Underwear abstract
A women's waistless and seamless clothing adherable underwear includes
an oval pad made of a soft absorbent material, wherein the pad has
double sided strips of adhesive tape with removable peel-off cover
strips to attach to the inside crotch area of low slung clothing
pants, such as tight pants, leotards or dungaree jeans facing upward
to the skin and crotch of the wearer. The material is preferably
a soft, non-woven, absorbent material. The underwear is particularly
suited for women who wear tight pants, or low waist hip hugger pants,
which widely reveal waist bands and seams of panty underwear, or
expose underwear waist bands. The underwear is minimally intrusive
and is attractive for women who like to wear jeans without underwear
but who fear bacterial infection or exposure to clothing dyes or
irritating stitching.
Underwear claims
I claim:
1. A disposable waistless and seamless clothing attached secret
pants shield that can be used as a substitute to using an undergarment,
which is suitable for wearing with low slung hip hugging pants and
the like, comprising: a pants shield pad having a first layer of
a crotch facing sanitary absorbent material preventing irritation
and exposure to bacteria and other pathogens; said pants shield
pad being adhesively bonded temporarily during use to a crotch area
of an outer pants garment; said pants shield pad being unemcumbered
by at least one of a skin adhering adhesive and a body support.
2. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing attached secret
pants shield as in claim 1 wherein said pants shield pad includes
a circumferentially extending bonded edge adhesive ring bonding
a bottom layer to a top layer.
3. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 2 wherein said top layer and said bottom
layer are of a soft absorbent paper material.
4. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 2 wherein said bottom layer includes a
clothing adherable temporary adhesive.
5. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 1 wherein said pants shield pad includes
at least three surface bonded layers with at least one adhesive
patch on a bottom layer thereof, said pants shield pad including:
a. top layer of permeable nonwoven fabric, b. a middle layer of
absorbent non-woven layer, c. a bottom layer of an impermeable layer,
said bottom layer having at least one adhesive patch with a release
liner.
6. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 5 wherein said top layer and said bottom
layer are of a soft absorbent plastic material.
7. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 5 wherein said top layer and said bottom
layer are of a soft absorbent paper material.
8. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 5 wherein said bottom layer includes a
clothing adherable temporary adhesive.
9. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 2 wherein the thickness of said secret
pants shield is about 0.030 inches (0.76 mm).
10. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 5 wherein the thickness of said secret
pants shield is about 0.025 inches (0.64 mm).
11. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing adherable secret
pants shield as in claim 1 wherein said secret pants shield is less
than 1 mm thick.
12. A women's waistless and seamless clothing adherable underwear
comprising an oval pad made of a soft absorbent material, wherein
the pad has double sided strips of adhesive tape with removable
peel-off cover strips, said adhesive tape attaching said oval pad
the inside crotch area of a pants garment having an inside upper
end facing upward to the skin and crotch of the wearer, said pants
shield pad being unemcumbered by at least one of a skin adhering
adhesive and a body support.
13. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing attached secret
pants shield as in claim 1 wherein said pants shield pad bears a
color matching a color of said outer pants garment.
14. The disposable waistless and seamless clothing attached secret
pants shield as in claim 12 wherein said pants shield pad bears
a color matching a color of said outer pants garment.
Underwear description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to disposable waistless and
seamless underwear for women.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional women's panty underwear with waistbands and
seams around the leg openings is unsuitable for women who wear tight
pants, or low waist pants (such as "hip huggers"), which
openly reveal waist bands and seams of panty underwear, or expose
underwear waist bands.
[0003] Moreover, for women who like to wear jeans without underwear
there is a natural fear of bacterial infection or exposure of sensitive
body tissues to clothing dyes or irritating stitching.
[0004] Among related prior art patents are those which fall into
four categories for which common distinguishing arguments can be
composed. The categories are special garments or undergarments,
absorbent materials for pads, clothing adhered pads, and maternity
wear.
[0005] Clothing Adhered Pads:
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,457 of the Applicant Christine Martz
herein describes small clothing adherable perfume patches which
attach to the inside of clothing, such as a blouse, with a skin
facing side rubbing intermittently against the skin, to mute the
smell of the perfume emitted by exposure to body oil in the skin
of the wearer.
[0007] However, neither Martz '457 nor Williams, in U.S. Pat. No.
