Abstract:
The disclosure relates to boxer shorts with internal fabric panels to reduce or prevent contact between male genitalia and the thigh of the wearer. This construction likewise aids in the hygiene and comfort of the wearer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to boxer shorts for men, with a partitioned front portion, to reduce contact with the wearer&#39;s thighs.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     The discomfort and irritation associated with undergarments, such as boxer shorts, are well known to men. In particular, contact between genitalia and the thigh is problematic, causing sweating, sticking, hygiene problems, distraction and consternation. Additionally, it can be awkward or embarrassing to make adjustments in public.  
         [0005]     Typical accommodations to these problems are to wear larger sizes of boxer shorts or to attempt to ignore the irritation.  
         [0006]     Moreover, boxer shorts may be considered less than attractive in private and/or sexual situations. While tighter fitting briefs may be undergarments may be compelling for such situations, these can likewise be uncomfortable and may impede fertility, which may or may not be a problem for some wearers.  
         [0007]     Some examples of prior art boxer shorts which have attempted to deal with at least some of these concerns are U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,462 entitled “Male Pant-Type Garments with Internal Suspensory Support Structure” issued on Jan. 10, 1995 to Morgan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,958 entitled “Underwear with Partitioning Liner”, issued on Oct. 3, 1989 to Webster and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 509,945 entitled “Male Underwear with a Genitalia Pouch” issued on Sep. 27, 2005 to Ogle.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide undergarments for men which are comfortable.  
         [0009]     It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide undergarments for men which are hygienic.  
         [0010]     It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to provide undergarments for men which are attractive.  
         [0011]     It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to provide undergarments for men which do not tend to impede fertility.  
         [0012]     These and other objects are attained by providing boxer shorts for men. The boxer shorts typically retain the outline of traditional boxer shorts. However, a fabric panel is installed in each leg of the boxer shorts so that when the shorts are worn, a fabric panel is provided between the genitals and the thigh. The fabric panels are typically shaped as a crescent on top to conform to body shape and to enhance adjustability based upon how high the boxer shorts are worn. Moreover, the fabric panels are spaced to provide sufficient for genitalia so as to not impede a “free spirit” feeling while walking.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention, partially in phantom, with a portion of a human male body shown in phantom.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention, with a portion of a human male body shown in phantom.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a rear plan view of the boxer shorts of the present invention, with a portion of a human male body shown in phantom.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along plane  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along plane  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along plane  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one sees that  FIGS. 1, 2  and  5  are front, side and rear plan views of the boxer shorts  10  of the present invention. Boxer shorts  10  typically have a front right exterior fabric panel  12 , front left exterior fabric panel  14 , rear right exterior fabric panel  16  and rear left exterior fabric panel  18  (“left” and “right” being from the perspective or orientation of the wearer) formed in a well-known configuration to provide right leg aperture  20 , left leg aperture  22 , crotch  24  and waist aperture  26 . Boxer shorts  10  are typically made from an anti-wrinkle cotton material, both those skilled in the art will recognize a wide range of equivalent materials after review of the present disclosure. An elastic waistband  28  is formed around waist aperture  26  which is, in turn, formed around the top of the exterior fabric panels  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Elastic waistband  28  can be replaced by a drawstring (not shown). Right vertical seam  30  is formed between front and rear right exterior fabric panels  12 ,  16 . Likewise, left vertical seam  32  is formed between front and rear left exterior fabric panels  14 ,  18 . Front central vertical seam  34  is formed between front right and left exterior fabric panels  12 ,  14 , running from crotch  24  to the top of panels  12 ,  14 . As best shown in  FIG. 7 , front central vertical seam  34  further typically includes a flap-type structure  36  therein which is bounded by front lateral vertical seams  38 ,  40 . Front lateral vertical seams  38 ,  40  are typically spaced further apart than corresponding seams in the typical prior art boxer shorts. Rear central vertical seam  42  is formed between rear right and left exterior panels  16 ,  18 , running from crotch  24  to the top of panels  16 ,  18 . As shown in best in  FIG. 4 , front and rear central seams  34 ,  42  join in the lower central crotch area.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 ,  6  and  7 , right and left interior fabric panels  46 ,  48  extend from a lower portion of rear central vertical seam  38  (in crotch  24 ) to front lateral vertical seams  38 ,  40  which are formed laterally adjacent to front central vertical seam  34 . Left and right interior fabric panels  46 ,  48  thereby form a third aperture, with a roughly cylindrical shape, for male genitalia thereby achieving the objects described above. As shown in  FIG. 6 , left and right interior fabric panels  46 ,  48  can be formed in a crescent shape in that it is wider at the bottom than at the top thereof.  
         [0024]     Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.