U.S. patent application number 11/144900 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for garment with integral male member adjustable support.
Invention is credited to Sovell, Gregory E..
Application Number | 20050268380 11/144900 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35446038 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050268380 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sovell, Gregory E. |
December 8, 2005 |
Garment with integral male member adjustable support
Abstract
A garment wearable by a male user on that portion of the user's
body proximate the abdomen and integrally incorporating a support
structure for the user's genitals. The support structure includes
an elongated band secured in suspended relation at its opposite
ends to a waistband of the garment and carrying, at a central
region remote from its securements to the waistband, a loop defined
by overlaid engagement of opposed portions of the band. In use, the
user's genitals are extended through the loop and are thereby
supported by the looped band in an elevated and outwardly
projecting manner which, when seen by another through the user's
clothing, suggests that the user's genitals are larger and more
prominent than may in fact be the case. The loop-defining overlaid
engagement of the opposed portions of the band may comprise, as a
matter of design choice, a fixed or a releasably and adjustable
coupling engagement thereof for user-controllable variation of the
amount and angle of the resulting elevation and the resulting
outward projection of the user's genitals.
Inventors: |
Sovell, Gregory E.; (New
York, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lance J. Lieberman, Esq.
Cohen, Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Suite 1210
551 Fifth Avenue
New York
NY
10176
US
|
Family ID: |
35446038 |
Appl. No.: |
11/144900 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60576486 |
Jun 3, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 9/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/400 |
International
Class: |
A41B 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a garment wearable by a male user and having a waistband, a
genitals support for supportedly elevating the user's genitals to
augment the appearance and prominence of the user's genitals, said
genitals support comprising: an elongated band having opposite ends
each connected to the garment at least proximate the garment
waistband to suspend the band from and within the garment; said
band defining a loop formed in said band by overlaid attachment of
opposed parts of said band located remote from said connections of
the band ends to the garment so that said loop is disposed
proximate a central portion of the elongated band remote from said
connections proximate the garment waistband, said loop being
located and sized for receiving therethrough at least a portion of
the user's genitals to thereby supportedly elevate the user's
genitals within the garment and advantageously accentuate the
appearance and prominence of the user's genitals contained within
the garment while maintaining normal contours of the user's
contained genitals as viewed from outside of the garment.
2. In a garment in accordance with claim 1, said band comprising an
elastic material.
3. In a garment in accordance with claim 1, said band comprising an
elastic material in at least the central portion of the band
comprising said loop.
4. In a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said overlaid
attachment of the opposed parts of said band to form said loop
comprises a user-detachable engagement of said opposed parts of the
band.
5. In a garment in accordance with claim 4, wherein said overlaid
user-detachable attachment of the opposed parts of said band to
form said loop comprises a slit defined in each of said opposed
parts of the band and an engagement member receivable through each
said slit of the opposed parts of the band to detachably attach the
opposed parts in overlaid relation and thereby form said loop.
6. In a garment in accordance with claim 5, wherein said engagement
member comprises a button having a central shaft and a
radially-enlarged boss carried on each end of the central
shaft.
7. In a garment in accordance with claim 6, wherein said band
comprises an elastic material.
8. In a garment in accordance with claim 4, wherein said overlaid
user-detachable attachment of the opposed parts of said band to
form said loop comprises a plurality of slits defined in each of
said opposed parts of the band and an engagement member receivable
through a selected one of the plural slits of each of the opposed
parts of the band to detachably attach the opposed parts in
overlaid relation and thereby form said loop of a size adjustably
determined by said selection of the ones of the plural slits
through which the engagement member is received.
9. In a garment in accordance with claim 8, wherein said engagement
member comprises a button having a central shaft and a
radially-enlarged boss carried on each end of the central
shaft.
10. In a garment in accordance with claim 9, wherein said band
comprises an elastic material.
11. A support for suspending male genitalia of a user in a garment
comprising a band having opposite ends, the opposite ends being
coupled to the garment so as to form an apex region remote from and
located between the opposite ends, the band being adjustable to
vary a distance between the apex region and the opposite ends so as
to elevate the male genitalia rested upon the apex region to at
least one elevated position, wherein the male genitalia appears
augmented in the at least one elevated position.
