Athletic support garment
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to athletic support garment having a support panel sized and shaped to encircle a person's waist or hips, and a crotch panel, the support panel having a front side, back side, top edge and bottom edge, the crotch panel having a front seamless portion sized and shaped to contain a person's genitals, a rear portion sized and shaped to cover the space between the buttocks but not restrict or impede movement of the person's legs and a strap portion joining the front portion and rear portion of the crotch panel, a first end of the crotch panel attached to the front side of the bottom edge of the support panel and a second end of the crotch panel attached to the rear side of the bottom edge of the support panel; wherein the support panel and crotch panel are formed from a fabric comprising a blend of a synthetic fiber and at least 10% of a stretchable fiber wherein the tensile strength of the fabric is sufficient to hold the genitals on top of and against the pubic bone above the crotch when in use.
1. A garment for providing protection and support for the genitals of a male wearer, the garment comprising:
a waistband made of elastic and disposed to encircle the wearer's torso at or near his waist when the garment is in use;
a support panel of different material from the waistband made of a weave of stretchable and non-stretchable fibers, the support panel being attached to the waistband so as to encircle the wearer's torso below the waistband when the garment is in use, thereby supporting the garment against the wearer's hips;
a crotch elevating panel comprising a crotch seamlessly joined to a single strap portion, both made of a weave of stretchable and non-stretchable fibers, the crotch portion being attached to the support panel and shaped to contain the wearer's genitals, the strap portion connecting the crotch portion to the support panel at a position opposite to where the crotch portion is attached, the strap portion being sufficiently narrow so that when worn between the wearer's legs it does not impair their movement; and
two leg panels, one each on the left and right side of the garment, the leg panels being made of a light-weight fabric and attached to the support panel and the crotch and strap portions of the crotch elevating panel on each side of the garment so as to leave an opening for each leg of the wearer;
wherein the crotch portion and the strap portion are disposed so that the crotch elevating panel draws the genitals of the wearer upwards from between the wearer's legs when the garment is in use, thereby holding and supporting the genitals against the wearer's pubic bone.
2. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the support panel and the crotch elevating panel are made of a weave of an unstretchable fiber selected from acetate, acrylic, lyocell, nylon, olefin, polyester, and rayon, and the stretchable fiber spandex.
3. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the support panel and the crotch elevating panel are made from a weave of nylon with about 10% spandex and having a 1×1 rib weave.
4. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the crotch portion of the crotch elevating panel is a single pouch-like seamless compartment.
5. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the crotch elevating panel is configured to contain a protective cup in a separate compartment.
6. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the crotch portion is lined.
7. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the leg panels are configured to keep the strap portion from going between the wearer's buttocks without preventing the crotch elevating panel from elevating and supporting the genitals of the wearer in the manner specified.
8. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the leg panels are made of a two way or four way stretchable solid or mesh fabric containing less than about 8% spandex.
9. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the leg panels are brief, mid thigh, or full thigh in length.
10. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the strap portion of the crotch elevating panel flares before its connection to the opposite side of the support panel so as to form a rear portion that does not impair movement of the wearer's legs or buttocks.
11. The garment of claim 1 , designed to be worn under other equipment.
12. The garment of claim 1 , which is part of an outer garment.
13. The garment of claim 1 , made of a performance fabric that moves perspiration away from the wearer's body to the fabric's outer surface.
14. The garment of claim 1 , adapted for use in an athletic activity selected from hockey, baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, squash, track and field, cycling, speed skating, skiing, and wrestling.
15. A garment for providing support for the genitals of a male wearer during athletic activity, the garment comprising:
a waistband made of elastic and disposed to encircle the wearer's torso at or near his waist when the garment is in use;
a support panel made of a weave of stretchable and non-stretchable fibers, the support panel being attached to the waistband so as to encircle the wearer's torso below the waistband when the garment is in use, thereby supporting the garment against the wearer's hips;
a one-piece crotch elevating panel made of a weave of stretchable and non-stretchable fibers, comprising a crotch portion joined to a single strap portion, the crotch portion being attached to the support panel and having a pouch-like seamless compartment, the strap portion connecting the crotch portion to the support panel at a position opposite to where the crotch portion is attached by way of a rear portion sized and shaped not to restrict or impede movement of the wearer's legs; and
two leg panels being made of a light-weight fabric, and attached to the support panel and the crotch and strap portions of the crotch elevating panel one on each side of the garment so as to leave an opening for each leg of the wearer;
wherein the crotch elevating panel is disposed to draw the genitals of the wearer upwards from between the wearer's legs when the garment is in use.