US20100313337A1

US20100313337A1 - Trousers

Info

Publication number: US20100313337A1
Application number: US12/377,886
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto Lajos Schultz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-21
Filing date: 2007-02-13
Publication date: 2010-12-16
Also published as: WO2008023137A1; GB0904725D0; GB2441105A; GB2455026B; GB0616558D0; GB2455026A

Abstract

Trousers with a fly closure have the base of the fly closure adapted to be at the perineal region of a wearer. The trousers are provided with a holding means held in place by attachment means on the waistband of the trousers, on either side of the central fly closure, whereby the holding means holds the trousers in place on said wearers waist when the central fly closure is fully open, and whereby flaps defined by the edges of the fly, the waistband and the axes between the base of the fly and the attachment means can each be folded outwards from said wearer about their axis to provide access to said wearer's genital region when the central fly closure is fully open.

Description

The invention is concerned with a fastening means for trousers having a central, front fly closure which extends down to the perineal region of the wearer. In particular, it is concerned with a fastening means which holds the trousers in place around the waist of a wearer while the fly closure is fully open.
Trousers with a front fly closure are commonly worn by members of both sexes. The front fly closure allows the trousers or shorts to be pulled on and taken off easily, but when fastened, allows a comfortable fit, holding the trousers up around the waist of the wearer.
A problem with the front fly closure is that when the fly is fully opened, including opening of any fastening means at the waistband of the trousers, to allow easy access to the genital region of the wearer, there is no longer anything to hold the trousers in place and to stop them falling to the floor if the wearer is standing. A partial solution to this problem is braces, but braces can be inconvenient if the wearer wishes to remove the trousers while wearing clothes on the upper body over the braces. Also access to the genital region is limited as the fly on conventional trousers does not extend to the perineal region of the wearer. Another solution is for the user to hold up the trousers by hand, but this then prevents the hands or arms being used for other purposes. This can present a particular problem where the wearer is a disabled or elderly person. Obtaining access to the genital area, for instance when going to the toilet, can be problematic for the disabled or elderly or for carers or nurses. During such manoeuvres, the trousers may fall to the floor accidentally.
Another particular problem with front fly closure trousers arises when the wearer wishes to take part in sexual activity while still wearing the trousers. If the trousers fall to the floor, around the wearer's ankles, while the wearer is engaged in sexual activity, particularly in public or in the open air, this may attract the attention of bystanders, possibly causing offence. It also limits the maneuverability of the wearer, as it is difficult to move freely with trousers around the ankles. It may also lead to the trousers becoming damaged or dirty as a result of falling to the ground. If the wearer holds the trousers up by hand, then their ability to use their hand or hands for other purposes is restricted.
If the top fastening of the fly closure is not opened during such activity, in order to hold the trousers around the wearers waist, the limited access to the genital region of the wearer, caused by only partial opening of the fly, may lead to chafing. This is exacerbated by the fact that conventional fly openings known in the prior art only extend down to within about 6 to 10 cm of the wearer's crotch causing severe restriction to genital access. This lack of access to the lower parts of the genitalia can also result in chafing during sexual activity or to lack of comfort for the wearer when going to the toilet.
Patent Specification GB 439,707 discloses trouser garments which are rendered self-supporting by means of a belt secured to the waist band or a detachable belt adapted to be attached to tabs secured on the waist band. However, none of the embodiments in this publication allows for the fly to be opened and the side flaps of the fly to be folded away from the body of the wearer while the belt is in place, holding the trousers up. Nor is this publication concerned with solving the problem of allowing free access to the genital region of the wearer.
Patent Specification GB 432,532 discloses trousers having a waistband and a front placket or fly provided with a fastening means to hold the trousers in place supported on the wearer while avoiding the use of a conventional belt or braces. Again, none of the embodiments shown in this publication allows for the trousers to remain supported while the fly is fully open with the side flaps of the fly capable of being folded away from the wearer to allow free access to the genital region of the wearer. Nor is this publication concerned with solving the problem of allowing free access to the genital region of the wearer.
It has now been found that trousers or shorts can be structured to overcome some or all of these problems without a major change in the external appearance of the trousers or shorts when worn with the fly fully closed.
A first aspect of the invention provides trousers comprising, a waistband having an interior and an exterior surface, and a front central fly closure, the fly closure comprising a top fastener and first and second fly edges extending from the top fastener to a base of the fly closure,
characterized in that the base of the fly closure is adapted to be at the perineal region of a wearer and that the trousers are provided with a holding means held in place by a first attachment means at the waistband on a first side of the central fly closure and held in place by a second attachment means at the waistband on a second side of the central fly closure, whereby the holding means holds the trousers in place on said wearers waist when the central fly closure is fully open, and whereby first and second flaps, each flap defined by
i) the first and second fly edges,
ii) axes formed between the first and second attachment means respectively and the base of the fly closure, and
iii) the waistband,
