Vented pants and shorts

Abstract

Pants or shorts include a waist portion; first and second legs extending from the waist portion, the first and second legs defining a crotch region between the first and second legs; and a vented crotch gusset extending across the crotch region from the first leg to the second leg. Also discussed are pants including a waist portion; first and second legs extending from the waist portion, the first and second legs defining first and second knee regions, respectively; and a knee vent in each of the first and second knee regions.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . Pants or shorts, comprising:
 a waist portion;   first and second legs extending from the waist portion, the first and second legs defining a crotch region between the first and second legs; and   a vented crotch gusset extending across the crotch region from the first leg to the second leg.   
     
     
         2 . The pants or shorts of  claim 1 , wherein the vented crotch gusset comprises:
 a layer of mesh fabric extending across the crotch region from the first leg to the second leg; and   a layer of substantially solid fabric substantially overlaying the layer of mesh fabric.   
     
     
         3 . The pants or shorts of  claim 2 , wherein the layer of mesh fabric is connected to the layer of substantially solid fabric along first and second lateral seams, each of the first and second lateral seams extending across the crotch region substantially from the first leg to the second leg. 
     
     
         4 . The pants or shorts of  claim 3 , wherein the layer of mesh fabric and the layer of substantially solid fabric are detached from one another at first and second vent openings, the first and second vent openings located on the first and second legs, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The pants or shorts of  claim 4 , wherein each of the vent openings extends between the first and second lateral seams. 
     
     
         6 . Pants according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second legs have first and second knee regions, respectively, that extend below the wearer's knees, each of the first and second knee regions including a knee vent located behind the wearer's knee. 
     
     
         7 . The pants of  claim 6 , wherein each of the knee vents comprises:
 an inner layer of mesh fabric; and   an outer layer of substantially solid fabric, the outer layer substantially overlaying the inner layer;   wherein the inner layer and outer layer are connected along an upper seam of the knee vent, and the inner layer and outer layer are detached from one another along a lower opening of the knee vent.   
     
     
         8 . The pants or shorts of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pocket selected from the group consisting of a front pocket, a rear pocket, a side pocket, a cell-phone pocket, and a wallet pocket, wherein at least a portion of the at least one pocket is mesh. 
     
     
         9 . The pants or shorts of  claim 1 , wherein the pants or shorts are long-legged pants. 
     
     
         10 . The pants or shorts of  claim 1 , wherein the pants or shorts are short-legged pants. 
     
     
         11 . The pants or shorts of  claim 2 , wherein the layer of substantially solid fabric is selected from the group consisting of: cotton/nylon blends, cotton/spandex blends, nylon/spandex blends, polyester, and polyester blends. 
     
     
         12 . The pants or shorts of  claim 11 , wherein the layer of mesh fabric comprises a layer of loosely woven or knitted fabric having a matrix of closely spaced holes. 
     
     
         13 . Pants, comprising:
 a waist portion;   first and second legs extending from the waist portion, the first and second legs defining first and second knee regions, respectively; and   a knee vent in each of the first and second knee regions.   
     
     
         14 . The pants of  claim 13 , wherein the knee vents are located behind the wearer's knees. 
     
     
         15 . The pants of  claim 13 , wherein each of the knee vents comprises:
 an inner layer of mesh fabric; and   an outer layer of substantially solid fabric, the outer layer substantially overlaying the inner layer;   wherein the inner layer and outer layer are connected along an upper seam of the knee vent, and the inner layer and outer layer are detached from one another along a lower opening of the knee vent.   
     
     
         16 . The pants of  claim 15 , wherein the layer of substantially solid fabric is selected from the group consisting of: cotton/nylon blends, cotton/spandex blends, nylon/spandex blends, polyester, and polyester blends. 
     
     
         17 . The pants of  claim 16 , wherein the layer of mesh fabric comprises a layer of loosely woven or knitted fabric having a matrix of closely spaced holes. 
     
     
         18 . The pants of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one pocket selected from the group consisting of a front pocket, a rear pocket, a side pocket, a cell-phone pocket, and a wallet pocket, wherein at least a portion of the at least one pocket is mesh. 
     
     
         19 . The pants of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second legs define a crotch region there between, the pants further comprising a vented crotch gusset extending across the crotch region from the first leg to the second leg.