US20100319103A1

US20100319103A1 - Sleepwear having a skirt

Info

Publication number: US20100319103A1
Application number: US12/801,757
Authority: US
Inventors: Carolyn W. Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-23
Filing date: 2010-06-23
Publication date: 2010-12-23

Abstract

Sleepwear that increases comfort and flexibility is disclosed. The sleepwear includes an upper garment and a skirt that allows movement of the body of a user without bunching of material or discomfort. The skirt includes a slit or a plurality of slits to allow movement of the fabric and to increase air flow over the body of the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sleepwear that incorporates comfort and less constriction into its design. More particularly, the present invention relates to sleepwear having a skirt allowing for improved comfort and movement.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

Currently, a large majority of sleepwear, especially for women, restricts movement and is uncomfortable. Consumers wear sleepwear to stay warm and for modesty, and rarely for comfort. Further, existing sleepwear inhibits air circulation across the body. Because current designs and construction are based on clothes worn during the day, the cut and fabric of sleepwear does not lend itself to its function, which is to allow a user to sleep without discomfort. These drawbacks especially are evident in nightgowns that are in one piece.
For example, when a user lifts her arms, the nightgown shifts or “rides up” the user's body. The user pushes the nightgown down to stay comfortable. Normal movement during sleep also causes nightgowns to shift uncomfortably so that constant adjustment takes place. These actions may be known as bunching up, binding or choking.
People also wear regular clothes, such as tee shirts and shorts, as sleepwear due to the uncomfortable nature of nightgowns and pajamas. This action also includes drawbacks as the clothes are worn down prematurely, and the clothes may not allow for the body and skin to breathe properly. Other users may wear pants as sleepwear, which also are uncomfortable. Pants ride up in the body or restrict movement of the legs while sleeping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, sleepwear is disclosed. The sleepwear includes an upper garment attached to a user at the shoulders and extending along the torso of the user to fall below a beltline of the user. The sleepwear also includes a skirt partially covered by the upper garment, and stitched such that the skirt extends away from the body of the user. The lower garment includes at least one opening, such as a slit.
Further according to the present invention, another sleepwear is disclosed. The sleepwear includes an upper garment. The sleepwear also includes a skirt positioned below the upper garment on a user. The skirt includes at least one slit extending from a bottom of the skirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of the specification. The drawings listed below illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention, as disclosed by the claims and their equivalents.

