Mastectomy Swim Shirt

Abstract

A mastectomy swim shirt is provided that is suitable to be worn by a mastectomy patient. In one embodiment, the mastectomy swim shirt includes a shirt body having a material. The material includes an ultraviolet protection factor rating. The mastectomy swim shirt further includes a fastening means disposed on a side of the shirt body. The mastectomy swim shirt also includes a breast prosthetic.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application that claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/227,727 filed on Jul. 22, 2009, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of clothing and more specifically to the field of mastectomy swim shirts.

2. Background of the Invention

Breast cancer is a very common form of cancer among women. Mastectomy is a conventional treatment for many breast cancer patients. Mastectomy patients often wear mastectomy swim wear and may forego conventional swim shirts, since they lack prosthetic pockets. Further drawbacks to conventional swim shirts include difficulties in taking off and putting on the swim shirts due to pain and/or lack of mobility. Drawbacks of available mastectomy swim wear include exposure to harmful sun rays with many swim wear designs and minimal coverage for the mastectomy site. Further, mastectomy swim wear lack the additional coverage that a swim shirt may provide.

Consequently, there is a need for improved swim wear for mastectomy patients.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by a mastectomy swim shirt. The mastectomy swim shirt includes a shirt body having a material. The material includes an ultraviolet protection factor rating. The mastectomy swim shirt further includes a fastening means disposed on a side of the shirt body. The mastectomy swim shirt also includes a breast prosthetic.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a mastectomy swim shirt with prosthetic pockets, a side fastening means, and a neck opening with a scoop neck configuration;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a mastectomy swim shirt with prosthetic pockets, a neckline fastening means, a neck opening with a turtleneck configuration, and a side fastening means; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a mastectomy swim shirt with prosthetic pockets, a side fastening means, and a neck opening with a v-neck configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of mastectomy swim shirt 5 having shirt body 10, shirt sleeves 15, and neck opening 20. Shirt body 10 and shirt sleeves 15 may be composed of any material suitable for use with mastectomy swim shirt 5. Examples of suitable materials include mesh, fabric, or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the material is water resistant. In an embodiment, the material includes a water resistant coating. In embodiments, the material is rated for ultraviolet (UV) protection. In an embodiment, the material is rated with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF). The material may have any desirable UPF rating. In an embodiment, the material has a UPF rating between about 15 and about 24, alternatively between about 25 and about 39, and alternatively about 40 and over, and further alternatively about 50 and over. In some embodiments, colors of the material are selected to provide for maximum sun protection. In embodiments, shirt body 10 and shirt sleeves 15 are composed of the same material. In alternative embodiments, shirt body 10 and shirt sleeves 15 are composed of different materials. Each shirt sleeve 15 may be composed of the same material. In alternative embodiments, each shirt sleeve 15 may be composed of different materials. In other alternative embodiments, mastectomy swim shirt 5 does not have shirt sleeves 15.

Mastectomy swim shirt 5 also includes prosthetic pockets 25. It is to be understood that prosthetic pockets 25 are shown in FIG. 1 with dashed lines for illustrative purposes only. For instance, in embodiments, prosthetic pockets 25 are disposed within the material of shirt body 10. Prosthetic pockets 25 may be composed of any material suitable for use with mastectomy swim shirt 5. In an embodiment, prosthetic pockets 25 are composed of mesh, fabric, or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, prosthetic pockets 25 are secured to shirt body 10. Prosthetic pockets 25 may be secured to shirt body 10 by any suitable method. In an embodiment, prosthetic pockets 25 are sewn within the material of shirt body 10. In an embodiment, prosthetic pockets 25 are disposed on mastectomy swim shirt 5 at a location at which breasts of a person wearing mastectomy swim shirt 5 would be disposed. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), mastectomy swim shirt 5 has only one prosthetic pocket 25. In embodiments, prosthetic pockets 25 have a configuration suitable for breast prosthetics (not illustrated) to be disposed within. In an embodiment, prosthetic pockets 25 facilitate breast prosthetics of different sizes and/or configurations.

