Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This patent application claims priority and benefit from US 63/316,001, filed on March 3, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field

[0002] The present invention is related to the field of clothing.

Background

[0003] Clothing articles and clothes are typically formed of textile material and are worn on the body. Clothes are worn for various purposes, for example, to keep the human body warm in a cold weather, to protect the human body from rough surfaces or insects or plants, to provide a hygienic barrier between the human body and the environment, to protect the human body from ultraviolet radiation, to cover genitals, for social reasons or as fashion, or the like.

Summary

[0004] Some embodiments provide underwear or underpants, or other clothing article or garment, having adaptive or adjustable or modular leg openings; as well as a method and a system for producing or manufacturing such underwear or underpants or clothing article or garment. For example, a singular fabric-region of the undergarment is structured as a saddle, located beneath a crotch or gusset area, and extends downwardly along a portion of the upper inner right hip and the upper inner left hip. That fabric-region is formed of a fabric or yarns having a particular elasticity characteristic, that is different from the elasticity characteristics of other fabric -regions of that undergarment; and that provides an increased elasticity, and particularly an increased horizontal elasticity, to that saddle-structured fabric region.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Figs. 1 A to ID are illustrations of an undergarment having adaptive (or modular, or self-adjusting, or stretching or stretchable, or expanding or expandable) leg openings or adaptive (or modular, or self-adjusting, or size-adjusting, or expanding or expandable, or stretching or stretchable) inner-upper-thigh fabric regions, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0006] Figs. 2A and 2B are illustrations of an undergarment having similar adaptive leg openings or adaptive inner-upper- thigh fabric regions, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0007] Figs. 2C and 2D are illustrations of an undergarment, in accordance with some embodiments; shown with an enlarged view of a demonstrative self-adjusting / size-adjusting fabric-region.

[0008] Fig. 3A is an illustration of a set of discrete fabric -regions that can be connected together in order to form an undergarment, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0009] Fig. 3B is an illustration of a collection demonstrating the structure of several types of size-adjusting / self-adjusting fabric -region, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0010] Figs. 4A to 4D are illustrations of an undergarment having adaptive leg openings or adaptive inner-upper-thigh fabric regions, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

Detailed Description of Some Demonstrative Embodiments

[0011] The present invention includes underwear or underpants, or a garment or a clothing article, having adaptive or adjustable or modular leg openings, or self-adjusting leg openings; as well as a method and a system for producing or manufacturing such underwear or underpants or clothing articles or garments.

[0012] In some embodiments, the garment is underwear for men, and may include a frontside genitalia pocket genitalia pouch or genitalia-covering fabric region. In other embodiments, the garment is an underwear for women (e.g., without the genitalia pocket or genitalia pouch, which is described herein and may be optional). In some embodiments, the garment is briefs, or boxers, or boxer briefs or panties, or unisex underwear, or a lingerie item, or a shorts or short pants, or swimwear, or short sportswear, or short sleepwear.

[0013] In accordance with some embodiments, the clothing article covers less than 50 percent of the entire length of each leg of the human wearer; such as, each leg cover or each fabric “sleeve” or fabric cylinder of the garment covers less than 50 percent of a length of the leg (e.g., measured from the waist to the ankle), or covers less than 40 percent of a length of the leg, covers less than 33 percent of a length of the leg; and/or, each such leg sleeve or leg cylinder (formed of fabric) covers at least a portion of the buttocks and a portion of the upper hip and/or upper thigh of the wearer, but does not extend downwardly below the knee, and/or does not cover the knee, and/or it leaves uncovered the knee area and the below-the-knee area of the human wearer.

[0014] In a demonstrative embodiment, the garment is briefs underwear for men, having a torso-encircling fabric-member or fabric -region or fabric-area, which encircles and covers the torso of the human wearer. The torso-encircling fabric member includes: (I) a front-side fabric region (or fabric member, or fabric pocket, or fabric pouch, or genitalia pouch, or genitalia pocket) which covers the front side (e.g., genitalia) of the wearer; and (II) a rear-side fabric region which covers the rear side (e.g., the buttocks, or an entirety of the buttocks, or a least most of the buttocks) of the wearer; and (III) a crotch-covering fabric region which covers the bottom side (e.g., crotch, anus) of the wearer.

[0015] Each one of two upper-thigh fabric regions is generally shaped as a short cylinder or short pipe or short tube; each one of them is configured to encircle or to partially cover an upper region of a thigh (or hip) of the wearer; each one of them having a leg-opening through which a leg of the wearer is inserted and passes.

[0016] Optionally, a front-side pouch or pocket or other suitable genitalia-receiving member, is located at the front region of the torso encircling member; and it receives, or holds in place, or encapsulates or maintains therein (partially or entirely) the genitalia of the wearer (e.g., the penis or part of the penis, and/or the testicles or part of the testicles).

