GB2555158A

GB2555158A - Item of clothing with front and rear openings

Info

Publication number: GB2555158A
Application number: GB1710669.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wood Audrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-07-01
Filing date: 2017-07-03
Publication date: 2018-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-03
Also published as: GB2551832A; GB2555158B; GB201710669D0; GB201611526D0

Abstract

An item of clothing 1 comprises a front panel 2 and a back panel 3, arm holes 6 and a neck hole 12. The front panel includes a front opening 8 extending from the neck hole towards a bottom edge. The back panel includes a back opening 13 extending from the neck hole towards a bottom edge of the back panel, the length of the opening in the back panel from the neck hole towards the bottom edge of the back panel being at least a third of the length of the back panel from said neck hole to said bottom edge. Both the front and back openings are provided with primary closing means 9-10, 14-15 which provide for the selective opening and closing of the said front and back openings. Preferably the clothing further comprises a secondary closure means 16 in the form of a flap with popper fasteners which serves as a stopper for the zipper 15. In use the garment assists a disabled person or a person with limited mobility, for example in a wheelchair, in dressing.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Audrey Wood

Silverdale Drive, Winlaton, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE21 6EN, United Kingdom (51) INT CL:

A41D 13/12 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited:

CN 204579967 U RU 002627206 C1 US 1766272 A US 20010044948 A1 (58) Field of Search:

INT CLA41B, A41D Other: WPI, EPODOC

A41D3/00 (2006.01)

JP 2001348706 A US 4644590 A US 20100299803 A1 (72) Inventor(s):

Audrey Wood (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Hargreaves Elsworth

Northumberland Square, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE30 1PW, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Item of clothing with front and rear openings Abstract Title: Garment with Front and Rear Openings (57) An item of clothing 1 comprises a front panel 2 and a back panel 3, arm holes 6 and a neck hole 12. The front panel includes a front opening 8 extending from the neck hole towards a bottom edge. The back panel includes a back opening 13 extending from the neck hole towards a bottom edge of the back panel, the length of the opening in the back panel from the neck hole towards the bottom edge of the back panel being at least a third of the length of the back panel from said neck hole to said bottom edge. Both the front and back openings are provided with primary closing means 9-10, 14-15 which provide for the selective opening and closing of the said front and back openings. Preferably the clothing further comprises a secondary closure means 16 in the form of a flap with popper fasteners which serves as a stopper for the zipper 15. In use the garment assists a disabled person or a person with limited mobility, for example in a wheelchair, in dressing.

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Item of Clothing with Front and Rear Openings

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to clothing and in particular garments worn over the upper body, which comprise arm holes and an opening at the front.

Background of the Invention

Wearing clothes is practised by the vast majority of the human population, through physical need, that is to protect the body from weather, be that low temperatures, wind, rain or sun and also for aesthetic reasons.

Garments worn on the upper part of the body often include an opening that may be closed selectively extending from the top of the garment all or part way to the bottom of the garment.

There are numerous closing arrangements, such as buttons and button holes, toggles and loops, poppers, zips, hook and claw material, magnetic fasteners, lacing, etc.

In the case of a coat, the opening usually extends from the neck opening down to the bottom edge of the garment so that when the zip (or other closing arrangement) is undone the left hand and right hand sides of the garment may be moved apart, allowing access to arm holes. To put the garment on the wearer holds the garment up such that one of the arm holes is accessible. The wearer lifts one arm and reaches through one of the arm holes with that arm. The wearer then reaches back with the other arm and feels for the other arm hole with the hand of the other arm.

When the other arm hole has been located the wearer reaches through the other arm hole with the other arm, lifting the other arm up so that the other arm slides through the other arm hole.

Some garments will include a sleeve extending from each arm hole. When putting on a garment having arm holes and an opening to the front as described in the preceding paragraph, it follows that the arms will necessarily find their way into the sleeves.

The act of putting on a garment of the type described above is something that many people with restricted mobility find difficult.

In the case of wheel chair users, it can be extremely difficult for individuals to put on such garments, either by themselves or with the assistance of another person.