The breast prosthetics may be any prosthetics suitable for use with mastectomy swim shirt 5. In an embodiment, the breast prosthetics are removable from mastectomy swim shirt 5. The breast prosthetics may be removable from mastectomy swim shirt 5 by any suitable means. For instance, mastectomy swim shirt 5 may have openings (not illustrated) through which the breast prosthetics may be inserted and removed from prosthetic pockets 25. In some embodiments, the openings are not openable and closeable but have a sufficient size (i.e., small size) to allow the breast prosthetics to be inserted and removed. In an embodiment, the openings may be openable and closeable. The openings may be openable and closeable by any suitable means. Without limitation, examples of suitable means include zippers, buttons, hooks and fasteners, and the like. It is to be understood that in some embodiments mastectomy swim shirt 5 may have one breast prosthetic, or alternatively two breast prosthetics.

In some embodiments, the breast prosthetics are not removable from mastectomy swim shirt 5. Any suitable means may be used by which the breast prosthetics are not removable from mastectomy swim shirt 5. For instance, the breast prosthetics may be secured to mastectomy swim shirt 5. The breast prosthetics may be secured to mastectomy swim shirt 5 by any suitable means. In an embodiment, the breast prosthetics are secured to prosthetic pockets 25. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), mastectomy swim shirt 5 does not have prosthetic pockets 25. In such alternative embodiments, the breast prosthetics may be secured to the material of shirt body 10. The breast prosthetics may have any suitable size and configuration for use with mastectomy swim shirt 5. In some embodiments, mastectomy swim shirt 5 may have breast prosthetics of different sizes and/or configurations.

In some embodiments, mastectomy swim shirt 5 has a bra (not illustrated). The bra is an internal bra (i.e., built-in) to mastectomy swim shirt 5. In embodiments, the bra includes the prosthetic pockets 25. The bra may include any suitable form of bra. In some embodiments, the bra is a shelf bra. The shelf bra is sufficiently disposed to facilitate breast prosthetics on each side of the bra. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), mastectomy swim shirt 5 has additional front lining to support the shelf bra.

As further shown in FIG. 1, mastectomy swim shirt 5 includes fastening means 30. Fastening means 30 may include any suitable means for fastening two edges of the material of shirt body 10 together. Without limitation, examples of suitable fastening means 30 include a zipper, buttons, hooks and fasteners, and the like. In the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1, fastening means 30 is a zipper. As illustrated, fastening means 30 is on a side 45 of shirt body 10. Without limitation, fastening means 30 disposed on side 45 (or side 50) of mastectomy swim shirt 5 facilitates removal of mastectomy swim shirt 5 from a person wearing mastectomy swim shirt 5. In an embodiment, fastening means 30 is a hidden fastening means (i.e., hidden side zipper). For instance, the side zipper is hidden from view when fastened together. Fastening means 30 may extend upwards for any desired length. In an embodiment, fastening means 30 may extend from bottom 55 of shirt body 10 to any suitable position along side 45 (or side 50) of shirt body 10. In an embodiment, fastening means 30 extends to an upper position 60 about proximate to prosthetic pockets 25 on side 45 or side 50. It is to be understood that mastectomy swim shirt 5 is not limited to fastening means 30 disposed on one side 45 or side 50 of mastectomy swim shirt 5 but may be disposed on other locations such as front side 65 and/or back side (not illustrated) of mastectomy swim shirt 5. In some embodiments (not illustrated), mastectomy swim shirt 5 may have fastening means 30 disposed on both opposing sides 45, 50 of mastectomy swim shirt 5. In an embodiment, fastening means 30 (i.e., zipper) may be moveable up and/or down along side 45 (or side 50).

