U.S. patent application number 14/369709 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-08 for garment.
This patent application is currently assigned to SOLUTIONS IP, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Shelley L. Akerley. Invention is credited to Shelley L. Akerley.
Application Number | 20150007382 14/369709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48698674 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150007382 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Akerley; Shelley L. |
January 8, 2015 |
Garment
Abstract
A garment includes a body defining a torso opening, a first leg
opening, and a second leg opening. The body has a crotch portion
and an interior surface. A pad retention feature is disposed in the
crotch portion of the body and extends from the interior surface of
the body. The pad retention feature includes a front assembly of
diagonally-extending members and a rear assembly of diagonally
extending members.
Inventors: |
Akerley; Shelley L.;
(Granbury, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Akerley; Shelley L. |
Granbury |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SOLUTIONS IP, LLC
Granbury
TX
|
Family ID: |
48698674 |
Appl. No.: |
14/369709 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
December 29, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US12/72212 |
371 Date: |
June 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61582022 |
Dec 30, 2011 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/406 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 9/12 20130101; A41B
9/04 20130101; A61F 13/74 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/406 |
International
Class: |
A41B 9/04 20060101
A41B009/04; A41B 9/12 20060101 A41B009/12 |
Claims
1. A garment, comprising: a body defining a torso opening, a first
leg opening, and a second leg opening, the body further having a
crotch portion and an interior surface; and a pad retention feature
disposed in the crotch portion of the body and extending from the
interior surface of the body, the pad retention feature including a
front assembly of diagonally-extending members and a rear assembly
of diagonally extending members.
2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the pad retention feature is
configured to retain an absorbent pad.
3. (canceled)
4. The garment of claim 2, wherein the pad retention feature is
configured to retain absorbent pads of various sizes.
5. (canceled)
6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the pad retention feature
further comprises a first side retention element disposed at a
first side of the pad retention feature and a second side retention
element disposed at a second side of the pad retention feature.
7-10. (canceled)
11. The garment of claim 6, wherein each of the side retention
elements are stretched prior to being attached to the garment.
12. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a first leg portion
extending from the first leg opening and a second leg portion
extending from the second leg opening.
13-15. (canceled)
16. The garment of claim 1, wherein the front assembly extends
generally to the rear assembly.
17. (canceled)
18. The garment of claim 1, wherein the pad retention feature is
disposed on the body such that the front assembly is closer to the
torso opening than the rear assembly.
19-81. (canceled)
82. The garment of claim 1, further comprising: a waistband from
which the body extends; and shorts extending from the
waistband.
83. The garment of claim 82, wherein the shorts comprise: a shorts
body having a crotch portion; a first leg extending from the shorts
body; and a second leg extending from the shorts body; wherein each
of the first leg and the second leg defines a notch on an
inwardly-facing part thereof generally proximate the crotch portion
of the shorts body.
84. A garment, comprising: a shorts body having a crotch portion; a
first leg extending from the shorts body; and a second leg
extending from the shorts body; wherein each of the first leg and
the second leg defines a notch on an inwardly-facing part thereof
generally proximate the crotch area.
85. The garment of claim 84, wherein the crotch portion of the
shorts body exhibits a reduced width portion having a width of no
more than about three and one half inches.
86. The garment of claim 85, wherein the reduced width portion has
a length of at least about two inches.
87. The garment of claim 84, wherein the first leg and the second
leg define generally angular notches.
88. The garment of claim 84, wherein the first leg and the second
leg define generally curved notches.
89. The garment of claim 84, further comprising: a waistband from
which the shorts body extends; and an undergarment extending from
the waistband.
90. The garment of claim 89, further comprising a first leg portion
extending from the first leg opening defined by the undergarment
and a second leg portion extending from the second leg opening
defined by the undergarment.
91. The garment of claim 89, wherein the undergarment comprises: a
body defining a torso opening, a first leg opening, and a second
leg opening, the body further having a crotch portion and an
interior surface; and a pad retention feature disposed in the
crotch portion of the undergarment body and extending from the
interior surface of the undergarment body, the pad retention
feature including a front assembly of diagonally-extending members
and a rear assembly of diagonally extending members.
