US3083710A

US3083710A - Undergarments

Info

Publication number: US3083710A
Application number: US135576A
Authority: US
Inventors: Erwin F Rauser
Original assignee: LEWIS KNITTING CO
Current assignee: LEWIS KNITTING CO
Priority date: 1961-09-01
Filing date: 1961-09-01
Publication date: 1963-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-02

Description

April 2, 1963 E. F. RAUSER 3,083,710

I v UNDERGARMENTS Filed Sept. 1, 1961 INVENTOR. ERWIN F. RAUSER ATTORNEY pended claims.

1'3 9 s a y y I J states l atei.

t hhee i atented Apr. 2, 1953 The present invention relates to mens undergarments but is more particularly directed to undergarments of novel construction for giving healthful and comfortable support to the human male body while being cool and loose-fitting for purposes of additional comfort.

-Wl1ereas in the past men Wore undergarments primariiy for hygienic and health purposes, today there is great demand for garments which provide many additional functions. For instance, it has not been common practice in the past for men to employ undergarments or other devices as aids for physically reducing the size of the abdominal area or waistline. However, today garments exhibiting such characteristics are in great demand, it being well accepted to employ elastic waistbands and other girdling devices to effect such reduction. The demand has also increased for unde garments which provide additional support for particular areas of the mature male body for purposes of com ort and appearance.

Although it is desirable to provide close-fitting garments to effect the abovementioned reduction in size of the abdominal area or waistline and to support the mature male body as necessary, it is equally important that mens undergarments should be light in weight, and cool and loose-fitting for purposes of comfort. Heretofore, such combination of desirable characteristics has not been provided in a single garment.

In view of the foregoing it is an object of the present invention to provide mens undergarments which provide the necessary support for the male body while being cool and comfortable to wear.

Another object of this invention is to provide mens undergarments which can reduce substantially the size of the abdominal area of the wearer while still being cool and comfortable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a boxer type mens undergarment which supports the male body in a manner similar to the support afforded by a jockey type garment.

Another object is to provide mens undergarments which combine the advantages of boxer type and jockey type garments without the corresponding shortcomings thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide mens undergarments which are formed of both elastic or stretchable knitted fabrics for providing the desired support, and also nonelastic, calendered cloth having a relatively fine nap for purposes of comfort.

Another object of this invention is to provide rnens undergarments which are constructed of both knitted fabrics and broadcloth in such a novel manner as to utilize the advantages of each.

Another object of this invention is to provide mens undergarments which are made primarily of broadcloth and which are provided with predetermined portions of elastomeric fabrics for enabling such broadcloth garments to support the wearer and to be flexible during movement of portions of the wearers body.

Another object of this invention is to provide mens undergarments which are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which are strong and serviceable in use.

Hie novel features which I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the ap- The under-garment itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective View of a portion of a person wearing an undergarment made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevations-.1 view of the undergarment of FIGURE 1, a leg portion thereof being in raised position;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the undergarment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of such undergarment.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment chosen for illustration of the present invention is a type of undergarment commonly referred to as boxer shorts. Such garment comprises a tubular body portion or waistband ll) having a rolled or folded upper edge or seam Ida which is disposed substantially horizontally about the waist of. a wearer when the garment is in the proper position. Tubular portion ll) is provided with a lower edge 1% which is somewhat contoured in accordance with the typical male abdominal body area. That is, such lower edge of tubular member if is higher at the sides of the garment, as at file and Hill, while being somewhat lower in the front and rear as at 16c and ill respectively. Tubular member in may be formed of a combination of rayon, cotton and nylon which is interwoven with strands of latex rubber to render said tubular member extremely elastic for firmly embracing the abdominal body area of the wearer. Although not mandatory for successful practice of the present invention, it has been found desirable to have tubular portion it) provided with a 1 x I knit which is extremely strong and closely woven to provide a relatively smooth surface against the wearers body. Tubular member id is usually formed without a seam for purposes of comfort of the wearer but, as will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the art, such construction is not necessary for successful practice of this invention.

