U.S. patent application number 12/694940 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-28 for exercise pants with integral undergarment.
Invention is credited to Janine Partovi.
Application Number | 20110179556 12/694940 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44307795 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110179556 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Partovi; Janine |
July 28, 2011 |
EXERCISE PANTS WITH INTEGRAL UNDERGARMENT
Abstract
A pair of workout pants having an integral undergarment tacked
or fastened to the outer garment at a number of tacking or
fastening points spaced along an upper periphery or upper margin of
the underwear. In various embodiments, the outer garment may
comprise full length, Capri style, or biking shorts length exercise
pants preferably made out of moisture wicking material,
cotton/spandex, or cotton/lycra, and having thong or brief style
underwear built into the pants. The underwear are preferably
tacked, buttoned, snapped, or otherwise fastened into the pants in
five (5) locations--two (2) points in the front and three (3) in
the rear. During exercise, the underwear is held in place relative
to the outwardly visible upper edges of the garment so that the
underwear remains substantially covered by the outer garment.
Inventors: |
Partovi; Janine; (Portland,
OR) |
Family ID: |
44307795 |
Appl. No.: |
12/694940 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/406 ; 2/236;
2/243.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 9/001 20130101;
A41D 1/08 20130101; A41F 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/406 ; 2/236;
2/243.1 |
International
Class: |
A41B 9/04 20060101
A41B009/04; A41F 9/00 20060101 A41F009/00; A41D 27/00 20060101
A41D027/00 |
Claims
1. A pair of workout pants flexibly wearable during exercise
involving full range movement of one or both of the wearer's legs
in relation to one another and in relation to the wearer's pelvis
and lower torso, said workout pants comprising: (a) a waistband
having an upper margin and a lower margin opposite said upper
margin; (b) leg covering material extending downwardly away from
said waistband lower margin and said waistband upper margin, said
leg material extending to a length below the wearer's knee; (c) an
undergarment having an upper margin circumferentially sized to fit
within said waistband lower margin and having leg openings for the
wearer's legs; (d) two front tacking points spaced laterally apart
from one another along a front portion of said undergarment upper
margin; and (e) three rear tacking points spaced laterally apart
from one another along a rear portion of said undergarment upper
margin, each of said two front tacking points and said three rear
tacking points flexibly retaining said undergarment upper margin to
said waistband lower margin so as to prevent said undergarment
upper margin from extending upward beyond said waistband upper
margin during periods of exercise and flexibly permitting
independent movement of said undergarment within said pair of
workout pants except proximate each of said two front tacking
points and said three rear tacking points.
2. The workout pants of claim 1, wherein each of said two front
tacking points is aligned with a centerline of a leg of said
workout pants.
3. The workout pants of claim 1, wherein said three rear tacking
points are evenly spaced along said rear portion of said
undergarment upper margin.
4. The workout pants of claim 1, wherein said undergarment is
permanently tacked in said workout pants at each of said two front
and said three rear tacking points.
5. The workout pants of claim 1, wherein said undergarment is
removably tacked in said workout pants at each of said two front
and said three rear tacking points using removable fasteners.
6. The workout pants of claim 5, wherein said removable fasteners
are buttons.
7. The workout pants of claim 5, wherein said removable fasteners
are snaps.
8. The workout pants of claim 1, wherein said undergarment
comprises thong style underwear.
9. The workout pants of claim 1, wherein said undergarment
comprises brief style underwear.
10. The workout pants of claim 1, wherein a width between said
waistband upper margin and said waistband lower margin is at least
one inch.
11. The workout pants of claim 1, wherein said waistband lower
margin includes a ridge of material flexibly extending away from
said waistband and flexibly extending away from said leg
material.
12. The workout pants of claim 11, wherein said two front and said
three rear tacking points are positioned on said ridge of material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to exercise or workout
pants and, more particularly, in various embodiments, a pair of
women's workout pants having an integral undergarment flexibly
attached therein.