92. The garment of claim 91, wherein the pad retention feature
further comprises a first side retention element disposed at a
first side of the pad retention feature and a second side retention
element disposed at a second side of the pad retention feature.
93. The garment of claim 91, wherein the pad retention feature is
disposed in the crotch portion of the undergarment body such that
the front assembly is closer to the torso opening than the rear
assembly.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/582,022, filed 30 Dec. 2011, and entitled
"Protective Garment," which is hereby expressly incorporated herein
by reference for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The disclosed subject matter of the application relates to
garments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] Modern lifestyles include activities that find less
restrictive clothing desirable. For example, more and more people
engage in athletic activities, such as walking, running, jogging,
gymnastics, general exercising, and the like. Even when not
participating in athletic endeavors, people now desire clothing
that allows more freedom of movement and that is less bulky.
[0004] Women face specific challenges with regard to clothing, for
example, when wearing pants or shorts while experiencing menstrual
or other vaginal discharge, or while experiencing bladder
incontinence. Men also face certain challenges, such as bladder
incontinence. These challenges are particularly evident when such
people are engaging in athletic activities. Moreover, many people,
regardless of age or gender, experience bunching of shorts between
their legs while being active.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The novel features believed characteristic of the subject
matter of the application are set forth in the appended claims.
However, the subject matter of the application itself, as well as,
a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages
thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following
detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is front, elevational view of an illustrative
embodiment of a garment;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a rear, elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a bottom, plan view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a front, elevational view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1 turned inside-out;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a rear, elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
1 turned inside-out;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a bottom, plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
turned inside-out;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG.
1 illustrating a pad retention feature;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a bottom, plan view of an embodiment alternative
to that of FIG. 1 turned inside-out;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG.
8, illustrating a pad retention feature;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a pad
retention feature;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a pad
retention feature;
[0017] FIG. 12 is a front, elevational view of an alternative
embodiment of a garment;
[0018] FIG. 13 is a bottom, plan view of the garment of FIG.
12;
[0019] FIGS. 14 and 15 are front, elevational views of alternative
embodiments of a garment illustrating examples of garment leg
lengths;
[0020] FIG. 16 is a front, elevational view of an alternative
embodiment of a garment having a shorter body height;
[0021] FIG. 17 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative
embodiment of a garment;
[0022] FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.
17, taken along the line 18-18 in FIG. 17;
[0023] FIG. 19 is a bottom, plan view of a portion of the
embodiment of FIGS. 17 and 18, illustrating a crotch portion of the
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 20 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative
embodiment of a garment;
[0025] FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.
20, taken along the line 21-21 in FIG. 20;
[0026] FIG. 22 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative
embodiment of a garment;
[0027] FIG. 23 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative
embodiment of a garment; and
[0028] FIG. 24 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative
embodiment of a garment.
[0029] While the subject matter of the application is susceptible
to various modifications and alternative forms, specific
embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the
drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be
understood, however, that the description herein of specific
embodiments is not intended to limit the subject matter of the
application to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary,
the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject
matter of the application as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0030] Illustrative embodiments of the subject matter of the
application are described below. In the interest of clarity, not
all features of an actual implementation are described in this
specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the
development of any such actual embodiment, numerous
implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the
developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related
and business-related constraints, which will vary from one
implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that
such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but
would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary
skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to certain example
embodiments of the subject matter of the application, which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0032] A garment comprises a body defining a torso opening, a first
leg opening, and a second leg opening. Disposed on an inner surface
of the garment between the first leg opening and the second leg
opening is a pad retention feature. The pad retention feature is
configured to retain an absorbent pad generally in a crotch area of
a person, such as at least generally proximate a vagina of a female
or at least generally proximate a penis of a male, when the garment
is worn by the person. In one embodiment, the pad retention feature
is configured to retain an elongated absorbent pad, such as a
menstrual pad, maxi-pad, mini-pad, panty liner, or the like, of
various sizes, in a crotch area of the person, such as at least
generally proximate the vagina of the female or at least generally
proximate the penis of the male when the garment is worn by the
person. The pad retention feature, in one embodiment, comprises a
first pair of diagonally-extending retention elements disposed at a
first end of the pad retention feature and a second pair of
diagonally-extending retention elements disposed at a second,
opposite end of the pad retention feature. The diagonally-extending
retention elements allow the pad retention feature to retain pads
of various sizes and shapes and allow the pad retention feature to
better retain pads in place. In one embodiment, the pad retention
feature is configured to retain a pad exhibiting a size and shape
that is specific for the garment. In one embodiment, the pad
retention feature comprises a first, side retention element and a
second, side retention element. The first, side retention element
and the second, side retention element extend generally between the
first end and the second end of the pad retention feature. In one
embodiment, the garment further comprises a first leg portion
extending from the first leg opening and a second leg portion
extending from the second leg opening. In various embodiments, such
first and second leg portions may extend for various lengths, such
as lengths suitable for shorts, capri-length pants, full-length
pants, or the like.
