FI125112B - Foldable trousers and method of making them - Google Patents

Description

FOLDABLE TROUSERS AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is concerned with foldable trousers and a method of manufacturing the same.

BACKGROUND “Trousers” are an item of clothing that cover both legs separately rather than extending across both legs as in skirts and dresses.

Traditionally, trousers comprise two leg parts and an upper part or a body part with rear and front parts extending up to the waist or hips and connected to each other over a gusset situated between the legs. In the front part, there is often a join that can be opened to make the pants easier to put on or take off giving space enough for the middle body to get in before concealing a mechanism, such as a zipper, velcro or buttons, used to join the opening. Alternatively, the trousers are made of flexible material making the opening join unnecessary.

Trousers are worn at the hips or waist, and may be held up by their own fastenings, a belt, or suspenders (braces). In some types of them, there might be a rubber band at the waist or hip part. Depending of the user’s anatomy or the design of the trousers they might be held up by themselves if the waist part or the hip part is tight enough or if they are made of flexible material. Leggings are form-fitting trousers of a clingy material and do not need anything to hold them up.

When the trousers are put on, the user usually stands up and places his legs in the leg parts first and thereafter draws up the upper part of the trousers to the waist or the hips to cover that middle body part of the body that is intended to be covered by the trousers.

This is not a problem for normal healthy people, who easily can put on trousers of the above mentioned traditional type.

For people with certain diseases, handicaps or some physical disabilities it might be very difficult or even impossible to put on such trousers by themselves. This is true also for patients in certain conditions at e.g. hospitals, elderly people, as well as babies and very young children. They might need help from other people, who, however, also often find traditional trousers unpractical, when they help other people, especially very heavy or over-weighted persons or people with hard pains when moved or lifted up.

Some attempts have been made to construct items of clothing that are easier to put on. JP publication 05314382B2 discloses care clothings, e.g., trousers, intended for use by patients, elderly people or sick persons and having a pair of open fasteners comprising holding tapes that are separately sewn along a cutting line of the front body and along an oblique side of an inner thight part and front pad from hem of back body. The clothing can be unfolded into three-dimensional form by opening each open fastener, allowing the patient to easily put on or remove clothing. The font pad makes the crotch part adjustable to accommodate a diaper. CN publication 200962852Y is concerned with foldable convenient pants, which are split pants sewing pants waist and pants leg together. At the outside of the split pants, an opening is formed from the top of pants waist to the bottom of the pants leg to separate the easy pants into a front pants piece and a rear pants piece, and the front pants piece and the rear piece are foldably connected with each other by a connecting member, like a zipper or a button fastener. The solution has the beneficial effects of bringing great convenience to people, especially to those who enjoy outdoor sports in winter; especially bringing labor saving and comfort and convenience to the old, patients and children. US patent application 2013/0098530 and 2013/0204220 and US patent 8,491,556 are mentioned as prior art for easy-to put-on diapers

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is improved trousers that are easy to put on users with physical disabilities or persons that can not put on normal trousers by themselves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foldable trousers of the invention consist of an integral piece with a front part and a back part connected to each other and with a structure that allows a front part of the piece to be folded against the back part of the piece. The trousers have leg parts and a body part constituting said front part and said back part. The leg parts have side edges that are perpendicular to the top edges of said front part and said back part. The inner side edges of the front and the back parts extend along the leg parts and are fastened to each other. The outer side edges of the front and the back parts extend from the top edge to the lower end of the leg parts and are releasably connectable to each other.

The method of the invention of manufacturing foldable trousers comprises the steps of providing two half back parts and two half front parts. The half back parts are sewed together to form a back part with seams in the middle. The half front parts are also sewed together and they analogously form a front part with seams in the middle. A channel is formed along the top edges of the front and back parts and a band is thread through the channel. Velcros are fastened along the outer sides of the back and front parts. The front part and back parts are fastened to eachother at positions at the seams in the inner sides of the lower ends of the leg parts.

The method steps can be carried out in a different order than mentioned, e.g. with respect to the steps of forming the channel, threading the band and fastening the velcros.

The preferable embodiments of the invention have the features of the sub claims.

The outer side edges of the front and the back parts, which are vertical in use, are releasably connectable to each other preferably by velcros fastened thereon but other fastening means used in textiles, like zippers, buttons or holding tapes, can be used.

