Protective undergarment system

• US 7,951,128 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zitellalewis Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zitellalewis Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, Della
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens; Jacqueline F.
• Application Number:
  US12/214,167
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.14, 604/386, 604/387, 604/393, 604/394, 604/396
• US Class Current: 604/385.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47236 characterised by an unusual contour

Abstract

A protective undergarment system for absorbing fluids released by the body of a user. The protective undergarment system includes an upper member being designed for being selectively positioned around an abdomen, a groin and a posterior of the user. The upper member comprises a lower aperture extending through the upper member whereby the lower aperture is designed for extending from a portion of the groin to a portion of the posterior and passes between the legs of the user. A lower member is selectively coupled to the upper member whereby the lower member is selectively positioned over the lower aperture of the upper member to selectively close the lower aperture of the upper member. The lower member is designed for absorbing the fluids released by the body whereby the lower member can be removed from the lower member when the lower member is soiled.

Claims

1. A protective undergarment system for absorbing fluids released by a body of a user to protect the garments being worn by the user, the protective undergarment system comprising:

an outer member for being selectively positioned around an abdomen, a groin and a posterior of the user, the outer member having a front portion and a rear portion and a crotch portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion, the outer member having an upper aperture for positioning about the abdomen of the user, the outer member having a waist edge located along a perimeter of the upper aperture, the outer member having a pair of leg apertures positioned under the upper aperture for each receiving one of the legs of the user; and

an inner member for absorbing the fluids released by the body such that the inner member can be removed from the outer member when the inner member is soiled, the inner member being removably coupled to the outer member such that the inner member is selectively positioned inside of the outer member and between an inner surface of the outer member and the abdomen of the user when the outer member is worn, the inner member being positioned between the pair of leg apertures; and

a fastener element being united to the inner member and being configured to secure the inner member to the outer member;

wherein the inner member has a front portion, a rear portion located at opposite ends of the inner member, and a central portion positioned between the front portion and the rear portion of the inner member.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the front portion has a substantially triangular shape and the rear portion has a substantially triangular shape.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the central portion is positioned between the pair of leg apertures when the inner member is located inside of the outer member, and the central portion is substantially circular.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the inner member a perimeter edge, the perimeter edge including opposite end edges, the opposite end edges being positioned substantially adjacent to opposite portions of the waist edge when the inner member is positioned inside of the outer member, the opposite end edges being substantially linear.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the perimeter edge of the inner member includes opposite side edges, sections of the side edges along the front portion converging toward the central portion, sections of the side edges along the rear portion converging toward the central portion.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the side edges and the end edges along the front portion and the rear portion form a generally hourglass shape.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the outer member is continuous and unbroken along and about the upper aperture of the outer member;

and

wherein the outer member is continuous and unbroken along and about each the leg aperture of the pair of leg apertures.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the fastener element is positioned along at least a portion of a perimeter edge of the inner member.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the fastener element is positioned adjacent to a perimeter edge of the inner member.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the fastener element extends along substantially an entirety of the perimeter of the inner member.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the front portion has a substantially triangular shape and the rear portion has a substantially triangular shape;

wherein the central portion is positioned between the pair of leg apertures when the inner member is located inside of the outer member, and the central portion is substantially circular;

wherein the inner member a perimeter edge, the perimeter edge including opposite end edges, the opposite end edges being positioned substantially adjacent to opposite portions of the waist edge when the inner member is positioned inside of the outer member, the opposite end edges being substantially linear;

wherein the perimeter edge of the inner member includes opposite side edges, sections of the side edges along the front portion converging toward the central portion, sections of the side edges along the rear portion converging toward the central portion;

wherein the side edges and the end edges along the front portion and the rear portion form a generally hourglass shape;

wherein the outer member is continuous and unbroken along and about the upper aperture of the outer member;

wherein the outer member is continuous and unbroken along and about each the leg aperture of the pair of leg apertures;

wherein the fastener element is positioned along at least a portion of a perimeter edge of the inner member;

wherein the fastener element is positioned adjacent to a perimeter edge of the inner member; and

wherein the fastener element extends along substantially an entirety of the perimeter of the inner member.

12. A protective undergarment system for absorbing fluids released by a body of a user to protect the garments being worn by the user, the protective undergarment system comprising:

an upper member for being selectively positioned around an abdomen, a groin and a posterior of the user, the upper member having a front portion and a rear portion and a crotch portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion, the upper member having an upper aperture for positioning about the abdomen of the user, the upper member having a pair of leg apertures positioned under the upper aperture for each receiving one of the legs of the user, the upper member further having a lower aperture extending through the upper member between the leg apertures such that the lower aperture is positioned between the legs of the user when the upper member is being worn by the user, the lower aperture extending through the crotch portion of the upper member and into the front portion and into the rear portion; and

a lower member being removably coupled to the upper member such that the lower member is selectively positioned over the lower aperture of the upper member to selectively close the lower aperture of the upper member, the lower member being adapted for absorbing the fluids released by the body such that the lower member can be removed from the lower member when the lower member is soiled;

wherein the upper member is continuous and unbroken along and about the upper aperture of the upper member;

wherein the upper member is continuous and unbroken along and about each the leg aperture of the pair of leg apertures;

a first fastener member united to the lower member and being positioned along and adjacent to a perimeter edge of the lower member; and

a second fastener member united to the upper member and being positioned along and adjacent to a perimeter edge defining the lower aperture of the upper member;

wherein the first fastener member is complimentary to the second fastener member such that the first fastener member is removably fastened to the second fastener member to secure the lower member to the upper member.

