AU2014100173A4 - Garment - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment 10 includes a covering member 12 for covering at least a part of a wearer's trunk 18. The covering member defines a first, operatively upper end 14 and a second, operatively lower end 16. An elongate, inelastic manipulating element 22 extends, in use, between the first end 26 and the second end 28 of the covering member 12. The manipulating element 22 is carried by a back portion 24 of the covering member 12 and is attached to an operatively rear portion of the lower end of the covering member. 14- 2 /2-2-4 Fi.3I Fig. 4 3o Fig. 5

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 GET SMART CONSULTANCY PTY LTD COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Title: Garment The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us: - 2 Cross-Reference to Related Applications [0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2013900691 filed on 1 March 2013 and Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2013902641 filed on 16 July 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field [0002] This disclosure relates, generally, to a garment and, more particularly, to an upper body gannent. Background [0003] Some upper body garments are designed to be tight fitting such as some sport training vests, shirts, etc. These garments can be difficult to remove. The same applies to garments which are moist. [0004] Also, some people suffer from reduced mobility and/or flexibility and have difficulty in removing upper body garments which need to be pulled over the wearer's head to remove. Summary [0005] In a first aspect, there is provided a garment which includes a covering member for covering at least a part of a wearer's trunk, the covering member defining a first, operatively upper end and a second, operatively lower end; and an elongate, inelastic manipulating element extending, in use, between the first end and the second end of the covering member, the manipulating element being carried by a back portion of the covering member and being attached to an operatively rear portion of the lower end of the covering member. [0006] In this specification, the term "inelastic" is to be understood, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as meaning a material which is flexible and is able to conform readily to a shape of the wearer's body but which has limited, if any, resilience. Further, the "back" of the covering member is to be understood as a part of the covering member which at least partially covers the back of the wearer's trunk.

3 [0007] The manipulating element may comprise a first end and an opposed, second end and the second end of the manipulating element may be connected to the operatively lower end of the covering member. The lower end of the covering member may include a seam to which the second end of the manipulating element is connected. The second end of the manipulating element may be removably connected to the operatively lower end of the covering member. For example, the second end of the manipulating element may be connected to the operatively lower end of the covering member using a clasp, a buckle, a hook and loop fastener, or the like. [0008] The first end of the manipulating element may be connected to the operatively upper end of the covering member. For example, the first end of the manipulating element may be connected to a neck line of the covering member or to a free end of a sleeve of the covering member. The covering member may include a seam at the upper end to which the first end of the manipulating element is connected. The first end of the manipulating element may be removably connected to the operatively upper end of the covering member. For example, the first end of the manipulating element may be connected to the operatively upper end of the covering member using a clasp, a buckle, a hook and loop fastener, or the like. In some embodiments, the first end of the manipulating element is not fastened to the upper end of the covering member. [0009] A length of the manipulating element may exceed a spacing between the upper end and the lower end of the covering member, as measured on the operatively rear portion of the covering member, so that a gripping formation, such as a loop, is defined by the manipulating member. In use, the gripping formation may be accessed by the wearer from the upper end of the covering member and is able to be gripped by the wearer and pulled to raise the lower end of the covering member of the garment towards the upper end of the covering member. [0010] The garment may include a strip secured to the back portion of the covering member to extend between the upper end and the lower end of the covering member to define a passage in which the manipulating element is received. In an embodiment, the strip may be arranged on an operatively inner surface of the rear portion of the covering member to improve the aesthetics of the garment. [0011] A storage pouch for the manipulating element may be provided in the covering member for storing the manipulating element when not in use. The storage pouch may be located at the upper end of the covering member. For example, the storage pouch may be provided at a neck 4 of the covering member or at a free end of a sleeve of the covering member. In addition, or instead, the storage pouch may be located at another point on the covering member, such as at the lower end of the covering member. Brief Description of Drawings [0012] Embodiment of the disclosure are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0013] Fig. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of a garment, in use; [0014] Fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the garment of Fig. 1 in the process of being removed by a wearer; [0015] Fig. 3 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a garment, in use; [0016] Fig. 3a shows an enlarged view of a lower end of the garment of Fig. 3; [0017] Fig. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of the garment of Fig. 3 in the process of being removed by a wearer; and [0018] Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the upper end of the garment of Fig 3, showing a pouch for storing the manipulating element when not in use. Description of Embodiments [0019] With reference to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an embodiment of a garment. The garment 10 is an upper body garment such as a t-shirt, a vest, or the like. [0020] The garment 10 includes a covering member 12 having an operatively upper end 14 and an operatively lower end 16. The covering member 12 is configured to cover at least a part of a trunk, or torso, 18 of a body of a wearer 20. [0021] Typically the upper end 14 defines a neck line of the garment 10, such as in the illustrated embodiment, but it will be appreciated that this need not always necessarily be the 5 case, for example, with a halter-neck type garment. However for ease of explanation, the disclosure will be described with reference to the garment being in the form of a t-shirt or the like, having sleeves 21, and the upper end 14 of the garment 10 will be referred to as the "neck line" of the garment 10. [0022] The garment includes an elongate, inelastic manipulating element, in the form of a ribbon or strap, 22 arranged on a back portion 24 of the covering member 12 and extending between the neck line 14 of the garment and the lower end 16 of the garment 10. The strap 22 is of a suitable natural or synthetic fabric which has the required flexibility and lack of elasticity. [0023] The strap 22 has a first end 26 and an opposed, second end 28. A seam 30 is arranged about the neck line 14 of the covering member and the first end 26 of the strap 22 is attached to the seam 30, for example, by being sewn to the seam 30, at an operatively rear portion of the seam 30. Similarly, a seam 32 is arranged about the lower end 16 of the garment 10 and the second end 28 of the strap 22 is attached, for example, by being sewn, to an operatively rear portion of the seam 32 at the lower end 16 of the garment 10. It will be appreciated that, depending on the fabric used, the ends 26, 28 of the strap 22 could, instead of being sewn to their respective seams 30, 32 of the covering member 12, be attached in other suitable ways, for example, by heat welding or the like. [0024] In other embodiments, the ends of the strap 22 are removably connected to the covering member 12 using, for example, a clasp, a buckle, a hook and loop fastener, or the like. [0025] A strip 34 is secured to an operatively inner surface of the rear portion 24 of the covering member 12 of the garment 10. The strip 34 and the rear portion 24 of the covering member 12 together define an open-ended pocket or passage through which the strap 22 extends and which covers the strap 22. This improves the aesthetics of the garment 10 and also reduces the likelihood of the strap 22 causing irritation to the skin of the wearer 20. [0026] In an embodiment, the strap 22 is configured to have a length exceeding the spacing between the seams 30 and 32 so that a gripping formation, in the form of a loop, 36 (Fig. 2) is formed. The loop 36 may either be concealed below the neck line 14 or protrude beyond the neck line 14 to be gripped for use.

