WEARABLE ARTICLES WITH EMBEDDED FIDGET ELEMENTS AND SENSORY AIDS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to articles and methods used to address issues with attention focus, disorders and stress alleviation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The term “fidget” is often used to refer to devices and/or elements that are designed to provide a user with sensory feedback when handled or manipulated. Fidget devices, such as fidget spinners or fidget cubes, are typically a manipulable assembly that is more complex and recognizable than a single fidget element. Fidget elements, on the other hand, such as beads, pellets, or a piece of uniquely textured material, are simple articles that have been incorporated into strings, bracelet or other objects such as toys. Fidget devices and elements are often generally referred to as fidgets, even though the device or element represents an item which is a tool rather than the act of fidgeting itself. Each fidget is designed to provide a user with sensory feedback such as tactile feedback, audible feedback, or a combination thereof, typically when manipulated by hand.

The sensory feedback provided by a fidget may have beneficial effects on the user. Some of these benefits include providing comfort, entertainment, limiting or reducing stress, and increasing mental focus and concentration. The term “worry beads” has been applied to strings of beads that are handled as a form of stress reliever, often by persons who do not present particular medical conditions that require treatment or other needs for movement or tactile input. The benefits associated with fidgets are especially pronounced, however, when used by adults and children with special medical, physical or mental needs, such as Autism, Asperger's, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or those with sensory processing difficulties. For example, persons with ADHD or Autism disorders often have sensory integration problems which drive them to seek extra sensory stimulation by means of touching items, moving their bodies, or activities which may be disruptive to learning and otherwise may be contrary to social norms.

One problem associated with fidgets is their ability to cause a distraction while the fidget is being used. For example, the user of a fidget may be unaware that the fidget is making a noise while it is being used, thereby causing an audible distraction to others nearby. Likewise, even if no audible sound is being generated by using the fidget, playing with the fidget may nonetheless cause a visual distraction to others nearby. Moreover, playing with the fidget may distract the user themselves from something that requires their attention, such as listening to a lecture in class. Therefore, there are instances where the benefits of fidgets can be outweighed by the distractions they cause to the user or others nearby. Moreover, the negative perception often associated by the public with conditions such as Autism or ADHD may have negative impact on persons making use of a fidget, or even with having such a fidget recognizably available. This is particularly pronounced with children who become familiar with fidgets and their use by persons with special conditions or needs, such that the mere recognition of a fidget may have negative repercussions on the user. Even in instances in which others do not recognize a fidget or associate it with persons having an atypical condition or disorder, a child having a fidget may be stressed or otherwise have concerns about the attitudes of others toward people requiring their use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed toward reducing the distractions caused by fidgets while still maintaining the benefits they offer the user.

In one example, a system that provides fidget elements, such as manipulable tactile elements, that are incorporated into a wearable article. Suitable wearable articles include articles of clothing, such as a shirt, a sweatshirt, a jacket, gloves, hats, belts, or pants, or the like, as well as article carried, such as blankets, backpacks.

In a further example, the wearable article includes an enclosure that can be reached by the hand of the person wearing the wearable article. One or more manipulable tactile elements are movably received and enclosed in the enclosure, and sized so as to be manipulably slid or rolled along the interior of the enclosure.

In yet a further example, the material forming the enclosure is sufficiently flexible and resilient that a person wearing the wearable article may move one or more of the manipulable tactile elements along the interior of the enclosure. The thickness of the material making up the enclosure is sufficiently thin relative to the size of the manipulable tactile element that the person manipulating the enclosure is able to detect the location of the manipulable tactile element through the enclosure material and move the manipulable tactile element within the enclosure.

In another form, the material forming the enclosure may be formed, as least on one side, from the fabric of the wearable article itself. For example, the enclosure may be in the form of a hem or may be formed by a seam of the wearable article, with the enclosure formed within the fold of the hem or at the seam.

Alternatively, the fabric forming the enclosure may be a section of material that is applied to the wearable article in the form of a patch or layer, and may be made of the same material as that of the wearable article or alternatively a different type or thickness of material. Particularly in embodiments in which the wearable article is to be made of thick material, such as a coat, sweatshirt or thick pants, a thinner material may be incorporated as the patch to form the enclosure. The manipulable tactile element material is sufficiently rigid to allow manipulation through the fabric making up the enclosure.