12. The support of claim 11, wherein the band comprises overlying
parts, the overlying parts forming a loop including the apex region
and configured so that the male genitalia extends through the loop
and terminates anteriorly therefrom in an unobstructed manner in
the at least one elevated position.
13. The support of claim 11, further comprising an adjuster mounted
to the band and operative to vary the distance between the apex
region and the opposite ends of the band so that the male genitalia
is elevated to the at least one elevated position.
14. The support of claim 13, wherein the adjuster is operative to
couple intermediate regions of the band opposing to one another and
located between the apex region and the opposite ends of the band,
the coupled intermediate regions defining a loop including the apex
region and extending around at least a portion of or an entire
circumference of the male genitalia in the at least one elevated
position.
15. The support of claim 14, wherein the male genitalia comprises a
scrotum and a penis, the loop supporting the male genitalia so that
the scrotum and penis or the scrotum or the penis extends through
the loop and terminates anteriorly therefrom without being
constricted or restricted.
16. The support of claim 14, wherein the adjuster comprises a male
member and a female member mounted to the band within the
intermediary regions, respectively, and detachably coupled to one
another so as to form the loop encircling the male genitalia.
17. The support of claim 14, wherein the adjuster comprises at
least one male member and a plurality of the female members, the
plurality of female members being spaced from one another along at
least a portion of the band, the at least one male member being
removably inserted into one of the plurality of female members and
selectively engageable with other female members so as to define
the at least one and a plurality of additional elevated positions
of the male genitalia.
18. The support of claim 14, wherein the adjuster comprises at
least one female member and a plurality of male members selectively
engageable with one another so as to define a plurality of elevated
positions of the male genitalia extending through and supported by
the loop.
19. The support of claim 14, wherein the adjuster is selected from
the group consisting of a button arrangement, hook arrangement,
knob arrangement and a Velcro.TM. arrangement and a combination
thereof.
20. The support of claim 11, wherein the band comprises a stretch
material or non-stretch material.
21. The support of claim 11, wherein the band is made from elastic
material.
22. The support of claim 21, wherein the elastic material comprises
Spandex.TM. blended with one of fabrics selected from the group
consisting of cotton, hemp, linen, nylon, polyester, rayon, silk,
terry cloth, silk and stretch vinyl and a combination of these.
23. The support of claim 16, wherein the band comprises two halves
extended between the opposite ends of the band and coupled together
along a centerline of the band, the male and female members being
located along the centerline and opposing one another.
24. The support of the claim 11, wherein the opposite ends of the
band are selectively coupled to the garment at a plurality of
spaced locations for controllably elevating the apex region to a
plurality of additional elevated positions.
25. A garment wearable by a male user, the garment comprising: a
waist band adapted to be positioned around an abdomen of the male
wearer; a front panel coupled to the waste strip and extending to a
crouch area; and a support for suspending a male genitalia in the
garment and coupled to the waste strip, the support having a first
configuration in a static state when the support is not being
loaded with the male genitalia, and a second configuration in a
dynamic state when the male genitalia being rested upon the
support, the support being adjustable to elevate the male genitalia
to at least one elevated position in the dynamic state so that the
male genitalia terminates at or close to an inner side of the front
panel and appears augmented under the front panel.
26. The garment of claim 25, wherein the front panel comprises an
outwardly curved region juxtaposed with the support and defining an
inner enlarged space, the inner enlarged space receiving the male
genitalia in the at least one elevated position so that the front
panel extends substantially complementary to the elevated male
genitalia without pressing upon and restricting the male genitalia
in the enlarge space.
27. The garment of claim 25, wherein the front panel comprises two
halves having respective uniformly configured sides, the sides each
having an outwardly curved portion located between a top and bottom
area of the side, the sides of the two halves being coupled
together so as to define the outwardly curved region of the front
panel.
28. The garment of claim 26, wherein the support comprises a band
having opposite ends, the opposite ends being coupled to the waste
strip at spaced apart locations so that the band extends
substantially parallel to the front panel in the static state of
the support and terminates past the outwardly curved region of the
front panel in the static state.
