Abstract:
The present invention relates to a protective garment, which may be in the form of an undergarment or outerwear, such as a swimwear. The garment includes a body conforming portion for preventing leakage of body waste liquids. The garment includes, at least in the area of the garment which might come into contact with the body waste liquids, sheet material which comprises a lamination consisting of only two laminae. The first lamina is a liquid permeable fabric and the second lamina is a liquid impermeable but vapour permeable material. The liquid permeable fabric is positioned interiorly of the liquid impermeable but vapour permeable material having regard to the inside and outside of such a garment. Liquids are permitted to pass into and through the inner liquid permeable lamina to the interface between the inner laminae and liquid impermeable outer laminae whereat this liquid can be evaporated or dehydrated through the vapour permeable outer laminae.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/CA96/00284, filed on May 9, 1996. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a protective garment which may be in the form of an undergarment or outerwear, and more particularly to a garment which includes a body conforming, lower torso portion for preventing leakage of body waste liquids. The garment may be a close fitting secondary garment to be worn over existing feminine protective means, and may be in the form of panties, briefs and underwear. Alternatively, rather than being in the form of an undergarment, the garment may be in the form of outerwear, such as swim wear or wear for other activities. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     There are on the market numerous products designed for collecting and maintaining menstrual flow, and such products are designed for use with different magnitudes of flow. Leakages, which can cause embarrassing markings and/or troublesome cleanups, are still frequent occurrences. Moreover, there are periods of time when there is uncertainty as to whether light flow, not only menstrual flow when pads or tampon type products are not being worn, but discharge due to incontinence, or other causes, may occur. 
     An example of a bulkier form of product, provided for moisture management, as shown in EPO 0 627,177 A1, published 07.12.94, Moretz et al., is in the form of a suspended panel which includes a plurality of fabric layers, including at least a skin contacting layer, an intermediate fabric layer and an outer fabric layer. The panel is made to be used in addition to a garment which carries the panel. 
     In EPO 0327 823 A1, published 18.08.89, Darlington Fabrics Corporation, there is shown a simpler form of garment, but its structure differs from that of the present invention. In the structure of the product disclosed therein, an inner lamina of the lamination being used is a film which is breathable and liquid impermeable and an outer layer which is simply described as being a breathable fiber, typically knitted, which forms the body portion of the garment. Unlike the present invention, wherein the inner fabric lamina of the lamination forming the crotch area is liquid permeable, not water-resistant, and the outer lamina is liquid impermeable but breathable, the fluids gather on the inside of the inner lamina of the garment of this surface in the Darlington device. This has a disadvantage in that the collected fluids are subject to smearing and may produce a clammy feeling. 
     Yet other types of underwear has been proposed, such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,867, Oct. 20, 1992, Norvell. While utilizing layers of materials having different character, the garment of this reference is not designed to prevent the egress of body fluids from the wearer while maintaining the fluids within the garment in a state which does not provide discomfort to the wearer as in the present invention. Rather the Norvell design, which includes at least three layers, where two of the layers form a composite layer, provides protection to the wearer from contact with an external source of a fluid such as blood and other body fluids. 