In other examples, where multiple the manipulable tactile elements are employed, the manipulable tactile elements' material may be sufficiently resilient or elastomeric so that contact between adjacent manipulable tactile elements does not produce a distracting noise. For example, suitable resilient or elastomeric materials include Thermoplastic Elastorers (TPEs), Thermoplastic Rubber (TPRs), Polyurethanes, Neoprene Rubber, Nylon, Cork, Wood, Foams (EVA or PU), or gels or the like or a combination of any of the above.

In yet other embodiments, where multiple the manipulable tactile elements are employed, at least two of the manipulable tactile elements are configured to generate a force between therebetween. The user, therefore, must, exert a separation force to overcome the force between the two manipulable tactile elements in order to separate the manipulable tactile elements. For example, one of the manipulable tactile elements may be formed at least partially from a magnet or magnetized material and the other of the two manipulable tactile elements may be formed from a magnetic material so that the two manipulable tactile elements generate a magnet force therebetween. In another example, the manipulable tactile elements may be formed from or have an exterior surface that is configured to increase friction between the two manipulable tactile elements so that in order to move the two manipulable tactile elements relative to each other, the user must exert a force to overcome the friction force between the two manipulable tactile elements. For example, suitable materials include hook and loop type materials, rough or coarse textured plastics, rough or coarse textured ceramics, felts, rough or coarse textured fabrics, or elastomers, such as silicone and polyurethane, which can have inherently tacky and soft surfaces that could create high friction, or the like.

In another example, the enclosure may have an obstacle therein about which the user must move the fidget element and the fidget element is less likely to move due to gravity or otherwise too easily across the enclosure. In embodiments in which a pouch is formed on the wearable article to enclose the fidget elements, the fidget element or elements may be manipulated in non-linear directions and/or groups of fidget elements may be moved collectively. In alternative embodiments the enclosure is sized sufficiently to allow the fidget element to freely move through or along the enclosure, but alternatively the enclosure is sized to tightly encompass the fidget element to provide for movement through the enclosure but with much greater effort or resistance to movement. As a still further alternative the fidget element is secured on or in the wearable article so as to not be moveable relative to the article or for only over a limited range.

In other embodiments, a fidget element or elements may be intended to be moved along a linear path or alternatively a non-linear path, such as a convoluted or tortuous pathway. Moving the fidget element or elements along non-linear pathways be particularly effective in that a non-linear pathway may increase mental focus and concentration.

In some embodiments visual distractions caused by fidget elements are reduced through discreetly incorporating the fidget elements into the wearable articles at strategic locations. These include along hemlines of the wearable articles, on interior surfaces of the wearable articles, or in other locations on the wearable articles that are not readily observable by peers. Visual distractions are also reduced as a result of limiting obvious and observable misuse of the fidget elements by a user. This is accomplished because the wearable article restrains the movement of the fidget elements which are embedded within the wearable articles. Audible distractions may also be similarly reduced as the wearable articles and/or the material forming the fidget elements may dampen noise caused by the fidget elements.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent by review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in which a wearable article in the form of t-shirt is embedded with fidget elements;

FIG. 2 is a frontal perspective view of another embodiment of the wearable article in the form of a hooded sweatshirt with embedded fidget elements;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the hooded sweatshirt of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a thumbhole sleeve of the sweatshirt of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of pea-sized bead fidget elements used in embodiments of the wearable article;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of alternative rice-sized bead fidget elements used in embodiments of the wearable article;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of textured material used in forming a fidget containing enclosure on the of the wearable article of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a fidget containing enclosure forming an embodiment of the of the wearable article;

FIG. 8A is a front sectional elevation view of another embodiment of an enclosure holding a plurality of fidget elements;

FIG. 9 is a frontal perspective view of another embodiment of the wearable article embodied as a button-up shirt;

FIG. 10 is a frontal perspective view of yet another embodiment of a hooded sweatshirt that incorporates fidget elements; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of an enclosure that may be formed in or applied to any of the wearable articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, the numeral 10 generally designates a wearable article in the form of a t-shirt (FIG. 1). T-shirt 10 has an overall base configuration that is of conventional garment shape and having a conventional garment size for the wearer. As will be more fully described below, one or more fidget elements, such as manipulable tactile elements, are incorporated into the t-shirt at one or more location that are accessible by a wearer of the t-shirt.