13. The protective undergarment system of claim 12 wherein the upper member has an edge defining the upper aperture, the edge defining the upper aperture of the upper member being continuous and unbroken along and about the upper aperture;

and

wherein the upper member has an edge defining each of the leg apertures, and the edges defining the respective leg apertures are each continuous and unbroken along and about each the leg aperture of the pair of leg apertures.

14. The protective undergarment system of claim 12 wherein the first fastener member comprises a first portion of hook and loop fastener, the second fastener member comprises a second portion of hook and loop fastener, the first portion of hook and loop fastener being complimentary to the second portion of hook and loop fastener such that the first portion of hook and loop fastener is selectively coupled to the second portion of hook and loop fastener to selectively couple the lower member to the upper member.

15. The protective undergarment system of claim 12 wherein the lower member being elongate with a pair of end portions and a medial portion between the end portions, the lower member tapering narrower in width from the end portions toward the medial portion such that the lower member is generally hourglass shaped to inhibit the lower member from bunching up between the legs of the user when the upper member and lower member are worn.

16. The protective undergarment system of claim 12 wherein the lower aperture extends a distance into the front portion of the upper member that is substantially equal to a distance that the lower aperture extends into the front portion of the upper member.

17. The protective undergarment system of claim 12 wherein the lower aperture extends a distance into the front portion of the upper member that is approximately one half of a distance between the crotch portion and the upper opening, the lower aperture extending a distance into the rear portion of the upper member that is approximately one half of a distance between the crotch portion and the upper opening.

18. The protective undergarment system of claim 12 wherein the upper member comprises a flexible material for conforming to the abdomen, groin and posterior of the user to provide a comfortable fit for the user;

and

wherein the lower member comprises an absorbent material, the absorbent material being adapted for absorbing the fluids released by the body of the user, the absorbent material being adapted for being discarded to allow the user to reuse the upper member when the lower member becomes soiled.

19. The protective undergarment system of claim 12 wherein the upper member has an edge defining the upper aperture, the edge defining the upper aperture of the upper member being continuous and unbroken along and about the upper aperture;

wherein the upper member has an edge defining each of the leg apertures, and the edges defining the respective leg apertures are each continuous and unbroken along and about each the leg aperture of the pair of leg apertures;

wherein the first fastener member comprises a first portion of hook and loop fastener, the second fastener member comprises a second portion of hook and loop fastener, the first portion of hook and loop fastener being complimentary to the second portion of hook and loop fastener such that the first portion of hook and loop fastener is selectively coupled to the second portion of hook and loop fastener to selectively couple the lower member to the upper member;

wherein the lower member being elongate with a pair of end portions and a medial portion between the end portions, the lower member tapering narrower in width from the end portions toward the medial portion such that the lower member is generally hourglass shaped to inhibit the lower member from bunching up between the legs of the user when the upper member and lower member are worn;

wherein the lower aperture extends a distance into the front portion of the upper member that is substantially equal to a distance that the lower aperture extends into the front portion of the upper member;

wherein the lower aperture extends a distance into the front portion of the upper member that is approximately one half of a distance between the crotch portion and the upper opening, the lower aperture extending a distance into the rear portion of the upper member that is approximately one half of a distance between the crotch portion and the upper opening;

wherein the upper member comprises a flexible material for conforming to the abdomen, groin and posterior of the user to provide a comfortable fit for the user; and

wherein the lower member comprises an absorbent material, the absorbent material being adapted for absorbing the fluids released by the body of the user, the absorbent material being adapted for being discarded to allow the user to reuse the upper member when the lower member becomes soiled.

20. A protective undergarment system for absorbing fluids released by a body of a user to protect the garments being worn by the user, the protective undergarment system comprising:

an outer member for being selectively positioned around an abdomen, a groin and a posterior of the user, the outer member having a front portion and a rear portion and a crotch portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion, the outer member having an upper aperture for positioning about the abdomen of the user, the outer member having a waist edge located along a perimeter of the upper aperture, the outer member having a pair of leg apertures positioned under the upper aperture for each receiving one of the legs of the user;

an inner member for absorbing the fluids released by the body such that the inner member can be removed from the outer member when the inner member is soiled, the inner member being removably coupled to the outer member such that the inner member is selectively positioned inside of the outer member and between an inner surface of the outer member and the abdomen of the user when the outer member is worn, the inner member being positioned between the pair of leg apertures;

a first fastener member united to the lower member and being positioned along and adjacent to a perimeter edge of the lower member; and

a second fastener member united to the upper member and being positioned along and adjacent to a perimeter edge defining the lower aperture of the upper member;

wherein the first fastener member is complimentary to the second fastener member such that the first fastener member is removably fastened to the second fastener member to secure the lower member to the upper member.