29. The garment of claim 28, wherein the band comprises an apex
region located between the opposite ends and supporting the male
genitalia in the dynamic state of the support, the band being
operative to vary a distance between the apex region and the waist
strip so as to elevate the male genitalia to the at least one
elevated position.
30. The garment of claim 29, wherein the band comprises two
portions each extending between the opposite ends of the band, the
two portions overlaying and coupled to one another so as to form a
loop including the apex region, whereas the loop extends around a
scrotum or a penis of the male genitalia and is configured to
elevate the male genitalia towards the waist strip and support the
elevated male genitalia in the at least one elevated position in
the dynamic state of the support.
31. The garment of claim 30, wherein the two portions of the band
are fixed to one another.
32. The garment of claim 30, wherein the two portions of the band
are detachably coupled to one another.
33. The garment of claim 29, further comprising a male engaging
member and a female engaging member provided on the band and
operative to detachably engage one another so as to form the loop
supporting the male genitalia in the at least one elevated
position.
34. The garment of claim 33, further comprising a plurality of
additional female engaging member, the male member being removably
inserted into one of the female member and selectively engageable
with other female members so that the apex region supporting the
male genitalia is elevated to a plurality of additional elevated
positions in the dynamic state of the support.
35. The garment of claim 33, further comprising a plurality of
additional male and female members selectively engageable with one
another so that the apex region supporting the male genitalia is
elevated to a plurality of additional elevated positions in the
dynamic state of the support, the male and female members
constituting an adjuster selected from the group consisting of a
button arrangement, hook arrangement, and a knob arrangement and a
combination of these.
36. The garment of claim of claim 29, further comprising a
plurality of fastening members spaced around and mounted to the
waste strip, the opposite ends of the band being selectively
coupled to the plurality of fasteners so as to adjust the distance
between the apex region and the waste strip.
37. The garment of claim 28, wherein the support further comprises
an additional band having respective opposite ends attached to the
waist strip and an apex region remote from the waist strip, the
additional band being operative to vary a distance between the apex
region and the waist strip, the band and additional band being
configured to selectively support a scrotum and a penis of the male
genitalia.
38. The garment of claim 28, wherein the band comprises a stretch
material or non-stretch material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/576,486, filed on Jun. 3, 2004, which is fully
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to male wearing apparel. Specifically
the invention relates to support devices for male genitalia and,
more particularly, to a garment configured to provide support and
appearance-enhancement for a user's male genitalia.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In a world in which people are too often judged by their
appearance, it is a common belief that a person can change or
emphasize certain positively-viewed aspects of their appearance to
increase confidence and allow that person to feel liberated from
restrictions imposed by genetics or happenstance. Perhaps nowhere
is the practice of this idea illustrated more clearly than in
articles designed and produced by the garment industry, especially,
those intended for women.
[0006] For centuries, specially designed women's clothing and
accessories, such as corsets, padded and specially constructed
bras, and bustiers have acted to enhance the curves and contours of
the female anatomy and accentuate female sexuality. On the other
hand, male-specific raiment has traditionally been designed to
conceal most aspects of male anatomy, exhibiting a preference for
long, sharp, angular lines or more natural shapes and protrusions.
There are undoubtedly many reasons for this including, but not
limited to, cultural apprehension about the male anatomy and an
adherence to tradition. Known designs of men's underwear attempt to
cover, hide and reshape the male genitalia.
[0007] Many such prior-art designs surround or envelop the entire
male genitalia and are needlessly complex. Some may be difficult to
don; others may be painful to wear, and others still may be bizarre
in appearance. All of them generally attempt to recreate the
appearance of the natural lines and contours of the genitals with
their own particular design. As a rule, however, prior-art designs
disturb and distort the shape of the genitalia.
[0008] One category of these prior art designs has a front panel
which covers, and/or provides a small amount of material to act as
a single-pouch support for holding, the male genitals. These front
genital covers are integrated into underwear, and are held to the
body by an included waistband. An example of this first category
can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,793 which discloses an
oval-shaped hole in the crotch panel and a dome-shaped single-pouch
which is attached at the hole periphery. Basically designed to
deform the genitalia, the pouch in use can cause varying degrees of
discomfort.
