Accessibility Garment Apparatus

Abstract

An accessibility garment apparatus for allowing self-sufficiency for handicapped and disabled people includes a garment body having a waistband, a front side, a back side, an inner surface, an outer surface, a crotch portion, an inseam, and a pair of legs. The inseam has an access aperture extending from a right leg to a left leg of the pair of legs. An absorptive pad is coupled to the garment body. The absorptive pad is coupled to the inner surface on the back side. A zipper is coupled to the garment body. The zipper has a chain coupled along the access aperture and a slider engaged with the chain to selectively close or open the access aperture. A hook is coupled to the slider of the zipper.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to accessibility devices and more particularly pertains to a new accessibility device for allowing self-sufficiency for handicapped and disabled people.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to accessibility devices. Known garments have a variety of different opening methods and locations. These devices are often incorporate traditional zippers and are still difficult for independent use. Such garments lack a hook or ring attached to the zipper or other fastener for easier use by wearers with limited dexterity. Such devices also lack integrated absorptive padding.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a garment body having a waistband, a front side, a back side, an inner surface, an outer surface, a crotch portion, an inseam, and a pair of legs. The inseam has an access aperture extending from a right leg to a left leg of the pair of legs. An absorptive pad is coupled to the garment body. The absorptive pad is coupled to the inner surface on the back side. A zipper is coupled to the garment body. The zipper has a chain coupled along the access aperture and a slider engaged with the chain to selectively close or open the access aperture. A hook is coupled to the slider of the zipper.

An alternative embodiment of the disclosure generally comprises a garment body having a waistband, a front side, a back side, an inner surface, an outer surface, a crotch portion, an inseam, and a pair of legs. The garment body has an access aperture extending through the crotch portion. An absorptive pad is coupled to the garment body. The absorptive pad is coupled to the inner surface on the back side. A flap is coupled to the garment body. The flap selectively covers or exposing the access aperture. The flap has a plurality of first engagement members. A plurality of second engagement members is coupled to the garment body adjacent the access aperture and is selectively engageable with the plurality of first engagement members to secure the flap in a closed position. At least one pull tab is coupled to the flap. The pull tabs are coupled to the flap proximal a flap top edge to allow the user to disengage the plurality of first engagement members and the plurality of second engagement members to move the flap to an open position.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an accessibility garment apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new accessibility device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10, the accessibility garment apparatus 10 generally comprises a garment body 12 having a waistband 14, a front side 16, a back side 18, an inner surface 20, an outer surface 22, a crotch portion 24, an inseam 26, and a pair of legs 28. The inseam 26 has an access aperture 30 extending from a right leg 32 to a left leg 34 of the pair of legs. The garment body 12 may be a pair of shorts or pants such as, but not limited to jeans, dress pants, slacks, sweatpants, or the like.

An absorptive pad 36 is coupled to the garment body 12. The absorptive pad 36 is coupled to the inner surface 20 on the back side 18. The absorptive pad 36 may extend from adjacent the waistband 14 to adjacent the access aperture 30 to serve as a secondary diaper or sanitary pad in case of leakage.

A zipper 38 is coupled to the garment body 12. The zipper 38 has a chain 40 coupled along the access aperture 30 and a slider 42 engaged with the chain 40 to selectively close or open the access aperture 30. A hook 44 is coupled to the zipper 38. The hook 44 is coupled to the slider 42 and may be J-shaped and larger than a standard zipper pull to make it easier for someone to manipulate.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention 50 shown in FIGS. 6-10, the garment body 12 has the access aperture 30 extending through the crotch portion 24. The access aperture 30 may extend from the inseam 26 to adjacent the waistband 14. The garment body 12 may be an undergarment such as, but not limited to, briefs, boxers, women's underwire, and the like. A flap 52 is coupled to the garment body 12 adjacent the inseam 26. The flap 52 selectively covers or exposes the access aperture 30. The flap 52 has a plurality of first engagement members 54. The plurality of first engagement members 54 may be a pair of first engagement members 54 coupled adjacent a flap top edge 56 and adjacent a pair of flap outer edges 58.