can each be folded outwards from said wearer about their axis to provide access to said wearer's genital region when the central fly closure is fully open.
In this specification, the term trousers includes outerwear intended for wear by adults, such as formal trousers, casual trousers, shorts, jeans, leather trousers and the like. By perineal region is meant the region on the body of the wearer situated between the anus and the genitalia. For the trousers of the invention, the base of the fly closure is adapted to be in a position adjacent to the perineal region on the body of a wearer when the trousers are in place with the waistband held around the waist of the wearer.
The term fly closure is well known in the art and refers to any fly closure such as a button, laced, press-stud or zip fly closure. A central fly closure is located at the front centre of the trousers or shorts and conventionally extends from the waistband down towards a base of the fly closure near the crutch of the wearer of the trousers, but usually halting at least 6 cm short of the perineal region of the wearer. On trousers, the lowest or saddle point of the crutch of the trousers will usually correspond to the perineal region of the wearer. This generally corresponds to the point where the inside leg seams of the trouser legs meet or intersect the rear or central seam of the trousers. Fly closures are generally also provided with a top fastening at the level of the trouser waistband, and the fly closure can be opened while the top fastening remains closed to allow limited access to the genital region of the wearer. Where the term “fully open” is applied to a fly closure in this specification, it is to mean that the fly closure is opened and any top fastening is also released, allowing the flaps of the fly opening to be folded to the sides of the trousers or shorts, away from the genital region of the wearer. The opening extends to the position defined as the base of the fly closure in this specification.
In this specification, where reference is made to a waistband of trousers or shorts, it is a reference merely to the region at the top of the trousers or shorts, typically extending 3 to 10 cm from the upper rim of the trousers towards the legs. Although the trousers or shorts may have a waistband physically defined by a seam or thicker material, this is not essential to the invention and the term waistband is meant to refer to the location or locus only, and does not necessarily imply a separate band of material.
In order to provide more convenient access to the genital region of the wearer, the opening of the central fly closure, when fully open, defined by the edges of the fly closure, and the base of the fly closure, extends from the waistband of the trousers to a base of the fly closure adapted to be located at the perineal region of the wearer at the crutch of the wearer. Preferably, the base of the fly closure is adapted to be within 5 cm of the lowest or saddle point of the crutch of the trousers or shorts, preferably within 4 cm, more preferably within 3 cm, even more preferably within 2 cm. This lowest or saddle point of the crutch of the trousers is defined as a point where a central seam of the trousers intersects with inside leg seams of the trousers. This allows for sexual activity by male or female wearers, when the fly closure is fully open, with minimal risk of chafing. This also allows easy access for disabled or elderly users when going to the toilet. Suitably, the fly closure is adapted for easy opening by pulling the edges of the fly closure apart from the top of the. For instance a Velcro™ may be used. A fly closure with a button/buttonhole arrangement for the fly fastening is preferred as it is less likely to cause chafing or abrasion of the genitalia. More preferably, the button/buttonhole arrangement for the fly is adapted for easy opening when the fly is pulled apart from the top of the fly. This can be achieved, for instance, by means of button holes with large openings and buttons with concave bottoms (i.e. the side in contact with the trousers) having a small radius of curvature for the surface of the concave region (1 cm or less), whereby the buttons can be easily pulled free of the buttonholes.
In order to provide easy access to the genital region of the wearer, it is preferable that the attachment means, on the interior waistband of the trousers, are adequately spaced from the central fly closure to allow the flaps of the fly fastening to fold away from the centre of the trousers, about an axis formed between the respective attachment means and the base of the fly closure, when the fly closure is fully opened. Suitably, the first and second attachment means are located at least 5 cm from the central fly closure, as measured along the interior waistband surface, preferably at least 7 cm, more preferably at least 10 cm, even more preferably at least 15 cm and most preferably at least 20 cm, to allow the fly flaps to be comfortably folded away from the wearer.
In order to provide a comfortable fit for the wearer, the first and second attachment means are preferably located on the front half of the trousers or shorts, at the waistband, between the central fly closure and the points on the waistband midway between the central fly closure and the rear seam of the trousers, measured around the waistband. These points correspond to the points on the waistband over the outer hips of the wearer in use. For the purposes of these measurements, the position of the central fly closure is the position where the line of the zip (for a zip fly), or the line of the button centres (for a button fly) of the fly closure, extended, would meet the top of the waistband.
For the sake of providing uniform access to the genital region, it is preferable if the first and second attachment means are situated substantially equidistant from the central fly closure as measured along the interior waistband surface, by which is meant that the difference in the distance from the central fly closure for each of the two attachments is less than 4 cm, preferably less than 2 cm.
