U.S. patent application number 15/507123 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-05 for a garment having a substantially centrally located access aperture.
This patent application is currently assigned to BNB GROUP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is BNB GROUP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD. Invention is credited to LISA NOUH.
Application Number | 20170280783 15/507123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55398506 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170280783 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NOUH; LISA |
October 5, 2017 |
A GARMENT HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY LOCATED ACCESS
APERTURE
Abstract
There is provided a garment comprising a frontward access
aperture portion defining a substantially centrally located access
aperture; and an interiorly located barrier panel fastened between
lateral edges of the frontward access aperture portion. In use the
interiorly located barrier panel is substantially taught such that
the interiorly located barrier panel bears against the genitals to
substantially prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding
from the access aperture; and the interiorly located barrier panel
pulls inner edges of the access aperture towards each other so as
to substantially close the access aperture. Furthermore, the
interiorly located barrier panel defines an upper downward
deflectable edge such that the wearer may insert a finger through
the access aperture to deflect the deflectable edge downwards to
allow access to the genitals so as to be able to pull at least a
portion of the genitals through the access aperture.
Inventors: |
NOUH; LISA; (Wetherill Park,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BNB GROUP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD |
Wetherill Park |
|
AU |
|
|
Assignee: |
BNB GROUP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Wetherill Park
AU
|
Family ID: |
55398506 |
Appl. No.: |
15/507123 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
August 27, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2015/050500 |
371 Date: |
February 27, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 7/005 20130101;
A41B 9/005 20130101; A41B 9/02 20130101; A41B 9/026 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41B 9/00 20060101
A41B009/00; A41B 9/02 20060101 A41B009/02; A41D 7/00 20060101
A41D007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 27, 2014 |
AU |
2014903393 |
Claims
1. A garment comprising: a frontward access aperture portion
defining a substantially centrally located access aperture; and an
interiorly located barrier panel fastened between lateral edges of
the frontward access aperture portion such that in use: the
interiorly located barrier panel is substantially taught such that:
the interiorly located barrier panel bears against the genitals to
substantially prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding
from the access aperture; and the interiorly located barrier panel
pulls inner edges of the access aperture towards each other so as
to substantially close the access aperture; and the interiorly
located barrier panel defines an upper downward deflectable edge
such that: the wearer may insert a finger through the access
aperture to deflect the deflectable edge downwards to allow access
to the genitals so as to be able to pull at least a portion of the
genitals through the access aperture.
2. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interiorly located
barrier panel is adapted such that the location of the upper
downward deflect of edge is substantially just sufficiently high
enough to cover the genitals to prevent the genitals from
inadvertently protruding from the access aperture.
3. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access aperture is
substantially elongate and vertically aligned.
4. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access aperture
portion is configurable in an open configuration and a closed
configuration and wherein the access aperture portion is biased
towards the closed configuration.
5. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access aperture
portion is an elasticised.
6. A garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the access aperture
portion is elasticised by way of elastic stitched within stitching
of the access aperture portion.
7. A garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the access aperture
portion is elasticised by way of at least one elastic portion.
8. A garment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the access aperture
portion comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first
portion and the second portion movable with respect to each other
to selectively define the access aperture.
9. A garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first portion and
the second portion are adapted for substantial adjacent collocation
in a closed configuration.
10. A garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first portion and
the second portion are adapted to overlap in a closed
configuration.
11. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frontward access
aperture portion is adapted to bulge to accommodate the genital in
use.
12. A garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frontward access
aperture portion is adapted to substantially assume a closed
configuration when the access aperture portion bulges forward to
accommodate the genital in use.
13. A garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frontward access
aperture portion is shaped to bulge.
14. A garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frontward access
aperture portion is elasticised to bulge.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to garments and in particular,
but not necessarily entirely, to undergarments such as briefs,
boxes or other garments such as swimwear comprising a substantially
centrally located access aperture.
