Patent Application
20240188771
The present invention relates to barrier garments. The present invention more particularly relates to barrier garments for minimising contact between a user and a toilet seat.
In order to maintain cleanliness and reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, it is known to provide a disposable toilet seat cover to reduce or prevent contact between a user and a toilet seat. Toilet seat covers of this kind are typically found in public restrooms and aircraft.
A problem with conventional toilet seat covers is that they often move out of position when a user sits down, causing the user to come into contact with the toilet seat. Another problem is that conventional toilet seat covers are easily torn, rendering the toilet seat cover useless for its intended purpose. These problems often result in users not wishing to use the toilet seat covers which, in turn, leads to an increase in the transmission of infectious diseases and a reduction in cleanliness in public restrooms. Furthermore, torn toilet seat covers result in unnecessary wastage which is bad for the environment.
There is a need for improved barrier garments which alleviate at least some of the problems outlined herein.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved barrier garment.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier garment comprising: a first barrier portion having a first edge and a second edge which are spaced apart from one another, the first barrier portion being provided with an opening which extends into the first barrier portion from the second edge; a first attachment arrangement which is coupled to the first barrier portion, the first attachment arrangement being configured to extend at least partly around the torso or hips of a user; a second barrier portion which is coupled to the second edge of the first barrier portion; a second attachment arrangement which is coupled to the second barrier portion, the second attachment arrangement being configured to extend at least partly around a first thigh of the user; a third barrier portion which is coupled to the second edge of the first barrier portion, wherein the second barrier portion and the third barrier portion are positioned respectively on opposite sides of the opening in the second edge of the first barrier portion; and a third attachment arrangement which is coupled to the third barrier portion, the third attachment arrangement being configured to extend at least partly around a second thigh of the user, wherein the barrier garment provides a barrier between the user and a toilet seat when the user is wearing the barrier garment and the user is sitting on the toilet seat and wherein the opening allows the user to use the toilet while the user is wearing the barrier garment.
In some examples, the barrier garment is a pair of shorts and the barrier portions and the attachment arrangements are respective parts of the pair of shorts.
In some examples, the barrier garment is a flexible planar sheet and the barrier portions are respective parts of the flexible planar sheet.
In some examples, each attachment arrangement is respective elongate portion of the flexible planar sheet.
In some examples, at least one of the attachment arrangements is an elongate strap which is coupled to the flexible planar sheet.
In some examples, each of the attachment arrangements comprises a respective retainer for retaining the attachment arrangement in a configuration in which the attachment arrangement extends at least partly around a part of the body of the user.
In some examples, at least part of each attachment arrangement is plastically deformable such that the attachment arrangement is configured to remain in a deformed configuration to retain the attachment arrangement in a configuration in which the attachment arrangement extends at least partly around a part of the body of the user.
In some examples, the barrier garment is a single-use disposable garment.
In some examples, the barrier garment is at least partly of a liquid-impermeable material.
In some examples, the barrier garment is of a material which breaks down in a sewerage system.
In some examples, the barrier garment is a re-usable garment which is configured to be washed or sterilised for re-use.
In some examples, the barrier garment is at least partly of paper.
In some examples, the barrier garment comprises a line of mechanical weakness which is configured to break when a user exerts a force on the barrier garment above a predetermined level, such that a user is able to tear the barrier garment along the line of mechanical weakness to remove the barrier garment from the body of the user.
In some examples, at least part of the barrier garment is provided with a disinfectant.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pack comprising: a packaging container; and a plurality of barrier garments received within the packaging container, wherein each of the plurality of barrier garments is a barrier garment according to any one of claims 1 to 14 as defined hereinafter.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising: a hygiene product for use in a restroom; and a barrier garment according to any one of claims 1 to 14 as defined hereinafter.
So that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components, concentrations, applications and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the attachment of a first feature and a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first feature and the second feature are attached in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be positioned between the first feature and the second feature, such that the first feature and the second feature may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
The following disclosure describes representative examples. Each example may be considered to be an embodiment and any reference to an “example” may be changed to “embodiment” in the present disclosure.
Referring initially to
The first barrier portion 2 is provided with an opening 5 which extends into the first barrier portion 2 from the second edge 4. In this example, the opening 5 is a slit which is cut into the first barrier portion 2 from the second edge 4. In other embodiments, the opening 5 is a cut-away section of different shape which extends into the first barrier portion 2 from the second edge 4.
A first attachment arrangement is coupled to the first barrier portion 2 and is configured to extend at least partly around the torso or hips of a user. In this example, the first attachment arrangement comprises a first torso strap 6 and a second torso strap 7 which are coupled respectively to either side of the first barrier portion 2. In this example, the first and second torso straps 6, 7 are formed integrally with the first barrier portion 2. Each of the torso straps 6, 7 is of a flexible sheet material and is elongate such that the torso strap 6, 7 can extend around the torso or hips of a user.
In this example, the first torso strap 6 is provided with a retainer 8 which is configured to releasably attach to part of the second torso strap 7. The retainer 8 is configured to retain the attachment arrangement in a configuration in which the attachment arrangement extends at least partly around the torso or hips of a user. In other examples, the second torso strap 7 may be provided with a retainer instead of or in addition to the first torso strap 6. In further examples, the retainer 8 is omitted.
The barrier garment 1 comprises a second barrier portion 9 which is coupled to the second edge 4 of the first barrier portion 2. In this example, the second barrier portion 9 is formed integrally with the first barrier portion 2. In this example, the second barrier portion 9 is of a flexible generally planar material.
