Abstract:
An undergarment fit closely about the gluteus and thighs, minimizes undergarment contact with the genitals, allows for normal range of motion of the dartos muscles of the scrotum, decreases contact between opposing body parts, provides modesty and provides protection for genitalia from outerwear, promotes testicular and genital health, and protects from electromagnetic radiation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and applicant claims priority from U.S. provisional application number 61/937,226, filed Feb. 7, 2014, titled “Underwear systems and methods for isolating distinct anatomical parts without support”, and listing inventor Timothy Rankin, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The vast majority of men&#39;s undergarments follow a similar design in which the genitalia are either compressed against the pubis, perineum, thighs, or some combination there in. The intrinsic flaw with such design, as in standard briefs or boxer briefs, is that the scrotum is unable to act as it was intended, meaning that the dartos muscle of the scrotum is not allowed to relax as testicular temperatures rise or contract as testicular temperatures decrease. The standard undergarment maintains the same scrotal position regardless of temperature, inhibiting the body&#39;s natural ability to regulate testicular temperature, the optimal regulation of which is critical to testicular health and related processes, including but not limited to spermatogenesis. 
         [0003]    Alternatively, more lose fitting undergarments such as boxers allow the dartos muscle of the scrotum to function normally, however, the problem with boxers is that the excess fabric has a tendency to bunch up, causing discomfort and provides no protection from inter-thigh chafing and further does not separate the scrotum from thighs. This latter issue predisposes to increased testicular temperature, increased scrotal moisture, and ultimately predisposes to skin inflammation and/or Candida based fungal infections of the scrotum and/or thighs. 
         [0004]    Previous attempts have been made to isolate the testicles from the thighs with various different designs including inner panels with openings or keyholes and outer pouches for modesty, but they still do not allow the dartos muscle to function normally, which still leads to testicular overheating. Additionally, none of the above designs have addressed the issue of undergarment leg “ride up”. Any undergarment with legs “rides up” the thigh during the course of normal human hip flexion. The leg of the garment moves more proximally as the hip flexes due to the increased distance between the waistband and the original position of the distal garment leg opening due to the elongation of the gluteus muscles and the relatively anterior position of the hip joint. 
         [0005]    No other undergarment has been able to accomplish all of the following goals: prevent chafing of the thighs as they rub together, seperate genitalia from the thighs, allow normal range of motion of the dartos muscles of the scrotum, prevent undergarment leg “ride up”, provide modesty and provide protection from outerwear. 
         [0006]    Finally, we are exposed to much higher levels of electromagnetic radiation than in years past. The ultimate effects of such radiation on the genitals will not be known until longitudinal studies can be conducted. In order to minimize the exposure to electromagnetic radiation, a polyester or cotton blend containing nickel, silver, or copper will be used as an outer panel in order to shield the genitals from electromagnetic radiation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with an anteriorly placed panel fixed to garment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  shows a posterior view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with relaxing incisions. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  shows a left lateral view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with the anteriorly placed panel as well as inner flap. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a posterior component of the invention with relaxing incisions and fixed only to the waistband. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an anterior component of the invention fixed only to the waistband, and prior to incision of the inseam. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner flap of a male undergarment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer flap of a male undergarment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner flap affixed to a male undergarment, and inverted triangular opening of the anterior panel of a male undergarment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer flap affixed to a male undergarment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the order in which an inner and outer flap are aligned on the anterior aspect of a male undergarment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of only an outer flap aligned on the anterior surface of a male undergarment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows an inner view from the top of an exemplary embodiment of the invention showing the inverted triangular opening on the anterior aspect of the garment, where dashed lines represent seams and Xs represent non-slip material. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment with accompanying protective cup apparatus. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0020]    The invention is primarily, but not exclusively, a male undergarment that will separate the wearer&#39;s thighs from one another, separate the genitalia from the thighs/pubis/perineum, and provide modesty and protection from outerwear, and methods of accomplishing such separation and provision of modesty and protection. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Aspects of the invention disclosed in the following description and related drawings are directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0022]    As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-8 , exemplary embodiments of a men&#39;s undergarment may be disclosed. The undergarment provides for compartmentalization of bilateral thighs, and genitalia from one another as well as from outwear. Furthermore, the invention will prevent proximal movement of the legs of the garment, and the outer flap with or without the inner flap will protect the genitalia from outerwear without providing support. The undergarment may be sewn together from multiple fabric cut patterns and may include overlapping front panels, wherein the inner panel may be a modesty panel and the outer panel will provide protection from outerwear, modesty, and electromagnetic radiation. The inner panel&#39;s longest edge will be equal in length to the longest edge of the outer panel. The garment itself will fit snugly around the thighs, hips and buttocks, and will be secured by an elastic waistband. Alternately, the inner flap may be left out of construction, thereby providing greater airflow and cooling potential without sacrificing modesty. 
