U.S. patent application number 14/429999 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-13 for undergarment.
This patent application is currently assigned to EvB Sports Shorts Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Yvonne Anne BRADY, EvB Sports Short Limited. Invention is credited to Yvonne Anne Brady.
Application Number | 20150223524 14/429999 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50340603 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150223524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brady; Yvonne Anne |
August 13, 2015 |
UNDERGARMENT
Abstract
This invention relates to an undergarment and more particularly
to support briefs or shorts for, inter alia, supporting pelvic
floor, lower back and abdominal muscles adaptable for use by
females or males. The garment is provided with an uplifting
mechanism to provide support at the crotch portion.
Inventors: |
Brady; Yvonne Anne; (Co
Louth, IE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BRADY; Yvonne Anne
EvB Sports Short Limited |
Co. Louth
Co. Louth |
|
IE
IE |
|
|
Assignee: |
EvB Sports Shorts Limited
Co. Louth
IE
|
Family ID: |
50340603 |
Appl. No.: |
14/429999 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
September 20, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/069644 |
371 Date: |
March 20, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/401 ;
450/156 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 27/02 20130101;
A41D 1/089 20180101; A41D 1/08 20130101; A41C 1/003 20130101; A41B
9/001 20130101; A41D 27/10 20130101; A41B 9/08 20130101; A41B
2400/38 20130101; A41B 2300/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41B 9/00 20060101
A41B009/00; A41B 9/08 20060101 A41B009/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 21, 2012 |
IE |
S2012/0416 |
Claims
1. An undergarment for providing support to a wearer comprising: a
front portion; a rear portion; a crotch portion between the front
portion and the rear portion; a waistband for supporting the
undergarment on the wearer, and an uplifting mechanism to provide
support at the crotch portion.
2. The undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the uplifting
mechanism extends between the waistband and the crotch portion to
provide an uplifting force at the crotch portion.
3. The undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waistband is
adapted to support the support garment on the wearer at hips so
that the uplifting force extends between the hips and the
crotch.
4. The undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waistband
comprises an elasticated waistband.
5. The undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waistband
comprises a drawstring and/or fasteners.
6. The undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the uplifting
mechanism comprises at least one uplifting band extending between
the waistband and the crotch portion.
7. The undergarment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the uplifting
mechanism comprises two uplifting bands extending between the
waistband and the crotch portion.
8. The undergarment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one
uplifting band extends upwards and outwards from the crotch portion
to the waistband
9. The undergarment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one
uplifting band comprises elasticated uplifting bands.
10. The undergarment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the elasticated
at least one uplifting band comprises pre-tensioned elasticated
uplifting bands.
11. The undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
undergarment is formed as shorts.
12. The undergarment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shorts
comprise compression panels of non-elastic material provided on the
inner surface of the shorts.
13. The undergarment as claimed in claim wherein the crotch portion
comprises a pouch for receiving a sanitary towel.
14. The undergarment as claimed in claim wherein the crotch portion
further comprises cushioning means to ameliorate chafing.
15. The undergarment as claimed in claim comprising an elasticated
fabric.
16. A blank for forming into an undergarment, the undergarment
comprising: a front portion; a rear portion; a crotch portion
between the front portion and the rear portion; a waistband for
supporting the undergarment on the wearer, and an uplifting
mechanism to provide support at the crotch portion.
17. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This invention relates to an undergarment and more
particularly to support briefs or shorts for, inter alia,
supporting pelvic floor muscles adaptable for use by females or
males.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The muscles of the pelvic floor, the lower abdomen and the
lower back form the body's core and proper activation of all of
these muscles enable the core to function properly to support and
strengthen the body. The pelvic organs are suspended within the
pelvis by ligament. High impact exercise such as running create
downward forces on the pelvic organs, but one of the core's
functions is to hold in and up these organs to support and
stabilize the organs. Thus supporting and activating the core can
prevent conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse in the long term.
Stress or urinary incontinence is a common condition suffered by
both men and women resulting from weakness of the pelvic floor and
core muscles, which can be caused by childbirth, surgery, back pain
or the like. Urinary incontinence then results when a person
sneezes, coughs, lifts something heavy or exercises
strenuously.
