Waterproof, thermally insulated undergarment for protection from sitting on wet or cold surfaces

Abstract

The present invention is a protective undergarment having an outer layer of a breathable waterproof fabric and an inner layer of a thermally insulated non-absorbent synthetic fabric. The purpose for the invention is to provide protection for skiers and others from sitting on wet, cold or snow covered surfaces. The undergarment, worn inside the outer pants of the user, is held in place by detachable elastic straps at the waist and above each knee. The undergarment only covers the user's crotch and posterior, from the waist down each leg to just above the knee.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] I claim priority to Provisional Utility Application: [0002] Application No. 60 / 517,933 [0003] Filing date: Nov. 6, 2003 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention is a garment designed to be worn inside a user's clothing of choice. The undergarment covers primarily the crotch, buttocks and backside of the thighs and is intended for skiers and others, to provide protection from cold and moisture as a result of sitting on wet, snowy or icy surfaces. [0005] The materials I chose for construction include a combination of an inner surface of a synthetic, non-absorbent fleece to provide thermal insulation and an outer surface of a breathable, waterproof fabric to prevent water absorption from wet outer clothing. The undergarment is held in place by elastic straps, which are closed with hook and loop fasteners. One elastic strap attaches like a belt around the user's waist, and one for each leg, attach just above the knee. BAC...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] The present invention is a garment designed to be worn inside a user's clothing of choice. The undergarment covers primarily the crotch, buttocks and backside of the thighs and is intended for skiers and others, to provide protection from cold and moisture as a result of sitting on wet, snowy or icy surfaces.

Problems solved by technology

Weather conditions in the mountains, and especially where I live in the Pacific Northwest, very often can cause chair lift seats to be wet and cold due to being covered with water, snow, or ice.

If you sit on water, snow, or ice, whatever you are wearing quickly becomes wet and cold.

Most pants made of waterproof fabrics do not offer complete protection, because when seated, pressure forces any water that is on the seat through even these fabrics.

This style would not allow the product to be rolled up when not in use.

Although Hot Buns and the flap-type design products can provide protection while seated on a chair lift, they make a user's clothing look unusual while skiing if they are not rolled up.

Since this would take a lot of time away from skiing—it would not be a popular choice.

The Hot Buns and the flap-type design products, however, could become cold or wet if left in place while skiing or snowboarding.

As a result of a fall or from skiing in very deep snow, the Hot Buns product could easily become filled with snow, which would cause the user's clothing to also get wet and cold, defeating its purpose.

Skiers who have tried the flap-type design product have told me that they are difficult to keep in place when loading a moving chair lift, as the flap does not stay in place unless you hold it against your legs as you sit.

Therefore, if a skier uses his or her free hand to hold the flap rather than the approaching chair, the loading process becomes less secure and the situation becomes a safety risk.

An additional objection to the flap-type design products is that if they are not rolled back up prior to starting a ski run, the wind catches them when skiing and they flap around, which is an annoyance and distracts from the user's appearance.

As explained, a user of Hot Buns or the flap-type design product could end up with both the protective item and his or her outer clothes wet due to falling, skiing in deep snow or weather conditions.

If that occurs, then when they again sit on a chair lift or any seat, they will begin to feel the wet and cold in their outer pants.

This is because Neoprene, which Hot Buns are made from, will not allow moisture to evaporate through them; they are totally waterproof and non-breathable.

Oftentimes ski lift chairs and other seating such as in outdoor stadiums are not only cold and wet, but are hard and uncomfortable.

Because my invention is worn inside a user's pants, it is protected against abrasion and wear, which prolongs its performance.

The Hot Buns and the flap-design products are exposed to wear and soiling, which can reduce their functioning life and appearance.

This could be said of many combinations of materials, but they would not be comfortable and would not perform as intended or anywhere near as well as my invention.

Although this prior art, which Bol intended for hunters, not skiers, may have performed adequately, it would fail to perform up to the level of my invention in several important areas.

Since Bol's invention only cover's the user's buttock, any contact of the user's legs with a wet chair would cause that portion of their pants to become wet.

Once the user's pants, and any long underwear become wet, the water could wick from the pants or long underwear to Bol's absorptive terry cloth lining, creating a wet and uncomfortable condition for the user.

Active sports like skiing and snowboarding can cause heavy perspiration, and that moisture has to be able to move away from the user's skin, or there will be a wet and often cold result.

Because cotton absorbs and holds moisture, it is rarely used in cold-weather gear because if it gets wet, the user then stays wet and uncomfortable—even if the moisture is from perspiration.

Cotton is also slow to dry, and moisture trapped between the waterproof outer and the user would stay wet for a long time.

When sitting on snow or ice, the wetness that ends up in a person's clothes is due to snow or ice melting caused by the direct pressure and warmth loss from the legs and buttocks.

Bol's product would not cover the backs of the thighs or the crotch, which then could become wet and cold.

The cotton terry fabric Bol used to protect just the buttocks, is less effective at providing thermal insulation when dry and useless if it ever becomes wet.

As mentioned, active sports can cause heavy perspiration and that perspiration needs to be able to evaporate, or it will accumulate in clothing.

Since Bol's “protective undergarment” has to be put on before a user's pants, it is not as convenient as my invention, which can be easily added or removed without the user having to completely remove his or her pants.

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