearers. 
   Men and women&#39;s undergarments are frequently restrictive and retain and contain the heat generated by the body causing dampness due to perspiration. 
   In addition, undergarments that elevate and press the male reproductive organs against the pubic area of the torso are believed to adversely influence the production and operation of sex hormones and anabolic metabolism with respect to the process of adaptation and acquisition of athletic fitness. Associated with this is lower sperm counts or less viable sperm being produced. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes a support structure for an undergarment onto which portions of the undergarment are attached and that cover portions of the human body, the support structure comprising a waistband having a forward side and a rearward side, and at least two leg straps fastened to the forward side of the waistband, the leg straps extending downwardly from the forward side of the waistband and joined proximate a crotch area of the human body, and each leg strap extending upwardly and fastened at spaced apart positions to the rearward side of the waistband. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a front side of a basic structure for the undergarment system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view thereof in a flat layout form for illustrative purposes; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view thereof, with additional leggings shown in place; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of an undergarment system made according to the present invention showing an option of leggings in place with portions broken away; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear view of the undergarment system illustrating an optional covering panel in place at the rear; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the garment system showing a covering to cover the penis; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a first form of a covering shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second form of a covering shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a further modified form of the covering shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic sectional view illustrating the form of the covering attachment shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of a wearer having the undergarment system of the present invention in place; 
       FIG. 12  is a front view of the garment system of  FIG. 11  with portions broken away to show extra padding in place; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the undergarment with portions broken away showing padding in place; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention includes men&#39;s undergarments that permit the male reproductive organs to be suspended naturally but separated from the rest of the torso by leggings and any additional padding associated with the leggings. The present invention will lower the temperature to which the testes are subjected thereby increasing the rate and quality of spermatogenesis, and facilitating greater heat dissipation. This characteristic is believed to facilitate optimal thermoregulation. In addition, the preferred men&#39;s underwear of the present invention is believed to positively influence the effect of sex hormones and positively influence metabolism. 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  show a basic undergarment structure made according to the present invention, which is illustrated generally at  10 , and forms a support for various modifications as will be described. The basic structure  10  includes a waistband  12  made of suitable material that may or may not have elastic portions, or can be all elastic, and a system of leg bands or straps, including leg bands or straps  14 , and  16 , which have front strap portions  14 A and  16 A, and rear strap portions  14 B and  16 B that are attached at their opposite ends to the waistband  12 . The straps (or bands)  14  and  16  from the waistband, and in the form shown specifically, intersects (either under, over or through) in a crotch or center region indicated at  18 . This means that the one strap section  14 A of the strap  14  at the front intersects with the strap  16 , (either under, over or through) and strap section  14 B then travels upwardly at the rear to be fastened at  20 B (first end is fastened at  20 A) to the waistband. The front section  16 A of the strap  16  is attached at  22 A (spaced from  20 A) to the waistband  12  at the front, and crosses over in the crossover crotch section  18 , and the section  16 B, which is at the rear, is attached at  22 B (spaced from  20 B) to the waistband  12  at the rear. 
   This is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 2 , as well, where the waistband  12  is shown in flat layout (but is broken off) and the attachment points of  22 A and  20 A for the straps  14  and  16  are illustrated. The waistband may be made as one continuous band or it may be made to allow it to open anywhere such as in the front, back or side. If the waistband is made to open, it could use methods to fasten into a continuous waistband that would include but not be limited to lacing, snapping, hooking, buckling or buttoning. 
   The crossover crotch section  18  can be formed and stitched together, or it can be seen that the straps can be made so that instead of crossing, the strap  16  would be fastened at crotch section  18  and merely bend away from the fastening, without crossing so that the strap section  14 B could actually be a section of strap  16  in the position of section  14 B. The leg strap  14  would be bent back as well and would be in the position of strap section  16 B, the straps  14  and  16  are joined together at the center crotch section  18  in either configuration. 
