Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MALE HYGIENIC UNDERWAR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to male underwear which maintains a hygienic condition
in
the male's groin area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Due to direct skin contact between the genital, the scrotum and the upper
thighs
and the restricted air space in the groin area, humidity accumulation is high
in the groin
area of the male. The humidity is particularly high when wearing tight fitting
underwear
such as briefs. The restricted space limits air circulation and it creates an
unhealthy
humid condition. The humidity is further increased in the groin area in high
temperature
weather condition and/or during exercise such as walking, running and
stretching due to
intensified sweating. The high humidity causes general unpleasant feeling and
in worse
circumstances skin irritation and infection because of bacterial growth in the
humid groin
area. Also, the rubbing contact between the genital, scrotum and the thighs
during
exercise if carried out in a relatively long period of time may also lead to
skin damage.
U. S. Patent No.4,345,337 issued on August 24, 1982 to Seun Y. Chung shows a
man's briefs having a space provided behind the fixed front panel between the
overlapping front and inner panels and a band-type ring is incorporated in the
upper part
of the space. The penis and the scrotum are inserted through an opening in the
inner panel
of the briefs and the penis can be hung on the band-type ring to space from
the scrotum.
The construction is intended to provide ventilation by separating the direct
skin contact
between the penis and the scrotum.
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U. S. Patent No.5,029,345 issued on July 9, 1991 to A. Angheluta et al shows
the
incorporation of a codpiece compartment in the space between the overlapping
inner and
front panels of the briefs. The penis may be inserted through an opening in
the inner
panel to locate in the codpiece compartment thus separating and heat
insulating it from
the man's torso.
The briefs shown in the above prior art are uncomfortable to wear and are
inconvenient for the wearer particularly in urination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the main object of the present invention to provide an underwear for
male
having means for secluding the penis, the scrotum and the groin area from one
another so
as to eliminate direct skin contact between these body parts as well as
providing ample
air ventilation in the groin area.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an underwear for male
which is comfortable to wear.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an underwear for male
which is convenient to operate for urination.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an underwear
construction
which may be readily incorporated in a common underwear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings
Figure 1 is an isolated perspective view of the torso of a male wearing the
underwear of the present invention.
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Figure 2 is an isolated perspective view of the underwear of the present
invention
having an opening formed in its base panel juxtaposed to the torso for the
penis and the
scrotum to be extended through it outward for separating them from skin
contact with the
torso.
Figure 3 is an isolated perspective view of the underwear of the present
invention
showing the provision of a first foldable fabric panel coverable over the
front panel of the
underwear and having an opening for the penis to be inserted forwards through
it for
separating from the scrotum.
Figure 4 is an isolated perspective view of a second foldable fabric panel
coverable over the first fabric panel for covering over the penis.
Figure 5 is an isolated perspective view of the underwear of the present
invention
with both the first and second foldable frabric panels shown in the open
position.
Figure 6 are isolated perspective views showing the various stages of placing
the
first foldable fabric panel and the second foldable fabric panel in wearing
the underwear
of the present invention.
Figure 7 is an isolated perspective side view showing the location of the
penis and
scrotum between the first and second foldable fabric panels of the underwear
of the
present invention.
Figure 8 is an isolated perspective view showing the advantageous air
ventilation
provided to the wearer's groin area by the underwear of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings in which like reference numbers designate
corresponding parts in the different views, a briefs construction is shown for
illustration
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purposes, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention
may be
applied in a boxer short and similar underwear.
The underwear 10 of the present invention has a first opening 11 formed at the
lower portion of its front panel 12 immediately in contact with the torso of
the wearer.
The first opening 11 preferably has an inverted trapezoidal shape as shown in
Figure 2
and a size suitable for both the scrotum 13 and the penis 14 together to be
extended
through it outwards to locate outside of the front panel 12 for comfortably
separating
them from the groin area 15 of the wearer's torso. Two openings 16 and 17
spaced from
one another are formed adjacent to the elastic waist band 18 of the briefs.
As best shown in Figure 3, a generally inverted trapezoidal shape first
foldable
fabric panel 19 is provided over the front panel 12 of the briefs. The first
foldable fabric
panel 19 has a sloping left side edge 20 which is sewn to the front panel 12
of the briefs
along a curved sew line 21, and its narrow bottom edge 22 is sewn to the rear
portion of
the bottom pane123 of the briefs along a transverse sew line 24 adjacent to
the buttock
area of the briefs. An opening 25 is formed in a central location of the first
foldable fabric
panel 19. Thus, the first foldable fabric panel 19 is foldable over the front
of the briefs
relative these sew lines with the penis 14 of the wear extending outwards
through the
opening 25 so as to position on top of the outer surface of the first foldable
fabric panel
19 and separating from the scrotum 13. A first tying cord 26 is provided at
the free upper
right corner of the first foldable fabric panel 19.
As shown in Figure 4, a second foldable fabric panel 27 having a shape and
size
similar to the first foldable fabric panel 19 is also provided over the front
panel 12 of the
briefs and located over the first foldable fabric panel 19. The second
foldable fabric panel
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27 is sewn to the briefs along an upper edge portion 28 and a lower edge
portion 29
leaving a middle edge portion not sewn to the briefs so as to provide an
access opening
30 therein between the briefs and the second foldable fabric panel. The lower
edge 31 of
the second foldable fabric pane127 is also securely sewn to the bottom portion
of the
briefs and over the first foldable fabric panel 19. A second tying cord 32 is
provided at its
left upper free corner. The second foldable fabric panel 27 is foldable over
the first
foldable fabric panel 19 to cover the penis 141ying over the first foldable
fabric panel 19.
As shown in Figure 6, the briefs of the present invention may be worn by the
wearer by first inserting the penis 14 and the scrotum 13 together through the
first
opening 11 formed in the front panel 12 of the briefs. The first foldable
fabric pane119 is
then folded over the briefs with the penis 14 extending through the opening 25
to lie on
the outside of the first foldable fabric panel 19. Finally, the second
foldable fabric panel
27 is folded over the first foldable fabric panel 19 to cover over the penis
14.
The successively folded first and second foldable fabric panels 19 and 27 are
maintained in the folded positions by threading through the openings 16 and 17
to tie
with one another.
The first and second foldable fabric panels 19 and 27 may be made of fine
woven
stretchable cotton or similar fabric having a smooth-feel surface, high sweat
absorbency
and a plurality of breathing air spaces in the woven material. Thus, not only
the penis, the
scrotum and the torso of the wearer are separated from one another by the
sweat
absorbent fabric which can absorb the sweat as well as preventing skin contact
among
them but a large amount of air circulation is also provided between them as
shown by the
arrows 33, 34 and 35 in Figure 8 to provide a hygienic condition.
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The access opening 30 provided at the right edge of the second foldable fabric
panel 27 facilitates the urination operation by the wearer.
It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the sewn edges of the
first and
second foldable panels may either be on the left or on the right sides as long
as they are
opposite to one another so that they are foldable over one another.
Furthermore,
alternatively, mating securing means such as buttons and button holes, hooks,
or Velcro
(trade mark) pads may be provided at the free upper corners of the foldable
fabric panels
and at the location of the openings 16 and 17 for securing these foldable
fabric panels to
the briefs in a folded condition.
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