Removing the garment can be equally difficult since the act thereof requires the arms to be moved to a position in which the hand can retract through the arm hole.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a garment that is easier for the garment wearer or the garment wearer and an assistant to put on and take off.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide such a garment.

Summary of the invention

According to the invention there is provided an item of clothing comprising a front panel and a back panel, the item of clothing including arm holes and a neck hole, each of the arm holes and the neck holes being formed partially in each of the front and back panels, wherein the front panel includes a front opening extending from the neck hole towards a bottom edge of the front panel, the item of clothing characterised in that the back panel includes a back opening extending from the neck hole towards a bottom edge of the back panel, wherein the length of the opening in the back panel from the neck hole towards the bottom edge of the back panel is at least half the length of the back panel from said neck hole to said bottom edge, and wherein both the front and back openings are provided with primary closing means which provide for the selective opening and closing of the said front and back openings.

Preferably, the length of back opening from the neck is between one third and fifteen sixteenths of the length of the back panel, and more preferably between half and fifteen sixteenths or between three quarters and fifteen sixteenths of the length of the back panel and still more preferably the length of the back opening is approximately seven eighths of the length of the back panel.

The primary closing means is preferably a zipper. Alternatively, the primary closing means may comprise buttons and corresponding button holes, toggles and corresponding loops, two part poppers one on each side of the opening, two part magnetic fastening means each of the two parts being on respective sides of the opening, hook and claw material again located on respective sides of the opening, lacing or any other fastener suitable for fastening an opening of an item of clothing.

It may be desirable for the back opening to extend from the neck hole to the bottom edge of the back panel so that the back panel may be opened into two unconnected parts. In such an embodiment it is also desirable to provide a secondary closing means, which secondary closing means restricts opening of the primary closing means.

It is preferred that the secondary closing means extends up from the bottom edge of the back panel by a distance corresponding to not more than two thirds the length of the back panel from the bottom edge to the neck hole. Preferably, the secondary closing means extends from the bottom edge of the back panel by a distance corresponding to between one sixteenth and one half of the length of the back panel, and more preferably between one sixteenth and one third or between one sixteenth and one quarter of the length of the back panel and still more preferably by a distance of approximately one eighth of the length of the back panel.

The secondary closing means is preferably a hook and claw fastener where hook material is located to one side of the opening and claw material is located to the other side of the opening.

Alternatively, the secondary closing means may comprise a zipper, buttons and corresponding button holes, toggles and corresponding loops, two part poppers one on each side of the opening, two part magnetic fastening means each of the two parts being on respective sides of the opening, lacing or any other fastener suitable for fastening an opening of an item of clothing.

A part of the secondary closing means may be attached to a flap. The back panel may be provided with a flap to one or both sides of the opening. In one embodiment a flap is provided to one side of the opening and one part of the two part fastener is attached to the flap, the other part of the fastener being attached to the back panel on the other side of the opening. In another embodiment two flaps are provided one to each side of the opening and each of the two part fastening means is attached to respect one of the two flaps.

Typically, the front opening extends from the neck hole to the bottom edge of the front panel.

Where a person requires assistance to put on or take off the item of clothing according to the invention, the opening in the front panel is opened fully. The opening in the rear panel is opened either to the point where it terminates or to the point where the secondary closing means restricts further opening of the primary closing means of the back panel. The effect of this is to allow the distance between the arm holes to be increase very significantly. For example, where the opening in the back panel extends from the neck hole towards the bottom edge of the back panel by approximately seven eights of the length of the back panel, the distance between the arm holes may be increase by a factor of approximately 2.5.

When the item of clothing is in place, it is a simple task for the assistant to fasten up the rear opening primary fastening means. Where the primary fastening means is a zip, a cord may be attached so that where the person wearing the item of clothing has sufficient movement, the person may be able to fasten the primary fastening means of the back opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the Drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of an item of clothing according to the invention:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the item of clothing;

Figure 2 is a schematic rear view of the item of clothing shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic rear view of another item of clothing with the back open;

Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of another item of clothing; and

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of another item of clothing.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an item of clothing in the form of a coat 1. The coat 1 is closed at the rear and the front is partially open. The coat 1 has a front panel 2 and a back panel 3. The front panel 2 is joined to the back panel 3 along seams 4 at the sides of the panels. The coat 1 further comprises arms 5, each of which is attached to an arm hole 6 formed in the front and back panels 2, 3 respectively.