The trousers of the invention are held up in use thanks to that the top edges of the front and the back parts, which are horizontal in use, and intended to be positioned around the waist or hip of a user of the trousers. The top edges have an adjustable tightness by means of a belt or the like or through bands inside channels sewed along the top edges. The bands of the front part and the back part, which preferably are rubber bands, are releaseably connectable to each other. The tightness of the top edges around the waist or the hips of the user can be made adjustable when the bands are tied together by knots or bow knots with a desired tightness or by means of a button in one of the bands to be put in one of several holes in the other band. In these ways, the bands together have a belt-like function.

Velcros are hook-and-loop fasteners typically consisting of two components, i.e. two (usually) lineal fabric strips (or, alternatively, round dots or squares) or tapes which are attached (e.g., sewn, adhered, etc.) to the opposing surfaces to be fastened. The first component features tiny hooks and are sensed as having the coarse surface; the second one features even smaller and "hairier" loops and are sensed as having the soft surface. When the two components are pressed together, the hooks catch in the loops and the two pieces fasten or bind temporarily during the time that they are pressed together. When separated, by pulling or peeling the two surfaces apart, the velcro strips make a distinctive "ripping" sound. Variations on the standard Velcro hook-and-loop fasteners include hooks on both faces. The term Velcro is in this text as commonly used to mean any type of hook-and-loop fastener, even if remaining a registered trademark in many countries used by the Velcro company to distinguish their brand of fasteners from their competitors.

Because velcros are easy to use, these hook-and-loop fasteners are especially popular in clothing where they replace buttons or zippers, and as shoe fasteners for children who have not yet learned to tie shoelaces. Velcro can thus be used also in adaptive clothing, which is clothing designed for people with physical disabilities, the elderly, and the infirm who may experience difficulty dressing themselves due to an inability to manipulate closures, such as buttons and zippers. It closes backpacks, briefcases and notebooks, secures pockets, and holds disposable diapers, and diaper covers for cloth diapers, on babies.

Preferably, in the invention, the velcro strips extend along the outer side edges of the front and back parts, respectively, almost all over, from the top edge at the waist or hip of the trousers to the lower end of the of the leg parts. There are, however, many equally different possibilities to place the velcros. When the velcros are placed in said preferable way parallel with the outer side edges of the back and front parts, the upper ends of the Velcro strips are preferably on a little distance from the top edge to leave space for the channel and for the buttons on the bands. The velcros can also consist of two or more or several smaller velcros placed along the outer side edges of the front and back parts.

In one embodiment, the component of the velcro strip with the coarse surface is placed on the back (or rear) part on the inside and the component of the velcro strip with the soft surface outside the front part. Or vice versa, the soft surface can be placed on the back (or rear) part on the inside and the component of the velcro strip with the coarse surface outside the front part. The back part sides are then folded around the body on top of the front part sides. With inside is here meant the surface that will be directed inwardly against the user when the trousers are in use. The insides also face eachother when the trousers are in folded condition with no wearer.

Because of the placement of the velcros, and of practical reasons when putting the trousers on, the back part is preferably broader and has a bigger surface area than the front part, but can be bigger also of anatomy reasons.

Trousers are also called pants in English speaking countries outside the Britain. In Britain, the word "pants" generally means underpants. Shorts are similar to trousers, but with legs that come down only to around the area of the knee, higher or lower depending on the style of the garment. To distinguish them from shorts, trousers may be called "long trousers" in certain contexts and tailored shorts may be called "short trousers", especially in the United Kingdom. They might even be called “slacks”, “breeks” and “trews”. Capri pants, pantelettes amd leggings are other types of trousers.

In this text, the term “trousers” are meant to cover long or short trousers of all of the above types generally as an item of clothing covering both legs separately rather than with cloth extending across both legs as in skirts and dresses and the term even covering underwear-like items of clothing only extending to the joint wherein the leg begins.

As was indicated above, the trousers of the invention are very useful for people without the ability or with a poor ability to put normal trousers on and especially for people who need help from other people in this operation. Examples are sick people and people with certain diseases, pains, handicaps or some physical disabilities, over-weighted persons, patients in hospitals, elderly people, as well as babies and very young children.

The function of the trousers makes the use considerably easier compared to normal trousers since the user does not have to put them on leg by leg.

The trousers are very practical for e.g. nursing staff in hospitals because the patient does not need to be lifted up for putting the trousers on. The patient can just roll on top of the trousers that are put beside him in unfolded condition or they can be placed under him when he is lying and then the front part of the trousers are taken up between the legs and folded on the stomach and the outer side edges of the front part are fastened to the outer side edges of the back part. Thereafter the buttons in the waist or hip part can be fastened.

