Patent Application
20240138502
The present disclosure relates to a hydrophilic assisted bathing protective system, and more specifically to a hydrophilic bathing suit that helps in maintaining privacy while taking a bath.
People with special needs may require assistance while performing daily activities. For example, elderly or disabled people, patients, children, etc. may require assistance in activities such as dressing, undressing, bathing, etc. In many cases, such people take help from assistants who may assist in performing the daily activities. For example, an assistant may assist an elderly user in taking a bath.
The assistant may have to uncover the user for bathing. Performing such activities may not be easy for the assistant and the user. For example, such activities may be embarrassing and uncomfortable for the user. Further, uncovering a user with movement disability may be difficult for the assistant.
A variety of garments is designed to assist the elderly, disabled people, and patients in performing the daily activities. However, conventional garments do not provide a way to protect user privacy, especially when the assistant bathes the user. Further, the conventional garments may not be specifically made to assist users in bathing, and hence may not be convenient for the users and the assistants to use.
Thus, there is a need for a bathing garment that may help in maintaining user's privacy, and alleviating the embarrassment and awkwardness while taking the bath or performing other daily activities.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.
The present disclosure is directed towards a garment or a bathing suit that may be worn by a user while taking a bath. The user may be an elderly or a disabled person, or a patient, who may need assistance while taking the bath. An assistant, e.g., a nurse, may assist the user in taking the bath. The bathing suit may be configured to assist the assistant in cleaning the user, without having to disrobe the user completely. Specifically, the bathing suit may include one or more access points through which the assistant may clean different user body parts, e.g., a left torso portion, a right torso portion, thighs, chest, etc., without having to remove the bathing suit completely.
In some aspects, the access points may be disposed on bathing suit left or right surfaces and may be configured to be closed or opened by the assistant by using one or more fastening members. The fastening members may be, for example, two-way zippers. The bathing suit may further include an opening disposed on a bathing suit front portion that may enable the assistant to access user's front body portion for cleaning. The opening disposed on the bathing suit front portion may also include a fastening member, e.g., a vertical zipper, using which the assistant may assess the user's front body portion.
The bathing suit may be made of hydrophilic material that may absorb water. The assistant may soak the bathing suit with hot water when the assistant gives the bath to the user, which may help keep the user body warm.
In additional aspects, the bathing suit may include one or more water-proof pockets that may be configured to house an electronic item. For example, the pocket may be configured to house an integrated push-button body warmer and/or a fall detector.
The present disclosure discloses a bathing suit that facilitates in protecting user's privacy when the assistant bathes the user. Since the assistant accesses one or more bathing suit access points to clean different parts of user's body without having to disrobe the user completely, the bathing suit helps to protect the user's privacy. Further, since the bathing suit is made from hydrophilic material, warmth from hot water may be absorbed by the bathing suit and transferred to the user's body, thus keeping the user's body warm.
These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail herein.
The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown, and not intended to be limiting.
In certain scenarios, the user 105 may need assistance in taking a bath. The assistant 110 may assist the user 105 in bathing. The user 105 may wear a bathing suit 115 (a garment) while taking the bath, which may help maintain user privacy. The assistant 110 may use a hand shower 120 (or any other device) to provide the bath to the user 105 and/or to soak the bathing suit 115 with warm water. In some aspects, the bathing suit 115 may be made of a hydrophilic fabric that may hold warm water, which may make the bathing suit 115 comfortable for the user 105.
The bathing suit 115 may include one or more access points (not shown in
In an exemplary aspect, the assistant 110 may access an access point, e.g., a left side access point, by unzipping the zipper located at the left side access point. The assistant 110 may then insert the hand shower 120 or a wet towel in the bathing suit 115 via the left side access point. Thereafter, the assistant 110 may clean user's left side body by using the hand shower 120 or the wet towel.
By using the bathing suit 115, the assistant 110 may assist the user 105 in bathing by accessing only those access points where the user 105 may desire cleaning, without uncovering the user 105 completely. Further, the assistant 110 may help keep warmth of user's body intact by using the bathing suit 115 disclosed in the present disclosure, and not uncovering the user 105 completely. The details of bathing suit 115 structure may be understood in conjunction with subsequent figures.
The bathing suit 200 may have a body comprising a front portion 205 and a back portion (not shown in
The front portion 205 and the back portion may be cut in any size or shape. For example, the front portion 205 and the back portion may have a length such that the bathing suit 200 may extend from user's shoulders to user's thighs. Alternatively, the length may be shorter or longer. In some aspects, a front portion 205 length may be same as a back portion length. In other aspects, the front portion 205 length may be different from the back portion length. In further aspects, the front portion 205 and the back portion may be cut in “A-line” or may be cut in “straight line”. In addition, the front portion 205 and the back portion may be equal widths.
