Undergarment for Men

Abstract

A garment has a front side, a rear side, and a waistband defining a waist opening. The garment defines respective openings to receive left and right legs of a wearer, and includes a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides which, in use, is to be located between the wearer's legs. The garment is has a pair of elongate support bands extending from and connected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side. The bands cross each other at a crossing point on the front side at a position so that when the garment is worn by a human male lie between the waistband and the wearer's external genitalia to provide a measure of abdominal support on the front side. The bands are curved to define a pouch at the front side to receive and support male external genitalia when worn by a human male.

1 . An item of men's underwear comprises a garment having a front side, a rear side, and a waistband defining a waist opening; the garment further defining respective openings constructed and arranged to receive left and right legs of a wearer, and including a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides and which is constructed and arranged in use to be located between the wearer's legs; the garment being constructed and arranged to accommodate a wearer's male external genitalia, the garment being provided with a pair of elongate support bands, the two bands of the pair extending from and being connected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side, the bands crossing each other at a crossing point on the front side at a position constructed and arranged when the garment is worn by a human male to lie between the waistband and the wearer's external genitalia to provide a measure of abdominal support on the front side, being curved to define a pouch at the front side constructed and arranged to receive and support male external genitalia when worn by a human male, with the respective bands passing around either side of the wearer's external genitalia, the bands continuing via the crotch region to the rear side; and the bands crossing each other at a crossing point on the rear side, and being connected to and terminating at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side. 
     
     
         2 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric of the garment provides a close fit, the entire fabric of the garment excepting the support bands being stretchable. 
     
     
         3 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 1 , configured as a brief. 
     
     
         4 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 1 , provided with leg portions adapted in use to cover upper portions of the wearer's thighs. 
     
     
         5 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 1 , wherein respective leg portions are connected to the respective openings for the left and right legs of a wearer, the leg portions being constructed and arranged to extend substantially the full length of a wearer's legs, whereby the garment is configured as a pair of long-johns. 
     
     
         6 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 1 , wherein respective leg portions are connected to the respective openings for the left and right legs of a wearer, the leg portions terminating in respective foot portions, and being constructed and arranged to extend substantially the full length of a wearer's legs and to accommodate their feet, whereby the garment is configured as a pair of tights. 
     
     
         7 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the support bands are relatively inelastic in the longitudinal direction thereof compared to the elasticity of the remaining fabric of the garment. 
     
     
         8 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the support bands are provided as tapes or pre-formed bands sewn or otherwise fixed to said remaining fabric while that fabric is in an unstretched state. 
     
     
         9 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the support bands are provided as seams relatively inelastic in the longitudinal direction of the seam formed in the fabric of the garment. 
     
     
         10 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the garment is provided with an opening configured for manual access to the genitalia for urination, while the garment is being worn, the opening running alongside one curved portion of support band on the front side. 
     
     
         11 . An item of men's underwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the bands pass from the front side to the rear side via the crotch region without crossing in the crotch region. 
     
     
         12 . A method for supporting a male user's external genital in men's underwear, the method comprising providing elongate support bands in a garment of the kind having a front side, a rear side, and a waistband defining a waist opening; the garment further defining respective openings constructed and arranged to receive left and right legs of a wearer, and including a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides and which is constructed and arranged in use to be located between the wearer's legs; the garment being constructed and arranged to accommodate a wearer's male external genitalia, the support bands comprising a pair of elongate support bands, the two bands of the pair extending from and being connected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side, the bands crossing each other at a crossing point on the front side at a position constructed and arranged when the garment is worn by a human male to lie between the waistband and the wearer's external genitalia to provide a measure of abdominal support on the front side, being curved to define a pouch at the front side constructed and arranged to receive and support male external genitalia when worn by a human male, with the respective bands passing around either side of the wearer's external genitalia, the bands continuing via the crotch region to the rear side; and the bands crossing each other at a crossing point on the rear side, and being connected to and terminating at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the garment provides a close fit, being formed, apart from the support bands, from a stretchable fabric, the support bands being relatively inelastic in the longitudinal direction thereof compared to the elasticity of the fabric, and being provided as tapes or pre-formed bands sewn or otherwise fixed to the stretchable fabric while that fabric is in an unstretched state, whereby the garment is constructed and arranged to function as a substitute for an athletic support.