Undergarment

Abstract

Novel undergarments, in particular briefs and panties, are described. The undergarments comprise a front panel and back panel secured to one another, further including a torso-encircling band integral therewith. The longitudinal length of the back panel is sufficiently short such that when the undergarment is worn, a portion of the wearer's buttocks, in particular the proximal portion of the crevice between the wearer's buttocks, is visible.

1 . An undergarment for covering a portion of the lower abdomen of a wearer, said undergarment comprising: 
 a torso encircling band adapted for wearing about the lower abdomen of the wearer within an area between the upper iliac crests of the wearer's hips and upper thighs;    a front panel adapted to cover the pubic area of the wearer, said front panel integral with said band and having right and left sides corresponding to the right and left hip areas of the wearer;    a back panel adapted to cover a portion of the buttocks of the wearer, said back panel integral with said band and having right and left sides corresponding to the right and left and hip areas of the wear, said back panel further comprising a distal end, said distal end integral with a portion of said front panel to cover the wearer's crotch area;    said front and back panels secured to one another to define right and left leg openings of said undergarment;    said band having a transverse length measured from said right and left sides of said back panel;    said back panel having a longitudinal length measured from a top edge of said undergarment to said distal end of said back panel; and    wherein a ratio of said transverse length to said longitudinal length is at least 1.6:1.    
   
   
       2 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein said ratio is at least 1.7:1.  
   
   
       3 . The undergarment of  claim 2 , wherein said ratio is from about 1.8 to about 2.8:1  
   
   
       4  The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein said distal end of said back portion has a transverse width of at least 1.5 inches.  
   
   
       5 . The undergarment of  claim 4 , wherein said ratio is at least 1.7:1.  
   
   
       6 . The undergarment of  claim 5 , wherein said ratio is from 1.8:1 to about 2.8:1.  
   
   
       7 . An undergarment for covering a portion of the lower abdomen of a wearer, said undergarment comprising: 
 a torso encircling band adapted for wearing about the lower abdomen of the wearer within an area between the upper iliac crests of the wearer's hips and upper thighs;    a front panel adapted to cover the pubic area of the wearer, said front panel integral with said band and having right and left sides corresponding to the right and left hip areas of the wearer;    a back panel adapted to cover a portion of the buttocks of the wearer, said back panel integral with said band and having right and left sides corresponding to the right and left and hip areas of the wear, said back panel further comprising a distal end, said distal end integral with a portion of said front panel to cover the wearer's crotch area;    said front and back panels secured to one another to define right and left leg openings of said undergarment; and    said back panel having a longitudinal length measured from a top edge of said undergarment to said distal end of said back panel, wherein said longitudinal length is sufficiently short to allow a proximal portion of the crevice between the wearer's buttocks to be uncovered by said back band and back panel, in combination, when said undergarment is worn by the wearer.    
   
   
       8 . The undergarment of  claim 7 , wherein when said back panel lies below the distal portion of the crevice.  
   
   
       9 . The undergarment of  claim 7 , said back panel further comprising a longitudinal length measured from said top edge to said distal end of said back panel, wherein said band comprise a transverse length measured from said right and left sides of said back panel, and wherein a ratio of said transverse length to said longitudinal length is at least 1.6:1.  
   
   
       10 . The undergarment of  claim 9 , wherein said ratio is at least 1.7:1.  
   
   
       11 . The undergarment of  claim 10 , wherein said ratio is from about 1.8 to about 2.8:1  
   
   
       12  The undergarment of  claim 9 , wherein said distal end of said back portion has a transverse width of at least 1.5 inches.  
   
   
       13 . The undergarment of  claim 12 , wherein said ratio is at least 1.7:1.  
   
   
       14 . The undergarment of  claim 13 , wherein said ratio is from about 1.8 to about 2.8:1  
   
   
       15 . The undergarment of  claim 9 , wherein said undergarment lies below the distal portion of the crevice between the wearer's buttocks.  
   
   
       16 . The undergarment of  claim 15 , wherein said ratio is at least 1.7:1.  
   
   
       17 . The undergarment of  claim 16 , wherein said ratio is from about 1.8 to about 2.8:1  
   
   
       18 . The undergarment of  claim 15 , wherein said distal end of said back portion has a transverse width of at least 1.5 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The undergarment of  claim 18 , wherein said ratio is at least 1.7:1.  
   
   
       20 . The undergarment of  claim 19 , wherein said ratio is from about 1.8 to about 2.8:1.  
   
   
       21 . A method of wearing an undergarment, said undergarment comprising (a) a torso encircling band adapted for wearing about the lower abdomen of the wearer within an area between the upper iliac crests of the wearer's hips and upper thighs; (b) a front panel adapted to cover the pubic area of the wearer, said front panel integral with said band and having right and left sides corresponding to the right and left hip areas of the wearer; (c) a back panel adapted to cover a portion of the buttocks of the wearer, said back panel integral with said band and having right and left sides corresponding to the right and left and hip areas of the wearer, said back panel further comprising a distal end, said distal end integral with a portion of said front panel to cover the wearer's crotch area; and (d) said front and back panels are secured to one another to define right and left leg openings of said undergarment; said method comprising (a) placing the right leg and the left leg of the wearer through corresponding said right and left leg openings of said undergarment; and 
 (b) pulling the undergarment upward to cover at least a portion of the wearer's pubic area, crotch area, and a portion of the wearer's buttocks such that said band lies below the proximal portion of the crevice between the buttocks so that the proximal portion of the said crevice is not covered by any portion of the undergarment.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said band of said undergarment comprises a transverse length measured from said right and left sides of said back panel and said back panel comprises a longitudinal length measured from a top edge of said undergarment to said distal end of said back panel; and wherein a ratio of said transverse length to said longitudinal panel length is at least 1.6:1.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said ratio is at least 1.7:1.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said ratio is from about 1.8 to about 2.8:1  
   
   
       25  The method of  claim 22 , wherein said distal end of said back portion has a transverse width of at least 1.5 inches.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said ratio is at least 1.7:1.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said ratio is from about 1.8 to about 2.8:1.