Underpants Fly Opening with Horizontal Access Strap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing male underpants with flies often require undesirable delays for urination due to misalignment with outer garments during body movement, particularly problematic for individuals with dexterity issues or bladder control problems.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a fabric shell with first and second fly borders and an access strap that extends horizontally to enlarge the fly opening, facilitating easier access by reorienting the fly opening vertically and attaching the strap to the fabric shell proximate the fly borders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the fly opening is oriented vertically as in conventional underpants, then the underpants maintain a standard appearance and structure, but the fly opening becomes difficult to locate and access during body movement, causing delays in urination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of access to fly openingVSAvoiddelay in locating and accessing fly opening

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the orientation of the fly opening from the conventional vertical direction to a horizontal direction. This dimensional change makes the fly opening more visible and accessible, allowing users to locate and open it quickly without delay, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of access and time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the fly opening is made larger to improve accessibility, then access is facilitated, but the structural integrity and appearance of the underpants may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of access to fly openingVSAvoidstructural integrity of fly borders

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a strap element that is pre-positioned and attached to the first fly border, extending horizontally away from it. This preliminary arrangement allows the fly opening to be enlarged smoothly and controllably when accessed, maintaining structural integrity while improving ease of access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the fly opening is oriented horizontally as proposed in the invention, then accessibility is improved, but the underpants deviate from conventional design and appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of access to fly openingVSAvoidorientation of fly opening

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent deliberately changes the fly opening orientation from vertical to horizontal, representing a dimensional change that prioritizes accessibility over conventional appearance. This design decision directly addresses the contradiction by accepting appearance deviation in exchange for significantly improved ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10085491B2Underpants with enhanced access fly

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 HOWARD WANDA L

AI summary

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide underpants with an enhanced access fly and related methods of use and making; according to an embodiment of the present invention, underpants include a fabric shell with the first and second fly borders which define a fly opening therein; an access strap is attached proximate to the first fly border such that the fly opening is enlarged by movement of the strap; according to an aspect of the present invention, the fly opening oriented is generally vertical direction and the strap extends generally horizontally away for the first fly border.