The holding means may be any suitable means for keeping the trousers up around the waist of the wearer even though the fly closure is fully opened. For example the holding means may be a pair of braces, passing over the wearers shoulders and attached to the waistband of the trousers at the first and second attachment means at the front, and also suitably attached to the rear waistband (for instance by a button/buttonhole arrangement or by means of brace clips). Another suitable holding means is an adjustable belt extending around the entire waistband, held in place by belt loops or openings on the waistband, wherein the first and second attachment means are belt loops or openings adjacent to the front central fly closure and positioned on each side thereof, and the belt extends between the first and second attachment means on the inner surface of the waistband. Because the adjustable belt, between the belt loops or openings holding it behind the fly closure, are on the inside of the waistband, the side flaps of the fly closure can be folded away from the body of the wearer when the fly closure is fully opened. The belt loops may be in the form of a plurality of loops distributed along the circumference of the interior surface of the waistband, or may be a tunnel or several tunnels formed on or in the waistband's interior surface, with the belt exiting from the tunnel or tunnels at the first and second attachment means, at openings on the inner surface of the waistband. Alternatively, the belt may run on the exterior surface of the waistband at the rear of the trousers, entering to the inner surface of the waistband through openings forming the first and second attachment points. Various combinations of belt loops, tunnels and openings may be envisaged by the skilled person, provided that the belt runs behind the fly closure on the inner surface of the waistband between the first and second attachment means.
The belt, adjusted to fit the waist of the wearer by some suitable adjustment means, such as Velcro™, a buckle, button/buttonhole fasteners, will hold the trousers in place on the wearer's waist even when the fly closure is fully opened. This would not be possible with the conventional arrangement, where a belt is arranged on the exterior waistband of trousers at the front of the trousers, as the belt would need to be unfastened in order to allow the side flaps of the fly closure to be folded away from the wearer. This is because the tops of the side flaps would be trapped under the belt if it were left in place. This is also the case for the trousers disclosed in FIG. 6 of Patent Specification GB 432,532, where a strap or belt emerges from openings on a waistband on ether side of a fly closure, but the belt extends across the front of the fly closure on the waistband exterior, preventing the fly closure from folding outwards when opened with the belt still in place.
Another suitable arrangement for the holding means is when the first and second attachment means are located on the interior surface of the waistband and the holding means is a flexible fastening strap extending directly from the first attachment means to the second attachment means along the waistband of the trousers.
The flexible fastening strap may be formed from any suitable material, but is preferably made of fabric, such that it is a fabric belt. It may be a conventional woven, non-woven or knitted fabric made from conventional textile fibres such as cotton, polyester, viscose rayon, polyamide, wool, silk etc. Leather may also be suitable. The flexible fastening strap may be made from an elasticated fabric such that it is an elastic strap in order to provide greater comfort for the wearer and better fit around the wearer's waist in use.
The flexible strap is preferably releasably affixed to one or both of the first and second attachment means.
The attachment means for attaching the ends of the flexible fastening strap to the interior of the waistband may be any suitable attachment means, such as a sewn seam, hook and eye arrangement, press stud, button and buttonhole fastener, zip fastener or Velcro™. Different attachment means, or the same means may be employed at each and of the flexible fastening strap. Alternative locations may be provided for the attachment means to allow adjustment of the fit of the fastening strap around the waist of the user when the trousers are in use.
In one preferred arrangement, the flexible fastening strap may be completely detachable from the first and second attachment means and may be releasably affixed to third and fourth attachment means on the rear exterior waistband surface whereby the flexible fastening strap can also act as a waistband tensioner. This gives the advantage that the flexible fastening strap can be used for different purposes with the same trousers, depending upon the activities to be undertaken by the wearer.
When the flexible fastening strap is a single strap, it is preferable that at least one of the attachment means is a releasable attachment means in order to facilitate putting on the trousers. The flexible fastening strap may be elasticated, for instance using Lycra™ or Elastane™ to allow for ease in putting on the trousers or shorts without the need for release of the attachment means.
Suitably, the flexible fastening strap may be in the form of two separate straps or arms, joined together by a releasable connection means. This is particularly suitable when the attachment means holding the flexible fastening strap to the inner waistband of the trousers or shorts are both permanent attachment means such as sewn seams. The releasable connection means allows the flexible fastening strap to be opened to facilitate pulling on the trousers. Hence each of the two arms forming the flexible fastening strap will have an attachment means at one and its respective part of the releasable connection means at the other end. The arms are suitably made of fabric as detailed hereinbefore.
Preferably, the arms for this arrangement are substantially of equal length, meaning that the difference in length measured from the centre of the attachment means to the centre of the respective connection means for each arm is 4 cm or less, preferably 2 cm or less.
The releasable connection means may be any suitable arrangement such as, hook and eye arrangement, press stud, button and buttonhole fastener, zip fastener, laces and lace-holes or Velcro™.
Further aspects of the invention include the following:
The use of trousers according to the first aspect of the invention for allowing easy access to the genital region of a wearer.
A method for gaining access to the genital region of a wearer by providing said wearer with trousers according to the first aspect of the invention, fully opening the fly closure of the trousers with the trousers held in place around said wearer's waist and folding the first and second flaps outwards from the body of said wearer.