Referring again to FIG. 1, t-shirt 10 includes a pair of sleeves 12, a collar 14, a waist hemline 16, and a middle torso region 18. Unlike conventional garments, t-shirt 10 includes one or more fidget elements 20 discreetly incorporated into attachment areas, such as waist hemline 16. Fidget elements 20 may vary widely, and generally include tactile elements that can be rubbed, squeezed, or otherwise touched (such as a piece of satin or other uniquely textured article) or manipulable tactile elements that can be “fiddled” with or otherwise moved or manipulated (such as beads or pellets) such that they move or rotate independently of the wearable article, such as a wearable article of clothing. In other words, the manipulable tactile elements may move in the enclosure untethered from the wearable article.

For example, incorporation of fidget elements 20 into the t-shirt waist hemline 16 can be achieved through various methods such as sewing or adhering the fidget elements 20 into waist hemline 16, with waist hemline 16 acting as an elongated channel or enclosure 21. Fidget elements 20 in the form of manipulable tactile elements may be received and contained within channel 21. Channel 21 may be formed by spaced seams-such as formed by double stitching. The outer dimensions of manipulable tactile elements may be sized to be smaller than channel 21 formed by hemline 16 so as to provide the wearer with the ability to push fidget elements 20 along hemline 16. The dimensions of channel 21 may also be sized to restrict movement of manipulable tactile elements within channel 21, for example with friction, until a user manipulates channel 21 and/or the manipulable tactile elements within channel 21.

In other embodiments, the manipulable tactile elements may be configured themselves to create a force between them. For example, the material forming the manipulable tactile elements may create a resistive force between them that resists their relative movement with respect to each other so that a user has to apply a force to separate them to move them individually or to move them relative to each other. For example, the material forming the manipulable tactile elements may create a friction force between them or an attractive force so that a user has to apply a force to overcome the friction force or the attractive force to separate them or move them relative to each other.

In one example, the manipulable tactile elements may be formed or coated from a material that creates friction or an attractiveness force. The attractive force may comprise a magnetic force that attracts two or more manipulable tactile elements together. For example, one of the manipulable tactile elements may be formed at least partially from a magnet or magnetized material and the other of the two manipulable tactile elements may be formed from a magnetic material so that the two manipulable tactile elements generate a magnet force therebetween.

In another example, the manipulable tactile elements may be formed from or have an exterior surface that is configured to increase friction between the two manipulable tactile elements so that in order to move the two manipulable tactile elements relative to each other, the user must exert a force to overcome the friction force between the two manipulable tactile elements. For example, as noted, suitable materials include hook and loop type materials, rough or coarse textured plastics, rough or coarse textured ceramics, felts, rough or coarse textured fabrics, or elastomers, such as silicone and polyurethane, which can have inherently tacky and soft surfaces that could create high friction, or the like.

Although FIG. 1 depicts fidget elements 20 as being incorporated into waist hemline 16, fidget elements 20 may alternatively or additionally be incorporated into other areas of t-shirt 10 as well. For example, fidget elements 20 may be incorporated into hemlines or channels 21 formed on sleeves 12, collar 14, or a location on middle torso region 18 of t-shirt 10 (FIG. 1). These locations are adapted to optionally incorporate fidget elements 20 at interior hemlines, or hemlines on the interior or body-side surface of the garment, such that the fidget elements would be visually imperceptible to an outside observer, or an observer of the wearer of t-shirt 10. It should be recognized that manipulable tactile elements, such as beads, pellets, or other spherical or polyhedral-shaped objects may also be attached to a garment in alternative ways, and beads are not limited to spherical shapes. Further, the manipulable tactile elements may have a wide variety of durometers—in other words they may be rigid, semi-rigid, or soft. Additionally, the manipulable tactile elements may have a varying roughness to increase or decrease the friction therebetween, as discussed herein. For examples of suitable materials, reference is made to the above description. As noted herein the shape of the manipulable tactile elements may vary, again to change to the interface between the manipulable tactile elements, including the friction therebetween.

For example, a manipulable tactile element may be attached to a garment via a string or other cordage such that the manipulable tactile element may freely rotate around the cordage without disturbing or otherwise causing the garment to move. In embodiments in which fidget elements 20 are embedded in the garment, the person wearing the garment preferably may manipulate fidget elements 20 through the fabric of the garment in order to move fidget elements 20 by flexing the fabric at the location of fidget elements 20 but without causing substantial movement of the garment relative to the person wearing the garment.

