Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to improvements in clothing, particularly to undergarments and outerwear to reduce chafing and bunching of the clothing in the crotch area. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The increasing number of overweight citizens creates numerous and well known problems in the area of public health, and there are equally numerous public and private programs devoted to addressing the issues that arise from this trend. While some issues are serious and life threatening, there are other issues equally serous but rarely discussed. One of these issue is leg chafing. Chafing is a condition of soreness of the skin that occurs from the skin&#39;s repeatedly rubbing against an irritant, such as clothing or other skin. Leg chafing occurs when the skin of the upper thighs rubs together with movement such as walking or running. This can be very painful, and can lead to irritation of the upper thighs resulting in reddened, raw skin or rashes. In some extreme cases the skin can be completely rubbed off, leading to bleeding. The situation is worse on hot days, when the inner thighs perspire and the moisture adds to the discomfort. It also worsens when the upper thighs accumulate greater stores of fat. 
         [0003]    Wearing shorts would protect the inner thighs if the fabric of the shorts stayed in place covering the thighs. In many cases, however, the shorts ‘ride up’, or bunch up into the crotch area with movement, such as walking. This is very uncomfortable and the fabric must be continually pulled back down. 
         [0004]    One way to reduce chafing is to wear long pants, but this is uncomfortable for some people, especially on hot days, and can be extremely uncomfortable for very heavy people. Skirts would be more comfortable if a solution to the chafing could be found. Some heavy women also feel that skirts are more flattering than pants. Wearing pants also may not be feasible for professional women who must wear skirts at work. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention prevents leg chafing, and keeps the garment from riding up in the wearer&#39;s crotch area, by disposing weights on the garment. If the garment is an undergarment, then Modal® fabric, a bio-based fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees, is especially preferred, as it is extremely soft, and wicks away moisture in an effective manner. It is an object of the invention to reduce leg chafing. It is a further object of the invention to teach a method of preventing garments from riding up into the wearer&#39;s crotch area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1-6  of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates the garment  100  according to the present invention. As can be seen, garment  100  is in the form of a pant. Garment  100  is most likely to be an undergarment, however, it could also be an outer garment such as a pair of short pants or athletic wear. In addition, the garment  100  can be worn over other undergarments, such as tight fitting pair of underwear. In the preferred embodiment, the garment is most likely to be worn under a skirt. In an alternative embodiment, garment  100  has sewn therein a crotch liner. The garment will have particular appeal to wearers who are overweight or pregnant. In an alternative embodiment, an elastane control panel will be sewn in over the stomach area. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows panels  130 , specifically left panel  140 , and right panel  170 , crotch  200  and waist  205 . Left panel  140  has left mid circumference  145 , left bottom edge  150 , left front panel  155 , and left bottom edge circumference  165 . Right panel  170  has right mid circumference  175 , right bottom edge  180 , right front panel  185 , and right bottom edge circumference  195 . Garment  100  also has inner surface  110 . The “inner surface” is the entire surface area that faces the wearer. It can be calculated simply by calculating the surface area defined by the pattern used to make the garment. In addition,  FIG. 1  shows weights  250 , specifically left weight  255  and right weight  260 , disposed in left pocket  265  and right pocket  270 . Garment  100  also has left hem  275  and right hem  280 . 