A plurality of second engagement members 60 is coupled to the garment body 12 adjacent the access aperture 30 and is selectively engageable with the plurality of first engagement members 54 to secure the flap 52 in a closed position as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The pair of second engagement members 60 may be a pair of second engagement members 60 coupled adjacent the access aperture 30 and proximal the waistband 14. Each of the plurality of first engagement members 54 and the plurality of second engagement members 60 may be, but is not limited to, a selectively engageable fastener such as hook-and-loop, snaps, and the like.

At least one pull tab 62 is coupled to the flap 52. The at least one pull tab 62 may be a pair of rings 64. The pull tabs 62 are coupled to the flap 52 proximal the flap top edge 56 to allow the user to disengage the plurality of first engagement members 54 and the plurality of second engagement members 60 to move the flap 52 to an open position shown in FIG. 7.

In use, the garment body 12 is worn like a traditional garment. The user then pulls on either the hook 44 or the pull tab 62 to expose the access aperture 30 as needed.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. An accessibility garment apparatus comprising:

a garment body, the garment body having a waistband, a front side, a back side, an inner surface, an outer surface, a crotch portion, an inseam, and a pair of legs, the inseam having an access aperture extending from a right leg to a left leg of the pair of legs;

an absorptive pad coupled to the garment body, the absorptive pad being coupled to the inner surface on the back side;

a zipper coupled to the garment body, the zipper having a chain coupled along the access aperture and a slider engaged with the chain to selectively close or open the access aperture; and

a hook coupled to the zipper, the hook being coupled to the slider.

2. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the absorptive pad extending from adjacent the waistband to adjacent the access aperture.

3. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the hook being J-shaped.

4. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 3 further comprising the hook being larger than a standard zipper pull.

5. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the garment body being a pair of pants such as, but not limited to jeans, dress pants, slacks, sweatpants, or the like.

6. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the garment body being a pair of shorts.

7. An accessibility garment apparatus comprising:

a garment body, the garment body having a waistband, a front side, a back side, an inner surface, an outer surface, a crotch portion, an inseam, and a pair of legs, the inseam having an access aperture extending from a right leg to a left leg of the pair of legs, the garment body being a pair of shorts or pants such as, but not limited to jeans, dress pants, slacks, sweatpants, or the like;

an absorptive pad coupled to the garment body, the absorptive pad being coupled to the inner surface on the back side, the absorptive pad extending from adjacent the waistband to adjacent the access aperture;

a zipper coupled to the garment body, the zipper having a chain coupled along the access aperture and a slider engaged with the chain to selectively close or open the access aperture; and

a hook coupled to the zipper, the hook being coupled to the slider, the hook being J-shaped and larger than a standard zipper pull.

8. An accessibility garment apparatus comprising:

a garment body, the garment body having a waistband, a front side, a back side, an inner surface, an outer surface, a crotch portion, an inseam, and a pair of legs, the garment body having an access aperture extending through the crotch portion;

an absorptive pad coupled to the garment body, the absorptive pad being coupled to the inner surface on the back side;

a flap coupled to the garment body, the flap selectively covering or exposing the access aperture, the flap having a plurality of first engagement members;

a plurality of second engagement members coupled to the garment body, the plurality of second engagement members being coupled to the garment body adjacent the access aperture and being selectively engageable with the plurality of first engagement members to secure the flap in a closed position; and

at least one pull tab coupled to the flap, the pull tabs being coupled to the flap proximal a flap top edge to allow the user to disengage the plurality of first engagement members and the plurality of second engagement members to move the flap to an open position.

9. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 8 further comprising the access aperture extending from the inseam to adjacent the waistband.

10. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 8 further comprising the flap being coupled to the garment body adjacent the inseam.

11. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 8 further comprising the plurality of first engagement members being a pair of first engagement members coupled adjacent the flap top edge and adjacent a pair of flap outer edges; the pair of second engagement members being a pair of second engagement members coupled adjacent the access aperture and proximal the waistband.

12. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 8 further comprising the at least one pull tab being a pair of rings.

13. The accessibility garment apparatus of claim 8 further comprising the garment body being an undergarment such as, but not limited to, briefs, boxers, women's underwire, and the like.