6 [0027] To remove the garment 10, the wearer 20 grips the strap 22 by the loop 36 and pulls upwardly on the strap 22. This causes the lower end 16 of the garment 10 to move upwardly on the trunk 18 of the wearer 20 towards the neck line 14 of the garment 10 where the covering member 12 becomes bunched. It is then far easier for the wearer 20 to grip the bunched covering member 12 to pull the garment 10 over the head of the wearer 20. [0028] An alternative embodiment of a garment 10 is shown in Figs. 3-5. The alternative embodiment shares many features in common with the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, where corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding features with corresponding functionality. In the garment 10 of Figs. 3-5, however, the second end 28 of the strap 22 is removably connected to the lower end 16 of the covering member 12 by a clasp 50 that is connectable to a ring 51 on the covering member 12. In some embodiments, the clasp 50 may be replaced with a buckle, a hook and loop fastener, or any other suitable fastener. The first end 26 of the strap 22 may also be similarly removably connected to the upper end 14 of the covering member 12. [0029] As shown in Fig. 5, a storage pouch 52 for the strap 22 is provided in the neck line 14 of the covering member 12. In other embodiments, the pouch 52 may be located elsewhere on the covering member 12, such as at a free end of the sleeve 21 or at the lower end 16 of the covering member 12. In yet further embodiments, the pouch 52 may be omitted and the strap 22 may be stored when not in use by simply disconnecting the second end 28 from the lower end 16 of the covering member 12 and stowing the strap 22 down the wearer's back underneath the covering member 12. [0030] In use, the second end 28 of the strap 22 is connected to the lower end 16 of the covering member 12 and the strap 22 extends up along the covering member 12, either on the inside or the outside of the covering member 12, such that, when the wearer pulls the first end 26 of the strap 22, the covering member 12 rolls up the wearer's back to facilitate removal of the garment. [0031] Certain tight fitting, upper body garments are very difficult to remove. Other upper body garments can become difficult to remove when they become soaked with moisture. Also, some people may not have the required mobility or flexibility to remove upper body garments over their heads. With the provision of the strap 22, such shortcomings are obviated. It is therefore an advantage of the described embodiments, that a garment 10 is provided which is 7 easier to remove. By having the strap 22 located within the covering member 12 of the garment 10, within the pocket or passage defined by the strip 34, or within the pouch 52, the aesthetics of the garment 10 are not detrimentally affected. [0032] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Examples of possible variations and/or modifications include, but are not limited to: * connecting the first end 26 of the strap 22 to another portion of the upper end 14 of the covering member 12, such as a free end of the sleeve 21; and/or * not fastening the first end 26 of the strap 22 to the upper end 14 of the covering member 12; and/or * the pouch 52 may be removably attached to the covering member 12, for example using a press stud, hook and loop fastener, a zip, or the like.

Claims (5)

1. A garment which includes a covering member for covering at least a part of a wearer's trunk, the covering member defining a first, operatively upper end and a second, operatively lower end; and an elongate, inelastic manipulating element extending, in use, between the first end and the second end of the covering member, the manipulating element being carried by a back portion of the covering member and being attached to an operatively rear portion of the lower end of the covering member.

2. The garment of claim 1, in which the manipulating element comprises a first end and an opposed, second end and in which the second end of the manipulating element is removably connected to the operatively rear portion of the lower end of the covering member.

3. The garment of claim 2, in which the first end of the manipulating element is removably connected to an operatively rear portion of the upper end of the covering member.

4. The garment of any one of the preceding claims in which a length of the manipulating element exceeds a spacing between the upper end and the lower end of the covering member, as measured on the back portion of the covering member, so that a gripping formation is defined by the manipulating member.

5. The garment of any one of the preceding claims which includes a strip secured to the back portion of the covering member to extend between the upper end and the lower end of the covering member to define a passage in which the manipulating element is received.