Underwear abstract
The present invention is underwear that is secured to the inside
of an article of clothing by mechanical attachment means and does
not produce any visible panty lines. The underwear is made almost
entirely of soft woven material and is washable so it may be used
multiple times.
Underwear claims
1. A washable, waistless, and seamless underwear for protection
against infections, bacteria, pathogens, irritating dyes, and small
amounts of moisture or other liquids, the underwear comprising:
an article of clothing with a first mechanical attachment means;
and a piece of woven material wherein the woven material contains
a second mechanical attachment means that can be attached to the
first mechanical attachment means such that the woven material covers
the vaginal area of the user.
2. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein the firsts mechanical
attachment means and the second mechanical attachment means are
mating parts of a snap.
3. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein the first mechanical
attachment means and the second mechanical attachment means are
mating parts of a hook and loop.
4. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein the first mechanical
attachment means and the second mechanical attachment means are
mating parts of a button and button hole.
5. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein the first mechanical
attachment means and the second mechanical attachment means are
mating parts of hook and loop fastener such as Velcro.RTM..
6. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein the first mechanical
attachment means is not easily visible from the outside of the article
of clothing.
7. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein the woven material
is cotton.
8. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein the woven material
is a cotton blend.
9. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the
woven material is not greater than approximately 2 mm.
10. The seamless underwear of claim 1 wherein an elastic band surrounds
at least a portion of the woven material.
11. The seamless underwear of claim 10 wherein the second mechanical
attachment means is attached to the elastic band.
12. A washable and waistless underwear to be worn for protection
against infections, bacteria, pathogens, irritating dyes, and small
amounts of moisture or other liquids, the underwear comprising:
an article of clothing with a first mechanical attachment means;
a first piece of woven material; and at least one other piece of
material attached to the first piece of woven material wherein the
at least one other piece contains a second mechanical attachment
means that can be attached to the first mechanical attachment means
such that the woven material covers the vaginal area of the user.
13. The waistless underwear of claim 12 wherein the first piece
of woven material is at least approximately 1 inch long and approximately
at least 0.5 inches wide.
14. The waistless underwear of claim 12 wherein the first mechanical
attachment means and the second mechanical attachment means are
mating parts of a snap.
15. The waistless underwear of claim 1 wherein the first mechanical
attachment means and the second mechanical attachment means are
mating parts of a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro.RTM.
16. The waistless underwear of claim 1 wherein the first mechanical
attachment means is not easily visible from the outside of the article
of clothing.
17. The waistless underwear of claim 1 wherein the woven material
is cotton.
18. The waistless underwear of claim 1 wherein the woven material
is a cotton blend.
19. A method for wearing underwear for protection against infections,
bacteria, pathogens, irritating dyes, and small amounts of moisture
or other liquids, without showing panty line, the method comprising
the steps of: locating an article of clothing with a first mechanical
attachment means; locating a piece of material wherein the woven
material contains a second mechanical attachment means that can
be attached to the first mechanical attachment means, and attaching
the second mechanical attachment means to the fist mechanical attachment
means such that the piece of material covers the vaginal area of
the user.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first mechanical attachment
means and the second mechanical attachment means are mating parts
of a snap.
Underwear description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of undergarments
and more particularly to the area of waistless and seamless underwear
for women.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] For women who wear tight pants, or low waist pants such
as hip huggers, conventional women's underwear with waistbands and
seams around the leg openings is unsuitable because the waist bands
and seams are openly visible. The visible waist bands and seams
are commonly referred to as panty lines.
[0005] One solution to avoid panty lines is to not wear underwear.
However, in many women there is a natural fear of bacterial infection
or exposure of sensitive body tissues to clothing dyes or irritating
stitching.
[0006] Several attempts have been made to provide the protection
of underwear without the visible panty lines, however none have
adequately provided a solution. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,407
to Christine Martz discloses a women's waistless and seamless clothing
adherable underwear that includes an oval pad made of a soft absorbent
material. The pad has strips of adhesive tape to attach to the inside
crotch area of low slung clothing pants or tight pants. The problem
with Martz is that the adhesive can pull away from the clothing
if not secured properly. Also, proper placement of the adherable
underwear may be difficult if the user is in a hurry. In addition,
some women find that disposable underwear is itself unsanitary.
[0007] Other prior art U.S. patents reveal similar adherable underwear
except the adherable underwear is secured to the user and not the
article of clothing. One major disadvantage of securing the adherable
underwear to the user is that when the user requires use of a restroom,
the user must remove the adherable underwear and reposition when
finished. This can cause irritation to the skin if the adherable
underwear is removed several times in one day. It also provides
undesirable delays when using the restroom.