[0017] In accordance with some embodiments, the inner region (and not the outer region) of each upper-thigh fabric region of the underwear comprises an adjustable or a self-adjusting or a size-adjusting fabric-element or fabric -portion or fabric -region. Each such size-adjusting fabric-element may cover, at least partially, an inner side of the upper thigh of the wearer.

[0018] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may be, for example, triangle shaped; such that one of the three edges of the triangle fabric-structure is part of the bottom edge or bottom contour of the underwear; and such that this particular edge of the triangle fabric-structure is the smallest edge of that triangular fabric-structure.

[0019] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may be, for example, trapezoid shaped; such that one of the two bases of the trapezoid fabric-structure is part of the bottom edge or the bottom contour of the underwear; and such that this base of the trapezoid fabric-structure is the longest base of that trapezoid fabric-structure; and in some embodiments, that lower base (which is also the longest base) of the trapezoid is shorter than each one of the non-base edges (the two sides) of that trapezoid-shaped fabric-structure.

[0020] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may be, for example, rectangular shaped; such that one of four edges of the rectangle is part of the bottom edge or bottom contour of the underwear; and such that this edge of that rectangular fabric-structure is the smaller edge of the rectangular fabric-structure.

[0021] Some embodiments may utilize other suitable shapes or contours or polygons for the size-adjusting fabric-element; wherein, one of the edges of such polygon or shape of the size-adjusting fabric-element is also a part of the bottom edge or the bottom contour of the underwear itself. Such bottom edge or bottom side of the size-adjusting fabric-element, may be cut-free or seam-free or seam-less, and may exclude therein or thereon any seam(s) or stitch(es); and the size-adjusting fabric -element may end or may terminate, at its lower edge, without any seam-based termination or finishing, or may end with an ultrasonic-cut termination or ultrasonic cut-and-bond termination, or with a seamless ultrasonic cut termination, or with seamless bonding or seamless gluing, or with seamless bonding-material or gluing-material based termination, or with seamless printing-based termination, or with seamless coating-based termination, or other seamless or seam-free fabric edge termination mechanism.

[0022] The unique properties and/or size and/or dimensions and/or fabric and/or location and/or shape of the size-adjusting fabric-element, and/or the seamless or seam-free termination of its lower edge or lower contour, may enhance the feeling of convenience and comfortability for the wearer, and/or may reduce friction on the body or with the inner thigh of the wearer, and/or may enable or assist the modular flexibility of the size-adjusting fabric-element, and/or may facilitate or enable expansion and/or shrinking and/or size-adjustment of the size-adjusting fabric-element in response to different sizes (or diameters, or contour shapes) of thighs or upper-thigh regions of various users, or of the same user (e.g., to adjust to the user’s thigh or upper size if the user has added weight or has lost weight, and/or to adjust to the user’s body as the user is performing a particular physical activity such as running or jumping or sitting or stretching).

[0023] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element, which is located at (or internally relative to) the inner-upper-thigh of the wearer, is formed or is knitted from a first type of material and/or yarn; whereas, other regions of the underwear, and particularly the regions that are immediately adjacent to (or bordering with, or neighboring with) the sizeadjusting fabric-element, and/or particularly other portions or regions of the leg opening or of the thigh-covering region or of the upper-thigh covering region, are formed or knitted from a second, different, type of material and/or yarn.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first material, or the first yarn, or a first knitting pattern or knitting scheme or knitting technique that is utilized to form the size-adjusting fabricelement, enable the size-adjusting fabric-element to be stretchable by at least 25% when measured horizontally (e.g., perpendicular to the longest dimension of the leg of the human wearer; or generally parallel to the ground when the human wearer is standing); whereas, adjacent fabric -regions that are adjacent to or neighboring with the size-adjusting fabricelement, are stretchable by less than 25% when measured horizontally, or are stretchable by less than 20% when measured horizontally, or are stretchable by less than 15% when measured horizontally, or are stretchable by less than 10% when measured horizontally, or are stretchable by less than 5% when measured horizontally, or are not stretchable at all horizontally.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first material, or the first yarn, or a first knitting pattern or knitting scheme or knitting technique that is utilized to form the size-adjusting fabricelement, enable the size-adjusting fabric-element to be stretchable by at least 33% when measured horizontally (e.g., perpendicular to the longest dimension of the leg of the human wearer; or generally parallel to the ground when the human wearer is standing); whereas, adjacent fabric -regions that are adjacent to or neighboring with the size-adjusting fabricelement, are stretchable by less than 25% when measured horizontally, or are stretchable by less than 20% when measured horizontally, or are stretchable by less than 15% when measured horizontally, or are stretchable by less than 10% when measured horizontally, or are stretchable by less than 5% when measured horizontally, or are not stretchable at all horizontally.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first material, or the first yarn, or a first knitting pattern or knitting scheme or knitting technique that is utilized to form the size-adjusting fabricelement, causes the size-adjusting fabric-element to be more flexible and/or more elastic and/or adjustable and/or more adjustable, relative to those other region(s) of the underwear, and relative to the regions that are immediately adjacent to (or bordering with, or neighboring with) the size-adjusting fabric -element, and/or relative to the other portions or regions of the leg opening or of the thigh-covering region or of the upper- thigh covering region; and enable the size-adjusting fabric-element to autonomously shrink and/or to autonomously expand, particularly at a horizontal direction (e.g., parallel to the ground or the floor) in response to the particular size or dimension or weight of the wearer, and/or in response to the particular activity performed by the wearer (e.g., sports activity, running, walking; or in contrast, resting or sitting).

