Patent Publication Number: US-2009221983-A1

Title: Thong style urinary pad garment

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of the patent application entitled “Thong Style Urinary Pad Garment”, Ser. No. 11/807,090 filed May 25, 2007, which is based on provisional patent application entitled “Thong Style Urinary Pad Garment” filed Sep. 11, 2006 and assigned Ser. No. 60/843,553. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to garments to hold bladder leakage pads. In particular, it relates to a women&#39;s thong style garment with a pouch to hold replaceable urinary pads. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Various sanitary napkins and urinary pad holders are known in the art. Kramer, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 445,181 issued Jul. 17, 2001 provides an absorbent panty liner for a thong. Coleman, U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0090795 published Apr. 28, 2005 discloses a disposable sanitary panty containing a thickened- crotch pad held by a bikini type panty. 
     Clyne, U.S. Pat. No. 2,977,957 issued Aug. 8, 1957 discloses a sanitary napkin holder. 
     Lee, U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0267438 published Dec. 1, 2005 discloses a disposable thong under pant, which may be combined with a full sanitary napkin. Leathers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,463 issued Jul. 10, 1990 discloses another bikini disposable combined panty with sanitary napkin. 
     Darby, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,373 issued Nov. 4, 1997 discloses a sanitary napkin shaped for use with a thong garment. 
     Gell et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,915 issued Feb. 14, 2006 discloses a sanitary napkin with adjustable length intergluteal strip Bell et al, U.S. Pub No. 2004/0102747 published May 27, 2004 discloses a liner for use in combination with thong, G-string, tanga or T-back underwear. Darby, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 402,756 issued Dec. 15, 1998 discloses a garment shield. 
     Cited for general interest is the Oram, U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,275 issued Feb. 14, 1995 disclosing protective wear for female water skiers. 
     None of the above references provides a reusable, washable, thong style decorative garment with a pouch to hold a replaceable urinary pad for women with intermittent bladder leakage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a women&#39;s thong style urinary pad holder. It is a washable, reusable garment for women styled like a thong as shown in the attached drawings. The thong has a low V or T cut front with side and bottom ends and a T or V shaped back with side and bottom ends whose side ends when connected form a waistband and are structured to removably secure around the waist. The bottoms ends of the front and back are connected to a crotch pouch positioned to cover the pubic area. The thong style urinary pad holder is constructed of a washable fabric of silk, sateen, lace, satin, nylon, cotton, and/or washable leather. The front of the garment is made of a material, which may be plain or decorated with designs, sayings, sequins, and/or rhinestones. 
     To make it easy for the wearer to put the thong on or take it off, preferably at least one of the side ends of the waistband has openable fasteners, such as hook and loop strips, snaps, etc. In one preferred embodiment, both sides of the waistband have openable fasteners. Alternatively, the waistband side ends may be elasticized, or have elastic panels on each side in the waistband. In one preferred embodiment, the waistband has two to three segments of elastic or elasticized material for proper fit or to accommodate different sized wearers. 
     In the crotch area a pouch is sewn to the bottom ends of the front and back such that it is positioned proximate the urethra of a wearer, when worn. The pouch has an opening and is structured to accommodate a replaceable urinary pad removably inserted into the pouch to absorb occasional or intermittent leakage of the bladder caused by anxiety, nervousness, or too long between rest stops, age, or a medical problem. The pouch is preferably constructed to be of a compatible or contrasting fabric or color as the thong. The preferred dimensions of the pouch is approximating four inches wide by ten inches long to accommodate a standardized urinary pad. Preferred urinary pads have the side of the urinary pad next to the user constructed of a material, which allows fluids to pass into the urinary pad for absorption. The opposite exterior of the pad may be constructed of a fluid impervious material to help minimize accidents. 
     Elastic is sewn around the edges of the pouch open end so that when the urinal pad is placed in the pouch, it is held therein. 
     The invention thus provides a reusable, decorative thong garment, with a pouch to hold interchangeable urinary pads and structured to provide the wearer with a feeling of security that the pad will not be exposed or fall out. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 4  is another preferred back view of a back 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which comprises a washable, reusable thong garment  10  structured to removably hold urinary pads proximate the urethra of women. The thong garment  10  has a low V cut front  12  with side ends  14  and a bottom end  16  and a T or V shaped back  18  with side ends  20  and a bottom end  22  whose side ends  20  when connected to the front side ends  14  form a waistband structured to removably secure around the waist. The thong garment  10  is constructed of a washable fabric of silk, sateen, lace, satin, nylon, cotton, and/or washable leather. The front  12  of the thong garment can be plain or decorated with designs, sayings, sequins, and/or rhinestones. 
     To make it easy for the wearer to put the thong garment  10  on or take it off, each side ends  14 ,  22  in the waistband belt area has a Velcro fastener  26 . On each side of the Velcro fastener  26  (or other fastener) are two to three inches of elastic or elasticized material  28 , which stretch and contract for proper fit or to accommodate different sized wearers. In the crotch area, a pouch  30  is sewn as shown to hold and position a urinary pad  34  therein to absorb occasional or-intermittent leakage of the bladder. 
     The pouch  30  is to be of a compatible or contrasting fabric or color approximating four inches wide by ten inches long to accommodate a standardized urinary pad. Elastic is to be sewn around the edges of the pouch  30  opening  32  so that when a urinary pad  34  is placed in the pouch  30 , it is held in by tension giving the wearer a feeling of security that the urinary pad  34  will not be exposed or fallout. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  showing  1  plunging front  12 , which is decorated or patterned to suit the preference of a user. 
       FIG. 3  is a back view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  with a T shaped back  18 . 
       FIG. 4  is back view of a V shaped back  18  with a plunging waistband. 
     Either the straight back or plunging waistband style is employed, depending upon the user&#39;s preferences. 
     The invention thus provides a reusable, decorative thong garment  10 , with a pouch  30  to hold interchangeable urinary pads  34  and structured to provide the wearer with a feeling of security that the pad will not be exposed or fall out. 
     The above description and specification should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. The claims themselves recite those features deemed essential to the invention.