GB2506646A - Garments comprising temporary connection means - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment suitable for a users underwear comprises a first panel arranged to define a smaller front panel 1 for covering a user's genital region and a second panel arranged to define a rear panel 2 for covering a user's posterior region, wherein the panels include temporary connection means 3 peripheral to both panels. The panels may be formed from one continuous piece of material. In use, the garment is preferably openable from a users front. The temporary connection means may be buttons, hook and eye fasteners, press fittings such as poppers or hook and loop fasteners. The garment may be adapted to fit male or female wearers and may be selected from briefs, bikini briefs, boxer shorts or swim shorts.

Description

A GARMENT

Field of the Invention

S The present invention relates to a garment, more particularly but not exclusively an undergarment that is openable.

Background

There are numerous examples of ihjuies, illnesses, accidents etc. that would make it difficult for someone to put on underwear in a conventional manner.

An accident victim with injuries to feetllegs/knees may be otherwise mobile, but unable to pull conventional underwear over or across whatever aid is required to heal the injury such as cast, cage, pin support.

A user with an intermittent back problem, such as recovering from surgery or after a caesarean section, making it difficult or painful to bend down sufficiently to put on underwear in a conventional manner.

These groups of people have no option apart from asking for help, adapting existing underwear in some way, wearing nothing or wearing adult nappies or diapers. For many, most of these options are undesirable.

Openable undergarments may be used in these occasions however often the fastening means may be uncomfortable or not suitable for someone who is bed ridden as they may lead to bedsores.

Some forms of openable undergarment are in the form of a nappy which may also be seen as undignified for the wearer who may only have difficulty in dressing.

The present invention arose to overcome the problems associated with putting on undergarments without straining by providing an openable undergarment.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: Granted United States patent US 8 181 280 (CALISTE) discloses a garment configured for covering the lower torso of a disabled person comprising: a front panel and a rear panel, wherein the front and rear panels are at least connected along a seam in the crotch of the garment, wherein the garment rear panel is comprised of a first panel portion and a second panel portion; wherein one of the first and second tO panel portions overlaps the other panel portion at a first panel portion edge and a second panel portion edge, wherein the first panel portion and the second panel portion are configured to facilitate attachment of the first panel portion and the second panel portion along the first panel portion edge and the second panel portion edge.

Granted United States patent US 6 247 184 (WAiTS) discloses a conformable pair of underwear for allowing securement to an individual without requiring them to lift their leg risking loss of balance comprising, in combination: a central member.

positionablo over a crotch area and backside of the individual, the central member having opposed forward and rearward ends, and a rounded central section for positioning over the crotch area, the central member being fabricated of a cotton-like material; a front member secured to the forward end of the central member for positioning above the crotch area of the individual, the front member having a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge having a plurality of male fasteners disposed thereon in a spaced relationship, the second side edge having a plurality of female fasteners disposed thereon in a spaced relationship; and a back member secured to the rearward end of the central member for positioning above the back side of the individual, the back member having a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge having a plurality of female fasteners disposed thereon in a spaced relationship, the second side edge having a plurality of male fasteners disposed thereon in a spaced relationship, the female and male fasteners being selectively engaged with the male and female fasteners of the front member when the front member and the back member are wrapped around a waist of the individual.

United States patent application US 5 315 716 (BAUM) discloses an easily removable and donnable pants having a waist and two legs, comprising: (a) pants having a releasable seam extending upwardly from the bottom end of each pant leg along the outside thereof, each said seam having two opposing, overlapping parts; and (b) a plurality of hook and loop fastener segments disposed along each said seam, the hook portion of each said fastener segment being disposed on one part of each said seam and the loop portion of each said fastener segment being disposed on the other part of each said seam to fasten said one part to said other part, wherein the lowest of said fasteners on each leg is constructed so as to require less force to release than one or more fasteners disposed higher on the same seam.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a garment suitable for a user's underwear and to cover the user's genital and posterior regions, wherein the garment comprises: a first panel arranged to define a smaller front panel for covering the user's genital region, and a second panel arranged to define a rear panel for covering the user's posterior region; wherein the panels include temporary connection means peripheral to both panels.

The first panel and/or the second panel may be formed from a sheet of material.

Preferably, the front panel is arranged to be smaller in size than the second panel.

More particularly the front panel is preferably arranged to cover a narrower region of the user than the rear panel.

The connection means is prefeably situated on the front panel or more preferably is situated to one or ideally both sides of the front panel or proximate to the user's genital region, in order that users lying on their sides are not liable to bed sores or discomfort.

The connection means may be located proximate to, or framing of the user's genitalia or pubis.

