Patent Abstract:
Underwear having a concealed pocket for securely and safely holding valuables and other items therein and including underwear for males having improved design for health and comfort.

Full Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to apparel or clothing having pockets and, more particularly, to underwear having; a discreet concealed pocket for securely and safely holding valuables and other items therein; in relation to underwear for males improved support for male genitalia providing improvements in health and comfort. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There exists prior art in relation to the design and manufacture of clothing and underwear and including pockets, such as for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,231,672 (Thomas), 8,321,964 (Gernes) 7,926,123 (Walburg), 6,353,940 (Lyden) and 7,676,853 (Cutlip) 
         [0003]    One problem that exists in our society today wherein we seek to direct the attention especially of the younger generations to the use of condoms for “safe sex”, we find that at least some of the younger generation are embarrassed to carry condoms because the condoms may become visible to their peers or elders such as in a wallet or handbag. 
         [0004]    Another problem that exists with prior art apparel pockets is that the pockets and their contents tend to bunch up tending to become more visible and uncomfortable when the wearer transitions from a standing to a seated position. Also, flexing of individual condom packets can contribute to degrading the effectiveness of the condom. 
         [0005]    Another problem that exists in relation to prior art underwear is that there is a need to maximise the comfort to the wearer without unduly constraining the body and to avoid increasing temperature of body parts which can have or at least contribute to deleterious effects, including deleterious effects on male fertility. 
         [0006]    It an object of the present invention to provide items of clothing including a discreet and secure pocket means of carrying at least a condom and having an improved design to eliminate or at least minimise aspects deleterious to male fertility 
         [0007]    Whereas the aforesaid art is directed to the formation of various pocket-equipped garments and in some instances concealed pockets, no effort has been made to form a garment pocket, having due regard to the locus of the inguinal creases, and the pocket opening such that the garment pocket and contents thereof will not bunch up and will be urged to, without crushing bending or folding, lie mostly against either the lower torso or the upper leg when the wearer of the garment is in sitting position This invention, as will be noted, is directed to the latter, in distinction over the prior art 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Any discussion of the prior art throughout this specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
         [0009]    Pockets in outer and underwear can present an unattractive view and can be uncomfortable to the wearer when the wearer transitions from an upright to a seated position, whereby the pocket and contents become folded or are urged to become a more visible protrusion deleterious to the comfort of, or annoying to, the wearer. The folding or compressing of pocket and contents especially in a sitting position depends mainly on the design and positioning of the pocket so that it is not folded in the inguinal creases as the wearer transitions from a standing to a sitting position. Said inguinal creases normally being located on the body of a person at or in close proximity to the juncture between the lower torso and uppermost area of each leg so that a theoretical line drawn from the end of each of the 2 inguinal creases would meet and form a ‘V’ at the groin of the wearer 
         [0010]    Present social mores direct attention especially of the younger generations to the use of condoms for “safe sex” However, it can often be embarrassing to the younger generations to visibly carry such items. 
         [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a discreet pocket, in clothing including underwear, to contain at least one or more of a condom or a credit card or money and to at least improve the comfort of the wearer and minimise the visual discernibility of the pocket on the garment. 
         [0012]    In one preferred embodiment the present invention underwear pants, being described in the normal position of a wearer who is standing upright, are made of preferably a stretch fabric containing at least 3% spandex and having a pocket formed so that the said pocket is attached to or spaced apart from or immediately adjacent to the lower edge a waistband of thicker elasticised material on the internal front wall of said underwear pants by affixing by known means a piece of similar fabric having at least a portion of the edge of the fabric not affixed so as to create an opening to the pocket and disposed so that in the process of the wearer transitioning from a standing position to a seated position the pocket and contents thereof are urged to lay flat against the lower torso or to lay flat against or form a discrete fold lying flat against the upper leg of the wearer below the inguinal crease. Additionally, Said underwear pants also may be sold to consumers together with a condom in the said pocket. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention pants including underwear pants, being described in the normal position of a wearer who is upright, are made of preferably a stretch fabric containing at least 3% spandex and having a packet formed by affixing by known means a piece of similar fabric having at least a portion of the edge of the fabric not affixed or alternatively releasably affixed so as to create an opening to the pocket which may be held closed by means such as indicated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,321,964 (Games) and 7,926,123 (Walburg) and said pocket being disposed so that the lower edge, being the edge opposite to the opening, is located above the inguinal crease, and further disposed so that in the process of the wearer transitioning from a standing position to a seated position the pocket and contents thereof are urged to remain approximately fiat against the lower torso or to lay flat or in close proximity to the surface of the upper leg or form a discrete fold laying flat or in close proximity to the surface of the upper leg. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the present invention the pocket opening may additionally have a known means to securely close the opening by known means such as by a flap and or zip and or Velcro such as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,926,123 (Walburg) and said pocket may advantageously be located on the internal front wall of said underwear pants and affixed on, or spaced apart from or immediately adjacent to the lower edge of, a waistband of thicker elasticised material 
         [0015]    In another preferred embodiment the present invention pants and pocket, the said pocket consists of a piece of material or fabric releasably affixed to the internal surface of the underpants such that the contents desired to be held in the pocket are held between the releasably affixed fabric and the inner wall of the garment at a desired location. Said releasably affixed fabric may be affixed by any suitable means such as Velcro or gluing as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 8,321,964 (Gernes). The location of the pocket in pants is defined by the location of the pocket opening in relation to the inguinal crease. The pocket opening being at the upper edge of the pocket when the wearer of the pants is in a upright position. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment of the present invention pants with pocket, the pocket consists of front and back walls of Material affixed together by known means as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,672 (Thomas) leaving an opening at one end and said pocket is affixed to the desired location according to the invention on an inside surface of said pants. 
