Low friction garment

Abstract

Garments are disclosed for use on the lower body, e.g., as an undergarment or athletic shorts or tights. The garments include a plurality of panels made of different materials that together help to protect the wearer and that are designed to enhance the wearer's comfort and performance. In some cases the panels are selected and configured to match the requirements of various body regions and contours.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 a garment body, configured to be worn on the lower body and having legs configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's thigh, the garment body comprising a plurality of panels,   wherein the panels include a pair of protective panels, disposed in an inner thigh region of the garment body, the protective panels comprising a fabric having a coefficient of friction than is lower than that of the rest of the garment body.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the panels further include a pelvic panel comprising a fabric having a Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate that is greater than that of the rest of the garment body. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the panels further include a pair of outer thigh panels, joined to a portion of the pelvic panel, which, together with the protective panels, define at least a portion of the legs of the garment body. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 3  wherein the outer thigh panels have a fabric weight that is greater than the fabric weight of the rest of the garment body. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 3  wherein a groin area of the garment body has a generally M-shaped profile when viewed from the front. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective panels comprise Rough Moleskin fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the pelvic panel comprises a High Performance Spandex fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 3  wherein the outer thigh panels comprise a Jumbo Spandex fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 3  wherein the outer thigh panels comprise a fabric having two way stretch, and the inner thigh panels comprise a fabric having four way stretch. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the legs are dimensioned to stop above the wearer's knees, and the garment body further includes thigh bands disposed at a distal end of the legs. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the legs are dimensioned to extend below the wearer's knees. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the garment body further comprises a waistband having a width of at least 0.75 inches. 
     
     
         13 . A garment comprising:
 a pelvic panel configured to cover at least the pelvic region of a wearer, and   a pair of legs configured to cover at least a portion of the thighs of the wearer,   the legs being joined to the pelvic panel such that a portion of the pelvic panel is seamed together front-to-back, defining a protective pocket that extends below the junctions of the pelvic panel with the legs.   
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein a groin area of the garment has a generally M-shaped profile when the garment is viewed from the front. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein the garment includes recessed junctions between the pelvic panel and legs that are configured to prevent skin-to-skin contact in the wearer's groin area. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15  wherein the legs include protective panels, disposed in an inner thigh region of the garment body, and outer thigh panels. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 16  wherein the pelvic panel, protective panels and outer thigh panels meet at the recessed junctions. 
     
     
         18 . A garment comprising a garment body defining a pair of legs, the legs including inner thigh panels and outer thigh panels, wherein the outer thigh panels comprise a fabric having two way stretch, and the inner thigh panels comprise a fabric having four way stretch. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 16  wherein the inner thigh panels are formed of Rough Moleskin and the outer thigh panels are formed of Jumbo Spandex.