[0033] The subject matter of the application further includes a
garment, referred to herein as shorts, having leg configurations
that inhibit bunching of the legs of the shorts generally proximate
a crotch area or generally between the legs of the shorts wearer.
The garment comprises a body portion defining a torso opening, a
first leg opening, and a second leg opening. A first leg portion
extends from the first leg opening and a second leg portion extends
from the second leg opening. Each of the first leg portion and the
second leg portion define a passageway extending from an inner
volume of the body portion. Each of the first leg portion and the
second leg portion define a notch on inwardly-facing parts thereof,
extending toward the body portion of the shorts.
[0034] A first, illustrative embodiment of a garment 101 is shown
in FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 1 is a front, elevational view of garment 101,
FIG. 2 is a rear, elevational view of garment 101, and FIG. 3 is a
bottom, plan view of garment 101. FIGS. 1-3 depict views of an
exterior of garment 101. FIG. 4 is a front, elevational view of
garment 101, FIG. 5 is a rear, elevational view of garment 101, and
FIG. 6 is a bottom, plan view of garment 101. FIGS. 4-6 depict
views of garment 101 turned inside-out, illustrating an interior of
garment 101. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, a garment 101
comprises a body 103 defining a torso opening 105, a first leg
opening 107, and a second leg opening 109. Body 103 is configured
to be worn about a person's lower torso, such as about a person's
hips and, in one embodiment, comprises one of spandex, elastane,
Lycra.RTM., Elaspan.RTM., Acepora.RTM., Creora.RTM., ROICA.RTM.,
Dorlastan.RTM., Linel.RTM., ESPA.RTM., or the like. Garment 101
further comprises a pad retention feature 111 affixed to a crotch
area 113 of an interior surface 115 (shown in FIGS. 4-6) of body
103.
[0035] FIG. 7 depicts a portion of the embodiment of garment 101
including pad retention feature 111. In the depiction shown in FIG.
7, the portion of garment 101 illustrated is shown turned
inside-out, as in FIGS. 4-6. Moreover, the portion of garment 101
shown is laid flat to better illustrate pad retention feature 111.
In the embodiment shown, pad retention feature 111 comprises a
first, front retention member 117 and a second, front retention
member 119. Pad retention feature 111 further comprises a first,
rear retention member 121 and a second, rear retention member 123.
A front assembly 125 comprises first, front retention member 117
and second, front retention member 119. A rear assembly 127
comprises first, rear retention member 121 and second, rear
retention member 123. Front assembly 125 and rear assembly 127 are
spaced apart a distance D sufficient to accommodate and retain a
pad 129, shown in phantom in FIG. 7. In at least one embodiment,
front assembly 125 extends generally to rear assembly 127. In some
embodiments, the present garment includes pad 129 and in other
embodiments the present garment omits pad 129.
[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, retention members 117, 119,
121, and 123 are generally triangular in shape and diagonally
extend across ends of pad 129. Retention members 117, 119, 121, and
123 comprise one or more stretch fabrics, such as spandex,
elastane, Lycra.RTM., Elaspan.RTM., Acepora.RTM., Creora.RTM.,
ROICA.RTM., Dorlastan.RTM., Linel.RTM., ESPA.RTM., or the like. As
retention members 117, 119, 121, and 123 extend diagonally, they
allow pad retention feature 111 to retain pads of various sizes and
shapes, such as pad 129 or a smaller pad 128. In the illustrated
embodiment, second, front retention member 119 extends over a
portion of first, front retention member 117 and second, rear
retention member extends over a portion of first, rear retention
member 117; however, the scope of the present invention is not so
limited. Dashed lines 130a and 130b represent stitching or other
attachment features used to affix pad retention feature to body 103
of garment 101. When pad 129 is in use with garment 101, pad is
disposed between pad retention feature 111 and body 103 of garment
101.