5,729,835, relate to a pants shield designed to permit the user
to comfortably wear jeans, pants or shorts or the like without an
undergarment and also without any external indication that such
a shield is being used. Martz '457 relates to small garment pads
used to emit a fragrance; their general physical shape and construction
are different from the instant invention. Williams '835 relates
to a panty liner of generally oblong configuration specifically
for use with thong underwear. The multilayer construction designed
for maximum absorption and a "penetration barrier" would
be far too bulky for the objectives of the present invention.
[0008] Maternity Wear:
[0009] Blair, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,730 describes an expansion
panel for temporarily providing a larger waist and frontal area
so that a user can wear the jeans during pregnancy. The panel is
easily removable when it is no longer needed. Clearly this prior
art is irrelevant to the present invention.
[0010] Absorbent Materials for pads:
[0011] Palumbo et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,250 B1 relates to
an absorbent pad with defined fluid receiving and fluid retention
regions. It is designed primarily for use in treating female incontinence.
[0012] Rock et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,698 describes a composite
undergarment fabric of multilayer construction using a skin contact
layer of hydrophilic material with superabsorbent and high moisture
transmission layers attached.
[0013] Mende, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,632 relates to a nonwoven
fabric and manufacturing method. It is a soft bulky absorbent and
permeable material.
[0014] Tanner et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,961 has an absorbent
article having exceptional expansion properties when wetted.
[0015] None of the above materials are required in the construction
of the present invention. High moisture absorption is not a key
requirement. Comfort and low thickness so as to preclude edge detection
from external viewing of the outer garment are principal requirements
which cannot be supported by the materials described in this group
of patents.
[0016] Special Garments or Undergarments:
[0017] Glaug, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,120 B1 describes a cloth-like,
breathable disposable brief with refastening means. It is an adult
garment for controlling incontinence.
[0018] Davis, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,535 discloses a genital covering
garment that is a minimum temporary covering generally useful for
surgical procedures or examinations not requiring visual or tactile
access to these regions.
[0019] Marbach, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,208 relates to a minimal
covering for the lower part of the anatomy consisting of a spring
supported patch that fits between the user's legs and engages the
pubic bone and the sacrum. The intended use is as a bathing brief.
[0020] Crawford, II, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,482 describes a self
supporting sideless and waistless tanning brief. This is a malleable
wire frame with a cloth covering extending to the rear with a spring
member which fits between the buttocks of the wearer.
[0021] Vargason, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,922 discloses a removable
undergarment that is designed for quick wearing. A variety of attachment
patches are used to attach the undergarment around the user in a
comfortable fashion.
[0022] Lampman, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,323 describes a disposable
undergarment held by a partially encircling belt, wherein the undergarment
covers the pubic area and central buttocks of the user. It can be
used by women while trying on bathing suits or the like in stores.
[0023] The inventions in this group relate to garments or undergarments.
None disclose a clothing attached secret shield that can be used
as a substitute to using an undergarment.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0024] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
underwear for women which is suitable for wearing with low slung
hip hugging pants and the like.
[0025] It is also an object of the present invention to provide
waistless and seamless underwear for garments which utilizes a sanitary
absorbent material and which prevents irritation or exposure to
bacteria and other pathogens.
[0026] Other objects which become apparent from the following description
of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] In keeping with these objects and others which may become
apparent, the present invention is a pants shield that is invisible
from the exterior and which can be used with any form-fitting attire
without the use of underpants or any undergarment.
[0028] Since the pants shield is adherable only to the upper crotch
facing area of an outer pants garment, it is unencumbered by auxiliary
supports, such as annoying skin adhering adhesives or other body
supports, such as waistbands, belts, or buttocks holding supports.
[0029] Some current fashions for young women are such that they
render normal underpants or even thongs undesirable, but the alternative
of not wearing underwear has its own disadvantages.
[0030] Constructed of a thin absorbent pad, the pants shield of
the present invention is adhesively bonded temporarily during use
to the crotch area of the outer garment. It can be used in jeans,
exercise pants, leotards, shorts, or any normal pants. This permits
active use of the garment without underpants which introduce seams
and hems that show through as panty lines. This secret pants shield
is more comfortable than a thong and more fashionable because low
cut pants often reveal the top band of the thong when bending or
stretching. Because of the soft shield surface in contact with vaginal
area, it prevents infections that can arise from abrasion or irritation
caused by rubbing against clothing materials when underpants are
not worn. The shield of this invention provides a clean bacteria-free
barrier from garment fabric which may also contain irritating dyes.