         [0015]    Garment  100  is worn by human  400 , having left leg  410 , left knee  425 , right leg  430 , right knee  445 , crotch area  455 , and body surface  460 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows panels  130 , specifically left panel  140 , and right panel  170 , crotch  200  and waist  205 .  FIG. 2  also shows center seam  210 , left inseam  215  and right inseam  220 . Left panel  140  has left mid circumference  145 , left bottom edge  150 , left front panel  155 , and left bottom edge circumference  165 . Right panel  170  has right mid circumference  175 , right bottom edge  180 , right front panel  185 , and right bottom edge circumference  195 . Garment  100  also has inner surface  110 . In addition,  FIG. 2  shows weights  250 , specifically left weight  255  and right weight  260 , disposed in left pocket  265  and right pocket  270 . Garment  100  also has left hem  275  and right hem  280 .  FIG. 2  shows left edge midpoint  147  and left bottom edge point  167 , and right midpoint  177  and right bottom edge point  197 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the invention, and shows panels  130 , specifically left panel  140 , and right panel  170 , crotch  200  and waist  205 .  FIG. 3  also shows center seam  210 , left inseam  215  and right inseam  220 . Left panel  140  has left mid circumference  145 , left bottom edge  150 , left rear panel  160  and left bottom edge circumference  165 . Right panel  170  has right mid circumference  175 , right bottom edge  180 , right rear panel  190 , and right bottom edge circumference  195 . Garment  100  also has inner surface  110 . In addition,  FIG. 3  shows weights  250 , specifically left weight  255  and right weight  260 , disposed in left pocket  265  and right pocket  270 . Garment  100  also has left hem  275  and right hem  280 .  FIG. 3  shows left edge midpoint  147  and left bottom edge point  167 , and right midpoint  177  and right bottom edge point  197 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the invention, and shows left panel  140  and waist  205 . Left panel  140  has left mid circumference  145 , left bottom edge  150 , left front panel  155 , left rear panel  160  and left bottom edge circumference  165 . Garment  100  also has inner surface  110 . In addition,  FIG. 4  shows left weight  255 , disposed in left pocket  265 . Garment  100  also has left hem  275 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the invention, showing inner surface  110 , left front panel  155 , left bottom edge  150 , left weight  255 , left pocket  265  and left hem  275 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, and shows left panel  140  and waist  205 . Left panel  140  has left mid circumference  145 , left bottom edge  150 , left front panel  155 , left rear panel  160  and left bottom edge circumference  165 . Garment  100  also has inner surface  110 . In addition,  FIG. 4  shows alternate left weight  355 , disposed in left pocket  265 . Garment  100  also has left hem  275 . In the alternative embodiment, left weight  355  is roughly equivalent in size to left bottom edge circumference  165 , and extends around entire left bottom edge  150  of the left panel  140 . Likewise, right weight  360  is roughly equivalent in size to right bottom edge circumference  195 , and extends around entire right bottom edge  180  of the left panel  170  (not shown). 
         [0021]    The pant is loose fitting. “Loose fitting” in one embodiment means that the body surface  460  of the wearer contacts from at most ten to at most eight five percent of said inner surface  110  of garment  100 . In other embodiments, the contact with the wearer can be at most thirty percent, at most fifty percent, at most seventy five percent, and at most eight five percent. 
         [0022]    The percentage of contact can be measured by asking the wearer to remain motionless in a standing position, and marking the portions of the garment  100  which contact the wearer&#39;s body, calculating the total area that comes into contact with the wearer&#39;s body, then dividing by the inner surface area  110 . The most preferred ratio is from 10 to 50%, however, the ratio can go as high eight five percent and still achieve the purposes of the invention. 
         [0023]    Another method of determining if the pant is loose fitting is to determine the circumference of the leg panels in relation to the circumference of the wearer&#39;s leg. For example as seen in  FIG. 1 , garment  100  has left mid circumference  145 , left bottom edge circumference  165 , right mid circumference  175 , and right bottom edge circumference  195 . Each of these circumferences has a corresponding relational circumference to a point on a wearer&#39;s leg. 
         [0024]    The mid circumferences are measured along points on the inseam which are equidistant between crotch  200  and the bottom edge of the pant, namely left bottom edge  150  and right bottom edge  180 . The left mid circumference  145  of left panel  140  is measured at a point halfway between crotch  200  and left bottom edge  150  along left inseam  215 . In a similar manner, the right mid circumference  175  of right panel  170  is measured at a point halfway between crotch  200  and right bottom edge  180  on right inseam  220 . 