[0002] The invention has been developed primarily for use with
boxer and a brief-style underwear and will be described hereinafter
with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated
that the invention is not limited to this particular field of
use.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] For garments such as boxes, briefs and the like for
underwear, swimwear and the like, it is desirable for the garment
to be selectively openable to allow access to the male genital
without having to remove the garment.
[0004] As such, certain existing garments are selectively openable
to allow access to the male genital.
[0005] Specifically, two known existing arrangements are known in
the marketplace as the Y-Front and the Guy Front underwear.
[0006] These existing arrangements provide an access aperture so as
to be selectively openable to allow access to the male genital.
However, these existing arrangements locate the access aperture
away from the centre of the male garment to attempt to overcome the
problem of the access aperture being opened by the pressure of the
male genital resulting in the inadvertent protrusion of the male
genital especially when the user is running or performing other
kinds of vigorous exercise.
[0007] Specifically, referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a prior
art "Guy front" garment 100. As is apparent, the garment 100
comprises an access aperture 105. However, the access aperture 105
is located away from the centre 110 of the garment 100.
[0008] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a prior art
"Y-front" garment 200 characterised in the distinctive inverted
Y-shaped stitching. According to this prior art garment 200, one
arm of the Y-shape defines an access aperture 105. Again, the
access aperture 105 is located away from the centre 110 of the
garments 200.
[0009] One of the reasons these access apertures 105 are located
away from the centre 110 of the garments is that if the access
apertures 105 was located substantially at the centre 110 of the
garment, the access aperture 105 could inadvertently open under the
pressure of the male genital.
[0010] However, by locating the access aperture 105 away from the
central pressure region of the garment, these existing arrangements
suffer from certain disadvantages. Specifically, these existing
arrangements are difficult to use, in that the male genital is less
accessible from an access aperture 105 located away and to the side
of the male genital. Furthermore the male genital must sometimes be
contorted to reach the laterally located access aperture 105. It is
for these reasons of inconvenience and discomfort that many males
do not wear such undergarments.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows prior art publication US005379462A (D1) showing
a male short or pant type garment which includes an inbuilt
genito-supportive structure 21 adapted to support the male
genitals. From FIG. 2 it appears that the genito-supportive
structure 21 supports the scrotum while the shaft of the penis
extends through V-shaped comfort opening 63 so as to lie behind fly
30. As such, D1 provides a garment that supports the male genitals
(the scrotum particularly) and having a comfort opening 63 to allow
the penis to extend from the genito-supportive structure 21. When
urinating or the like, the penis is drawn from behind the fly
30.
[0012] As such, D1 is directed to the problem of providing garments
having interior structures capable of providing genito-support to
depending male body portions that are not unduly restrictive to the
wearer's freedom of movement.
[0013] However, D1 is not directed to addressing the problems
addressed by the embodiments disclosed herein of providing a
garment having a centrally located access aperture (so as to allow
convenient and ergonomic access to the penis without having to
contort or stretch the penis or garment to reach a laterally
located access aperture as is the case for the prior art
arrangements as is given in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above) and
wherein the garment is configured to substantially prevent the
inadvertent extrusion of the penis from the centrally located
access aperture, especially under pressure from the genitals
bearing against the access aperture.
[0014] Specifically, in accordance with one aspect of the invention
there is provided a garment comprising a frontward access aperture
portion defining a substantially centrally located access aperture;
and an interiorly located barrier panel fastened between lateral
edges of the frontward access aperture portion such that in use:
the interiorly located barrier panel is substantially taught such
that: the interiorly located barrier panel bears against the
genitals to substantially prevent the genitals from inadvertently
protruding from the access aperture; and the interiorly located
barrier panel pulls inner edges of the access aperture towards each
other so as to substantially close the access aperture; and
interiorly located barrier panel defines an upper downward
deflectable edge such that the wearer may insert a finger through
the access aperture to deflect the deflectable edge downwards to
allow access to the genitals so as to be able to pull at least a
portion of the genitals through the access aperture.
