Lower torso garment with support element

Abstract

A lower torso garment includes a waistband positioned at an upper end of the lower torso garment, a body region coupled to the waistband and extending between the waistband and a lower end of the lower torso garment, two leg openings proximate to the lower end, and a pouch coupled to the body region. The pouch includes a support element that has at least one strip of elastomeric material.

1 . A lower torso garment, comprising:
 a waistband positioned at an upper end of the lower torso garment;   a body region coupled to the waistband and extending between the waistband and a lower end of the lower torso garment;   two leg openings proximate to the lower end; and   a pouch positioned on a front portion of the body region, wherein the pouch includes a support element having at least one strip of elastomeric material.   
     
     
         2 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a gusset positioned proximate to the lower end and coupled to the pouch via a horizontal seam. 
     
     
         3 . The lower torso garment of  claim 2 , wherein the support element is at least partially coupled to the pouch via the horizontal seam. 
     
     
         4 . The lower torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein the support element comprises:
 a first panel extending between a bottom of the pouch and a top of the pouch; and   a second panel extending between the bottom of the pouch and the top of the pouch,   wherein the first panel and the second panel are each coupled to the pouch.   
     
     
         5 . The lower torso garment of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one strip of elastomeric material includes a first strip of elastomeric material positioned on the first panel and a second strip of elastomeric material positioned on the second panel. 
     
     
         6 . The lower torso garment of  claim 4 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are each at least partially defined by:
 a first short edge coupled to the pouch proximate to the lower end of the lower torso garment;   a second short edge coupled to the pouch proximate to the upper end of the lower torso garment;   a first long edge extending between the first and second short edges, the first long edge coupled to the pouch along a lateral edge of the pouch; and   a second long edge located opposite the first long edge, the second long edge at least partially decoupled from the pouch and the body region.   
     
     
         7 . The lower torso garment of  claim 6 , wherein the first short edge of the first panel and the first short edge of the second panel overlap. 
     
     
         8 . The lower torso garment of  claim 6 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are each constructed of a fabric including a twist, wherein the twist is positioned and located between the first short edge and the second short edge of each of the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         9 . A lower torso garment, comprising:
 a waistband positioned at an upper end of the lower torso garment;   a body region coupled to the waistband and extending between the upper end of the lower torso garment and a lower end of the lower torso garment;   a pouch defined by:
 a first lateral seam coupling the pouch to a first side of the body region; 
 a second lateral seam coupling the pouch to a second side of the body region; 
 an upper seam coupling the pouch to the waistband; and 
 a lower seam coupling the pouch to the body region and located opposite the upper seam; 
   a support sling coupled to the pouch by the first lateral seam and the second lateral seam; and   at least one elastic element positioned on the support sling.   
     
     
         10 . The lower torso garment of  claim 9 , wherein the pouch includes a pass-through fly opening. 
     
     
         11 . The lower torso garment of  claim 9 , wherein the support sling further comprises:
 a first fabric panel including a first lateral edge that is coupled to the pouch along the first lateral seam; and   a second fabric panel including a second lateral edge that is coupled to the pouch along the second lateral seam.   
     
     
         12 . The lower torso garment of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first fabric panel includes a first inner edge extending between the upper seam and the lower seam and located opposite the first lateral seam,   the second fabric panel includes a second inner edge extending between the upper seam and the lower seam and located opposite the second lateral seam,   the at least one elastic element further comprises:
 a first elastic element extending along the first inner edge of the first fabric panel; and 
 a second elastic element extending along the second inner edge of the second fabric panel. 
   
     
     
         13 . The lower torso garment of  claim 11 , further comprising a first overlap area defined by an overlap between a first portion of the first fabric panel and a first portion of the second fabric panel proximate to the lower seam. 
     
     
         14 . The lower torso garment of  claim 12 , further comprising a second overlap area defined by an overlap between a second portion of the first fabric panel and a second portion of the second fabric panel proximate to the upper seam. 
     
     
         15 . A lower torso garment, comprising:
 a body region defined by an upper end and a lower end, the body region including first and second leg portions defining first and second leg openings, respectively, proximate to the lower end;   a waistband coupled to the body region proximate to the upper end;   a gusset coupled to the body region and positioned between the first and second leg portions; and   a pouch coupled to the body region via at least a first lateral seam and a second lateral seam, the pouch further comprising a support element having a first elastomeric element.   
     
     
         16 . The lower torso garment of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the support element includes a first support panel coupled to the first lateral seam and a second support panel coupled to the second lateral seam, and   the first elastomeric element is positioned on the first support panel and a second elastomeric element is positioned on the second support panel.   
     
     
         17 . The lower torso garment of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first elastomeric element extends along a first free edge of the first support panel, the first free edge located opposite the first lateral seam, and   the second elastomeric element extends along a second free edge of the second support panel, the second free edge located opposite the second lateral seam.   
     
     
         18 . The lower torso garment of  claim 15 , wherein the support element is positioned on an interior of the pouch and provided in the form of a first support panel coupled to the pouch along the first lateral seam and a second support panel coupled to the pouch along the second lateral seam. 
     
     
         19 . The lower torso garment of  claim 18 , wherein an opening configured to receive at least a portion of an external male genitalia of a wearer is at least partially defined by a first interior edge of the first support panel and a second interior edge of the second support panel. 
     
     
         20 . The lower torso garment of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one overlap area formed by a portion of the first support panel and a portion of the second support panel that overlap.