Apparel – Nether garments – Bifurcated
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-24
2004-01-27
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Nether garments
Bifurcated
C002S046000, C002S402000, C002S406000, C002S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06681407
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to disposable waistless and seamless underwear for women.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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.
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.
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.
Clothing Adhered Pads:
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.
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.
Maternity Wear:
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.
Absorbent Materials for Pads:
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.
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.
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.
Tanner et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,961 has an absorbent article having exceptional expansion properties when wetted.
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.
Special Garments or Undergarments:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Other objects which become apparent from the following description of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4333466 (1982-06-01), Matthews
patent: 4648876 (1987-03-01), Becker et al.
patent: 4955880 (1990-09-01), Rodriquez
patent: 5388275 (1995-02-01), Oram
patent: 5807365 (1998-09-01), Luceri
patent: 6497688 (2002-12-01), Lasko
True Fit Try On® garment liners Internet page, www.truefittryon.com 3 pages, showing liners.
Hale Gloria M.
Walker Alfred M.
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