Patent Publication Number: US-6901607-B1

Title: Men&#39;s brief with inner support pocket

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC 
   Not applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to men&#39;s undergarments. 
   More particularly, the invention relates to men&#39;s briefs with an inner support pocket, and which include all of the normal functions and convenience of conventional briefs. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   There are several known drawbacks and disadvantages associated with wearing conventional men&#39;s briefs. These drawbacks and disadvantages include discomfort from chaffing, insufficient support, and the presence of moisture and/or increased warmth some men experience when wearing conventional briefs. 
   Several prior men&#39;s briefs attempt to provide additional support as compared with conventional briefs. Heron, U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,779 discloses a man&#39;s brief with a pouch with a complicated drawstring arrangement. Zhang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,869 discloses a man&#39;s brief with a support pocket that is entirely integrally sewn into the brief for receiving the man&#39;s penis only. Other brief arrangements are shown in, for example, Kang, U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,651; Connery, deceased et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,630; and Mann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,181. However, these and other prior men&#39;s briefs tend to be either relatively complicated in construction, do not permit wearing and use with the normal functions and conveniences of conventional briefs, do not provide desired support or support considerations for differently sized and configured men, and/or do not fully address the other above-noted drawbacks and disadvantages of conventional briefs. 
   Wearing conventional briefs should not be uncomfortable. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved brief that that reduces the above-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages of conventional briefs, while maintaining the normal functionality and convenience thereof to which the user has become accustomed. 
   In particular, there is a need for a new brief that reduces the discomfort from not having enough support, being too warm, or chafing when wearing conventional briefs. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The general aim of the present invention is to provide a new and unique men&#39;s brief that achieves improved comfort for the wearer, while maintaining the normal functions and convenience of conventional briefs. 
   Another aim of the invention is to provide a new and unique men&#39;s brief that is simple and straightforward in design, implementation and use. 
   An important objective of the invention is to provide a men&#39;s brief with a unique inner support pocket that reduces the above-noted discomforts associated with wearing conventional briefs. 
   Detailed objectives of the invention are to improve support and positioning for enhanced comfort, including enhanced dryness and cooling, and to reduce chafing associated with wearing conventional briefs. 
   Another important objective of the invention is to provide a man&#39;s brief with the above-noted advantages and improvements, but that looks like conventional briefs from the outside. 
   These and other objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
   A man&#39;s brief in accordance with the invention includes a conventional main body with front overlapping flaps establishing inside and outside openings for conventional convenient access when wearing the brief. The inside of the brief is provided with a support pocket comprising a lower conformable pouch connected to the inside front of the main body, and a pair of flaps that extend upwardly from the sides of the pouch. The pouch is provided with an elastic back edge that cooperates with the flaps to establish an elastic opening from the back side. The flaps are configured to overlap above the inside opening of the main body, and with a unique closure arrangement for opening and closing, for ease of putting on and taking off the brief. In typical use, the scrotum fits inside the support pouch, and the penis is positioned between the flaps and the front of the brief. 
   A brief with a support pocket in accordance with the invention include several specific features and advantages. There is no visible change to the brief as compared with a conventional brief, and no change to the outside of the brief. A brief incorporating the support pocket includes the same functions and conveniences of a conventional brief. The uniquely configured support pocket is designed to not interfere with any of the original functions and conveniences of the conventional brief. The support pocket provides support to the man&#39;s scrotum, and keeps this area cool, dry and away from the rest of the wearer&#39;s body. The support pocket includes an elastic center opening which fits behind and comfortably surrounds the back of the scrotum. The flaps provide a more secure, comfortable fit than conventional brief, and isolate the penis from the wearer&#39;s skin to keep the male penis away from the body, thus providing dryness and enhanced comfort, preventing chafing, and generally protecting the penis as compared with a conventional brief. The preferred support pocket includes easy to open and close snaps which provide a secure and comfortable fit all day long. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of the outside of a men&#39;s brief incorporating the unique aspects of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the inside of the men&#39;s brief shown in  FIG. 1 , the brief being shown as turned inside-out for viewing the inside thereof, and showing an integral internal support pocket in accordance with the invention in a closed condition. 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar of  FIG. 2  but showing flaps of the support pocket folded inwardly to a full open position, and showing a 2-part snap closure for connecting one flap to the front of the main body of the brief. 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  but with the flaps folded part way forward towards the closed position. 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  but with the one flap snapped into its closed position against the front of the brief and the other flap folded open for viewing the 2-part closure for connecting the flaps together. 