   The leg straps  14  and  16  can be made of any suitable material, stretchable or non-stretchable material that is comfortable and does not irritate the skin. The waistband  12  of course can be made in various sizes, and the length of the leg straps  14  and  16  can be varied for different wearers. The leg straps may be attached at locations  20 A and  20 B, and  22 A and  22 B by stitching, lacing, snaps, Velcro® (hook and loop) fasteners, or other securing devices as desired. Normally, the straps are stitched in place, as is the center crotch section  18  where the straps  14  and  16  meet or cross. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the waistband is illustrated in relatively wide configuration, and the leg straps  14  and  16  and their sections  14 A,  14 B,  16 A, and  16 B are illustrated as a top view. The locations  20 A,  20 B,  22 A and  22 B are shown in dotted lines. 
   In the suggested method the leg straps  14 ,  16  meet behind the scrotum and pass over the buttocks. The second ends of the leg straps  14  and  16  are attached to the backside of the waistband  12  at spaced locations  20 B and  22 B. The leg straps, again, cross, or are attached together so they fit between the legs below the torso. 
   Leggings  26  and  28  are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . An option of the present invention includes a legging structure that surrounds each leg to form a barrier between the legs and the scrotum. This barrier would serve to block the heat and sweat generated by the torso from the scrotum. Lowering the heat around the scrotum promotes comfort and increases the health of the male reproduction system housed inside the scrotum. 
   The leggings  26 ,  28  are attached along the front leg opening strap sections that are attached to the front side of the waistband  12  and follow up the backside leg strap sections on the rear side of the waistband. The leggings would depend from the waistband and leg opening straps and surround the respective leg. The leggings  26 ,  28  would be available in varying lengths depending on the desires of the wearer. 
   When the system is viewed from the front with the leggings  26 ,  28  attached, a triangular area formed by the waistband is viewable and the leggings  26 ,  28  that would be uncovered on the front side, exposing the stomach, the penis and scrotum area. An open triangular area exists on the backside, leaving the anal region as well as major portions of the buttocks uncovered. 
   The leggings  26  and  28  are made of suitable fabric and have upper edges that are stitched to the waistband  12  as represented by a series of x&#39;s indicated at  26 A and  28 A, respectively. The stitching may also lie along the leg strap sections  16 A and  14 B, and  14 A and  16 B. 
   The leggings  26  and  28  have leg openings illustrated schematically at  26 B and  28 B. The leggings  26 ,  28  form a V-shaped open area or opening  30  at the front, and a V-shaped open area trianugular or opening  32  at the back, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The triangular shape formed by the waistband  12  and the leg opening straps  14 ,  16  at the rear could alternatively be used to support a back panel  34  that would cover the entire backside of the wearer, covering the buttocks, thus eliminating the open backside triangular opening  32 . 
   The back panel  34  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5  is an option to cover the triangular area (opening  32 ) that is formed between the waistband and the leg opening straps on the backside of the basic structure. The back panel  34  or covering could be permanently attached to the leg straps  14 ,  16  and the waistband  12  or be made detachable at the top or the bottom allowing one to uncover the anal area without lowering the waistband. 
   The open front triangular area  30  leaves the scrotum and the penis on the males and the vagina on a woman uncovered. The opening  30  also could be covered with one continuous panel, which may be preferred if worn by a woman. A cover panel (not illustrated) for a male would preferably include an opening to allow the male wearer&#39;s penis to pass through when desired for urination or for any other reason so that the wearer may have to access the penis without lowering the waistband. The front opening cover panel (not illustrated) also could be permanently attached or made as a panel that could be detached at the top, the bottom or completely removable to permit uncovering the underlying skin and organ area without lowering the waistband  12 . 
   The back panel  34  can be stitched as illustrated at  34 A along the edges or onto the waistband  12 , as well as the leg strap sections or portions  16 B and  14 B as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The back panel  34  can also be made removable, with suitable fasteners  36  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The fasteners  36  can be snaps, lacing, Velcro® (hook and loop) fasteners, or other similar fasteners that would permit removal of the back panel  34  to leave the open area  32  open. 
