Garment with integral support system

Abstract

An article of apparel, including a garment such as underwear, boxers, or briefs is provided that has an integral support system. The garment is configured to provide improved genital support while the wearer exercises, plays sports, or engages in a physical activity. The garment includes a portion configured as an article of clothing such as underwear, for example, made of cotton and spandex/elastane material, and includes a support pouch, a wide waistband, support straps slidingly disposed through retaining means, and other supportive features. Use of the garment can eliminate the need for the user to wear multiple support layers or uncomfortable compression underwear in order to gain adequate support while exercising, playing sports, or engaging in other physical activities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment for providing support to a wearer comprising:
 an article of clothing configured to cover at least a portion of the lower torso of the wearer, the article of clothing including a frontside, a backside, a waist opening, and two leg openings;   a pouch disposed on the frontside of the article of clothing; and   two straps, one end of each strap coupled to the pouch, the other end of each strap coupled to another portion of the article of clothing, the straps running from the pouch to the backside between the leg openings, each strap slidingly disposed through a separate channel formed in the backside.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is configured to accommodate the genitalia of a male wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch comprises one of a protective cup, a pocket for receiving a protective cup, and a pocket including a protective cup. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the two straps comprise an elastic material. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the article of clothing comprises a boxer-brief having a front portion and a back portion connected at a crotch portion, the front portion and the back portion defining the waist opening, and the front portion, back portion, and crotch portion defining the two leg openings. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the pouch is located on the outside of the boxer-brief. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is located on the inside of the boxer-brief. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the waist opening comprises an elastic waistband, drawcord, button, snap, clip, or hook-and-loop closure. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is coupled to the front portion proximate to the waist opening. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the waist opening comprises a waistband and the pouch depends directly from the waistband. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein each strap traverses a portion of a separate buttock of the wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein each channel traverses a portion of a separate buttock of the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein each channel comprises a width that limits lateral movement of the strap slidingly disposed therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a spacing between the straps increases in a direction from the pouch to the backside. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the waist opening comprises a waistband, the pouch is coupled to the waistband on the frontside, and the other end of each strap is coupled to the waistband. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the article of clothing is configured as one of underwear, boxers, briefs, shorts, sweatpants, running shorts, bicycling shorts, swimwear, a wetsuit, a hospital gown, pajamas, and military fatigues. 
     
     
         17 . A garment for providing support to a wearer comprising:
 an article of clothing configured to cover at least a portion of the lower torso of the wearer, the article of clothing including a frontside, a backside, a waist opening, and two leg openings;   a pouch disposed on a frontside of the article of clothing; and   two straps, one end of each strap coupled to the pouch, the other end of each strap coupled to another portion of the article of clothing, the straps running from the pouch to the backside between the leg openings, each strap slidingly disposed through a separate aperture formed in the backside.   
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the pouch is outside of the article of clothing and the straps coupled to the pouch pass through the apertures to the inside of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the pouch is inside of the article of clothing and the straps coupled to the pouch pass through the apertures to the outside of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         20 . A garment for providing support to a wearer comprising:
 an article of clothing configured to cover at least a portion of the lower torso of the wearer, the article of clothing including a frontside, a backside, a waist opening, and two leg openings;   a pouch disposed on a frontside of the article of clothing; and   two straps, one end of each strap coupled to the pouch, the other end of each strap coupled to another portion of the article of clothing, the straps running from the pouch to the backside between the leg openings, each strap slidingly disposed through a retaining means formed in the backside.