GARMENT WITH PROTECTIVE FLAP

Abstract

A garment for a person may include a protective flap extending from the back side of the garment. When the protective flap is folded and the free end of the flap attached to the body of the garment, a protective pocket is formed into which the wearer's lower extremities may be inserted for warmth, support, or impact protection. The protective flap may be stowed by attachment of the flap's free end to the interior of the garment, thereby enabling the person's feet and legs to extend unencumbered from the bottom of the garment. In another example of a garment, the protective flap extends from a front side of the garment. The protective flap may optionally include at least one accessory pocket, and the garment may include retaining straps for holding an accessory against the garment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/495,288 filed Jun. 9, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to a garment for a person and more particularly to a sleeved garment with a foldable flap for protecting a person's lower torso, feet, and legs.

BACKGROUND

Garments made by fitting sleeves to blankets or sleeping bags are used for keeping infants warm and comfortable. Similar garments have also been used by adults engaged in sedentary activities such as reading or viewing television. While such a garment may be comfortable and convenient while the wearer is seated or reclining, the garment may surround the wearer's feet and legs and may interfere with walking or standing. A person may therefore prefer, for reasons of safety or unencumbered motion, to remove a sleeved blanket or similar garment before rising from a seated or reclining position.

Sleeved blankets and similar garments may be too casual in style for some people to feel comfortable wearing the garments in public. Sleeved blankets or sleeved sleep sacks for young children may be difficult to put on to a child and may need to be completely removed to enable a child's diaper to be changed or to position safety belts or other safety equipment around a child riding in a car or stroller. A movement-impaired adult seated in a wheelchair and wearing a sanitary garment may experience similar difficulties with sleeved blankets and similar garments. Furthermore, it may be difficult to find a conventional robe or coat that is long enough to cover the feet and legs of a seated person, but not too long to permit the person to stand up without tripping on the garment or stepping on the garment and damaging it.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention comprise a garment for a person. An example of an embodiment of the garment includes a front side having a bottom edge, a back side joined to the front side, and a protective flap extending from the back side, wherein the protective flap extends below the bottom edge of the front side when the protective flap is unfolded, the protective flap forms a protective pocket for covering the person's feet when the protective flap is folded upwards and removably attached to the back side, and the protective flap may be stowed inside the garment by attachment to the back side of the garment, thereby enabling the person's feet and legs to extend from the bottom edge of the garment. The front side of the garment may optionally include a left side flap and a right side flap, with the left side flap and the right side flap separable from one another. The protective flap may optionally include at least one accessory pocket.

Another example of an embodiment of the invention comprising a garment for a person includes a front side having a bottom edge, a back side joined to the front side, and a protective flap extending from the front side, wherein the protective flap extends below the bottom edge of the back side when the protective flap is unfolded, the protective flap forms a protective pocket for covering the person's feet when the protective pocket is folded upwards and removably attached to the front side, and the protective flap may be stowed inside the garment by attachment to the front side of the garment, thereby enabling the person's feet and legs to extend from the bottom edge of the garment. The garment embodiment of the invention may optionally further include a left side back flap and a right side back flap, the left side flap and right side flap being separable from one another. The protective pocket formed by folding the protective flap may optionally be open along a top side, a left side, and a right side of the protective pocket. Retaining straps attached to the back side of the garment may optionally be provided for holding an optional accessory against the garment. Retaining straps may optionally be attached to the protective flap on the garment. The garment may optionally include a drop flap attached to the back side. The drop flap may be lowered for the sanitary convenience of the person wearing the garment and raised to re-close the garment. An optional front flap may be provided for the sanitary convenience of a person wearing the garment, especially a male person. A garment embodiment of the invention may further optionally include a pair of shorts attached to the interior of the garment, for example the interior back side of the garment.

