The Design of a Specialized Pouch for Men's Underwear
A design patent protecting the specific visual appearance of a supportive pouch integrated into men's undergarments.
Original patent title: “USRE46892E1 - Pouch for men's garment”
A design patent protecting the specific visual appearance of a supportive pouch integrated into men's undergarments. Granted to 0912139 B C Ltd in 2018 with 1 claim and 2 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent protects the unique ornamental design of a pouch intended for a men's garment. Unlike functional patents that cover how a machine works, this design patentdesign patentCovers the ornamental appearance of a product, not function. 15-year term from grant.Read more → focuses entirely on the visual shape, contours, and aesthetic configuration of the pouch as shown in the patent's drawings. It prevents competitors from creating underwear with a pouch that looks substantially similar to the design claimed in the registration.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the functional utility or comfort benefits of the pouch design.
- Does not cover the specific fabric, material, or stitching techniques used to construct the garment.
- Does not cover other pouch shapes or designs that do not share the ornamental characteristics shown in the patent figures.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the specific geometry of the pouch design, which creates a distinct visual silhouette that consumers associate with the brand's specific product line.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
MyPakage underwear
Specialized athletic support garments
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Design patents are essential in the apparel industry to prevent copycats from mimicking the signature look of a brand's products. By protecting the specific aesthetic of the pouch, the inventors ensure that their product's visual identity remains distinct in a crowded marketplace.
Filed
September 16, 2016
Granted
June 19, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, 0912139 B C Ltd, continues to maintain the intellectual property associated with this design. Various manufacturers in the men's intimate apparel sector follow similar design patterns to improve support.
Market impact
This patent helps define the aesthetic standards for the 'pouch' underwear category, creating a clear legal boundary for competitors who wish to enter the market with similar-looking products.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent protects the unique ornamental design of a pouch intended for a men's garment. Unlike functional patents that cover how a machine works, this design patent focuses entirely on the visual shape, contours, and aesthetic configuration of the pouch as shown in the patent's drawings. It prevents competitors from creating underwear with a pouch that looks substantially similar to the design claimed in the registration.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the specific geometry of the pouch design, which creates a distinct visual silhouette that consumers associate with the brand's specific product line.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the functional utility or comfort benefits of the pouch design.
- Does not cover the specific fabric, material, or stitching techniques used to construct the garment.
- Does not cover other pouch shapes or designs that do not share the ornamental characteristics shown in the patent figures.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$66K – $211K
Midpoint $132K · 10.3 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
1 claim as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Ellis, S. R., & BIGNEY, D. D. (2018). The Design of a Specialized Pouch for Men's Underwear (U.S. Patent No. RE46,892). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE46892/wireless-speaker-grouping
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Design of a Specialized Pouch for Men's Underwear cover?
A design patent protecting the specific visual appearance of a supportive pouch integrated into men's undergarments.
Who owns patent US RE46892?
0912139 B C Ltd owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 19, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US RE46892 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Design patents are essential in the apparel industry to prevent copycats from mimicking the signature look of a brand's products. By protecting the specific aesthetic of the pouch, the inventors ensure that their product's visual identity remains distinct in a crowded marketplace.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the functional utility or comfort benefits of the pouch design.
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