         [0024]    The genitals will be allowed to rest in a natural position as the anterior aspect of the garment contains an opening feature, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A  as an inverted triangle but may be of any shape, that roughly begins at the pubic symphisis of the wearer and ends at the junction of the base of the scrotum and the perineum. The lateral borders of the inverted triangle, in this embodiment, follow the intertriginous folds at the junction of the upper thighs and pubic region. If the inner flap is included in construction, it will have adequate redundancy as to minimize contact with the scrotum even when the dartos muscle of the scrotum is fully relaxed. Alternatively, if the inner flap is left out of construction, then the scrotum will be allowed to rest in a natural position, separated from the thighs by the fabric of the garment about the thighs. In either construction, the outer flap will provide modesty and protection from outerwear, and protection from electromagnetic radiation in an embodiment in which an electromagnetic shielding fabric is used for construction of the outer flap. 
         [0025]    In order to address the problem of “ride up”, which occurs when the distal leg of the garment moves more proximally as a result of hip flexion, which is inherent in common actions such as sitting, the lateral seams of the garment will be in proximity to a non-slip material that runs the length of the lateral seam. The non-slip material may lie on top of the seam or next to it, and may exist singly or in multiples. The oblique nature of the lateral seams attempts to follow a line from the greater trochanter of the femur to the antero-lateral thigh as this distance does not vary greatly with body position (sitting, standing, lying). The distal aspects the leg will also have transversely oriented non-slip material, and this material will not be circumferential, in order to allow for changing diameters of the thighs during activity. Finally, the distance between a fixed point on the posterior waistband of an undergarment and a fixed point on the posterior aspect of a wearer&#39;s leg changes during flexion of the hip. Despite increased laxity of new fiber blends like spandex, they are still unable to stretch adequately and the posterior aspect of the garment leg opening moves proximally in relation to the thigh during hip flexion. The invention will contain “relaxing incisions” placed in a staggered pattern across the posterior aspect of the leg of the garment that will allow for sufficient laxity so that the leg of the garment may stretch without riding up. 
         [0026]    It is envisioned that undergarment  1  may be fabricated from any type of fabric suitable for underwear, including, but not limited to, nylon, cotton, spandex, linen, silk, or a combination thereof. Similarly, it is also envisioned that waistband may be made from any of the aforementioned fabrics, but waistband  11  may also include any elastic material or a tightening method, such as a drawstring or the like, such that the wearer may secure the undergarment  100  around his hips or waist in order to wear it. Further, it is envisioned that aforementioned panels may be affixed to each other or the waistband by any means suitable for garment making, such as by sewing the panels together. 
         [0027]    Now referring to  FIGS. 1A-3 , in one exemplary embodiment, outer panel  13  will have the same upper border length as the upper border  31 . The lateral side of the outer panel  16  will also have the same length as border  34  and will be affixed to the garment. The lower border of the outer panel  15  will also be fixed to the garment and will have the same length as  35 . The oblique border  14  will not be fixed to the garment.  17  is a seam where the anterior panel in  FIG. 3  is affixed to the posterior panel in  FIG. 2  along their lateral edges. The lateral edges of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 2 . are of the same length and radius. The panels shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are affixed to the same circular waistband, and the medial edges of the panels in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  (after the dotted line  33  is incised) are also affixed to one another. The arrangement of the panels would allow a wearer to step into the garment with the posterior panel in  FIG. 2  covering the gluteus and posterior thighs, while the Anterior panel in  FIG. 3  would cover the anterior thighs, and mons pubis. The genitalia would not be covered due to defect  32 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4A and 4B  show the inner panel and outer panel respectively.  FIG. 4A  shows a panel that is composed by oblique border  41  that is the length of  101  to the middle of the lateral border of defect  32 . Border  42  is equal to the length from the middle lateral aspect of defect  32  to the apex of defect  32 . Point  45  begins the transition where the inner flap is affixed to the inseam of the garment. Edge  43  is the length of the inseam defined by dotted line  33 . Point  46  must be of adequate distance from point  45  as to minimize contact with the scrotum of the wearer. Edge  44  is equal to the length of edge  48  on the outer panel.  44  is not affixed to the garment, but is affixed to edge  48  of the outer panel. Edge  47  of the outer panel is equal in length to  31  and is affixed to the garment and the waistband along with the anterior panel in  FIG. 3 . Edge  40  is the same length as  34  and is affixed to the junction of the anterior and posterior panels of the garment. Edge  49  is also affixed to the garment along edge  35  and is the same length as  35 . Edge  48  is free and is affixed to the inner flap in  FIG. 4A , but not to the garment. The outer flap in  FIG. 4B  may also be affixed to the garment without inclusion of the inner flap in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0029]    The contours of the outer panel and  48  can further be curved or undulating, or can have any other desired appearance. 
         [0030]    In exemplary  FIG. 5A , the dotted line represents the points of fixation of the inner panel in  FIG. 4A  to the constructed garment. The inner panel&#39;s relationship to defect  32  is also shown.  51  represents the free edge of the inner panel and does not imply that  51  is connected to the garment.  51  will be affixed to  48  on the outer panel.  52  represents bilateral seams connecting lateral borders of anterior and posterior panel of the garment. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5B  shows the overlay of the outer panel on the constructed garment. Dotted lines  54 ,  56 ,  57  represent the lines of fixation where the outer panel will be attached to the garment. The lateral extensions of the dotted lines are only to show the complete shape of the outer panel in reference to a front view of the constructed garment. The lateral extensions in reality are a continuous seam along the constructed garment.  58  is not affixed to the constructed garment and can exist as a free edge or is affixed to edge  44  if the inner panel is used in construction. 
         [0032]    In operation, the user may don undergarment  1  as commonly known. Subsequent to donning the undergarment, the user may insert the genitalia through opening  32 . Redundancy of the inner panel defined by the distance between points  45  and  46  allow for normal function of the dartos muscle of the scrotum, while maintaining modesty. The inner panel may also be left out of construction of the garment, in which case the outer panel would assume all responsibility for modesty/protection from outerwear and there would be no fabric caudad to the scrotum. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is an anterior oblique exploded view showing the relationship of the outer panel and inner panel on the anterior aspect of the undergarment. When overlaid, the outer panel  62  is the only later anterior to the genitalia once the user dons the garment. Inner panel  61  is intended to improve modesty, but does not necessarily provide scrotal support, however modifications may be made to panel  61  as needed until ideal proportions are achieved Inner panel  61  may also be left out of final construction as seen in  FIG. 7 . In the case that the inner panel is not included, panel  71  would be affixed to the garment as previously described and border  72  would exist as a free edge, thereby providing modesty and protection from outerwear without increasing the temperature or moisture associated with the scrotum. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a view of the internal construction of the invention from above with the anterior aspect of the garment closest to the bottom of the page and the right leg on the left side of the page and vice versa. Dotted line  81  represents the medial seam where the anterior and posterior panels of the garment have been affixed.  82  represents the opening feature, here an inverted triangle, within the anterior panel through which a user&#39;s genitalia will rest. The lines of X&#39;s and marked  83  at the posterior right leg represent a non-slip means to prevent malpositioning of the garment while it is worn, which means may be present in this embodiment but not necessarily present in all embodiments. Said non-slip means may comprise a non-slip material, which may include but is not limited to rubber or neoprene, or their equivalents, in order to increase the coefficient of friction and prevent malpositioning of the garment during activity. Notice that the non-slip material is non-continuous about the circumference of the leg so as to avoid excessive pressure of constriction of the user&#39;s leg. Non-slip material may be placed transversely at the distal aspect of the leg on the inside of the garment in any number of configurations including but not limited to, dots or strips covering opposing quadrants or hemi-surfaces of the leg. The non-slip material may also be placed along the obliquely oriented lateral seam  86 .  84  represents the line of fixation of the inner panel if it is used in construction. Lines  85 , and unilateral  87  and unilateral  86  represent lines of fixation of the outer panel. 
         [0035]    As in  FIG. 9 , in this embodiment a protective cup  92  may also be disposed between outer panel  95  and the genitals of the user. The protective cup  92  may facilitate providing protection to the user&#39;s genitalia when the user is engaged in sports, such as football, baseball, or soccer, where the user&#39;s genitals may be injured. The cup may have an elastic waistband that detaches from the protective cup  92  so that the edge of the detachable strap would be permitted to cross through the outer panel at opening  91 . A fastening means  93  is present in this embodiment to attach the cup apparatus to the undergarment; said fastening means may include but is not limited to velcro, buttons, or snaps and their equivalents. The non-detachable end of the elastic strap for the protective cup attach to the upper lateral aspect of the cup so as to permit passage of the elastic strap under the outer panel of garment  1 . The secondary elastic straps are affixed to the base of the protective cup and the posterior waistband of the cup. This would allow the user to don the protective cup in standard fashion without having to remove garment  1  or exposing the user&#39;s genitals. The application of the protective cup is ideal when the garment is constructed without the inner panel. 
         [0036]    The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0037]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.