U.S. patent application number 15/141450 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-03 for easy access garment.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nancy E. STRAUGHAN. Invention is credited to Nancy E. STRAUGHAN.
Application Number | 20160316832 15/141450 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57203902 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160316832 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STRAUGHAN; Nancy E. |
November 3, 2016 |
EASY ACCESS GARMENT
Abstract
Easily wearable and removable garments are disclosed. The
garments are designed to be easily put on and removed by a wearer
having a condition, such as a shoulder, neck, or back injury that
causes the wearer difficulty in putting on or removing a
conventional torso-covering garment. The garments disclosed may be
comprised of a neckline, left and right shoulder portions, left and
right fastening devices configured to allow opening and closing of
a corresponding shoulder separation, a back portion, and a back
fastening device configured to allow opening and closing of the
back separation. The garments disclosed allow a health care
professional, such as a physician or physical therapist, to easily
access a wearer's injury to examine or provide treatment to the
wearer.
Inventors: |
STRAUGHAN; Nancy E.;
(Charles Town, WV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STRAUGHAN; Nancy E. |
Charles Town |
WV |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57203902 |
Appl. No.: |
15/141450 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62153607 |
Apr 28, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 2300/322 20130101;
A41D 13/1245 20130101; A41B 1/10 20130101; A41B 2400/70 20130101;
A41B 2400/44 20130101; A41D 13/129 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/12 20060101
A41D013/12; A41B 1/10 20060101 A41B001/10 |
Claims
1. A garment comprising: a neckline; left and right shoulder
portions, each shoulder portion having a shoulder separation that
extends from the neckline along the shoulder separation; left and
right fastening devices, each fastening device configured to allow
opening and closing of a corresponding shoulder separation; a back
portion having a back separation that extends from the neckline
along the back portion; and a back fastening device configured to
allow opening and closing of the back separation.
2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the left fastening
device comprises a zipper and the right fastening device comprises
a zipper.
3. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the back fastening
device comprises a zipper.
4. The garment according to claim 1 further comprising left and
right sleeves, wherein the left sleeve comprises a left elbow
portion, and the left shoulder separation extends from the neckline
to just above the left elbow portion, and wherein the right sleeve
comprises a right elbow portion, and the right shoulder separation
extends from the neckline to just above the right elbow
portion.
5. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the back separation
extends from a back center of the neckline to the bottom of the
garment.
6. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the left fastening
device, the right fastening device, and the back fastening device
are configured to engage and disengage while a wearer of the
garment is substantially motionless.
7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a
shirt.
8. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder
separations and the back separation may be opened or closed
independently of one another.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 62/153,607, filed Apr. 28, 2015, whose
disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into
the present disclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a garment, such as a shirt,
sweatshirt, or jacket. In particular, the present invention relates
to a torso-covering garment designed to be easily put on and
removed by a wearer having a condition, such as a shoulder, neck,
or back injury that causes the wearer difficulty in putting on or
removing a conventional torso-covering garment. The present
invention also relates to a garment that allows a health care
professional, such as a physician or physical therapist, to easily
access a wearer's injury to examine or provide treatment to the
wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention may include a garment to be worn by a wearer,
particularly a wearer having a shoulder, neck, or back injury; and
more particularly, a wearer having injuries in both shoulders. The
invention eliminates the wearer's fear associated with putting on
or removing the garment.
