Waistband for a lower torso garment

An article of lower torso athletic apparel comprising:

• a first leg portion configured to cover at least a portion of a first leg of a wearer and having a front part and a back part joined together;
• a second leg portion configured to cover at least a portion of a second leg of the wearer and having a front part and a back part joined together,
• wherein each of the first and second leg portions have an upper leg opening and a lower leg opening configured to allow each of the wearer's legs to pass through the upper and lower leg openings when the article of lower torso athletic apparel is worn by the wearer;
• a lower torso portion joined with the first leg portion and the second leg portion, the lower torso portion having a front part configured to cover at least a portion of a lower pelvic area of the wearer and a back part configured to cover at least a portion of a lower buttocks area of the wearer;
• and
• a waistband joined with the lower torso portion, the waistband comprising a front portion configured for covering at least a portion of an upper pelvic area of the wearer, and a back portion for covering at least a portion of a lower back area of the wearer, wherein the front portion and the back portion are connected together along two opposite sides to form a waistband torso opening with a top circumferential edge and a bottom circumferential edge, each of the front portion and the back portion comprising:
• an inner fabric layer extending from the top circumferential edge to the bottom circumferential edge, the inner fabric layer having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner fabric layer forming an inside surface of the waistband, the inside surface being configured for facing a body of the wearer;
• an outer fabric layer having an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge connected to the lower edge of the inner fabric layer along the bottom circumferential edge of the waistband, the outer fabric layer forming a first portion of an outside surface of the waistband, the outside surface being configured for facing away from the body of the wearer;
• an elastic band having an upper edge, a lower edge and a width, the lower edge of the elastic band connected to the upper edge of the outer fabric layer and the upper edge of the elastic band connected to the upper edge of the inner fabric layer, the elastic band including an exposed portion between the upper edge of the outer fabric layer and the upper edge of the inner fabric layer, the exposed portion of the elastic band forming a second portion of the outside surface of the waistband;
• and
• wherein the bottom circumferential edge of the front portion is straight, and the bottom circumferential edge of the back portion has an inverted “U” shape, or
• wherein the back portion of the waistband comprises an inside pocket bag, or
• wherein a lower edge of the elastic band overlaps the upper edge of the outer fabric layer, and the upper edge of the outer fabric layer is positioned between the inner fabric layer and the elastic band.

A waistband for a lower torso garment, the waistband comprising:

• a front portion configured for covering at least a portion of a pelvic area of a wearer, and a back portion configured for covering at least a portion of a lower back area of the wearer, wherein the front portion and the back portion are connected together along two opposite sides to form a waistband torso opening with a top circumferential edge and a bottom circumferential edge, each of the front portion and the back portion comprising:
• an inner fabric layer extending from the top circumferential edge to the bottom circumferential edge, the inner fabric layer having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner fabric layer forming an inside surface of the waistband, the inside surface being configured for facing a body of the wearer;
• an outer fabric layer having an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge connected to the lower edge of the inner fabric layer along the bottom circumferential edge of the waistband, the outer fabric layer forming a first portion of an outside surface of the waistband, the outside surface being configured for facing away from the body of the wearer;
• an elastic band having an upper edge, a lower edge and a width, the lower edge of the elastic band connected to the upper edge of the outer fabric layer and the upper edge of the elastic band connected to the upper edge of the inner fabric layer, the elastic band including an exposed portion between the upper edge of the outer fabric layer and the upper edge of the inner fabric layer, the exposed portion of the elastic band forming a second portion of the outside surface of the waistband;
• and
• a lower edge of the elastic band overlaps the upper edge of the outer fabric layer, and the upper edge of the outer fabric layer is positioned between the inner fabric layer and the elastic band.