       FIG. 6A  is a side cross-sectional view of the brief taken along the line  6 A— 6 A of  FIG. 2 , and showing the flaps closed and the wearer&#39;s scrotum and penis in dashed lines in support and protected position in the pocket. 
       FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the inside front panel of the brief taken along the line  6 B— 6 B of FIG.  6 A. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the brief as worn, but with the front panel of the main body not shown for viewing the pocket in closed, supporting position protecting the wearer&#39;s scrotum and penis from the wearer&#39;s body. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the brief as worn in  FIG. 7 , with the front panel again not shown for viewing the pocket in its closed, supporting, protecting position. 
       FIG. 9  is a front view similar to  FIG. 8 , but showing an alternate technique for wearing the brief. 
       FIG. 10  is an inside front view similar to  FIG. 2  of an alternate embodiment brief provided with an alternate internal support pocket and closure arrangement in accordance with the invention. 
       FIGS. 11-12  are partial front views similar to  FIGS. 4-5  of the alternate brief and support pocket shown in FIG.  10 . 
       FIG. 13  is an inside front view similar to  FIG. 2  of the brief shown therein provided with a second n alternate internal support pocket in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 14  is an inside view of the brief shown in  FIG. 13  with the support pocket shown therein in its full-open position. 
   

   While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is shown one embodiment of a man&#39;s brief  10  in accordance with the invention. The brief  10  is constructed similar to, and includes all of the parts and components of a conventional brief. As shown in the outside front view of  FIG. 1 , the brief  10  appears the same as a conventional brief from the outside. The backside, although not shown, is of similar design, construction and appearance as a conventional brief. Accordingly, the brief includes a main body  12  with an elastic waist opening  14  at the top and a pair of laterally spaced lower leg openings  16  at the bottom. The main body is established with a front panel section  18 , a back panel section  20 , a pair of side panel sections  22 , and a bottom panel section  24 . The front, back and side panel sections encircle the wearer, and the bottom panel section is connected between the front and back panel sections, with side perimeter, to establish the leg openings between the bottom and side panel sections. 
   The front panel section  18  is provided with an inside panel  26  (FIG.  2 ), and an outside panel  28  ( FIG. 1 ) that substantially overlaps the inside panel. One set of opposite side edges  26 A and  28 A of the inside and outside front panels, respectively, are sewn downwardly from the top elastic band  14 A to the leg openings  16  as indicated to close the associated sides of the front panels. The opposite set of side edges  26 B and  28 B of the inside and outside front panels, respectively, are sewn downwardly from the elastic band along the upper portion of the front panel sections as indicated to establish an inside opening  30  at the lower side of the inside panel and an outside opening  32  at the opposite lower side of the outside panel. The overlapping front panels and the associated openings  30  and  32  cooperate to establish the familiar sideways openable front flaps or “fly” of the conventional brief. As with alternate configuration conventional briefs, (i) the back, sides, bottom and side portions of the front panel sections of the main body may be constructed either from a single piece of material, or from multiple pieces of material sewn together; and (ii) specific construction of the overlapping inside and outside front panels will vary between specific configuration briefs, such as the common alternate construction brief with upper and lower inside and outside “fly” openings resulting from overlapping upper and lower front panels. 