[0037] FIG. 8 depicts a second, illustrative embodiment of a
garment 131 comprising body 103 defining torso opening 105, first
leg opening 107, and second leg opening 109. Similar to the first,
illustrative embodiment, garment 131 further comprises a pad
retention feature 133 affixed to crotch area 113 of an interior
surface 115 of body 103. As best shown in FIG. 9, pad retention
feature 133 includes front assembly 125, comprising retention
members 117 and 119, and rear assembly 127, comprising retention
members 121 and 123. Pad retention feature 133 further comprises a
first, side retention member 135 and a second, side retention 137
disposed on an opposite side of pad 129. Dashed line 139 represents
stitching or other attachment features used to affix pad retention
feature 133 to body 103 of garment 131. When pad 129 is in use, pad
129 is disposed between pad retention feature 133 and body 103 of
garment 131. As in the first, illustrative embodiment, retention
members 117, 119, 121, and 123, as well as side retention members
135 and 137, comprise an stretch material, such as spandex,
elastane, Lycra.RTM., Elaspan.RTM., Acepora.RTM., Creora.RTM.,
ROICA.RTM., Dorlastan.RTM., Linel.RTM., ESPA.RTM., or the like. In
certain embodiments, side retention members 135 and 137 comprise an
elastic material, such as a cloth-covered elastic material.
[0038] FIG. 10 depicts a third, illustrative embodiment of a pad
retention feature 141, which may be applied to any garment
embodiment disclosed or shown herein instead of the particular pad
retention feature disclosed as corresponding with that garment. In
the embodiment of FIG. 10, pad retention feature 141 generally
corresponds to pad retention feature 133 of FIGS. 9 and 10 except
that first, front retention member 117 and first, rear retention
member 121 are disposed between first, side retention member 135
and body 103 of the garment and second, front retention member 119
and second, rear retention member 123 are disposed between second,
side retention member 137 and body 103 of the garment. It should be
noted that in FIG. 10 pad 129 is omitted for clarity.
[0039] A fourth, illustrative embodiment of a pad retention feature
143, which may be applied to any garment embodiment disclosed or
shown herein instead of the particular pad retention feature
disclosed as corresponding with that garment, is shown in FIG. 11.
The embodiment of FIG. 11 generally corresponds with the embodiment
of FIGS. 8 and 9 except that pad retention feature 143 includes a
liner 145 disposed between body 103 of the garment and retention
members 117, 119, 121, 123, 135, and 137.
[0040] In some embodiments, certain elements of the pad retention
feature are stretched or elongated as they are attached to the body
of the garment to enhance their ability to retain a pad. For
example, in one embodiment, side retention members, such as side
retention members 135 and 137 are stretched or elongated as they
are attached or sewed. The scope of the subject matter of the
application encompasses embodiments wherein such elements are
stretched as they are attached and embodiments wherein no such
stretching is performed during attachment.
[0041] FIGS. 12 and 13 depict a front, elevational view and a
bottom, plan view, respectively, of an illustrative embodiment of a
garment 147 generally corresponding to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6,
except that front assembly 125 is disposed on body 103 at a higher
elevation, i.e., closer to trunk opening 105, than rear assembly
127. The scope of the present invention encompasses the adaptation
of this embodiment to other embodiments disclosed herein, such that
a front portion of the pad retention feature is disposed closer to
the trunk opening of the garment than a rear portion of the pad
retention feature. In FIG. 13, line 148a represents a central plane
passing through garment 101, bifurcating garment 101 into a front
portion 148b and a rear portion 148c. A line 148d represents a
central axis of pad retention feature 111, such that front assembly
125 and rear assembly 127 of pad retention feature 111 are
generally equidistant from central axis 148d. In this embodiment,
pad retention feature 111 is shifted by a distance X away from
central plane 148a of garment 101. In one embodiment, distance X is
a distance no greater than about seven inches. In another,
alternative embodiment, distance X is a distance no greater than
about one and one-half inches. In another, alternative embodiment,
distance X is a distance of about one inch. It should be noted,
however, that the scope of the subject matter of the application is
not limited to these example distances X but, rather, encompasses
the full range of distances X that are suitable for use in garment
147. It should also be noted that, in some embodiments, a rear
portion, such as rear assembly 127, of the pad retention feature is
disposed closer to the trunk opening of the garment than a front
portion, such as front assembly 125, of the pad retention
feature.
