ACTIVE WEAR GARMENT ATTACHMENT MECHANISMS, GARMENTS INCLUDING SAME AND METHODS FOR FLATTENING SKIN
Apparatus and methods are provided to smooth the skin of the wearer of a garment that otherwise presents as excess skin. Generally, an item of clothing interfaces with a resistive structure, such that when the skin has been pulled taut, the restorative force of the skin is at least counterbalanced by force in the opposite direction. The interfacing structure provides sufficient adherence, adhesion and/or friction to the user's skin such that the interface structure remains in place. The formerly loose skin is then held taut. In one preferred embodiment, the first resistive member comprises left directed chevron shaped resistive member and the second resistive member is a right directed chevron shaped resistive member.
This claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/621,344, filed Jan. 24, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to improved active wear garment attachment mechanisms, garments including the mechanisms, and methods for flattening skin.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe presence of excess skin, loose skin, lax skin, and/or skin which has lost its elasticity (collectively ‘excess skin’) often presents in individuals who have had their skin stretched or extended for some period of time, typically months or years, yet later the extension of the main body is reduced or removed. One example involves pregnancy, where during the gestational period the maternal skin of the abdomen is stretched due to the presence of the fetus. After the child is born, and therefore the cause of the extension is removed, the maternal abdomen skin does not always reduce to pre-pregnancy condition, and the mother then presents to have excess abdominal skin. This condition can exist even if the woman's muscles are in excellent shape. In yet another example, a person who was obese for a significant period of time, but later undergoes significant weight loss, such as through bariatric surgery or other intensive weight loss, may present as having excess skin in multiple areas of the body, typically including the abdomen, neck and elbows.
Historically, those with this skin issue often had to resort to surgery to remedy the condition. In the case of a formerly pregnant woman, a ‘tummy tuck’ procedure would be performed. The procedure is invasive, and requires the surgeon to make a long transverse abdominal incision from hip to hip, after which the surgeon stretches the abdominal skin downward, and then sutures the now relatively taut skin. This procedure can leave a significant scar from hip to hip, and relocates the position of the navel. Additionally, surgical procedures have many attendant risks, such as infection, other adverse reaction to the procedure or the anesthesia, and consist of an upwards of 6 hour procedure.
Various compression type garments serve to compress a person's body. One example is a girdle, or more modern compression type garments such as Spanx. However, these compression type garments do not solve the presentation of excess skin. Yet other systems provide to affix clothing to the skin, such as dual sided tape which serves the modesty function of attempting to ensure that the outer layer of clothing remains close enough to the wearer of the garment that modesty is maintained.
No adequate non-surgical solution has yet been provided. The current invention solves this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONApparatus and methods are provided to smooth the skin of the wearer of a garment that otherwise presents as excess skin. Generally, an item of clothing interfaces with a resistive structure, such that when the skin has been pulled taut, the restorative force of the skin is at least counterbalanced by force in the opposite direction. The interfacing structure provides sufficient adherence, adhesion and/or friction to the user's skin such that the interface structure remains in place. The formerly loose skin is then held taut.
A clothing garment provides for tensioning skin from a first state comprising excess skin to a second state comprising tensioned taut skin, where the tensioned taut skin generates a force of restoration (Frestoration) back to the first state. Preferably, the garment includes at least a first attachment region and a second attachment region. A first resistive member is attached to the first attachment region of the garment, the first resistive member being attached to the first attachment region with a strength greater than Frestoration. A second resistive member is attached to the second attachment region of the garment, the second resistive member being attached to the second attachment region with a strength greater than Frestoration. When the excess skin is tensioned from the first state into the second state of taut skin, the resistive force of the garment, first resistive member and second resistive member is greater than or equal to the force of restoration.
In one preferred embodiment, the first resistive member comprises left directed chevron shaped resistive member and the second resistive member is a right directed chevron shaped resistive member.