In another illustrative embodiment, a hooded sweatshirt 30, (FIG. 2) includes pair of sleeves 32, a hood 34, a waist hemline 36, and a middle torso region 38. Hooded sweatshirt 30 has an overall base configuration that is of conventional garment shape and having a conventional garment size for the wearer. Hooded sweatshirt 30 further includes a front pocket 40 on the front facing region of middle torso region 38. Like t-shirt 10 of FIG. 1, fidget elements 20 may be discreetly incorporated into waist hemline 36 of hooded sweatshirt 30. Waist hemline 36 is sized to define an elongated channel or sleeve 21 in which fidget elements 20 are located, with sufficient clearance between fidget elements 20 and waist hemline that fidget elements 20 may be manipulated by hand along channel 21 formed by waist hemline 36. Similar to t-shirt 10 of FIG. 1, the above-described locations, including hood 34, waist hemline 36, middle torso region 38, and front pocket 40, are adapted to incorporate fidget elements 20 at interior hemlines that are visually imperceptible to an outside observer of hooded sweatshirt 30.

Hooded sweatshirt 30 also provides additional or alternative interior hemlines for incorporation of fidget elements 20. (FIGS. 2, 3). Among these locations are an internal pouch 42, such as formed by an elongated channel or sleeve, provided on or inside of front pocket 40. As shown in FIG. 2, pouch 42 may extend vertically along pocket 40 and, in one embodiment, may be secured in pocket 40 only at its upper seam 42a. Alternatively, pouch 42 may extend horizontally or extend in a convoluted path. In another alternative, fidget elements 20 may be included in a hem formed on one or both of the hand entries 44 into front packet 40. In another alternative, a hood hemline 45 around the full or partial circumference of the face opening for hood 34 may provide an elongated channel in which fidget elements 20 are enclosed.

The pouch 42 may be centrally located, for example, within a pocket 40 with, as noted, the pouch upper or top seam 42a sewn to the pocket interior. The upper or top seam 42a may be serged and straight stitched to close the pouch 42.

As a further alternative, one enclosure may form a palm pouch 46 in one or both of a set of extended cuffs 48 formed on the extended ends of sleeves 32. As shown, extended cuffs 48 are formed with thumb apertures in order to provide wearing sleeves 32 with the ability to be extended over the palm of the wearer's hands. (FIGS. 2 and 4). Alternatively, one enclosure may form a hand backside pouch 50 on the backside of one or both extended cuffs 48. (FIG. 3). Palm pouch 46 and hand backside pouch 50 are sized to allow the manual movement of a set of fidget elements 20 within the respective pouches.

Incorporation of fidget elements 20 into palm pouch 46 leaves fidget elements 20 visually imperceptible to an observer standing behind a wearer of hooded sweatshirt 30 (FIG. 3). Fidget elements 20 incorporated into the internal pocket region 42 or the hand backside pouch 46 will be visually imperceptible to an observer from both the front and back sides of the wearer. Both the internal pocket region 42 and the palm pouch 46 are easily accessible by the wearer's hands in such a way that the wearer can discreetly access and manipulate fidget elements 20 without causing a distraction to others nearby. Fidget elements 20 can be incorporated into any combination of the above locations. The placement of fidget elements 20 at certain locations on a garment such as hooded sweatshirt 30 may be more noticeable to persons around the wearer when manipulating fidget elements 20, such as around hood 34. Selection of a desired location for fidget elements 20 may therefore take into account the places and circumstances in which the garment will be worn and as to whether increased concealment of fidget elements 20 is desirable.

While FIGS. 2 and 3 depict fidget elements as only incorporated into the right-hand side of a wearer's palm pouch 46 and hand backside pouch 50, it should be understood that fidget elements 20 can be selectively incorporated into only the wearer's left-hand side palm and hand backside regions, or both the left-hand and right-hand side palm and hand backside regions. Depending on which side is the wearer's dominant hand, it may be beneficial to only incorporate fidget elements into a wearer's non-dominate hand side of hooded sweatshirt 30 so as to not interfere with tasks such as writing.

