Improvements in underwear

Abstract

An item of clothing comprises a waistband and a pair of leg openings. The item of clothing has a frontal pouch for housing a scrotum and penis of a user. The frontal pouch comprises a rear panel having a lower portion configured to underlie a user's scrotum, the rear panel having an opening formed therein for receiving the scrotum and penis of a user. The frontal pouch also comprises a front panel configured to overlie a lower portion of the rear panel whilst leaving an upper portion of the rear panel exposed. The rear panel comprises at least one heat conducting element connecting a lower scrotum-underlying portion of the rear panel with the exposed upper portion of the rear panel.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in clothing. In particular the present invention relates to improvements in lower items of clothing for the male anatomy.

[0002] There are manifold problems with clothing for the male anatomy. These problems include discomfort from friction between genitals and legs, overheating leading to impaired sperm production, sweating, odour, irritations, insufficient support for the genitalia, and the need for frequent adjustment of genitalia.

[0003] Many attempts have been made to improve clothing for the male anatomy but there remains a need for clothing that addresses all of the issues listed above. A clothing item with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from KR200463464Y.

[0004] The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided an item of clothing comprising: a waistband and a pair of leg openings; a frontal pouch for housing a scrotum and penis of a user, the frontal pouch comprising: a rear panel having a lower portion configured to underlie a user's scrotum, the rear panel having an opening formed therein for receiving the scrotum and penis of a user; a front panel configured to overlie a lower portion of the rear panel whilst leaving an upper portion of the rear panel exposed; characterised in that the rear panel comprises at least one heat conducting element connecting a lower scrotum-underlying portion of the rear panel with the exposed upper portion of the rear panel wherein the heat conducting element comprises a material that has a thermal conductivity of at least 200 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 300 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 400 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 500 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 1000 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 2000 watts per metre-kelvin.

[0006] By providing heat conducting elements connecting a scrotum-underlying portion of the rear panel with an exposed upper portion of the rear panel heat may be conducted by the heat conducting elements to the exposed portion of the panel which then effectively acts as a radiator, dissipating heat from the item of clothing and cooling the user's scrotum.

[0007] In some embodiments the rear panel comprises heat conducting yarns extending from a lower scrotum-underlying portion of the rear panel to the exposed upper portion of the rear panel.

[0008] In some embodiments the heat conducting yarns in the rear panel are metallic yarns.

[0009] Beneficially, if an antibacterial metallic yarn is provided unwanted odour may be reduced. Furthermore, provision of metallic yarns may minimise any detrimental impact of electromagnetic radiation on a wearer's genitals.

[0010] In some embodiments at least 50%, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or around 100% of the heat conducting yarns in the rear panel extend in the direction between upper and lower edges of the rear panel.

[0011] In some embodiments the front panel comprises at least one heat conducting element connecting a lower scrotum-overlying portion of the front panel with an upper portion of the front panel.

[0012] By providing heat conducting elements connecting a lower scrotum-overlying portion of the front panel to an upper portion of the front panel, heat may be transferred by the front panel from the user's penis and scrotum to the exposed radiating area of the rear panel owing to the front panel being in contact with the rear panel above a user's genitalia.

[0013] In some embodiments the front panel comprises heat conducting yarns extending from a lower scrotum-overlying portion of the front panel to an upper portion of the front panel.

[0014] In some embodiments the heat conducting yarns in the front panel are metallic yarns.

[0015] In some embodiments at least 50%, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or around 100% of the heat conducting yarns in the front panel extend in the direction between upper and lower edges of the front panel.

[0016] In some embodiments a heat conducting element comprises silver, or copper, or gold, or graphene.

[0017] In some embodiments the rear panel comprises an opening that narrows towards the lower edge of the panel.

[0018] In some embodiments the opening has a wider rounded upper portion and a tapering lower portion that narrows towards the lower edge of the panel.

