MENS UNDERWEAR BRIEF

Abstract

A sling housed and located within a man's underpants such that it crosses in front of a man's body under and around his scrotum thereby creating a separation designed to create comfort by preventing the scrotum from contacting the legs, thighs and genital organ is disclosed. The sling is made of a fine mesh like material that prevents the scrotum from sagging and drifting between a man's legs adding comfort during wear by placing the scrotum in a snug and comfortable position. In use, a man puts on his pair of boxers and reaches in dropping his scrotum into the sling wherein the sling tucks up between the scrotum to where the man's genital organ meets the scrotum. The scrotum is now comfortably situated in its own soft pouch wherein the genital organ is left free to dangle as it does during the normal use of men's briefs.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to men's underwear, and in particular to an underwear brief for supporting a male's scrotum thereby decreasing irritation and discomfort due to skin-to-skin pinching, friction and chaffing.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A variety of men's underwear is available in the prior art for normal wear by males. These types of underwear are generally of the "jockey" type or boxer type. In use, men's underwear typically suffers from several deficiencies, including but not limited to, a propensity for the scrotum to contact and even stick to the wearer's genital organ and/or inner thigh. This high degree of contact between either the wearer's genital organ and/or the inner thighs of the wearer leads to pinching, friction, chaffing, and discomfort while sitting, walking, running or other numerous physical activities which may result in limited freedom of movement and/or a lack of moisture control.

[0003] Various underwear designs in the prior art have tried to address one or more of these problems. For example, sports boxer-briefs are typically tight and form-fitting resulting in compressing the genitalia. However, they support the scrotum too close to the body leading to any combination of scrotum contact with the wearer's genital organ, inner thighs and legs, resulting in moisture problems from perspiration and skin irritation. Typical loose fitting boxer shorts provide ample freedom of movement but also suffer from a propensity for the scrotum to contact and stick to the wearer's genital organ and/or inner thigh while additionally lacking support and comfort. Typical underwear briefs are designed to prevent the scrotum from contacting with the wearer's genital organ and/or inner thigh legs, but suffer from unnaturally restricting the genitalia into a small area in close proximity to the body resulting in moisture problems and lack of comfort.

[0004] Therefore, what is needed is an underwear brief that isolates by separating a man's scrotum from contacting his genital organ and inner thighs and legs thereby providing support attributes while prolonging comfort for the wearer. The present invention solves this and other problems in a unique and novel fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is directed to a sling housed within a pair of boxer shorts or other underpants. The sling is located within the underpants such that it crosses in front of a man's body under and around his scrotum as to provide separation, comfort and support. More particularly, the separation is designed as to create comfort by preventing the scrotum from contacting the legs, genital organ and crotch directly thereby reducing perspiration, sticking and pinching. Additionally, the sling of the invention is made of a fine mesh type or like material that prevents the scrotum from sagging and drifting between a man's legs adding additional comfort during wear by placing the scrotum in a snug and comfortable position. In use, a man puts on his pair of boxers and reaches in dropping his scrotum into the sling wherein the sling tucks up between the scrotum and the body. More specifically, the sling tucks the scrotum up to where the man's genital organ meets the scrotum. The scrotum is now comfortably situated in its own soft pouch wherein the genital organ is left free to dangle as it does during the normal use of men's briefs. One preferred embodiment is that applying the sling of the invention to boxer's offers a loose fitting which in turn creates a cooling effect through air convection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a modified pair of men's boxer housing a sling in accordance with the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of the briefs shown in FIG. 1, i.e., looking downwardly into the briefs shown in FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top, plan view of the piece of material or a pattern for making the sling-like insert which is intended to be sewn into and thus integrated into a conventional pair of briefs to form the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a rear, side perspective view of the sling of the present invention, formed from the piece of material or pattern of FIG. 3, and seamed to form a pouch insert, intended to be sewn into and integrated into a conventional pair of briefs or underwear, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the preferred embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating how the sling of the present invention is worn in use by a man;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a front plan view illustrating how the sling of the present invention is worn in use by a man;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view illustrating how the sling of the present invention is worn in use by a man; and