[0015] As is evident the genito-supportive structure 21 of D1 does
not bears against the genitals (especially the penis) to
substantially prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding
from the access aperture. In fact, it would appear from D1 that the
shaft of the penis extends through the V-shaped comfort opening 63
at all times and bears directly against the unsupported fly 30 such
that, with D1, the genitals may indeed inadvertently protrude from
the fly 30.
[0016] Furthermore, the shape of the V-shaped comfort opening 63 of
D1 prevents the V-shaped comfort opening 63 of D1 from
substantially pulling inner edges of the fly 30 towards each other
to substantially close the fly 30 unlike the interiorly located
barrier panel of the present embodiment which is fastened between
the lateral edges of the frontward access aperture portion and a
substantially taught so as to pull the edges of the access aperture
closed. Specifically, the vertical notch within the
genito-supportive structure 21 effectively prevents the
genito-supportive structure 21 from generating the lateral forces
required for pulling the lateral edges of the fly 30 together.
[0017] Furthermore, the shape of the V-shaped comfort opening 63 of
D1 does not define a downward deflectable edge. Specifically, the
upper edge of the V-shape of D1 defining a notch is not suited to
deflect the upper edge of the notch of D1 downwards because the
substantially vertical lateral edges on either side of the notch
pull the notch vertically, preventing the user from pulling the
notch downwards. Conversely, the upper downward deflectable edge of
the present embodiments is substantially linear, allowing for ease
in deflecting the upper downward deflectable edge downwards.
[0018] Furthermore, as can be appreciated, the outer shorts of D1
are loosefitting. As is described in further detail below, in a
preferred embodiment, the garment according to the present
embodiments is close-fitting such as by taking the form of the
boxers or briefs such that the genitals bear against the access
aperture. Conversely, as alluded to above, the outer shorts of D1
are loosefitting such that the genitals do not press against the
access aperture (fly 30). As such, the genito supportive structure
21 is not adapted to pull the fly 30 closed because the genitals do
not press against the fly 30 of D1.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown US6018822A (D2) showing
a further article of clothing of shorts or pants according to the
prior art, having a pair of front panels 24, overlying a vent
backing panel 28.
[0020] However, D2 has the disadvantage in that the genitals must
be accessed from around the lateral edges of the backing panel 28
such that D2 is little different from the Guy-front and Y-front
prior art existing arrangements describes above with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the garment or the genitals must be stretched
or contorted so as to gain access.
[0021] Conversely, the present invention allows for the deflection
of the interiorly located barrier panel to move the barrier panel
out of the way such that the garment/genitals do not need to be
stretched or contorted for access.
[0022] Furthermore, by allowing access to the genitals at the
lateral edges of the backing panel 28, the backing panel 20 in of
D2 does is not substantially taught so as to be able to pull the
access aperture substantially closed.
[0023] Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows US 2010/0058517 A1 (D3) showing a
further prior art arrangement showing a combination of underpants
and boxer shorts providing a synergic effect from the connection of
the two garments.
[0024] However, as can be seen from D3, the underpants portion 16
extends only to the bottom of the opening 26 and therefore do not
substantially prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding
from the access aperture or pull the access aperture substantially
closed.
[0025] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the
interiorly located barrier panel may be adapted such that the
location of the upper downward deflect of edge may be substantially
just sufficiently high enough to cover the genitals to prevent the
genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access
aperture.
[0026] The access aperture may be substantially elongate and
vertically aligned.
[0027] The access aperture portion may be biased towards the closed
configuration.
[0028] The access aperture portion may be an elasticised.
[0029] The access aperture portion may be elasticised by way of
elastic stitched within stitching of the access aperture
portion.
[0030] The access aperture portion may be elasticised by way of at
least one elastic portion.
[0031] The access aperture portion may comprise a first portion and
a second portion, the first portion and the second portion movable
with respect to each other to selectively define the access
aperture.
[0032] The first portion and the second portion are adapted for
substantial adjacent collocation in a closed configuration.
[0033] The first portion and the second portion are adapted to
overlap in a closed configuration.
[0034] The frontward access aperture portion may be adapted to
bulge to accommodate the genital in use.
