Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02908286 2015-10-06
SUPPORT UNDERWEAR
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to a garment, and more particularly to
sportswear,
swimwear or a men's undergarment for sports such as horse riding or racing and
also for
common daily activities, which maintains the penis in an upward vertical
position to protect
the user's genitals from injury and discomfort, moderate temperature, and
potentially prevent
bladder leakage.
Generally, conventional men's undergarments and sportswear serve only to cover
and
support the male genitalia, without adequate regard to positioning and comfort
of the male
reproductive organs. They do not address the precise issues faced by horse
riders and many
other athletes, or by those who have to remain in a seated position for long
periods of time.
Though this may be suitable for some day-to-day activities, high-impact sports
may require
additional functionalities to improve the performance and comfort of the user.
Also,
especially in the Summer, the crotch area tends to get warm and sweaty. This
can be a
particular problem when one has to remain seated for a period of time. Current
undergarments do not help to moderate the temperature in the crotch area and
enhance
comfort.
In particular, a comfortable garment is necessary that can maintain the penis
vertically
upward during various activities. Moreover, prior undergarments directed to
use for sports
have incorporated padding, straps and layering making them cumbersome to use
and difficult
to manufacture. Moreover, the padding and additional layers can serve to
exacerbate the
problems with higher temperature in the crotch area. These products are also
more costly and
complicated in construction. Thus, support underwear that is easy and
straightforward to use
and manufacture is also needed.
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CA 02908286 2015-10-06
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the applicant has conceived of a new and useful article of
clothing, more
specifically a men's sportswear or undergarment for sports such as horse
riding or racing and
for other activities. The present invention provides a simple way of achieving
the desired
functions of maintaining the penis in a vertical position, providing comfort,
moderating
temperature, and preventing injury during high-impact sports like horse riding
or when seated
for periods of time.
The applicant's invention proposes the use of a positioning band to maintain
the penis
in an upward direction, which in one embodiment is an elastic strap located at
the interior
front face of the garment. Preferably, the positioning band is secured at its
ends in a transverse
direction, allowing the penis to be secured vertically between the band and
the front fabric of
the undergarment while in use. In an alternative embodiment, the positioning
band is covered
at least in part by a fabric layer, which can help prevent direct skin contact
with the band, and
may make the undergarment more comfortable to wear.
Moreover, one or more embodiments of the present invention allow for
simplicity of
the design, and for easier manufacture and use of the garment. With only one
fabric layer
making up the undergarment body, and a conventional waistband , the proposed
undergarment can be manufactured much like traditional undergarments. The
primary
modification, the positioning band in the front interior of the garment, will
not substantially
complicate the manufacture or use of the product.
It is important to note that the term undergarment as used in this summary may
encompass sportswear, swimwear or underwear in a range of styles, including
briefs, boxer
briefs, trunks, shorts, etc. Similarly, the positioning band, for the purpose
of this invention,
may manifest itself as strip of varying length, width and elasticity, provided
it allows room for
the user's penis to pass through, and can reliably maintain the upward
position of the penis.
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CA 02908286 2015-10-06
For a more in-depth understanding of the present invention, a brief
description of the
attached drawings is provided below, along with a more detailed description of
selected
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an undergarment according to one embodiment of the
present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a reverse (inside out) view of the undergarment of FIG 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the positioning strap of FIG 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the positioning
strap of
FIG. 2 with a center portion having a narrower diameter.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the positioning strap according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the positioning strap of FIG. 4A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view of the undergarment 10 which, in this embodiment, comprises
at least
a waistband 12 and an undergarment body 14, which together serve to secure the
garment
around the waist of the user and cover the genitalia, groin, and buttocks of
the user. Moreover,
the undergarment body comprises an entry end 16 defined by the waistband 12,
and two lower
leg openings 18 opposite the entry end.
FIG. 2 is a reversed "inside-out" view of undergarment 10, showing the
internal
structure of positioning band 20 according to one embodiment of the present
invention. As
shown in the figure, undergarment 10 incorporates a positioning band 20 inside
the
undergarment, which in one embodiment is an elastic band sewn onto the
interior front face of
undergarment body 14. Preferably, positioning band 20 is attached to the
interior of the
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undergarment in a transverse direction across the middle of the garment, so
that the penis can
be securely positioned upward through the band at a comfortable height
relative to the user.
As shown in the detail of FIG. 3, positioning band 20 is attached at its end
edges 22 onto the
interior front face of undergarment 10, so that the center of the band may be
separated from
the undergarment's fabric body, thereby allowing room for the user's penis to
be positioned
between the band and undergarment body 14. In an embodiment, positioning band
20 is
attached by sewing the end edges 22 onto the interior front portion of
undergarment body 14
so that the band is fixed in a transverse position, but it may be attached by
other means,
including adhesives and other bonding methods applied at the same location
near the end
edges 22.
In one or more embodiments, the band 20 will have a width that is shorter than
its
length. A certain width is required to secure the penis and apply pressure
over a broad
enough surface area to avoid discomfort. However, the band should not be too
wide or it will
be too difficult to position the penis inside the band during use and the
additional material will
contribute to retaining heat. Fig. 4 shows an alternative band 20' where the
end edges 22'
have one width allowing for adequate attachment of the band to the
undergarment body. A
center portion 21' of the band 20' has a narrower width to reduce the amount
of material that
will cover the user's penis and therefore minimize heat retention. It should
be understood that
other band shapes or profiles may also be used so as to accomplish these
purposes.
In some embodiments, positioning band 20 is composed of an elastic material
which
allows for vertical positioning of the penis without restricting blood flow or
sacrificing the
comfort of the user. The elastic material may be rubber, latex, Lycra, or
other appropriate
elastic fabrics that provide for some flexibility. The material may also be
selected with
comfort in skin contact in mind. An elastic material also allows positioning
band 20 to
accommodate for a wider range of male genitalia, without the need for variable
sizing of the
positioning band, or the adjustment of the length of the positioning band.
However, it should
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CA 02908286 2015-10-06
be understood that a band capable of being adjusted in length could be used in
the present
invention.
FIG. 5A shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which
positioning band 20 is covered by a fabric layer 24 on one or more if its
sides, to make
wearing the undergarment more comfortable. As shown in FIG. 5B, in one or more
embodiments fabric layer 24 covers both the front and back face of the band,
to avoid all skin
contact with the material of positioning band 20. This allows for selection of
a wider range of
elastic materials for the band itself, as the covering fabric layer may be
chosen to enhance
skin comfort and be positioned so that it will contact the skin of the user
rather than the band
material. In some embodiments, fabric layer 24 is integral to the surrounding
fabric of
undergarment body 14; in others, fabric layer 24 is formed using a separate
piece of fabric,
which is attached by sewing or otherwise adhering the fabric layer to the
undergarment.
Fabric layer 24 can be composed of the same fabric material as undergarment
body 14, but
may be made of a similarly elastic fabric, which is comfortable for skin
contact during
extended wear.
The present invention in one or more embodiments is easy to manufacture and
simple
to use. In use, it may serve to keep the penis in an upward position separated
from the other
portions of the male genitalia and from the sides of the wearer's crotch. This
promotes
comfort and helps to keep the crotch area cooler. It may also help to prevent
bladder leakage.
It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are intended to
illustrate the principles of the present invention, but not limit the
invention to the disclosed
embodiments. Therefore, various modification and alterations may be made to
the
undergarment, without departing from the scope of the invention, as outlined
in the following
claims.
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