The front portion 205 and the back portion may be attached to each other in edge-to-edge relationship and may form a single-piece bathing suit 200. In other aspects, the bathing suit 200 may have more than one piece.
In further aspects, the bathing suit 200 may be sleeveless (as shown in
The front portion 205 and the back portion may be attached to each other in the edge-to-edge relationship by a plurality of non-openable seams. For example, the front portion 205 and the back portion may be stitched or sewn together by means of a thread.
In some aspects, the bathing suit 200 may have a top opening 210 to encircle a user's neck. The bathing suit 200 may further have a right hand side opening 215 to encircle a user right upper arm (not shown), and a left hand side opening 220 to encircle a user left upper arm (not shown). The bathing suit 200 may further have a bottom opening 225 configured to encircle user legs/thighs.
The bathing suit 200 may additionally include a plurality of openable seams to access user body portions for cleaning purposes (or for performing other daily activities), when the user 105 wears the bathing suit 200. The plurality of openable seams may include a first openable seam 230, a second openable seam 235, and a third openable seam 240. The first openable seam 230 may be disposed on a front portion 205 center. In particular, the first openable seam 230 may extend completely from a bathing suit top portion (body top portion) to a bathing suit bottom portion (body bottom portion).
The bathing suit 200 may further include a first fastener 245 configured to hold the first openable seam 230 in a closed position. In some aspects, the first fastener 245 may be a vertical zipper configured to open and close the first openable seam 230. The first fastener 245 may open the first openable seam 230 when the first fastener 245 moves from the bathing suit bottom portion (body bottom portion) to the bathing suit top portion (body top portion). The bathing suit 200 may be worn by completely opening the first openable seam 230. For example, the user 105 (or the assistant 110) may open the first openable seam 230 completely by moving the first fastener 245 from the bathing suit bottom portion to the bathing suit top portion. Thereafter, the user 105 may wear the bathing suit 200. The user 105 may then close the first openable seam 230 by moving the first fastener 245 from the bathing suit top portion to the bathing suit bottom portion. The first openable seam 230 may be closed during the bath and may then again be opened to remove the bathing suit 200 after the bath.
As shown in
In some aspects, the second openable seam 235 and the third openable seam 240 may be located in a portion of right side edge and a left side edge respectively, such that the bathing suit 200 may protect the user's privacy. A second openable seam 235 length and a third openable seam 240 length may be such that the assistant 110 may easily access the user body portions without compromising user 105 privacy. For example, the second openable seam 235 length and the third openable seam 240 length may be 50-80% of entire left edge and right edge lengths, respectively.
In further aspects, the second openable seam 235 may be configured to form two access points 260a and 265a on the body right side. Similarly, the third openable seam 240 may be configured to form two access points 260b and 265b on the body left side.
The bathing suit 200 may further include a second fastener 250a, 255a configured to hold the second openable seam 235 in a closed position. Similarly, the bathing suit 200 may include a third fastener 250b, 255b to hold the third openable seam 240 in a closed position. In some aspects, the second fastener 250a, 255a and the third fastener 250b, 255b may be two-way zippers or a bilateral zipper configured to open and close the second openable seam 235 and the third openable seam 240, respectively. In some aspects, the two-way zippers may be vertically disposed. The two-way zippers may be made of any material, e.g., metal such as copper, aluminum, iron, and/or the like.
The two-way zippers may allow the assistant 110 (or the user 105) to access user body portions via the access points 260a, 260b, 265a, and 265b, without completely uncovering user body, as shown in
In some aspects, the second fastener 250a, 255a may include a first zipper 250a and a second zipper 255a. The first zipper 250a may allow the assistant 110 to access user 105 body via the access point 260a and the second zipper 255a may allow the assistant 110 to access the user 105 body via the access point 265a. Specifically, the assistant 110 may move the first zipper 250a down to open the first zipper 250a and access the user 105 body via the access point 260a. Further, the assistant 110 may move the second zipper 255a up to open the second zipper 255a and access the user 105 body via the access point 265a. Stated another way, the first zipper 250a and the second zipper 255a may move opposite to each other to open. The access point 260a and the access point 265a may have same length. Alternatively, the access point 260a and the access point 265a may have different lengths.
As shown in
In an alternative aspect, the first zipper 250a may move up to open and the second zipper 255a may move down to open, and provide access to the respective access points 260a, 265a to the assistant 110.
Similarly, the third fastener 250b, 255b may include a third zipper 250b and a fourth zipper 255b. The third zipper 250b may allow the assistant 110 to access the user 105 body via the access point 260b and the fourth zipper 255b may allow the assistant 110 to access the user 105 body via the access point 265b. Stated another way, the third zipper 250b and the fourth zipper 255b may move opposite to each other to open. Specifically, the assistant 110 may move the third zipper 250b down to open the third zipper 250b and access the user 105 body via the access point 260b. Further, the assistant 110 may move the fourth zipper 255b up to open the fourth zipper 255b and access the user 105 body via the access point 265b.