[0002] Various attempts have been made to provide apparel designs
having integral undergarments therewith. For example, US
2007/0283484 A1 (Male underwear garment) by Wright and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,978,971 A (Male boxer shorts with integrated male briefs) by
Wald both disclose a pair of men's underwear consisting of a pair
boxer style underwear having a pair of brief style underwear
therein, with the two sewn together about the waistline of
each.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,448 B2 (Pants construction stabilized by
integral undergarment) by Davenport discloses a pants construction
whereby the pants are worn far below the waist, exposing the
undergarment, with the undergarment holding the pants from falling
down.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,270 B1 (Combined surfing shorts and wet
suit undergarment) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,882 B1 (Surfing shorts
with wetsuit undergarment) by Pedrick disclose a wet suit
undergarment and surfing shorts combination made of Neoprene or
similarly insulated wet suit material.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,823 A (Interconnected undergarment and
diaper combination) by Danes discloses an incontinence system
consisting of a reusable undergarment and a disposable diaper which
is removably fastened within the undergarment.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,599,769 A (Sport shorts) by MacRae et al.
discloses a pair of shorts having brief style underwear fastened
therein along the rear half of the waistlines of the shorts and
underwear.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 2,034,312 A (Garment for boys) by Rubin
discloses a pair of shorts having underwear fastened therein with
elastic band material on each side of the waistbands of the shorts
and underwear.
[0008] CH 645,520 (Article of underwear in the form of long-legged
undertrousers) by Amberg discloses undertrousers detachably fitted
in a pair of trousers using loops of material which vertically wrap
around a band fastened along the waistband of the
undertrousers.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,880 B1 (Athletic shorts having an inner
liner), U.S. D463,091 S (Women's underwear/inner liner for athletic
shorts), U.S. D461,622 (Men's underwear/inner liner for athletic
shorts), and by U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,940 B1 (Underwear design for
men) by Lyden disclose a pair of shorts having a particularly
shaped brief style inner liner.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,586 (Athletic shorts with inner and
outer layers) by Munjone discloses a pair of shorts having inner
and outer layers affixed together at the waistband of the outer
layer.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,288 B2 (Lower torso garment with
integral panty and method of making same) by Browder, Jr. et al.
discloses a lower torso garment having an integral briefs, with the
waistband of the lower garment connecting together the lower
garment and the integral briefs.
[0012] None of the prior attempts, however, provide suitable
designs for a pair of women's workout pants with integral
undergarment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS
[0013] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
the drawings herein illustrate examples of the invention. The
drawings, however, do not limit the scope of the invention. Similar
references in the drawings indicate similar elements.
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exemplary front view of a pair of women's
workout pants with integral undergarment.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exemplary downward view of a pair of women's
workout pants with integral undergarment, shown stretched open to
expose tacking points where the undergarment is flexibly affixed to
a lower margin of a waistband of the workout pants.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an exemplary detail view of an area about one of
the tacking points shown in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an exemplary downward view of a pair of women's
workout pants with removably integral undergarment, shown stretched
open to expose fastening points where the undergarment is removably
affixed to a lower margin of a waistband of the workout pants.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] In the following detailed description, numerous specific
details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding
of the preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art
will understand that the present invention may be practiced without
these specific details, that the present invention is not limited
to the depicted embodiments, and that the present invention may be
practiced in a variety of alternate embodiments. In other
instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and systems
have not been described in detail.
[0019] As an overview, designs are provided for a pair of workout
pants having integral or built-in underwear, such as the workout
pants with integral undergarment shown as 100 in FIG. 1, having the
undergarment 106 tacked to the outer garment at a number of tacking
points 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 spaced along an upper periphery or
upper margin of the underwear 106. In various embodiments, the
outer garment may comprise full length, Capri style, or biking
shorts length exercise pants preferably made out of moisture
wicking material, cotton/spandex, or cotton/lycra, and having
underwear (thong or brief style) built into the pants. The
underwear may be permanently tacked into the pants, buttoned into
the pants, snapped into the pants, or removably fastened using
hooks or some other fastening means. The underwear are preferably
tacked, buttoned, snapped, or otherwise fastened into the pants in
five (5) locations--two (2) points in the front and three (3) in
the rear as shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] Preferably the undergarment 106 is tacked or fastened to the
outer garment so that the wearer has freedom to exercise (run,
stair step, weight-lift, Pilates, aerobics, stretching, etc.)