   In accordance with the invention, a unique inner support pocket  40  is provided on the inside of the brief  10  as shown in the inside views of the brief in FIGS.  2 - 5 . The support pocket  40  includes a lower pouch  42 , and a pair of upper flaps, shown as left flap  44  and right flap  46 , that extend upwardly from opposite sides of the pouch. The support pocket is made from soft, conformable fabric, such as comfortable cotton blend material of the type typically used in men&#39;s conventional briefs. For purposes discussed below, the preferred flaps  44 ,  46  are made from a double layer of fabric material. This material includes, but is not limited to, a fabric with 95% soft cotton and 5% lycra. 
   The pouch  42  is established with a strip of material of substantially constant width, that extends from one side of the front panels  26 ,  28  to the other side on the inside of the brief, and that is gathered along the inside edge  50 . The pocket includes a front center length that establishes the front edge  48  (see  FIG. 6A ) of the pouch, and a back center length that established the back edge  50  of the pouch. The front edge of the pouch is sewn along a generally semi-circular curvature that extends downwardly along one side of the front panels, arcuately sideways along the front portion of the bottom panel section, and then curving back upwardly along the opposite side of the front panels to generally encircle, on the sides and below, the inside openings  30 ,  32  such that the wearer has normal access to the openings  30  and  32  from inside the pocket. An elastic strip is sewn into the back edge  50  of the pouch. The elastic strip is shorter than the back center length of material defining the back edge of the pouch to cause the back edge to gather and establish an elastic, conformable inside edge to the pouch. With the curved front edge  48 , the elastic strip draws the back edge of the pouch upwardly, creating a pouch form that curves gently upwardly upon progressing from side to side, for approximately 180, or at least semi-circularly, around the side of the brief front, and upon progressing from the front panels back towards the wearer. 
   The left and right flaps  44  and  46  are established with an end integrally extending from the left and right sides of the pouch along the width of material thereof, and free edges encircling between the front and back associated sides of the pouch. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the left and right flaps extend upwardly from the left and right upper quadrants of the generally semi-circular pouch, terminate in free ends that overlap in the lateral center of the front panels at a position proximate, to above, the top of the openings  30 ,  32 , and are configured to lay flat against the inside of the front panels. When in this position, the flaps cooperate with the back gathered elastic edge  50  of the pouch  42  to define a center elastic curved opening  70  into the pouch from the back side thereof. 
   For opening and closing the pocket  40 , and ease of entry into and exit from the pouch  42 , the pocket is provided with a unique closure configuration involving the flaps  44 ,  46  and the inside front panel  26  of the brief. The flaps are shown folded over and fully open in  FIG. 3 , and partially open in FIG.  4 . The left flap is shown snapped to the front inside panel in FIG.  5 . The flaps are shown closed in  FIG. 2 , with the left flap snapped to the inside front panel, and the right flap snapped to the left flap. 
   In carrying out this aspect of the invention, a female snap part  74  is connected to the inside front panel  26 , facing inwardly (i.e., outwardly from the page and towards the viewer as presented in the inside FIGS.  2 - 5 ), at a height approximately midway up the front panel, proximate, to above, the top of the openings  30 ,  32 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  are inside front views of the brief, with the flaps shown open and exposing the female snap part  74 . The outside (front side) of this snap part is hidden between the two layers of fabric comprising the inside and outside front panels of the brief (see e.g., FIG.  6 ). Consequently, as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the outside of this female snap part  74  is hidden on the outside of the brief by the outside front panel. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a male snap part  78  is secured to the outside layer of the left flap  44 , at a position proximate the upper end of the flap. This male snap part  78  faces outwardly (i.e., inwardly into the page and away the viewer as presented in the inside views in  FIGS. 3-5 ) with the flap in its normal position against the inside front panel and is positioned for snapping into the female snap part  74  on the inside front panel. As will be seen in  FIG. 5 , in which the male snap part  78  is shown with a dashed circle, and in the side cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6A , the inside (back side) of the male snap part  78  is hidden by the inside layer of the left flap. 