[0009] Another category of men's underwear uses either flaps,
channels, bags, pockets, holes, or slots for wrangling, hanging,
suspending, or guiding the penis into some structure for containing
the scrotum. These mechanisms create an unnatural and oftentimes
painful separation of the penis from the scrotum. An example of
this category is disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. 268,964, which
provides a construction for surgical or medical applications and is
not intended to provide comfort.
[0010] Still another category includes protective devices
structured to merely cover the male genitalia. These devices are
held in place by conventional briefs or athletic supporters that
may worn over them, making these devices cumbersome since they must
be retained by an additional article of clothing. Moreover, none of
these designs covers the genitalia while retaining their natural
shape but, rather, each causes an unnatural reshaping to be imposed
on the genitalia, and they are generally uncomfortable to wear. A
typical structure of this category is disclosed, for example, in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,063.
[0011] A further category relates to decorative and protective
devices which are designed to cover only the crotch area of the
wearer, whether the scrotum or the penis or both. These devices are
held in place by means which either bind about the base
circumference of the male genitalia or use a wire retainer that
extends from the front crotch area to the rear between the
buttocks. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,482, for example, a decorative
device is configured with a flat fabric suspended by a wire frame
that does not hold the genitalia. Such a construction is inherently
uncomfortable and, at best, will cause the wearer's genitals to be
exposed from the top, bottom and sides and, at most, will permit
the genitals to fall out the bottom, exposing them.
[0012] A need, therefore, exists for an adjustable male genitalia
support that emphasizes the male anatomy in a natural and unobvious
manner.
[0013] Still another need exists for a garment provided with an
ergonomically configured adjustable male genitalia support that
lifts the entire genitals so as to prominently expose it without,
however, providing any discomfort to the wearer.
[0014] An additional need exists for a garment provided with an
adjustable male genitalia support that allows for natural genital
separation and accommodates and supports the dynamically changeable
shape and size of the genitals.
[0015] A further need exists for a garment provided with an
adjustable male genitalia support that is configured so as to not
create deformities or oddly distorted contours of the wearer's
genitals.
[0016] Still another need exists for a garment provided with a male
genitalia support that is easily adjustable to accommodate the
different shapes and sizes of various users' genitals.
[0017] Yet a further need exists for a garment provided with an
adjustable support for the wearer's genitalia that provides the
wearer freedom, comfort and support, eliminating the anatomically
imperfect, conventional single-pouch construction of the prior
art.
[0018] Finally, a need exists for an undergarment provided with an
integrated adjustable support for the wearer's male genitalia
without drastically altering conventional underwear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] An adjustable support for male genitalia configured in
accordance with the invention meets these needs. The support is
configured as a penile appearance enhancement device constructed to
fit, emphasize and augment the natural anatomic shapes of the male
genitals. The inventive support possesses clean, simple lines that
do not disturb, deform, interfere with, or otherwise take away from
the natural male anatomy; rather, the inventive garment allows the
wearer to augment his anatomy while experiencing comfort.
[0020] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a garment wearable by a male user on the lower part of the
user's body, and more specifically on or about at least the
abdomen, that contains an integrated support structure engageable
with the user's genitals and adjustable to selectively vary the
elevation of at least that portion of the genitals with which the
support structure is engaged.
[0021] The garments incorporating the inventive support are, by way
of preferred example, male bathing suits and underwear such as
underpants; such garments may, moreover, as a general matter of
design choice, be constructed to be relatively snug or generally
form-fitting (such as elastic briefs), or loose-fitting (such as
so-called boxer shorts) or of any intermediate or other style or
configuration to suit a particular application or need or desire.
Of course, forms of the invention in which the garment containing
the adjustable support structure comprises shorts, or long pants or
slacks, or any other article of clothing worn by males at least in
part about or proximate the abdomen or location of the male
genitalia are likewise contemplated in accordance with the
invention.
[0022] The inventive garment integrally or detachably incorporates
an adjustable support structure comprising a sling-like band that
is attached at its opposite free ends to the interior waist-band or
strip of the garment. The sling-like support and/or strip is
preferably formed of an elastic, or a primarily or partly elastic,
material and may be attached to or proximate the waist-band or
strip in any convenient manner, as by sewing or stitching.