without having to worry about "peek-a-boo" underwear. That is,
during exercise the, for example, tacked-in underwear is held in
place relative to the outwardly visible upper edges of the garment
so that the underwear remains substantially covered by the outer
garment. As will be described in greater detail below, the present
inventor discovered that strategic placement of a minimal number of
tacking points for fastening the undergarment to the outer pants
provides desirable retention (i.e. hiding) of the undergarment
material with minimal restriction to the range of relative motion
between the outer pants and the undergarment as the wearer
exercises.
[0021] As indicated, FIG. 1 is an exemplary front view of a pair of
women's workout pants with integral undergarment 100. Although the
workout pants with integral undergarment 100, as shown, is designed
as workout pants preferably for women, the workout pants with
integral undergarment 100 may be used for designs of workout pants
for either gender or for children. The pant leg 102 between the
upper margin 110 of the waistband portion 108 of the pants and the
end 104 of the pant leg 102 is preferably full length or the length
of Capri style pants, which are both styles extending below the
wearer's knee. The undergarment 106 is shown in FIG. 1 as brief
style underwear and is shown fastenably tacked to the lower margin
or seam 122 of the waistband 108 at five (5) tacking points 112,
114, 116, 118, 120. The present inventor discovered that strategic
positioning of the tacking points 112, 114, 116, 118, 120
substantially spaced as shown in FIG. 1 achieves the desired
retention or hiding of the undergarment 106 material to within
areas below the upper edge 110 of the pants waistline 108 during
excercising movement by the wearer while minimizing restriction to
the wearer's range of leg, pelvis, and body motion. As shown, the
only points where the undergarment and outer pants are
interconnected are the tacking points 112, 114, 116, 118, 120. The
undergarment 106 is otherwise completely independent of the outer
pants and can move substantially independent therefrom, restricted
only at the tacking or fastening points 112, 114, 116, 118, 120,
which, as will be discussed below, preferably comprise loose
stitching so as to minimize restrictions in the relative motion of
undergarment and outer pants material proximate to the tacking or
fastening points 112, 114, 116, 118, 120.
[0022] Preferably, the pair of workout pants with integral
undergarment as in FIG. 1 is flexibly wearable during exercise
involving full range movement of one or both of the wearer's legs
in relation to one another and in relation to the wearer's pelvis
and lower torso.
[0023] The present inventor determined that two tacking points,
shown as tacking points 118 and 120, should preferably be
positioned in the front, substantially aligned with pant leg 102
centerlines 132 and 130, respectively, which are substantially
aligned with forward leg rotation about the pelvic area. Extensive
forward leg rotation about the pelvic area (i.e. extending the leg
forward and backward with repetition or when stretching so as to
move the leg in relation to the pelvis in extreme positions forward
and aft) tends to cause the undergarment 106 and outer pants
material to move in relation to one another so as to result in
undergarment material becoming visible from beneath the pants
waistband 108. The present inventor discovered that positioning the
front two tacking points 118 and 120 substantially aligned as shown
in FIG. 1 achieves the desired retention of undergarment material
with the least restriction in relative movement between material of
the undergarment and outer pants and with the least restriction in
forward (and backward) leg motion.
[0024] The front two tacking or fastening points 118 and 120 may be
spaced differently in lesser preferred embodiments. Or a different
number of front tacking or fastening points may be used in lesser
preferred embodiments. However, the present inventor discovered
that fewer front tacking points or more than two front tacking
points are less preferred for the workout pants with integral
undergarment 100 designs disclosed herein.
