Patent Publication Number: US-8108950-B1

Title: Crotchless underwear

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to undergarments, and more particularly to underpants-type undergarments specifically provided to be worn by women to protectively cover the symphysis pubis rami area from contact with other objects and still more particularly to providing comfort to this area during sexual intercourse by eliminating the crotch from such undergarments. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     During pregnancy or childbirth, a large percentage of women experience intense pelvic pain and may find it difficult to walk, climb stairs and other movements that involve the pelvic bones. This pain is a result of separation of the symphysis pubis which is a soft joint in the very front part of the pelvic bone structure. Cartilage fills the gap between the pelvic bones and, during pregnancy, hormones such as relaxin, soften this cartilage along the pelvic bones to be more flexible for delivery. Some women, however, have too much play in the pelvic area causing a large gap between the bones. This makes the symphysis pubis area quite sensitive to touch. Moreover, this area can become extremely painful, making sexual intercourse after childbirth extremely painful. In addition, some women who suffer from weak and tender bones due to bone degenerate diseases would tend to benefit from this product, being that the main bone contact during sexual intercourse is between the male and female frontal pubic bones 
     A number of prior art devices are intended to provide unique covering and protective features for the female anatomy in this area of the torso. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0009446 to Arnold discloses underwear which is free of seams in the crotch area. Lipton teaches quick release and refastenable underwear in U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,786. A device for shielding and protecting the pelvic and crotch area of a human female is taught by Thompson in U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,307. 
     Shaw teaches padded underwear for athletic activities in U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,835. A female athletic protective system is taught by DiMatteo in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,705. 
     The present invention provides still further uniquely configured underpants for women experiencing symphysis pubis dysfunction as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. A padded area is incorporated into the lower front panel of the underpants to cover this sensitive area of the anatomy and, by providing a crotchless structure, the underpants may be worn during sexual intercourse to protect this area from high-pressure contact normally experienced and which would thus otherwise cause great discomfort. 
     The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to underpants particularly worn during intercourse which include a front panel, a rear panel, and side panels interconnecting and extending between the front and rear panels. Leg straps interconnect and extend between respective lower corners of the front and rear panels. Lower margins of the front, rear and side panels collectively define an open crotch area while padding arranged over a lower area of the front panel protectively covers a symphysis pubis area of the wearer during intercourse. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a form of external protective relief for women who are experiencing symphysis pubis dysfunction and resulting from painful irritation of this area when contacted by other objects. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide uniquely configured underpants which may be worn during sexual intercourse while still protecting the irritated symphysis pubis area of women who are pregnant or have recently experienced childbirth and have developed intense soreness to touch in this area. 
     The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative and not limiting in scope. In various embodiments one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 1  in the worn position over the lower torso showing pertinent parts of the female anatomy in phantom. 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the associated parts of the female anatomy in phantom. 
     
    
    
     Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered to be illustrative rather than limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and first to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the preferred embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  10  and includes an upper torso waistband  12  forming the upper margins of laterally edge-connected front panel  16 , side panels  18  and  20 , and back panel  14 . Each of these panels are formed of flexible stitchable fabric material of a suitable nature to be worn as an underpants garment. 
     The front panel  16  extends downwardly from the waistband  12  to a lower margin  38  thereof. Likewise, the back panel  14  terminates at lower margin  40 , while the side panels  18  and  20 , terminate at lower margins  42  and  44 , respectively. These lower margins  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  collectively define an open crotch area  26  which leaves the genital area of the female wearer exposed. 
     To hold the front panel  16  and the back panel  14  together against the torso of the wearer, flexible fabric leg straps  22  and  24  extend between the respective lower corners of each of these panels  16  and  14 . These straps  24  encircle the thigh area of the wearer to hold the panels of the underpants  10  in position against the corresponding areas of the torso. 
     As best seen also in  FIG. 4 , a compressible padding arrangement  30  is sewn into place against the inner surface of the lower portion of the front panel  16 . A flexible covering  28  is stitched together at  32  and  34 , the end areas of the padding  30 , while spaced stitching  36  connects the front half of the flexible cover  28  against the inner side of the lower portion of front panel  16 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the underpants  10  are properly worn, the padding  30  is positioned to cover the symphysis pubis SP area of the female anatomy which, as described in the background, can become extremely sensitive to any form of touch. Thus, during normal physical contact during sexual intercourse, this symphysis pubis SP area is covered by the padding  30  sufficiently so as to relieve any discomfort to touch or pressure which would otherwise occur during this activity. 
     While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permeations and additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permeations, additions and subcombinations that are within their true spirit and scope.