Apparel – Bathing garments
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-26
2004-11-16
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Bathing garments
C002S069000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06817030
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to clothing and apparel, and more specifically to apparel formed of a relatively wide or open mesh net material for wear as outerwear or underwear, depending upon the specific configuration of the apparel. The apparel of the present invention may be formed of stretch or non-stretch material, as desired, and may be colored or shaded to match or contrast with the wearer's body, as desired. The present apparel may include one or more opaque panels or a lining of matching or contrasting color and formed of a more finely woven fabric material, as desired, for greater support in certain areas, and/or to serve as modesty panels where the present apparel is provided in a configuration for wear as an outer garment and is worn as swimwear, athletic wear, or otherwise exposed to public view.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is generally recognized that optimum personal health is best maintained by avoiding temperature extremes, among other factors. This can be difficult in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, and even in more temperate climates during the summer months. One of the major problems in such warm weather, is the evaporation of perspiration during and after exertion. The moisture remaining on the body due to perspiration after exertion, provides an ideal environment for various microorganisms which can lead to odors, skin rashes and other irritations and diseases, etc.
It is of course conventional, where custom permits and the wearer is comfortable with the clothing, to wear relatively few and/or abbreviated garments when exercising, swimming, etc. This results in a minimal amount of fabric to absorb moisture, thereby allowing perspiration or moisture on the wearer's body to evaporate more readily, and minimizing the above noted problems. However, the relatively close weave of the generally opaque fabrics used for such apparel, and the lack of absorbency of stretch synthetic materials which are commonly used in such apparel, generally make it difficult for perspiration and moisture to evaporate from the body of the person wearing such apparel, particularly in those areas covered by the apparel.
This can be uncomfortable at best, and may lead to various undesirable conditions, such as odors, skin rashes, etc., as noted further above. While these conditions may be more readily encountered during heavy exertion and/or in water sports or activities, the difficulty in achieving the evaporation of perspiration may be encountered in other environments as well. This is particularly true in tropical climes where high heat and humidity are common, so that a person wearing conventional street attire cannot rid himself or herself of perspiration buildup due to the lack of evaporation caused by the high humidity.
The present invention responds to this problem by providing a number of different configurations or embodiments of apparel which provide for increased air circulation over the body of the person wearing the apparel. The various embodiments of the present apparel are each formed of a relatively wide or open gauge or mesh net material, in order to provide optimum comfort for the wearer in warm and/or humid environments. The present apparel may be configured for wear as mens' or women's undergarments, with the relatively high exposure provided by the open mesh or net being covered by outer garments as required or desired. The open mesh or net material of the present apparel when configured as undergarments, provides significantly greater air circulation immediately adjacent the body of the wearer, thus promoting the evaporation of perspiration and greater comfort for the wearer.
The present net or mesh garments may also be configured for use as outer wear (e.g., swim and athletic apparel, dance apparel, etc.) as well, if so desired. In such cases, additional opaque panels may be added within the mesh to serve as concealment for critical areas of the body (pubic area, women's breasts, etc.). Such opaque panels may be continuous throughout the entire mesh garment, or may serve to cover and conceal only those critical areas where coverage is required due to convention and community standards. Such additional panels may assist in providing additional support to certain portions of the anatomy, as well, and may be colored in any matching or contrasting colors, as desired.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,840,937, issued on Jan. 12, 1932 to Ewen C. Duff, titled “Apparel Garment,” describes a combination girdle and brassiere garment, with the two components being joined only by a single front panel which extends over the stomach and midriff of the wearer. The front panel is described as being formed of a stretch material, but the weave is sufficiently fine (i.e., “glovesilk,” per column 2, line 78 of the disclosure) that it is essentially opaque and does not provide the “breathability” or open mesh configuration of the present invention, to allow good air circulation. In fact, the form retaining characteristics of at least the girdle portion of the Duff garment teach away from any relatively open mesh or net construction, due to the requirement for increased support.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,911,227, issued on May 30, 1933 to James J. Galligan et al., titled “Crinkled Rubber Bathing Suit,” describes a womens' swimsuit which is formed of a rubberized material, as the title of the Galligan et al. U.S. Patent indicates. The Galligan et al. material comprises two finely ribbed plies of thin rubber sheet material laminated together. The use of such material teaches away from the present invention, as such rubberized material does not allow the skin beneath the material to breathe, nor does it allow moisture to evaporate from the body where covered by such material.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,249,198, issued on Jul. 15, 1941 to Horace A. Carter, titled “Garment Construction,” describes the construction of an undergarment formed of a tubular knit fabric material. The knit material is formed of both elastic and inelastic yarns, with the elastic yarns running in a straight pattern about the fabric and the inelastic yarns being knitted together to provide resilience, as is conventional in such fabrics. The knit weave of the Carter material is relatively fine, as is evidenced from the garment illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
of the disclosure. No widely spaced net mesh, nor optional removable or permanent inner liner, are disclosed by Carter in his garment construction.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,250,506, issued on Jul. 29, 1941 to Paul Snyder, titled “Undergarment,” describes the construction of a pair of undershorts or briefs. The undergarment appears to be intended as mens' wear, but Snyder does not make this clear in his disclosure. The Snyder undergarment is constructed of a series of relatively finely woven fabric panels, and includes various elastic panels therein to allow the structure to give when the wearer bends and moves. No relatively open mesh or large scale gauge net material is disclosed by Snyder in his undergarment construction, nor is any means of using such an undergarment as outerwear (swimwear, etc.) by means of appropriate modesty panels or inner liners, as provided by various embodiments of the present clothing articles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,589, issued on Aug. 1, 1967 to Albert M. Cohen et al., titled “Swim Garment With Built-In Control Support,” describes conventional loose fitting, boxer type swim trunks incorporating a form fitting inner liner permanently installed within the shorts or trunks. Cohen et al. describe the front and back panels of the liner material as being of “power net construction” (col. 2, lines 32-33), but the illustration of this material in
FIG. 3
of the Cohen et al. U.S. Patent is of a non-woven latticework pattern, rather than being a woven or knit material. In any event, the Cohen et al. suit construction
Hale Gloria M.
Litman Richard C.
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