[0025] The general proportional width of the waistband 108 between
the upper margin 110 and lower margin 122 is preferably fairly
wide, substantially as shown in FIG. 1 or at least an inch so as to
provide separation from the upper margin of the undergarment 106
and the upper margin 110 of the outer pants waistband 108. In
lesser preferred embodiments the width between lower waistband
margin 122 and the upper margin 110 is less than an inch.
[0026] The present inventor determined that three (3) tacking
points, shown as tacking points 112, 114, and 120, should
preferably be positioned in the rear, spaced substantially as shown
in FIG. 1. Tacking or fastening points 112 and 116 are shown
rearwardly positioned from the front half of the waistband 108, and
tacking or fastening point 114 is shown substantially centered at
the rear (and lower margin 122) of the waistband 108. As shown in
FIG. 1, rear tacking points 112 and 116 are positioned rearward of
the sides of the waistband 108. The present inventor discovered
that the relative positioning of the rearward tacking points 112,
114, 116 as shown is preferable in view of a typical wearer's
anatomical disposition during exercise and the wide range of
relative motion between leg and pelvic areas.
[0027] The rear three tacking or fastening points 112, 114, and 116
may be spaced differently in lesser preferred embodiments. Or a
different number of rear tacking or fastening points may be used in
lesser preferred embodiments. Or the substantially centrally
positioned rear tacking point 114 may be eliminated in lesser
preferred embodiments, with one such embodiment having only two
tacking points positioned more closely toward one another than as
shown in FIG. 1. However, the present inventor discovered that
fewer rear tacking points or more than three rear tacking points
are less preferred for the workout pants with integral undergarment
100 designs disclosed herein.
[0028] The present inventor realized that additional stitching or
seams interconnecting or sewing together the waistline portions of
an outer garment and undergarment unnecessarily and
disadvantageously restricts both the relative movement between the
outer garment and the undergarment and the range of motion for the
wearer of such garment. Further, designs for apparel incorporating
built-in undergarments having interconnected or circumferentially
seamed waistline material do not provide the wearer with the
comfort, style or look, and flexibility of garments which function
more closely to separate and independent outer and inner
garments.
[0029] As indicated, FIG. 2 is an exemplary downward view of a pair
of women's workout pants with integral undergarment 200, shown
stretched open to expose tacking points 210, 212, 214, 216, 218
where the undergarment is flexibly affixed to a lower margin 244 of
a waistband 246 of the workout pants. As shown in FIG. 2, the
waistband 246 is shown having an upper margin 202 and being
stretched by hands or fingers 224 and 220 along one side of the
garment 200. The upper margin or upper edge 236 of the undergarment
between tacking points 218 and 212 is shown stretched such that the
upper margin 236 of the undergarment is held even by hand/fingers
220 with the lower margin 242 of ridge/stitching 204. The stitching
204 has an upper margin 244 and a lower margin 242 and forms a
ridge of material defining the lower margin 242 of the waistband
246.
[0030] The lower margin 242 of the waistband 246, however, is only
tacked or fastened to the upper margin 236 of the undergarment at
the tacking points 212, 210, 214, 216, and 218 (and not along any
upper margin portions 236, 238, 240, and 226 of the undergarment).
To further illustrate the separation of the undergarment from the
outer pants material except for attachment at the tacking points,
hand or fingers 224 are shown in FIG. 2 stretching the waistband
246 from just forward of the forward tacking point 218. The upper
margin of the undergarment 226 is thus shown uneven and separated
from the lower margin 242 of the pants waistband 246.
[0031] In a similar manner, hands or fingers 220 and 222 are shown
stretching the waistband 246 such that the upper margin 238 of the
undergarment is shown tacked or fastened to the lower margin 242 of
the waistband 246 at the three rear tacking or fastening points
212, 210, and 214. Likewise, the upper margin 240 of the
undergarment is shown tacked or fastened at tacking or fastening
point 216.
[0032] Also shown in FIG. 2, according to various embodiments, are
pants label 206 positioned in the center of the rear area of the
waistband 246, undergarment label 206 positioned in the center of
the rear area of the undergarment, leg openings 228 and 232 formed
with associated stitching 230 and 232, respectively, and
illustration of a rear material area 248 intended to depict that of
a thong style undergarment.