[0008] What is needed is an article of clothing that can be secured
to tight pants, or low waist pants and will not show any panty lines.
The article of clothing must be easily secured in proper alignment
and provide the necessary protection a woman wants. It would be
beneficial if the article of clothing was not disposable and was
washable for reuse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is underwear that is secured to the
inside of an article of clothing by mechanical attachment means
and does not produce any visible panty lines.
[0010] The underwear is made of a soft woven material and can be
secured to tight or low waist pants. Because the underwear is secured
with a mechanical attachment means, the underwear is easily positioned
in proper alignment and provides the necessary protection a woman
wants. Also, because the underwear is made almost entirely of soft
woven material, it is washable and able to be used multiple times.
[0011] In addition, because the underwear is positioned to be in
contact with the vaginal area, it prevents infections that can arise
from abrasion or irritation caused by rubbing against clothing materials
when underpants are not worn. The underwear also provides a clean
bacteria-free barrier from garment fabric which prevents irritation,
exposure to bacteria and other pathogens, or irritating dyes found
in some garment fabrics. The underwear can also absorb small amounts
of moisture and allow for the attachment of sanitary napkins during
menstruation periods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention
are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however,
as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages
thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed
description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top view of the undergarment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the attachment means in an article
of clothing in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention in use; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout
the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively.
The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain
figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest
of clarity and conciseness.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows underwear 102 made of a single layer of material
104. Material 104 is any type of fabric such as silk, nylon, or
rayon but is preferably a woven material such as cotton or some
type of cotton blend. The material is washable and therefore can
be reused multiple times. The thickness of material 104 is less
than approximately 2 mm thick. Preferably, underwear 102 has the
general shape of a triangle but may have any shape that allows it
to be secured to an article of clothing. Underwear 102 is partially
bordered by band 108.
[0019] Band 108 can be made of lace, elastic, cotton, or any other
material typically used to make waistbands for underwear. Band 108
creates a clean look to underwear 102 and prevents material 104
from becoming frayed and tattered. If band 108 is made of elastic
material, the elastic will stretch to allow underwear 108 to fit
a variety of pants. Band 108 may fully or only partially border
underwear 102 or may not even border underwear 102 at all.
[0020] Underwear 102 contains fasteners 106a, 106b, and 106c. Fasteners
106a, 106b, and 106c may be one piece of any mechanical attachment
means such as a snap, hook-and-loop, Velcro.RTM., magnet, or any
other mechanical fastener that requires the mating of two pieces.
Fasteners 106a, 106b, and 106c may be attached to material 104 or
band 108.
[0021] The second pieces of the mechanical attachment means are
fasteners 108a, 108b, and 108c. As shown in FIG. 2, fasteners 108a,
108b, and 108c are attached to article of clothing 202. Article
of clothing 202 is any article of clothing but is preferably one
that may produce visible panty lines such as tight or low waist
pants.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows underwear 102 attached to article of clothing
202 such that fasteners 106a, 106b, and 106c are mated with fasteners
108a, 108b, and 108c respectively to provide a secure connection.
In one embodiment, fasteners 108a, 108b, and 108c are attached to
article of clothing 202 in an area that does not allow fasteners
108a, 108b, and 108c to be easily seen from the outside of article
of clothing 202. For example, fasteners 108a and 108b may be located
on the inside pocket lining, along a seam in article of clothing
202, or on a flap of cloth attached to the inside of article of
clothing 202. Fastener 108c may be located in the bottom seam and
is only visible when looking into article of clothing 202.
[0023] In a second embodiment, fasteners 108a, 108b, and 108c are
attached to article of clothing 202 in such a manner as to blend
in with the design of article of clothing 202. For example, fasteners
108a, 108b, and 108c may be a part of a studded or beaded pattern
on article of clothing 202.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment where underwear 402
is made of two or more materials. Material 404 is cotton or some
type of cotton blend and is the functional part of underwear 102.
Material 404 is at least approximately 1.0 inches long and at least
approximately 0.5 inches wide at the narrowest part. This allows
for some protection against infections, bacteria, pathogens, irritating
dyes, and small amounts of moisture or other liquids. Material 404
is attached to aesthetic material 406 and/or band 108.
[0025] Aesthetic material 406 may be a woven material, silk, satin,
lace, or any aesthetically pleasing material and may be attached
to band 108. Fasteners 106a, 106b, and 106c may be attached to material
404, band 108, or aesthetic material 406.
[0026] Although the invention has been described with reference
to one or more preferred embodiments, this description is not to
be construed in a limiting sense. There is modification of the disclosed
embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of this invention,
which will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art,
and the invention shall be viewed as limited only by reference to
the following claims. For example, the underwear described above
could be easily modified for men and such a modification would be
apparent to one skilled in the art. |