[0023] The support band is configured and disposed to form a loop
at a generally central portion most remote from its securements to
the waist-band or strip of the garment. The loop may be formed by
permanently stitching or otherwise permanently securing overlying
portions of the band one to the other, although in preferred forms
of the invention the size of the loop is selectively adjustable by
the user to accommodate male genitalia of different widths, to vary
the lift or elevation and resulting appearance (through the
garment) of the male genitalia, and otherwise for the comfort and
convenience of the user. This preferred adjustability of the loop
size may be attained by providing any suitable manner or
arrangement or elements for detachable securability to each other
of the overlying portions or regions of the band, such as mating
hook-and-loop fasteners or push-through tacks or buttons or the
like that are selectively insertable to and/or through the
user-positioned and adjusted overlying portions of the support
band. In this manner the user can freely and easily expand and
contract the size of the loop at his whim or as necessary and/or
appropriate.
[0024] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for
purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of
the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended
claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not
necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated,
they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures
and procedures described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] In the drawings:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art male undergarment;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a side view of a male genitalia support garment in
accordance with the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a front view, partially broken away, of the inside
of the male genitalia support garment of the invention configured
with a sling-like band;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a front view of the sling-like band of the
invention provided with a dimension-adjusting unit;
[0030] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C depict various embodiments of the
dimension-adjusting unit of FIG. 4;
[0031] FIG. 6A illustrates a stage of the construction of a front
portion of the male genitalia support garment of FIG. 2;
[0032] FIG. 6B illustrates the completed front portion of the male
genitalia support garment of FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 7A is an elevated front view of the male genitalia
support garment of the invention provided with the adjustable
sling-like band of FIG. 4;
[0034] FIG. 7B is an elevated side view of the support garment of
FIG. 7A; and
[0035] FIG. 8 is an elevated front view of the adjustable
sling-like band configured in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments
of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used
in the various figures of the drawings and the descriptions refer
to the same or like parts or steps. It should be understood that
the drawings are in simplified form and are not drawn to precise
scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional
terms, such as top, bottom, down, above, below, rear, and front may
be used with respect to the drawings; these and similar directional
terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention
in any manner. The words "connect," "couple," and like terms with
their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and
immediate connections, but are also intended to include connections
through mediate elements or devices.
[0037] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the basic concept of the
invention which allows the user or wearer of an inventive garment
10 to naturally elevate the male user's genitals, which as known to
comprise a scrotum, testicles and penis, within the garment. In
use, the wearer dresses himself in the garment 10 in the normal
manner for that particular type of article--i.e. for underwear, or
for a bathing suit, or for shorts, or for long pants or slacks, for
example. In accordance with the invention, the garment--assumed for
ease of description to be men's underwear briefs--includes an
integral genitals support structure, described in additional detail
hereinbelow, secured to hang from the waistband of the garment and
having a loop through which at least a portion of the user's
genitals are inserted. Thus, as is currently most preferred, the
user inserts substantially his entire penis and scrotum through the
support structure loop so that the loop encircles the same at or
proximate the base of the penis, although it is also within the
intended scope and contemplation of the invention that less than
the user's entire genitals be inserted supportedly through the
hanging loop. The support structure is preferably formed of an
elastic or at least partly elastic material so that the loop
portion is resiliently deformable to facilitate receipt of the
user's genitals therethrough. When so inserted into and through the
loop portion, the user's genitals are suspended outwardly and, to
an adjustable extent in certain preferred forms of the inventive
support, upwardly within the garment, without undesirably changing
or deforming or modifying the normal and natural contours of the
male genitals. In this manner, all or at least a portion of the
genitals, as seen in FIG. 2, is lifted and augmented within the
garment from the position it would otherwise assume in the absence
of use of the inventive support structure. The impression, to a
third-party viewing a user of the inventive garment 10 is of a male
having what appears to be a larger and more prominent male
genitalia than that user would otherwise appear to have. The
garment 10 conforms to the elevated genitals such that its front
panel smoothly slope outward and downward relative to the wearer's
body and forms a front bulging area 14 housing the repositioned
genitals (FIG. 2) that appear natural to a third party. As compared
to the conventional men's brief design as illustrated in FIG. 1,
the inventive garment 10 comfortably accommodates the male genitals
in a manner that enhances their prominence and appearance without
misshaping, compressing or constricting the elevated genitals.
