Body support for cyclists' shorts or trousers

Abstract

A body support for placement within cyclists' shorts or trousers includes an elastic top layer having a back portion arranged to extend beneath a cyclist's buttocks, and a front portion arranged to extend in the region of the cyclist's crotch. An elastic bottom layer has a generally inverted Y-shaped configuration, a back portion of the bottom layer has first and second edges joined to corresponding edges on the back portion of the top layer, and a front portion of the bottom layer has one or more edges joined to corresponding edges on the front portion of the top layer. An intermediate cushion layer is joined to the bottom layer so that a top surface of the cushion layer faces toward but is free from attachment to a bottom surface of the top layer.

1 . A body support for placement within cyclists' shorts or trousers, comprising: 
 an elastic top layer having a back portion dimensioned and arranged to extend beneath a cyclist's buttocks, and a front portion dimensioned and arranged to extend in the region of the cyclist's crotch;    an elastic bottom layer having a generally inverted Y-shaped configuration, and edges of the bottom layer are joined to corresponding edges of the top layer; and    an intermediate layer of cushion or padding material joined to the bottom layer so that a top surface of the intermediate layer faces toward but is free from attachment to a bottom surface of the top layer.    
   
   
       2 . A body support according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a generally inverted Y-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       3 . A body support according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has one or more elongated slots configured to reduce bunching of the cushion or padding material.  
   
   
       4 . A body support according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has an elasticity that is less than the elasticity of either the top or the bottom layer.  
   
   
       5 . A body support according to  claim 1 , wherein a front portion of the bottom layer is configured to support a male cyclist's lower anatomy.  
   
   
       6 . A body support according to  claim 1 , wherein a front portion of the bottom layer is configured to reduce pressure exerted by the support against a female cyclist's lower anatomy.  
   
   
       7 . A body support according to  claim 1 , wherein the top layer comprises an elastic fabric blend suitable for imprinting of ink sublimated text or graphics.  
   
   
       8 . A body support according to  claim 7 , wherein imprinted text on the top layer provides size and care information.  
   
   
       9 . Cyclist's shorts or trousers, comprising: 
 a pair of shorts or trousers constructed and arranged for use by a cyclist;    a body support fastened inside the shorts or trousers so as to extend over the seat and the crotch region of a cyclist, wherein the body support comprises:    an elastic top layer having a back portion dimensioned and arranged to extend beneath the cyclist's buttocks, and a front portion dimensioned and arranged to extend in the region of the cyclist's crotch;    an elastic bottom layer having a generally inverted Y-shaped configuration, and edges of the bottom layer are joined to corresponding edges of the top layer; and    an intermediate layer of cushion or padding material joined to the bottom layer so that a top surface of the intermediate layer faces toward but is free from attachment to a bottom surface of the top layer.    
   
   
       10 . Cyclist's shorts or trousers according to  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate layer of the body support has a generally inverted Y-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       11 . Cyclist's shorts or trousers according to  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate layer of the body support has one or more elongated slots configured to reduce bunching of the cushion or padding material.  
   
   
       12 . Cyclist's shorts or trousers according to  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate layer of the body support has an elasticity that is less than the elasticity of either the top or the bottom layer.  
   
   
       13 . Cyclist's shorts or trousers according to  claim 9 , wherein a front portion of the bottom layer of the body support is configured to support a male cyclist's lower anatomy.  
   
   
       14 . Cyclist's shorts or trousers according to  claim 9 , wherein a front portion of the bottom layer of the body support is configured to reduce pressure exerted by the support against a female cyclist's lower anatomy.  
   
   
       15 . Cyclist's shorts or trousers according to  claim 9 , wherein the top layer of the body support comprises an elastic fabric blend suitable for imprinting of ink sublimated text or graphics.  
   
   
       16 . Cyclist's shorts or trousers according to  claim 15 , wherein imprinted text on the top layer of the body support provides size and care information for the shorts.  
   
   
       17 . A body support according to  claim 1 , wherein a back portion of the bottom layer has first and second edges that are joined to corresponding edges on the back portion of the top layer, and a front portion of the bottom layer has one or more edges that are joined to corresponding edges on the front portion of the top layer.  
   
   
       18 . Cyclists' shorts or trousers according to  claim 9 , wherein a back portion of the bottom layer of the support has first and second edges that are joined to corresponding edges on the back portion of the top layer of the support, and a front portion of the bottom layer has one or more edges that are joined to corresponding edges on the front portion of the top layer.