         [0017]    In prior art underwear for men eg Bonds style CL500223 032 and many others the structure of the underwear garment includes an integral frontal “pouch” (Pouch) constructed from shaped pieces of material or cloth or fabric (Material) sewn together to make the Pouch. The said Pouch provides a cover to contain and support male genitals. The shape of said Pouch is determined by the relative measurements and shape of the pieces of Material as cut and the way in which said pieces of Material are sewn together 
         [0018]    In Prior art, the ratio of the average width of the top and bottom seams of the Pouch i.e. the sum of the length of the top and bottom seams or edges of the Pouch measured between the edge seams at the top (top meaning at or adjacent to the waist or waistband of the garment and crotch) expressed as a proportion of the width of Pouch at widest part between centres of side edges seams (Widest Width) is less than 2.3 (Ratio A) and the ratio of the Widest Width divided into the length of the vertical centre line of the Pouch is greater than 1.6 (Ratio B). 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the Ratio A is at least 2.3 and the Ratio B is less than 1.40 or 1.55 or 1.60 and when measured from centres of side seams at , or as close as possible to, 90 degrees to the said edge seams and the garment unstretched not while someone is wearing hem which is the method of measuring used herein. 
         [0020]    In yet another preferred embodiment a Pouch may be formed by shaping one or more pieces of fabric or material by known means to adopt a form having dimension whereby the said Ratio A is at least 2.3 and the said Ratio B at least less than 1.48 or 1.55 or 1.60. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1 . is a front elevation view of a lower torso and upper legs in a standing position wearing pants outlined in dotted lines and including 3 pockets according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2 . is an enlarged sectional view of the invention of  FIG. 1  taken between the lines  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  but with the wearer of the pants having transitioned from a standing to a sitting position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3 . is a front elevation view of a lower torso and upper legs in a standing position showing the approximate location of the inguinal crease and the zones in which a pocket may be located in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4 . is a plan frontal view of elements of pants showing; the disposition of elements consisting a Pouch giving improved and healthy support and less restriction to the male genitals and the relevant elements relevant to measurements and proportional ratios of the present invention. Element  65  is one of 2 leg accommodating openings. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5 . Is a sectional view, in the direction indicated by dotted line  3  to  3  in  FIG. 4 , of pouch  330  taken through seam  315  between centres of seams or edges  340  and  335  showing the curved form of the Pouch extending from the centre of seam  335  along the whole length of seam  315  to the centre of seam  340 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 6 . Is a sectional view of pouch  330  taken through line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 4 ) in a view towards the waistband  60  (not shown) and is the section showing the widest width portion of the Pouch  330  between sides/seams  345  and  350 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a lower torso and upper legs  10  in a standing position and showing the approximate location of the inguinal crease  20 . Said inguinal crease has a corresponding mirror image inguinal crease on the opposite side of the body. The said torso is displayed wearing pants  50  of a modified boxer style having a short leg portion  55  and also having one or more of pockets  70 ,  74  and  78  of the present invention. Said pants and pockets outlined in dotted lines and further showing by dotted lines a waist band  60  made of a thicker more strongly elastic material. Said one or more pocket affixed or releasably affixed by known means but leaving one end unaffixed to create en opening to said pocket. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of portion of pants  50  including pocket  74  and waistband  60  along the dotted line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  but with the wearer of the said pants represented in a seated position said wearer represented by the lower torso and upper legs  10 ; lower torso  12 ; lower torso surface  15 ; upper leg  14 : and upper leg surface  25 . The present invention combination of pants  50  and pocket  74  shows said pocket having; a front wall consisting of portion of pants front wall of  105  affixed by known means to the lower portion of waistband  60 ; a back wall  150 ; an optional flap or closure means  160 , said pocket depicting contents  170  said pocket and contents and portion of the front wall of the pants  105  laying substantially without twisting or bending or folding of contents  170  together with part of a fold  150  in the said front wall  105  against or in close proximity to the surface  25  of upper leg  14  of the wearer. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3 . Is a representation of a lower torso and upper part of the legs  10  in a standing position and showing the approximate location of the inguinal crease  20  and a triangular area  210  outlined in dotted lines surrounds the preferred area of the body surface adjacent to which at least a major portion of the open end of a pocket formed on pants may be advantageously located when for example pants containing said pocket are worn by a wearer in a standing position A further triangular area  230  outlined in dotted lines surrounds a second preferred area of the body adjacent to which at least the open end of a pocket may be located with opening to the said pocket being the uppermost portion of the said pocket when pants containing said pocket are worn by a wearer in a standing position. The sides of triangles  210  and  230  adjacent to the inguinal crease  20  are approximately 15 mm apart and parallel. Side  212  of triangle  210  is located between 50 mm and 75 mm from a vertical centerline passing through the umbilicus and shown as a dotted line A A. 
