The present invention relates generally to clothing undergarments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel underwear garment for females or males that includes a disposable or sanitary pad holder sewn therein. More specifically, the underwear garment includes a holder that securely and removably accommodates and secures a disposable or sanitary pad thereby prohibiting the pad from shifting and wrinkling while being worn by a wearer. The pad remains in place and ensures contact or bodily touching with at least the perineum and crotch area and thus effectively absorbs menstrual flow or other fluid discharge without any leaks associated with use of disposable pads used in conjunction with conventional underwear. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
By way of background, tampons are generally used by females for absorbing menstrual flow. Tampons are little cotton cylindrical pads designed to be inserted into the vagina with or without an applicator. Tampons come in different absorbencies to accommodate light to heavy periods. However, many females do not use tampons due to discomfort, excessive flow, and other preferences. Tampons can dry out the vagina and cause irritation and itching. Also, finding the right size of tampon takes some trial and error.
The biggest downside to wearing tampons is the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is a rare but life-threatening complication caused due to certain types of bacterial infections and is primarily associated with use of tampons.
Often females use menstrual pads for absorbing menstrual flow. Generally, pads are rectangular absorbent material that adhere to the inside of underwear or are placed inside of the underwear garment. An advantage of the pads is that they are placed outside the vagina but they commonly get shifted out of place and wrinkle up towards the center. This shifting and wrinkling can result in embarrassing fluid leaks and permanent stains. Lack of security of positioning of the menstrual pads is a common problem and females desire a way of securely positioning their disposable menstrual pad.
Further, conventional undergarment/underwear causes a menstrual pad to directly touch the vagina of a wearer and thus the pad may cause irritation, infection, and more to the wearer. Individuals desire an improved way of wearing and using menstrual pads such that the pad does not directly touch the vagina of the wearer.
Conventional underwear for females especially panties, thongs, and others are ineffective in holding a menstrual pad. Further, all types of female underwear do not have a specific slot or holder positioned appropriately for accommodating a menstrual pad such that the pad is prohibited from shifting or losing its shape. Females desire an improved underwear for appropriately placing and positioning a menstrual pad inside the underwear for absorbing menstrual flow.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved undergarment for females and males that enables a disposable pad to be securely placed therein. There is also a long-felt need in the art for an underwear garment that prohibits shifting and wrinkling of the disposable pad placed therein. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved underwear garment that has a slot or holder for appropriately receiving and accommodating the disposable pad. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for an underwear garment that maintains comfort of a wearer during a menstrual cycle or during the course of the day. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved underwear garment that prevents any leaks associated with using a disposable pad during the menstrual cycle or during incontinence. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a user-friendly underwear garment that effectively holds the disposable pad and maintains its shape, size, and position inside the underwear garment.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a brief-style female underwear garment. The underwear garment is configured to secure a sanitary pad in an integrated holder ensuring that the pad remains in place for absorbing menstrual flow and prohibiting any leaks associated with using a disposable pad during menstrual cycle. The female underwear garment further comprising a first leg opening and a second leg opening, a waistband, an absorbent material or sanitary pad holder sewn and positioned along a crotch covering region of the underwear, the holder has a pair of opposing longitudinal seams, a pair of lateral seams, an elastic cuff positioned along each of said longitudinal seams and lateral seams, wherein the cuffs create a shallow cavity for receiving and accommodating a menstrual pad, and the cuffs further function as walls for prohibiting movement and shrinkage of the menstrual pad.
In this manner, the menstrual pad-holding female underwear garment of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides females with a brief shaped undergarment that has a sewn holder for accommodating a menstrual pad, maintaining comfort, and prohibiting any leaks associated with using the menstrual pad. The holder is integrated to the underwear for receiving a pad and ensuring the pad remains in place thereby prohibiting leaks associated with using a disposable pad during a menstrual cycle
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a brief-style female underwear garment. The female underwear garment includes a first leg opening and a second leg opening, a waistband, an absorbent material holder positioned along a crotch region of the underwear, the holder has a pair of opposing longitudinal seams, a pair of lateral seams, an elastic cuff positioned along each of said longitudinal seams and lateral seams, wherein the cuffs create a cavity for receiving and accommodating a menstrual pad, and the cuffs further function as walls for prohibiting movement, shifting, and shrinkage of the menstrual pad.
In yet another embodiment, the absorbent material is a menstrual pad.
In yet another embodiment, the absorbent material is urine absorbing material.
In yet another embodiment, the absorbent material holder is positioned to cover at least a perineum area of a wearer.
In yet another embodiment, the absorbent material is removably placed in the holder.
In yet another embodiment, the cuffs are elastic.
In yet another embodiment, the absorbent material holder prevents shifting and shrinking of the absorbent material.
In yet another embodiment, a method for prohibiting leaks associated with using a disposable pad during a menstrual cycle is described. The method includes the step of providing a brief-style underwear garment for females, the underwear garment includes a holder sewn therein and positioned to cover at least a perineum area of a wearer; inserting a sanitary pad inside the holder; wearing the underwear; removing the sanitary pad from the holder after the pad has sufficiently absorbed menstrual flow; and, accommodating a new sanitary pad in the holder.
In yet another embodiment, a female underwear with a sewn menstrual pad holder is disclosed. The female underwear has the menstrual pad holder sewn inside the underwear such that the holder is positioned below the crotch area of the wearer, and the holder provides an enclosed space having an opening for inserting and removing a sanitary pad therein. The holder has elastic seams for accommodating pads of various sizes.
In yet another embodiment, a female underwear with a sewn menstrual pad holder is disclosed. The female underwear has the menstrual pad holder sewn inside the underwear such that the holder is positioned below the crotch area of the wearer, and the holder provides a securement area for placement and removal of a sanitary pad thereon. The holder can include elastic seams for accommodating pads of various sizes.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved undergarment for females and males that enables a disposable pad to be securely placed therein. There is also a long-felt need in the art for an underwear garment that prohibits shifting and wrinkling of the disposable pad placed therein. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved underwear garment that has a slot or holder for appropriately receiving and accommodating the disposable pad. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for an underwear garment that maintains comfort of a wearer during a menstrual cycle or during the course of the day. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved underwear garment that prevents any leaks associated with using a disposable pad during the menstrual cycle or during incontinence. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a user-friendly underwear garment that effectively holds the disposable pad and maintains its shape, size, and position inside the underwear garment.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel female underwear garment with a sewn or molded menstrual pad holder. The female underwear garment includes the menstrual pad holder sewn inside the underwear such that the holder bodily (i.e. directly) touches the crotch area of the wearer, and the holder provides an enclosed space having an opening for inserting and removing a sanitary pad therein. The holder has elastic seams for accommodating pads of various sizes.
Referring initially to the drawings,
More specifically, the underwear 100 has a right leg opening 102 and a left leg opening 104. The leg openings 102, 104 are used for receiving legs of a wearer enabling a user to wear the underwear 100. The underwear 100 further has a waistband 106 for securing around a waist of the wearer and creating an opening 1060 for wearing the underwear 100. As illustrated, along the crotch covering region 108 of the underwear 100, a menstrual pad holder 110 is positioned. The holder 110 is positioned inside the underwear 100 such that holder 110 is in bodily contact with the crotch area and more specifically, is in contact with at least a perineum area of the female wearer.
As illustrated in the front view, the holder 110 is dimensioned and designed to accommodate any conventional sanitary pad used for absorbing menstrual flow. The front end 112 of the holder 110 is positioned on front portion 114 inside the underwear and is symmetrically positioned to the back end 202 (shown in
The holder 110 has elastic seams as illustrated in
The underwear 100 of the present embodiment has a unitary structure wherein the holder 110 is integrated inside the underwear 100. The holder 110 can be made of the same material as of the underwear 100 and alternatively can be made from a thin layer of an absorbent material. The absorbent material can be selected from the group consisting of wood pulp, cross-linked cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers, and more.
It should be noted that the holder 110 includes a slightly tapered shape extending from the ends 112, 202 to the center of the crotch covering portion 108. The holder 110 has elastic seams that function as walls for holding a sanitary pad in the holder 110.
The longitudinal tapered seams 308, 310 extending between the front end 112 and the rear end 202 are sewn and are elastic allowing sanitary pads of various sizes to be accommodated easily inside the holder 110.
It should be noted that the cuffs can be bent and made flat when the underwear 100 is to be worn without accommodating the sanitary pad 406 inside the holder 110. The underwear 100 can be used as a conventional underwear garment for daily use and not just for menstrual flow cycles.
Further, the holder 110 is configured to accommodate any type of absorbent material and can be used by adults (i.e. females and males) for accommodating adult diaper material or other absorbent material to alleviate the problem of incontinence (i.e. urine or fluid discharge). This can obviate the need of using a complete diaper by an adult.
The sanitary or disposable pad 512 can be removed from the open end 510 as per preferences of the user. It should be noted that the length of the holder 502 is designed to cover crotch area (specifically at least the perineum area) of the wearer and thus protecting the wearer from embarrassing leaks, fluid or urine discharge, and permanent stains due to shifting and unstable positioning of the disposable pad 512.
The invention also discloses a method for securing a disposable or sanitary pad inside an underwear for prohibiting fluid leaks associated with using a disposable pad during menstrual cycle and/or bladder incontinence. The method includes the step of providing a brief-style underwear for females or males, the underwear having a holder sewn therein and positioned to cover at least the perineum area of a wearer; inserting a disposable or sanitary pad inside the holder; wearing the underwear; removing the disposable or sanitary pad from the holder after the pad has sufficiently absorbed menstrual flow or fluid discharge and accommodating a new disposable or sanitary pad in the holder.
It should be noted that the cuffs 622, 624, 628 can be bent and made flat when the underwear 600 is to be worn without accommodating the sanitary pad 606 inside the holder 610. The underwear 600 can be used as a conventional underwear garment for daily use and not just for menstrual flow cycles.
Further, the holder 610 is configured to accommodate any type of absorbent material and can be used by adults (i.e. females and males) for accommodating adult diaper material or other absorbent material to alleviate the problem of incontinence (i.e. urine or fluid discharge). This can obviate the need of using a complete diaper by an adult.
The sanitary pad holder underwear garment 100, 600 of various embodiments of the present invention includes a variety of colors, sizes, and designs and can be worn daily. Any of conventional manufacturing and sewn techniques like zig zag technique can be implemented to manufacture the underwear garment 100, 600. The underwear garment 100, 600 prohibits any leaks associated with using a disposable pad during a menstrual cycle or urine incontinence. Insertion and removal of a sanitary pad is extremely easy and the sanitary pad is prohibited from shifting or wrinkling.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “menstrual pad holder underwear”, “absorbent material holder underwear”, “underwear”, “underwear garment”, “sanitary pad holder underwear”, “brief style underwear” and “female underwear” are interchangeable and refer to the female underwear 100 with integrated absorbent material holder 110 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the female (or male) underwear garment 100, 600 with integrated absorbent material holder 110, 610 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the female/male underwear garment 100, 600 with integrated absorbent material holder 110, 610 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the female/male underwear 100, 600 with integrated absorbent material holder 110, 610 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the female/male underwear garment with integrated absorbent material holder 110, 610 are important design parameters for user convenience, the female/male underwear garment 100, 600 with integrated absorbent material holder 110, 610 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/280,656, which was filed on Nov. 19, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63280656 | Nov 2021 | US |