This section summarizes some features of the present invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and upon reference to the following drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of an embodiment of the invention comprising a child's robe;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the garment of FIG. 1, showing the left and right front flaps of the garment separated from one another to reveal an unfolded protective flap extending downward on the back of the garment;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the garment example of FIGS. 1-2, showing the left and right sides of the front of the garment partially separated from one another and the protective flap folded along an approximately horizontal fold line at the bottom of the garment to create a pocket for protecting the feet and legs of a person;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the invention representing an example of a child's coat in which pockets are formed on the outer rear surface of a protective flap so that the pockets are accessible on the front of the garment when the protective flap is folded up toward the top of the garment to form a pocket for covering the wearer's feet and legs;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an example of a garment for a person who may be seated for long periods of time, for example a person who uses a wheelchair, with the fold for the protective flap for the wearer's feet and legs folded up in the back (flap not visible in this view), and is further representative of an example of a dress in accord with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the garment example of FIG. 6, showing flaps on the left and right sides of the back of the garment partially separated from one another, revealing a garment body fitted with straps for retaining a cushion, heating pad, or massage pad, and the unfolded protective flap extending from the front side of the garment body;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a person wearing another example embodiment of the invention in which the front left and right sides of the garment may be opened, with the protective flap (not visible in this view) folded into and attached to the inner back surface of the garment so that the person's legs may extend unencumbered from the bottom of the garment; and

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the garment example of FIG. 8, showing a large opening on the back side of the garment revealed by partially unfolding a left back flap and a right back flap, and the protective flap for the wearer's feet and legs stowed against the back of the garment so a garment wearer may walk without stepping on the flap, and further illustrating an optional pair of shorts attached to the inside of the garment.

DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention comprise a garment having a foldable protective flap for covering the feet and legs of a person wearing the garment. In some embodiments of a garment, the protective flap is formed as an extension of the back side of a garment such as a shirt, dress, robe, or jacket. The protective flap may be folded by attaching the bottom end of the extended flap, also referred to as the free end of the flap, to a back surface of the garment with removable fasteners or ties, thereby forming a pocket along the lower portion of the garment. The feet and legs of the wearer may then be inserted into the pocket, thereby covering the front and back sides of the wearer's lower extremities. Alternately, the protective flap may extend from the front side of a garment and, after folding the bottom of the flap toward the top of the garment to form a pocket, detachably connect to the back side of the garment.

The free end of the protective flap may be easily and quickly detached from the rest of the garment to open up the pocket formed by the flap and permit the wearer's feet to be uncovered and extend unencumbered from the bottom of the garment. The detached end of the flap may then be refolded and stowed by being re-attached to the interior of the garment without having the wearer's feet and legs covered by the flap. The wearer may then move about freely or fold the flap to its stowed position to select a preferred degree of ventilation and thermal regulation without removing the garment.

The protective flap may include accessory pockets arranged for easy access when the flap is folded to form the pocket for the garment wearer's feet and legs. The protective flap and other parts of the garment may include a waterproof layer to prevent moisture from penetrating the garment, for example moisture leaking from a sanitary garment worn by a person using the garment. In some embodiments, the garment includes means for holding a cushion, massage device, heating pad, or other devices related to a person's medical therapy or comfort. For example, such devices may be used with the garment to provide medical treatment to a person suffering from poor circulation or to keep an infant warm. Some embodiments of the invention include panels or flaps which may be opened and closed to provide for the comfort and care of a person confined to a wheelchair.

