| Garment having a protective gusset -> Monitor Keywords |
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Garment having a protective gussetRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Body GarmentsGarment having a protective gusset description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060070163, Garment having a protective gusset. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S. C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/573,878 filed May 24, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/544,833 filed Feb. 13, 2004 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The staining of underwear by bodily fluids is a common problem, especially among women during their menstrual cycles. While disposable panty liners offer some protection, they are frequently hot and sticky, making them irritating and uncomfortable to wear. They also become bunchy and obvious under tight fitting clothes. Despite the widespread availability of panty liners, staining remains a primary reason why underwear is prematurely discarded. The risk of staining through an outer garment creates considerable anxiety and, when it occurs, causes extreme embarrassment, and may necessitate discarding the stained garment as well. Panties with traditional cotton gussets which stain permanently, do not wick and do not provide protection from strike-through. To solve this problem, women want and need underwear that is comfortable to wear, attractive, and washable made of materials designed to resist or conceal staining--in other words, that looks, feels and functions like their other underwear of choice--while providing effective, non-obvious protection against staining, even under close fitting and light colored outerwear. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention resides in a gusset within a garment that substantially reduces the risk and substantially protects against stains caused by the leaking of body fluids. In one embodiment, the gusset fits at the crotch between the legs of a human adult, adolescent, or child, extending from front to back in varying lengths and widths, which may form the permanent crotch portion of an undergarment, such as panties, or of outerwear, such as sports or swim wear. In another embodiment, the gusset comprises multiple thin, soft and flexible composite structures, each of different properties, constructed to so as to wick, and retain small to moderate amounts of body fluid and to substantially resist permanent staining of the internal composite structures and leakage to the backing material of gusset, while allowing air and vapor to substantially pass through the gusset. [0004] In yet a further embodiment, the composite structures of the gusset comprise separate materials, each with a specific and complimentary function in relation to each other. For example, the gusset may be first joined inward (towards the fluid source) of the outer seam so as to create a fluid barrier that isolates fluids within the wicking composite structure and as an addition to the stain reduction provided by the gusset system of the present invention, further substantially prevent leaking and staining to the outer seam of the gusset. In one example, the fluid barrier is soft, flexible, and capable of being used in combination with a separate elastic and stitched outer seam, allowing it to be incorporated into functional, attractive, and fashionable garments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention showing a side view of a garment with the gusset. [0006] FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention showing a side view of another garment with the gusset. [0007] FIG. 3 is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention showing a top view of the gusset. [0008] FIGS. 4 through 10 are illustrations showing a cross-section view of various embodiments of the present invention exemplifying the composite structure. [0009] Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures constitute a part of this specification and include illustrative embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0010] Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. [0011] In one embodiment, a gusset 14 within a garment that substantially protects from and substantially reduces staining and leaking of body fluids is now described that fits at the crotch of a human within an undergarment 1 or outergarment 2. In one example, the gusset 14 comprises multiple thin, soft, flexible and elastic composite structures, each of which can be discrete layers or laminates. In a specific example, the composite structures of gusset 14 does not comprise a substantial percentage of cotton. In one embodiment, the gusset 14 comprises between one and six composite structures, and more particularly between one and four composite structures. In another embodiment, the gusset comprises between one and five composite structures, and more particularly between one and three composite structures. [0012] In a further embodiment, individual composite structures comprise: [0013] 14A Interface composite structure, "interface" [0014] 14B Wicking composite structure, "wicking material" [0015] 14C Waterproof Breathable Material composite structure, "WPBM" [0016] 14D Backing composite structure, "backing material" [0017] An example of the interface composite structure (herein referred to as "interface 14A") may comprise a porous and/or permanently apertured material which may substantially inhibit fluid retention. For example, the material may have a permanently formed and open, net-like construction and does not substantially contract nor substantially swell when exposed to moisture. In another example, the material may comprise a thermoplastic film, nylon, polyester or a wicking, mesh or netting (such as, for example, manufactured by Dogi, product # 20720 comprising 100-600 apertures per square inch). The interface 14A is not a cotton knit nor cotton knit interlock which absorbs moisture, swells upon contact with moisture, and does not wick. In a further embodiment, a single layer fabric is used for interface 14A, as opposed to an interlock knit, in which two fabrics are joined together. [0018] An example of the wicking composite structure, (herein referred to as the "wicking material 14B") may comprise a material which transports body fluids from the inner surface through capillary action and/or geometric action carrying fluid to its outer surface, dispersing fluid throughout the fabric for evaporation. For example, fluid directed toward the outer surface of this wicking material allows the inner surface to remain substantially dry--in this way the fluid is wicked from the inner surface to the outer surface. Suitable wicking materials include multi-layered or complex materials. An example of wicking material 14B is a two ply fabric in which one side is 100% polyester and the other side is comprised of a polyester-cotton blend, or other fabric used for this purpose. One example of such fabric, manufactured by Optimer.TM., is DriRelease.TM. product # DR100, comprises 91% Polyester and 9% Cotton, and has a water release rate between 0.1%-0.8% per minute. [0019] An example of the waterproof breathable material (herein referred to as the "WPBM 14C") comprises an air and gas permeable, hydrophobic, oleophobic, microporous, polytetrafluoroethylene material, in which a protective coating over the membrane comprises a fluoropolymer, which coats the surfaces of the pores without completely blocking the pores, permitting air but not water. In a further example, the WPBM 14C may comprise an air and gas permeable, hydrophobic, microporous, polytetraflouroethylene membrane that is not treated with a protective coating, dismissing oleophobic characteristics. One such example, manufactured by BHA Technologies, is eVENT.TM. style # 801 ranging in thickness from 0.1 to 1 mil, and MVTR ranging from 6,000-50,000 g/m2/24 hours per JIS L 1099 test method. [0020] Another example of the WPBM 14C comprises a material with billions of micro pores per square inch. Moisture vapor permeates this material, but water and air does not. A protective polyurethane coating on the membrane does not allow the flow of air, such as oxygen; it transports water by diffusion, ie: through an absorption evaporation mechanism. One such example, manufactured by W. L. Gore, is GoreTex.TM., ranging in thickness from 0.1 to 1 mil, and MVTR ranging from 6,000-50,000 g/m2/24 hours per JIS L 1099 test method. [0021] Yet another example of the WPBM 14C comprises a monolithic, non-porous hydrophilic stretch material, which is impervious to water but permits moisture vapor transmission One such example, manufactured by Akzo Nobel, is Sympatex.TM., ranging in thickness from 0.1 mil to 1.0 mil, and MTVR ranging from 6,000-50,000 g/m2/24 hours per JIS L 1099 test method. [0022] In a further example, the WPBM 14C comprises a microporous hydrophilic material that is impervious to water but permits moisture vapor transmission. One such example, manufactured by Toray.TM., is Entrant.TM., ranging in thickness from 0.1 mil to 1 mil, MTVR ranging from 6,000-50,000 g/m2/24 hours per JIS L 1099 test method. [0023] One example of the backing composite structure (herein referred to as the "backing material 14D") comprises a thin, elastic, liquid and air permeable material. Backing material 14D may comprise the gusset as well as the body of the garment. One example is a nylon lycra circular knit from Centuritex, product # CK-16071, 90% Nylon, 10% Spandex, 160 gm/yd. Continue reading about Garment having a protective gusset... Full patent description for Garment having a protective gusset Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Garment having a protective gusset patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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