[0003] It is not uncommon for women to suffer from weakened or
damaged pelvic floor muscles following childbirth. In fact, post
pregnancy the pelvic area can remain vulnerable for up to a year
after birth. Symptoms of weakened pelvic floor muscles can include
mild incontinence particularly during exercise or other physical
exertions. Weakened pelvic floor muscles and the associated
incontinence can also develop with age.
[0004] Incontinence is distressing for women suffering from the
condition and, in particular, mild incontinence that manifests
itself during exercise can deter women from exercising post-partum
and in fact delay recovery of the pelvic floor muscles.
[0005] In addition, many people, including both men and women
suffer lower back and lower abdomen weakness and pain.
[0006] Various garments have been developed in an attempt to
support pelvic floor muscles and minimize incontinence. For
example, tight-fitting female jockstrap-type devices are known
which must be worn over underwear and exert a compression force for
support while PCT Patent Specification No. WO2009/114899 describes
compression shorts with legs, similar to running shorts, and formed
from panels of elasticated fabric for compressing muscles. Like the
female jockstrap, the compression shorts must be worn over
underwear.
[0007] Neither the jockstrap-type devices nor the compression
shorts are suitable for use as underwear or undergarments proper
while the requirement to wear undergarments beneath the
jockstrap-type devices and compression shorts results in an extra
layer of garments on the wearer which can appear bulky, is
uncomfortable and can result in the undergarments and support
garments becoming entangled particularly at elastic components.
Moreover, the elasticated legs of the compression shorts can exert
a downward pull on the shorts thereby counteracting pelvic floor
support while the compressive forces exerted by the jockstrap-type
devices and the compression shorts can themselves be uncomfortable
and counter-productive.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the invention is to provide a garment which
supports the pelvic girdle, the lower abdomen and lower back,
thereby easing back and pelvic pain caused by instability. A
further object is to provide a garment which provides an up-lifting
effect to the perineum and pelvic floor. By providing such an
effect, pelvic floor, lower abdomen and back muscle may be
optimized through increased mechanical advantage of the muscles in
their shortened position, increased proprioception of the muscles
and compression of the pelvic girdle joints.
[0009] In addition, it is an object to provide a garment which can
help reduce the risk of stress incontinence in the short term and
reduce the risk of pelvic organ relapse in the long term. A further
object is to provide a garment which mimics the natural way the
pelvic floor and core muscles work by providing an uplifting effect
rather than the pushing down effect of the prior art garments or
belts, which is dysfunctional. Another object of the invention is
to overcome at least some of the problems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to the invention there is provided an undergarment
for providing support to
[0011] a wearer comprising:
[0012] a front portion:
[0013] a rear portion:
[0014] a crotch portion between the front portion and the rear
portion:
[0015] a waistband for supporting the undergarment on the wearer,
and
[0016] an uplifting mechanism to provide support at the crotch
portion.
[0017] Preferably, the uplifting mechanism extends between the
waistband and the crotch portion to provide an uplifting force at
the crotch portion to support pelvic floor muscles and recruit core
muscles to lend assistance to the pelvic floor muscles.
[0018] Suitably, the waistband is adapted to support the support
briefs on the wearer at hips so that the uplifting force extends
between the hips and the crotch.
[0019] Advantageously, the waistband comprises an elasticated
waistband.
[0020] Suitably, the waistband comprises a drawstring and/or
fasteners.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the uplifting
mechanism comprises at least one uplifting band extending between
the waistband and the crotch portion.
[0022] Preferably, the uplifting mechanism comprises two uplifting
bands extending between the waistband and the crotch portion.
[0023] More preferably, the two uplifting bands extend upwards and
outwards from the crotch portion to the waistband
[0024] In some embodiments -the uplifting bands comprise
elasticated uplifting bands.
[0025] Suitably, the elasticated uplifting bands comprise
pre-tensioned elasticated uplifting bands.
[0026] Preferably, the crotch portion comprises a pouch for
receiving a sanitary towel.
[0027] Optionally, the crotch portion further comprises cushioning
means to ameliorate chafing.