[0014] FIG. 8 is a rear plan view illustrating how the sling of the present invention is worn in use by a man.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention known to the inventor. However, it should be understood that disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention which may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, rather merely as representative bases for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0016] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a pair of modified male underwear 12 in the form of a pair of briefs and comprises a seemingly conventional pair of briefs 11, provided with a sling 10 for holding the male scrotum upwardly and forwardly from the inner, upper, thighs and male genital organ (not shown). Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, the briefs 12 are provided with a conventional elastic waistband 14 which extends around the lower torso of the wearer as is well known in the prior art. The waistband 14 has a front 13, facing outwardly, and an inside 15, facing towards the center. The length of the waistband 14 when fully extended defines the waist of the wearer while the height of the waistband 14 corresponds to the number of inches that the waistband "sits" on the wearer's waist, extending in the direction of the wearer's height. Once again, the briefs 12 underwear comprises a front section 13 extending across for covering the male genitalia (not shown) and extending from one hip to the other hip of the wearer--a pair of opposed, hip covering areas 17a and 17b. The briefs 12 also comprise a rear or buttocks covering area 19. The bottom 23 of the briefs 12 typically provide a coverings for the area extending between the leg openings 21 and from rear to front, from the anus of the intended wearer to about where the rear point of attachment of the scrotum is to the lower torso, i.e., the bottom of the briefs basically covers the perineum. Typically, the buttocks covering area 19 is a smooth, continuous piece of fabric and hip covering areas, 17a and 17b are a continuation of the rear section 19. The front section 13 is typically provided with a front, slanted passageway or aperture (not shown) for providing access by the wearer to his genital organ, for facilitating urination while maintaining the underwear on the torso.

[0017] Turning once again to FIGS. 1 through 4, the pair of opposed, separated leg opening 21 are provided as is conventional with a pair of men's briefs. Therefore the details of the conventional aspects of the briefs 12 are believed fully understood by those of ordinary skill in the area of men's underwear, preferably, boxers and briefs. Thus, the construction and manufacture of brief 12 is well-known in the prior art and form no part of the present invention. However, starting from a conventional pair of male underwear with an encircling waistband and integrating therein a sling 10 defining a sling pouch 9 consistent with the present invention, a new and innovative article of apparel will now be disclosed.

[0018] As seen in FIGS. 1 through 8, brief 12 is provided with a sling 10 for supporting the male scrotum. The sling 10 is preferably formed from a single piece of fabric wherein the material for the sling 10, like brief 12 to which it is attached and secured, is preferably a breathable fabricated using a mesh like material such as a natural fiber, a synthetic, or a blend of those apparel fibers or materials.

[0019] The brief 12 of the present invention is made by manufacturing the sling 10 from the same fabric and of the briefs 12 from or from a different fabric. The sling is seamed, sewn or attached using clips, pins or the like to outer points 27 and 29 generally located at or near hip covering areas, 17a and 17b. The sling 10 is shaped to form a sling pouch 9 which is expandable by being fabricated using a mesh like material such as a natural fiber, a synthetic, or a blend of those apparel fibers or materials for easy placement of the male scrotum. Thus, the complete, integrated brief 12 and sling 10 defining sling pouch 9 for housing a male's scrotum separating the scrotum from the wearer's genital organ 30 is formed and preferably takes the form as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8.