[0035] The frontward access aperture portion may be adapted to
substantially assume a closed configuration when the access
aperture portion bulges forward to accommodate the genital in
use.
[0036] The frontward access aperture portion may be shaped to
bulge.
[0037] The frontward access aperture portion may be elasticised to
bulge.
[0038] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is
referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission
that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in
the art, in Australia or any other country.
[0039] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the
scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the
disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0041] FIGS. 1-5 show garments according to the prior art;
[0042] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a "boxer" style garment comprising an
access aperture in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0043] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a "brief" style garment comprising an
access aperture in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure; AND
[0044] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a "boxer" style garment comprising an
access aperture in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure; and
[0045] FIGS. 12 and 13 show a "brief" style garment comprising an
access aperture in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0046] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be
made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific
language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be
understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is
thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the
inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional
applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated
herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant
art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered
within the scope of the disclosure.
[0047] Before the structures, systems and associated methods
relating to the garment having a substantially centrally located
access aperture are disclosed and described, it is to be understood
that this disclosure is not limited to the particular
configurations, process steps, and materials disclosed herein as
such configurations, process steps, and materials may vary
somewhat. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed
herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments
only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the
disclosure will be limited only by the claims and equivalents
thereof.
[0048] In describing and claiming the subject matter of the
disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance
with the definitions set out below.
[0049] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include
plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0050] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including,"
"containing," "characterised by," and grammatical equivalents
thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude
additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
[0051] It should be noted in the following description that like or
the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the
same or similar features.
[0052] In the embodiment that follow, there will be described
garments providing a substantially centrally located access
aperture allowing for the access of the male genital in a manner
that overcomes or at least substantially ameliorates the
above-mentioned disadvantages of prior art arrangements of
inaccessibility, discomfort and the like.
[0053] Specifically, referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a front
view of a garment 300 according to a first embodiment. Referring to
FIG. 7, there is shown an inside out view of the garment 300 of
FIG. 1.
[0054] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the boxer-style garment whereas FIGS. 8
and 9 show the brief-style garment which will be described in
further detail below.
[0055] Now, as is apparent, the garment 300 provides an access
aperture 105 located substantially centrally of the front of the
garment 300. In this manner, the garment 300 provides easy access
to the male genital without discomfort.
[0056] It should be noted that the term "substantially centrally"
should be construed broadly but sufficiently to distinguish the
embodiments described herein from the existing prior art
arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In general terms, the term
"substantially centrally" means that the access aperture lies
substantially on or adjacent the lateral centre of the garment 300
as is demarcated by the centre demarcation 110.
[0057] Now, more specifically, the garment 300 comprises a
frontward access aperture portion 305. The frontward access
aperture portion 305 defines the substantially centrally located
access aperture 105. The substantially centrally located access
aperture 105 allows for the selected passage of the male genital
therethrough in use.
[0058] Furthermore, and referring specifically now to FIG. 7, and
so as to prevent the inadvertent passage of the male genital
through the access aperture 105 in use, the garment 300 further
comprises an interiorly located barrier panel 405 adapted for
selectively barring the access aperture 105 in use. The barrier
panel 405 not only prevents the inadvertent passage of the genital
through the access aperture 105, but also provides the tension to
hold the forward access aperture portion together in a closed
configuration.
[0059] As such, in use, to gain access to the male genital, the
user will move the barrier panel 405 out of the way, such as by
moving the barrier panel 405 downwards, such as by insertion of a
finger through the access aperture 105 to gain access to the
barrier panel 405 so as to subsequently allow the male genital to
pass through the access aperture 105.
[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the garment 300 is close-fitting
such that the access aperture presses against the genitals so as to
suit the garment 30 to be worn as an undergarment, such as
underwear and the like. As such, as can be appreciated from the
company drawings, the barrier panel 405 prevents the genitals from
inadvertently protruding through the access aperture 105 even while
the genitals exert force on the access aperture 105. It should be
noted however that in other embodiment, the garment 300 could be
loosefitting also.
