Undergarment having multiple waistbands and associated method of manufacture

Abstract

The present invention provides an undergarment that includes a lower pants portion configured to encompass the legs and crotch of a wearer, the lower pants portion comprising a first waistband made of a substantially-elastic material. The undergarment also includes an upper waist portion configured to encompass the waist of the wearer, the upper waist portion comprising a waist panel and a second waistband made of a substantially-elastic material, wherein at least a portion of the waist panel is disposed between the first waistband and the second waistband when the undergarment is worn by the wearer, and wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in at least a partially-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.

1 . An undergarment, comprising: 
 a lower pants portion configured to encompass the legs and crotch of a wearer, the lower pants portion comprising a first waistband made of a substantially-elastic material; and    an upper waist portion configured to encompass the waist of the wearer, the upper waist portion comprising a waist panel and a second waistband made of a substantially-elastic material, wherein at least a portion of the waist panel is disposed between the first waistband and the second waistband when the undergarment is worn by the wearer, and wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in at least a partially-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.    
   
   
       2 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a partially-spaced-apart and partially-intersecting relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.  
   
   
       3 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a fully-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.  
   
   
       4 . The undergarment of  claim 3 , wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a substantially-parallel relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.  
   
   
       5 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower pants portion further comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to an interior portion of the undergarment.  
   
   
       6 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the upper waist portion further comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to an interior portion of the undergarment.  
   
   
       7 . The undergarment of  claim 6 , wherein the waist panel comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to the interior portion of the undergarment.  
   
   
       8 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein a lower edge of the waist panel is joined to an upper edge of the first waistband.  
   
   
       9 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein a lower edge of the waist panel is joined to a lower edge of the first waistband.  
   
   
       10 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein a lower edge of the waist panel is joined to an interior portion of the lower pants portion.  
   
   
       11 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the first waistband is configured such that it may be pulled down and away from the waist panel and the second waistband.  
   
   
       12 . The undergarment of  claim 11 , wherein the lower pants portion is configured such that a portion of the lower pants portion may be pulled down and away from the waist panel and the second waistband.  
   
   
       13 . A method for manufacturing an undergarment, comprising: 
 providing a lower pants portion configured to encompass the legs and crotch of a wearer, the lower pants portion comprising a first waistband made of a substantially-elastic material; and    providing an upper waist portion configured to encompass the waist of the wearer, the upper waist portion comprising a waist panel and a second waistband made of a substantially-elastic material, wherein at least a portion of the waist panel is disposed between the first waistband and the second waistband when the undergarment is worn by the wearer, and wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in at least a partially-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a partially-spaced-apart and partially-intersecting relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a fully-spaced-apart relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first waistband and the second waistband are in a substantially-parallel relationship when the undergarment is worn by the wearer.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the lower pants portion further comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to an interior portion of the undergarment.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the upper waist portion further comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to an interior portion of the undergarment.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the waist panel comprises one or more panels defining one or more openings for providing access to the interior portion of the undergarment.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising joining a lower edge of the waist panel to an upper edge of the first waistband.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising joining a lower edge of the waist panel to a lower edge of the first waistband.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising joining a lower edge of the waist panel to an interior portion of the lower pants portion.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising configuring the first waistband such that it may be pulled down and away from the waist panel and the second waistband.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising configuring the lower pants portion such that a portion of the lower pants portion may be pulled down and away from the waist panel and the second waistband.