[0019] Provision of an opening having a wider rounded upper and a tapering lower portion that narrows towards the lower edge of the panel results in an opening that naturally open to receive the wearer's genitals when the garment is put on.

[0020] Once the user's genitals are received by the opening and contained within the pouch the rear panel either side of the opening sits behind the user's scrotum thereby wicking heat from the scrotum and preventing the rear of the scrotum from rubbing against a user's legs thereby reducing irritation and chafing.

[0021] In some embodiments the item of clothing comprises at least one area of mesh at each side of the frontal pouch.

[0022] In some embodiments on each side of the pouch an area of mesh extends from a leg opening to the pouch.

[0023] In some embodiments on each side of the pouch an area of mesh extends from a leg opening alongside each side of the pouch.

[0024] In some embodiments on each side of the pouch an area of mesh extends from a leg opening alongside each side of the pouch to terminate adjacent the waistband.

[0025] Preferably the rear panel is elastane.

[0026] Preferably the front panel is elastane.

[0027] In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a front view of an item of underwear made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2A illustrates the construction of the front panel of the frontal pouch of the underwear of Figure 1; Figure 2B illustrates the configuration of the rear panel of the frontal pouch of the underwear of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates how the pouch of the underwear of Figure 1 is constructed from a rear panel and the front panel of Figure 2A; Figure 4 is a top view of the underwear of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the underwear of Figure 1 with the front panel removed; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the underwear of Figure 1 with the front panel removed illustrating how a user's genitals may be inserted through the opening of the rear panel; Figure 7 illustrates how metallic yarns may be vertically oriented in a fabric structure; Figure 8 illustrates how heat may be dissipated by the underwear of Figure 1; Figure 9 illustrates a second embodiment of an item of underwear made in accordance with the present invention Figure 10 illustrates a third embodiment of an item of underwear made in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 11 illustrates how a user may urinate wearing the underwear of Figure 1.

[0028] An item of underwear 1 in the form of a pair of boxer briefs comprises a waistband 2 and a pair of leg openings 3a, 3b. Waist band 2 and leg openings 3a, 3b are elasticated.

[0029] Underwear 1 comprises at its front a pouch 4 formed of a rear panel 5 and a front panel 6. Each panel 5, 6 has curved sides and upper and lower straight edges.

[0030] Front panel 6 is shorter than rear panel 5 between its upper and lower straight edges and in manufacture of underwear 1 lower edges of panels 5, 6 are substantially aligned.

[0031] Thus when pouch 4 is assembled as part of underwear 1 an upper portion 5a of rear panel 5 remains exposed.

[0032] Rear panel 5 comprises an obovoid opening 5b that extends from the lower edge of panel 5b towards its upper edge and terminates at around the middle of panel 5.

[0033] Obovoid opening 5b comprises a wider rounded upper portion and a tapering lower portion that narrows towards the lower edge of panel 5.

[0034] Opening 5b is provided with a smooth fabric / elastic bound edge to avoid any discomfort being caused to a user's genitalia from chafing on the edge of opening 5b.

[0035] In other embodiments the edge of opening 5b may be smoothed by any suitable means such as self-turning stitching, using seamless knitting, glue bonding or free cut edges with a silicone finish.

[0036] Rear panel 5 is formed of a metallic silver yarn fabric formed by coating a textile support with a layer of about 0.5 micron of silver.

[0037] Silver has a thermal conductivity of around 430 W / (m·K), but in other embodiments other material may of course be used. For example copper has a thermal conductivity of around 400 W / (m·K), gold of around 300 W / (m·K), and graphene of around 4800 W / (m·K).

[0038] Front panel 6 is itself formed of two individual panels 6a, 6b and strip of elastic 6c.

[0039] Two fabric panels 6a, 6b are provided to form the outer panel 6 of pouch 4 for support and to prevent see-through when underwear 1 is in use. However, in other embodiments a single layer of fabric may be employed.