Thus, the inventive structure advantageously augments, without
affecting the nature contour or appearance of, the user's male
genitalia.
[0038] As perhaps best seen in FIG. 3, a garment 10 constructed in
accordance with the present invention integrally incorporates a
genitals support structure 16 comprised of an elongated strip or
band 20 that is secured at its opposite ends 28, 30 to the garment
waistband 22 at the front of the garment. At a substantially
central region of the band 20, parts of the strip of material are
disposed and secured in overlying relation to define a loop 42
through which, as briefly described about, the male genitals are
inserted in use of the garment to augment and accentuate the
appearance of the user's genitals. In preferred forms of the
invention at least that portion of the band 20 forming the loop 42
is formed of an elastic material although, for ease of manufacture
and to further enhance user comfort of the inventive garment, it is
most preferred that the entire band 20 be formed of a suitably
elastic material as will become apparent as this description
proceeds. More particularly, the loop 42 is formed by parts or
halves 36 and 38 (FIG. 4) or regions of the band 20 which are
permanently secured or detachably coupled to one another to form
and secure loop 42. The location of loop 42 relative to a waistband
22 affects the amount, degree and location to which the genitals
are outwardly projected and upwardly elevated by its use. The
appropriate location is so selected that the genitals are lifted,
but are otherwise permitted to project naturally from the user's
body without changing the contour and shape of the genitals.
[0039] Realization of the basic concept of the invention lies in
the details and construction of the genitals support 16 (FIGS. 3
and 4) which is provided at or proximate a front panel or side 12
(FIG. 2) of a garment 10. The elastic band 20 of support 16 is
suspended on an inner side 24 of the garment's front panel 12 and
is configured to elevate and support the wearer's genitals,
preferably including the scrotum, testicles and penis together or,
alternatively, some portion thereof. The band 20 is a relatively
thin, flat and, most preferably, one-piece elastic strip having its
opposite ends 28 and 30 secured or coupled to the waistband 22 of
garment 10. Preferably, opposite ends 28, 30 (FIG. 4) of band 20
are coupled to the inner side of waistband 22 at the front of
garment 10. Securement of band 20 to waistband 22 may be effected
using any of a variety of techniques including, without limitation,
sewing, stitching or gluing of the band's ends 28, 30 to the
underside of waistband 22. In the illustrated embodiment, opposite
ends 28, 30 of band 20 are nonremovably fixed to garment 10.
However, as will become apparent, these ends 28, 30 may instead be
detachably coupled to the garment, preferably at waistband 22.
[0040] When not in use or in a static state, band 20 in the
embodiments of the invention in which the size of loop 42 is
user-adjustable, is characterized by a relaxed length and a
generally V- or U-shaped cross-section with an apex 32 (FIG. 4)
located on an axis of symmetry A-A of band 20. Band 20 may have a
uniform relaxed length for the various sizes of the garment in
which it is incorporated.