Extending from the front lower edge file of tubular member 1-13 to the rear lower edge 16, thereof is a central body portion of the garment identified generally with the numeral 12. This portion is formed of knitted fabric which is elastomeric or at least stretchable or yieldable in certain predetermined directions to be hereinafter explained in detail. Such central body portion 12 comprises a front portion 14 which is formed of knitted fabric to provide a suspensory pocket for supporting the mature male body as will hereinafter become more apparent. The upper edge 14a of pocket 14 is sewn or stitched to the lower front edge Hie of tubular member 10. The opposite or lower end 1 of pocket 14- extends to the crotch area of the garment where it is fastened to the lower end of a rear panel 16 which is also part of central body portion 12. Pocket 14 is formed of an outer panel 14c which overlays an inner panel 14d, there being an opening therebetween as at Me which is conventional for such suspensory pockets.

Rear panel to has an upper end portion lea which is sewn or stitched to the rear lower edge 10) of tubular member lb.

For successful practice of the'present invention it is necessar, as will hereinafter become more readily apparent, that the central body portion 12 be substantially nonstretchable in the direction from the front lower edge of tubular member 19 to the rear lower edge thereof in order to provide the necessary support for the entire body area encompassed thereby. However, such central body portion 12 must be yieldable in a lateral direction,

that is, in a direction normal to the direction from front to back of the garment as above described. Although not mandatory for successful practice of this invention,

it has been found most suitable, for the sake of addi-, tional comfort to the wearer, to make the pocket 34 out of 2 x 2 knitted cotton yarn While the rear'panel 16 is made of similar yarn but has a l x I knit. That is, a 2 x 2 knitis looser and coarser, and hence is more yieldable and readily formable into the desired suspensory pouch or pocket while being extremely 'soft to the wearer. However, due to the coarseness of a 2 x 2 knit, it is not employed where it is required to be forced against the body of the wearer. In such areas itthas been found preferable to employ fabric, having a 1 x1 knit as for instance for the rear panel 16, such fabric being formed of'cotton yarn but being relatively smooth to the touch a due to the closeness of the knit.

Attached to the lower edge of tubular portion 1 on either side of the central body portion 12 are a pair of leg portions shown generally at 18 and 20. Such leg portions are formed ofbroadcloth having a very fine nap. It has been found. that broadcloth is extremely smooth and cool to the touch and hence when formed into a garment is extremely cool and comfortable to the wearer. However, broadcloth is not ribbed as are knitted fabrics and hence it is substantially nonelastic or nonstretchable. This feature, of course, requires the material to. fit very loosely on the wearer when formed into a garment to insure the necessary freedom for movement of the various portions of thewearers body. Also, this characteristic prevents broadcloth from being used for supporting or contouring. portions of the body as above explained with reference to the knitted portions of the garment.

Asshown in the drawings, each

leg portion

18 and 20 is formed with. a front leg panel 13a and Zila respectively, and arear leg panel 135 and 2912 respectively. The front leg panels are drawn together or pleated along their upper edges as they are sewnto the lower edge of tubular member '10.. The inner side portion of panel 184 is fastened to the panel 14d of pocket 14 while the inner side portion of panel 26a is fastened in a similar manner to the outer panel 140 of said suspensory pocket. In order to finish off the garment along these seams, fastening tape orseam tape may. be sewn over the seam which connects panel 18a to panel 14d, and over the seam which connects panel 20a to panel 14c. In this-regard, elastic'tape may be sewn'along the free edge of outer panel 141) of pocket 14 as at '26. to give a more complete appearance to the m n 7

Eachfront leg panel

18a and 20a is fastened to its respective rear leg panel, there being thereby provided a vertical. seam which extends down the side of the leg of the wearer. Such rear leg panels 18b and 2% are also sewn to tubular body portion while being drawntogether to provide expansion pleats for a purpose to be hereinafter described, The inner side edges of such rear leg panels are thenstitched to opposite sides of the rear seat panel 16.

As shown in the drawings,

leg portions

18 and 20. may be of such length as to extend beneath the crotch area of the garment, such construction affording what is commonly known as boxer shorts styling.

