SUN GARMENT

Abstract

An exemplary sun garment may have a neck portion, sleeve portions, front portion, and back portions. The exemplary sun garment may be configured to be worn in various applications about the torso and/or head of the user to shield the user's sin from sun damage.

Description

BACKGROUND

The incidence rate of melanoma has doubled since 1973, 200% increase. The United States has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of melanoma cases over the past few decades. The incidence of melanoma has increased 15 times in the last 40 years. This is a more rapid increase than for any other cancer. In the United Kingdom, a similar increase has been experienced. Much of the damage to DNA in skin cells results from ultraviolet (UV) radiation found in sunlight and in the lights used in tanning beds.

Sun exposure is damaging to a person's skin. A person can use sun block or simply stay in the shade—under eaves, umbrellas, etc. However, sun block requires the periodic reapplication. A user may not always be aware when the effectiveness of the sun block has diminished either. Shade requires physical objects to be near or held in position and therefore restricts activities and locations of activities. Wearing UV Sun protection fabric accessories is considered one of the best ways to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the sun garment include a material configured to secure to a person to be worn and cover at least some areas typically exposed with conventional summer or sun-time attire, such as t-shirts, bathing suits, tanks, etc. However, the sun exposure danger is not limited to the summer and benefits of embodiments described herein can be found year round and may be used with any garment or non-garment combination. Exemplary embodiments may include sleeve portions to extend from and/or cover a user's shoulder's to mid-arm, elbow, wrist, hand, fingers, or any length to cover the desired body portion. Exemplary embodiments may include a neck portion configured to extend, circumferentially around a user's neck and secure the garment to the user. Exemplary embodiments may include a chest portion extending between and/or from the neck and/or sleeve portions. Exemplary embodiments may include other portions

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front side of an exemplary garment as seen on a user according to embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a back side of an exemplary garment as seen on a user according to embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front side of an exemplary garment as seen off of a user according to embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a back side of an exemplary garment as seen off of a user according to embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a back side of an exemplary garment as seen on a user according to embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrates exemplary applications of the garment described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be used and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments of this invention.

Exemplary embodiments include a sun garment configured with two sleeve portions, a neck portions, front portions, and combinations thereof. Although each portion is described herein, any combination of portions, features, or configurations may be included in any combination and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Exemplary embodiments are provided herein for the sake of example only.

Embodiments illustrated herein include an exemplary sun garment having a neck portion 102, sleeve portions 104, front portion 106, and back portions 108a, 108b. The front and/or back portions may extend between and/or from the neck and/or sleeve portions.

The neck portion 102 may include a portion to cover a portion, a majority (about or greater than 50%), a substantial portion (about or greater than 75%), or all of the neck. In an exemplary embodiment, the neck portion 102 is configured to circumscribe the neck and overlap to couple one end of the neck portion to an opposite end of the neck portion. For example, the neck portion may include a generally strip extension having a coupling mechanism on opposing surface and/or opposing ends of the neck portion. The coupling mechanism may be hook and loop (Velcro®) fasteners, button and hole, button and loop, hook and loop, other fastening means, tie extensions, and combinations thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling mechanism is dynamic to permit the worn neck portion to have different circumference or diameter lengths and accommodate various users. As shown in the attached drawings, the back portion may also have other closure features such as tie portions. In this case, the neck portion is extended to create two ribbons in any form (they can narrow or otherwise extend) that permit the user to tie the garment behind the neck.

Sleeve portions 104 may extend from about the shoulder of a user along a length. The sleeve portion may include a first end (configured to be located near the shoulder and/or upper arm of a user) with a first diameter (d1). The sleeve portion may include a second end opposite the first end with a second diameter (d3), smaller than the first diameter. The sleeve portion may be tapered from the first diameter to the second diameter continuously along the entire length of the sleeve portion. For example, d1 may be greater than d2. The taper may be variable or linear along the length. The sleeve portion may be configured to extend from the shoulder of the user to a mid-portion or end of a user's arm, such as to an elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, or fingers.