[0004] In exemplary uses of the invention, the invention may allow
a physician to easily access a wearer's injury to perform
examination, surgery, or other treatment. The invention may further
allow a physical therapist to easily access a wearer's injury to
provide treatment. The invention may further allow an in-home
caregiver to easily access a wearer's injury to provide assistance
such as changing dressing on a wound, applying creams, or applying
heat or ice. The invention may provide a wearer with a garment that
can be easily put on or removed with minimal movement, thereby
eliminating the risk of pain or further injury to the wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, in which the left shoulder separation
is open;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, in which the left and right shoulder
separations are open;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a back view of a garment in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, in which the back separation is
closed;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a back view of a garment in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, in which the back separation is
open;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a back view of a garment in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, in which the right shoulder separation
and the back separation are open;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, in which the left shoulder separation
is open and a wearer's shoulder is easily accessible;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, in which the back separation is open,
enabling a wearer to easily put on or remove the garment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated
in FIGS. 1-8 includes a shirt 10 designed to be worn by a wearer
having an injury, such as a shoulder, neck, or back injury. The
shirt 10 includes a front portion 11, a back portion 12, an inside
portion 13 configured to face the wearer's body, and an outside
portion 14 configured to face the wearer's environment. The shirt
10 further includes a neckline 15, left and right shoulder portions
16, and left and right elbow portions 17. A shoulder separation 21
is provided in each of the shoulder portions 16, the shoulder
separation 21 extending from a side of the neckline 15 to just
above a corresponding elbow portion 17. A fastening device 31, such
as a zipper, is provided to allow for opening and closing of the
shoulder separation 21. The shirt 10 may include left and right
sleeves 18, each sleeve 18 extending any appropriate length from a
wearer's shoulder down to, and including, the wearer's wrist.
[0014] FIG. 2 provides an illustration of the invention in which
the left shoulder separation 21 is open. FIG. 3 provides an
illustration of the invention in which both left and right shoulder
separations 21 are open. When at least one of the shoulder
separations 21 is open (e.g., when at least one of the shoulder
portion zippers is unzipped), a health care professional, such as a
physician or physical therapist, may easily access the wearer's
injury. The invention allows for such access without requiring the
wearer to remove the shirt 10. Accordingly, the invention provides
more timely access to the wearer's injury, and eliminates pain or
further injury that might result from the wearer's removal of the
shirt 10, for instance, due to movement of the wearer's shoulders.
In addition, the invention allows the wearer to undergo surgery,
examination, in-home care, or to receive other medical or
therapeutic treatment, while remaining clothed. The invention,
therefore, eliminates the wearer's fear or discomfort associated
with removing his or her clothing in order to undergo examination
or treatment. Moreover, while oth left and right shoulder
separations 21 are open, the shirt 10 may be removed from the
wearer by sliding it down the wearer's body and stepping through.
Thus, during removal, the wearer is not required to move his or her
arms behind his or her body, as is the case with conventional
front-opening style garments. FIG. 7 provides an illustration of
the invention in which the left shoulder separation 21 is open,
such that a wearer's left shoulder is easily accessible.
[0015] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, an exemplary embodiment of
the invention further includes a back separation 22 extending from
the back center of the neckline 15 to a bottom of the shirt 10, for
instance, a waistline 19. A fastening device 32, such as a zipper,
is provided to allow for opening and closing of the back separation
22. Other fastening devices 32 known to those of skill in the art,
such as clips or Velcro may be also used.
[0016] When the back separation 22 is open (e.g., when the back
zipper is unzipped), as illustrated in FIG. 5, the wearer may
easily put on or remove the shirt 10, while his or her arms remain
comfortably disposed near the front of his or her body. In putting
on or removing the shirt 10, the wearer is not required to raise
his or her arms, rotate his or her shoulders, or struggle to pull
the shirt 10 over his or her head, as is the case with conventional
pull-over style garments. Furthermore, the wearer is not required
to move his or her arms behind his or her body, as is the case with
conventional front-opening style garments. By significantly
reducing the amount of movement the wearer must perform in order to
put on or remove the shirt 10, the invention significantly reduces
the pain, and risk of further injury, associated with putting on or
removing the shirt 10. FIG. 8 provides an illustration of the
invention in which the back separation 22 is open, such that a
wearer may easily put on or remove the shirt 10.
[0017] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, each of the
shoulder separations 21 and the back separation 22 may be easily
opened or closed by disengaging or engaging the shoulder and back
fastening devices 31, 32. For example, a health care professional,
or other individual, may assist the wearer in opening or closing
any of the separations, without requiring movement by the wearer.
FIG. 6 provides an illustration of the invention in which the left
shoulder separation 21 and the back separation 22 are open, but the
right shoulder separation 21 is closed. Each of the shoulder
separations 21 and the back separation 22 may be opened or closed
independently of one another.
[0018] Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the
disclosed invention have been specifically described herein, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention
pertains that variations and modifications of the various
embodiments shown and described herein may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly,
it is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent
required by the applicable rules of law.
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