Each of the leg portions is provided with a gusset mem-' her, as at 30 and 32, which is formed of knitted fabric and which extends from the crotch area to the open end of the leg portion as shown in the drawings. Gusset member 30 is connected to both the front leg panel 18a.

and the rear leg panel 18b and is sewn or stitched-to the back seat panel near the crotch area thereof. In like manner, gusset member 32 is connected to both of the front and rear leg panels Zita and b and to one side of the rear seat panel 16. It should be particularly noted that each gusset member is formed of knitted fabric which is'so cut and sewn into the garment that the ribbing of the knitting runs from the backseat panel 16 to the open end of the respective leg portion. This affords stretchability or elasticity in the circumferential dimension of the leg while being firm or substantially nonelastic in the direction of the length of the respective leg portion. Although not mandatory for successful practice of this invention, it has been found desirable to employ fabric of 2 x 2 knitting for such gusset members 31) and 32 since they are not forced against the wearers body. Also, such 2 x 2 knitting is quite soft andaffords ample elasticity or stretchability for the leg portions.

It should be particularly noted that throughout the descriptionof the construction and function of the various parts of the garment shown in the drawings, and throughout the claims appended; hereto, a distinction is intended between knitted fabrics and broadcloth, based particularly undergarment which affords a substantial pressure on the abdominal area of the wearer so as to constrict or decrease appreciably the size of the wearers waistline. Also, such garment provides firm support for the mature male body, without providing close-fitting knitted fabrics adjacent unnesessary portions of the persons body. Additionally, such under'gr'ament is extremely cool and loosefitting, being formed, of comfortable broadcloth fabric in all of the portions of the wearers body which do not require support of one kind or another.

As will be readily apparent to those persons skilledin the art, the type of stitching or sewing for the seams is not critical other than that an elastic stitch must be used along certain seams where the sections or panels of fabric are themselves elastic or stretchable. For instance, an

elastic seam should be employed along the upper and lower edges 15M and 10b of tubular member 10 to enable the latter to expand and contract as necessary in accordance with the wearers body movements.

In this regard, the pleats or folds along the upper edges of the leg portions will permit tub PQ 10 d form as necessary without creating undue strain on the broadcloth material which is substantially nonstretchable.

. It is also the scope of the present invention to make the broadcloth leg portion out of a combination of Dacron and cotton in order to make the entire undergarment wrinkle-free after being washed. That is, where} as the usual broadcloth is formed merely ofcotton, it has been found that by using 60 or 65% Dacron with the remainder cotton, the resulting broadcloth will'be free of wrinkles after washing.

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention itself, therefore, is not to be restricted except inso far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims. I claim 1. An undergarment of the class described comprising in combination, an elastic tubular portion for encircling the abdominal body area, a central portion formed of elastic fabric having opposite end portions connected to opposite locations on said tubular portion for firmly supporting the crotch body area, and'leg portions attached to said tubular portion and formed of loose-fitting sub stantially nonelastic fabric.

2. An undergarment according to claim -1 wherein said centralbody portion is formed of knitted fabric which is substantially nonelastic in the direction from one end to the other of its said opposite end portions while being elastic in the direction normal thereto to cooperate with said tubular portion to provide a firm close-fitting support throughout the crotch area of the wearer.

3. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein said leg portions'are formed of broadcloth.

4. An undergarment of the class described comprising in combination, an elastic tubular portion for encircling the abdominal body area, a central body portion formed of elastic fabric having opposite end portions connected to opposite locations on said tubular portion to cooperate with said tubular portion for supporting the crotch body area, leg portions attached to said tubular portion and formed of loose-fitting substantially nonelastic fabric, and an elastic gusset member in each of said leg portions to permit the latter to expand with movement of the wearer without effecting the support afiorded the crotch body area by said central body portion.

5. An undergarment according to claim 4 wherein each of said gusset members is formed of knitted fabric which is elastic along only a given axis.