Directions referenced herein are defined with “up” or “top” toward a wearer's head and “down” or “bottom” toward the wearer's feet. For example, the top of a garment embodiment refers to the highest part of a neckline. The bottom of a garment refers to an edge of the garment closest to the wearer's feet and may alternatively be defined by an approximately horizontal fold line formed in a protective flap to make a pocket for the wearer's feet and legs, or by the lowest extension of an unfolded flap. The wearer's feet are considered to be “covered” herein when inserted into the pocket formed by folding the protective flap, and “uncovered” when the feet are outside the pocket and not restricted in motion by the protective flap or pocket.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 shows a front view of an example of a garment in accord with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a child's dress or robe having sleeves 108, an optional hood 110, a front left side 102, and a front right side 104. Alternatively, the hood 110 may be replaced with a peakcap or bonnet removably attached to the garment 100. Sleeves may optionally be provided with drawstrings, snaps, or other fasteners to close the ends of the sleeves closest to the wearer's hands. The front left side 102 and front right side 104 may optionally be held together by fasteners 112. Fasteners suitable for use with embodiments of the invention include, but are not limited to, snaps, buttons, ties, complementary pieces of hook-and-loop fastener, safety pins, clasps, magnetic catches, and zippers. Alternative embodiments of the invention optionally include a different number of fasteners, different types of fasteners, or different fastener positions than are shown in the examples of FIGS. 1-2.

In the example of FIG. 1, the front left side 102 and front right side 104 are shown joined together. In the example of FIG. 2, the front left side 102 and front right side 104 are separated from one another, revealing an interior surface 116 of the back 106 of the example of a garment 100. The interior back surface 116 of the garment may be made from a soft material such as a natural or synthetic fabric and may optionally include a waterproof layer made from a flexible polymer material.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a protective flap 118 attached at its top end to the back of the garment 100 and extending downward from the back of the garment 100, with a free end extending downward and away from the bottom hem of the bottom ends of the front left side 102 and front right side 104 of the garment 100. Alternatively, the protective flap 118 may be formed as an integral part of the back of the garment, or, as will be explained later with reference to FIGS. 5-6, may in some embodiments of the invention extend downward from the front of a garment. FIG. 3 shows the garment 100 of FIGS. 1-2 with the protective flap 118 folded up and attached with one or more fasteners 112 to make an open-sided protective pocket 114 into which the wearer's feet and legs may be inserted. The protective flap 118 may be folded to make the pocket 114 before a person puts on the garment 100, with the wearer then inserting his or her legs into the pocket after the pocket is formed. Alternately, the protective pocket 114 may be formed around a person's feet and legs after the person puts on the garment 100. A person wearing the garment may optionally choose to fold the protective flap 118 into the pocket 114 and not place his or her feet and legs into the pocket 114, or may stow the protective flap 118 out of the way by attaching its free end to the interior of the garment, thereby permitting the wearer to walk without interference from the flap 118.

The protective flap 118 may optionally include at least one accessory pocket 120 for holding convenience or care items for the person wearing the garment 100. Accessory pockets 120 may alternatively be placed on the inside of the protective flap 118, on the outside of the pocket 118, on both the inside and outside, or may be omitted. The garment may be closed as shown in FIG. 1, opened from the waist down with the top closed as in FIG. 2, or fully opened as in FIG. 3. Other garments may optionally be worn inside the garment 100.

Accessory pockets placed on the inside of the protective flap may be advantageous for keeping objects in the pocket warm. Or, objects such as hot water bottles, heating pads, or ice packs may be placed in the pockets to warm or cool a person wearing the garment. The protective flap 118 may optionally be covered with a layer of waterproof material and be made long enough to serve as a diaper changing pad for an infant. The garment 100 may optionally include appliqués, attachment points for toys, sound-producing devices, and so on for calming and amusing infants. A large button hole or slot (not illustrated) may optionally be formed in the back of the garment 100 to provide a convenient entry point in the garment for an automotive seat belt, covered with a wide band from side to side. The protective flap may include padding to protect a wearer's legs from accidental impacts, for example to protect the legs of a person seated in a wheelchair.

In the garment embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the protective flap is covered by the left and right front sides of the garment when the garment is closed. FIG. 4 shows an example of an alternative embodiment of a garment 100 in which the protective flap 118 attaches to the outer surfaces of the front left side 102 and front right side 104, forming an internal pocket 114 (not visible in FIG. 4) for the wearer's feet and legs. In FIG. 4, the fold in the protective flap 118 made to form the pocket 114 is visible at the bottom end of the garment 100. The garment 100 of FIG. 3 optionally includes two accessory pockets 120 formed on the outside surface of the of the protective flap 118. When the protective flap 118 is unfolded, the accessory pockets 120 are open-end-down on the back side of the garment 100. When the protective flap 118 is folded as shown in FIG. 4, the accessory pockets are open-end-up, with the open end of each pocket optionally covered by the front left side 102 and front right side 104.