The trousers of the invention provide additional value for use as cover or as over trousers on diapers. Diapers are used not only by small children and babies but also by persons with some certain health problems and by elderly people, invalids and disabled persons. The trousers of the invention are expected to be used primarily in hospitals by people also using diapers as over trousers outside the diaper. Due to the construction of the trousers with e.g. their fastening means, such as velcros, inside and its especially designed foldable parts, the contour of the diaper is not visible from the outside, which makes the patient to feel socially more comfortable. The over trousers cover the diaper but can easily and quickly be taken off and on again. There is then no need for the patient to by additional extra large trousers to hide the diaper.

The trousers of the invention can be manufactured in any sizes to fit babies, children, women and men and even in extra large sizes and with leg parts of desired lengths to make e.g. long-trousers, shorts or capri pants.

The materials can be chosen to be as soft and comfortable as possible for e.g. hospital use and with no galling parts. The velcros can be sewed inside the fabric material that the trousers are made not to adhere to sheets or other cloths and clothings. The material can be stretching and designed to stand abrasion, long-lasted use and industrial washing.

In the following, the invention will be described by means of an advantageous embodiment by referring to figures. The invention is not restricted to the details thereof.

FIGURES

Figure 1 presents the back parts of the foldable trousers of the invention.

Figure 2 presents the front parts of the foldable trousers of the invention

Figures 3 presents a back part of the foldable trousers of the invention foreseen with a band at the top and a velcro at the side

Figures 4 presents a front part of the foldable trousers of the invention foreseen with a band at the top and a velcro at the side

Figure 5 presents an embodiment of the foldable trousers of the invention in the unfolded open condition.

Figure 6 presents an embodiment of the foldable trousers of the invention in the folded condition the outsides of the leg unconnected

Figure 7 presents of an embodiment of the foldable trousers of the invention in the folded condition the outsides of the leg connected to eachother

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, pants and trousers are made by starting from cutting two half back parts and two half front parts from a bigger piece of fabric, in a form to fit a human body when combined and in accordance with sewing patterns used as a help in the cutting.

The following figures 1 - 7, which are not in scale, describe the structure of an embodiment of the trousers of the invention by referring to different stages in their manufacturing. In this embodiment, the trousers of the invention are shorts with leg parts intended to extend over a distance to somewhere above the knees of the person wearing them.

Figure 1 presents two such half back parts 2a, 2b having being sewed together to form a back part 2 by a seam 3 that will be situated against the inner sides of the legs of a person to wear the trousers. The curved edges 9a, 9b will be connected to eachother by sewing to form a seam 9 shown in figure 3. The top edges of the back parts 2a and 2b have the reference numbers 16a, 16b in figure 1. The half back parts 2a, 2b comprise half leg parts 14a, 14b as indicated below the horizontal broken line in figure 1.

Figure 2 presents two such half front parts 4a, 4b being sewed together to form a front part 4 by a seam 5 that will be situated against the inner sides of the legs of a person to wear the trousers. The curved edges 10a, 10b will be connected to eachother by sewing to form a seam 10 shown in figure 4. The half front parts 2a, 2b comprise half leg parts 15a, 15b as indicated below the horizontal broken line in figure 2.

Figure 3 shows the half back parts 2a and 2b folded on eachother and connected over seams 3 and 9. In figure 3, one of the half back parts 2a of the foldable trousers of the invention can be foreseen with a band 6a inside a channel sewed along the top edge 16a and a velcro strip 8a at the side. A button 12 is fastened on the band 6a in the back part 2a to be put through a hole 11a in the band 6b in the front part (see figure 4). Reference number 7a illustrates that an edge of the lower end of the leg part 14a has been folded up. The other half back part 2b that can not be seen has the same features as the half back part 2a.

Figure 4 shows the half front parts 4a and 4b folded on eachother and connected over seams 5 and 10. In figure 4, one of the half front parts 4b of the foldable trousers of the invention can be seen foreseen with a band 6b inside a channel in the top edge 17b and a velcro strip 8b at the side. A button 12 is fastened on the band 6a in the back part 2a (see figure 3) to be put through a hole 11a in the band 6b inside a channel sewed along the top edge 17b in the front part 4b. There are also other holes in the band 6b, like 11b. When the velcro strips in the back parts are pressed against those in the front part they will stick to eachother in a tenable but still releasable way. Reference number 7b illustrates that an edge of the lower end of the leg part 15b has been folded up. The other half back part 4a that can not be seen have the same features as the half back part 4b.

