Patent Publication Number: US-2020297041-A1

Title: Super underwear for men

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present system is related to garments and more specifically to garments dedicated to improving male genital comfort. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM 
     Males face unique problems in obtaining convenient genital comfort, especially those who are circumcised. 
     A study by Bronselaer G A et al. (2013) observed that circumcised males experience a greater degree of discomfort in clothing, in comparison to intact males. 
     Circumcision is a highly controversial surgical procedure involving the removal of genital tissue and can be performed on both females and males. In males, the prepuce or “foreskin” is removed, which comprises approximately 50 to 75 percent of the erotogenic tissue. 
     The foreskin has been found by Sorrells et al. (2007) to contain the most sensitive parts of the phallus and performs many vital functions. This tissue also provides males a natural form of protection from abrasive discomfort and damage. 
     As a result of circumcised males lacking this natural form of protection, their specialized erogenous tissue is permanently exposed to any fabric they may wear. The present system mitigates this abrasive discomfort by means of isolating the phallus from other surfaces and buffering it against the forces which induce abrasive movement. 
     In addition to being more susceptible to friction discomfort, circumcised males are understood to experience decreased sensation in the remaining tissue. This is supported by Sorrells et al. (2007) and Bronselaer G A et al. (2013), both studies concluding that the remaining erogenous zones of circumcised males are less sensitive than that of intact males. 
     This is understood to not only deprive these males of a full sexual experience, but is associated with various sexual dysfunctions, such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. According to Bollinger and Van Howe (2011), circumcised men are 4.5 times more likely to use an erectile dysfunction drug and 2.5 times more likely to suffer from premature ejaculation. 
     Various ointments, protective sleeves and foreskin restoration methods have been developed to address these issues. Such products and methods claim to not only mitigate abrasion discomfort, but also make claim to restoring lost sensation. The same effect is also observed with the present system; however, further study is needed to confirm to what extent this may be. 
     Additional benefits to the present system is the ability to mitigate genital sticking, and prevent embarrassing incontinence incidents. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM 
     The present system is comprised of three (3) components; a shell structure, a pouch structure, and bilateral barrier structures. 
     The Shell Structure 
     The shell structure can be represented by any garment that is designed to generally conform to a person&#39;s hips and legs. This is to include, but is not limited to: 1. Briefs, 2. Boxer Briefs, 3. Thermal Underwear, 4. Shorts, and 5. Pants. 
     The preferred form of shell structure is any form of long style boxer briefs designed to generally conform snugly to the user&#39;s hips and legs, said boxer brief style shell structure further preferred to be constructed from soft elastic fabric, such as modal. Outerwear such as shorts or pants may be comprised of the inner components as a form of 2-in-1 underwear/outerwear system. 
     The Pouch Structure 
     Inside the frontal interior of the shell structure is comprised a pouch structure. The pouch structure is primarily designed to enable the user to isolate the phallus from contacting the scrotum, the legs, the abdomen, and the shell structure by inserting the phallus into the formed cavity of the pouch structure. The scrotum may also be inserted into the cavity of the pouch structure, if the user desires. 
     The pouch structure in its preferred form must have dimensions sufficient to comfortably accommodate and secure the phallus in both up, side and down positions, as a user may require. The pouch structure is constructed in such a way as to form a single pouch unit comprising a posterior side, an anterior side, a top end, a bottom end and side ends. All sides being closed except for the top end, which is left open for the ability for the user to insert the hands. 
     The pouch structure may be formed by employing any number of panels comprised of any form of fabric, but is preferably constructed from stretch micro-suede of 160 gsm by integrating two separate fabric panels together of approximate equal dimensions by any means, but preferably by knitting. The preferred length of the pouch structure measured through the center from the top end to the bottom end is between 20 cm and 22 cm. 
     Additionally, micro-suede fabric is understood to increase the degree of sensation restoration over other fabrics as a result of said superior anti-abrasion characteristics, as it is understood that the average daily degree of fabric abrasion is inversely correlated to phallus sensitivity over the longterm. 
     As a means for the user to insert the genitalia into this formed cavity, the pouch structure is comprised of an entry port on its posterior side. Said entry port is preferred to be centered as depicted in the drawings, but may be located higher or lower. The entry port may be a slit, round or angular hole of any size or shape. 
     The preferred type and location of entry port is that of a centered vertical slit as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 . A round hole style entry port is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The entry port must be large enough to comfortably enable a user to insert the phallus without effort and small enough to reliably prevent the phallus from easily escaping the protective cavity of the pouch structure. The preferred circumference of the entry port being between 10 and 14 cm, the most preferred circumference being 12 cm. 
     If the user desires to also insert the scrotum, the size of the entry port may need to be enlarged beyond the preferred dimensions to accommodate the entirety of the male genitalia. 
     The pouch structure is preferably integrated to the interior portions of the shell structure by only the pouch structure&#39;s top and bottom ends. The side ends may be integrated to the shell structure, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , but this is not preferred. See claim  3 . 
     The side ends are preferably wholly unattached from the shell structure as to enable maximum counter movement of the pouch structure&#39;s anterior side against the shell structure. This is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     Any means of integration of the pouch structure to the shell structure is allowable, to include, but not limited to; knitting, sonic bonding, adhesive, Velcro®, buttons, or any combination thereof. It is preferred that knitting be the means of integration. 