[0041] As mentioned above, in accordance with the embodiment of the
invention shown in FIG. 3, the portions 36, 38 of the band 20 may
be overlaid and permanently secured to one another to form the loop
42. Preferably, however, support 16 is provided with an arrangement
for accommodating ready adjustability by the user of the size of
the loop 42 by enabling user-selection of the particular location
at which the portions 36, 38 of the band 20 are detachably coupled
to form the loop 42 for adjusting a position of loop 42. This
permits user selection of both an appropriate loop size for the
user's genitals and the ability to adjust the level of elevation of
the user's genitalia. In a preferred form of the invention, this
adjustability is provided by a button arrangement in which slits 40
(FIG. 4) extend at least a portion of the length of band 20 on both
sides 36, 38 for receipt of a button 34. The button 34 may as a
matter of design choice have a variety of forms but, in one
currently preferred form, has a yo-yo type shape characterized by a
relatively thin central web and two enlarged end portions. In use,
each of the two enlarged ends of button 34 is releasably inserted a
selected one of the slits 40 defined in the respective part 36, 38
of band 20, so that the central web extends through the slit and
the opposite enlarged ends project outward from the opposite sides
of band 20. It is generally contemplated that button 34 will be
inserted in a pair of slits 40 in band halves 28, 30 which are
substantially equidistant from apex 32 so that the resulting loop
42 is bisected by axis A-A (FIG. 4) lying in the central plane of
garment 10 to support the male user's genitals in a generally
central position relative to the user's body. To facilitate
identification of the location of apex 32 denoting the midpoint of
band 20, the latter may be provided with a decorative stitching or
other marking extending across band 20 at apex 32. Alternatively,
button 34 may be inserted into any selected pair of the opposed
slits 40 to enable the user to cause his genitals, as a matter of
user choice, to assume a position away from center to an extent
determinable by the user.
[0042] As will be appreciated, button 34 is selectively engageable
with slits 40 so that the user may alter the size of loop 42 so as
to conform the latter to the anatomy of the wearer and to
selectively control the amount of elevation of the male genitals.
Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that a plurality of
user engageable buttons 34, releasably secured to band 20 to
selected and slits 40 on the band halves 36, 38 of band 20 may also
be employed particularly for enhancing the latter functionality of
the invention. In any event, the user forms loop 42 so that it
comfortably extends about that portion of the genitals inserted
therethrough elevates the same at the desired level. Removing the
user's genitals from loop 42 can be accomplished by first
unbuttoning button 34, although since in preferred embodiments band
20 is formed at least in part of an elastic material, it will
generally be easier for the user to simply apply a tension force to
band 20 and, by suitably enlarging loop 20, to permit removal of
his genitalia from loop 42.
[0043] The preferred elasticity of band 20, in combination with
loop 42, ensures an elevated position of the genitals regardless of
the type of garment 10 in which the inactive band support 16 is
incorporated. In general, garment 10 may comprise briefs, various
forms of athletic supporters, swimwear, boxer shorts, bikini
briefs, thongs, pajamas, trousers and any other type of garment
that is designed to cover the lower part of the wearer's body
proximate the genitals.
[0044] The band 20 may be formed of a single length of elastic
material n which the slits 40 are defined. Alternatively, band 20
may be constructed of two uniformly sized and shaped elongated
strips 46 and 48 (FIG. 4) stitched or sewn together along a
centerline 50 of band 20 so as to form at least a pair of opposed
slits 40 along the centerline 50. When button 34 is not engaged
with a slit 40, the slit 40 is practically invisible because of the
inherent stretch characteristics of the selected materials. The
fabric of band 40 may comprise, by way of illustrative example, any
suitable elastic textile fiber, and blends thereof with any other
fabrics or fibers, such as cotton, hemp, linen, nylon, polyester,
rayon, silk, terry cloth, and stretch vinyl. Band 20 may also, in
less preferred forms of the invention, be formed entirely of
non-elastic material.
[0045] Turning to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D, it will be appreciated
that the loop size adjustment mechanism need not be implemented by
the button arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, but may instead have
a variety of configurations generally characterized by engageable
male and female members or otherwise mateable. For example, FIG. 5A
depicts an arrangement of buckles 52 (only one of which is shown)
provided on band 20. In the dynamic or use state of band 20, the
wearer forms a loop in the manner disclosed above and then
manipulates the buckles so as to selectively adjust the distance
between the apex 32 and the band's opposite ends 28, 30.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 5D, the loop size adjustment member can
alternatively utilize mating hook and loop type fasteners 58 on the
opposed halves 36, 38 of band 20. To adjust the desired elevation
level, the wearer, after having formed loop 42 (FIG. 4), can couple
the selected mating regions of fasteners so as to vary the distance
between apex 32 and the ends 28, 30 of the band in accordance with
the user's desire or preference. Still further modifications may
incorporate the use of interlocking knobs 56 (FIG. 5C) or
Velcro.RTM. arrangement 54 (FIG. 5B), or any other suitable
coupling structure or mechanism.