[0042] FIGS. 14-16 depict alternative embodiments for the present
garment. For example, in FIG. 14, a garment 149 is shown that is,
for example, a pair of shorts, for example, compression shorts. In
FIG. 15, a garment 151 is shown that is, for example, a pair of
pants, for example, compression pants. In FIG. 16, a garment 161
includes a body 163 that is shorter, for example, from torso
opening 105 to leg openings 107, 109 than that of the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-6. It should be noted that the scope of the present
invention encompasses garments having no legs, i.e., only leg
openings, as well as garments having legs, such as legs 153, 155,
157, 159, or the like, of any suitable length. The particular
embodiments shown in FIGS. 14-16 include pad retention feature 111;
however, the scope of the present invention encompasses the
inclusion of any disclosed pad retention feature in garment 149,
161, or their equivalents.
[0043] It should be noted that the scope of the present invention
includes the use of any stretch fabric for the retention members.
It should further be noted that the retention members may exhibit
shapes that are different from those shown and described herein.
For example, front and rear retention members may exhibit shapes
other than generally triangular; however, such retention members
will extend diagonally across the pad.
[0044] FIGS. 17 and 18 depict an illustrative embodiment of a
garment 165, referred to herein in a non-limiting way as shorts,
which may be made of any suitable material. FIG. 17 is a front,
elevational view of shorts 165, while FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional
view of shorts 165, taken along a line 18-18 in FIG. 17. In the
illustrated embodiment, shorts 165 comprise a body 167 defining a
torso opening 169, a first leg 171 extending from body 167, and a
second leg 173 extending from body 167. Body 167 is configured to
be worn about a person's lower torso, such as about a person's
hips. First leg 171 and second leg 173 define notches 175 and 177,
respectively, on inwardly-facing parts of legs 171 and 173,
proximate a crotch area 179. To enhance illustration of notches 175
and 177, phantom lines 181 and 183 in FIG. 17 and phantom line 185
in FIG. 18 reveal an example perimeter of conventional shorts.
[0045] FIG. 19 depicts crotch area 179 and portions of legs 171 and
173 of shorts 165. It should be noted that, in the view of FIG. 19,
shorts 165 are laid flat to better illustrate particular aspects of
shorts 165. Legs 171 and 173 are configured with notches 175 and
177, respectively, such that crotch area 179 has a reduced width
portion, in one embodiment, exhibiting a width W of no more than
about three and one half inches and, in another embodiment,
exhibiting a width W of no more than about two and one half inches.
Irrespective of the width of the reduced width portion of crotch
area 179, the reduced width portion of crotch area 179 extends over
a length L of at least about two inches in one embodiment and, in
another embodiment, extends over a length L of at least about four
inches. Legs 171 and 173 define notches, such as notches 175 and
177, on inwardly-facing parts thereof inhibit the bunching of
material of shorts 165 between a wearer's legs, generally proximate
crotch area 179 of shorts 165.
[0046] While legs 171 and 173 of shorts 165 are depicted in FIGS.
17-19 as having peripheries defining notches 175 and 177,
respectively, that are generally angular in shape, the scope of the
subject matter of the application is not so limited. Rather, the
scope of the present application encompasses many, various
particular shapes of the leg peripheries defining such notches. For
example, FIGS. 20 and 21 depict an illustrative embodiment of
shorts 193 wherein the peripheries 195 and 197 of legs 199 and 201,
respectively, are more curved in nature, rather than angular.
Irrespective of the particular shape of the notch peripheries, the
crotch area of such shorts exhibits a width and a length within the
widths W and lengths L disclosed regarding FIG. 19.
