Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The invention relates to the construction
of garments for the lower trunk, such as briefs and
trousers, and in particular to trousers made of -two
separate panels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_ _
Conventional trousers are usually formed
with four panels of material, with seams up the outside
of the leg and hip, and up -the inside of the leg, and
also up the center of the seat and the center of the
abdomen.
These four panels are joined, in the
crotch area, by seams.
The location of the four seams -through the
crotch area, leads to -the bunching of several
thicknesses of fabric in this region.
For various health reasons it is considered
desirable to as far as possible reduce the overlapping
- of several thicknesses of fabric in the crotch area,
and as far as possible to cover the crotch area with
only a single thickness of fabric.
In addition, i-t is considered desirable to
provide a trouser construction in which the waist band
in the area of the abdomen is cut lower than on
conventional trousers, thereby avoiding constriction
of the abdomen which, it is believed, leads to inter-
furriness with the digestive tract.
One form of improved trouser construction
is shown in US. Letters Patent No. 4,004,297.
The present invention utilizes some of -the
teaching of the aforesaid pa-tent, in a more developed form.
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BRIEF SEYMOUR OF -THE INVENTION:
With a view to overcoming the various problems
described above, the invention comprises a garment
construction comprising a front panel and a back panel, and
wherein said back panel comprises a seat portion for covering
the seat and back, and two leg portions all cut integrally
out of a single panel, and wherein the upper edge of the
seat portion defines a generally upwardly curved edge, and
wherein the lower region of said seat portion defines a
lower concavely curved edge extending partially into the
seat region, and wherein said front panel comprises an
abdomen portion for covering the front of the lower trunk,
and two leg portions, all cut integrally out of a single
panel, and wherein the upper edge of the abdomen portion
defines a generally downwardly curved edge, and wherein
the lower edge of said abdomen portion defines a downward
extension of said abdomen portion extending between the
legs, and through the crotch area and, being shaped and
adapted to be joined to said lower concave edge of said
back panel.
More particularly, it is an objective of the
invention to provide a garment construction having the
foregoing advantages wherein the crotch panel extends as
a single integral strip from the abdomen panel through
to the rear of the crotch area, as a single thickness
of fabric, and wherein the edges of said crotch portion
extend partly down the inside of the upper let on each
side of the crotch.
. More particularly, it is an objective of the
invention to provide a trouser construction having the
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foregoing advantages wherein the front and back panels are
joined by seams along the outside of the leg area, extending
from the waist to the cuff of the trouser, and by further
seams down the inside of the leg area, said further seams
commencing at a point below the crotch, thereby eliminating
the intersection of seams in the crotch area of the trouser.
The various features of novelty why ah characterize
the invention are pointed out with particularity in the
claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. for
a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference
should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive
matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred
embodiments of the invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of a pair
of trousers made according to the invention, partially cut
away to reveal the construction;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the front panel;
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the back panel;
Figure 4 is a lower rear perspective view showing
the crotch and seat areas of the trousers;
Figure 5 is a side section of Figure l; and,
Figure 6 is a front perspective partially cut
away of a pair of briefs according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring first of all to Figure 1, the trouser
construction according to the invention provides two leg
portions indicated generally as lo and lob a seat
portion indicated as 12, and an abdomen portion indicated
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as 14~
A waistband indicated generally as 16 extends
from a high point in the center of the back, to a low
point in the center of the trunk.
This construction is illustrated in more detail
in US. Letters Patent 4,004,297, wherein the advantages
of such construction are fully described.
Preferably, the waistband 16 will be formed of
elastic for reasons to be described below.
In addition, the interior of the trousers,
near the waistband will be provided with some form of
attachment means described in the aforesaid USE Letters
Patent, either in the form of buttons, hooks, or other
attachments whereby the trousers can be attached to the
shirt snot shown, but illustrated in the aforesaid
US. Patent).
It will be also noted that there is no frontal
opening in the front of the abdomen, and therefore there
are no overlapping thicknesses of material or fabric in
this region.
In accordance with this invention, the trousers
illustrated in Figure 1 are made up of two separate panels,
namely a front panel 20 (Figure 2) and a back panel 30
(Figure 3).
Referring first of all to Figure 2, the front
panel 20 will be seen to comprise leg portions aye, 20b,
and a frontal abdominal portion 22. The upper edge 23
of the frontal abdominal portion 22 is of generally
downwardly curved shape.
A central crotch panel 24 extends downwardly
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from the frontal abdominal portion 22~ This panel is of
curved shape and extends below a phantom line aye, which
indicates the lower edge of portion 22.
In any event, it is of substantial width in
the crotch area between the legs, and is deep enough to
extend through to the rear of the crotch area to meet
the back panel, as will be described below.
Leg portions Ahab are wider at their upper
ends and define angled inside edges 26, whereby to define
angled seams with the inside edges of the back panel
described below.
Referring now to Figure 3, the back panel 30
will be seen to comprise leg portions Ahab, and a seat
portion 32 all formed of a single panel of fabric.
The upper edge 34 has a generally upwardly
curved shape.
A generally curved notch 36 is cut out of
the center of the seat portion between the two legs
Ahab.
This notch is intended to join the crotch
panel of the front panel of Figure 2.
The inside edges 36 of back leg portions aye-
30b are angled so as to be farther apart at their upper
ends and converge towards their lower ends.
As best shown in Figure 4, the arrangement
of the seams in the crotch area and seat portion can
readily be understood. It will be seen that the front
and back trouser panels 20 and 30 are joined along
their inner edges by seams 40, and along their outer
edges by seams 42.
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The crotch panel is joined to the edges of
the notch 36 in the back panel 3Q by the upper extension
of seams 42.
It will of course be appreciated that seams 42
form a continuous curved seam extending from the
inside of each leg, up through thy seat.
It will, however, be seven that in this form of
construction the area through the center of the crotch is
completely free of seams, and is in fact constituted by a
Jo single thickness of fabric.
Any seams are located well down the inside of
the leg and to the rear of the crotch area.
The inside seams 4Q are angled rearwardly so
that they extend from a median point adjacent the inside
of the ankle or lower end of the trousers, to a point
adjacent the lower region of the buttocks.
The seams 40 thus avoid the crotch area
altogether.
This form of construction has numerous advantages
from the viewpoint of the health and comfort of the wearer,
due to the absence of the accumulation of many thicknesses of
fabric in the crotch area.
Typically the waist band will have a "rise"
of about 6 inches in front, i.e., somewhat below the
waist of the wearer. In the rear the waist band will be
at the usual height. There will be two hip pockets but
no side pockets.
The invention can also be applied to other
garments such as briefs, pajamas and the like, with
certain modifications.
A pair of briefs is illustrated in Figure 6.
~-~ It comprises a front panel 50, rear panel 52, and angled
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wait band 54.
The front pane 50 is formed of two thicknesses
aye, 5Qb of fabric. Panel 50 has a flap portion 56
extending through the crotch area.
Back panel 52 has a notch 58 to receive flap
56.
In an alternate form of construction, the front
panel of the brief may incorporate a central area of mesh
material indicated in phantom as 6Q, or treater
ventilation.
Ventilated or mesh material may also be used
in the regular trousers of Figures 1-5, as indicated
in phantom at 62 (Figure 1).
The foregoing is a description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention which is given here by way
of example only. The invention is not to be taken as
limited Tony of the specific features as described,
but comprehends all such variations thereof as come
within the scope of the appended claims.