     The top end of the pouch structure is preferably wholly integrated near, at or proximate to the top edge or waistband of the shell structure (as illustrated in the drawings). 
     The preferred range of width of the top end of the pouch structure is between 15 cm and 19 cm, the most preferred width being 17 cm. 
     The top end of the pouch structure being open or readily opened as to allow the user easy top-down insertion of the hands into the cavity to enable convenient adjustment and insertion of the genitalia within the pouch structure&#39;s cavity. The open top end of the pouch structure may utilize any form of non-permanent/reversible integration, such as buttons or Velcro®, as a means to temporarily close the top end, if the user desires, but this is not preferred. 
     Another benefit to the open top of the pouch structure is that it enables the user to flip down the top edge of the shell structure as a means to readily expose the phallus for urination, adjustment, sexual activity or any other reason a user may have without requiring the user to first extract and reinsert the phallus through the entry port. 
     The bottom end of the pouch structure may be integrated to the shell structure along any point of the pouch structure&#39;s bottom end, either partially or wholly. The bottom end of the pouch structure is preferred to be partially integrated to the portion of the shell structure as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , having its center unattached for improved genital cooling. 
     The bottom end of the pouch structure is preferably located about the portions of the shell structure that reside approximately just below and slightly behind the user&#39;s scrotum when worn, but may be integrated anywhere as long as there is moderate tension about the groin to ensure proper securement of the genitals. 
     Enough tension is needed about the groin to ensure the phallus does not easily escape the pouch structure and not so snug as to induce uncomfortable pressure about the scrotum. The preferred range of width of the bottom end of the pouch structure is between 3 cm and 7 cm, the most preferred width being 5 cm. 
     Bilateral Barrier Structures 
     To further protect the genitals from contact to the legs, bilateral support structures are added as shown and described. 
     Said barrier structures consist of two fabric barrier structures, one structure for each side end of the pouch structure as illustrated in the drawings. Each barrier structure being comprised of three (3) ends; a posterior end, an anterior end, and a bottom end. The anterior ends of said barrier structures being integrated to the side ends of the pouch structure and the bottom ends of said barrier structures being integrated to the bottom portions of the shell structure. The posterior ends of the barrier structures have an open edge and contact the skin of the user when worn. The anterior ends are preferably integrated to the side ends of the pouch structure; however, they may be integrated to the shell structure for the versions where the pouch structure is wholly integrated to the shell structure. See claim  3 . 
     The posterior ends of said barrier structures are designed to conform to the groin crevices under slight tension when worn, thus acting as a barrier against genital contact from the legs. 
     The bilateral barrier structures act to primarily prevent scrotal contact to the legs, add stabilizing tension to the pouch structure, and to provide an additional measure of prevention of phallus to leg/shell structure contact, if the phallus escapes the internal cavity of the pouch structure. 
     If the user relies on the pouch structure to separate both the phallus and scrotum from contact with the legs and/or shell structure, the bilateral barrier structures may act as extra assurance of preventing said contact if both the phallus and scrotum are to escape the internal cavity of the pouch structure. 
     The bilateral barrier structures are comprised of any form of fabric, but preferably comprised of mesh to ensure adequate cooling to the genitals. The posterior end being preferably comprised of a hem about or approximate to its edge for strength and stability, as indicated by the dashed lines in the drawings. The bilateral barrier structures should be spaced far apart enough as to comfortably accommodate the scrotum of the user. 
     The bilateral barrier structures may take any angle relative to each other. Note in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , that the ends of said structures are angled towards each other. It is preferred that they are slightly angled towards each other as to better secure the genitals within the formed space. The rear ends or points of the bilateral structures may even have such a more extreme angle as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , or even such an angle which causes their rear portions to contact each other. The most preferred angle is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which is also the best mode. 
     The vertical extent to which of the bilateral barrier structures are to be integrated to the side ends of the pouch structure or shell structure may be any extent, but are preferred to be anywhere between the approximate latitudinal center of the pouch structure, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , or to the top end of the pouch structure, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The most preferred extent to which the bilateral barrier structures are integrated to the sides of the pouch structure is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 . This is not to limit the vertical extent of the bilateral barrier structures in any way, as the anterior ends of the bilateral barrier structures may be integrated to any extent along the length of the side ends of the pouch structure, but are preferred to be at or above the latitudinal center of the pouch structure. 
     The bottom ends of the bilateral barrier structures are preferably integrated wholly along bottom portions of the outer shell as illustrated in all drawings. 
     The bilateral barrier structures are to extend rearwardly in a manner as to create moderate tension about the groin crevices on the user side or posterior edge to achieve ideal comfort and function of preventing genital contact to the legs. The rearward extent of the bilateral barrier structures is preferred to be approximately just below (or slightly beyond) the perineum of the user, when worn. An extent approximate to the extent shown in the drawings. 
     BEST MODE 
     The best mode is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The embodiments in the drawings represent a top-down forward facing cutaway view of the interior front face of a boxer brief style shell structure. The dashed line along the posterior end of each bilateral barrier structure represents a hem. 
     