[0020] In use, the wearer 32 dons and removes the brief 12 just as a conventional pair of underwear, by placing his legs 34, one at a time, through the corresponding leg holes 21. Then, the waistband 14 is lifted so that the male scrotum naturally and gently is glided and guided into the sling's pouch 9. The waistband 14 is lifted until the wearer's legs 34 fully pass through the leg holes 21 and the waistband 14 is caused to rest upon the wearer's hips. If needed, the male genitalia can be easily adjusted or moved so that the genital organ and scrotum are separated with the male genital organ placed over the front edge of sling pouch 9 and the scrotum placed into the sling pouch 9. As mentioned above, this design allows for the male scrotum to naturally slip into the sling's pouch 9 as function of the location of the male scrotum and the pouch 9 elasticity of the mesh like material thereby allowing for ease of wear. With brief 12 on the wearer's body 32 and the male scrotum in the pouch 9, a gently forward and upward lift is provided by the pouch 9 to the male scrotum. In this manner, the male scrotum is forwardly and upwardly drawn from the inner, upper thighs of the wearer 32. This is intended to result in more comfort to the wearer 32, less rubbing, chafing, increased air circulation and less localized "hot spots."

[0021] Removal of the underwear is conventional. The slight elasticity due to the mesh like material of the rear edge of the sling allows for ease of removal of the male scrotum from the sling's pouch and, in this manner, the underwear is removed merely by sliding the waistband down to below the wearer's knees and then by stepping out of the leg holes, one at a time, just like with conventional underwear. No special laundering is believed to be necessary but, rather, the underwear, except for increased comfort, may be worn, removed and laundered just as conventional underwear.

[0022] In summary a sling housed within a pair of boxer shorts or other underpants is shown and disclosed. The sling is located within the underpants such that it crosses in front of a man's body under and around his scrotum as to provide separation, comfort and support. More particularly, the separation is designed as to create comfort by preventing the scrotum from contacting the legs, genital organ and crotch directly thereby reducing perspiration, sticking and pinching. Additionally, the sling of the invention is made of a fine mesh type or like material that prevents the scrotum from sagging and drifting between a man's legs adding additional comfort during wear by placing the scrotum in a snug and comfortable position. In use, a man puts on his pair of boxers and reaches in dropping his scrotum into the sling wherein the sling tucks up between the scrotum and the body. More specifically, the sling tucks the scrotum up to where the man's genital organ meets the scrotum. The scrotum is now comfortably situated in its own soft pouch wherein the genital organ is left free to dangle as it does during the normal use of men's briefs. One preferred embodiment is that applying the sling of the invention to boxer's offers a loose fitting which in turn creates a cooling effect through air convection.

[0023] It is contemplated for embodiments of the invention to extend to individual elements and concepts described herein, independently of other concepts, ideas or system, as well as for embodiments to include combinations of elements recited anywhere in this application. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mentioned of the particular feature. This, the absence of describing combinations should not preclude the inventor from claiming rights to such combinations.

Claims

1. A man's brief comprising: a sling defining a sling pouch housed and located within a man's underpants such that it crosses in front of a man's body under and around his scrotum thereby creating a separation designed to create comfort by preventing the scrotum from contacting the legs, thighs and genital organ.

2. A man's brief as claimed in claim 1 comprising a pair of men's underwear.

3. A man's brief as claimed in claim 2, wherein said men's underwear is a pair of briefs.

4. A man's brief as claimed in claim 2, wherein said men's underwear is a pair of boxers.

5. A man's brief as claimed in claim 1, wherein said article is a pair of pants.

6. A man's brief as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sling is attached to either side of the brief's hip areas.

7. A man's brief as claimed in claim 6 wherein said opposed side edges of said sling pouch extends between the hip-covering sections.

8. A man's brief as claimed in claim 1 wherein of said sling pouch is elastic.

9. A man's brief as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sling pouch is made from cotton material.

10. A man's brief as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sling pouch is made from a lightweight and breathable material using a mesh like material.

11. A man's brief as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said pouch is elevated and extends slightly upwardly, forwardly and away from the buttocks- and bottom-covering sections.

12. A man's brief as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sling pouch and the briefs are made from the same material as one another.

13. A man's underwear brief as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sling pouch and briefs are made from different materials from one another.

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