US20100180359A1

US20100180359A1 - Minimum clothing for spas and clinics

Info

Publication number: US20100180359A1
Application number: US12/321,558
Authority: US
Inventors: Elaine Andrews
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-22
Filing date: 2009-01-22
Publication date: 2010-07-22
Also published as: CA2750270A1; CN102361563A; WO2010085558A1

Abstract

A spa or clinic clothing comprises biodegradable, hypoallergenic, non-transparent patches to cover the breasts of females and the genitals of males and females. Each patch is equipped with fashion tape along its edges to secure them to the skin a user for a single use. After one use lasting no more than a few hours, the patches are discarded. Fabric versions of the cloth patches have stitched edges, darts, and liners. Paper, Lyocell versions have multiple layers and finished edges.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to clothing, and in particular to minimal clothing to cover the genitals and female breasts of spa users and clinic patients.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Robes and sheets are often used in clinics and spas to allow some modesty for the users when they must encounter professionals, patients, and other strangers. Wearing underwear or swimsuits underneath or alone is not an option because these cover too much and often impede access by the professional to the areas of the skin to be treated. But no access or exposure of the genitals and female breasts of spa users and clinic patients is ever needed in such situations.
Fears of unintentional exposure of the genitals or female breasts are reasons some spa users do not ask for whole body massages. If these areas could be covered by some sort of minimal clothing, then the spa users could confidently ask for massages of parts of the body that are left exposed and not covered.
Conventional transparent undergarments made from polypropylene plastic have sides and straps that interfere with massages, and are not biodegradable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, a clothing embodiment of the present invention comprises biodegradable non-transparent fabric cloth patches to cover the breasts of females and the genitals of males and females. Each patch is equipped with a high-tack painless adhesive along its edges to secure them to the skin a user for a single use. After one use lasting no more than a few hours, the patches are discarded as biodegradable waste. Fabric versions of the cloth patches have stitched edges, darts, and liners. Paper versions have multiple layers and finished edges.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments that are illustrated in the various drawing figures.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D are front and rear views of a female user wearing a clothing embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1A and 1C show the stitching visible on the outside, and FIGS. 1B and 1D show the painless adhesive strips and comfort liners on the inside;

FIGS. 2A-2C are diagrams of a spa clothing embodiment of the present invention, showing two different tops in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and a cross section view of a bottom in FIG. 2C;

FIGS. 3A-3D are front, rear, and inside view diagrams of a thong-type female brief embodiment of the present invention, and a peel-away tab is shown half-off in FIG. 3D;

FIGS. 4A-4C are inside, front, and rear view diagrams of a male brief embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-5B are outside and inside views of the bottom part of a spa bikini embodiment of the present invention for a female user;

FIGS. 6A-6D are outside and inside views of the top two parts of a spa bikini embodiment of the present invention for a female user; and