         [0025]    The measurement is made with a wearer wearing the garment  100 , while standing with normal posture, without shoes. An imaginary plane parallel to the ground intersects the left midpoint  147  and right midpoint  177 . The circumference of the distance defined by the intersection of the plane and the garment  100  defines the mid circumference points, and the intersection of the plane and the wearer&#39;s leg defines the left and right mid leg circumferences. Thus, an imaginary plane parallel to the ground intersects left midpoint  147 , and its intersection with left panel  140  creates a left mid circumference  145 . The imaginary parallel plane also intersects wears left leg  410 , and creates corresponding left leg mid circumference  415 . Similarly for the right side, an imaginary plane parallel to the ground intersects right midpoint  177 , and its intersection with right panel  170  creates a right mid circumference  175 . The imaginary parallel plane also intersects wearer&#39;s right leg  430 , and creates corresponding right leg mid circumference  435 . Thus, through a relatively simple procedure, left and right mid circumferences can be determined, as well as corresponding left and right circumferences from the wearer&#39;s left and right legs. 
         [0026]    A similar procedure is followed for obtaining left and right bottom edge circumferences, and corresponding left and right leg bottom edge circumferences. The bottom edge circumferences are measured along bottom edge points on the inseams  215  and  220 , specifically left bottom edge points  167  and right bottom edge point  197 . 
         [0027]    The measurement is made with a wearer wearing the garment  100 , while standing with normal posture, without shoes. An imaginary plane parallel to the ground intersects the left bottom edge point  167  and right bottom edge point  197 . The circumference of the distance defined by the intersection of the plane and the garment  100  defines the bottom edge circumferences, and the intersection of the plane and the wearer&#39;s leg defines the corresponding left and right leg bottom edge circumferences. Thus, an imaginary plane parallel to the ground intersects left bottom edge point  167 , and it&#39;s intersection with left panel  140  creates a left bottom edge circumference  165 . The imaginary parallel plane also intersects wears left leg  410 , and creates corresponding left leg bottom edge circumference  440 . Similarly for the right side, an imaginary plane parallel to the ground intersects right bottom edge point  197 , and its intersection with right panel  170  creates a right bottom edge circumference  195 . The imaginary parallel plane also intersects wearer&#39;s right leg  430 , and creates corresponding right leg bottom edge circumference  440 . Thus, through a relatively simple procedure, left and right bottom edge circumferences can be determined, as well as corresponding left and right bottom edge circumferences from the wearers left and right legs. 
         [0028]    In sum, as an alternative means of describing garment  100  as loose fitting for purposes of the invention, it is desirable for the mid and bottom edge circumferences to be at least 5% greater than the corresponding circumferences of the wearer&#39;s leg. Thus left mid circumference  145  should be at least 5% greater than corresponding left leg mid circumference  415 , and right mid circumference of right panel  170  should be 5% greater than corresponding right leg mid circumference  435 . In a similar manner, left bottom edge circumference  165  should be 5% greater than corresponding left leg bottom edge circumference  420 , and right bottom edge circumference  195  should be 5% greater than corresponding right leg bottom edge circumference  440 . 
         [0029]    Garment  100  can be of any suitable length. The garment as shown in the  FIG. 1-6  is a pair of shorts, but alternatively could be a pair of long pants. If the garment is a pair of short pants, as shown in the drawings, the left and bottom edges  150  and  180  will likely extend past the first third of the distance defined by the length determined by the distance from the wearer&#39;s crotch area  455  to either the right knee  425  or left knee  455 , (measure from crotch area  455 ) and may preferably extend past the midpoint defined by the distance from the wearer&#39;s crotch area  455  to either the right knee  425  or left knee  455 . 
         [0030]    Weights  250  can be disposed on the garment  100  in any manner, such as glued, sewn or otherwise mechanically attached to left panel  140  or right panel  170 . Moreover, weights  250  can be attached at any point and in any orientation on panels  140  and  170 , so long as the placement of the weights achieves the desired outcome of the invention, i.e., they are placed to prevent chafing and/or ride up on the wearer. Also, the number of weights disposed on panels is not critical, although in the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is one weight per panel. Preferably, weights  250  are disposed in left pocket  265  and right pocket  270 . In preferred embodiments, the weights are proximately located to left bottom edge  150  and right bottom edge  180 , respectively, with left pocket  265  and right pocket  270  also serving as left hem  275  and right hem  280 .  FIG. 5  shows a detailed view of the placement of left weight  255  in left pocket  265  and left hem  275 . The pockets  265  and  270  can be covered or decorated in a suitable manner. 
         [0031]    Weights  250  can be produced from any dense material, including but not limited to wood, metal, plastic, rubber, or even glass or crystal. The weight can be any size or shape, but is preferably designed to create a minimum of awareness to the wearer. For example, the left panel  140  and right panel  170  will have a circumference at any point along left inseam  215  or right inseam  220 . Weights  250  may have a length equal to one quarter, one half or one third of said circumference at the point along the inseam where the weight is disposed on the garment. The dimensions of the weights are typically rectangular, but could be any suitable shape, and can range in length from 3″ to 15″, from ¼″ to 2″ for the width, and from 1/64 to ½″ in thickness, with preferable sizes being from 6″ to 12″ for length, ½″ to 1½″ for width, and from 1/32″ to ¼″ for thickness. A typically sized weight is 8″ by 1″ by 1/32 nd ,″ and extends across the front panels  155  and  185  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In an alternative embodiment, the weight extends around the entire left and right panels, along the bottom edges, as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0032]    Exemplary plastics for the weights include but not limited to, ABS, thermoplastics, acetals such as Delrin and acetal copolymers; acrylics, such as extruded or cast; carbon fibers; fiberglass: Fluoropolymers, such as Teflon® PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) PFA (perfluoroalkoxy fluorocarbon) CTFE (chlorotrifluoroethylene) PVDF (Kynar) ECTFE (Halar) FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene) Rulon®; Garolite; Nylon; PEEK (polyetheretherketone), including Carbon-Filled PEEK and Glass-Filled PEEK; Polyamide-imides and Polycarbonates. Blends of these plastics are also contemplated. 
         [0033]    Flexible materials for weights  250  that can withstand repeated trips to the washer and dryer are also preferred. For example, one particularly preferred material is vinyl. Vinyl is flexible, and can withstand the high temperatures associated with washing and drying. It is relatively inexpensive and can be die cut or molded into a variety of shapes. Various fillers, including but not limited to barium carbonate, glass beads, or barium sulfate can also be formulated with the vinyl to increase its density, and can comprise up to about 40 weight percent of the finished weight. 
         [0034]    An ideal specific gravity of the material is in the range of from about 0.5 gm/cm 3  to about 4.0 gm/cm 3 , with about 1.5 gm/cm 3  to about 2.5 gm/cm 3  being preferred, with about 2.0 gm/cm 3  being most preferred. Moreover, the weights may be dyed to match the fabric of the garment. 
         [0035]    Waist  205  will typically be elastic, but could also be a control panel. Control panels are typically made from Elastane® and can be sown into the garment as a band in the front or extend around the entire waist of the garment. 
         [0036]    Finally, the fabric is of critical importance. The invention can be made of any fabric, such as cotton, rayon, nylon, polyester, silk, Spandex®, bamboo, and blends thereof, including blends with fabrics not specifically disclosed herein. 
         [0037]    A highly preferred fabric is Modal® from Lenzing, AG in Austria. Modal® is a bio-based fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees. It is about 50% more hygroscopic, or water-absorbent, per unit volume than cotton is. It is designed to dye just like cotton, and is color-fast when washed in warm water. Modal® is essentially a variety of rayon. Textiles made from Modal® do not fibrillate, or pill, like cotton does, and are resistant to shrinkage and fading. They are smooth and soft, more so than even mercerized cotton, to the point where mineral deposits from hard water, such as lime, do not stick to the fabric surface. Modal®, or other similar products produced from reconstituted cellulose are highly preferred. Modal® can be blended with other fabrics such as, but not limited to, cotton, silk, Spandex®, and bamboo. 
         [0038]    Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1