         [0030]    The foregoing description applies to both left and right sides of a body and corresponding pants as in a horizontally flipped or reversed image thereby producing a corresponding 2 similarly located triangles on the corresponding opposite side of said body 
         [0031]      FIG. 4 . Is a representation of the front portion of pants  50  oriented approximately as the said pants would appear when worn by a person thus having waistband  60  or similar located above the other parts of the said pants. The present invention includes an improved means of covering and supporting male genitals in a cooler more healthy and less constricting way than prior art. In the present embodiment, more than one shaped pieces of stretchable cloth in this example there are 2 pieces  310  and  320  are affixed together at one edge (unnumbered) at seam  315  by known means and further affixed at seams and or edges  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  to other elements, including, crotch piece  329  to form pants having a shaped cover or Pouch  330  bounded by edges and or seams at edges  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  and having a seam  315  which in this preferred example is a central seam bisecting the said pouch vertically (vertically referring to the orientation of said pants when worn by a wearer. 
         [0032]    Alternate arrangements may also be made so that more than 2 pieces of said stretchable cloth may be used in place of said pieces  310  and  320  and may have seams oriented differently to the examples herein. The said shaped pieces of stretchable cloth  310  and  320 ; are in this example mirror images of each other; and for sake of simplifying drawings the edges numbered  335  and  340  of said pieces  310  and  320  are not separately shown in  FIG. 4  but instead the combined edge of joined pieces  310  and  320  are referred to as edges or seams  335  and  340  contiguous across said pieces  310  and  320 . 
         [0033]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Widest Width of the Pouch measured between centres of seams/curved sides  345  and  350  at the intersections with section line  4 - 4  (also referred to as measurement  328  in  FIG. 6 ) divided by half the sum of the lengths of sides  335  and  340  using the same unit of measure, produces a ratio of at least 2.25 or 2.3 and in the same preferred embodiment the length of curved side or seam  315  measured between seams/sides  335  and  340  and (also referred to as measurment  318  in  FIG. 5 ) divided by the aforesaid Widest Width and using the same units of measure, produce a ratio of less than 1.6 or 1.5 or 1.45 Section line  3 - 3  has been drawn in  FIG. 4 . slightly apart from seam  315  for reason of visibility but the actual measurement is taken at and section  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 6 . is contiguous with seam  315 . 
         [0034]    In yet another embodiment (not shown) the Pouch may be formed of one or more pieces of formable fabric by known means such as, being placed or held in a mold or over a shape of the desired proportions of the Pouch and set by known means such as heat so that Pouch is urged to configure to the desired shape and then tend to remain as set until the said fabric is stretched during wearing but when the said fabric returns to an unstretched state , the Pouch re-assume the desired shape of the present invention. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5 . Is a sectional view of pouch  330  taken through seam  315  (also referred to as being the view section line  3 - 3  in the explanation to  FIG. 4 ) between centres of seams or edges  340  and  335  showing the curved form of the Pouch extending as shown by the bracket  318  from the centre of seam  335  joining pouch edge  335  with waistband  60  along the whole length of seam  315  to the centre of seam  340  joining pouch edge  340  to crotch piece  329  (refer  FIG. 4 ). Said measurement  318  is also referred to as the measurement of the seam length  315   
         [0036]      FIG. 6 . Is a sectional view of pouch  330  taken through line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 4 ) in a view towards the waistband  60  (not shown) and is the section showing the widest width portion of the Pouch  330 ; said Widest Width as depicted by bracket  328  being measurement between centres of seams  345  and  350  or may also be described as measurement between edges  345  and  350  of joined cloth pieces  310  and  320  said join being seam  315 . 
         [0037]    While there has been shown and described preferred embodiments of apparel with concealed pocket in accordance with the invention. it will be appreciated that, many changes and modifications may be made therein without, however, departing from the essential spirit and scope thereof. 
         [0038]    All publications, patents, patent applications, and other documents cited in this application are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, patent application, and/or other document were individually indicated to be incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
       REFERENCES CITED 
       [0039]    U.S. Pat. Nos.
   7,231,672 (Thomas),   8,321,964 (Games)   7,926,123 (Walburg),   6,353,940 (Lyden)   7,676,853 (Cutlip)   666,246 (Henderson)   2,498,048 (Neinken)   2,544,840 (Kowatsch)   3,137,862 (Mizerk)   3,149,343 (Jacobson)   4,006,494 (Knoppel)   4,068,321 (Chayer)   4,077,067 (Kozdal)   4,139,914 (Tarr)   4,145,762 (Wallach)   5,561,865 (Fjelstul)   6,199,215 (Biggerstaff)

Technology Classification (CPC): 0