FIGS. 1A-B illustrate sleepwear according to the disclosed embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-B illustrate another version of sleepwear according to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates cut-away view of a skirt according to the disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present invention and their equivalents are devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present invention. It should be noted that like elements disclosed below are indicated by like reference numbers in the drawings.
FIG. 1A depicts sleepwear 100 according to the disclosed embodiments. Sleepwear 100 includes an upper garment 102 and a skirt 104. User 101 wears upper garment 102 and skirt 104 for sleep. Upper garment 102 hangs loose on shoulders 1012 of user 101. Upper garment 102 extends downward along the torso of user 101 to end approximately mid-thigh of user 101. Bottom portion 106 of upper garment 101 overlaps with the material of skirt 104. Upper garment 102 also includes sleeves 1022 that extend along the length of the arms of user 101.
Skirt 104 wraps around the waist of user 101 in a loose manner. Skirt 104 includes an aperture at the bottom such that there is no pant legs or crotch section. Panties or other fabric may be attached to skirt 104. Preferably, skirt 104 extends below the knee of user 101. Skirt 104 also includes slits 110 on the left and right sides. Slits 110 extend from bottom portion 108 of skirt 104 towards the mid-section of skirt 104. Preferably, slits 110 extend about 4 to 6 inches from bottom 108. FIG. 1A shows slits 110 on the right and left sides of skirt 104. Slits 110 are not limited to these locations and may be placed any place on skirt 104.
Slits 110 may be known as openings in skirt 104 that allow for movement by user 101. Slits 110 may be longer than slits on traditional skirts. The additional looseness of skirt 104 permits to move on the body of user 101, which lets air move over the skin of user 101. Skirt 104 also may include additional openings, such as a plurality of slits or apertures cut into skirt 104 that provides additional means for air to flow over the skin of user 101. All slits extend from the bottom hem line of skirt 104.
Upper garment 102 and skirt 104 preferably are made of a cotton fabric, or at least 80% cotton fabric if a blend. Cotton allows the skin of the user to breathe and is comfortable to the touch. Sleepwear 100 should be softer than everyday clothes. Sleepwear 100 may be in any color and include designs, patterns and the like.
FIG. 1B depicts another sleepwear 120 according to the disclosed embodiments. Sleepwear 120 includes upper garment 122 and skirt 124 on user 101. Sleepwear 120 resembles sleepwear 100 except in the design of upper garment 122 and skirt 124. Upper garment 120, for example, includes sleeves 1222 that are pulled back and secured above the elbows of user 101.
Skirt 124 differs from skirt 104 in that slits 130 do not extend as far as slits 110 from bottom portion 128. Bottom portions 110 and 128 may be comprised of softer fabric than the rest of skirts 104 and 124, respectively. Bottom portions 110 and 128 also may comprise elastic material to allow skirts 104 and 124 to stretch to accommodate movement of the legs of user 101. Bottom portions 110 and 128 also may comprise netting or other soft material with apertures to allow air to flow over the legs of user 101.
FIGS. 2A-B depict another sleepwear 200 according to the disclosed embodiments. Sleepwear 200 includes upper garment 202 and skirt 204. Upper garment 202 includes sleeves 2021. Sleeves 2021 may detach from upper garment 202 to provide additional flexibility and comfort. Sleepwear 200 also is comprised of 80-100% cotton fabric, such as in sleepwears 100 and 120.
Skirt 204 differs from skirts 104 and 124 in several respects. For example, skirt 204 includes a single slit 210. Slit 210 extends from bottom portion 214 to the mid-section of skirt 210. In this instance, slit 210 is located in center of the rear of skirt 204 and extends about ⅓^rdof length of skirt 204. Slit 210 allows movement and air flow for the body of user 201.
Skirt 204 also includes side section 206. Side section 206 extends the length of skirt 204 and adjoins the front and rear portions. Side section 206 may be about 1-2 inches in width. Side section 206 also may comprise softer material, or at least material softer than skirt 204. For example, side section 206 may comprise 100% cotton will the rest of skirt 204 comprises a blend of 80% cotton. Alternatively, side section 206 may include apertures or holes to allow skirt 204 to stretch and retract as user 201 moves.
Skirt 204 further includes band 212. Band 212 may be located at the top of skirt 204. Band 212 may be elastic or other material to secure skirt 204 to user 201. Band 212 also may include particular stitching that flares skirt 204 away from the lower body of user 201. These features are disclosed in greater detail below. Band 212 also may be any item that secures skirt 204 to user 201, such as a belt, sash, rope, ribbon and the like.
Slit 210 of skirt 204 would not be appropriate on known skirts as it would reveal too much of the body of user 201. Further, slit 210 may include a border of elastic material to allow slit 210 to stretch. Slit 210 also may be adjustable via strips 220. Strips 220 may have hooks, such as Velcro™, to allow strips to connect and disconnect as needed. Alternatively, strips 220 may include other attaching means to vary the length. This feature allows the length of slit 210 to be adjusted as needed. Thus, a user may lengthen slit 210 during warmer weather to allow more air flow in sleepwear 200.
FIG. 3 depicts a cut-away view of skirt 204 according to the disclosed embodiments. FIG. 3 provides a closer view of band 212 and that portion of skirt 204 that keeps the material away from body 201. Band 212 may comprise upper part 302 and firm portion 306. Upper part 302 may comprise the same material of skirt 204, or, alternatively, may be a different or softer material. Firm portion 306 comprises a stitched pattern that makes this portion firmer, or less supple or bendable, than the rest of skirt 204. For example, an oversewing stitch may be used to make firm portion 306 less supple than skirt 204. Firm portion 306 also may comprise material that is not at least 80% cotton.
Firm portion 306 helps extend skirt 204 away from the body of user 201. Band 212 also includes directing portion 304 that lifts or directs firm portion 306 away from user 201. Thus, firm portion 306 may be at an angle from user 201, such as a range of about 20-45 degrees. Directing portion 304 is comprised of hard or inelastic material. Directing portion 304 may still be at least 80% cotton but formed in such a way to not allow much movement on the body of user 201. For example, directing portion 304 may be a string sewed or attached to firm portion 306. Directing portion 304 then directs firm portion 306, and, in turn, skirt 204 away from user 201.
Use of band 212 creates air passage 310 between user 201 and skirt 204. Air flows and at least stays in contact via air passage 310 with body 310 while sleepwear 200 is worn. The angle made by directing portion 304 may determine the size of any air passage 310. The angle may vary as desired. Air passage 310 may extend over the body of user 201 to outside air accessible by slit 210.
Band 212 and its accompanying parts may be incorporated into skirts 104 and 124 as well. Band 212 is not limited to use within skirt 204. Further, band 212 may be coupled to a belt, ropes, sash and the like to further keeps this part of the skirt secure with the body of the user. Alternatively, band 212 may include a plurality of firm portions that provide structure to skirt 204 so that it does not bunch or rise up on the user.
Thus, the disclosed embodiments allow a user to raise their arms and move their body without causing the upper garment or skirt to rise up or bind on the body. Further, air may circulate over the user's body to permit the skin to breathe. Because of the stitching associated with the skirt, the sleepwear does not stick or cling to the user's body.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the disclosed embodiments of the privacy card cover without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of the embodiments disclosed above provided that the modifications and variations come within the scope of any claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. Sleepwear comprising:

an upper garment attached to a user at the shoulders and extending along the torso of the user to fall below a beltline of the user; and

a skirt partially covered by the upper garment, and stitched such that the skirt extends away from the body of the user, wherein the lower garment includes at least one opening.

2. The sleepwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is a slit extending from a bottom hem line of the skirt.

3. The sleepwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening includes a first slit on first side and extending from a bottom hem line of the skirt, and a second slit on a second side and extending from the bottom hem line of the skirt.

4. The sleepwear of claim 1, further comprising a belt or string attachable to a top portion of the skirt.

5. The sleepwear of claim 1, wherein the skirt is comprised of a fabric comprised of at least 80% cotton.

6. The sleepwear of claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the upper garment is in contact with the skirt on or about a mid-thigh area of the user.

7. The sleepwear of claim 1, wherein the skirt includes a band encircling the top of the skirt such that the skirt extends away from the body of the user.

8. The sleepwear of claim 7, wherein the band is up to 1 inch in width.

9. Sleepwear comprising:

an upper garment; and

a skirt positioned below the upper garment on a user, wherein the skirt includes at least one slit extending from a bottom portion of the skirt.

10. The sleepwear of claim 9, wherein the skirt includes a band encircling a top of the skirt.

11. The sleepwear of claim 9, wherein the band includes a firm portion stitched differently than the skirt.

12. The sleepwear of claim 11, wherein the band includes a directing portion coupled to the firm portion to direct the firm portion away from the body of the user.

13. The sleepwear of claim 12, further comprising an air passage between the user and the skirt, wherein the air passage is formed by the directing portion.

14. The sleepwear of claim 9, wherein the bottom portion comprises material having a softer blend than the skirt.

15. The sleepwear of claim 9, wherein the skirt includes a side portion extending a length of the skirt.

16. The sleepwear of claim 9, wherein the at least one slit is adjustable in length.