The front panel 2 includes a front opening 8, which is provided with a primary closing means 9 in the form of a zip 10. The zip 10 extends from a bottom edge 11 of the front panel to a neck hole 12 formed partially in the front panel and partially in the back panel. A collar 7 surrounds the neck hole 12.

The back panel 3 also comprises a primary opening 13.

Referring now to Figure 2, a rear view of the coat 1 shows the back panel 3 in greater detail, with the open configuration. The back panel 3 includes a back opening 13, which is provided with a primary closing means in the form of a zipper, which comprises two sets of zipper teeth 14 each set located on respective parts of the back panel 3 and a zipper slider 15 which slides on the teeth. Moving the zipper slider 15 from the neck hole towards the bottom edge 11 of the coat 1 moves the zipper teeth 14 apart, opening the coat, whereas moving the zipper slider 15 from the bottom edge 11 towards the neck hole 12 brings the zipper teeth 14 together closing the coat.

The back opening 13 is provided with a secondary closing means, which in the present embodiment is in the form of a flap 16. One side of the flap 16 is attached to the outside of the back panel 3 to one side of the zipper for example by sewing the flap to the back panel 3, whereas the other side of the flap is releasable attachable to the outside of the back panel 3 to the other side of the zipper. A fastening means is provided to fasten the left hand side of the flap 16 releasably to the back panel 3. As can be seen in the figure, the flap 16 is provided with popper fasteners 17 which are releasably attachable to mating popper fastener elements (not shown) attached to the back panel 3.

The secondary closing means provides a stop for the zipper slider 15, preventing the opening in the back panel 13 from being opened fully and the back panel 3 separating into two parts. In most circumstances when person having reduced mobility is putting the coat 1 on it is undesirable for the back opening to be opened fully as inserting the zipper teeth into the zip slider can be troublesome. By providing a secondary closing means the zipper slider is placed conveniently for the fastening of the zipper. With the provision of a primary closing means that extends from the neck hole to the bottom edge 11 it is however possible to separate the coat into two pieces, which in some circumstances may be desirable.

In another embodiment, having primary and secondary closing means with the back panel configured so that it may open into two separated parts the primary closing means closes one part of the opening and the secondary closing means the remaining part of the opening. In the

Figure 2 example, instead of the zipper teeth 14 extending to the bottom edge 11 they may terminate in the region of the upper most part of the secondary closing means, that being the flap in this example.

Figure 3 illustrates an item of clothing very similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the difference being that the item of clothing shown in Figure 3 does not include a secondary closing means and the primary closing means terminates at a distance above the bottom edge 11.

Figure 4 illustrates another item of clothing. Again this is very similar to the items of clothing shown in Figures 1 to 3. The item of clothing illustrated in Figure 4 differs in that it does not comprise sleeves, and has a hood 18 which is releasably attachable to the neck by means of mating popper fasteners 19, 20. The hood 18 may be in two halves connectable one to another by a suitable faster or the hood 18 may be a one part element.

Figure 5 illustrates yet another item of clothing. This differs from the items of clothing illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 in that it comprises an integral hood which is formed in two halves 18’ and 18”. The back opening 13 and the primary closing means associated therewith extend through the hood to the front edge 21 thereof. The item of clothing is used in the same way as the items of clothing illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, save that the primary closing means is longer.

The item of clothing of the invention makes putting on and taking off a garment significantly easier for individuals with reduced mobility in the upper body and assistants to such individuals. Such reduced mobility may be temporary, following an accident for example, or permanent.

