Lower torso garment with support element

Abstract

A lower torso garment includes a body portion, a front pouch disposed about a front region of the body portion, and a support sling connected to the front pouch and configured to support the front pouch. The support sling includes a left fabric panel extending along a left side periphery of the front pouch and a right fabric panel extending along a right side periphery of the front pouch. A portion of the left fabric panel overlaps a portion of the right fabric panel at an overlap area, and the overlap area is positioned adjacent to a bottom of the front pouch.

1 . A lower torso garment comprising:
 a body portion;   a front pouch disposed about a front region of the body portion; and   a support sling connected to the front pouch, the support sling comprising:
 a left fabric panel extending along a left side periphery of the front pouch; and 
 a right fabric panel extending along a right side periphery of the front pouch; 
   wherein a first portion of the left fabric panel overlaps a first portion of the right fabric panel at an overlap area, the overlap area positioned adjacent to a bottom of the front pouch.   
     
     
         2 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel are symmetrical about a centerline of the front pouch. 
     
     
         3 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein a first long edge of the left fabric panel extends along a left lateral seam connecting the front pouch to adjacent fabric of the body portion, and a first long edge of the right fabric panel extends along a right lateral seam connecting the front pouch to adjacent fabric of the body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The lower torso garment of  claim 3 , wherein a width of the left fabric panel extends inwardly toward the centerline of the front pouch and over a portion of the front pouch, and a width of the right fabric panel extends inwardly toward the centerline of the front pouch and over a second portion of the front pouch. 
     
     
         5 . The lower torso garment of  claim 4 , wherein the left fabric panel and right fabric panel are substantially planar along their respective lengths between the bottom of the front pouch and a top of the front pouch. 
     
     
         6 . The lower torso garment of  claim 5 , wherein a second portion of the left fabric panel overlaps a second portion of the right fabric panel at a second overlap area, the second overlap area positioned adjacent to a top of the front pouch. 
     
     
         7 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein the left fabric panel criss-crosses along its length between the bottom of the front pouch and a top left section of the front pouch, and the right fabric panel criss-crosses along its length between the bottom of the front pouch and a top right section of the front pouch. 
     
     
         8 . The lower torso garment of  claim 7 , wherein a space between the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel defines an opening configured to receive at least part of an external male genitalia of a wearer of the lower torso garment, where the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel reside between at least part of the external male genitalia and inner thighs of the wearer of the lower torso garment when worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . The lower torso garment of  claim 8 , wherein the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel comprise mesh fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The lower torso garment of  claim 9 , wherein the left fabric panel and the right fabric panel comprises a dual-layer mesh fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein an exposed edge of the left fabric panel comprises at least one of a purl stitch, an over-edge stitch, a finished edge, a laser-cut edge, a finished seam, or a folded seam. 
     
     
         12 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a waistband attached to a top end of the body portion and configured to encircle a torso of a wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a gusset attached to a bottom of the body region between two leg portions of the body region. 
     
     
         14 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower torso garment comprises an undergarment. 
     
     
         15 . The lower torso garment of  claim 14 , wherein the undergarment comprises one of a boxer, a brief, or a boxer-brief. 
     
     
         16 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the left fabric panel extends inwardly toward the centerline of the front pouch and over a portion of the front pouch, and a width of the right fabric panel extends inwardly toward the centerline of the front pouch and over a second portion of the front pouch. 
     
     
         17 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein the left fabric panel and right fabric panel are substantially planar along their respective lengths between the bottom of the front pouch and a top of the front pouch. 
     
     
         18 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein a second portion of the left fabric panel overlaps a second portion of the right fabric panel at a second overlap area, the second overlap area positioned adjacent to a top of the front pouch. 
     
     
         19 . The lower torso garment of  claim 3 , wherein the left fabric panel criss-crosses along its length between the bottom of the front pouch and a top left section of the front pouch, and the right fabric panel criss-crosses along its length between the bottom of the front pouch and a top right section of the front pouch. 
     
     
         20 . The lower torso garment of  claim 3 , wherein an exposed edge of the left fabric panel comprises at least one of a purl stitch, an over-edge stitch, a finished edge, a laser-cut edge, a finished seam, or a folded seam.