[0001] The present invention relates to a pair of pants at least comprising a front and
a back which are both provided on the top side thereof with a waistband and wherein
at least the front is provided with an opening.
[0002] Such pants are generally known and are embodied in many different variations. In
one variation, which is usually applied in (men's) underwear, the front of the pants
comprises an opening which is covered by an overlying layer of textile which has to
be deformed in order to provide access to the opening.
[0003] Particularly this latter variation has the drawback that the accessibility of the
opening in the front of the pants is hindered by mutually overlying layers of textile.
The textile layers must moreover be deformed not just once to obtain access to the
opening but for the whole period that access to the opening is desired. It will be
apparent that the pants according to the prior art are awkward to use as a result
of the deformation necessary during provision of access to the opening of the pants.
[0004] The present invention has for its object to avoid the above stated drawback and provides
for this purpose a pair of pants according to the preamble which is characterized
in that the opening is covered by a covering member which is at least partially releasable
to thus provide a better accessibility of the opening.
[0005] By providing a releasable covering member which in the released situation provides
a better accessibility of the opening, the above stated drawbacks are avoided and
a pair of pants is provided with a greater convenience of use. When access to the
opening in the pants is required, it is possible to suffice simply with at least partial
release of the covering member so that the opening is easily accessible. A significant
difference from for instance a known pair of pants which is provided with a fly is
that while, in the case of a pair of pants with fly, release of the fly does indeed
provide a better accessibility to the opening, the opening in the front of the pants
is not actually covered by a covering member as is the case in the pants according
to the present invention.
[0006] In a particular embodiment the opening is at least partially uncovered when the covering
member is released.
[0007] It will be apparent that in such an embodiment the accessibility of the opening is
optimal, because no, or hardly any, deformation of textile layers has to take place
for this purpose.
[0008] In order to release the covering member so that a better accessibility of the opening
is provided, the covering member is preferably provided with releasable securing means
for securing at least the releasable part of the covering member to the pants.
[0009] Such securing means can comprise diverse means known to the skilled person, such
as a Velcro fastening wherein a part of the Velcro tape is fixed to the covering member
while another part co-acting therewith is fixed to the waistband of the pants or to
any other part of the pants. Other possible securing means comprise for instance button
fastenings, press-stud fasteners and hook and eye fasteners.
[0010] The covering member advantageously comprises an at least partially releasable flap.
[0011] Such a flap is preferably made from the same material as the other part of the pants
and can be at least partially folded aside after release of the securing means so
that the opening in the pants becomes better accessible.
[0012] Although the pants according to the present invention can also be embodied such that
the covering member is folded away sideward, it is recommended that the covering member
is removed in substantially downward direction when it is released.
[0013] This embodiment has the advantage that the covering member will not spontaneously
return under the influence of the gravity to the situation wherein the opening is
substantially covered and difficult to access. This latter situation will only be
reached when the covering member is placed manually into this position.
[0014] Although the pants according to the present invention can have diverse functions,
including for instance that of shorts or track-suit trousers, in an advantageous embodiment
the pants are underpants.
[0015] Such a pair of underpants can moreover comprise different designs, including those
of underpants with long legs, boxer shorts and briefs. It will be apparent that this
embodiment of the pants is particularly suitable for men.
[0016] The present invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the
annexed drawing, in which:
- figure 1
- shows schematically a pair of pants according to the present invention without covering
member;
- figure 2
- shows schematically a pair of pants according to the present invention with covering
member in the closed situation;
- figure 3
- shows schematically a pair of pants as according to figure 2 wherein the covering
member is released; and
- figure 4
- shows schematically a pair of pants wherein the covering member is released and folded
away so that the opening in the pants is partially uncovered.
[0017] The figures are purely schematic and not drawn to scale. Some dimensions in particular
are exaggerated for the sake of clarity. In the different figures the same reference
numerals are used as far as possible for similar components.
[0018] Figure 1 shows a pair of pants 1 with a front 2 and a back - not shown in the figure
- which are stitched together and are provided at the top with a waistband 4. The
front 2 of pants 1 is further provided with an opening 5.
[0019] Figure 2 shows the pants 1 of figure 1, provided however with a covering member 3
in the form of a layer or flap of textile material which is fixed to the pants substantially
non-releasably at the bottom of the front, but which is at least partially releasable
at the top to provide an easy access to opening 5 in pants 1. The substantially non-releasable
fixing of covering member 3 to the pants can for instance be embodied in that covering
member 3 is stitched to pants 1. In the shown embodiment the covering member 3 is
stitched to the front part 2 of prints 1 along the part designated 6b, while covering
member 3 is releasable from front part 2 along the part designated 6a. For at least
partially releasable fastening of covering member 3 to pants 1, covering member 3
and waistband 4 of pants 1 are provided with mutually co-acting securing means 7.
In the shown embodiment securing means 7 comprise Velcro tape, wherein one part 7a
is fixed to covering member 3 and another part 7b is fixed to the waistband 4 of the
pants. In the shown embodiment the securing means are provided on the visible outer
side with a brand label. As discussed above, securing means 7 may also comprise other
means known to the skilled person. Furthermore, the securing means do not necessarily
have to be provided on the waistband 4 of the pants.
[0020] Figure 3 shows schematically the pants 1 according to the present invention at the
moment when fastening 7 has just been released. It will be apparent that this release
can take place by simply detaching the two layers of Velcro from each other or by
mutually releasing the securing means in a manner suitable for this purpose. When
fastening 7 has been released, covering member 3 can be removed at least partially
from the front part 2 of pants I so that opening 5 becomes better accessible from
above. In the shown embodiment a part of opening 5 is exposed when covering member
3 is partially removed from the front part 2 of pants 1. The exposed portion of the
opening 5 can be varied in size depending on the embodiment of the pants and the manner
in which covering member 3 is secured thereto.
[0021] Although the present invention is elucidated with reference to the above described
embodiment, it will be apparent that the present invention is not limited thereto.
The releasable covering member applied in the pants according to the present invention
can thus encompass different embodiments, including that wherein the covering member
can be removed from the front part of the pants in sideward direction.
1. Pants (1) at least comprising a front (2) and a back which are both provided on the
top side thereof with a waistband (4) and wherein at least the front (2) is provided
with an opening (5), characterized in that the opening (5) is covered by a covering
member (3) which is at least partially releasable to thus provide a better accessibility
of the opening (5).
2. Pants (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the opening (5) is at least
partially uncovered when the covering member (3) is released.
3. Pants (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the covering member (3)
is provided with releasable securing means (7) for securing at least the releasable
part of the covering member (3) to the pants (1).
4. Pants (1) as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that
the covering member (3) comprises an at least partially releasable flap.
5. Pants (1) as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that
the covering member (3) is removed in substantially downward direction when it is
released.
6. Pants (1) as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that
the pants are underpants.