In this example, the second barrier portion 9 is generally rectangular in shape. A second attachment arrangement is coupled to the second barrier portion 9. The second attachment arrangement is configured to extend at least partly around a first thigh of a user. In this example, the second attachment arrangement comprises a first thigh strap 10 and a second thigh strap 11 which are coupled respectively to either side of the second barrier portion 9.
The barrier garment 1 comprises a third barrier portion 12 which is coupled to the second edge 4 of the first barrier portion 2. In this example, the third barrier portion 12 is formed integrally with the first barrier portion 2. In this example, the third barrier portion 12 is of a flexible generally planar material.
In this example, the third barrier portion 12 is generally rectangular in shape. A second attachment arrangement is coupled to the third barrier portion 12. The second attachment arrangement is configured to extend at least partly around a second thigh of a user. In this example, the third attachment arrangement comprises a third thigh strap 13 and a fourth thigh strap 14 which are coupled respectively to either side of the third barrier portion 12.
The second barrier portion 9 and the third barrier portion 12 are positioned respectively on opposite sides of the opening 5 in the second edge 4 of the first barrier portion 2.
In this example, the barrier garment 1 is a flexible planar sheet and the first, second and third barrier portions 2, 9, 12 are respective parts of the flexible planar sheet. In this example, each attachment arrangement 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14 is a respective elongate portion of the flexible planar sheet.
In other examples, at least one of the attachment arrangements 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14 is an elongate strap which is coupled to a respective one of the barrier portions 2, 9, 12. For instance, in some examples, the elongate strap may be of a different material to the barrier portions 2, 9, 12.
In some examples, at least part of each attachment arrangement 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14 is plastically deformable. In these examples, each attachment arrangement 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14 is configured to remain in a deformed configuration to retain the attachment arrangement in position at least partly around a part of the body of a user.
In this example, the barrier garment 1 is a single-use disposable garment. In other examples, the barrier garment 1 is a re-usable garment which is configured to be washed and/or sterilised for re-use.
In some examples, at least part of the barrier garment 1 is provided with a disinfectant or a sanitiser. In some examples, at least part of the barrier garment 1 is coated or impregnated with a disinfectant substance during manufacturing. The disinfectant provides an additional level of protection for the user by killing bacteria and viruses that come into contact with the disinfectant.
In some examples, the barrier garment 1 is provided with a disinfectant on a surface of the barrier garment 1 which contacts portions of a toilet seat when the user sits on the toilet seat. The disinfectant sterilises the portions of the toilet seat by killing any bacteria or viruses that may be on the surface of the toilet seat.
In some examples, the barrier garment is at least partly of a liquid-impermeable material. In some examples, the barrier garment 1 is of a material which breaks down in a sewerage system so that the barrier garment 1 may be flushed down a toilet after use. In some examples, the barrier garment is at least partly of paper.
Referring now to
The user then passes the torso straps 6, 7 around the user's torso or hips, to retain the barrier garment 1 in position. The user passes the thigh straps 10, 11 around the user's first thigh and the thigh straps 13, 14 around the user's second thigh. The first, second and third barrier portions 2, 9, 12 are thus held by the attachment arrangements in position so that the barrier portions 2, 9, 12 cover a rear part of the user's hips, thighs and buttocks.
When the user 14 is wearing the barrier garment 1, the opening 5 is positioned to allow the user 14 to use the toilet while wearing the barrier garment 1 and sitting on a toilet seat. The attachment arrangements retain the barrier garment 1 in position on the user's body so that the barrier garment 1 minimises or prevents the user's body from contacting a toilet seat directly. The barrier garment 1 thereby maximises cleanliness and reduces the risk of transmission of an infectious disease to the user.
After use, the barrier garment 1 may be removed and disposed of, either in a waste bin or by flushing the barrier garment 1 down the toilet.
Referring now to
As with the example described above, the barrier garment 15 may be worn by a user with the parts of the shorts which function as attachment arrangements extending around the torso or hips as well as the thighs of a user.
In further examples, the barrier garment 1, 15 comprises a line of mechanical weakness which is configured to break when a user exerts a force on the barrier garment 1, 15 above a predetermined level. A user can thus tear the barrier garment 1, 15 along the line of mechanical weakness in order to remove the barrier garment 1, 15 from their body.
In some examples, a plurality of barrier garments 1, 15 are provided in a pack. In some examples, the pack comprises a stack of folded barrier garments 1, 15 which are received within a packaging container, such as a bag or a box. In these examples, a user can carry the pack of barrier garments 1, 15 with them for use on multiple occasions.
In some examples, a kit is provided which comprises at least one barrier garment 1, 15 and one or more other hygiene or sanitary products for use in a restroom.
Moreover, “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, illustration, etc., and not necessarily as advantageous. As used in this application, “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. In addition, “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims are generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Also, at least one of A and B and/or the like generally means A or B or both A and B. Furthermore, to the extent that “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising”. Also, unless specified otherwise, “first,” “second,” or the like are not intended to imply a temporal aspect, a spatial aspect, an ordering, etc. Rather, such terms are merely used as identifiers, names, etc. for features, elements, items, etc. For example, a first element and a second element generally correspond to element A and element B or two different or two identical elements or the same element.
Also, although the disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others of ordinary skill in the art based upon a reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. The disclosure comprises all such modifications and alterations and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described features (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), the terms used to describe such features are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any features which performs the specified function of the described features (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure. In addition, while a particular feature of the disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
In the present specification “comprise” means “includes or consists of” and “comprising” means “including or consisting of”.
When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/053063 | 4/14/2021 | WO |