Claims

1. An item of clothing comprising a front panel and a back panel, the item of clothing including arm holes and a neck hole, each of the arm holes and the neck hole being formed partially in each of the front and back panels, wherein the front panel includes a front opening extending from the neck hole towards a bottom edge of the front panel, the item of clothing characterised in that the back panel includes a back opening extending from the neck hole towards a bottom edge of the back panel, wherein the length of the opening in the back panel from the neck hole towards the bottom edge of the back panel is at least one third the length of the back panel from said neck hole to said bottom edge, and wherein both the front and back openings are provided with primary closing means which provide for the selective opening and closing of the said front and back openings.

2. An item of clothing according to Claim 1, wherein the length of back opening from the neck is between one third and fifteen sixteenths of the length of the back panel.

3. An item of clothing according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the length of the opening in the back panel from the neck hole towards the bottom edge of the back panel is at least one half the length of the back panel from said neck hole to said bottom edge

4. An item of clothing according to any preceding claim, wherein the length of back opening from the neck is between half and fifteen sixteenths or between three quarters and fifteen sixteenths of the length of the back panel.

5. An item of clothing according to Claim 1, wherein the length of the back opening is approximately seven eighths of the length of the back panel.

6. An item of clothing according to any preceding claim, wherein the primary closing means is one of: a zipper, buttons and corresponding button holes on respective sides of the opening, toggles and corresponding loops on respective sides of the opening, two part poppers one on each side of the opening, two part magnetic fastening means each of the two parts being on respective sides of the opening, hook and claw material again located on respective sides of the opening and lacing.

7. An item of clothing according to Claim 1, wherein the back opening extends from the neck hole to the bottom edge of the back panel so that the back panel may be opened into two unconnected parts.

8. An item of clothing according to Claim 7, further comprising a secondary closing means, which secondary closing means selectively closes and opens a lower part of the back panel

9. An item of clothing according to Claim 8, wherein the secondary closing means extends up from the bottom edge of the back panel by a distance corresponding to not more than half the length of the back panel from the bottom edge to the neck hole.

10. An item of clothing according to Claim 9, wherein the secondary closing means extends from the bottom edge of the back panel by a distance corresponding to between one sixteenth and one half of the length of the back panel, or by a distance corresponding to between one sixteenth and one third or between one sixteenth and one quarter of the length of the back panel.

11. An item of clothing according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the secondary closing means extends from the bottom edge of the back panel by a distance corresponding to by a distance of approximately one eighth of the length of the back panel.

12. An item of clothing according to any of Claims 8 to 11, wherein the secondary closing means is one of: a hook and claw fastener where hook material is located to one side of the opening and claw material is located to the other side of the opening, a zipper teeth to each side of the opening, buttons and corresponding button holes to respective sides of the opening, toggles and corresponding loops to respective sides of the opening, two part poppers one on each side of the opening, two part magnetic fastening means each of the two parts being on respective sides of the opening, or lacing.

13. An item of clothing according to any of Claims 8 to 12, wherein the secondary closing means is attached to a flap.

14. An item of clothing according to Claim 13, wherein the back panel is provided with a flap to one or both sides of the opening.

15. An item of clothing according to Claim 14, wherein a flap is provided to one side of the opening and one part of the two part fastener is attached to the flap, the other part of the fastener being attached to the back panel on the other side of the opening.

16. An item of clothing according to Claim 15, wherein two flaps are provided, one to each side of the opening and each of the two part fastening means is attached to respect one of the two flaps.

17. An item of clothing according to any of Claims 8 to 16, wherein the primary closing means extends beyond the upper extent of the secondary closing means and the secondary closing means restricts opening of the primary closing means.

18. An item of clothing according to any preceding claim, wherein the front opening extends from the neck hole to the bottom edge of the front panel.

19. An item of clothing according to any preceding claim and further including a hood, the hood in the form of a single component that is at least partially releasable from the item of clothing in the region of the neck hole.

20. An item of clothing according to any of Claims 1 to 19, and further including a hood, the hood integral with the item of clothing and in two parts and wherein the primary closing means of the opening in the back panel extends beyond the neck hole and between the two parts of the hood, releasably attaching the said two parts together.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1710669.1 Examiner: Mr Chris Morris