The sleeve portion second end may be positioned on an opposing side from the sleeve portion first end. As shown below, the sleeve portion second end continuously tapers to the end of the sleeve. At the sleeve end (d3) and a portion adjacent thereto (d2), the taper is substantially reduced, such that the sleeve end is approximately the same diameter along a length (d2 approximately equal to d3). Along this portion, a slit or hole may be incorporated in the sleeve material configured to accommodate a user's thumb. For example, the sleeve may include an underarm seam running from the first end of the sleeve portion to the second end of the seam portion along a bottom edge of the sleeve portion (i.e. configured to be positioned under the users arm and extend the length of the sleeve portion along the user's arm. Adjacent the second end, the seam may be opened. For example, approximately 0.25-3 inches, such as 0.25-1.5 inches, from the sleeve second end, the seam may include a gap for approximately 0.5-3 inches, such as 1.5-2.5 inches. The gap may be configured to accommodate a user's thumb. The thumb aperture need not be limited to a seam location, but may alternatively or additionally be positioned anywhere adjacent the end of the sleeve. It may also be adjacent the seam. The sleeve may also include two thumb apertures on opposite circumferential sides of the sleeve, such that the thumb may be accommodated when worn in various configurations as described herein (e.g. forwards or backwards). In an exemplary embodiment, the thumb aperture may also be at the underside bend of the wrist portion or as a separate cuff with a hole.

The sleeve portion second end may be otherwise configured to cover a portion of the user's hand. In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve portion second end may terminate in an opening. As shown, the opening may be defined as generally a linear termination of the terminal end of the sleeve orthogonal to the sleeve length. The opening may be tear or leaf shaped such that one end of the opening tapers outwardly at a greater rate than at the opposite side of the opening (not shown). The taper permits one side of the sleeve portion to be longer than another side of the sleeve portion. As shown, the longer side of the sleeve portion is on an upper or outward side of the sleeve portion such that when worn it is positioned over the back of a user's hand. The longer side of the second end is configured to lay generally straight across the user's hand, such that a portion of the sleeve length is approximately constant around a portion of the circumference of the sleeve. The sleeve length may then lessens as the sleeve portion is traverses to a minimum length opposite the maximum length. The described lengths are in reference to a common upper starting point on the sleeve portion, such that the configuration or variation of the sleeve upper portion does not interfere with the relative lengths described herein. The sleeve minimum length may define a cusp or may be a continuous reduction to define a sloped or curved minimum.

The sleeve portion second end may be configured to fold back upon itself such that the sleeve may terminate at the wrist or extend past the wrist to cover a portion of the hand. Therefore, the sleeve portion minimum length may be configured to rest at or adjacent the wrist of a user.

The sun garment may include one or more front and/or back portions. The front and/or back portions may be separate material pieces or a single material piece. The front and/or back portions may extend from and/or between the neck portion and one or more sleeve portions. On one side of the garment, a solid material piece extends from and between each of the neck portion, first sleeve portion, and second sleeve portion. The front portion is configured to cover an upper torso section of the user. The front portion may be configured to extend over a front or back of a user. The front portion may be configured to extend down to an upper chest area of the user, mid-chest area of the user, middle torso, navel, waist or any desired distance.

The sun garment may include one or more back portions. As shown, two back portions extend from opposing sides of the front portion and respective back portions extend between the neck portion and respective sleeve portions. As shown, the back portions do not directly couple to each other, but instead attach through the front portion and/or neck portion. The back portion may taper from a top side to a bottom side (such that the top edge comprises a longer width than the bottom edge) or may be approximately even along a vertical length. For example, as shown, a gap formed between the first back portion and a second back portion is less toward the neck portion and greater toward the bottom of the garment away from the neck portion.