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of mastectomy swim shirt 5 having neckline fastening means 35. Neckline fastening means 35 may include any suitable means for fastening two edges of material of shirt body 10 together. Without limitation, examples of suitable neckline fastening means 35 include a zipper, buttons, hooks and fasteners, and the like. In an embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2, neckline fastening means 35 is a zipper. In an embodiment as illustrated, neckline fastening means 35 extends from about prosthetic pockets 25 to about neckline 70. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), neckline fastening means 35 may extend from any suitable position between prosthetic pockets 25 (or alternatively breast prosthetics) to about neckline 70.

Mastectomy swim shirt 5 may have any desirable configuration of neckline 70. In an embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1, mastectomy swim shirt 5 has a scoop neck configuration for neckline 70. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment in which mastectomy swim shirt 5 has a turtleneck configuration for neckline 70. FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment in which mastectomy swim shirt 5 has a v-neck configuration for neckline 70. In an embodiment as illustrated, neckline 70 extends about the perimeter of neck opening 20.

In embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, mastectomy swim shirt 5 has shirt sleeves 15 that extend to about a wrist of a person wearing mastectomy swim shirt 5. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), mastectomy swim shirt 5 has shirt sleeves 15 that expose a portion or substantially all of the arms of a person wearing mastectomy swim shirt 5.

In some embodiments, mastectomy swim shirt 5 has rash guards (not illustrated). The rash guards may be composed of any suitable material and have any suitable configuration for facilitating prevention of a rash on a person wearing mastectomy swim shirt 5. In an embodiment, the rash guards are sufficiently disposed to facilitate prevention of a rash from contact between the arm and torso of a person wearing mastectomy swim shirt 5.

It is to be understood that the mastectomy swim shirt 5 is not limited for wear with mastectomy sufferers but may be worn by any person desiring to wear mastectomy swim shirt 5.

Advantages of mastectomy swim shirt 5 include comfortable, stylish active wear for women who have had a mastectomy. Further advantages include an easy on/off for women with recent mastectomy surgery and that may have restricted arm movement. Additional advantages include extra coverage for women undergoing radiation and desiring to cover radiation markings. In addition, advantages include freedom from a bra or swimsuit combined with a t-shirt. Moreover, advantages include providing maximum coverage to hide surgical scars. Further, advantages include mitigation of UV exposure and protection from the potential hazards that such exposure may present in causing cancer such as skin cancer.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mastectomy swim shirt, comprising:

a shirt body comprising a material, wherein the material comprises an ultraviolet protection factor rating;

a fastening means disposed on a side of the shirt body; and

a breast prosthetic.

2. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, wherein the mastectomy swim shirt comprises shirt sleeves.

3. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, wherein the material comprises mesh, fabric, or any combinations thereof.

4. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet protection factor rating is about 50 and over.

5. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, further comprising a prosthetic pocket.

6. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 5, wherein the prosthetic pocket is disposed within the material of the shirt body.

7. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 5, wherein the prosthetic pocket comprises mesh, fabric, or any combinations thereof.

8. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 5, wherein the breast prosthetic is disposed within the prosthetic pocket.

9. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 8, wherein the breast prosthetic is insertable to the prosthetic pocket and removable from the prosthetic pocket.

10. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 9, wherein the mastectomy swim shirt comprises an opening, wherein the breast prosthetic is insertable to the prosthetic pocket and removable from the prosthetic pocket through the opening.

11. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, wherein the breast prosthetic is secured to the mastectomy swim shirt.

12. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, further comprising a bra.

13. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises a zipper.

14. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, wherein the fastening means extends from a bottom of the shirt body to a position along the side of the shirt body.

15. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, further comprising a second fastening means, wherein the second fastening means is disposed on an opposing side of the shirt body from the fastening means.

16. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, further comprising a neckline fastening means.

17. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 16, wherein the neckline fastening means comprises a zipper.

18. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 16, wherein the neckline fastening extends to about a neckline of the mastectomy swim shirt.

19. The mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, further comprising a rash guard.

20. A method for increasing sun protection of the mastectomy swim shirt of claim 1, wherein the method comprises selecting colors of the material to provide for maximum sun protection.