EXAMPLES

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a first embodiment of trousers according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a second embodiment of trousers according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of a third embodiment of trousers according to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of trousers according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a rear perspective view of the fourth embodiment.

In the first embodiment of trousers according to the invention, the trousers 1 have a waistband 2,3 with an exterior surface 2 and an interior surface 3, a front fly closure 4 provided with button and buttonhole fasteners 13 (buttons not shown in FIG. 1) and a rear seam 7. The front fly closure 4 is also provided with a hook and eye fastener 14, where the hook is provided on a tab 15 at the waistband 2, 3. The fly closure 4 is shown in a fully open position in FIGS. 1 and 2, and extends to the base 5 of the crotch region of the trousers, specifically to a point 2 cm in front of the crossing point of the inner leg and central seams, corresponding to the perineal region of a wearer.
One end of a flexible fabric fastening strap 6 is attached to the interior waistband 3 on one side of the fly by a button/buttonhole fastener 8 where the button is sewn onto the waistband and a buttonhole is provided in the flexible fastening strap. The other end of the flexible fastening strap is also attached to the interior waistband 3 on the other side of the fly by a button/buttonhole fastener 9 where the button is sewn onto the waistband interior 3 and a buttonhole is provided in the flexible fastening strap 6.
For the first embodiment, in order to put on the trousers 1, the fly closure 4 is opened and the flexible fastening strap 6 is attached to one side of the fly 4 only by the button/buttonhole fastener 8. The trousers 1 are pulled into position on the body of the wearer, and the flexible fastening strap 6 is attached to the other side of the fly 4 using the other button/buttonhole fastener 9. The fly closure 4 is then buttoned closed and the hook and eye fastener 14 at the waistband 2, 3 is also closed.
When the wearer of the trousers 1, or another person, requires easy access to the wearer's genital region without allowing the trousers 1 to fall to the ground, the hook and eye fastener 14 is opened, and the fly closure 4 is fully opened to the perineal region while leaving the flexible strap 6 fastened to each side of the fly closure 4, extending across the front of the waist of the wearer. This allows the flaps of the fly closure 4 to be moved aside with the remainder of the trousers 1 held firmly in place on the wearer by the flexible fastening strap 6 and the waistband 2, 3, together encircling the wearer's waist and holding the trousers 1 up. This leaves the wearer's, or other person's hands free for other activities.
Once access to the genital region of the wearer is no longer needed, the fly closure 4 can by buttoned up and the hook and eye 14 at the waistband fastened to leave the trousers 1 fully closed and still in place on the wearer.
In the second embodiment of trousers according to the invention, the trousers 1 have a waistband 2,3 with an exterior surface 2 and an interior surface 3, a front fly closure 4 provided with button and buttonhole fasteners 13 (buttons not shown in FIG. 1) and a rear seam 7. The front fly closure 4 is also provided with a hook and eye fastener, where the hook 14 is provided on a tab 15 at the waistband 2,3. The fly closure 4 is shown in a fully open position in FIGS. 3, and extends to the base 5 of the crotch region of the trousers, specifically to a point 2 cm in front of the crossing point of the inner leg and central seams, corresponding to the perineal region of a wearer.
One end of a flexible fabric arm 10 is attached to the interior waistband 3 on one side of the fly by a sewn seam (not shown). A second flexible fabric arm 11 is also attached to the interior waistband 3 on the other side of the fly by a sewn seam (also not shown). The two arms are fastened together at the front, centre of the trousers by a button/buttonhole fastener 12 consisting of two buttons sewn onto the first flexible fabric arm 10 and two corresponding buttonholes provided in the second flexible fabric arm 11.