Exemplary embodiments are configured to be worn in different configurations and styles. FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate exemplary applications for embodiments of the garment described herein. For example, the garment may be folded in half at its front portion and the sleeve portions extend through the loop defined by the fold of the garment and worn around a user's neck. The neck portion may also be configured to fold within or over the front portion. The front portion may have mating attachments with neck portion to secure the neck portion in a folded configuration. The garment may be worn with the front and back portions over the respective front and back body portions of a user, or visa-versa. The sun garment may also be worn around the user's head such that a bottom edge of the garment front portion opposite the neck portion is positioned at or adjacent the user's forehead or top of the head, and the sleeve portions tied to each other or wrapped around the user's neck. The garment may also be worn around the user's shoulders and sleeve portions tied or wrapped around the user's neck. These and different configurations may be employed to shield different portions of the user from the sun without requiring bulky, heavy, or hand-held devices to provide shade.

Exemplary embodiments of the sun garment may comprise a sun protecting material. The sun protecting material may be from the material selection itself, or from a coating or other material combination either treated, matte coated or woven or other. For example, exemplary embodiments comprise UPF protection of 30 or more, such as 50 or more. For example, exemplary embodiments may include, but are not limited to polyester, nylon, trico, brushed trico, micropoly spandex, denim, cotton, or other. For example, an exemplary material may include 83% poly and 17% spandex. The fabric may be treated or woven to achieve optimal UV protection, and any percent blend of fabric types may be used. Percent of fabric blends may vary, composition percent of materials used may also vary. Exemplary embodiments include any combination of any fabric that achieves UPF 30+ or higher. Exemplary embodiments may also include materials or components comprising antimicrobial properties or perspiration (liquid) wicking properties. The fabrics may also include any combination of the following properties: Max Dri moisture management technology, UVA/UVB PA++ protection, Microblok technology, antimicrobial treatment which prevents odor and growth of bacteria, fungi, and/or mold. The fabric may also be solid, prints, or combinations thereof.

Although embodiments of this invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of embodiments of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sun garment, comprising: a neck portion having a first end configured to removably couple to a second end opposite the first end;two sleeve portions configured to extend from a user's shoulder to a user's fingers when in a first worn application;a front portion extending between the neck portion and two sleeve portions; anda first back portion and a second back portion extending from the two sleeve portions and front portion, wherein the first back portion is separated from the second back portion when in the first worn application.

2. The sun garment of claim 1, wherein the first and second back portions comprise terminal ends extending from the neck portion to a bottom edge of the garment, the first and second back portion terminal ends outwardly taper to define a gap of greater distance at the bottom edge than adjacent the neck portion.

3. The sun garment of claim 2, wherein the two sleeve portions comprise a seam extending along a length thereof, and the seam comprising an aperture configured to accommodate a thumb of the user in the first worn configuration.

4. The sun garment of claim 3, wherein the neck portion comprises a button and hole to form the removable attachment between the second end and opposite first end.

5. A method of wearing the garment of claim 4, comprising: positioning the garment in the first worn application where each of a user's arms is positioned in respective each of the two sleeve portions, each of the user's thumbs are positioned through the aperture in respective each of the two sleeve portions, the front portion covers a user's chest area, the first and second back portions cover respective portions of lateral sides of a user, and the neck portion is closed and circumscribes the user's neck.

6. A method of wearing the garment of claim 5, further comprising: positioning the garment in a second worn application where each of a user's arms is positioned in different respective each of the two sleeve portions from the first worn application, each of the user's thumbs are positioned through the aperture in different respective each of the two sleeve portions from the first worn application, the front portion covers a user's back, the first and second back portions cover respective portions of lateral sides of a user's front side.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the neck portion is tucked under respective back portions to create an open neck portion at the front of the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the neck portion is closed such that it circumscribes the user's neck.

9. A method of wearing the garment of claim 6, further comprising: positioning the garment in a third worn application in which the garment is folded in two and the two sleeve portions positioned through the loop defined by the fold, wherein the garment is positioned around the user's neck such that the fold over portion is on a front side of the user, and the two sleeve portions fall down the front side of the user.

10. The method of wearing the garment of claim 9, further comprising: positioning the garment in a fourth worn application in which the garment is around a top of the user's head and circumscribes the user's face, the neck portion is positioned about a user's forehead, and respective each of the two sleeve portions are positioned under the user's chine to fall down opposite back sides of the user.