     There is, therefore, a need for a protective garment which is capable of preventing leakage for body fluid flows which are not necessarily of great quantity and which can be worn either in combination with existing protective products or alone, and which is of a character providing comfort while not being conspicuous. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Basically, the present invention resides in a protective garment which includes a body conforming, lower torso portion for preventing leakage of body waste liquids, the lower torso portion being defined by sheet material and including a crotch portion disposed between a pair of leg openings. According to the present invention, the sheet material in at least the crotch area is a lamination consisting of only two laminae, a first of the two laminae being liquid permeable fabric, and a second of the laminae being liquid impermeable and vapour permeable material, at least one of the first and second laminae forming the lower torso portion above the crotch as well. The first lamina is an inner lamina fully occupying at least the crotch area for allowing passage of the liquids into the inner lamina. The second lamina is an outer lamina fully occupying at least the crotch area and being juxtaposed the inner lamina in the crotch area for preventing strike through to the exterior of the garment of the liquids from the inner lamina while allowing escape of vapour from the inner lamina. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings, which show examples of garments incorporating the present invention, 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a female full panty according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a female bikini panty; 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B show front views of two different styles of female panties of a different embodiment of the invention than that of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the formation of a female panty of yet a different embodiment; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are front views of full female swim suits incorporating two different embodiments of the invention within such outerwear garments; 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 show front views of two different types of bikini swim wear as worn, and incorporating different embodiments of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of men&#39;s briefs incorporating one form of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a front view like FIG. 9 but showing the garment in the form of men&#39;s shorts; 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate the formation of one form of invention as incorporated in men&#39;s bikini style underwear; 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate components of men&#39;s briefs of a different embodiment then those shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the formation of yet a different form of men&#39;s briefs; 
     FIGS. 14A,  14 B and  14 C illustrate different embodiments of the invention as incorporated in three different styles of men&#39;s swimsuits; and 
     FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross sectional view as seen from the line  15 — 15  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a garment in the form of a full panty  10  for women&#39;s wear. This garment may have the appearance of an undergarment such as panties presently available for normal wear, but as it is designed to prevent the leakage of body wastes, such as menses. As will be apparent, although the garment may be worn over commercially available pads of tampons, it can also be worn as normal panties, particulary when there is believed to be the danger of light liquid flows occurring. The panty  10  is formed of material commonly termed sheet material and has the usual waist opening  11 , and leg openings  12 , between which is defined a crotch area  13 . As will become apparent, while it is the characteristics of the sheet materials and the relationship of the elements in the sheet materials which make up applicants&#39; invention, the garment would normally include, other elements such as elastic  16  to enhance the fitting characteristics. 
     The sheet materials defining the garment form a laminate at least in the crotch area  13  of only two laminae. A first lamina of the two laminae is in the form of a liquid permeable inner lamina  15  which may also be air permeable. It is shown in the form of a fabric gusset fully occupying the crotch area  13 . A second lamina of the two laminae form an outer lamina  14  which is liquid impermeable but is breathable, i.e., it is air permeable so as to be capable of passing air and vapour therethrough. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the outer lamina not only fully occupies the crotch area  13  juxtaposed the inner lamina  15 , but also forms the remainder of the panty which is the lower torso conforming portion of this type of garment. 
     Thus, in use, it can be seen that light body waste liquids whether they come initially into direct contact with the inside of the panty  10  or in effect leak from a pad or other devices being worn inside of the panty  10 , can soak into the inner lamina  15 , rather than smear on the inside of the panty. Such liquids may pass into and through this inner lamina  15  so as to contact an inner surface of the outer lamina  14  at interface  17  (FIG.  15 ). Because outer lamina  14  is liquid impermeable, the liquid does not exit the garment and thus does not produce exterior markings. However, because the outer lamina  14  is air permeable or breathable, vapour can pass outwardly through the outer lamina  14 , thus resulting in some dehydration of the liquid held inwardly of the lamina. Thus, over a period of time, the garment can accommodate even a repeated or slow continuous application of the body liquid without resulting in an internal messy and uncomfortable smearing on the skin or the crotch  13  of the panty  10 . 
     As to the type of materials used to provide the inner and outer laminae, the sheet material forming the inner lamina  15 , must be liquid permeable. The lamina  15  may be in the form of a cotton gusset, and it may be detachable from the other lamina. However, while the material selected for inner lamina  15  may be woven and may be of various materials it may also be selected from materials which provide the above properties but are of the non-woven type. The sheet material for the outer lamina  14  must be selected from materials to provide the above described characteristics, which materials are also available in either woven or non-woven materials. 
     The inner lamina  15  may be formed of a thin, launderable, lightly absorbent material while the outer lamina  14  may be a thin, launderable, semipermeable membrane material. In the case where the protective garment is worn over existing feminine protective means, the wearer is protected from secondary flows of menstrual fluid from the existing feminine protection by the inner lamina  15  which absorbs any spots or light flows and by the outer lamina  14  which prevents any secondary flow liquid from striking through the garment while the vapour permeability of the semipermeable membrane permits vapour transfer across the garment so as to dry the secondary within the inner lamina  15 . 
     The laminae  14  and  15  may be bonded, such as by adhesive or stitching in their juxtaposed relation. Alternatively, the inner and outer laminae may be connected together only at the periphery thereof. 
