Patent Application
20220378117
There are a number of different wrap top garments used by the general public today. A majority of these garments are difficult to put on and take off or lack adjustability of support. Prior tops were constructed with clip closing mechanism that were usually located on the back of a person making it difficult for persons with physical disabilities to dress and remove the top. Other tops required a person to lift the top over their head to dress and remove. This presents difficulties to individuals with low shoulder mobility, especially those in the elderly community. These tops suffered from a number of shortcomings in the adaptability to the elderly community. First, the lack of comfortability to dress and remove. Secondly, the lack of adjustability. The classic clip closing mechanism not only is difficult to maneuver especially for people with arthritis, it also limits the wearer's ability to adjust the compression the top applies to the upper torso. This makes current tops on the market particularly uncomfortable for individuals who spend a large portion of their day in a wheelchair. In addition, many tops include permanent breast pads which can make the top uncomfortable.
Some exemplary embodiments described herein, is a garment made up of a supportive layer on the back, a bottom elastic panel, a closure mechanism located on the front of the bottom elastic panel. There is a need for an adaptive top to provide support for those who are elderly and or sit for large portions of the day. The structure of the adaptive wrap top provides support and helps improve the posture of the wearer.
Various features and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form apart thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration and for practicing this invention. This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments maybe utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference to the following description and the related appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments describe a garment, and more specifically an adaptive wrap top that surrounds the upper portion of a person's torso to provide support and improve posture. This garment is adapted to allow for easy application and removal.
The adaptive top of the exemplary embodiments is a garment that allows a person of little dexterity to apply the adaptive wrap top themselves. This is accomplished through an interfaced supportive bottom elastic panel and a front opening and closing mechanism, each of which will be described in greater detail below.
The adaptive wrap top of the exemplary embodiments is also designed to cover the chest while providing support to reduce back pain and improve the wearer's posture. The adaptive wrap top also offers an easy opening and closing mechanism that allows the wearer to easily adjust the pressure the adaptive wrap top applies to the torso of the wearer.
The exemplary embodiments may be particularly useful for women or men who are elderly, are constricted to a wheelchair, and/or have limited dexterity. However, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to the wearers being this type of person. The adaptive wrap top of the exemplary embodiments offers a supportive back layer that helps maintain and improve the posture of the wearer. Often in the elderly and disabled community, back issues arise from long hours being spent in wheelchairs and sitting down. This is due to nature of slouching or hunching over while sitting down which causes strain on the discs in the vertebrae. The adaptive wrap top of the exemplary embodiments helps to alleviate and prevent these injuries by inhibiting the wearer from sitting in a slouched or hunched position.
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The interfaced supportive side panels 4 are configured to provide side structural support. These weaves or inserted interfaced supportive side panels 4 are placed adjacent to the removable bra pads 6. This helps the breast to stay in place and secures the breasts in their desirable location. The materials used to make the interfaced supportive side panels 4 may include but are not limited to plastic, cotton, cotton-polyester blends, and any other fabric that is made out of man-made fibers as well as vegetable natural fibers, including recycled materials, that adds supportive stiffened quality to the panel. A person who is skilled in the art would recognize the appropriate materials to use or be modified to be used for this supportive back portion. Some exemplary embodiments of the interfaced supportive side panels 4 include anti-slip strips or a coating to keep the adaptive wrap top 10 from rising up on the wearer's torso. The materials used to create the anti-slip strip and/or coating may include but are not limited to silicone and vinyl and other materials that provide anti-slip qualities. Moreover, the interfaced supportive side panels 4 are configured to keep the removable bra pads 6 from moving when placed in the adaptive wrap top 10.
The adaptive wrap top 10 also includes an elastic finishing that may include stretch lace trim and other trim. The adaptive wrap top 10 may also include a structuring hem 8 which is located around the edge of the adaptive wrap top 10 to provide contour and support the shape of the garment. Lastly, there are two armhole 9 provided through the supportive back portion 1 to allow the wearer to place both arms through, where some exemplary embodiments have elastic stretch lace trim finishing. This allows for the wearer place the garment on their back, wrap the adaptive wrap top 10 around the front of their torso, pull the fused elastic bottom panel on both sides to the middle of their torso, and lastly secure the garment closed with the hook and loop Velcro closing mechanism to the pressure of their preference. In other exemplary embodiments, wherein the closure mechanism may include a series of press stud fasteners or snaps, or hook and eye, instead of or in addition to the hook and loop closures.
A series of hook and loop fastener closures 3 are stitched to the interfaced elastic bottom panel 2, that in some variants may include an anti-slip strip 11 to help garment stay in place, e.g., to keep the adaptive wrap top 10 from rising up on the wearer's torso. The materials used to create the anti-slip strip and/or coating may include but are not limited to silicone and vinyl and other materials that provide anti-slip qualities. In some exemplary embodiments, there are two hook and two loop fastener closures 3 stitched to the inside of the interfaced elastic bottom panel 2 and another set of two hook and two loop fastener closures 3 stitched to the outside of the interfaced elastic bottom panel 2. The hook and loop fastener closures 3 are configured to provide a smooth and soft closing mechanism that allows for hook and loop to merge and keep the adaptive wrap top closed without catching onto other clothing or uncomfortably rubbing the wearer.
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It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present disclosure, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalent.