       FIG. 1 
     
     This illustration shows an embodiment within the scope of claim  1  and the best mode. Note how the center section of the pouch structure&#39;s bottom end is unattached, allowing for improved genital cooling. 
     The bilateral barrier structures also having top ends with an upward extent being approximately between the top edge of the pouch structure and the top end of the entry port and bottom ends that are preferably at least 10 cm in length or greater. 
       1 . Shell Structure 
       2 . Entry Port 
       3 . Pouch Structure 
       4 . The anterior side of the pouch structure and to illustrate that the top end is open for insertion of the hands to aid in genital insertion and adjustment. 
       5 . Bilateral Barrier Structures 
     
       FIG. 2 
     
     This illustration shows an embodiment within the scope of claim  1 . Note the smaller barrier structures, the round entry port and the bottom end of the pouch structure being wholly integrated to the shell structure. 
       1 . Shell Structure 
       2 . Entry Port 
       3 . Pouch Structure 
       4 . The anterior side of the pouch structure and to illustrate that the top end is open for insertion of the hands to aid in genital insertion and adjustment. 
       5 . Bilateral Barrier Structures 
     
       FIG. 3 
     
     This illustration shows an embodiment within the scope of claim  2 . Note that the side ends of the pouch structure are integrated to the shell structure. 
       1 . Shell Structure 
       2 . Entry Port 
       3 . Pouch Structure 
       4 . The anterior side of the pouch structure and to illustrate that the top end is open for insertion of the hands to aid in genital insertion and adjustment. 
       5 . Bilateral Barrier Structures