GB2573760A

GB2573760A - Garment

Info

Publication number: GB2573760A
Application number: GB1807814.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elizabeth Joan Morgan Karen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-05-14
Filing date: 2018-05-14
Publication date: 2019-11-20
Also published as: GB201807814D0

Abstract

A garment (100) comprising a body portion (110), a neck opening (112) and one or more sleeves (114); at least one sleeve comprising an arm portion and a cuff portion (116); at least one fastening means (118) extending from the neck opening through an upper arm portion and through a lower arm portion of a sleeve; the fastening means (118) operable between an opened and a closed configuration; in an at least partially open configuration, the sleeves (114) and body portion (110) being conveniently removable from a person (figs. 2-3). Preferably the cuff portions comprise thumb holes (117) such that they can hold the garment in place on the wearer while it is open- this is of use to a menopausal woman having a hot flush because she can open up the garment easily without for example removing a seatbelt. The garment might also be advantageous to a disabled wearer, for infants, or for use for a surgery patient.

Description

GARMENT

The present invention relates to garments. Specifically, it relates to facilitating and accelerating the removal of garments from a wearer. The invention is advantageous especially where the wearer is: disabled, a child, post or pre operative, menopausal, and/or in a confined space restricting the wearer's movements.

Garments which have sleeves to cover the arms of a wearer are known. However, the sleeves of such garments, while fashionable and offering protection to the wearer are often difficult to move away from the arms and rest of the body when desired. It is often not practical due to environment or physical incapacity for a wearer to remove the garment from covering themselves. For example, if a menopausal woman is having a hot flush on a crowded bus, it is important for her to be able to remove an item of clothing quickly but it is undesirable for her to disrupt other passengers or endanger her safety.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an a garment comprising: a body portion, a neck opening and one or more sleeves; at least one sleeve comprising an arm portion and a cuff portion; at least one fastening means extending from the neck opening through an upper arm portion and through a lower arm portion of a sleeve; the fastening means operable between an opened and a closed configuration; and in an at least partially open configuration, the sleeves and body portion are substantially removable from a person.

Advantageously, the present invention can be substantially removed from a body with relative ease, simplicity and safely in a confined space. This allows the garment to be functional and useful to many wearers and their individual needs in various situations.

In an embodiment the sleeve portion further comprises an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion.

In an embodiment the fastening means are located on an upper side of the sleeves in use.

In an embodiment the cuff portions substantially retain the garment on a person when the fastening means is in an open configuration.

In an embodiment the garment comprises two sleeves.

In an embodiment the cuff portion comprises a thumb hole.

In an embodiment the garment is a top such as a blouse, t-shirt or shirt or outerwear such as a cardigan, jacket, coat or fleece or is a suit, uniform, dress type clothing.

In an embodiment the fastening means comprises a zipper and the zip further comprises a ring type pull tab.

The invention may be performed in various ways and embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the garment wherein the fastening means is in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the garment wherein the fastening means is in a partially open position;

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the garment wherein the fastening means is in an open position; and,

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the garment wherein the garment is a cardigan type garment and the fastening means are in a closed position.

Although the invention may be applied to the design of other types of garments, the invention will be described herein mainly as it relates to a cardigan garment.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a garment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The garment (100) comprises a body portion (110), a neck opening (112), sleeves (114) extending from the body and neck portion, cuff portions (116) located at the distal end of the sleeve portion with thumb holes (117) and fastening means (118) operable between a closed (Figure 1) and opened configurations (Figures 2 and 3) which are located on the sleeves and extend from the neck opening to the cuff portions. Specifically, Figure 1 shows the garment wherein the fastening means (118) are in a closed position, the fastening means (118) are fastened from the cuff portion (116) through the lower and upper sleeve portions (114) to the neck portion (112).

The garment (100) is capable of being substantially removable from a person when the fastening means (118) are in an opened configuration. The fastening means extend through and from the neck opening (112), through the sleeve portion (114) to the cuff portion, but not through the cuff (116). This allows the neck opening to divide and to separate and the body portion and sleeve portion to fall away from the person (Figure 2), whilst still being retained around the wrist of the person.

The garment (100) can likewise be partially removable from the person when one or more of the fastening mean (118) is in a partially opened configuration. For example, where the fastening means on only one sleeve is in the opened configuration, the garment may be substantially removable from one arm of a person. In another example, where fastening means on both sleeves are only in a partially opened configuration, such as when the fastening means (118) are only open through the upper arm portion of the sleeve and not the lower arm to the cuff, this can allow the garment to be substantially removed from a persons shoulders but retained around the cuff and lower arm portion.