[0061] Specifically, the garment comprises the frontward access
aperture portion defining the substantially centrally located
access aperture 105; and the interiorly located barrier panel 405
fastened between lateral edges 315 of the frontward access aperture
portion.
[0062] As such that in use the interiorly located barrier panel 405
is substantially taught such that the interiorly located barrier
panel 405 bears against the genitals to substantially prevent the
genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access aperture
105.
[0063] Furthermore the interiorly located barrier panel 405 pulls
inner edges of the access aperture towards each other so as to
substantially close the access aperture. It should be noted that
"substantially close" should not be necessarily construed as being
completely closed and, when being substantially closed, the access
aperture may comprise a small opening. However, when being
substantially closed, the access aperture 105 should be construed
as not being wide-open.
[0064] Yet further, the interiorly located barrier panel 405
defines an upper downward deflectable edge 410 such that the wearer
may insert a finger through the access aperture 105 to deflect the
deflectable edge downwards to allow access to the genitals so as to
be able to pull at least a portion of the genitals through the
access aperture.
[0065] As can be appreciated from FIG. 7, the downward deflectable
edge 410 is located just sufficiently high so as to cover a
sufficient portion of the genitals so as to prevent the genitals
from inadvertently protruding from the access aperture 105. In
other words, in a preferred embodiment, as opposed to the barrier
panel 405 extending all the way upwards such that the downward
deflectable edge 410 is located substantially near the top of the
garment 300 requiring the user to deflect the barrier panel all the
way downwards, the downward deflectable edge 410 is rather located
at a suitable height just sufficient to cover the genitals to
prevent the genitals from inadvertently protruding from the access
aperture such that the user need only deflect the downward
deflectable edge 410 downwards to uncover the genitals.
[0066] Now, it should be appreciated that the access aperture 105
may take on differing shapes and dimensions within the purposive
scope of the embodiments described herein of allowing access to the
male genital.
[0067] However, in a preferred embodiment, as is given in FIG. 1,
the access aperture portion 305 is adapted such that the access
aperture 105 is substantially elongate and vertically aligned. The
vertical alignment conforms with the natural stitching of the
garment 300, especially where the frontward access portion 305
comprises a first portion 320a and a second portion 320b movable
with respect to each other to selectively define the access
aperture 105. The first portion 320a and the second portion 320b
are stitched to the remainder of the garment 300 by outward lateral
stitching 315.
[0068] Now, the access aperture portion 305 is configurable in an
open configuration and closed configuration. In this manner, when
configured in the open configuration, the access aperture 105 would
be dilated so as to allow the passage of the male genital
therethrough whereas in the closed configuration, the access
aperture 105 would be less dilated.
[0069] In a preferred embodiment, the access aperture portion 305
is biased towards the closed configuration. In this manner, the
access aperture 105 normally assumes the less dilated or closed
configuration until such time that access is required.
[0070] So as to bias the access aperture portion 305 to the closed
configuration, in one embodiment, the access aperture portion 305
is elasticised. In this manner, the elasticity of the access
aperture portion pulls the access aperture portion 305 to the
closed configuration.
[0071] In one embodiment, the access aperture portion 305 is
elasticised by at least one of the first portion 320a and the
second portion 320b comprising elastic such that the portion 320
tends naturally to the closed configuration.
[0072] In another embodiment, the access aperture portion 305
comprises inwardly located stitching 325 located substantially
adjacent the access aperture 105 wherein the stitching 325
comprises elastic stitched within the stitching.
[0073] As alluded to above, the tension provided by the barrier
panel 405 also pulls the panel 320 towards each other such that the
access aperture portion 305 takes on the closed configuration.
[0074] Now, in the closed configuration, the first portion 320a and
the second portion 320b may be adapted for substantial adjacent
collocation. However, in other embodiments, the first portion 320a
and the second portion 320b are adapted to overlap in the closed
configuration. The degree of overlap may vary depending on the
application, but an overlap of about 1 cm may be appropriate in
certain embodiments. The overlap allows the forward access aperture
portion 305 to remain in the substantially closed configuration
despite bulging outwards such as under the pressure from the male
genital.