   In  FIG. 4 , the leggings  26 ,  28  are illustrated with portions broken away, so that pads  38  on the interior side of the leggings  26 ,  28  are viewable. The additional padding  38  is provided on opposite sides of the junction  18 , to accommodate absorption of perspiration, and the like. The pads would preferably start about the base of the penis and extend down the leg beyond the scrotum. The pads  38  serve as a method to draw additional perspiration away from the crotch area. The additional padding serves to help keep the scrotum cooler. Some of the methods for holding the pads  38  in place could be sewn pockets positioned on the inside of the legging structure for the pads to slip into and be held in the area between the legs and next to the scrotum, or the pads could have a fastening system of their own such as snaps, hooking, buttoning, Velcro® (hook and loop) fasteners or lacing. The legging and pad option could be the only options added to the basic system bands or could be combined with one or more of the other options of the system as described further. 
   The leggings  26  and  28  can be made of a material that will insulate the heat generated by the legs, as well as draw moisture away from areas that perspire. The exact material used for the legging would preferably be any desired absorbent material, and the additional pads  38  can also be made to be absorbent for absorbing moisture. 
   The opening  30 , at the front of the garment system, (with or without leggings) on the male, permits the penis and scrotum to be unobstructed, and protrude from the leg strap sections  14 A and  16 A, as is illustrated in  FIG. 11 , for example. 
   A covering sleeve or pouch for the penis itself, while permitting the other organs to be naturally suspended is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , and variations of the support therefore in  FIGS. 7–10 . The showings are schematically made, not necessarily to scale. They are for illustrative purposes. 
   The penis covering would help to keep the head of the penis soft by protecting it from possible abrasive areas the penis may otherwise come in contact with. The penis covering also helps to keep the hair around the scrotum area from becoming intertwined with the foreskin that may surround the head of the penis, thus providing increased comfort. 
   A different option for this front triangular open area is to have a pouch that would cover and protect the scrotum but not cover the penis. Another option for the front triangular open area is to have an attachable covering for only the penis. The penis covering could be tight or loose fitting around the penis, depending on the preference of the wearer and would be available in various lengths and materials. 
   The penis covering is selectively closed on the outer end, open on the outer end or has a flap type of outer end covering for the opening which would allow the penis to be passed through the outer end of the covering when desired for urination or for any other reason the wearer may have to want to access the penis, without removing the penis covering from the basic waistband, leg opening band structure. 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , the stomach or abdomen  40  of a wearer of the underwear can protrude from the opening  30  between the strap sections  14 A and  16 A ( FIG. 11  shows the strap section  16 A only) and the genitalia indicated generally at  42  may also protrude from the opening  30 . The leggings  24  and  26  can cover the upper leg portions, entire leg or entire leg and foot with only the leg portion  26  being illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Although specific leg portion lengths have been mentioned, it is intended that leg portions having any type of length to be included within the present invention. The opening  30  permits the scrotum  44  of the genitalia  42  and the penis  46  to protrude outwardly from the leggings  24  and  26 . 
   In a preferred form of the invention, a covering  50  encloses, or at least partially encloses the penis  46 . The covering  50  can be made of any suitable material. The covering  50  slips over the penile shaft and is formed as a sleeve like sack or pouch  52  that has an open end  54  with a base ring structure  56  that can comprise a ring made of the rolled fabric of the pouch or an inserted separate ring, in various shapes of suitable size that will rest against the skin of the lower abdomen  40 . The purpose of the ring  56  is to allow for easier insertion of the penis into the penis covering. 