[0027] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric -element does not cover (and does not reach, and does not touch), the outer side(s) of the thigh of the wearer; such that the sizeadjusting fabric-element covers, partially or entirely, only a portion of the inner side of the upper-thigh of the wearer (e.g., a portion of the inner area of the upper-thigh, which is facing inwardly towards the genitalia of the wearer); and such that the size-adjusting fabric -element excludes and does not cover and does not touch, for example: (i) the outer side of the upperthigh of the wearer, (ii) the front side of the upper-thigh of the wearer, (iii) the rear side of the upper-thigh of the wearer.

[0028] In some embodiments, the area of the size-adjusting fabric-element is in a range of 5 to 33 percent of the entirety of the surface area of the cylinder-shaped or tube-shaped fabricregion that includes that size-adjusting fabric-element. In some embodiments, the area of the size-adjusting fabric-element is in a range of 10 to 33 percent of the entirety of the surface area of the cylinder- shaped or tube-shaped fabric -region that includes that size-adjusting fabricelement. In some embodiments, the area of the size-adjusting fabric-element is in a range of 5 to 25 percent of the entirety of the surface area of the cylinder-shaped or tube-shaped fabricregion that includes that size-adjusting fabric-element. In some embodiments, the area of the size-adjusting fabric-element is in a range of 10 to 25 percent of the entirety of the surface area of the cylinder- shaped or tube-shaped fabric -region that includes that size-adjusting fabricelement. In some embodiments, the particular ranges of values mentioned above, may provide the particular benefits or advantages of both (i) maintaining a generally comfortable garment that covers the body not too tightly and not too loosely, and (ii) still enabling modest yet effective and useful expansion and shrinkage of the size-adjusting fabric-element in order to modularly and autonomously adjust the size of the garment to changes in body weight or body structure of the wearer.

[0029] In some embodiments, the combined area of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements (e.g., one left-side size-adjusting fabric -element, and one right-side size-adjusting fabricelement) is less than 20 percent of the entire area of the underwear. In some embodiments, the combined area of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements is less than 15 percent of the entire area of the underwear; or, is less than 10 percent of the entire area of the underwear; or, is less than 8 percent of the entire area of the underwear; or, is less than 5 percent of the entire area of the underwear.

[0030] In some embodiments, the combined area of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements (e.g., one left-side size-adjusting fabric -element, and one right-side size-adjusting fabricelement) is approximately 20% or is more-or-less 20% (or, is approximately 15%; or, is approximately 10%; or, is approximately 25%), of the entire area of the underwear.

[0031] In some embodiments, the combined area of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements (e.g., one left-side size-adjusting fabric -element, and one right-side size-adjusting fabricelement) is more than 20% (or, more than 15%; or, more than 10%; or, more than 20%), and is also less than 50%, of the entire area of the underwear. [0032] In some embodiments, the area of each one of the two size-adjusting fabricelements (e.g., the left-side or the right-side size-adjusting fabric -element) is less than 25 percent of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear (e.g., the region of the underwear which covers, or which encircles, the thigh or the upper-thigh of the wearer; rather than covering, for example, the buttocks or the genitalia or the crotch). In some embodiments, the area of each one of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements is less than 20 percent of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear; or, is less than 15 percent of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear; or, is less than 10 percent of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear.