In further aspects, the bathing suit 200 may have additional zippers (not shown in
In further aspects, the assistant 110 may access the user 105 body via the first fastener 245 or a zipper 245. For example, the assistant 110 may clean the user 105 body center portion by opening the zipper 245. In some aspects, the assistant 110 may open the zipper 245 by moving the zipper 245 from the bathing suit 200 bottom portion to the bathing suit 200 top portion. In further aspects, when the assistant 110 has completed the cleaning the user 105, the assistant 110 may place a towel (e.g., a large towel) inside the bathing suit 200 by opening the zipper 245 from the bottom to the top portion. Once the towel is placed, the assistant 110 may remove the bathing suit 200. Thus, the bathing suit 200 maintains user 105 privacy and alleviates the embarrassment and awkwardness while taking the bath or performing other daily activities.
In some aspects, a pocket 405 material may be different from the front portion 205 material and the back portion material. For example, the pocket 405 material may be made of soft plastic that may be sealed using a zip lock zipper (not shown). In particular, the pocket 405 may have an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface may be made of neoprene and the outer surface may be made of soft plastic, so that the pocket 405 does not absorb water. Stated another way, the pocket 405 may be a waterproof pocket. In further aspects, the bathing suit 400 may have two or more pockets (not shown) to place items.
In some aspects, the pocket 405 may include an integrated push-button body warmer (not shown) that may keep the user 105 body warm. For example, the integrated push-button body warmer may keep user's torso warm. The integrated push-button body warmer may have a push button. The user 105 or the assistant 110 may press the push button to turn on the integrated push-button body warmer, and press the push button again to turn-off the integrated push-button body warmer.
The integrated push-button body warmer may be battery operated. The zip lock zipper may be used to change or replace body warmer batteries. In some aspects, the integrated push-button body warmer may be placed in the pocket 405 and may be sewed/threaded to the garment permanently, with a small opening to replace batteries.
A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that by integrating the body warmer with the bathing suit 400, user's comfort may be greatly enhanced. For example, the assistant 110 may switch ON the body warmer to augment warmth produced by the hot water that may be disposed over the bathing suit 400, to enhance user comfort. Further, since the body warmer is disposed in a waterproof pocket, a probability of any adverse situation is greatly reduced.
In further aspects, the bathing suit 400 may store other devices in the pocket 405. The other devices may include a fall detector that may be configured to detect a user 105 fall instance. The fall detector may be a conventional fall detector. In further aspects, the other devices may include a “calling device”. The calling device may be a push-call device that may help the user 105 to call a helper in case of an emergency.
As described in conjunction with
The method 600 starts at step 602. At step 604, the method 600 may include wearing a bathing suit (such as the bathing suit 200). In particular, at step 604, the user 105 may wear the bathing suit 200 before going for the bath. In some aspects, the assistant 110 may assist the user 105 in wearing the bathing suit 200.
At step 606, the method 600 may include soaking the bathing suit 200 during the bath with hot water. The user 105 may not be required to remove the bathing suit 200 during the bath. In some aspects, the assistant 110 may soak the bathing suit 200 with hot water by using the hand shower 120. As described above, the bathing suit 200 may be made of hydrophilic material that may be configured to absorb water. Thus, the warmth of hot water on the bathing suit 200 may be transferred to the user 105 body, when the assistant 110 soaks the bathing suit 200 with hot water.
At step 608, the method 600 may include cleaning the user 105 body by using bathing suit access points. The bathing suit access points may be same as the access points 260a, 260b, 265a, and 265b (and the bottom opening 225) described above in conjunction with
At step 610, the method 600 may include inserting a towel inside the bathing suit 200 when the cleaning is complete. In particular, the assistant 110 may insert the towel by opening the front zipper 245 from the bathing suit 200 bottom portion to the bathing suit 200 top portion. At the bathing suit 200 top portion, the front zipper 245 may open completely. Thereafter, the assistant 110 may remove the bathing suit 200, at step 612. Stated another way, the assistant 110 may cover the user 105 body by using the towel before removing the bathing suit 200. The assistant 110 (or any other person) may then clean the bathing suit 200 (e.g., rinse thoroughly) and dry the bathing suit 200.
The method 600 ends at step 614.
In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
It should also be understood that the word “example” as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word “example” as used herein indicates one among several examples, and it should be understood that no undue emphasis or preference is being directed to the particular example being described.
With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the technologies discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the application is capable of modification and variation.
All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc., should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.