     The garment shown in FIG. 2 is similar in fabrication to that of FIG. 1 in that it shows a female bikini panty wherein the overall body conforming lower torso portion forming the panty  10 ′ is defined by an outer lamina  14 ′ and there is inner an lamina which occupies the crotch area and may be provided by a gusset  15 ′. The properties of the materials forming the inner and outer laminae are the same as those described above. 
     The embodiment of the panties  20  and  20 ′ shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B differ in structure from that of FIG. 1 in that the inner lamina  25  and  25 ′, which is liquid permeable, not only occupies the crotch area but forms the body portion of the panties. In the crotch area, the outer lamina  24  or  24 ′ which is breathable and liquid impermeable is in the form of a gusset juxtaposed the outer surface of the inner lamina  25 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the inner and outer lamina together form the overall body encompassing, lower torso portion of the garment in the form of a women&#39;s panty  30 . The inner lamina  35  is fitted within the outer lamina  34  and the two laminae are fastened together by exterior seams  36 , the seams  36  preferably being sealed and liquid-proof. 
     In the embodiment of the women&#39;s swim wear  40  shown in FIG. 5, the total outer garment is formed of the sheet material used to form outer lamina  44  which provides the lower torso portion  40   a . The crotch is provided with an inner lamina  45  of the liquid permeable material previously described. In the swim wear of FIG. 6 the lower torso portion  40   a ′ is formed of the same material as the outer lamina  45 ′ and the lamina  44 ′ is in the form of an exterior patch or gusset occupying the whole crotch area. 
     The bikini wear  50  of FIG. 7 includes a halter top  50   b  and a panty bottom  50   a , and wherein the bottom  50   a  is formed of the outer lamina  54 . The inner lamina  55  in the crotch portion of the bottom  50   a  is of the above described type of material for the inner lamina of the garment. In the bikini wear  50 ′ of FIG. 8, outer lamina  54 ′, which is the form of an outer patch on the exterior of the inner lamina  55 ′ of the bottom  50   a ′, the inner lamina  55 ′ forms the lower torso portion forming the bottom  50   a′.    
     In FIG. 9 there is shown men&#39;s brief&#39;s  60  which structurally correspond to that of panty  10  of FIG. 1, wherein the outer shell of the entire garment is formed by the material of the outer lamina  64  and thus it has an inner gusset or panel forming the inner lamina  65 . While throughout the description there has been made reference to the lamination being formed in at least the crotch area, it would be normal to extend the lamination formed by the two laminae to a higher location as shown in the drawing in the front for men&#39;s wear. In that shown in FIG.  9  and other figures showing men&#39;s wear, the juxtaposed laminae may extend to the waist line. FIG. 10 shows a garment in the form of boxer shorts of the same type of lamination construction as that of FIG.  9 . In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, there is shown in FIG. 11A the inner lamina  75  forming the body conforming component of a men&#39;s bikini type underwear  70 . In FIG. 11B, there is illustrated the finished product wherein an outer lamina  74  is applied to the crotch area and extending upward to the top thereof. FIGS.  12 A and  12 B show the formation of a regular style of men&#39;s briefs  70 ′. Using the same principle as FIGS. 11A and 11B brief  70 ′ made up of inner lamina  75 ′ with an outer lamina  74 ′ only in the crotch and front area. The form of the men&#39;s brief. 80  shown in FIG. 13 is of the same principle as that of the female panty of FIG.  4  and wherein the entire garment is formed of inner and outer lamina  84  and  85  respectively joined by seams  86 . 
     In the three styles of men&#39;s swimsuits of FIGS. 14A,  14 B and  14 C, the boxer type  90 , brief style  90 ′ and the bikini style  90 ″ are all formed in a manner depicted by the illustration of FIG. 13 in that the entire suits are of two laminae formed by the inner and outer laminae  95 ,  94 ;  95 ′ 94 ′;  95 ″ and  94 ″, respectively. 
     While the above describes the inner and outer laminae as being formed of initially separate laminae of sheet material, the same effect of the lamination provided after they are joined in juxtaposition as described above may be achieved by those skilled in the art by bringing together, during the forming of nonwoven materials, or in a weaving or knitting process, the materials of different character. In other words, in referring to the two laminae formed by an inner lamina and an outer lamina herein, such as lamina  15  and lamina  14 , respectively, of FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that these laminae may not initially occur in separate sheets, but may be formed of materials having different characteristics as brought together in the forming of a more integral sheet.