It absorbs small amounts of moisture and also provides extra protection
for garments during menstruation periods without the need for an
undergarment.
[0031] Therefore this secret pants shield permits sanitary wear
of pants without underwear providing the ultimate fashion compatibility
with any pants attire. Comfort is provided by the soft contact material.
Since it is securely bonded with a temporary adhesive, it can be
used for active pursuits. The disposable nature and small compact
size makes it convenient to change a shield whenever it gets messy.
The secret pants shields are available in different sizes such as
small, medium, and large. They are also available in colors so as
not to contrast with the color of pants which may be shear or slightly
transparent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The present invention can best be understood in connection
with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is
not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a reclining woman
wearing form-fitting jeans;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a top view of a secret pants shield of this invention;
[0035] FIG. 3 is an perspective exploded view of the pants shield
of FIG. 2, and
[0036] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a different embodiment
of a pants shield.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a detail of a reclining woman 1 wearing an
ensemble which derives maximum benefit from the secret pants shield
of this invention. Several features of the style conspire to make
the use of underwear undesirable. Jeans 2 are tight and form-fitting
with low hip-hugging waist band 5. The short top 4 leaves a bare
abdominal midriff 3. This exposed central area is antithetical to
underwear waistbands. The site of the secret pants shield of this
invention is crotch area 6 which is not disturbed by any indication
of the shield within.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows pants shield pad 10 with circumferentially
extending bonded edge 11 and bottom adhesive areas 12. While FIG.
2 shows two bottom adhesive areas, one or more adhesive areas can
be employed to adhere pants shield pad 10 to an inside crotch facing
portion of a pants garment.
[0039] The exploded view of FIG. 3 reveals the construction with
top layer 15, adhesive ring 11 around bottom layer 16, adhesive
areas 12 and release liners 12a which cover adhesive patches 12
until use. The top layer 15 is a soft absorbent paper material such
as soft paper towel, or of a synthetic plastic fabric material.
The bottom layer 16 can be identical material. Adhesive ring 11
bonds layers 15 and 16 permanently. Adhesive 12 is a temporary adhesive
analogous to that used on feminine hygiene panty liner pads. An
alternate construction of a single layer equivalent to the two layers
of soft paper towel can also be used. Moreover, one or more adhesive
layers 12 can be employed to attach pants shield pad 20 to a crotch
facing area of pants garment.
[0040] A prototype for one embodiment for a secret pants shield
has been constructed and tested successfully. Layers 15 and 16 were
cut out of KLEENEX.RTM. VIVA.RTM. paper towel, and the adhesive
areas 12 were double width lengths of 3/4" wide SCOTCH.RTM.
Poster Tape from 3M Company.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows the construction of alternate embodiment 20
of the secret panty shield of this invention. It includes at least
three surface bonded layers with adhesive patches on the bottom
layer. Top layer 21 is a thin permeable nonwoven fabric material,
such as of a paper or a synthetic plastic material. Middle layer
22 is a thin absorbent non-woven material, and bottom layer 23 is
a thin impermeable layer, such as of paper or of a synthetic plastic.
Adhesive patches 12 with release liners 12a complete shield 20.
The construction and materials of the various layers are similar
to those of a light weight bed pad.
[0042] The bottom layers 16 or 23 adjacent to the transparent temporary
adhesive patches 12 can be selected in a variety of colors to minimize
contrast with pants material.
[0043] Total thickness of the secret pants shield must be kept
to a minimum to prevent a visible outline from showing through.
For context, it is well to know that panty seams range from a thickness
of about 0.08" (2 mm) to about 0.12" (3 mm) and are quite
visible under tight pants. A LIGHTDAYS.TM. feminine hygiene pad
from KOTEX.RTM. is 0.075" (1.9 mm). The thickness of the preferred
embodiment of secret pants shield as in FIG. 3 (with two layers)
is about 0.030" (0.76 mm). The thickness of the second embodiment
as in FIG. 4 (with three layers) is about 0.025" (0.64 mm).
The secret pants shield of this invention is therefore preferably
less than 1 mm thick, which is not visible externally.
[0044] In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions
are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary
limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations
depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms
and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit
the scope of the present invention.
[0045] It is further known that other modifications may be made
to the present invention, without departing from the scope of the
invention. |