Patent ID: 7412731

Claim:
A protective undergarment comprising: a main body of material configured for wear by a human, said main body of material including at least one piece of fabric which is air-permeable and moisture-wicking and which is able to simultaneously stretch in orthogonal directions; a single-piece protective pad segment positioned adjacent to said main body of material and arranged to enable flexible motion of a wearer, said protective pad segment including at least one channel that extends into an interior region thereof, each said channel extending only partially across said interior region such that said protective pad segment remains as a single piece; and a fabric member threadlessly welded to said main body of material by an ultrasonic welding coupling, such that said protective pad segment is secured in position merely by entrapment between said fabric member and said main body of material, said ultrasonic welding coupling extending into said channel to restrict movement of said protective pad segment within said entrapment.