Another example of a garment in accord with an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5-6. FIG. 5 shows the front of a garment 100 which omits the left and right side pieces (102, 104) of the garment of FIG. 1-4. A front flap 122 may optionally be provided to cover a fly opening (not visible in FIG. 5) to provide for the wearer's sanitary convenience, for example male urination, without removing the garment 100. The front flap 122 alternatively represents an accessory pocket attached to the front of the garment 100. The garment 100 of FIG. 5 is shown from the rear in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the garment 100 may optionally be provided with a left side back flap 126 and a right side back flap 124 which may be separated from one another to reveal the interior back surface of the front side of the garment body 128. A rear closure on a garment may be preferred by some persons, for example a person using a wheelchair. The garment body 128 is provided with an extended front panel that folds up in the back to cover the wearer's legs and feet, and drops down to enable a person wearing the garment 100 to use a toilet or bedpan without removing the garment. Straps may optionally be attached to the front panel to hold accessories such as a heating pad, cushion, massage device, or other accessory. An optional drop flap 130 on the back side of the garment may optionally be provided for the sanitary convenience of the garment's wearer. The garment 100 of any of the figures herein may have formed on the back side of the garment at least one slot 140 sized for admittance of an automotive safety belt, as in the example of FIG. 6. FIG. 5 is further representative of an alternative embodiment of the invention comprising a dress in which the protective flap may be concealed by folding it into the garment when the wearer desires have her feet and lower legs uncovered.

A person who remains in a seated position for an extended period of time may benefit from the use of a cushion, heating pad, massage device, or other accessory for personal comfort, to improve blood circulation, to provide ventilation, or for other reasons. The garment 100 of FIGS. 5-6 may include means for holding an optional accessory 134. Examples of means for holding an optional accessory include, but are not limited to, straps, snaps, strips of hook and loop fastener, buttons, and zippers. Examples of an optional accessory 134 include, but are not limited to, a cushion, a heating pad, a massage device, a waterproof pad, a support or brace for a limb, a lumbar pad, a spinal pad, a container for collection of fluids, and an absorbent pad. Although the accessory 134 is shown in FIG. 6 in position for a person to sit on the accessory, the accessory 134 and retaining straps 132 may alternatively be located so as to place the accessory 134 in proximity to the wearers back, legs, or feet. More than one set of straps may optionally be provided to allow for the simultaneous use of more than one accessory or to permit an accessory to be easily repositioned. Retaining straps may optionally be attached to the front side of the garment 100 for holding an optional accessory in front of the garment's wearer. Left and right side seams in the garment 100 may optionally be formed with unjoined sections, for example openings about six inches long, to provide for the entry of electrical wires connected to accessories attached to the garment. Such electrical wires may be used for controlling an accessory, providing electrical power to an accessory, or for exchanging electrical signals between an accessory and an external device.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of another garment 100 in accord with an embodiment of the invention. The garment 100 of FIG. 7 is shown from the rear in FIG. 8. The protective flap 118 on the garment 100 is shown in a raised or stowed position in FIG. 8 with the flap folded and the flap's free end attached to the back of the garment. The folded flap may alternately be attached to the inside or the outside of the back of the garment. When the protective flap 118 is stowed as shown in FIG. 8, a person may move freely without the flap interfering with movements of the person's feet and legs.

A pair of trousers 136 or alternatively a pair of shorts 136 may optionally be attached to the inside of the garment 100. A large right side back flap 124 and left side back flap 126 are shown in position for a person to put on the garment 100, for example while the person is seated in a wheelchair. After the garment 100 has been put on, the back flaps (124, 126) may be closed by attaching them to one another. The back flaps (124, 126), protective flap 118, and other parts of the garment 100 may be lined with a flexible waterproof polymer material to prevent moisture from leaking through the garment. Alternatively, the back side 106 of the garment 100, or a part of the backside, may be made from a waterproof material or from a fabric with a waterproof coating.