[0040] Each panel 6a, 6b has curved sides and upper and lower straight edges. Fabric panels 6a and 6b are substantially the same size.

[0041] Upper edges of panels 6a, 6b are stitched together with elastic strip 6c therebetween top assist in retaining an upper opening to pouch 4 in a closed configuration.

[0042] Fabric panel 6a defines an inner face of pouch 4 and may therefore be considered to be an internal panel, whereas fabric panel 6b defines an outer face of pouch 4 and may therefore be considered to be an external panel.

[0043] In the present embodiment panel 6a is formed of a metallic silver yarn fabric of the same type as rear panel 5 whereas panel 6b is formed of regular fabric not comprising metallic yarns. However, in other embodiments both panels may be formed of a metallic yarn fabric and in yet further embodiments neither panel may be formed of a metallic yarn fabric.

[0044] Figure 5 and 6 illustrate the configuration of rear panel 5 when underwear 1 is in use. As illustrated, lower edge of rear panel terminates around the perineal area of underwear 1.

[0045] Obovoid opening 5b is positioned with its wider upper portion configured to have male genitalia 9 received therethrough and its lower tapering portion closed between the legs of a user.

[0046] As opening 5b narrows from wider upper portion towards lower edge of panel 5 a lower portion of panel 5 sits behind and contacts the scrotum of a user.

[0047] In the present embodiment rear panel 5 and internal panel 6a of front panel 6 are formed of a fabric comprising metallic silver yarns. Suitable fabric comprising a metallic yarn may for example be X-static ®< , Resistex ®< or a similar fabric.

[0048] As illustrated in Figure 7, when underwear 1 is in use the metallic silver yarn of the fabric of rear panel 5 and internal panel 6a of front panel 6 acts heat to conduct upwardly to exposed upper portion 5a of rear panel 5, from where heat may radiate thereby cooling a user's genitalia 9.

[0049] Furthermore, as a user's genitalia are contacted by a metallic silver yarn fabric behind by rear panel 5 and in front by internal panel 6a of front panel 6, microbial action on genitals 9 is diminished owing to the antibacterial activity of the silver, thereby reducing unwanted odours.

[0050] Even further, metallic yarns promote the natural transfer of humidity through evaporation. As a result, moisture in contact with the skin is reduced thereby reducing discomfort and odour.

[0051] Beneficially pouch 4 provides ready access to genitalia 9 for the purpose of urination as front panel 6 may be deformed to allow extraction of a user's penis from the opening defined by the upper edge of outer panel 6 and the face of inner panel 5 as illustrated in Figure 11.

[0052] Thus the upper edge of front panel 6, which is elasticated by strip of elastic 6c, and is substantially parallel to waistband 2, operates as a horizontal fly for underwear 1.

[0053] In other embodiments an upper edge of front panel 6 may not be parallel to waistband 2, but for aesthetics may be of any desired shape and configuration. For example, upper edge of front panel 6 may be diagonal or curved.

[0054] In some embodiments it may be preferable to form a rear panel (and optionally an internal front panel) of a fabric comprising metallic yarns that predominantly or only extend longitudinally, i.e. in the direction running between the lower and upper edges of panel 5 to assist in transference of heat to exposed portion 5a of rear panel 5. A weave for such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 8 wherein metallic yarn 7 is woven with non-metallic yarn 8.

[0055] In some embodiment additional ventilation in the form of mesh panels may be provided below and / or at each side of a pouch in order to increase ventilation and cooling of a user's genitals.

[0056] As illustrated in Figure 9 an item of underwear 10 may be provided with mesh panels 11a, 11b extending from leg openings 13a, 13b to terminate at an edge of pouch 12.

[0057] Mesh panels 11a, 11b extend under the perineal area of underwear 10 and are configured to ventilate the inner thighs of a user below pouch 12.

[0058] In another embodiment as illustrated in Figure 10 an item of underwear 14 may be provided with mesh panels 15a, 15b extending from leg openings 17a, 17b alongside each side of pouch 16 to terminate adjacent waistband 18.