[0028] Advantageously, the undergarment comprises an elasticated
fabric.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the undergarment
comprises feminine support briefs while, in an alternative
embodiment of the invention, the undergarment comprises masculine
support briefs.
[0030] The invention also extends to a blank for forming into an
undergarment as hereinbefore defined.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the undergarment
may comprise shorts with leg portions, with the uplift mechanism
being provided by one or more compression panels extending from the
waistband at the front to the waistband at the back. The
compression panels may suitably be formed from a non-elastic
fabric. One such suitable fabric is polyester. The panels are
suitably provided on the inner surface of the shorts or garment.
The panel(s) thus provide uplift support in the crotch portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the support briefs of the
invention on a woman with the briefs supported and hung from the
hips of the woman and the uplifting force between the hips and
pelvic floor muscles indicated by an arrow;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the support briefs on the
woman of FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank of the briefs of FIGS. 1
and 2,
[0036] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section through the blank along
the line 1V-1V of FIG. 3 showing a sanitary towel in the pouch of
the support briefs,
[0037] FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of the
support briefs of the invention on a woman,
[0038] FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 5 on
the woman,
[0039] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the inner panels of the embodiment
of FIG. 5, and
[0040] FIG. 8 is a partial section through the garment along the
line X-X in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a pair of support
briefs in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by
the reference numeral 1. The support briefs 1 are adapted to
support the pelvic floor muscles of a woman 2 by being elastically
supported from the hips 2a of the woman 2 to provide a supporting
uplift to the pelvic floor muscles of the woman 2.
[0042] The support briefs 1 are formed from a blank 3 having a top
edge 4, a bottom edge 5 and first and second side edges 6,7
respectively, extending between the top edge 4 and the bottom edge
5. The blank 3 is shaped to define a briefs front portion 8, a
briefs rear portion 9 and a gusset or crotch portion 10 between the
briefs front portion 8 and the briefs rear portion 9. The crotch
portion 10 is provided with an openable pouch 11 for receiving a
removable sanitary pad or towel 12. The pouch 11 can be opened or
closed at a slit optionally provided with fastening means such as
Velcro (Trade Mark) if desired.
[0043] The support briefs 1 are fitted with an elasticated
waistband 13 made up of an upper elasticated waistband portion 14
at the top edge 4 of the blank 3 and a lower elasticated waistband
portion 15 at the bottom edge 5 of the blank 3. The blank 3 is
further shaped at the first and second side edges 6,7 to define
inwardly curved or arcuate first and second leg portions 16, 17
respectively. The inwardly curved first and second leg portions
16,17 in the blank 3 define respective first and second leg
openings 18, 19 in the support briefs 1.
[0044] The briefs front portion 8 is provided with an uplifting
system for imparting a reinforcing upwards lift to the pelvic floor
muscles in the form of a first elasticated uplifting band 20
extending diagonally outwards between the crotch portion 10 and the
elasticated waistband 13 and a second elasticated uplifting band 21
also extending diagonally outwards between the crotch portion 10
and the elasticated waistband 13.
[0045] The first and second uplifting bands 20, 21 therefore define
a substantially V-shaped uplifting system on the briefs front
portion 8 to, in combination with the waistband 13, support the
pelvic floor muscles of a wearer with a comfortable upwards
compressive force. As the waistband 13 is supported on the hips 2a,
the uplifting force therefore extends between the pelvic floor
muscles and the hips 2a.
[0046] The elasticated waistband 13 is made up of waistband elastic
22 contained within waistband fabric 23 and secured in place within
the waistband fabric 23 by waistband stitching 24. The elasticated
waistband 13 optionally also contains a drawstring (not shown)
which can be used to further secure the support briefs 1 in place
on the hips 2a of a user to reinforce the uplifting mechanism. The
drawstring can also be replaced by other mechanisms if desired such
as clasps, buttons and the like.
[0047] The first and second uplifting bands 20, 21 are
pre-tensioned uplifting bands 20, 21 made up of uplifting band
elastic 25 contained within uplifting band fabric 26 and held in
place by uplifting band stitching 27.
[0048] The uplifting bands 20, 21 can be pre-tensioned during
manufacture by, firstly, stretching the elastic 25, secondly,
covering the stretched elastic 25 with the fabric 26 and, thirdly,
applying the stitching 27 to the stretched uplifting bands 20,
21.