The properties of fidget elements 20 themselves are also able to be selected to provide the wearer with customized sensory feedback that is optimized to the wearer's individual needs and desires. One mode of customization is the size of fidget elements 20. For example, the sensory feedback provided by pea-sized bead manipulable tactile elements 52 (FIG. 5) may be preferred by one wearer, while another wearer may prefer the sensory feedback provided by rice-sized bead manipulable tactile elements 54 (FIG. 6). Fidget elements 20 in the form of manipulable tactile elements can also embody forms different than that of spherical beads or pellets. For example, fidget elements 20 may be oval, cylindrical or alternatively have flat surfaces such as a cube or polyhedron. Further, the manipulable tactile elements can be in the form of a tube or cylindrical element that is either solid or hollow, and is particularly suitable for use in a hemline. The material forming manipulable tactile elements is sufficiently rigid to allow manipulation through the fabric making up the channel 21 or pouch 46, but may alternatively be sufficiently resilient or elastomeric that contact between adjacent manipulable tactile elements does not produce a distracting noise, and further as noted above, create friction between the manipulable tactile elements.

In garments including fidget elements 20 that are manually moved along an elongated channel or sleeve 21, the elongated channel 21 may be generally linear as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively elongated channel 21 may be formed as a convoluted path that requires more complex movement of fidget elements 20 along the channel.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 8A, the wearable article may have a non-linear path for the fidget elements 20 to move through the enclosure. This non-linear path makes it more challenging for the wearer to move the fidget elements 20 and may increase mental focus and concentration. For example, the non-linear path may be formed by darts or stitching that segment the enclosure into sub-sections and as a result creates obstacles in the enclosure about which the fidget elements 20 must be moved to move them from one sub-section of the enclosure to another sub-section of the enclosure.

As best seen in FIG. 8, in any of the above wearable articles, such as t-shirt 10, hoodie 30, button up shirt 100 (described below), sweatshirt 200 (described below), or in the other exemplary wearable articles noted herein, the wearable article may have an enclosure 21 with a convoluted path 56, which is formed in a hem of or in a patch applied to the wearable article. The convoluted path 56 may be formed by one or more obstacles 58 that extend into the enclosure. The obstacles can extend from the same side of the enclosure or extend from opposed sides in an alternating pattern as shown in FIG. 8. Further, the obstacles 58 may be formed by darts (formed by stitching) or lines of stitching, including stitching in a shape, and which extend across a portion of the enclosure to form the convoluted path but leave a portion of the enclosure unobstructed or open for the fidget elements 20 to pass along the path from one section of the enclosure to another section. The darts or lines may extend orthogonally or non-orthogonally from the side or sides of the enclosure. Further, the enclosure may be formed from a premade insert that is inserted, for example, into a seam or hemline of the article. Thus, the obstacles from two or more sub-sections in the enclosure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the arrangement of the obstacles form partial barriers spaced along path 56 (FIG. 8). The resulting path 56 is, therefore, convoluted and may have a non-linear, zig-zag or sinusoidal pattern thus requiring manipulation of fidgets elements 20 vertically as well as laterally in order to traverse path 56 when the enclosure is arranged in a generally vertical plane. As would be understood, when the enclosure is arranged in a generally horizontal plane, the movement of fidgets elements 20 may be lateral along horizontal axes.

In some embodiments enclosure 21 is sized sufficiently to allow fidget element 20 to freely move along the enclosure, but alternatively enclosure 21 is sized to tightly encompass fidget element 20 to still provide for movement along enclosure 21 creating friction to generate greater resistance to movement and requiring greater effort to achieve movement of fidget element 20.

Referring to FIG. 8A, in any of the wearable articles, such as t-shirt such as t-shirt 10, hoodie 30, button up shirt 100 (described below), sweatshirt 200 (described below), or in the other exemplary wearable articles noted herein, the wearable article may have an enclosure 21, such as in the form of a pouch or pocket (such as pouch 42), also with a convoluted path 156. Convoluted path 156 may be formed about one or more obstacles 158. Similar to obstacles 58, obstacles 158 may be formed by darts or one or more lines of stitching (or shapes formed by stitching). The obstacle or obstacles extend across a portion of the enclosure to form the convoluted path around the obstacle(s) but leave a portion or portions of the enclosure unobstructed to allow the fidget elements 20 to pass along the path from one sub-section of the enclosure to another sub-section.

In the illustrated embodiment, the obstacle comprises two lines of stitching arranged in a cross pattern in the middle of the enclosure so that the lines segment the enclosure into four sub-sections. It should be understood the number of lines and their arrangement may vary. In addition, as noted, the stitching may form an enclosed shaped so the pathway extends around the enclosed shape. Alternately, the stitching may extend inwardly from the sides of the enclosure similar to the stitching shown in FIG. 8.

In any of the above, lines or darts may be formed by a single line of stitching or multiple lines of stitching.