[0059] Mesh panels 15a, 15b also extend under the perineal area of underwear 14 and are configured to ventilate the inner thighs of a user below pouch 16 and also to ventilate the edges of pouch 16.

[0060] Whilst in the present embodiment opening 5b in rear panel 5 is substantially obovoid in other embodiments differently shaped openings might be employed.

[0061] Whilst in the present application underwear in the form of a pair of boxer briefs is illustrated, an item of clothing embodying the present invention may be of any form, including, but not limited to shorts, and activewear such as sports leggings, and sports briefs. The present invention may also be widely applied to underwear such as boxer shorts, briefs, boxer briefs, trunks, jockstraps, bikinis, thongs, G-strings and C-strings.

[0062] In some embodiments heat conducting elements may be formed solely of a material and in other embodiments heat conducting elements may be a first flexible material (for example such as cotton, polyester, nylon, silk, or satin) that is coated with a heat conducting material.

[0063] Whilst in the present embodiment a plurality of heat conducting elements in the form of metallic silver yarns are provided, in other embodiments a single larger heat conducting element such as a sheet of aluminium foil may be provided.

[0064] In this specification an apparatus / method / product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

[0065] Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An item of clothing (1) comprising: a waistband (2) and a pair of leg openings (3a, 3b); a frontal pouch (4) for housing a scrotum and penis of a user, the frontal pouch comprising: a rear panel (5) having a lower portion configured to underlie a user's scrotum, the rear panel having an opening (5b) formed therein for receiving the scrotum and penis of a user; a front panel (6) configured to overlie a lower portion of the rear panel whilst leaving an upper portion (5a) of the rear panel exposed; characterised in that the rear panel comprises at least one heat conducting element connecting a lower scrotum-underlying portion of the rear panel with the exposed upper portion of the rear panel; wherein the heat conducting elements comprise a material that has a thermal conductivity of at least 200 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 300 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 400 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 500 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 1000 watts per metre-kelvin, or of at least 2000 watts per metre-kelvin.

2. The item of clothing of claim 1 wherein the rear panel comprises heat conducting yarns extending from a lower scrotum-underlying portion of the rear panel to the exposed upper portion of the rear panel.

3. The item of clothing of claim 2 wherein the heat conducting yarns in the rear panel are metallic yarns.

4. The item of clothing of claim 2 or 3 wherein at least 50%, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or around 100% of the heat conducting yarns in the rear panel extend in the direction between upper and lower edges of the rear panel.

5. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the front panel comprises at least one heat conducting element connecting a lower scrotum-overlying portion of the front panel with an upper portion of the front panel.

6. The item of clothing of claim 5 wherein the front panel comprises heat conducting yarns (7) extending from a lower scrotum-overlying portion of the front panel to an upper portion of the front panel.

7. The item of clothing of claim 6 wherein the heat conducting yarns in the front panel are metallic yarns.

8. The item of clothing of claim 6 or 7 wherein at least 50%, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or around 100% of the heat conducting yarns in the front panel extend in the direction between upper and lower edges of the front panel.

9. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the heat conducting elements comprise silver, or copper, or gold, or graphene.

10. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the rear panel comprises an opening that narrows towards the lower edge of the panel.

11. The item of clothing of claim 10 wherein the opening has a wider rounded upper portion and a tapering lower portion that narrows towards the lower edge of the panel.

12. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the item of clothing comprises at least one area of mesh (15a, 15b) at each side of the frontal pouch.

13. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein on each side of the pouch an area of mesh extends from a leg opening to the pouch or on each side of the pouch an area of mesh extends from a leg opening alongside each side of the pouch.

14. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein on each side of the pouch an area of mesh extends from a leg opening alongside each side of the pouch to terminate adjacent the waistband.

15. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the rear panel is elastane and / or the front panel is elastane.

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