Patent Publication Number: US-2006000008-A1

Title: Comfort panel male underwear or shorts

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to wearing apparel. More particularly, it relates to men&#39;s or boys&#39;undergarment and sport shorts or pants, which prolongs the comfort of the wearer with a simple yet effective comfort panel attached to the front part of the undergarment or shorts.  
      More recently, some prior art undergarments have attempted to solve the discomfort problem concerning proper air circulation to the genitals of the wearer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,088 discloses an improvement in the form of a rectangular section of fabric pouch attached at the leg portions and near the crotch portion, which is like a shelf or ledge since it is not large enough to completely encircle the male genitalia. Although this improved underwear structure provides more comfort compared to conventional male underwear, it does not provide adequate support of the male genitalia as it is designed to not encircle the male genitalia.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,355 discloses a male undergarment formed of two basic elements. The first element is a tubular body portion and the second element is a genital-covering panel, which is attached to the outer front section of the underwear. Although the underwear of this invention addresses the problem of perspiration control, it does not provide adequate support of the male genitalia because the genital-covering panel allows too much freedom of movement of the genitalia.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to men&#39;s or boys&#39;undergarment and shorts, which prolongs the comfort of the wearer with a simple yet effective comfort panel attached to the front part of the undergarment, shorts or pants. In one embodiment, a male underwear includes a front portion, a rear portion, a waistband attached to the front and rear portions, a pair of leg openings, and a comfort panel. The comfort panel includes a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges, and an opening for receiving male genitalia. The comfort panel is at least partially attached to the interior of the front portion of the underwear. The side edges of the comfort panel may be left unattached or at least partially attached to the front portion of the underwear from the bottom edge of the front portion continuing up toward the waistband of the front portion. The top edge of the comfort panel is at least partially attached along the bottom edge of the waistband of the front portion of the underwear. The bottom edge of the comfort panel may be left unattached or at least partially attached along the bottom edge of the front portion of the underwear. A standard fly portion may be added to the underwear if desired. The comfort panel can also include a partial waistband, which is at least partially attached to the waistband of the underwear. A comfort pouch, which is at least partially attached to the front portion of the underwear and to the comfort panel below the opening for receiving male genitalia, can also be added for additional support and comfort. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      There are shown in the drawings certain exemplary embodiments of the invention as presently preferred. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed as examples, and is capable of variations within the scope of the appended claims. In the drawings,  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary male underwear;  
       FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway view of the interior of the underwear of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a partial cutaway view of the interior of another embodiment of the underwear of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a partial cutaway view of the interior of a boxer-type embodiment of the underwear of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a partial cutaway side view showing the comfort pouch; and  
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the interior of an exemplary male shorts. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary brief-type male underwear  100 . It is well known that bikini and boxer style underwear are also popular where generally bikini style male underwear has a lower waistline and no fly opening and the boxer type typically has a looser fit and tubular extensions for the leg openings. Male underwear which includes all of the elements of the invention, greatly prolongs the comfort of the wearer with a simple yet effective comfort panel attached to the front part of the underwear.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of the invention of the brief-type includes a front portion  110 , a rear portion  120 , a waistband  130  attached to the front  110  and rear  120  portions, a pair of leg openings  140 , and a comfort panel  150 . The comfort panel  150  includes a top edge  152 , a bottom edge  154 , two side edges  156 , and an opening  160  for receiving male genitalia. The comfort panel  150  is at least partially attached to the interior  115  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 . The side edges  156  of the comfort panel  150  are at least partially attached along the leg openings  140  and may be left unattached or at least partially attached continuing up toward the waistband  130  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 . The top edge  152  of the comfort panel  150  is at least partially attached along the bottom edge  132  of the waistband  130  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 . The bottom edge  154  of the comfort panel  150  may be left unattached or at least partially attached along the bottom edge  114  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 .  
      Similarly, in another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 , the underwear  100  includes a front portion  110 , a rear portion  120  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), a waistband  130  attached to the front  110  and rear  120  portions, a pair of leg openings  140 , and a comfort panel  150 . However, in this embodiment, the comfort panel  150  also includes a partial waistband  135  in addition to a top edge  152  which is attached to the partial waistband  135 , a bottom edge  154 , two side edges  156 , and an opening  160  for receiving male genitalia. This comfort panel  150  is also at least partially attached to the interior  115  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the side edges  156  of the comfort panel  150  are at least partially attached along the leg openings  140  and may be left unattached or at least partially attached continuing up toward the partial waistband  135  of the comfort panel  150 . The partial waistband  135  of the comfort panel  150  is at least partially attached to the waistband  130  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 . The bottom edge  154  of the comfort panel  150  may be left unattached or at least partially attached along the bottom edge  114  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 .  