[0075] In a further embodiment, the frontward access aperture
portion 305 is adapted to bulge to accommodate the shape of the
genital in use. It should be noted that the frontward access
aperture portion 305 is adapted to assume the closed configuration
when the access aperture portion 305 bulges forward to accommodate
the genital in use. In this manner, the access aperture portion 305
does not substantially assume the open configuration under the
pressure of the genital in use. However, in other embodiments, the
access aperture portion 305 may open slightly, or even entirely
under the pressure of the genital, wherein the genital is
constrained by the interiorly located barrier 405.
[0076] In one embodiment, the access aperture portion is shaped to
bulge to accommodate the genital in use. However, in other
embodiments, the frontward access aperture portion may be
elasticised to bulge under the pressure of the genital in use.
[0077] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown the interior barrier
panel 405 in further detail.
[0078] As alluded to above, the barrier panel 405 comprises the
downward delectable edge 410. In use, the user could insert a
finger or the like through the access aperture 105 to gain access
to the downward delectable edge 410 so as to move the movable
portion 410 downwards to allow the passage of the genital through
the access aperture 105.
[0079] It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the downward
delectable edge 410 could move in other manners and directions,
such as along any substantially vertical or horizontal path. For
example, the delectable edge 410 could move upwards to allow access
through the access aperture. However, in the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4, the barrier panel 405 is configured such that the downward
delectable edge 410 is located at a convenient height sufficient to
cover the genital so as to event the inadvertent protrusion of the
genital from the access aperture 105.
[0080] In one embodiment, the access aperture portion 305 comprises
outer lateral stitching 315 and wherein the barrier panel 405 is
stitched to the access aperture portion at the outer lateral
stitching 315.
[0081] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 now, there is shown the
brief-style garment 400. As is apparent, the brief style garment
400 comprises truncated thigh portions so as to take on the
characteristic brief style as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0082] However, as is apparent, the garment 400 in this embodiment
yet comprises the substantially centrally located access aperture
105. As is apparent, the access aperture 105 is located
substantially in line with the centre demarcation 110.
[0083] Referring now to the inside out view of the garment 400 as
is shown substantially in FIG. 9, it is apparent that the interior
barrier panel 405 takes on a differing configuration. Specifically,
the interior barrier panel 405 takes wider configuration, so as to
reach further spaced apart lateral stitching 315. However, the
barrier panel 405 operates in the same manner as is described
above.
Interpretation
Embodiments
[0084] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment"
or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an
embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not
necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may.
Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics
may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one
of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more
embodiments.
[0085] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above
description of example embodiments of the invention, various
features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a
single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose
of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of
one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of
disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an
intention that the claimed invention requires more features than
are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following
claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of
a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following
the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby
expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific
Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate
embodiment of this invention.
[0086] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include
some but not other features included in other embodiments,
combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be
within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments,
as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the
following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any
combination.
Different Instances of Objects
[0087] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the
ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a
common object, merely indicate that different instances of like
objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that
the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either
temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.
Specific Details
[0088] In the description provided herein, numerous specific
details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments
of the invention may be practiced without these specific details.
In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques
have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an
understanding of this description.
Terminology
[0089] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention
illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted
to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended
to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be
understood that each specific term includes all technical
equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a
similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward",
"radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the like
are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and
are not to be construed as limiting terms.
Comprising and Including
[0090] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description
of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due
to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise"
or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an
inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated
features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further
features in various embodiments of the invention.
[0091] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that
includes as used herein is also an open term that also means
including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but
not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means
comprising.
Scope of Invention
[0092] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be
the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the
art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made
thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it
is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall
within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given
above are merely representative of procedures that may be used.
Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and
operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may
be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the
present invention.
[0093] Although the invention has been described with reference to
specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0094] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements
described are applicable to the garment industries.
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