[0033] In some embodiments, the area of each one of the two size-adjusting fabricelements (e.g., the left-side or the right-side size-adjusting fabric -element) is approximately 25% percent of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear (e.g., the region of the underwear which covers, or which encircles, the thigh or the upper-thigh of the wearer; rather than covering, for example, the buttocks or the genitalia or the crotch). In some embodiments, the area of each one of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements is approximately 20%, or is approximately 15%, or is approximately 12%, or is approximately 10%, or is approximately 8%, or is approximately 5%, of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear. In some embodiments, the area of each one of the two size-adjusting fabricelements is in the range of 20 to 50 percent, or in the range of 15 to 50 percent, or in the range of 10 to 50 percent, or is in the range of 10 to 30 percent, or is in the range of 10 to 25 percent of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear.

[0034] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element includes, or consists of, fabric or yarn(s) that are knitted using one or more knitting techniques; for example, rib knitting, mesh knitting, terry knitting, or other techniques.

[0035] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may be formed of, or may comprise, one or more of: cotton, nylon, polyester, anti-bacterial material(s), silver ions, graphene, X4J yarn(s), hydrophobic yarn(s), hydrophilic yarn(s), silk, natural yarn(s), synthetic yarn(s), a mixture or a blend of natural and/or synthetic yarns, 3D-printed material(s) or 3D- printed yarns, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material or yarn (e.g., such as “Lubrizol X4zol (TM) - J”, or other elastomeric monofilament), Spandex, Lycra, Elastane, a polyetherpolyurea copolymer material or yarn or fabric, and/or a combination of two or more of the above materials.

[0036] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may be formed of, or may comprise: 88% polyester and 12% polyether-polyurea copolymer fabric (e.g., elastane, Spandex, Lycra); or, 89% polyester and 11% polyether-polyurea copolymer fabric (e.g., elastane, Spandex, Lycra); or, 90% polyester and 10% polyether-polyurea copolymer fabric (e.g., elastane, Spandex, Lycra).

[0037] In some embodiments, fabric of the underwear other than the size-adjusting fabricelement, or fabric of the underwear that is immediately bordering the size-adjusting fabricelement, may be formed of, or may comprise: less than 9% polyether-polyurea copolymer fabric (e.g., elastane, Spandex, Lycra); or, less than 8% polyether-polyurea copolymer fabric (e.g., elastane, Spandex, Lycra); or, less than 7% polyether-polyurea copolymer fabric (e.g., elastane, Spandex, Lycra); or, 6 to 8 percent of polyether-polyurea copolymer fabric (e.g., elastane, Spandex, Lycra).

[0038] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may be formed of, or may comprise, one or more engineered fabrics and/or engineered cotton and/or engineered yarn(s), which may be available from Delta Galil Industries Ltd of Israel; RCC fabric or yarns (e.g., moisture management cotton for keeping the wearer cool and dry), RLC fabric or yarns (e.g., extended-life fabric which lasts longer than ordinary cotton), RLS fabric or yarns, modal fabrics (e.g., which remain soft and smooth after many washes), 720 stretch fabric (e.g., comfortable and improved fit for every body), memory fabric (e.g., having four-way flexibility), mesh fabric, net fabric or net-like fabric or net-like knitted fabric, or fabric knitted as a mesh or net, or the like.

[0039] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may optionally include ventilation holes or ventilation apertures, or may be formed with ventilation-creating knitting techniques, such that the size-adjusting fabric-element may enable air to pass therethrough, at least partially, thereby contributing to cooling and/or dryness of the inner-thigh areas of the wearer, and/or thereby reducing sweat generation at the inner-thigh areas of the wearer.

[0040] In some embodiments, each one of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements (e.g., the left-side or the right-side size-adjusting fabric-element) is a discrete element and is a separate element, which is not connected via the same material (or, via the same type of fabric) to the other one of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements. In other embodiments, the two sizeadjusting fabric-elements are interconnected via a gusset region, such that the two sizeadjusting fabric-elements and the gusset region form together a single unified fabric-element, which covers (at least partially) or that touches the following areas: (i) a portion of the inner region of the upper-thigh of the right thigh of the wearer, and (ii) a portion of the inner region of the upper-thigh of the left thigh of the wearer, and (iii) a portion of the body-region that connects the two legs of the wearer. Such unified element may have the same properties (or knitting types, or coating layers, or materials, or knitting techniques, or yarns, or other characteristics) that were detailed above with regard to the size-adjusting fabric-element. The unified element may be able to flexibly expand (or shrink) in response to the particular size or dimensions or weight of the particular wearer. The unified element may, similarly, include ventilation apertures, or may feature ventilation-creating knitting, to enable ventilation of the covered body-areas and/or cooling of those areas and/or to improve dryness of those area and/or to reduce sweating or swear generation in those area; thereby creating a ventilated gusset area and two ventilated inner-thigh areas of the underwear.