      A boxer-type embodiment of the invention with a partial waistband  135  is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the comfort panel  150  also includes a partial waistband  135  in addition to a top edge  152  which is attached to the partial waistband  135 , a bottom edge  154 , two side edges  156 , and an opening  160  for receiving male genitalia. This comfort panel  150  is also at least partially attached to the interior  115  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the side edges  156  of the comfort panel  150  may be left unattached or at least partially attached to the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 , continuing up toward the partial waistband  135  of the comfort panel  150 . The partial waistband  135  of the comfort panel  150  is at least partially attached to the waistband  130  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 . The bottom edge  154  of the comfort panel  150  may be left unattached or at least partially attached along the bottom edge  114  of the front portion  110  of the underwear  100 .  
       FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of a comfort pouch  180 . The comfort pouch  180  is at least partially attached to the interior of the front portion  110  and the comfort panel  150 , below the opening for receiving male genitalia (not shown). The comfort pouch  180  can be attached to brief-type, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , bikini-type (not shown), or boxer-type underwear, shown in  FIG. 4 , with or without a partial waistband  135  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The addition of the comfort pouch  180  provides additional support and comfort to the wearer. Obviously, various sizes and shapes of the pouch can be added to the underwear based on the preference of the wearer. It is preferred however, that a comfort pouch  180 , which provides the maximum comfort and support be added to the underwear.  
      In yet another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 6 , male shorts  200  includes a front portion  210 , a rear portion (not shown), a waistband  230 , where the waistband is attached to the front  210  and rear  220  portions, a pair of leg openings  240 , a liner panel  270 , and a comfort panel  250 . The liner panel  270 , includes a front portion  275  and a rear portion (not shown), each portion including a top edge  272 , a bottom edge  274 , two leg opening edges  276 , and two side edges  278 . The comfort panel  250  includes a top edge  252 , a bottom edge  254 , two side edges  256 , and an opening  260  for receiving male genitalia, where the comfort panel  250  is at least partially attached to the interior  275  of the liner panel  270 . The side edges  256  of the comfort panel  250  may be left unattached or at least partially attached to the liner panel  270  from the bottom edge  274  of the liner panel  270  continuing up toward the top edge  272  of the liner panel  270 . The top edge  252  of the comfort panel  250  is at least partially attached along the top edge  272  of the liner panel  270 . The bottom edge  254  of the comfort panel  250  may be left unattached or at least partially attached along the bottom edge  274  of the liner panel  270 .  
      The comfort and support of male sports shorts such as jogging shorts, swim shorts and bike shorts would be greatly improved by attaching a comfort panel. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  closely resembles boxer-type underwear. It is readily appreciated that a comfort panel can be added to a pair of shorts which resembles a bikini-type or brief-type underwear (such as jogging shorts, swim shorts and bike shorts, etc.) shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 . In bikini-type or brief-type shorts, the side edges of the comfort panel are at least partially attached to the liner panel along the two leg opening edges and the side edges of the comfort panel may be left unattached or at least partially attached to the liner panel continuing up toward the top edge of the liner panel. When a partial waistband is added, the side edges of the comfort panel may be left unattached or at least partially attached to the liner panel continuing up toward the partial waistband of the comfort panel, where the partial waistband is at least partially attached to the waistband.  
      A comfort pouch, shown in  FIG. 5  can be added to male shorts. Again, comfort and support of male sports shorts such as jogging shorts, swim shorts and bike shorts would be greatly improved by attaching a comfort pouch. The comfort pouch is at least partially attached to the interior of the liner panel (instead of the front portion) and the comfort panel, below the opening for receiving male genitalia. The comfort pouch can be attached to brief-type, bikini-type, or boxer-type shorts, with or without a partial waistband. The addition of the comfort pouch  180  provides additional support and comfort to the wearer. Obviously, various sizes and shapes of the pouch can be added to the shorts based on the preference of the wearer. It is preferred however, that a comfort pouch  180 , which provides the maximum comfort and support be added to the shorts.  
      A standard fly portion  147 , shown in  FIG. 1  may be added to the underwear if desired. Of course, any of the waistband, the leg openings of the underwear and the liner panel, and the opening for receiving male genitalia, can be at least partially elastic.  
      The invention having been disclosed in connection with the foregoing variations and examples, additional variations will now be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The invention is not intended to be limited to the variations specifically mentioned, and accordingly reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing discussion of preferred examples, to assess the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed.