LOWER TORSO GARMENT WITH SUPPORT ELEMENT

• US 20190116889A1
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Published: 04/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises LLC (Hanesbrands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises LLC (Hanesbrands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kimel, Sherry E., Perry, Tasha R., Erickson, Rachel I., Coleman, Melissa A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,986,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 2300/22 Elastic inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 2300/35 Seams
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 2400/38 Shaping the contour of the body or adjusting the figure
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 2500/10 Knitted
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/001 Underpants or briefs specially adapted for men A41B9/02; specially adapted for ladies A41B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/004 characterized by the crotch
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/005 with crotch line opening
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/02 Drawers or underpants for men, with or without inserted crotch or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/023 with separate spaces for genitals
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/026 characterized by the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/12 Protective undergarments combined with swabs or absorbent pads or specially adapted for supporting them A61F13/15

Abstract

A lower torso garment (220) includes a body portion (104), a front pouch (106) disposed about a front region of the body portion, and a support sling connected to the front pouch and configured to support the front pouch. The support sling includes a left fabric panel (224) extending along a left side periphery (112a) of the front pouch and a right fabric panel (226) extending along a right side periphery (112b) of the front pouch. A portion of the left fabric panel overlaps a portion of the right fabric panel at an overlap area (228), and the overlap area is positioned adjacent to a bottom of the front pouch.

Claims

1. A lower torso garment comprising:

a body portion;

a front pouch disposed about a front region of the body portion; and

a support sling connected to the front pouch, the support sling comprising;

a left fabric panel extending along a left side periphery of the front pouch; and

a right fabric panel extending along a right side periphery of the front pouch;

wherein a first portion of the left fabric panel overlaps a first portion of the right fabric panel at an overlap area, the overlap area positioned adjacent to a bottom of the front pouch.

2. The lower torso garment of claim 1, wherein the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel are symmetrical about a centerline of the front pouch.

3. The lower torso garment of claim 1, wherein a first long edge of the left fabric panel extends along a left lateral seam connecting the front pouch to adjacent fabric of the body portion, and a first long edge of the right fabric panel extends along a right lateral seam connecting the front pouch to adjacent fabric of the body portion.

4. The lower torso garment of claim 3, wherein a width of the left fabric panel extends inwardly toward the centerline of the front pouch and over a portion of the front pouch, and a width of the right fabric panel extends inwardly toward the centerline of the front pouch and over a second portion of the front pouch.

5. The lower torso garment of claim 4, wherein the left fabric panel and right fabric panel are substantially planar along their respective lengths between the bottom of the front pouch and a top of the front pouch.

6. The lower torso garment of claim 5, wherein a second portion of the left fabric panel overlaps a second portion of the right fabric panel at a second overlap area, the second overlap area positioned adjacent to a top of the front pouch.

7. The lower torso garment of claim 1, wherein the left fabric panel criss-crosses along its length between the bottom of the front pouch and a top left section of the front pouch, and the right fabric panel criss-crosses along its length between the bottom of the front pouch and a top right section of the front pouch.

8. The lower torso garment of claim 7, wherein a space between the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel defines an opening configured to receive at least part of an external male genitalia of a wearer of the lower torso garment, where the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel reside between at least part of the external male genitalia and inner thighs of the wearer of the lower torso garment when worn by the wearer.

9. The lower torso garment of claim 8, wherein the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel comprise mesh fabric.

10. The lower torso garment of claim 9, wherein the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel comprises a dual-layer mesh fabric.

11. The lower torso garment of claim 1, wherein an exposed edge of the left fabric panel comprises at least one of a purl stitch, an over-edge stitch, a finished edge, a laser-cut edge, a finished seam, or a folded seam.

12. The lower torso garment of claim 1, further comprising a waistband attached to a top end of the body portion and configured to encircle a torso of a wearer.

13. The lower torso garment of claim 1, further comprising a gusset attached to a bottom of the body region between two leg portions of the body region.

14. The lower torso garment of claim 1, wherein the lower torso garment comprises an undergarment.

15. The lower torso garment of claim 14, wherein the undergarment comprises one of a boxer, a brief, or a boxer-brief.

16. The lower torso garment of claim 1, wherein a width of the left fabric panel extends inwardly toward the centerline of the front pouch and over a portion of the front pouch, and a width of the right fabric panel extends inwardly toward the centerline of the front pouch and over a second portion of the front pouch.

17. The lower torso garment of claim 1, wherein the left fabric panel and right fabric panel are substantially planar along their respective lengths between the bottom of the front pouch and a top of the front pouch.

18. The lower torso garment of claim 1, wherein a second portion of the left fabric panel overlaps a second portion of the right fabric panel at a second overlap area, the second overlap area positioned adjacent to a top of the front pouch.

19. The lower torso garment of claim 3, wherein the left fabric panel criss-crosses along its length between the bottom of the front pouch and a top left section of the front pouch, and the right fabric panel criss-crosses along its length between the bottom of the front pouch and a top right section of the front pouch.

20. The lower torso garment of claim 3, wherein an exposed edge of the left fabric panel comprises at least one of a purl stitch, an over-edge stitch, a finished edge, a laser-cut edge, a finished seam, or a folded seam.