[0041] In some embodiments, the underwear has an ergonomic crotch region or crotchcovering region, or an ergonomic gusset element or ergonomic gusset region, which may be formed of a stretchable fabric. The underwear provides adjustable-size leg openings, such that the contour or the size or the shape or the diameter or the circumference of each leg opening is able to expand or to shrink in order to accommodate different sizes or shapes or legs or thighs or upper-thighs. In some embodiments, each leg opening does not have an elastic band at its edge; but rather, has a fabric-based edge, which obtains its adjusting properties from the inclusion of the size-adjusting fabric-element. The leg or thigh or upper-thigh of the wearer stays in place, and the leg opening adjusts its circumference or size or shape to accommodate the body of the wearer. In some embodiments, the unified gusset with two size-adjusting fabricelements are formed from the same stretchable fabric, which is a different fabric (or, which has different stretching properties or other properties) relative to the other regions of the underwear; and may be a cut -free and stitches-free element to reduce or prevent irritation to the wearer’s body.

[0042] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element is a non-lace element, or excludes any lace therein; for example, in order to improve the performance of the sizeadjusting fabric-element and to reduce the possibility of its tearing or breaking, as lace may be too delicate and/or too breakable, and such lace may break or rip or tear in response to the user’ s thigh instead of only expanding without breaking.

[0043] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may comprise one or more coating layers, and/or may comprise one or more chemical agents, to provide to the sizeadjusting fabric-element one or more additional properties. For example, the size-adjusting fabric-element may comprise one or more anti-bacterial or anti-microbial or anti-viral coating layer (s), and/or one or more cooling agents (e.g., chemical compositions which may absorb sweat and/or may reduce the temperature of the body of the wearer), or the like. [0044] In some embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric -element may be entirely opaque, such that it blocks any light and does not allow any light to pass through the size-adjusting fabric-element. In other embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-element may be non-opaque, or may be at least partially translucent or transparent, or may allow at least some light to past through the size-adjusting fabric-element; or may include, optionally, small apertures or small holes in the size-adjusting fabric-element; for example, in order to contribute to (or to increase) the flexibility or size-adjustment properties of the size-adjusting fabric-element, and/or in order to assist the size-adjusting fabric-element to expand its size(s) in response to being worn by the wearer.

[0045] In some embodiments, the area of each one of the two size-adjusting fabricelements (e.g., the left-side or the right-side size-adjusting fabric -element) is less than 15 percent of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear (e.g., the region of the underwear which covers, or which encircles, the thigh or the upper-thigh of the wearer; rather than covering, for example, the buttocks or the genitalia or the crotch). In some embodiments, the area of each one of the two size-adjusting fabric-elements is less than 12 percent, or less than 10 percent, or less than 8 percent, or less than 5 percent, of the entire area of the leg opening region of the underwear.

[0046] For demonstrative purposes, some portions of the discussion above or herein may relate to, and/or some of the drawings may demonstrate, two size-adjusting fabric-elements (e.g., one located at or near the left-side inner-thigh, and another located at or near the rightside inner-thigh); however, these are only non-limiting examples; and some embodiments may comprise, for example, 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 (or other number) of size-adjusting fabric -elements (e.g., the left-side or the right-side size-adjusting fabric-element) at each one of the inner-thighs regions of the underwear, or at or near or above or bordering the leg opening region of the underwear. For example, a set of two-or-more such size-adjusting fabric-elements may be incorporated or knitted or connected into (or at) each one of the thigh-regions of the underwear, or the inner-thigh region of the underwear, or the leg-opening region of the underwear, or above or bordering the leg opening region of the underwear. Such size-adjusting fabric-elements may include fabric elements that may have, for example, triangle shape, trapezoid shape, frustum shape, rectangular shape, square shape, or may have other suitable shape.

[0047] Some embodiments comprise a method and a system for manufacturing or producing a garment or an underwear. The method may include, for example: producing (e.g., via knitting) the torso-encircling member and the waist-band of the underwear; producing (e.g., via knitting) the leg-opening regions of the underwear; producing (e.g., via knitting) the two size-adjusting fabric-elements and/or the gusset region, or the unified fabric element that combines the two size-adjusting fabric-elements with the gusset region; connecting the two size-adjusting fabric-elements and/or the gusset region to other fabric portions of the underwear. In some embodiments, a system may comprise means or units able to perform each one of these steps, in parallel and/or in series; for example, a knitting machine, a cutting machine, a bonding / gluing machine, an ultrasonic cutting and bonding machine, or the like. [0048] Some embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by using a machine or an automated or semi-automatic production line, which may comprise, for example: cutting unit, welding unit, bonding unit, ultrasonic operations unit, gluing unit, conveyor belt, robotic arm, control unit, workstation; as well as suitable hardware components and/or software components, for example, processor to execute code, memory unit, storage unit, input unit (keyboard, mouse, touch-screen), output unit (screen, touch-screen), modems, transceivers or transmitters or receivers, wireless and/or wired communication links and/or transceivers or transmitters or receivers, power sources, Operating System (OS) and suitable applications, or the like.