The garments in the examples of FIGS. 1-8 may be provided in many different sizes and materials. For example, the garments 100 of FIGS. 1-4 are suitable for an infant or toddler. The garments 100 of FIGS. 5-8 may be preferred by a young adult or an adult. A closed length of any of the garments 100, that is, a length from the top of the shoulders to the position of the fold in a folded protective flap, may optionally be selected to be somewhat greater than the height of a standing person from the floor to the person's shoulders. In some embodiments, the garment is selected to have a length, with the protective flap folded or stowed, that places the bottom hem of the garment between a wearer's knees and ankles. The length of the portion of the protective flap that folds up to make a pocket for the wearer's feet and legs adds to the closed length of the garment. Garments in any of the previous examples may be resized to fit persons of almost any size or age. Garments may optionally be decorated with embroidery or appliqués. Pockets may optionally be made in the shape of an object such as an animal or toy.

Unless expressly stated otherwise herein, ordinary terms have their corresponding ordinary meanings within the respective contexts of their presentations, and ordinary terms of art have their corresponding regular meanings.

Claims

1. A garment for a person, comprising:

a front side comprising a bottom edge;

a back side joined to said front side; and

a protective flap extending from said back side,

wherein said protective flap extends below said bottom edge of said front side when said protective flap is unfolded,

said protective flap forms a protective pocket into which the person's feet may be inserted when said protective flap is folded upwards and removably attached to said back side, and

said protective flap may be stowed inside said garment by attachment to said back side of said garment, thereby enabling the person's feet and legs to extend from said bottom edge of said garment, outside of said protective pocket.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein said front side further comprises a left side flap and a right side flap, and said left side flap and said right side flap are separable from one another.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein said protective flap further includes at least one accessory pocket attached to said protective flap.

4. The garment of claim 4, wherein said accessory pocket is positioned on said protective flap so that an open end of said accessory pocket is open toward the top of the garment when the protective flap is folded to form said protective pocket.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein said protective pocket formed by folding said protective flap is open along a top side, a left side, and a right side of said protective pocket.

6. The garment of claim 1, further comprising retaining straps attached to said back side for holding an optional accessory against said garment.

7. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a pair of shorts attached to an interior surface of said garment.

8. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a hood attached to said back side for covering the top of the person's head.

9. A garment for a person, comprising:

a front side comprising a bottom edge;

a back side joined to said front side; and

a protective flap extending from said front side,

wherein said protective flap extends below said bottom edge of said back side when said protective flap is unfolded,

said protective flap forms a protective pocket for covering the person's feet when said protective pocket is folded upwards and removably attached to said front side, and

said protective flap may be stowed inside said garment by attachment to said front side of said garment, thereby enabling the person's feet and legs to extend from said bottom edge of said garment, outside of said protective pocket.

10. The garment of claim 9, wherein said back side further comprises a left side back flap and a right side back flap, and said left side flap and said right side flap are separable from one another.

11. The garment of claim 9, wherein said protective pocket formed by folding said protective flap is open along a top side, a left side, and a right side of said protective pocket.

12. The garment of claim 9, further comprising retaining straps attached to said back side for holding an optional accessory against said garment.

13. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a drop flap attached to said back side, wherein said drop flap may be opened for the sanitary convenience of the person wearing said garment.

14. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a front flap on said front side, wherein said front flap may be opened for the sanitary convenience of the person wearing said garment.

15. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a pair of shorts attached to the interior of said garment.

16. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a pair of trousers attached to the interior of said garment.

17. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a hood attached to said back side for covering the top of the person's head.

18. The garment of claim 9, wherein said back side is formed with an aperture sized for admittance of an automotive safety belt.