The garment body portion (110) may take various shapes and sizes to suit the particular application e.g. being larger for larger persons, being constructed from more durable materials for harsher environments. The body portion may have additional fastening means and other elements in line with the particular type of garment. The construction of the sleeves (114) may be consistent with that of the body portion. The garment may have sleeves (114) of various legnths including upper and lower arm portions, such that the cuff portion (116) can be located at different positions on a wearers arm. In an embodiment the garment could be provided with one sleeve only or potentially more than two. Different garment types and fashion may be taken into account in the construction of the garment.

The fastening means (118) may be any suitable means and can include, but is not limited to, magnetic fastening arrangement, zip fastener arrangement, lacing, hook and loop fastening arrangement, elastic, toggle, popper etc. type arrangements. The fastening means are advantageously located on the upper in use side of the sleeves, such that when in the opened configuration the sleeve and body portion falls away from the person under the influence of gravity. The fastening means may be provided additionally with further operating means to improve usability e.g. ring type pull tab for zippers. The fastening means (118) can be operable in a direction from the neck opening (112) to the cuff portion (116), in a preferred embodiment for improved usability.

Referring specifically to Figure 2, there is illustrated a view of the garment (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the fastening means (118) is in an open position on one sleeve and a closed position on the other sleeve, in the open position the fastening means (118) is unfastened from the neck portion (112) through the upper and lower sleeve portions (114) to the cuff portion (116) and in the closed position the other fastening means (118) is fastened from the cuff portion (112) through the lower and upper sleeve portions (114) to the neck portion (112).

In an embodiment of the invention the garment (100) may be provide with the fastening means (118) on one sleeve (114) only.

Referring specifically to Figure 3, there is illustrated a view of the garment (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the fastening means (118) are in a closed position, the fastening means (118) is unfastened from the neck portion (112) through the upper and lower sleeve portions (114) to the cuff portion (116).

In an embodiment of the invention the garment (100) may additionally be retained around the waist of a person by the lower in use region (opposite end to the neck opening) of the body portion (110) in addition or separately to the cuff portions (116).

In an example of use of the garment (100), the garment may be worn by a menopausal woman on a crowded public transport. The garment (100) may start being worn with the fastening means (118) in a closed position, such that the garment has the appearance of ordinary clothing. If the woman then experiences a hot flush, she may quickly and with minimal disruption to accompanying passengers and without removing her seatbelt, unfasten the fastening means (118). Starting with one sleeve (114) then another, the fastening means may be moved into a partially open configuration i.e. halfway unfastened or opened configuration i.e. unfastened to the cuff (116). Once the fastening means are opened or partially open the body and sleeve portions will fall away from the neck opening (112) and the women allowing her to cool down. The garment will advantageously be retained around the wrist of the women such that the garment does not fall away completely and become soiled by contact with the ground. As the garment does not fall away completely, once the hot flush is over, the fastening means (118) can simply be refastened in the opposite manner to unfastening, the women may additionally place her thumbs in the thumb holes (117) of the cuff portion to aid with the fastening, such that the garment returns to its original appearance.

It will be appreciated that the garment of the present invention can be suitably modified for use in various circumstances, such as for menopausal women, person with physical disabilities, children and post and pre-operative patients amongst others. The advantages of the device are applicable and scalable to all challenges involving removal of garments from persons with specific requirements.

Index

100 - garment

110 - body portion

112 - neck opening

114 - sleeves

116 - cuff portion

117 - thumb hole

118 - fastening means

Claims

1. A garment (100) comprising:

a body portion (110), a neck opening (112) and one or more sleeves (114);

at least one sleeve comprising an arm portion and a cuff portion (116);

at least one fastening means (118) extending from the neck opening through the arm portion of a sleeve;

the fastening means (118) operable between an opened and a closed configuration; and in an at least partially open configuration, the sleeves (114) and body portion (110) are substantially removable from a person.

2. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sleeve (114) further comprises an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion.

3. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the fastening means (118) are located on an upper side of the sleeves in use.

4. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the fastening means (118) are operable in a direction from the neck opening (112) towards the cuff portion (116).

5. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the fastening means (118) divides the neck opening (112).

6. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the cuff portions (116) substantially retain the garment on a person when the fastening means (118) is in an open configuration.

7. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the garment comprises two sleeves (114).

8. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the cuff portion comprises a thumb hole (117).

9. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the garment is a top such as a blouse, t-shirt or shirt.

10. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the garment is outerwear such as a cardigan, jacket, coat or fleece.

11. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the garment is a suit, uniform, dress type clothing.

12. The garment as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the fastening means (118) comprises a zipper.

13. The garment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the zip further comprises a ring type pull tab.