For the second embodiment, in order to put on the trousers, the fly closure 4 is opened and the flexible fabric arms 10, 11 are not attached to each other by the button/buttonhole fastener 12. The trousers are pulled into position on the body of the user, and the flexible fabric arms 10, 11 are attached to each other using the button/buttonhole fastener 12. The fly closure is then buttoned closed and the hook and eye fastener 14 at the waistband 2, 3 is also closed.
When the wearer of the trousers 1, or another person, requires easy access to the wearer's genital region without allowing the trousers 1 to fall to the ground, the hook and eye fastener 14 is opened, and the fly closure 4 is fully opened to the base 5 of the crotch while leaving the flexible fabric arms 10, 11 attached to each other over the front of the waist of the wearer. This allows the flaps of the fly closure 4 to be moved aside with the remainder of the trousers 1 held firmly in place on the wearer by the flexible fabric arms and the waistband, together encircling the wearer's waist and holding the trousers 1 up. This leaves the wearer's, or other person's hands free for other activities.
Once access to the genital region of the wearer is no longer needed, the fly closure 4 can by buttoned up and the hook and eye 14 at the waistband 2, 3 fastened to leave the trousers 1 fully closed and still in place on the wearer.
In the third embodiment of trousers according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the trousers 1 have a waistband 2,3 with an exterior surface 2 and an interior surface 3, a front fly closure 4 provided with button and buttonhole fasteners 13 (buttons not shown in FIG. 1) and a rear seam 7. The front fly closure 4 is also provided with a hook and eye fastener, where the hook 14 is provided on a tab 15 at the waistband 2,3. The fly closure 4 is shown in a fully open position in FIG. 3, and extends to the base 5 of the crotch region of the trousers, specifically to a point 2 cm in front of the crossing point of the inner leg and central seams, corresponding to the perineal region of a wearer.
A fabric belt 16 is provided on the interior waistband 3, held in place on belt loops 17. The belt loops 8 and 9 correspond the first and second attachment means of the invention. The belt 16 is provided with an adjustable Velcro™ fastening 18
For the third embodiment, in order to put on the trousers, the fly closure 4 is opened and the belt 16 is opened at the Velcro™ fastening 18. The trousers are pulled into position on the body of the user, and the adjustable belt 16 is secured about the waist of the wearer using the adjustable fastening 18. The fly closure is then buttoned closed and the hook and eye fastener 14 at the waistband 2, 3 is also closed.
When the wearer of the trousers 1, or another person, requires easy access to the wearer's genital region without allowing the trousers 1 to fall to the ground, the hook and eye fastener 14 is opened, and the fly closure 4 is fully opened to the base 5 of the crotch while leaving the flexible belt 16 secure about the waist of the wearer and attached to the trousers by means of the belt loops 17. This allows the flaps of the fly closure 4 to be moved aside by folding about an axis running from the last belt loops 8,9 to the bottom of the fly 5 with the remainder of the trousers 1 held firmly in place on the wearer by the adjustable belt together encircling the wearer's waist and holding the trousers 1 up. This leaves the wearer's, or other person's hands free for other activities.
Once access to the genital region of the wearer is no longer needed, the fly closure 4 can by buttoned up and the hook and eye 14 at the waistband 2, 3 fastened to leave the trousers 1 fully closed and still in place on the wearer.
The fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the use of the fourth embodiment, is as detailed for the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, save that the trousers further comprise attachment buttons 19, 20 situated on the rear waistband, spaced apart such that the flexible fastening strap 6 may be attached to them by its buttonholes for storage when it is not worn across the front of the trousers. The waistband is provided with loops 21 to locate the flexible fastening strap 6 in place. When the wearer wishes to have the fly open fully, the flexible fastening strap 6 is first removed from its storage location, by detaching it from buttons 19 and 20 and sliding it out from under the belt loops. The strap 6 is subsequently attached to the buttons 8,9 for use as detailed for the first embodiment.

Claims

1. Trousers comprising, a waistband having an interior and an exterior surface, and a front central fly closure, the fly closure comprising a top fastener and first and second fly edges extending from the top fastener to a base of the fly closure,

characterized in that the base of the fly closure is adapted to be at the perineal region of a wearer and that the trousers are provided with a holding means held in place by a first attachment means at the waistband on a first side of the central fly closure and held in place by a second attachment means at the waistband on a second side of the central fly closure, whereby the holding means holds the trousers in place on said wearers waist when the central fly closure is fully open, and whereby first and second flaps, each flap defined by

i) the first and second fly edges,

ii) axes formed between the first and second attachment means respectively and the base of the fly closure, and

iii) the waistband,

can each be folded outwards from said wearer about their axis to provide access to said wearer's genital region when the central fly closure is fully open.

2. Trousers according to claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment means are located on the interior surface of the waistband and the holding means is a flexible fastening strap extending directly from the first attachment means to the second attachment means along the waistband of the trousers.

3. Trousers according to claim 2 wherein the flexible fastening strap is an elastic strap.

4. Trousers according to claim 2 wherein the flexible fastening strap is releasably affixed to one or both of the first and second attachment means.

5. Trousers according to claim 4 wherein the flexible fastening strap is completely detachable from the first and second attachment means and may be releasably affixed to third and fourth attachment means on the rear exterior waistband surface whereby the flexible fastening strap can also act as a waistband tensioner.

6. Trousers according to claim 2 wherein the flexible fastening strap has a first arm extending from the first attachment means, a second arm extending from the second attachment means and a releasable connection means for connecting the first and second arms.

7. Trousers according to claim 6 wherein the arms are of substantially equal length.

8. Trousers according to claim 6 wherein the connection means comprises a button and buttonhole fastener.

9. Trousers according to claim 1 wherein the holding means is an adjustable belt extending around the waistband, held in place by belt loops or openings on the waistband, wherein the first and second attachment means are belt loops or openings adjacent to the front central fly closure and positioned on each side thereof, and the belt extends between the first and second attachment means on the inner surface of the waistband.

10. Trousers according to claim 1 wherein the holding means is a pair of braces.

11. Trousers according to claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment means are located at least 5 cm from the central fly closure, measured along the interior waistband surface.

12. Trousers according to claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment means are substantially equidistant from the central fly closure.

13. Trousers according to claim 1 wherein the base of the fly closure is located within 5 cm, preferably within 4 cm of a point where a central seam of the trousers intersects with inside leg seams of the trousers.