Figure 5 presents the foldable trousers 1 of the invention in an unfolded open condition. The back and the front parts 2 and 4 are now fastened to eachother at positions referred to by reference number 13a and 13b from the inner side of the leg parts 14a, 14b and 15a, 15b at the lower end of the leg parts. The foldable trousers 1 of the invention now consist of an integral piece with a shape and a structure that allows a front part 4 of the piece to be folded against the back part 2 of the piece.

Figure 6 presents the foldable trousers of the invention in the folded condition when the velcros 8a and 8a’ at the side of the leg parts are unconnected to velcros 8b and 8b’.

In this folded condition, the trousers 1 have a front part 4 and a back part 2 consisting of two leg parts 14 and 15 and a body part, the last mentioned constituting the upper part of the trousers. The inner side of the leg parts 14 and 15 are perpendicular to the top edges 17 and 16 of said front part 4 and said back part 2. The top edges 16 and 17, which have an adjustable tightness are intended to be positioned around the waist or hip of a user of the trousers 1.

In figure 6, the front part 4 has been folded on the back part 2 without the velcros 8a and 8a’ at the side of the leg parts having been fastened to the velcros 8b and 8b’. As the back part 2 of the trousers is broader than the front part 4, a part of the back part 2 that is under the front part can be seen at both sides.

Figure 7 presents the foldable trousers 1 of the invention in the folded condition when the velcros 8a, 8a’ and 8b, 8b’ at the sides of the leg parts are connected to eachother. As the velcro strips 8a, 8a’ are inside the back parts, and the back parts 2a, 2b are broader they are folded over the front parts 4a, 4b having the velcros 8b and 8b’ on the outside. Consequently, the velcros are a little bit inwards from the sides of the trouser and on the front side of the person wearing the trousers. The velcros can, however, not be seen, as they are inside the trousers thanks to the folding even if they are indicated in figure 7.

Claims (9)

Foldable trousers (1) consisting of a unitary part having a front part (4) and a back part (2) connected to one another and having a structure allowing the front part (4) of said part to be pivotable against the back part (2), wherein said front part (4) and said back portion (2) forming trousers (1) having leg portions (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) and a body portion, wherein the leg portions (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) have outer side edges and inner side edges, perpendicular to the upper edges (16, 17) of said front part (4) and said rear part (2), the inner side edges of said front part (4) and said rear part (2) extending along and secured to the leg parts (14, 15); the front portion (4) and the outer side edges of said rear portion (2) extending from the top edges (16, 17) to the lower end of the leg portions (14, 15) and being removably secured to one another, characterized in that the rear portion (2) front (4). Foldable trousers (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the outer side edges of said front (4) and said rear (2) are removably fastened to one another by means of Velcro straps (8a, 8a ', 8b, 8b') attached thereto. Foldable trousers (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper edges (16, 17) are intended to be located around the waist or hips of the trouser wearer and being adjustable in tension. Foldable trousers (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper edges (16, 17) are adjustable by means of straps (6a, 6b) in the ducts therein. Foldable trousers (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the straps (6a, 6b) can be connected to each other by a knot, a bow or a button (12). Foldable pants (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that one of the straps (6a, 6b) has a button (12) and the other of the cuff (6b, 6a) has holes (11a, 11b) for the button (12). Any combination of claims 4-6, characterized in that at least one of the straps (6a, 6b) is a rubber band. Any combination of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the velcro straps (8a, 8a ', 8b, 8b') extend along the outer lateral edges of the leg portions (14, 15) at the upper edges (16, 17) of the trousers (16, 17). from below to the lower ends of the leg sections (14, 15). A method of making foldable trousers by making two half-back (2a, 2b) and two half-front (4a, 4b), sewing said half-back (2a, 2b) to form a back (2) with seams (3 and 9), sewing said half-front portions (4a, 4b) together to form a front portion (4) having seams (5 and 10), sewing a passage along the upper edges of the front and rear portions (4, 2) and threading the ribbon (6a, 6b) into the passage Velcro strips (8a, 8a ', 8b, 8b') along the outside of the rear and front portions (2, 4) by joining the front portion (4) and the rear portion (2) together at the seams (3 and 5) of the leg portions (14, 15). , 13b), characterized in that the rear parts are made wider than the front parts and have a larger surface area than the front parts.