Patent Application
20200383407
For various reasons, individuals may have limited upper body range of motion. For example, movement impairment may result from—neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Guillian Barre Syndrome. Alternatively, it may result from a medical brain-related condition such as a CVA (Cerebral Vascular Accident—Stroke) or Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) or an auto-immune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis. Even a standard medical procedure such as a shoulder replacement or a rotator cuff tear protocol may cause a movement impairment and may be temporary or long term.
The signs of movement impairment may include an absence of muscle strength in lifting everyday objects, such as a book or hairbrush. Diminished spatial awareness also may occur where the brain misperceives and analyzes information about the objects around them. Visual processing of that information to guide hand movements results in poor eye-hand coordination. Fine motor skills in small movements such as handwriting and holding a fork steady can become great tasks. Gross motor deficits in larger body parts such as arms and legs can affect running and walking.
A major concern of an individual with limited mobility of the upper body is the loss of their independence with lower body dressing. The individual's sense of worth and self-esteem diminishes as one of the simplest tasks cannot be performed i.e., donning their inner or outer garments when toileting or dressing themselves.
Regaining an individual's independence could decrease the need for an assistant/caregiver paid/unpaid, which could mean the difference between being placed in a skilled nursing home, assisted living facility or remaining independent at home. The essential ability of being able to dress or toilet oneself will tremendously elevate one's self-worth, self-esteem, and reduce the onset of depression. An individual's quality of life will increase as they improve one of the basic activities of daily living skills i.e., dressing and toileting themselves.
The following is a description of drawings according to principles described herein.
The following relates to an assistive garment that is designed for clothing or adapted to existing clothing for individuals with limitations or disabilities dressing their lower body. For example, exemplary assistive garments assist in the donning inner and outer clothing over hips, tights over legs, socks over feet, etc.
The assistive garment is beneficial for individuals with hand and finger weakness, sensory impairment, fine and/or gross motor coordination impairments and shoulder limitations. Such a garment can be used by individuals of all ages particularly for the disabled community, but not limited to disabled individuals.
An assistive garment that includes a plurality of spaced loops along the circumference of inner and outer garments, incontinence diapers, lower body active wear, socks, half-slips, socks hosiery, and more, will improve one's independence with limited mobility, strength, coordination and dexterity or sensation of the upper body.
The assistive garment will assist an individual to improve lower body dressing, which can be particularly helpful for individuals with limited upper body mobility, strength, fine/gross motor coordination or sensory impairments. The goal is to help individuals transition back to independent living and acclimate to their ‘new normal,’ that is, a desirable form of independence made possible with lower body dressing aids.
An exemplary assistive garment has loops (e.g., 0-0.5, 0.5-1.0 inch, etc.) to insert a finger. Loops are spaced (e.g. 0-1, 1- to 2-inches, etc.) around the circumference of the garment for ease of use. Assistive undergarments can come in various shapes and sizes for adult male and females, young adults, teens, and the disabled community.
An exemplary assistive garment may include A Self-Support Loop Strip that is meant to be attached to an existing garment. The Self-Support Loop Strip is a Velcro strip that can be cut into the appropriate length and attached to existing garments. The assistive garment, whether as a strip or as attached to a garment, is ideal for individuals who suffer from various neurological diseases as well as individuals with hand sensory impairment, gross or fine motor coordination impairment, or limited shoulder movement. Impaired individuals can have a better quality of life when they improve their day-to-day independence with lower body dressing using the present looped garments or the Self-Support Loop Strips.
An aspect includes an assistive garment which comprises a lower body garment with a band adapted for wear around a lower extremity of a user. The band is attached to the lower body garment at edges of a top opening of the lower body garment, with a plurality of finger loops attached along edges of the band. Each loop of the plurality of finger loops provides a space for a finger to be inserted to pull the loop to lift or lower the lower body garment relative to a body of the user.
The lower body garment of the present assistive garment may be any suitable garment construction worn from or below the waist and designed to cover the waist and/or leg. To put such a garment on, it can frequently involve putting a foot into a top opening of the garment and pulling up on the garment. The garment includes those designed for males, females, adults, adolescents, toddlers, children, babies and infants. Examples include underwear, incontinent diapers (e.g., boxer shorts, briefs, panties, jockstraps, lingerie, long johns, compression stockings, pantyhose, slips, half-slips, girdles, etc.), and outerwear (e.g., swimsuits, swimwear, trunks, shorts, active wear, skirts, loincloths, hose, socks, stockings, pants, etc.), and the like. Any garment that is donned on the lower body is anticipated.
The band supports the finger loops and the lower body garment. The band may be a simple panel construction but may also include structure for supporting the garment on the body. Suitable constructions include alone or in combination hems (including hems at the top opening of the lower body garment), support or draw strings, belt buckles, hooks, buttons, latches, closed strip designs, elastic or non-elastic waist bands, and the like.
The material of the band may be elastic, or non-elastic, and vary in rigidity, but should be such that the assistive garment is capable of being put on and worn. Examples include non-rigid materials (natural and synthetic fabrics, elastic and non-elastic materials) and include rigid materials (metal, plastic, wood, etc.). Pliable and flexible materials, such as films, cloths and textiles used in clothing are suitable.
