Stretchable gusset

Abstract

Some shapewear and other similar undergarments are equipped with an open gusset, which provides an opening at the crotch region to allow the wearer to use the restroom without removing any garments. A typical double gusset construction requires two hands to pull apart both layers in order to use the restroom, which can make using the restroom more difficult for the wearer. The stretchable gusset disclosed herein addresses the limitations of existing gusset constructions. The gusset panel is fixedly or seamlessly attached to the front body panel and fixedly or seamlessly attached to the back body panel. An access space is formed by leaving at least a portion of a lateral gusset panel edge unattached to any other portion of the garment. The access space can be widened with one hand due to the highly stretchable characteristics of the gusset panel.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A garment comprising:
 a front body panel;   a back body panel;   left and right leg portions;   a crotch region positioned between the front and back body panels and between the left and right leg portions;   a gusset panel extending between the front and back body panels through the crotch region;   a left side cover panel extending between the front and back body panels and inward from the left leg portion, the left side cover panel comprising a left front cover panel edge attached to the front body panel and a left back cover panel edge attached to the back body panel; and   a right side cover panel extending between the front and back body panels and inward from the right leg portion, the right side cover panel comprising a right front cover panel edge attached to the front body panel and a right back cover panel edge attached to the back body panel;   wherein the left and right side cover panels at least partially overlap the gusset panel.   
     
     
         27 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the left side cover panel has a left inside access edge and the right side cover panel has a right inside access edge spaced from the left inside access edge. 
     
     
         28 . The garment of  claim 27 , wherein the gusset panel has a gusset panel width, and wherein the left inside access edge and the right inside access edge define an access space having an access space width that is less than the gusset panel width. 
     
     
         29 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the left side cover panel has a left inside access edge and the right side cover panel has a right inside access edge directly adjacent to the left inside access edge. 
     
     
         30 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the garment has an interior and an exterior opposite the interior, wherein the left side cover panel and the right side cover panel are located on the interior of the garment, and wherein the gusset panel is located on the exterior of the garment. 
     
     
         31 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the garment has an interior and an exterior opposite the interior, wherein the left side cover panel and the right side cover panel are located on the exterior of the garment, and wherein the gusset panel is located on the interior of the garment. 
     
     
         32 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein an elongation of each of the right cover panel and the left cover panel is greater in a width direction than a length direction. 
     
     
         33 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the gusset panel comprises hosiery fabric. 
     
     
         34 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the gusset panel comprises two or more layers of fabric. 
     
     
         35 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the gusset panel has an elongation of 100-700% in the length direction. 
     
     
         36 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the gusset panel has an elongation of 100-700% in the width direction. 
     
     
         37 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the elongation of the gusset panel in the length direction is greater than the elongation of the gusset panel in the width direction. 
     
     
         38 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the elongation of the gusset panel in the length direction is equal to the elongation of the gusset panel in the width direction. 
     
     
         39 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the gusset panel is fixedly attached to each of the front body panel and the back body panel. 
     
     
         40 . A method of making a garment, the method comprising:
 forming a front body panel, a back body panel, and a gusset panel extending seamlessly therebetween through a crotch region of the garment;   forming a left leg portion and a right leg portion; and   leaving at least a portion of a left lateral gusset panel edge and a right lateral gusset panel edges unattached to any part of the garment.   
     
     
         41 . The garment of  claim 40 , wherein the gusset panel has a higher elasticity than at least one of the front body panel, the back body panel, the left leg portion, or the right leg portion. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 forming a right side cover panel and a left side cover panel;   attaching a right front cover panel edge to a lower edge of the front body panel;   attaching a right back cover panel edge to a lower edge of the back body panel;   attaching a left front cover panel edge to a lower edge of the front body panel; and   attaching a left back cover panel edge to a lower edge of the back body panel;   wherein the left and right side cover panels at least partially overlap the gusset panel.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising positioning each of the left side cover panel and the right side cover panel interior to the gusset panel. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising positioning each of the left side cover panel and the right side cover panel exterior to the gusset panel. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising positioning each of the left side cover panel and the right side cover panel such that the gusset panel, the left side cover panel, and the right side cover panel define an access space.