GB2420486A

GB2420486A - Inflatable pockets for lower-body garments

Info

Publication number: GB2420486A
Application number: GB0425930A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Hughes; Roger Watts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-25
Filing date: 2004-11-25
Publication date: 2006-05-31
Also published as: GB0425930D0

Abstract

A lower-body garment such as trousers or shorts is provided with a pair of pockets to overlie at least the buttocks, the pockets receiving inflatable compartments 20. The pockets may be detachably connected to the garment, e.g. by hook and loop fasteners, they may have securable flaps and they may overlie the thighs as well as the buttocks.

Description

GARMENTS

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

This invention relates to garments and, in particular, to inflatable garments.

Background

Inflatable garments are well known as life jackets, buoyancy aids, fancy dress costumes (e.g. a Sumo wrestler costume), brassieres for women and girls, corsets, insulation vests, and limb-shaped compression coverings for medical use (e.g. to overcome stasis or blood pooling). None of these prior art items address the problem of providing an aid to sitting on a hard surface, e.g. a stadium seat, or to provide a garment selectively usable for that purpose or for alternative use as ordinary apparel (when not inflated).

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lower-body- covering garment, e.g. in the form of trousers, shorts or pants, said garment having a pair of rear pockets of an extent substantially to overlie the buttocks (optionally and thighs) of the wearer, and inflation means comprising inflatably expandable compartments for insertion into said rear pockets to provide - when inflated cushioning for said buttocks (and thighs).

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable accessory for a lower-body-covering garment, said accessory comprising a pair of pockets, means for releasably attaching the pockets to the rear of the garment - said pockets being dimensioned such that when attached to the garment they substantially overlie the buttocks (optionally and thighs) of the wearer - and inflation means comprising inflatable compartments for insertion into said pockets to provide - when inflated and the garment is worn - cushioning for the wearer's buttocks (and thighs).

Preferably the inflation means comprises a manually compressible pump (e. g a bladder- type bulb) comiected to the compartments via one-way valve means and flexible tubing.

Advantageously the compartments, when inflated, extend fully to the side edges of the pockets to sit fittingly within them.

Preferably said pockets are provided with a fold-over flap to cover the mouth of the pockets. A fastening (e.g. button, zip or hook-eye (VELCROTM) fastening may be provided to close the pocket and secure the fold-over flap to the exterior of the pocket.

The garment may be provided with an aperture, e.g. in or adjacent to a portion of the pocket (or its fold-over flap) through which said flexible tubing can extend between the compartment and the pump means.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example, one embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a schematic rear view of a garment according to an embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the garment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic rear perspective view of part of a seated person wearing a garment according to a modification of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a schematic partial view of the garment of Figure 3 in a first assembly stage; Figure 5 is a schematic partial view of the garment of Figure 3 in a second assembly stage; Figure 6 is an enlarged more detailed view of the elements shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an enlarged more detailed view of the elements shown in Figure 3 in a final assembly stage; and Figure 8 is a schematic view of a modification of the embodiments shown in Figures I to 7.

Detailed Description of Example(s) of the Invention The garment 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is for covering the lower part of the human body and is in the form of trousers in the kind called "Bermuda shorts2 which have a main buttock-covering portion 12 and two diverging leg-covering portions 14 that extend towards the wearer's knees. The garment 10 is provided with a plurality of pockets. These comprise a pair of conventional hip pockets 16 (Figure 2) and, beneath them, two internal pockets 15 that are deep (i.e. extend past the bottom of hip pockets 16) and overlie the buttocks and thighs of the wearer. These pockets are removable and attachable to the garment by fastening means 26 comprising, for example, buttons, zips or (as preferred) hook-eye fasteners such as VELCROTM. Two "combat-style" side pockets 18 are also illustrated.

Each pocket 15 contains an inflatable pouch or like compartment 20 provided with an inflation tube 22 extending upwards out of pocket 15 and connected distally to a one- way air valve and a bulb inflator or pump located (when not in use) in a side pocket 18, e.g. in a hidden, smaller compartment 19 therein.

Figure 3 illustrates a person wearing garment 10 in its inflated form and seated on a bench 21. The single-bulb inflator or pump 25 is located above the wearer's waistline and, inside or, as shown, outside the wearer's shirt 24.

To assemble the garment 10 prior to use, an inflatable compartment 20 is inserted into each of the two pockets 15 whilst the latter are unattached to the garment (Figure 4).

Each pocket, with an inflatable compartment therein, is then attached to the garment 10 in the position best shown in Figure 2 by the associated fastening means 26, the inflation tubing 22 being passed through an aperture 28 in the flap 29 that is to be fblded-over the mouth of pocket 15 (Figures 5,6) . Co-operating fastening means 27, e.g. buttons, zip or hook-eye fasteners (such as VELCRO"TM), are provided to attach flap 25 to the exterior face of pocket 15 and retain compartment 20 in the pocket (Figure 6). The bulb inflator or pump 25 is then attached to the distal end of inflation tubing 22 (see Figure 7).

When inflation is no longer required, the bulb 25 can be removed and stored in the hidden pocket 19 therefor that is provided in side pocket 18.