   As also shown in  FIG. 5 , a pair of female snap parts  80  are secured to inside layer of the left flap  44 . These female snap parts  80  are laterally spaced from one another and face inwardly with the flap in it normal position along side the inside front panel and snapped into the female snap part  74 . As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in which these female snap parts  80  are shown with dashed circles, and in the side cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6A , the outside of these female snap parts  80  are hidden by the outside layer of the flap, and as will become evident, are therefore prevented from contact with the wearer&#39;s penis when the pocket in the closed position. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 3-5 , a pair of male snap parts  82  are secured, operatively facing outwardly, to the outside layer of the right flap  46 . These male snap parts  82  and are laterally spaced for snapping into the pair of female snap parts  80  of the left flap  44  with the right flap overlaying the left flap as shown in FIG.  2 . The inside of these male snap parts  82  are hidden between the layers of the right flap (see FIGS.  2  and  6 A), and therefore, are prevented from contact with the wearer&#39;s skin. 
   With the foregoing arrangement, the support pocket  40  of the brief  10  is utilized by opening the flaps  44 ,  46  as generally shown in  FIG. 3 , positioning the scrotum downwardly through the opening  70  and into the pouch  42 , with the back edge  50  of the pouch under the connected back of the scrotum, and the penis resting against the front panel  26 . The left flap  44  is then snapped to the front panel  26  (FIG.  5 ), and the right flap  46  snapped to the left flap to close the pocket  40  (FIGS.  2  and  6 A). As shown in  FIGS. 6A-8 , with the pocket closed, the pouch  42  provides support under the wearer&#39;s scrotum, and the penis is protected between the front panels  26 ,  28  and the flaps  44 ,  46 . Wearing the briefs in this manner, with the penis outside the flaps, away from the body, gives support for the penis, keeps the wearer cooler, and prevents skin-to-skin contact to protect from chaffing. Alternately, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the wearer can position his penis inside the flaps, depending on the type of comfort he desires. This position prevents rubbing and chafing in the area where the base of the penis meets the scrotum. Either position can be used, depending on the wearer&#39;s structure and preference. 
   An alternate embodiment brief in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIGS. 10-12  in boxer brief  110 . The boxer brief is constructed similar to brief  10 , includes all of the parts and components of a conventional boxer brief, and appears the same as a conventional boxer brief from the outside. The boxer brief  110  also includes an inner support pocket  140  with the same parts and components as support pocket  40  in brief  10  described above, except for provision of an additional female snap part. Reference numerals shown in the drawings for the boxer brief  110  correspond to reference numerals used for similar parts in brief  10  described above, but are incremented by  100 . 
   Accordingly, the boxer brief  110  includes a main body  112  with an elastic upper waist opening  114  and a pair of lower leg openings  116 . The main body is established with a front panel section  118 , a back panel section (hidden from view), a pair of side panel sections  122 , and a bottom panel section  124 . The front, back and side panel sections encircle the wearer, and the bottom panel section is connected between the front and back panel sections to close the center, bottom of the brief. In the boxer brief, the side panels extend below the bottom panel to establish short leg sections  116 A. 
   The front panel section  118  is provided with an inside panel  126 , and an outside panel  128  that overlaps the inside panel. The inside and outside front panels are sewn as described above to establish an inside opening  130  at the lower side of the inside panel and an outside opening  132  at the opposite lower side of the outside panel, such that the overlapping front panels and the associated openings  130  and  132  cooperate to establish the openable front flaps of the brief. 
   In accordance with the invention, the inner support pocket  140  is provided on the inside of the brief  110  as shown in the inside views of the brief in  FIGS. 10-12 . The support pocket  140  includes a lower pouch  142 , and a pair of upper flaps  144  and  146  that extend upwardly from opposite sides of the pouch. The support pocket is made from soft, conformable fabric, such as comfortable cotton blend material of the type typically used in men&#39;s conventional briefs, with the flaps being made from a double layer of material. The pouch  142  is established with a strip of material of substantially constant width to provide a front edge as described above and a back edge  150 . The front edge of the pouch is sewn along a generally semi-circular curvature that extends downwardly, arcuately sideways, and then curving back upwardly along the front panels to generally encircle, on the sides and below, the inside and outside openings  130 ,  132 . An elastic strip is sewn into the back edge  150  of the pouch to draw the back edge upwardly and create the pouch form noted above. 