[0049] Reference is made to Figs. 1A to ID, which are illustrations of an undergarment 100 having adaptive (or modular, or self-adjusting, or stretching or stretchable, or expanding or expandable) leg openings or adaptive (or modular, or self-adjusting, or size-adjusting, or expanding or expandable, or stretching or stretchable) inner-upper-thigh fabric regions, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0050] For example, undergarment 100 comprises a waist-band 105 or a waistband or a waist-loop, which is an elastic band of fabric that is configured to encircle the waist of the human wearer. The waist-band 105 may be, for example, an encased elastic band that is threaded through a folded casing of fabric; or an elastic band that is sewn or glued or bonded or attached inside (within, at the inner side of) the waistline region of the fabric of the undergarment; or an elastic band that is sewn or glued or bonded or attached outside (externally to, or on the external side of) the waistline region of the fabric of the undergarment.

[0051] Undergarment 100 further comprises: (i) a right-side tubular member 101, that is configured to cover or to encircle the upper area of the right hip of the human wearer, and also covers the upper area of the inner portion of the right thigh of the human wearer; (ii) a left-side tubular member 102, that is configured to cover or to encircle the upper area of the left hip of the human wearer, and also covers the upper area of the inner portion of the left thigh of the human wearer. The right-side tubular member 101 may end with a leg opening band or a leg band 122; and the left-side tubular member 102 may end with a leg opening band or a leg band 122; and such leg opening bands may assist in maintaining the on-body position of the lower edges of the undergarment, and/or may prevent crawling-up of the edges of the underwear along the body of the human wearer as the wearer sits down or performs physical activity.

[0052] Undergarment 100 further comprises a front-side fabric -region 103, configured to cover the front-side of the human wearer; and optionally a front-side pouch 104 (or pocket, or cup), for holding in place the genitalia of the human wearer. Optionally, the front-side fabric region 103 and/or the front-side pouch 104 may have a fly or a zipper or an opening (e.g., with one or more buttons). Undergarment 100 further comprises a rear-side fabric region 107, configured to cover the buttocks of the human wearer.

[0053] In accordance with some embodiments, the fabric -region of undergarment 101 that is configured to cover the upper-and-inner thigh region of the right thigh wearer, comprises a generally- vertical or trapezoid-shaped or triangular or rectangular size-adjusting fabric -region 155R. Similarly and generally symmetrically, the fabric-region of undergarment 101 that is configured to cover the upper-and-inner thigh region of the left thigh of the wearer, comprises a generally-vertical or trapezoid-shaped or triangular or rectangular size-adjusting fabricregion 155L.

[0054] In some embodiments, the two size-adjusting fabric regions 155L and 155R are discrete components that do not touch each other and that are not connected to each other, or that do not stretch via the same type of fabric from one of them to the other one of them; such that a small region of fabric, that is different in type and/or in characteristics from the fabric of regions 155L and 155R, separates between them. In other embodiments, the two size-adjusting fabric regions 155L and 155R are two parts of a three-part unit, denoted as size-adjusting fabric element 155, which comprises those two fabric -regions 155L and 155R and a central, interconnecting, size-adjusting fabric region 155C; such that the three components 155L and 155C and 155R are three continuous portions of a single, unified, size-adjusting fabric element 155. For demonstrative purposes, the drawings show an embodiment in which the sizeadjusting fabric element 155 consists of three such members, namely, fabric regions 155L and 155C and 155R that are parts of a continuous singular element; however, other embodiments may be provided, in which only fabric regions 155L and 155R exist, and the undergarment has regular fabric (that has different characteristics from the characteristics of fabric regions 155L and 155R) instead of having the size-adjusting central connecting fabric-region 155C.

[0055] As demonstrated in Fig. ID, the size-adjusting fabric-region 155R may be structured as a trapezoid, hence it is denoted as 155Z in this drawing; and similarly, the sizeadjusting fabric -region 155L may also be structured as a trapezoid. In other embodiments, the size-adjusting fabric-region 155R may be structured as a generally-vertical elongated rectangle, or as an elongated generally- vertical triangle, or may have other suitable structure. [0056] Reference is made to Figs. 2A and 2B, which are illustrations of an undergarment 200 having adaptive (or modular, or self-adjusting, or stretching or stretchable, or expanding or expandable) leg openings or adaptive (or modular, or self-adjusting, or size-adjusting, or expanding or expandable, or stretching or stretchable) inner-upper-thigh fabric regions, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0057] Undergarment 200 may identical, or generally similar, to undergarment 100 discussed above. Figs. 2A and 2B are presented as they may assist in observing and/or demonstrating the particular details and structure and features of the undergarment. The sizeadjusting fabric region is shown in gray in Figs. 2A and 2B. Reference numerals (other than numeral 200) are not used in Figs. 2A and 2B, in order to avoid hiding of the structural features of the undergarment.