[0047] The scope of the subject matter of the application
encompasses, in certain embodiments, combinations of shorts 165,
193, or the equivalent, and one of garments 101, 131 147, 149, 151,
161, or the like. For example, FIG. 22 depicts a garment 203, which
is a combination of shorts 193, shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, and
garment 149, referred to herein with respect to the embodiment of
FIG. 22 as undergarment 149, shown in FIG. 14. In such embodiments,
the garment comprises one waistband, with bodies of the
undergarment and shorts extending therefrom. For example, garment
203 comprises one waistband 205, with a body 207 of undergarment
149 and a body 209 of shorts 193 extending from waistband 205.
Undergarment 149 is disposed within shorts 193, except for any
portion of undergarment 149 that extends from legs 211 and 213 of
shorts 193.
[0048] It should also be noted that the scope of the subject matter
of the application further encompasses, in certain embodiments,
combinations of shorts 165, 193, or the equivalent, and one of
garments 101, 131 147, 149, 151, 161, or the like omitting a pad
retention feature, such as pad retention feature 111 or the like.
FIG. 23 depicts one particular embodiment of a garment 215 that is
an example of such a configuration, in which shorts 193 are
combined with an undergarment 216. As in the embodiment of FIG. 22,
garment 215 comprises one waistband, with the bodies of
undergarment 216 and shorts 193 extending therefrom. Undergarment
216, in the illustrated embodiment, exhibits substantially the same
configuration as garment 149, shown in FIG. 14, except that pad
retention feature 111 of garment 149 is omitted. It should be noted
that, in such embodiments, shorts 165, 193, or the like may be
combined with any of garments 101, 131, 149, 151, 161, or the like,
omitting any pad retention feature of garments 101, 131 149, 151,
161, or the like. Moreover, the scope of the present invention
encompasses embodiments wherein shorts having legs with peripheries
defining notches on inwardly-facing parts thereof, proximate crotch
areas of the shorts, are combined with any suitable undergarment,
wherein the combination garment includes one waistband, with the
outer garment and undergarment extending therefrom.
[0049] It should be noted that the overall shapes of the shorts
shown herein are merely examples of the many, various shapes
contemplated by the subject matter of the application. In any such
embodiment, legs of the shorts define notches on inwardly-facing
parts thereof, proximate a crotch area of the shorts.
[0050] It should also be noted that any garment having a pad
retention feature disclosed herein, or such equivalents, may be
combined with any outer garment, such as conventional shorts, a
tennis skirt, or the like into a garment having a single waistband,
such that the outer garment and the undergarment extend from the
waistband. For example, FIG. 24 depicts an illustrative embodiment
of such a garment 217. Garment 217 comprises an outer garment 221,
such as shorts, and an inner garment, such as garment 149 of FIG.
14, each extending from a single waistband 223. The scope of the
subject matter of the application encompasses combinations of any
outer garment and one of garments 101, 131 147, 149, 151, 161, or
an equivalent.
[0051] The present invention provide significant advantages
including, but not limited to, (1) providing a way to accommodate
needs of bladder incontinence, menstruation, and/or other vaginal
discharge; (2) providing a way to accommodate needs of bladder
incontinence, menstruation, and/or other vaginal discharge during
impact sports or other athletic activities; (3) allowing for quick
and continuous leg movements while holding pad in place; (4)
providing a front assembly and a rear assembly to hold front and
back of pad generally flat; (5) providing side retention members,
when included, to hold sides of pad flat and cover edges of pad,
inhibiting pad edges from scratching legs; (6) providing a pad
retention feature that accommodates most sizes of pads or liners;
(7) providing a pad retention feature that allows for substantial
exposure of the pad to body, thus allowing for maximum absorption
by the pad; and (8) providing a garment or short that inhibits the
bunching of fabric between the wearer's legs.
[0052] The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative
only, as the subject matter of the application may be modified and
practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those
skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein.
Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of
construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the
claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular
embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such
variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the
subject matter of the application. Accordingly, the protection
sought herein is as set forth in the claim below. It is apparent
that an invention with significant advantages has been described
and illustrated. Although the present invention is shown in a
limited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but
is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing
from the spirit thereof.
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