As a still further alternative fidget element 20 may be secured to the garment so as to not be moveable relative to the garment. In such a non-movable fidget alternative, the wearer manipulates the garment at fidget element 20 without movement of fidget element 20 relative to the garment.

In yet another alternative, the fidget element may be a tactile element, or a uniquely textured article that has a different texture than that of the wearable article. The tactile element, such as textured cloth 60 (FIG. 2), may be a smooth-textured article such as a piece of silk, or a semi-rigid article having one or more raised surfaces such as bumps and/or ridges. In the illustrated embodiment, textured cloth 60 is applied to the garment, and may optionally include manipulable tactile elements such as pellets or other movable items contained within textured cloth 60. For example, a wearer may find the tactile feedback provided by a smooth piece of satin 60 (FIG. 7) to be desirable in addition to or instead of pellets or beads, or alternatively a fabric or other article with a ribbed, napped or rough texture. The uniquely textured cloth fidget element 60 may be incorporated into the wearable article in a fashion similar to that of the movable pellet fidget elements (FIG. 2). Alternatively, a tactile element may be formed as a loop or loops that extend from the surface of the garment. Other modes of customization such as shape, rigidity, color, or audible feedback properties, may be selected as well. In embodiments in which fabric overlays or surrounds fidget elements 20, the fabric is to be sufficiently flexible and have a thickness to allow manipulation of manipulable tactile elements such as fidget elements 20 through the fabric.

In other embodiments, fidget elements 20 may be incorporated into various types of pants, shorts, skirts or other wearable articles (not shown) designed to cover at least a portion of a wearer's legs. In pant-form of embodiments, fidget elements 20 may similarly be incorporated into waistlines, hemlines, pockets, or other locations on the wearable article.

In another embodiment, fidget elements 20 may be incorporated into a glove (not shown). Similar to the incorporation of fidget elements into enclosures formed in palm region 46 and/or hand backside region 50 of hooded sweatshirt 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3), fidget elements 20 may likewise be located in the palm region and hand backside region of a glove. In addition, fidget elements 20 maybe incorporated into the portion of the glove that covers the wearer's fingers.

Fidget elements 20 incorporated into the wearable article may also be coupled together to form an assembly of fidget elements. The wearer may also selectively couple and create uniquely satisfying combinations and arrangements of fidget elements 20 which are incorporated into the wearable article. Additionally, the coupling mechanism between fidget elements 20 may vary such that the act of coupling fidget elements 20 itself produces its own unique sensory feedback to the wearer. For example, fidget elements 20 may be slidably or rotatably coupled to a garment such that the fidget element 20 may be moved or otherwise manipulated freely in a unique motion or pattern relative to the garment.

Referring now to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 9, a button-up shirt 100 includes multiple locations which may contain or otherwise incorporate fidget elements 20. For example, a center torso area or pocket 102 is located between adjacent center buttons 104 on the interior side of button-up shirt 100. Additionally, each sleeve cuff 106 of shirt 100 has a cuff pocket or area which may contain or otherwise incorporate fidget elements 20. In the illustrated embodiment, a textured item 108, which could be made of smooth satin 60 of FIG. 7 or other uniquely textured material, is sewn into a right sleeve cuff 106a such that it is accessible to a wearer of button-up shirt 100 via the exterior or interior of sleeve cuff 106a. That is, portions of textured item 108 are located on both internal and external surfaces of button-up shirt 100. A left sleeve cuff 106b includes a sewn-in pocket 110 that may be textured and/or hold or incorporate fidget elements 20. In the illustrated embodiment, pocket 110 is located on the interior of left sleeve cuff 106b such that it is not visually perceptible by an outside observer of button-up shirt 100.

Referring now to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 10, another hooded sweatshirt 200 includes a front pocket 202 on the front facing region of middle torso region 204. Like hooded sweatshirt 30 of FIG. 2, fidget elements 20 may be discreetly incorporated front pocket 202 of hooded sweatshirt 200 via an internal pocket 206. Internal pocket 206 is not visually perceptible to an outside observer of hooded sweatshirt 200, and may be accessed by a wearer of hooded sweatshirt 200 while the wearer's hands are within front pocket 202. Internal pocket 206 may further include textured material such as the smooth satin 60 depicted in FIG. 7.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	17524078	Nov 2021	US
Child	18921327		US

WEARABLE ARTICLES WITH EMBEDDED FIDGET ELEMENTS AND SENSORY AIDS

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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

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Continuation in Parts (1)