[0058] Reference is also made to Figs. 2C and 2D, which are additional illustrations of undergarment 200, in accordance with some embodiments; shown with an enlarged view of the demonstrative self-adjusting / size-adjusting fabric region 155. In some embodiments, the self-adjusting / size-adjusting fabric region 155 is structured as an hour-glass fabric-region; or as a fabric region having two elongated (or tall) triangular fabric -regions that are interconnected via a connection point; or as two elongated (or tall) trapezoids that share a common base which is the smaller base of each trapezoid fabric-region; or as two elongated (or tall) trapezoids that are inter-connected via a generally-rectangular or square fabric -portion that connects them; or as one, singular, elongated rectangular fabric -region; or as two elongated (or tall) rectangular fabric-regions that are inter-connected via a slightly-smaller rectangular or square-shaped fabric -region; or other suitable structure. The Applicants have realized that the particular structures that are demonstrated above, may provide the particular advantages of both (i) being generally form-fitting and not causing the undergarment to be too loose relative to the body of the human wearer, while also (ii) providing a sufficient level of elasticity or expandability that enables the inner-upper-thigh regions of the undergarment to slightly expand in response to the human wearer increase in weight or growth.

[0059] Reference is made to Fig. 3A, which is an illustration of a set 300 of discrete fabricregions that can be connected together in order to form an undergarment, in accordance with some embodiments. Set 300 comprises: a main fabric-region 301; and optional front-side pouch or pocket 303; and a size-adjusting / self-adjusting fabric -region 303, intended to be placed beneath the crotch area or gusset area and intended to cover a portion of the upper-inner- thighs of the wearer.

[0060] Reference is made to Fig. 3B, which is an illustration of a collection 350 demonstrating the structure of several types of size-adjusting / self-adjusting fabric -region (denoted 351 to 362), in accordance with some embodiments. Each of structures 351 to 362 may be used as element 155 or 255 that was described above. It is noted that the structures depicted in collection 350 are not merely ornamental choices; but rather, each such sizeadjusting / self-adjusting fabric-region is specifically structured, and is incorporated in its particular location in the undergarment (100 or 200), in order to provide the functional advantages of both (i) being generally form-fitting and not causing the undergarment to be too loose relative to the body of the human wearer, while also (ii) providing a sufficient level of elasticity or expandability that enables the inner-upper-thigh regions of the undergarment to slightly expand in response to the human wearer increase in weight or growth.

[0061] Reference is made to Figs. 4A to 4D, which are illustrations of an undergarment 400 having adaptive (or modular, or self-adjusting, or stretching or stretchable, or expanding or expandable) leg openings or adaptive (or modular, or self-adjusting, or size-adjusting, or expanding or expandable, or stretching or stretchable) inner-upper-thigh fabric regions, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0062] Undergarment 400 may identical, or generally similar, to undergarment 100 or 200 discussed above. Reference numerals (other than numeral 400) are not used in Figs. 4A to 4D, in order to avoid hiding of the structural features of the undergarment.

[0063] Some embodiments provide an undergarment for a wearer, comprising: a right-side tubular fabric -region, configured to cover an upper portion of a right hip of the wearer; a leftside tubular fabric -region, configured to cover an upper portion of a left hip of the wearer; a front-side fabric-region, configured to cover genitalia of the wearer; a rear-side fabric-region, configured to cover at last part of buttocks of the wearer; a waistband, configured to encircle a waist of the wearer; wherein the right-side tubular fabric region comprises: an adjustable-size right-side fabric-member, that is configured to cover a part of an inner-upper region of a right thigh of the wearer; wherein the left-side tubular fabric -region comprises: an adjustable-size left-side fabric-member, that is configured to cover a part of an inner-upper region of a left thigh of the wearer; wherein the right-side tubular fabric-region and the left-side tubular fabric region are formed of a first type of fabric; wherein fabric-regions that are neighboring to the right-side tubular fabric -region or to the left-side tubular fabric-region are formed of a second, different, type of fabric. [0064] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric has a first elasticity characteristic; wherein the second type of fabric has a second, different, elasticity characteristic; wherein the first elasticity level is at least 1.25 times the second elasticity characteristic.

[0065] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric has a first elasticity characteristic; wherein the second type of fabric has a second, different, elasticity characteristic; wherein the first elasticity level is at least 1.5 times the second elasticity characteristic.