The attachment between the lower body garment and the band may be permanent or removable. The band may be incorporated as an integral part of the edge of the top opening of the lower body garment, or otherwise permanently attached. This may be in the form of one or more of a hem, adhesive strip, additional layers of fabric, or any other suitable construction that is also suitable for attachment of the finger loops. Removable designs may include velcro, hooks, buttons, and the like. A removable design may also be removable while the assist garment is being worn.
The band may also include circumference adjustment systems to conform the band to various waist sizes, such as adjustable belt or straps (as further described below). Alternately, an assistive garment may also have a separate circumference adjustment, such as a conventional belt, and belt loop system.
Pre-existing garments may be modified by attaching a band to the top opening or modifying the top opening of the garment, which becomes the lower body garment. If the pre-existing garment has construction at the top opening that can function as a band, finger loops can be attached directly to the band and top opening.
The finger loops are designed to be accessible, easily found, and provide structure for insertion of a finger or fingers, while the person is pulling the garment on or off. Accordingly, the finger-loops may be positioned on the band and be of a number to fit this requirement. Due to the different needs and abilities of the wearer, a “universal” placement where closely spaced finger loops are attached around the circumference of the band is suitable. The location and spacing of the finger loops may be dependent upon the style, appearance, and function of the assist garment. However, there must be at least one accessible finger loop, and finger loops must be spaced to not materially compromise loop function and the ability to finger grasp a loop.
Finger loops may extend upward for easier use but may optionally be extending down under the band when worn. For example, the band may be attached around bottom circumferential edges to the interior surface of the waist or hip portion of the garment so that the band may pivot around the bottom circumferential edges and may be folded underneath the garment when the garment is being worn. This serves to effectively hide the band when a garment is being worn.
Variations include that one or more loops extend downward relative to the band instead of extending upward. Moreover, the band may include both loops that extend upward as well as loops that extend downward relative to the band.
Example placement of finger loops include at least two loops in the front and two loops in the back, the loops located where belt loops or attachment of suspenders would be. A loop or more than one loop may be located between a midline of a central body axis and a lateral side of the body. In another example, one or more loops are located in one or more of the front center and back center of the band relative to placement on a body. In another example, one or more loops are located on one or more of the sides of the band relative to placement on a body. In another example, loops are spaced all around the band.
The finger loops should allow a finger hold to sufficiently exert an adequate pulling force for dressing and undressing. The material of the finger loops should be compatible with this function and may be strong, elastic or nonelastic, flexible cords or strips, made from a fiber or fabric. The dimensions of the loops may be consistent with known clothing standards for finger dimensions. The finger loops are attached by any suitable system to the band, such as by sewing, adhesives, or using metal or plastic fasteners. The attachments of the finger loops may be optimized for user comfort, and for appearance. The finger loops, and band may have a thin construction and be unnoticeable under an overlying garment.
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The loops are made to fit a standard person. A standard person is a mathematical model of a person based on any suitable data that simulates a person's size, body proportions, and the like. The model can be based upon data, for example, used in the clothing industry to define sizes for apparel, gloves, and the like. The standard person used and the data set used to derive the standard person is chosen with the user of the medical garment bottom in mind and can be based upon average values of body proportions from any sample of the population from, for example, total population, gender, age, body size or weight, nationality, or the like. The standard person may also be based upon any particular individual, or group of individuals. Thus, the standard person for a loop may be designed for marketing to the public in general, or be customized to fit a particular group of people, or to fit an individual.
The interior width of a finger space defined by each loop and measured at loop ends intersecting with the top edge of the band includes 0.75″-1.0″, 1.0″-1.25″, 1.25″-1.5″, 1.5″-1.75″, 1.75″-2.0″, or 2.0″-2.5″. Spacing between each loop as measured between side edges of each loop includes a range of heights from 0.01″−0.02″, 0.02″−0.03″, 0.03″−0.04″, 0.05″−0.06″, 0.06″−0.07″, 0.07″−0.08″, 0.08″−0.09″, and 0.09″-1.0″. A height of the loop as measured from the top edge of the band includes a range heights from 0.5″−0.6″, 0.6″−0.7″, 0.7″−0.8″, 0.8″−0.9″, 0.9″-1.0″, 1.0″-1.5″, 1.5-2.0″, 2.0″-2.5″, and 2.5″-3.0″.
One or more chain stitches 416 (e.g., doublestitch, etc.) paralleling the top of the edge, or an equivalent attachment, are sewn over or through the legs and underlying band to attach both ends forming a finger loop 406. The stitching shown 416 may also be used to attach the band 404 to a lower body garment (not shown).
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As noted above, the assistive garment is particularly useful for individuals with physical impairment due to a neurological insult to brain, orthopedic injury, surgical repair of the upper body, degenerative joint disease, autoimmune disease resulting in upper body weakness, limited range of motion, gross or fine motor coordination impairments and sensory impairments to one or both sides of their body. Target individuals may also be those who suffer from neurological diseases such as Strokes, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, ALS, Guillian Barre Syndrome, Concussion Syndrome, shoulder replacement, rotator cuff tear protocol, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. More specifically, individuals who have limited upper body range of motion, strength and sensory impairments or coordination. The assistive garment can help these individuals gain independence with lower body dressing.
In summary, the present assistive garment is useful, and may be essential for personal independence for:
While this invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and that the invention, as described by the claims, is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit of the invention.