[0047] The garment in which the inventive support band 20 is
incorporated may by way of illustrative example be an otherwise
conventional (or selectively modified) men's brief-type underwear
configured with a front panel 12 comprising a first and second
uniformly configured parts 60, 62 (FIGS. 6A, 6B), respectively,
that form a bulging or outwardly curved region 15 defining as inner
space 14. Each of the parts 60 and 62 has a top region 64 which is
secured to waistband 22, and a bottom region 66. Connecting the top
and bottom regions 64, 66 is a side 68 having a generally curved
shape with a smooth apex 70 located substantially midway between
the top and bottom regions. During assembly, sides 68 of parts 60
and 62 are coupled together by any suitable method, as shown in
FIG. 6B, so that apexes 70 extend outward and form the outwardly
curved region 15 of front panel 12 defining space 14. This
construction results in a somewhat larger space 14 within garment
30 than within a conventional underpant garment for accommodating a
user's genitals that have been elevated and forwardly projected by
the inventive support band.
[0048] The adjustable support 16, in tandem with the dome-shaped
front-panel 12, enable the elevated male genitalia to appear
notably augmented and, at the same time, completely natural since
the garment 10 tends to readily conform to the variably shaped and
dimensioned male genitalia. The garment contains the elevated male
genitals in a comfortable, non-constricting, non-restricting,
supportive member. The enlarged space 14 allows the elevated
testicles and penis to freely and naturally project into and more
visibly fill that enlarged space. Front panel 12 of garment 10
extends in a complementary fashion to the outer contour of the
elevated genitals without, however, distorting, misshaping or
constricting the visibly augmented genitals, as shown in FIGS. 7A
and 7B. In addition to modifying the loop 42 as disclosed above, it
is also possible to adjust the position of the opposite ends of the
band 20 relative the waist strip 22. As diagrammatically shown in
FIG. 7A, waist strip 22 may be provided with a row of fasteners 70
selectively engageable with the respective opposite ends of the
band 20 in a manner which allows the user to elevate the apex 32 at
the desired level.
[0049] A modification of the genitals support 16 is shown in FIG.
8. As in earlier described embodiments, the support 16 of FIG. 8
comprises a preferably elastic band 20, and a mechanism or
arrangement for adjusting the axial distance between apex 32 and
waistband 22 and formed of at least two male components. This
modification of support 16 allow the user to adjust not only the
tension or lifting force F applied to the top region of loop 42,
but also to vary the size of the loop so as to accommodate various
shapes and dimensions of the user's genitals.
[0050] As shown, buttons 34 are spaced along one half or side 38 of
the band 20 and a series of slits 40 are defined on the other half
36. Placing the scrotum and penis between the halves 36, 38 of band
20, the wearer initially forms a first loop 42 and selectively
adjusts its size by engaging the lower button 34 with one of the
opposed slits 40 so that the genitalia is comfortably positioned
within the loop 42. Subsequently, or therebefore, the wearer
adjusts the desired level of elevation in accordance with his
preferences by engaging top button 34 with an opposed slit 40. The
embodiment of FIG. 8 can be further modified by providing both band
halves 36, 38 with slits 40 and utilizing two or more selectively
placed buttons 34 (see FIG. 4) to respectively engage opposed slits
40 and thereby hold and elevate the user's genitals to a desired
extent and position.
[0051] Of course, the inventive garment may also be worn by a user
without taking advantage of the functionality of the genitalia
support structure--i.e. without inserting the user's genitals into
and through the integral support structure--in which case the
inventive garment simply functions as a conventional garment as
though it lacks the integrated genitals support herein disclosed.
Furthermore, although the inventive support is particularly
effective for providing an enhanced appearance of the user's
genitals when the entirety of the user's genitals are inserted
through the support loop, as is generally intended, the
advantageous functionality of the invention still can be obtained
to a significant extent when only a portion of the genitals are
extended through the loop.
[0052] Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out
fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a
preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various
omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of
the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the
invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all
combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform
substantially the same function in substantially the same way to
achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention.
Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements
and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any
disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated
in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment
as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention,
therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the
claims appended hereto.
* * * * *