[0066] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric has a first elasticity characteristic; wherein the second type of fabric has a second, different, elasticity characteristic; wherein the first elasticity level is at least 2 times the second elasticity characteristic.

[0067] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric has a first horizontal-elasticity characteristic; wherein the second type of fabric has a second, different, horizontal-elasticity characteristic; wherein the first horizontal-elasticity characteristic is at least 1.5 times the second horizontal-elasticity characteristic.

[0068] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric has a first horizontal-elasticity characteristic that enables the first type of fabric to horizontally stretch by at least 25 percent in response to a particular stretching force; wherein the second type of fabric has a second horizontal-elasticity characteristic that enables the second type of fabric to horizontally stretch by not more than 12 percent in response to said particular stretching force.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric is configured to expand by M percent upon application of a particular stretching force; the second type of fabric is configured to expand by N percent upon application of said particular stretching force; wherein M is at least 50 percent greater than N.

[0070] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric is mesh fabric; wherein the second type of fabric is non-mesh fabric.

[0071] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric is formed of a first type of yarn; the second type of fabric is formed of a second, different, type of yarn; wherein the first type of yarn has an elasticity characteristic that is at least 1.25 times an elasticity characteristic of the second type of yarn.

[0072] In some embodiments, the first type of fabric has a first particular knitting structure; the second type of fabric has a second, different, particular knitting structure.

[0073] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member is connected to the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member via a connection fabric -region that is formed of said first type of fabric, and that is configured to cover from beneath a crotch of the wearer. [0074] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member has a trapezoid structure; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member has a trapezoid structure.

[0075] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member has a triangular structure; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member has a triangular structure.

[0076] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member comprises thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) yarns; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member comprises TPU yarns; wherein fabric -regions, that are neighboring to the adjustable-size rightside fabric-member or to the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member, exclude any TPU yarn.

[0077] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member comprises elastomeric monofilament yarns; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member comprises elastomeric monofilament yarns; wherein fabric -regions, that are neighboring to the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member or to the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member, exclude any elastomeric monofilament yarn.

[0078] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member comprises hydrophobic yarns; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member comprises hydrophobic yarns; wherein fabric -regions, that are neighboring to the adjustable-size rightside fabric-member or to the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member, exclude any hydrophobic yarn.

[0079] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member comprises polyether-polyurea copolymer yarns; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member comprises polyether-polyurea copolymer yarns; wherein fabric -regions, that are neighboring to the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member or to the adjustable-size left-side fabricmember, exclude any polyether-polyurea copolymer yarn.

[0080] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member is formed of a yarn blend that comprises: 10 to 15 percent of polyether-polyurea copolymer yarns, and a remainder quantity of polyester yarns and/or cotton yarns; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member is formed of a yarn blend that comprises: 10 to 15 percent of polyether-polyurea copolymer yarns, and a remainder quantity of polyester yarns and/or cotton yarns; wherein fabric-regions, that are neighboring to the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member or to the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member, exclude any polyether-polyurea copolymer yarn.

[0081] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member is formed of a yarn blend that comprises: 10 to 15 percent of polyether-polyurea copolymer yarns, and a remainder quantity of polyester yarns and/or cotton yarns; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member is formed of a yarn blend that comprises: 10 to 15 percent of polyether-polyurea copolymer yarns, and a remainder quantity of polyester yarns and/or cotton yarns; wherein fabric-regions, that are neighboring to the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member or to the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member, comprise less than 5 percent of polyether-polyurea copolymer yarns.

[0082] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member has a plurality of ventilation holes; wherein the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member has a plurality of ventilation holes; wherein fabric -regions, that are neighboring to the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member or to the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member, exclude any ventilation holes. [0083] In some embodiments, the adjustable-size right-side fabric-member and the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member are inter-connected via a central under-crotch adjustable-size fabric-member. The adjustable-size right-side fabric -member, and the adjustable-size left-side fabric-member, and the central under-crotch adjustable-size fabricmember, are structured as a singular adjustable-size saddle fabric-member, that has an elasticity characteristic that is different from elasticity characteristics of all other fabric -regions of said undergarment. The singular adjustable-size saddle fabric-member is saddle shaped or saddle structured, or is structured as an upside-down U fabric-member. It is noted that in the saddle- shaped adjustable-size fabric-region, the central portion of the fabric region, which is beneath the crotch or the gusset, is thinner or is less-wide or less-broad relative to the right-side and left-side components of the saddle-shaped adjustable-size fabric-region; which gradually become wide and wider as they extend downwardly away from the central portion of the fabric region.

[0084] Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may be utilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments, or vice versa.

[0085] While certain features of some embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents.