US20100269243A1

US20100269243A1 - Pant garment having an opening for female urination

Info

Publication number: US20100269243A1
Application number: US12/765,217
Authority: US
Inventors: Rachael Paree
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-22
Filing date: 2010-04-22
Publication date: 2010-10-28

Abstract

Running shorts, active wear, pants, or another garment to be worn by a woman that allows urination while standing without removal or lowering of the garment. The garment has overlying flaps and may have a flap frame.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

The Present application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/214,267 filed Apr. 22, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Garments, particularly running or other shorts having significant length, leggings, or other active wear for a female to wear to make urination while standing more convenient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Females who need to urinate often need to take more time and expose more parts of their body than males do. This is a problem in many settings, especially when there is no convenient restroom, for example when a female is on a long recreational run. This is also a problem for females in the military, construction, and many other situations. This is exacerbated by the knowledge that to maintain peak performance and to be medically safe, one should be well hydrated during these activities. This means the participant must consume liquids, further strengthening the need to urinate. Women, who need to urinate outdoors by fully pulling down their running shorts or pants, expose more of their bodies than a male would during urination. Thus, if observed from a distance, a woman's urination stance is more obvious than a man who is nonchalantly urinating.
One solution to the problem has been a variety of funnel-like devices that a woman may carry. When needed, the devices are pressed against the female anatomy. Examples of these devices can be found for sale through the internet, or other places. These devices usually have an angled spout so that the urine may be aimed forward and away from the body, as a male does. However this solution requires carrying the funnel while running, or performing other outdoor activities.
The other common method of urinating in an area without toilet facilities is simply pulling down the pants or shorts and squatting. However, this is difficult in several ways. For one, the pants bridging from one leg to the other, for example at the ankle area, make it difficult to aim a urination stream to avoid the garment. Second, pants at the ankles prevent spreading of the legs, and may cause a person to stumble. However removing the pants from at least one leg takes longer, exposes more of the body, and may require shoe removal. If pants removal is attempted without shoe removal, the chances of stumbling are further increased.
These problems for a woman runner are even more significant during the cold weather, when long pants are worn rather than shorts, and when leaves have fallen making it more difficult to find a location that is visually isolated. Further, in the winter it is usually the case that park restrooms are shut down and locked to prevent freezing.
To improve the enjoyment and safety of running, co-ed training, and other activities that females engage in, there is a need for a garment that allows females to urinate more quickly, less obviously, and with less exposure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A garment worn by a woman that allows urination while standing without removal or lowering of the garment. The garment has overlying flaps that when pulled away from each other expose the urethra, but when released cover the urethra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a person standing in a position to use a first embodiment of the device. An arrow illustrates the direction of urination.

FIG. 2 is a partial front perspective view of FIG. 1 for the purposes of orientation in subsequent figures.

FIGS. 3A-3C are sequential, and from the view taken as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. These figures illustrate the device and method of use. Specifically, FIG. 3A is the undisturbed garment. FIG. 3B is partially opened and FIG. 3C is fully opened.

FIGS. 4A-4C are cross-section views taken generally along lines 4A-4A, 4B-4B, and 4C-4C in FIGS. 3A-3C.

FIGS. 5A-5C are schematic representations of a second embodiment of the device, and method of use.

FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic representations of a third embodiment of the device, and method of use with views similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1 illustrates a person 8 wearing a garment 10 with the left leg 12 aft, the right leg 14 forward, and urination path 16 represented by an arrow. The garment 10 will work equally well if the position of the two legs is reversed. Leg positions other than forward and aft may also be used, however forward and aft leg positions have demonstrated to be particularly well suited for using garment 10.
FIG. 2 is provided to help in understanding subsequent FIGS. From the vantage point as presented on the page, the person's left leg 12 is on the right side of the page; however, it is still the left leg. References to “left”, “right”, “front” (or forward, or the like), and rear (or aft, dorsal, or the like) will be used herein referring to the directions we usually refer to when speaking about our own bodies. FIG. 2 has an arrow indicating the vantage point for FIGS. 3A-3C.
FIG. 3A is a view of the crotch area 18 of the garment 10. Garment 10 has four panels: a left front 20, a left rear 22, a right front 24 and a right rear 26. Front seam 28 and rear seam 30 connect corresponding left and right panels, while right seam 32 and left seam 34 connect corresponding forward and rear panels. In a garment (not shown) without the inventive features of garment 10, the four seams would meet at an approximate center point 36. However, the seams of garment 10 are truncated by a flap-frame 38 that will be described with reference to FIG. 4A as well. Center point 36 is part of a theoretical plane (not shown) bifurcating the right half of a person from the left half.
Flap frame 38 is generally rectangular. With the order of description starting at the periphery and proceeding towards the center point 36, there is a front stitch 40, a left stitch 42, a rear stitch 44, and a right stitch 46. Inward from those four stitch lines are edges of the four panels (20, 22, 24, 26) indicated by solid lines 50, 52, 54, and 56. These edges may be finished to prevent unraveling by any method known in the clothing industry. Preferably, the panels are made of a weave that does not unravel. Flap frame 38 has an outer flap 58 and an inner flap 60. Outer flap 58 has a movable outer edge 62, a stationary edge 64 secured by stitch 42, and a forward edge 68 and rear edge 70 at least partly secured by stitches 40 and 44 respectively. Inner flap 60 has a movable inner edge 72 shown with hidden lines, a stationary edge 74 secured by stitch 46, and a forward edge 76 and rear edge 78 at least partly secured by stitch 40 and 44 respectively. Moveable edges 62, 72 are preferably curved as shown, with the bottom of the curve being toward their respective fixed edges to allow easier finger tip access for the purpose that will be described below.
With reference to FIGS. 3B, 3C, 4B, and 4C, the use of the unique features of garment 10 will be described. First, in FIG. 3B, the outer movable edge 62 of outer flap 58 has been pulled by the fingers of the user's left hand (not shown) in the direction of arrow B to the left side of the body close to the inner thigh of left leg 12. Inner flap 60 continues to cover the user 8. Second, and nearly simultaneously, the inner moveable edge 72 has been moved (FIG. 3C) by the right hand (not shown) in the direction of arrow C to the right side of the body next to the inner thigh on the right leg 14. This exposes the female urethra 80 illustrated as an approximate location, making it possible for the user 8 to urinate along path 16 (FIG. 1). It has been found that the legs' position shown in FIG. 1, with one leg forward and one leg back, slightly spread, works particularly well. The hands continue to hold flaps 58, 60 apart until urination is complete. Most running shorts, leggings, or Capri pants for female runners are of stretchy fibers and weaves that stretch well and return to their original shape, making the flap frame 38 particularly convenient to use. This same material does not unravel, making it unnecessary to modify edges 50, 52, 54, 56 in a way that may add undesirable bulk between the legs.
Having described the first embodiment 10 by using FIGS. 1 through 4C, a second embodiment 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 5A through 5C. Like numbers are used to illustrate similar elements. A closure in the form of a zipper 102 is substantially horizontal across the front of the garment 100. Zipper 102 holds an outer flap 158 closed over an inner flap 160. In use, the person unzips zipper 102, opens flap 158 then 160, and urinates. Optionally, inner cover 162 may be present to retain pubic hair from getting caught in zipper 102. Zipper 102 is an example of an additional way to secure the flaps from opening. Many other embodiments can also be envisioned by one skilled in the art.
Similarly, FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a third embodiment 200 with a fastener in the form of a zipper 202 holding an outer flap 258 over an inner flap 60 having a moveable inner edge 72. Zipper 202 is located between the legs 12 and 14, and is less visible than zipper 102. Although a zipper has been illustrated, this may be another fastener, such as a hook and loop system. In use, the person unzips zipper 202, opens flap 258 then 60, and urinates as in FIG. 1.
While the foregoing description has set forth preferred embodiments of the present invention in particular detail, it must be understood that numerous modifications, substitutions, and changes can be undertaken without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the ensuing claims. The invention is therefore not limited to specific embodiments as described but is only limited as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A garment to be worn over the leg and pelvic region of a female comprising:

two leg openings and a crotch area there between;

a flap-frame positioned in the crotch area, said flap-frame comprising:

a left stitch line;

a right stitch line;

a forward stitch line;

a rear stitch line;

an inner flap and an outer flap wherein a first one of said inner flap and outer flap is secured by the left stitch line and the second of said inner flap and outer flap is secured by the right stitch line; and

wherein the inner and outer flaps are further secured by the forward and rear stitch lines, so that they lay flat and cover the pelvic region from viewing until the female pulls on the two flaps at flap edges furthest from the right stitch line and left stitch line to separate the inner and outer flaps and expose the female's urethra.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the flap edges furthest from the right stitch line and left stitch line have a concave curvature with the bottom of the curve being closest to the right or left stitch lines.

3. The garment of claim 1 wherein the inner flap and outer flap are made of a material that does not unravel when cut.

4. The garment of claim 1 wherein the inner flap and outer flap are made of a stretchy material.

5. A pair of pants or shorts having an opening aligned with the female urethra wherein the opening remains normally closed without the use of any closures, and may be opened by the applying of fingertip pressure from the right hand starting at a position left of a theoretical bifurcation plane, and ending right of the plane, and fingertip pressure from the left hand starting at a position right of the theoretical bifurcation plane, and ending left of the plane.

6. The pair of pants or shorts of claim 5 further comprising a flap frame surrounding the opening

7. The pair of pants or shorts of claim 5 having flaps made of a material that does not unravel when cut.

8. The pair of pants or shorts of claim 5 having flaps made of a stretchy material.

9. A garment to be worn by a woman that allows urination while standing without removal or lowering of the garment wherein the garment has overlying flaps that when pulled away from each other expose a urethra, but when released cover the urethra without need of a closure.