Novel undergarment and gusset therefor

Abstract

An improved, substantially elongated gusset and / or crotch panel, incorporated into garments for humans' lower bodies. This novel, uniquely shaped, and scaled gusset significantly enhances wearers' comfort by eliminating seams, material transitions, stitching, and other mechanisms or methods of attachment from within the boundaries of a defined protected region, which coincides with the wearer's sensitive genital area. The gusset is preferably constructed from at least one layer of material, and may feature additional layers. In preferred embodiments, the elongated gusset and / or crotch panel is incorporated into girl / boy short-style undergarments, bikini-style undergarments, thong-style undergarments, pajama-bottom style garments, pantyhose-style garments, shape-wear-style garments, athletic-style garments, medical-type garments, and other lower-body garments.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 211,925 filed on Aug. 17, 2011.[0002]Each of the above referenced applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0003]Not Applicable]MICROFICHE / COPYRIGHT REFERENCE[0004]Not Applicable]BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]This invention relates generally to garments for humans' lower bodies, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a novel substantially elongated gusset that is incorporated into said garments, where said gusset substantially increases comfort to the wearer through the improvement of, among other aspects, relocating anterior gusset edges, seams, material transitions, and implements of attachment outside of a defined protected region coinciding with the wearer's sensitive genital region.[0006]There are several varieties of women's undergarments currently commercially available. Among cu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention improves the design of undergasments by incorporating a gusset that extends up the inner front and / or rear faces of the body pieces of the undergarment, and is attached to the body at all four edges. The waistband is made from stretchable material and is placed high enough on the body to attach outside of the protected region. The invention also includes an elongated gusset that is designed to shield the wearer's protected region from exposed seams and an improved, flat, seamless platform within the protected region for added comfort. Additionally, the invention features seams only located outside of the protected region to further enhance wearer comfort.

Problems solved by technology

Despite variations in the cut, shape, fabric, etc., among different brands and styles of women's undergarments, currently available designs feature similar crotch panels and gussets that do not offer the wearer an optimal level of comfort.

Currently known, available incarnations of undergarments incorporate gussets, crotch region pieces and / or gusset liners that are highly problematic in that they are designed and constructed in a manner such that the edges of the gusset, the material transitions between the gusset and garment body material, and the seams and stitching which serves to attach the pieces all exist within a sensitive genital region of the wearer, causing discomfort, abrasion, and irritation.

This renders contact with them more irritating, abrasive, and undesirable than contact with an expanse of flat, seamless fabric.

In such garments, even a larger gusset does not adequately compensate for the thickness and presence of the ridges generated by the seams resulting from the joined pattern pieces, which thereby cause discomfort for the wearer, despite the presence of any overlaid gusset.

Whether secured or left as untethered flaps, the front edges of the gussets in known, current products do not extend far enough toward the front of the undergarments, toward the navel and the waistband, such that these edges directly contact wearers' genital region and can cause chafing and discomfort.

Additionally, many undergarments feature designs where the gusset and / or crotch panel pieces are fashioned from one fabric, and the body pieces of the garment are constructed from another fabric that is less suitable in texture and composition for the genital region.

Since the gussets in these products do not extend far enough up the front inner face of the garment toward the navel, the transition from the gusset fabric to the body fabric typically occurs well within the sensitive genital region, such that the wearer's sensitive genital region is forced into direct contact with the seams generated by the fabric transition and the potentially uncomfortable body fabric.

Moreover, many existing undergarments for women suffer from design flaws that cause them to migrate up the wearer's body and become wedged into the crevice between the buttocks.

These treads can cause skin irritation, ingrown hairs, and / or roll upwards if displaced through movement or friction with clothing, which consequently renders said leg bands ineffective.

The spatial orientation of currently available rubber treads and elastic leg bands on current undergarment styles do not adequately and successfully anchor the undergarment in place, and therefore do not sufficiently prevent upwards migration.

Additionally, these rubber and plasticized treads and elasticized leg bands often result in undesirable garment demarcation lines that are often easily visible through outer clothing.

However, these undergarments are constrictive by necessity of their design and generally made from non-breathable, synthetic fabrics.

Most importantly, these products have gussets of insufficient size that fail to protect the wearer from uncomfortably located fabric transitions and seams.

They are generally promoted as being “ultra thin,” or “like wearing nothing at all.” Such products do not, however, aid in improving the appearance of the wearer's body, prevent upwards migration, or in reality, offer any meaningful enhancement to the wearer's comfort.

Since outerwear is usually constructed from thicker, rougher textiles, it generally results in thicker, rougher seams.

A thinner, flimsier undergarment garment offers less protection from these seams, which subsequently offers the wearer a lower level of comfort.

Additionally, many of these undergarments are constructed from synthetic materials, which result in reduced breathability and thus render the wearer more prone to an imbalance in personal body chemistry, which ultimately places the wearer at risk for developing vaginal infections.

The thinness of the body fabric and the lack of sturdy anchoring leg or waistbands may also cause these undergarments to displace during wear.

The synthetic fabrics, padding and thickened regions also serve to trap body heat, which results in the wearer experiencing an elevation in temperature perception.

Although mesh panels are sometimes incorporated to counteract the accumulation of heat, it is an imperfect remedy, and one which also results in demarcation lines and patterns that are detectable through outer clothing.

They are not designed or suitable for regular daily wear, under normal outerwear, over extended periods of time.

The presence of raised, raw, abrasive, uncovered seams in this area does not offer optimal comfort for the wearer.

Furthermore, a wearer's movements during sitting and / or sleep can cause the crotch panel of the garment to ride upwards and into direct contact with the wearer's sensitive genital region, often becoming painfully wedged in the crevice between the buttocks, and / or the labia.

Existing pajama bottoms do not feature a strategy to protect the wearer's genital region from these exceptionally uncomfortable, raw, rough, uncovered seams and exposed stitching.

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