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

[0021]A preferred gusset of the present invention is made from at least one layer of material and extends further up the inner front and/or rear faces of the body piece(s) of said undergarment than in the prior art. All four edges of the gusset, or gusset liner in a multi-ply embodiment, may be attached to the body of the undergarment. The waistband can be made from or with stretchable material, and is situated high enough on the body, anterior to the Mons Veneris and Pubis so that attachment to the body of the garment is outside of the protected region. Some embodiments of the invention feature an undergarment with stretchable leg bands. The invention also encompasses the design for an elongated gusset that comprises the crotch panel of garments for humans' lower bodies, and methodology of construction that serves to shield the wearer's protected region from exposed, raw seams. In one such methodology, seams impacting the protected region are located on the outer face of the garment, to provide superior comfort.

[0022]The present invention provides several significant advantages over the prior art. First, the invention eliminates contact between the wearer's protected region and any seams, flaps, ridges, fabric transitions, or stitching. This is due, among other feature

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 su

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