Claims

1. A brief for padding a wearer's hips to reduce the risk of hip fracture, the brief comprising: a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion extending between the front and rear portions, the front portion configured and arranged to be worn proximal to the wearer's abdomen, the rear portion configured and arranged to be worn proximal to the wearer's buttocks, and the middle portion is configured to extend between the wearer's legs; and a shock-absorbing padding lining the rear portion.

2. The brief of claim 1 wherein the wearer has a hip joint and the hip joint has a rear portion, further wherein the rear portion has first and second side edges, the padding extending between a position proximal the first side edge and a position proximal the second side edge, the padding thereby being configured to cover the rear portion of the wearer's hip joint.

3. The brief of claim 2 wherein the wearer has a tail bone, the padding further extending over at least part of the middle portion of the brief, the padding thereby being configured to cover the wearer's tail bone.

4. The brief of claim 2 wherein the brief has an inner surface, the padding being configured and arranged to cover substantially the entire inner surface of the brief.

5. The brief of claim 1 wherein the front, middle, and rear portions are formed from a liquid-impervious sheet and the shock-absorbing padding is mounted to the sheet, the brief further comprising a layer of absorbent material, the absorbent material lining the front portion, the brief thereby forming a diaper.

6. The brief of claim 5 wherein brief has an inner surface and the layer of absorbent material covers substantially the entire inner surface, the shock-absorbing padding being positioned between the sheet and the absorbent material.

7. The brief of claim 6 wherein the middle portion has first and second side edges, the brief further comprising a first and second elastic bands, the first elastic member being connected to the middle portion proximal to the first edge and the second elastic member being connected to the middle portion proximal to the second edge, wherein the first and second edges of the middle portion are configured to conform to the wearer's crotch.

8. The brief of claim 7 wherein the sheet forming the middle portion has gathers extending along the first and second elastic members wherein the first and second side edges of the middle portion are expandable.

9. The brief of claim 6 wherein the front portion has a front edge and the rear portion has a read edge, the front and rear edges forming a waistband, the brief further comprising an elastic member extending along at least a part of the front edge and gathers along the front edge, the front edge thereby being configured to conform to the wearer's abdomen.

10. The brief of claim 6 wherein the brief further comprises an elastic member extending along at least a part of the rear edge and gathers along the rear edge, the rear edge thereby being configured to conform to the wearers lower back.

11. The brief of claim 6 wherein the front portion defines an opening.

12. The brief of claim 11 wherein the front portion has a front edge, the rear portion has a rear edge, and the opening is elongated thereby forming oppositely disposed ends, one end of the opening being oriented toward the front edge and the oppositely disposed end being oriented toward the rear edge, the brief further comprising a flap connected to the front portion, the flap covering the opening.

13. The brief of claim 1 wherein the front portion has first and second side edges and the rear portion has first and second side edges, the brief further comprising: at least one hook and loop fastener releasably connected between the first edge of the front portion and the rear edge of the rear portion; and at least one hook and loop fastener releasably connected between the second edge of the front portion and the second edge of the rear portion.

14. The brief of claim 1 wherein the front portion has first and second side edges and the rear portion has first and second side edges, the brief further comprising: at least one adhesive strip configured and mananged to extend between the first edge of the front portion and the rear edge of the rear portion; and at least one adhesive strip configured and arranged to extend between the second edge of the front portion and the second edge of the rear portion.

15. The brief of claim 1 wherein the front portion has first and second side edges and the rear portion has first and second side edges, the first edge of the front portion being connected to the first edge of the rear portion, and the second edge of the front portion being connected to the second edge of the rear portion, thereby forming a pull-up brief.

16. The brief of claim 15 wherein the brief defines a first score between the first edge of the front portion and the first edge of the rear portion and a second score between the second edge of the front portion and the second edge of the rear portion.

17. A brief for padding a wearer's hips to reduce the risk of hip fracture, the brief comprising: a front panel having first and second side edges; a rear panel having first and second side edges, the first side edge of the rear panel being connected to the first side edge of the front panel, and the second side edge of the rear panel being connected to the second side edge of the front panel, thereby forming first and second opening for receiving the wearer's legs; shock-absorbing padding lining at least part of the rear panel, the shock-absorbing padding extending from a position proximal the first edge of the rear panel to a position proximal the second side edge of the rear panel and at least to a position between the two leg openings.

18. The brief of claim 17 wherein the front and rear panels form an inner surface and the shock-absorbing padding lines substantially the entire inner surface.

19. The brief of claim 18 wherein the front panel defines an elongated opening and the brief further comprises a flap, the flap being connected to the front panel and positioned over the elongated opening.

20. The brief of claim 18 wherein the front and rear panels are formed from material that is impervious to at least liquids, the brief further comprising a layer of absorbent material lining at least a portion of the front panel, the layer of shock-absorbent material being positioned between the front panel and the absorbent material.