Abstract:
A pair of pants has a stretchable fly panel section with a laterally extending reinforcement that functions to limit the stretching of the upper edge of the stretchable section. The reinforcement is preferably a hem along the upper border of the fly panel, which can be advantageously sewn to adjacent side panels. In preferred embodiments the fly panel is in a pair of shorts, and most preferably in a pair of board shorts.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The field of the invention is clothing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     “Board shorts”, as well as other types of shorts used for swimming, surfing, and other water sports are currently fitted with a fly panel at the front of the shorts that serves to couple at least partially overlapping adjacent panels. Since these shorts usually do not contain a zipper, the fly panel facilitates putting on and removing the shorts. U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,215 to Hurley (March 2001), incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes various embodiments of shorts with fly panels, including examples of such shorts having an opening where the bottom of the fly panel would be expected to join with the adjacent panels. The function of the opening is reportedly to allow sand and other debris to pass through the pants.  
         [0003]     In some models the fly panel comprises a stretchable fabric, which is commonly Lycra™, Nylon™, or other synthetic or natural polymers. This causes a potential for overstretching and even ripping, especially where the adjacent panels are either non-stretchable or significantly less stretchable. The problem can be solved by choosing materials that are less stretchable, but many manufacturers choose to use materials and thicknesses that are prone to these defects.  
         [0004]     It is known to use reinforcements running laterally or diagonally across the body of a stretchable front panel of clothing for pregnant women, and for girdles and other undergarments. But those front panels are not fly panels, as the term is contemplated herein, because they do not couple at least partially overlapping adjacent panels. Apparently it has not been appreciated that reinforcements should or can be used on fly panels, perhaps because they are not intended to be subjected to constant lateral pulling as in the case of the prior art stretch panels.  
         [0005]     Thus, there is a still a need for devices and methods that reduce the tendency of stretchable fly panels to overstretch or rip.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention addresses these problems by providing a lateral reinforcement section to a fly panel.  
         [0007]     In a preferred embodiment the reinforcement is a non-stretchable, or at least a substantially less stretchable in the lateral direction, hem across the top of the fly panel. To prevent overstretching of the fly panel, the hem is preferably sewn to the adjacent panels. Contemplated hems are between about 5 and 20 cm in length. Alternative embodiments contemplate one or more reinforcements running laterally or diagonally across the body of the fly panel.  
         [0008]     The laterally reinforced fly panel can be incorporated into any number of garments, including long pants, out wear shorts, and even underwear shorts. But the most preferred embodiments are with respect to the so-called board shorts, which have a relatively long leg and are made substantially from a relatively quick drying fabric.  
         [0009]     The fly panel can advantageously comprise any suitably stretchable material, and is preferably stretchable in multiple directions. The fly panel can have any suitable shape, including a truncated V shape, and can be attached to side, front or other panels in any suitable manner.  
         [0010]     Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pair of pants having a fly panel and hem according to the inventive subject matter.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the fly panel of the pants of  FIG. 1 , having a reinforced top hem of substantially non-stretchable or low stretch material.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an alternative fly panel having reinforcements across the body of the fly panel. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     In  FIG. 1 , a pair of pants  10  generally includes a waist band  12 , fly panel  20 , first and second at least partially overlapping adjacent panels  30 ,  32 , and legs  40 ,  42 .  
         [0015]     Pants  10  is intended to portray a generalized pair of pants, whether outer pants, ski or other “over” pants, Capri pants, board shorts, swimming trunks, underpants, and so forth. In preferred embodiments, however, legs  40 ,  42  are short enough for the pants to be considered board shorts or other shorts. Substantially all of the material(s) used in the pants, including the various panels and thread, is preferably of a fast drying type. Pants  10  are also generalized in the sense that they represent men&#39;s and women&#39;s pants, girl&#39;s and boy&#39;s pants. Fly panel  20 , first and second adjacent panels  30 ,  32 , and legs  40 ,  42  are all contemplated to be sewn or together or otherwise attached in any suitable manner.  
         [0016]     In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  fly panel  20  is cut to a truncated inverted triangular shape, with a substantially horizontal top  22 , downwardly converging sides  24 A,  24 B, and a substantially horizontal bottom  26 . In alternative embodiments (not shown) the fly panel could be cut to some other shape, such as a substantially triangular shape without bottom truncation. The sides  24 A,  24 B need not even converge, so that the entire fly panel (not shown) could be substantially trapezoidal.  
         [0017]     Fly panel is made from a material that is stretchable in at least the lateral (i.e. horizontal direction), but may also be stretchable in other directions. As used herein the term “stretchable” means being capable of repeated, reversible expansion or distention by hand without easily tearing or breaking. Especially preferred materials include Lycra™, Nylon™, or other natural or synthetic polymers.  
         [0018]     The top  22  of fly panel  20  has a laterally extending reinforcement, hem  23 , made from a material that is substantially non-stretchable in the lateral direction, or at least substantially less stretchable in the lateral direction than the fly panel  20 . Top  22 , sides  24 A,  24 B, and bottom  26  are preferably straight or only slightly curved for convenient production and sewing. The hem  23  advantageously runs the entire length of top  22 , and is further sewn into adjacent panels  30 ,  32 . Depending on the size of pants  10 , hem is generally at least 5 cm, at least 10 cm, and at least 20 cm long. Preferred embodiments, however, have a hem between 5 cm and 20 cm. (All ranges specified herein are inclusive of the endpoints). Hem  23  is preferably sewn or otherwise attached to adjacent panels  30 ,  32 . The bottom  26  is at least 1 cm long, providing an opening  14  in the pants  10  for sand and other debris to fall through.  
         [0019]     In  FIG. 3  an alternative fly panel  120  has top  122 , sides  124 A,  124 B, and bottom  126 . Bottom  26  is substantially pointed, or has a small horizontal section, rather than the large horizontal section shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Fly panel  120  also contains a reinforcement, but here instead a hem along the top margin of the panel, there are two laterally extending reinforcements  123 A,  123 B, extending across the body of the fly. These reinforcements  123 A,  123 B serve substantially the same function as the hem  23  in  FIG. 1 , which is preventing or at least significantly reducing overstretching and ripping of the flexible fly  120 .  
         [0020]     Reinforcements  123 A,  123 B can again made from any suitable material, preferably a material that is non-stretchable, or at least less stretchable in the lateral direction than the fly panel  120 . The position of reinforcements  123 A,  123 B in  FIG. 2  are not especially significant. All other suitable options are contemplated, provided they satisfy the purpose of preventing or at least significantly reducing overstretching and ripping of the flexible fly  120 . In an alternative embodiment, for example, reinforcements could run diagonally from upper left to lower right, or visa-versa, and the reinforcements could run parallel, be crossed, or have some other relationship (not shown). The number of reinforcements is also not especially important. Contemplated pants have only a single reinforcement (not shown) running laterally across the fly panel a few cm below the upper hem.  
         [0021]     Fly panel  120  is again intended to be used in any pair of pants, including especially whether board shorts and swimming trunks.  
         [0022]     Thus, specific embodiments and applications of pants with a reinforced fly panel have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.