6. An undergarment of the class described comprising in combination, an elastic member for encircling and tightly fitting the abdominal body area and provided with front and rear lower edges, a suspensory pocket having an upper edge attached to the front lower edge of said elastic member and having a lower edge adjacent the crotch body area, said suspensory pocket being formed of knitted fabric substantially nonelastic in the direction between said upper and lower edges while being elastic in the direction normal thereto, a rear central panel connected between the rear lower edge of said elastic member and the lower edge of said pocket, a pair of leg portions comprising substantially nonelastic fabric atached to said elastic member, suspensory pocket and rear panel, and an elastic gusset member in each leg portion attached to the side of said rear panel at said crotch area.

7. An undergarment according to claim 6 wherein said rear panel is formed of single ply knitted fabric stretchable transversely thereof to permit of relative movement of said leg portions.

8. An undergarment according to claim 6 wherein said suspensory pocket is formed of double ply knitted fabric stretchable transversely thereof to permit of relative movement of said leg portions.

9. An undergarment of the class described comprising in combination, an elastic relatively tight-fitting waistband for securing the garment to a wearer, a generally U-shaped crotch portion having opposite end portions fixed to substantially opposite locations on said waist band, said crotch portion being formed of knitted fabric relatively nonyielding in the direction between its end portions and yieldable in the direction normal thereto to thereby cooperate with said elastic waist band to provide firm support for the wearer, leg portions fixed to said crotch portion and to said waist band formed of woven material which is relatively non-yielding in all directions, and an insert in each of said leg portions formed of yieldable material abutting said crotch portion and extending to the open lower end of the respective leg portion, whereby the leg portions of said garment are prevented from binding and hence are prevented from efiecting the support afforded by said crotch position during movement of the wearer.

It). An undergarment of the class described comprising in combination, an elastic relatively tight fitting waist band for securing the garment to a wearer, a generally U-shaped crotch portion having opposite end portions fixed to substantially opposite locations on said waist band and having a suspensory pocket for firmly receiving the male wearer, said crotch portion being formed of knitted fabric relatively non-yielding in the direction between its end portions and yieldable in the direction normal thereto to thereby cooperate with said elastic waist band to provide firm support for the male wearer, leg portions fixed to said crotch portion and to said waist band formed of relatively non-yielding broadcloth fabric, and an insert in each of said leg portions formed of yieldable rnaterial abutting said crotch portion and extending to the open lower end of the respective leg portion, whereby the broadcloth leg portions of said garment are prevented from binding and hence are prevented from efiecting the support afforded by said crotch portion during movement of the wearer.

11. An undergarment of the class described comprising in combination, an elastic relatively tight-fitting waist band for securing the garment to a wearer, a generally U-shaped crotch portion having opposite end portions fixed to substantially opposite locations on said waist band and having a suspensory pocket for firmly receiving the male wearer, said crotch portion being formed of knitted fabric relatively non-yielding in the direction between its end portions and yieldable in the direction normal thereto to thereby cooperate with said elastic waist band to provide firm support for the male wearer, leg portions fixed to said crotch portion and to said waist band formed of relatively non-yielding broadcloth fabric, and an insert in each of said leg portions formed of knitted material positioned therein from the open lower end of the respective leg portion to said crotch portion and being elastic in the direction to permit the respective leg portion to vary in size with movement of the wearer and being non-elastic in the direction from the open lower end of the respective leg portion to said crotch portion, whereby said leg portions are prevented from binding and hence are prevented from effecting the support afforded by said crotch portion during movement of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,481 Chatfield Nov. 29, 1938 2,384,165 Goldfarb Sept. 4, 1945 2,494,261 Owenby Ian. 10, 1950

Claims

1. AN UNDERGARMENT OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AN ELASTIC TUBULAR PORTION FOR ENCIRCLING THE ABDOMINAL BODY AREA, A CENTRAL PORTION FORMED OF ELASTIC FABRIC HAVING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE LOCATIONS ON SAID TUBULAR PORTION FOR FIRMLY SUPPORTING THE CROTCH BODY AREA, AND LEG PORTIONS ATTACHED TO SAID TUBULAR PORTION AND FORMED OF LOOSE-FITTING SUBSTANTIALLY NONELASTIC FABRIC.