[0049] The briefs front portion 8 is further provided with an
elasticated stomach panel 28 between the waistband 13 and the first
and second uplifting bands 20, 21. The stomach panel 28 is adapted
to exert a compressive force on the stomach area of the woman 2.
The elasticated panel 28 can be formed from an elasticated fabric
or pre-tensioned elastic material contained within fabric in an
analogous fashion to the uplifting bands 20, 21. The elasticated
panel 28 is constructed and dimensioned to have a thickness similar
to the thickness of the waistband 13 to minimize the visibility of
the briefs on the woman.
[0050] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the briefs
rear portion 9 can also be formed from an elasticated fabric if
desired or can be provided with uplifting bands 20, 21 to impart an
additional uplifting force to the support briefs 1.
[0051] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the garment 1 takes the
form of shorts with leg portions 29. The uplifting system takes the
form of compression panels 30 which extend from the crotch portion
10 to the waistband 13 to give a sling-like effect when worn. The
panels 30 are formed from two layers which are placed one on top of
the other with no sew technology, and stitched together with flat
lock seams to reduce pressure lines and chaffing. During
manufacture, the panels 30 are affixed to the blank 3 similarly
using no sew technology together with flat lock seams 31 at the
edges of the panels. The panels 30 are positioned such that they
provide support to the lower back, abdomen and perineum. The
compression panels 30 are provided on the inner surface of the
garment 3 and are composed of 100% polyester. The panels 30 are
attached to the garment by flatlock seams 31 to give a smooth
finish. FIG. 7 shows the compression panels 30 in plan view. A mesh
liner 32 is provided in the crotch area to hold a sanitary
pad/towel 12 in place for comfort. FIG. 8 shows the garment in
section.
[0052] If desired, the crotch portion 10 can also be provided with
cushioning means to further increase the comfort of the support
briefs and to assist in preventing chafing. In use, the support
garment 1 of the invention can be manufactured from a blank 3 as
hereinbefore defined and are worn by a man or woman to provide
support to, inter alia, pelvic floor muscles and counteract mild
incontinence. Unlike products of the prior art, the support briefs
or shorts 1 are adapted to be comfortably worn as underwear and are
particularly suitable for wear during exercise or other physical
exertions. The support briefs or shorts 1 are shaped and configured
to be supported from a person's hips 2a while the uplifting
mechanism defined by the waist band 13 and the pre-tensioned
uplifting bands 20, 21 together with the elasticated stomach panel
28 (or alternatively, the waist band 13 together with the inner
panels 30) provide comfortable support to the wearer. When used
with a sanitary towel or similar contained within the pouch 11 (or
alternatively 31), the garment 1 also assists in ameliorating
incontinence episodes.
[0053] Although the applicant does not wish to be bound by any
theorem, it is believed that the uplifting force generated by the
support briefs 1, in contradistinction with the compressive forces
of the prior art, assists in an even support in the crotch area
whilst minimizing slippage of the support briefs 1 to help in
reinforcing pelvic floor muscles and recruit core muscles to lend
assistance to the pelvic floor muscles.
[0054] The invention provides firm uplift support to the pelvis,
perineum and lower abdomen. It supports and activates the core, so
reducing the risk of stress incontinence and organ prolapse. The
uplift support of the garment of the invention stabilizes the
pelvic girdle joints and reduces shearing forces in the pelvic
joints including the sacroiliac joints, and so eases certain types
of back pain and pelvic pain caused by instability. Another
significant advantage of the invention is that because the garment
provides firm support to the pelvic girdle, it may help the pelvis
to return to its original size and circumference sooner if worn in
the months following pregnancy.
[0055] The garment can also provide symptomatic relief for vaginal
wall prolapse because it has a lifting effect on the perineum.
[0056] The support garment 1 of the invention can be manufactured
from any suitable fabric and elastic materials known in the art.
One suitable fabric is a mixture of 90% polyamid and 10% elastine.
Such a fabric has a weight of 250 g/m.sup.2.
[0057] The invention is not limited to the embodiments herein
described which may be varied in construction and detail without
departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *