Pub. No.: WO/2008/023137 International Application No.: PCT/GB2007/000495
Publication Date: 28.02.2008 International Filing Date: 13.02.2007
IPC: A41F 9/00 (2006.01), A41F 9/02 (2006.01)
Applicant: SCHULTZ, Otto, Lajos [GB/GB]; (GB).
Inventor: SCHULTZ, Otto, Lajos; (GB).
Agent: INSTONE, Terry; Lloyd Wise, McNeight & Lawrence, Highbank
House, Exchange Street, Stockport, Cheshire SK3 OET (GB).
Priority Data: 0616558.3 21.08.2006 GB
Title: TROUSERS
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.
Designated States: AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR,
BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE,
EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS,
JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV,
LY, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM,
PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, SV, SY,
TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
African Regional Intellectual Property Org. (ARIPO) (BW, GH, GM,
KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW)
Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU,
TJ, TM)
European Patent Office (EPO) (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK,
EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, NL, PL,
PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, TR)
African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) (BF, BJ, CF,
CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
Publication Language: English (EN)
Filing Language: English (EN)
WO 2008023137 20080228
Trousers
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 to10 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 Hi) 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 5cm 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 15cm 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
les 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 figure 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 4cm 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:
Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a first embodiment
of trousers according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the first embodiment.
Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of a second embodiment
of trousers according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of a third embodiment
of trousers according to the invention.
Figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of the third embodiment.
Figure 6 shows a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment
of trousers according to the invention.
Figure 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 figure
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 figures 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 figure
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 figures 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 figures 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 figure 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 figures 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 shoen in figures 6 and
7, and the use of the fourth embodiment , is as detailed for the
first embodiment shown in figures 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.
WO 2008023137 20080228
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 or 3 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 any one of claims 2 to 5 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 or claim 7 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 any preceding claim 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 any preceding claim wherein the first
and second attachment means are substantially equidistant from
the central fly closure.
13. Trousers according to any preceding claim 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.
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