   The ring  56  can be secured to the leg strap portions permanently or in a removable manner using well known fasteners or fastening systems. Various ways of attaching the pouch  52  in place using the ring  56  are illustrated in  FIGS. 6–10 . In the basic form, the pouch  52  can be a totally enclosed tube of fabric, latex/condom type lined fabric which is liquid tight, with a closed end as shown in  FIG. 11 . The ring base  56  is shown rolled in fabric, provided with attachment straps  58  that fit onto the leg strap sections  14 A and  16 A with suitable fasteners  60 , such as snaps, lacing, buttons, Velcro® (hook and loop) fasteners or the like. Alternatively, the fastening can be done with a strap or band  58 A shown in  FIG. 7 . A band of fabric or other material  62  is wrapped around the sack or pouch  52 A, and can be permanently attached in place such as by stitching, and then the straps  58 A are used for securing the pouch  52 A to the front leg strap sections. The band  62  can be any desired material, and can wrap around the pouch  52 A after the pouch has been put in place on the wearer&#39;s body. The band  62  is then held in its wrap-around condition with a fastener  66  at the front. The fastener  66  also can be an adjustable fastener of some type such as a Velcro® (hook and loop) fastener, or snaps or even a small non-protrusive buckle. In this form of the invention, the pouch  52  can have an open end  68 . It would not be enclosed as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the pouch  52 B is provided with sewn on attachment straps  58 B that are positioned at the base or ring portion  54 B of the pouch  52 B. The ring portion  54 B can be a roll formed by rolling the open end of the pouch. The straps  58 B then can have ends that are attached to the leg strap sections  14 A and  16 A as shown with fasteners  60 . 
   In this form of the invention the pouch  52 B is shown to have a fold over flap  70 , that can be folded back to expose an opening to the interior  72  for opening the end portion of the pouch  52 B for urination or other functions. Flap  70  is shown only schematically, and is broken away in  FIG. 8  for illustrative purposes. 
   A preferred form of holding the sac  52 C in place is shown in  FIG. 9 , as well as more fully illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In this case the pouch  52 C is attached in a preferred manner, and can be formed to be enclosed fully, or open at the end, or with a flap  70 . In this form of the invention, the pouch  52 C has a sewn in ring area  74  at its base end that lies against the abdomen of the user. The ring is of suitable stiffness to maintain an opening at the end of the sac. 
   A retaining structure  73  is shown more fully in  FIG. 10 . The ring  74  has the material of the pouch folded around and fastened (such as by stitching) back on itself to hold the ring  74  in place and to maintain the end opening as desired. In order to retain the pouch  52 C in place, an outer slip ring assembly  76  is further provided. The slip ring assembly  76  includes a ring  78  of suitable material that is generally of smaller size than the ring  74 . The ring  78  is provided with attachment straps  80 , that in turn have end portions with fasteners  82  that are securable to the leg strap sections  14 A and  16 A. 
   Once the pouch  52 C has been slipped into place, up against the abdomen skin, the ring  74  can be held tightly against the skin by putting on the retainer ring  78  and fastening the straps  80  tautly with suitable fasteners  82  or the retainer ring assembly could be permanently attached to the basic structure on straps  14 A and  16 A. 
     FIG. 12  shows a front view of the retainer structure  73  in partially schematic form, with leggings broken away to show the extra pads  38  in position as well. The covering or pouch  52 ,  52 A– 52 C can be made of a form holding type of material that would form a semi-rigid shell, or made with materials that were flexible in one direction and not the other, for example. 
   The region above the rings  74  and  78  is open, as indicated at  30  in  FIG. 12 . If desired, of course, the area above the penis could be covered loosely or with removable materials. 
     FIG. 13  is a perspective view with portions broken away showing the pads  38  in position, in the crotch area, for absorbent, isolative, and other purposes. 
   The material that is used for the penis pouch  52 , and the other forms of it, can be a material that would serve as a barrier, much like a condom that could be a latex or latex lined material. It can be liquid absorbing material, or other material that is comfortable. If a front panel is used to cover the opening  30 , for example in connection with a female use, these panels can be made of a type of cellophane, plastic sheet or latex/condom type material to prevent transfer of diseases. It also can be slightly elastic (latex like), so that it can be made to allow penetration into orifices of the body from the exterior. 
   The basic waistband and leg straps would be sufficient to hold the edges of this stretch material, if the material was used as a covering for items penetrating the vagina or other orifices from the exterior. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.