[0033] Preferably the undergarment is permanently tacked into the
outer pants. FIG. 3 is an exemplary detail view of an area 300
about the tacking point 214 shown in FIG. 2. As shown, the
stitching 204 forming the lower margin 242 of the waistband 246
forms a ridge of material extending from the waistband 246 material
and pants material 302 (preferably, of a stretchy type) extending
downward below waistband 246. The waistband 246 is preferably made
of stretchy material as depicted at 304. The stitching forming the
lower margin 242 is preferably of a zigzag type surged
construction. As shown near the tacking point 214, the lower margin
308 of the waistband 246 is constructed so as to form a ridge that
is able to stretch and pull away from the waistband 246 material
and the pants material 302 extending downward. Preferably, as the
upper margin material 312 and 310 of the undergarment pulls away
from the tacking point 214, movement of the undergarment material
is restricted minimally and only immediately proximate to the
tacking point 214.
[0034] The tacking used, for example at tacking point 214,
preferably comprises a minimal number and thickness of stitches,
preferably only enough to securely retain the undergarment upper
margin 238 to the lower margin 242 of the pants waistband 246. The
tacking preferably is confined or limited to a small area or
tacking point as shown in FIG. 3. In an embodiment not shown, the
tacking may comprise thread lengths longer than that shown in FIG.
3 so as to provide greater relative movement between the outer
pants and the tacked-in undergarment.
[0035] Turning now to FIG. 4, an exemplary downward view of a pair
of women's workout pants with removably integral undergarment 400
is shown stretched open to expose fastening points 416, 418, 420,
422, 424 where the undergarment is removably affixed to a lower
margin 406 of the pants waistband. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
4, button fasteners are affixed to the lower margin 406 of the
waistband and removably fasten the outward upper margin or edge 410
of the undergarment to the lower margin 406 of the pants waistband
at the fastening points 416, 418, 420, 422, 424 substantially as
shown. The button fasteners are preferably affixed, as described
for the tacking in FIG. 3, on the lower margin and edge of the
ridge material 406 so as to maximize the relative movement possible
between the undergarment and the outer pants. Button holes
extending between the inner upper edge 408 of the undergarment and
the outer upper edge 410 of the undergarment are preferably
positioned just below the upper most margin 408, 410 of the
undergarment.
[0036] The workout pants with removably integral undergarment 400
are shown in FIG. 4 being stretched in an open position by hands or
fingers 430, 432, 440, and 434. The waistband upper margin or edge
402 is preferably formed with zigzag 404 or other stitching
allowing for stretching the waistband as shown. As illustrated, the
undergarment removably fastened within the outer pants is able to
move independently and separately from the outer pants except at
the fastening points 416, 418, 420, 422, and 424.
[0037] In contrast to the thong style undergarment depicted in FIG.
2, a brief style undergarment is depicted in FIG. 4. The brief
style undergarment in FIG. 4, as shown, includes leg openings 412
and 414 and rear material 436 configured as in typical brief style
underwear.
[0038] Also shown in FIG. 4 is a rear pants label 438 preferably
positioned centrally within the rear of the pants waistband.
[0039] The outer garment and undergarment are preferably
constructed of materials suited for exercise and working out.
Preferably the outer garment and undergarment are constructed of
moisture wicking material, cotton/spandex, or cotton/lycra designed
for exercise and workout apparel. The outer garment and
undergarment need not, however, be made of the same or similar
materials. For example, the outer pants garment may be constructed
of a moisture wicking and highly stretchable (flexible) material,
and the undergarment may be made of materials having a higher
cotton content. Other variations may be used. Preferably, both the
outer pants garment and integral undergarment are constructed of
materials and of suitable arrangement and design to permit a wide
range of relative motion between the outer pants and the tacked or
fastened in undergarment when worn during exercise.
[0040] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the
forgoing specification are used therein as terms of description and
not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such
terms and expressions of excluding equivalence of the features
shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that
the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the
claims which follow.
* * * * *