Preferably the garment may be selected from briefs, bikini briefs, swim shorts or an undergament comprising: a front panel for covering the genital region or genitalia, a rear panel for covering the bullock region and ideally hips, connecting the panels wherein the front and rear panels partly joined and partly removably attached by * fasteners; so as to form an openable garment.

The front and rear panels of the garment are preferably generally truncated equilateral triangle sections wherein the triangle base forms the garment's waist in use, and the other two triangle sides may be arcuate so as to accommodate or surround a user's legs in use, providing leg holes when the connection means is connected on the user.

The waist of the garment in use may be reinforced by a waistband so as to remain securely worn on the user in use. Preferably the waistband may be elasticated and/or drawstring so as to be easilyfitted and comfortable in use.

Preferably the garment in use provides or defines a crotch, wherein said crotch is largely rectangular and in some embodiments includes a narrowed portion so as to comfortably span the user's crotch in use.

Preferably in use the garment is folded at the crotch so that the rear and front panels are parallel to one another.

The panels and crotch may be formed from one continuous piece of material or alternatively the undergarment may be formed from more than one piece of material or fabric, for example where each panel and the crotch are separate pieces of material stitched, adhered or sewn together at seams.

Ideally said seams are not located in use at the user's side, so as to minimise bed sores.

Ideally in addition or the alternative the garment is formed from a soft flexible material such as cotton. It is envisaged that the quality of the material may vary depending upon the number of intended uses of the garment. For example the undergarment may be designed for single use, being a disposable garment, or for multiple uses, being a washable garment, wherein the disposable garment may be made from an inferior quality material to that of the multiple use garment.

Advantageously the material may be elasticated or contain elastic fibres for enhanced flexibility and comfort in use.

The garment may be openable from the users front in use, in order that the undergarment may be opened whilst the user is lying on their back and/or genitals accessed easily for washing or urination.

The front and rear panels are joined together by the temporary connection means which may be envisaged in preferred embodiments to be embodied by temporary fasteners such as buttons, hook and eye paris, press fillings such as poppers, or hook and ioop tabs such as Velcro (Trade Mark).

It is envisaged that number of fasteners may vary depending upon distance from the waistband, wherein distance may vary depending upon size and style of the garment, depending on how high the waistband is situate on the user's torso in use.

Most preferably the rear panel may be shaped and dimensioned to extend around the user's waist so as to be on the user's front or stomach when fastened therefore ensuring the user may lie on their back with no interference from the fasteners and so that the user or a third party may easily open and close the garment.

The garment may fasten at the user's sides so as to be able to lay on their front or back without the fasteners causing minimal discomfort.

Garments may only be openable on one for example if the user has one damaged leg that cannot be bent.

The front panel may be fastened over the rear panel so that the front panel overlaps the rear panel although it is envisaged that the fasteners may be configured in opposite arrangements.

The garment may include more than one column of fasteners so as to allow size of the garment to be adjustable by extending the waist of the garment.

The garment may be adapted to fit male and female wearers with various sizes and styles available for example, boxer shorts, bikini briefs or V-fronts.

It is envisaged that the garment may be adapted to accept or include an absorbent lining br reasons of wound dressing, incontinence or menstrual bleeding therefore removing requirement for multiple items to be worn.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the garment with the genital region foremost and connection means open; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 laid out; Figure 3 shows a view of the rear panel of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 laid out; and Figure 5 shows a front view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured embodiment offers adaptive underwear for men such as briefs or trunks and women.

The garment has snap buttons 3 stitched into each panel 1, 2 peripheryto enable a user or a carer to put on the garment without the user having to bend down, or the carer to lean over and lift.

The side openings are positioned slightly towards the front of a user, between 1.5-2 inches, away from where a side seam would typically be positioned. This positioning serves two purposes; it makes it even easier to put the garment on or take the garment off, and it also prevents development of bedsores for the infirm or patients with permanent temporary mobility issues.

The snap buttons 3 have cotton Pining to the rear of the buttons 3 to prevent the buttons 3 coming into direct contact with skin.

For carets, be that professional nurses, other health professional or family looking after family, these underwear designs help ease the strain of helping someone get dressed, not to mention respecting the dignity of someone struggling with mobility for whatever reason.

For a user in a wheelchair or struggling with use of legs, the garment can be unbuttoned and unfolded onto a seating area wherein a carer could then simply sit the user down onto the unfolded garment, bring the sides back together and snap the connection means 3 closed, without being inhibited by the sides or arms of a chair, in almost all cases, and regarding most users and/or seats.

Strain on the carer is drastically reduced and the dignity of the user is maintained as far as possible.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention, Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.