In one embodiment, a two sided tape is provided. Optionally, the tape may interface on one side with a user's garment, and on the other side with the user's skin. By providing sufficient resistive force in a direction opposite to the restorative force of the stretched skin, the user's skin remains taut. Various forms of resistive structures are described, including but not limited to dots, linear structures and non-linear structures. Adhesives may be optionally utilized.
By way of the method of fabrication, a base garment would have a resistive member applied to it. The attachment force between the resistive member and the base garment should be greater than any forces what would apply when the combination garment is used to tension excess skin. Namely, the resistive member should not separate or delaminate from the base garment when in use for the function of tensioning excess skin.
The method of use of the combined garment is as follows. The user would place the garment on as used in the base garment operation. The user would then tension the excess skin and tuck the excess skin under the resistive member. The resistive member and garment apply a resistive force at least sufficient to maintain the now tensioned excess skin relative to the resistive member by overcoming the restoration force of the skin, preferably where the resistive force is greater than or equal to the restoration force.
As to all of the resistive structures described herein, the resistive structures are formed of biocompatible materials, such as medical grade rubber or neoprene, and preferably hypoallergenic. They are preferably washable, long lasting and comfortable for the wearer. Preferably, they are waterproof and sweat proof, and may include wicking capabilities. Further, they are preferably not sticky, but may use adhesives to adhere to the user and/or the garment.
Claims
1. A clothing garment for providing tensioning skin from a first state comprising excess skin to a second state comprising tensioned taut skin, where the tensioned taut skin generates a force of restoration (Frestoration) back to the first state, the garment including at least a first attachment region and a second attachment region, comprising:
- a first resistive member attached to the first attachment region of the garment, the first resistive member being attached to the first attachment region with a strength greater than Frestoration, the first resistive member including one or more left directed chevron shaped resistive members,
- a second resistive member attached to the second attachment region of the garment, the second resistive member being attached to the second attachment region with a strength greater than Frestoration, the second resistive member including one or more right directed chevron shaped resistive members,
- wherein when the excess skin is tensioned from the first state into the second state of taut skin, the resistive force of the garment, first resistive member and second resistive member is greater than or equal to the force of restoration.
2. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the first resistive member further includes a dot shaped resistive member.
3. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the second resistive member further includes a dot shaped resistive member.
4. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the first resistive member further includes a linear resistive member.
5. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the second resistive member further includes a linear shaped resistive member.
6. The clothing garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is a bra.
7. The clothing garment of claim 6 wherein the bra is a sports bra.
8. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is a pair of shorts.
9. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is a pair of pants.
10. A clothing garment for providing tensioning skin from a first state comprising excess skin to a second state comprising tensioned taut skin, where the tensioned taut skin generates a force of restoration (Frestoration) back to the first state, the garment including at least a first attachment region and a second attachment region, comprising:
- a first resistive member attached to the first attachment region of the garment, the first resistive member being attached to the first attachment region with a strength greater than Frestoration,
- a second resistive member attached to the second attachment region of the garment, the second resistive member being attached to the second attachment region with a strength greater than Frestoration,
- wherein when the excess skin is tensioned from the first state into the second state of taut skin, the resistive force of the garment, first resistive member and second resistive member is greater than or equal to the force of restoration.
11. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the first resistive member is a chevron shaped resistive member.
12. The clothing garment of claim 2 wherein the second resistive member is a chevron shaped resistive member.
13. The clothing garment of claim 3 wherein the first resistive member is a left directed chevron shaped resistive member and the second resistive member is a right directed chevron shaped resistive member.
14. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the first resistive member is a dot shaped resistive member.
15. The clothing garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is a bra.
16. The clothing garment of claim 6 wherein the bra is a sports bra.
17. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is a pair of shorts.
18. The clothing garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is a pair of pants.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 23, 2019
Publication Date: Jul 25, 2019
Inventor: Jennifer Grey (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 16/255,409