In one optional modification, a single pump or bulb inflator may be employed to inflate both compartments 20 simultaneously, e.g. via a Tjunction hollow connector connected to the distal ends of the two lengths of tubing 22.

In another optional modification, the one-way air valve is provided adjacent to each compartment 20 rather than distal therefrom adjacent to the or each pump or bulb inflator 25.

It will be appreciated that a separate accessory package may be provided and sold comprising the pockets 15, the inflatable compartments 20 to be inserted therein, and releasable fastening means 26 for releasable attachment of the pockets 15 to a conventional lower-body-covering garment that is/has been purchased separately. The releasable fastening means 26 may comprise buttons, a zip fastener, or (as is preferred) a hook-and-eye fastening such as that known under th Trade Mark "VELCRO".

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, are to be deemed within the ambit and scope of the invention, and the particular embodiment(s) hereinbefore described may be varied in construction and detail, e.g. interchanging (where appropriate or desired) different features of each, without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

Claims

1. An article to provide a lower-body-covering garment, said garment having a pair of rear pockets of an extent substantially to overlie at least the buttocks of the wearer, and inflation means comprising inflatably expandable compartments for insertion into said rear pockets to provide - when inflated - cushioning for said buttocks.

2. An article according to Claim 1 wherein said pockets are of an extent also to overlie the thighs of the wearer.

3. An article according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the said garment is in the form of trousers, shorts or pants.

4. An article to provide an inflatable accessory for a lower-bodycovering garment, said accessory comprising a pair of pockets, means for releasably attaching the pockets to the rear of the garment - said pockets being dimensioned such that when attached to the garment they substantially overlie at least the buttocks of the wearer - and inflation means comprising inflatable compartments for insertion into said pockets to provide - when inflated and the garment is worn -- cushioning for at least the wearer's buttocks.

5. An article according to Claim 4 wherein said compartments are to provide cushioning also for the thighs of the wearer.

6. An article according to any preceding Claim wherein the inflation means comprises a manually compressible pump connectable to the compartments or pockets via one-way valve means and flexible tubing.

7. An article according to Claim 6 wherein the manually compressible pump comprises a bladder-type bulb.

8. An article according to Claim 4 or any one of Claims 5 to 7 when dependant therefrom, wherein the compartments, when inflated, extend fully to the side edges of the pockets to sit fittingly within them.

9. An article according to any preceding Claim wherein said Pockets are provided with a Ibid-over flap to cover the mouth of the pockets.

10. An article according to Claim 9 wherein a fastening is provided to close the pocket and secure the fold-over flap to the exterior of the pocket.

11. An article according to Claim 10 wherein said fastening comprises a button, zip or hook-eye (VELCROTM) fastening.

12. An article according to Claims I and 6 or to any one of Claims 7 to 11 when dependant from Claims I and 6, wherein the garment is provided with an aperture, through which said flexible tubing can extend between the compartment and the pump means.

13. An article according to Claim 12 wherein said aperture is provided in or adjacent to a portion of the pocket (or its fold-over flap.

14. A garment or an accessory therefor substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

WATTSIO1k1 1/2005

14. A garment or an accessory thercfor substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. An article to provide a lower-body-covering garment, said garment having a pair of rear pockets of an extent substantially to overlie at least the buttocks of the wearer, a pair of infiatably expandable compartments for insertion into said rear pockets to provide - when inflated - cushioning for said buttocks, flexible tubing connected to the compartments and, via a T-junction hollow connector, to inflation means comprising a single pump inflator to inflate both compartments simultaneously 2. An article according to Claim 1 wherein said pockets are of an extent also to overlie_the thighs Qfthewrer.. - 3. An article according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the said garment is in the form of trousers, shorts or pants.

4. An article to provide an inflatable accessory for a lower-bodycovering garment, said accessory comprising a pair of pockets, means for releasably attaching the pockets to the rear of the garment - said pockets being dimensioned such that when attached to the garment they substantially overlie at least the buttocks of the wearer - a pair of inflatable compartments for insertion into said pockets to provide - when inflated and the garment is worn - cushioning for at least the wearer's buttocks, inflation means comprising a single pump, and flexible tubing and a T-junction hollow connector for inter-connecting the compartments and said inflation means to permit in use simultaneous inflation of both compartments via said inflation means.

6. An article according to Claim 4 wherein the compartments, when inflated, extend fully to the side edges of the pockets to sit fittingly within them.

WATTS 101 k1 1/2005 7. An article according to any preceding Claim wherein the said pump is a manually compressible pump that is connectable to the compartments or pockets via one-way valve means and said flexible tubing.

8. An article according to Claim 7 wherein the manually compressible pump comprises a bladder-type bulb.

9. An article according to any preceding Claim wherein said pockets are provided with a fold-over flap to cover the mouth of the pockets.

- ----- 10. An--article*according -to Claim-9 -wherein a -fastening is provided to close-the - - pocket and secure the fold-over flap to the exterior of the pocket.

11. An article according to Claim 10 wherein said fastening comprises a button, zip or hook-eye (VELCRO) fastening.

12. An article according to any preceding Claim wherein the garment is provided with an aperture, through which said flexible tubing can extend between the compartment and the pump.

13. An article according to Claim 12 wherein said aperture is provided in or adjacent to a portion of the pocket (or its fold-over flap).