FIGS. 7A-7B are outside and inside views of a spa bikini brief embodiment of the present invention for a male user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1A-1D represents a clothing embodiment of the present invention, herein referred to by the general reference numeral 100. Clothing 100 comprises cloth patches 101-103 to cover the breasts of females and the genitals of males and females. Only biodegradable non-transparent fabrics are used throughout. For example, Lyocell is a fiber made from wood pulp cellulose in the United States by Lenzing Inc. (Axis, Ala.), and is marketed under the trademark, TENCEL. The Federal Trade Commission defines Lyocell as a cellulose fabric that is obtained by an organic solvent spinning process, and is classified in a sub-category of rayon.
Each patch 101-103 is equipped with a high-tack painless adhesive strips 104-106 along its edges to secure them to the skin a user 108 for a single use. Such tapes are otherwise commonly known as “fashion tape.” Darts can be included to help fit contours. Stitchings 110-112 are used to finish the edges, and elastic gathers 114 can be included. After one use lasting no more than a few hours, the patches 101-103 are discarded. Fabric versions of the cloth patches have stitched edges, darts, and liners. Paper versions have multiple layers and finished edges.
The high-tack painless adhesive strips 104-106 are peel-off, pressure sensitive types that can be based on 2-octyly-cyanoacrylate type medical tissue adhesives. A LEUKO spray tissue adhesive, and NILTAC or LEUKO tape remover can be used to assist application and removal of the clothing 100.
The high-tack painless adhesive strips 104-106 are necessarily configured to contact areas of the user's skin with little or no hair, e.g., above and outside the normal line of pubic hair, outside the areola, and above the natal cleft. Adhesive contact with large hairs or excessive numbers of hairs can exacerbate any otherwise minimal pain when removing the clothing.
FIGS. 2A-2C represents a spa clothing embodiment of the present invention, herein referred to by the general reference numeral 200. Spa clothing 200 comprises decorative cloth patches 201-203 to cover the breasts of females and the genitals of males and females. Each patch 201-203 is equipped with a high-tack painless adhesive strips 204-206 along its edges to secure them to the skin a user 208 for a single use. Stitchings 210-211 are used to finish the edges in the form of flower petals, for example. A thin, absorbent liner 214 is included and can be edged with elastic gathers. The spa clothing is discarded after one use lasting no more than a few hours. A minimal number of different sizes should fit nearly all users because there are no straps or belts used.
Biodegradable and disposable paper or fabric cloth is a good material to use in all the embodiments described here since it can be inexpensive, hypo-allergenic, inherently hygienic, and environmentally sustainable “green” product. A similar material is used in disposable baby diapers.
FIGS. 3A-3D represents a thong-type female brief embodiment of the present invention, herein referred to by the general reference numeral 300. Female brief 300 comprises a decorative front panel 302, a plain panel 304, a piping 306, and frills 308 visible from the outside. On the inside, a peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive strip 310 is attached to the top edge of a comfort panel layer 312. A pad 314 is located below and connects to an inner liner 316. On the far end inside, another peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive strip 318 is attached to the top edge of the distal end. This distal end is intended to tape on the skin of a user above the natal cleft. A peel-off tab 320 is shown as being halfway peeled off to expose the tissue adhesive underneath in preparation for use.
FIGS. 4A-3D represents a male brief embodiment of the present invention, herein referred to by the general reference numeral 400. Male brief 400 comprises a cup panel 402, a plain panel 404, a front edging 406, and a rear edging 408 visible from the outside. On the inside, a peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive strip 410 is attached to the top edge of cup panel 402. On the far end inside, another peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive strip 412 is attached to the top edge of the distal end. This distal end is intended to tape on the skin of a user above the natal cleft, as in FIG. 4C.
FIGS. 5A-5B represent the bottom part of a spa bikini embodiment of the present invention for a female user, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral 500. Bottom 500 is general constructed of a soft fabric strip with wide ends for the tops of the front and back. A front panel 502 and a back panel 504 are joined by a middle part 506 with elastic gathers. An absorbent comfort liner 508 reinforces the inside part of the middle 506 and is secured by flaps 510 and 512 and stitching 514, 516, 518, and 520. Decorations, like sequins or hotel logo “Fairmont” 522 can be applied. A brand name 524 can also help identify the product source in the commercial market, e.g., Spa-Kini.
Peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 526 and 528 are used to firmly attach the bottom 500 to the skin of a user. In one embodiment, these peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 526 and 528 are intended for one-time use and the bottom 500 is disposable.
FIGS. 6A-6B represent the left and right top parts of a spa bikini embodiment of the present invention for a female user, and are referred to herein by the general reference numerals 600 and 601. Tops 600 and 601 are generally constructed of four half-moon shaped soft fabric patches 602-605 joined together horizontally across the middle to form two round shapes to fit over the breasts of a female user. Stitching 606-611 is used on fold over flap edges 612-615. Decorations 616-617 and the basic color of patches 602-605 can be selected to match the bottom part, like in FIGS. 5A-5B, to make a matching set.
Peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 618-621 are used to firmly attach the tops 600 and 601 to the skin of a female user. In one embodiment, these peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 600 and 601 are intended for one-time use and the tops 600 and 601 are disposable.
FIGS. 7A-7B represent a spa bikini brief embodiment of the present invention for a male user, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral 700. Brief 700 is general constructed of a soft fabric strip with wide ends for the tops of the front and back. Left and right front panels 702 and 704 are joined together by a dart 706 to form a pouch 708 in the middle. A rear panel 712 is joined by a seam 714. Stitchings 716-723 finish the edges. A brand name 724 can also help identify the product source in the commercial market, e.g., Spa-Kini. Decorations, like sequins or a hotel spa logo “Fairmont” 725 can be applied.
Referring now to FIG. 7B, on the inside of brief 700, seam 714 has a flap of material 728 that results from the stitching, as do flaps 730-734.
Peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 740-743 are used to firmly attach brief 700 to the skin of a user. In one embodiment, these peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 740-743 are intended for one-time use and brief 700 is disposable.
In general, embodiments of the present invention minimally protect the privacy of its wearers, allow access by masseuse to necessary parts of the body, are low cost and make biodegradable disposability practical and encourage widespread use, are comfortable to wear, hypoallergenic, and have a near universal fit for a wide variety of users.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alterations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after having read the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alterations and modifications as fall within the “true” spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A genital covering, comprising:

a front panel for covering the pubic area of a user;

an extension from the bottom of the front panel for covering and continuing over the natal cleft of said user;

a first peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive strip disposed on the top inside edge of the front panel; and

a second peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive strip disposed on the distal inside edge of the extension;

wherein, the first and second painless adhesive strips provide a one-time means for securing the genital covering to said user above and outside the pubic area and above said natal cleft.

2. The covering of claim 1, further comprising:

a biodegradable, hypoallergenic, non-transparent material used throughout for the front panel and extension.

3. The covering of claim 1, further comprising:

a fabric of Lyocell fiber used throughout for the front panel and extension.

4. The covering of claim 1, further comprising:

a strapless, universal fit configuration for use by a wide variety of users.

5. A minimal covering for a female, comprising:

a front panel for covering the pubic area of a user;

a first peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive strip disposed on the top inside edge of the front panel;

a pair of breast coverings;

a third and a fourth peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive strip disposed on the inside edges of the breast coverings;

wherein, the first and second painless adhesive strips provide a one-time means for securing the front panel and extension to said user above and outside the pubic area and above said natal cleft; and

wherein, the thirds and fourth painless adhesive strips provide a one-time means for securing the breast coverings around and outside the areola of said user.

6. The covering of claim 5, further comprising:

a biodegradable, hypoallergenic, non-transparent material used throughout for the front panel, extension, and pair of breast coverings.

7. The covering of claim 5, further comprising:

a fabric of Lyocell fiber used throughout for the front panel, extension, pair of breast coverings.

8. The covering of claim 5, further comprising:

a strapless, universal fit configuration for use by a wide variety of users.