   The left and right flaps  144  and  146  extend integrally upwardly from the left and right sides of the pouch, and terminate in free ends that overlap in the lateral center of the front panels at a position proximate to above the upper edge of the openings  130 ,  132 . When in this position, the flaps cooperate with the back gathered edge  150  of the pouch  142  to define a center elastic curved opening  170  into the pouch from the back side thereof. 
   To open and close the support pocket  140 , a pair of female snap parts  174  and  176  ( FIG. 14 ) are connected to the inside front panel  126 , facing inwardly, at a height approximately midway up the front panel, proximate to above the top of the openings  130 ,  132 . A male snap part  178  is secured to the outside layer of the left flap  144  for snapping into the female snap parts  174  and  176  on the inside front panel. A pair of laterally spaced female snap parts  180  are secured to inside layer of the left flap to face inwardly with the flap in its normal position snapped to the inside front panel. And a pair of male snap parts  82  ( FIG. 12 ) are secured, facing outwardly, to the outside layer of the right flap for snapping into the pair of female snap parts  80  of the left flap. Additional components and aspects of the brief  110  are as described connection with brief  10 . 
   This alternate configuration support pocket  140  of brief  110  is worn the same as support pocket  40 , with the same unique features and advantages, except that the left flap  144  can be snapped to either the top female snap part  176  or the bottom female snap part  174  depending on the type of support that is desired. Snapping the left flap to the top female snap part will provide firmer pouch support, whereas snapping the left flap to the lower female snap part will provide a more relaxed support, and support for the larger wearer. In either case, the pocket provides unique support for the wearer, prevents chaffing, and reduces warmth and moisture problems of conventional briefs. 
   A second alternate embodiment brief  210  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIGS. 13-14 . This brief is constructed similar to brief  10 , and includes all of the same parts and components as brief  10 , except that the flaps of the inner support pocket do not connect to the inside front panel of the brief. Reference numerals shown in the drawings for the brief  210  correspond to reference numerals used for similar parts in brief  10  described above, but are incremented by  200 . 
   Accordingly, the brief  210  includes a main body  212  with an elastic upper waist opening  214  and a pair of lower leg openings  216 . The main body is established with a front panel section  218 , a back panel section  220 , a pair of side panel sections  222 , and a bottom panel section  224 . The front panel section  218  is provided with an inside panel  226  and an outside panel  228  that overlaps the inside panel. The edges of the front panels are sewn to establish inside opening  230  and outside opening  232 . 
   In accordance with the invention, the inner support pocket  240  is provided on the inside of the brief  210 . The support pocket  240  includes a lower pouch  242  and a pair of upper flaps  244  and  246  as described above in connection with pouch  42 , and flaps  44  and  46  to establish, among other things, the pouch elastic back edge  250  the opening  270  into the pouch. 
   To open and close the pocket  240 , three triangularly positioned female snap parts  280  (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 12 ) are connected to the outside layer of the double-layer left flap  244 , facing inwardly when the flap is positioned against the front of the brief, and three male snap parts  282  are secured to the inside layer of the double-layer right flap  246 , facing outwardly for snapping into the female snap parts  280 . This second alternate configuration support pocket  240  is worn the same as support pocket  40 , except that the flaps do not connect to the inside panels of the brief. Consequently, the second alternate brief provides relaxed support for the wearer, while preventing chaffing, and reducing warmth and moisture problems of conventional briefs. Those skilled in the art will recognize that additional alternate embodiment briefs may be provided in accordance with the invention. 
   From the foregoing, it will be understood that the present invention brings to the art a new men&#39;s brief that includes a unique inner support pocket for improved support and cooling, and reduces the potential for chaffing, while maintaining the normal functionality and conveniences of conventional men&#39;s brief to which men have become accustomed.