Abstract:
A jumpsuit is provided for meeting the needs of a woman. The jumpsuit has a cicumferential fastener which when closed fully connects upper and lower portions of the suit. When the fastener is fully opened, the lower portion is partially separated from the upper portion. When the woman then squats, the lower portion may be pulled down the thighs away from the crotch.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention pertains generally to one piece garments of the jumpsuit variety such as, coveralls, body suits, flight suits, and overalls, and more particularly to a jumpsuit which facilitates the urination process for a women. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Jumpsuits having selectively opening flaps are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,263,146 illustrates a coverall garment which has a zippered flap. The flap has a horizontal top and opposite downwardly extending sides. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,717 discloses a zipper drop seat garment in which the slide fastener is wholly concealed under a belt and in the pockets of the garment. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,991 shows a jumpsuit having hidden access flaps in the seat portion which can be easily opened and closed to allow the wearer to use toilet facilities without completely removing the garment. The access flaps are formed from a horizontal separation across the garment back at the waist and an invisible zipper which starts at the crotch rear area and extends vertically to and intersects the waistline area at the separation. A piece of elasticized material is attached to the garment above the separation and extends downward and covers the separation when the zipper is closed. A plurality of snaps or hook fasteners are spaced apart along the edges of the waist separation to secure the flaps to the upper waist portion of the garment. In another embodiment, the elasticized material is integral with the garment giving a more finished appearance. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,480 consists of a one piece garment in which the back is separated into two parts, upper and lower, by a horizontal opening formed in the small of the back and which is connected at both extremities to vertical slits formed along both sides of the garment. The upper half of the back has fastener members on its lower corners with which it can be secured to the front. The lower half has an elastic belt at its upper edge and fasteners along the slits, which together make the garment fit the wearer well at work or during exercise. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,396 describes a coverall type garment comprised of integrally formed upper blouse or shirt portion and a lower pants portion. The pants portion has an integrally formed panel to permit a person wearing the garment to comfortably use restroom facilities. The panel is uniquely formed to be completely concealed and also as a fashion feature when the garment is being worn. The concealment is accomplished by forming the panel as a part of the waistband and belt and side pockets. The rear seam of the opening of the opening entrance to the side pockets forms a seam for the panel so that seams for the panel are completely concealed. The flaps of the material forming the pocket are constructed to unfold when the panel is released providing a wide opening. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,356 shows a jumpsuit with an improved, utilitarian drop seat having a bodice attached to pants at the front waist seam. The pants have hidden, inseam side pockets that facilitate the opening of the drop seat area. The drop seat area has a back, elasticized waistband and side tabs having fasteners that, when fastened, secure the drop seat in closed position with the appearance of a normal jumpsuit. 
   Although jumpsuits designs have sought ways to ease the processes of relieving bodily needs, none are specifically tailored to accommodate the anatomical differences of women. Drop seat covers for buttocks, whether “C” or “U” shaped, do not allow the garment to be removed from the area directly below the crotch, and as such are not sufficient for a woman to urinate, whether at a toilet or in a portable urinal. Back drop designs are therefore not the answer to a woman&#39;s sometimes frequent urination needs. The back drop seats are simply made to ease the process of defecation. There is no known prior art which meets a woman&#39;s requirements for urination while wearing a jumpsuit. 
   When a man needs to urinate while wearing any of the currently available flight configuration suits or body suits used by the majority of government fliers, he merely has to raise the zipper from the crotch upward. It is a two way zipper so there is no need for him to release the zipper all the way down from the top. A women, on the other hand, must remove the jumpsuit over her hips. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a jumpsuit specifically tailored to the anatomical needs of a woman. An elongated circumferential zipper provides a way for a woman to undo the jumpsuit and urinate without having to take off the jumpsuit. The zipper is located below the waistline and above the hips, and extends at least 270° around the jumpsuit. Because of the zipper, the jumpsuit may be completely removed from the area below the crotch without disrobing by squatting and moving the lower portion toward the knees. The jumpsuit is particularly useful for flying where urination can be a problem on long flights. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a jumpsuit for a woman, includes a body having a central axis, a waist, a front side, an upper portion, and a lower portion. A fastener means is provided for selectively connecting the upper portion to the lower portion. The fastener means has a first end and an opposite second end. When the fastener means is fully closed, the upper portion is connected to the lower portion. When the fastener means is fully open, the upper portion is partially connected to the lower portion by a thin connector strip which is disposed between the first end and the second end of the fastener means. The connector strip is substantially centrally disposed on the front side of the jumpsuit. The fastener means circumscribes an arc of at least 270° around the central axis of the jumpsuit. 
   In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the arc is about 340°. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the arc disposed is substantially perpendicular to the central axis so the fastener means is substantially horizontal. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first and second ends of the fastener means are disposed below the waist of the jumpsuit. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, when the fastener means is fully open the lower portion splits away from the upper portion so the woman may assume a squatting position wherein the lower portion may be pulled down the thighs thereby vacating the lower portion from an area below the woman&#39;s crotch. 
   Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a jumpsuit in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the jumpsuit; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the jumpsuit; 
       FIG. 4  is a view along the line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an alternate view along the line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of a fastener means starting to be opened from a fully closed position; 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the fastener means in a fully open position; 
       FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the jumpsuit with the wearer in a squatting position; 
       FIG. 9  is rear elevation view of the jumpsuit with the wearer in a squatting position; and, 
       FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the jumpsuit with the wearer in a squatting position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1–3  show front elevation, side elevation, and rear elevation views, respectively, of a jumpsuit in accordance with the present invention, generally designated  20 . As used herein, the term “jumpsuit” embraces all garments of the one piece variety such as coveralls, body suits, flight suits, and overalls. Jumpsuit  20  is fitted to the body of the wearer and is typically neither loosely nor tightly fitting. Jumpsuit  20  includes a body  22  having a central axis  24 , a waist  26 , a front side  28 , an upper portion  30 , and a lower portion  32 . Jumpsuit  20  also includes fastener means  34  for selectively connecting upper portion  30  to lower portion  32 . Fastener means  34  has a first end  36  and an opposite second end  38 . When fastener means  34  is fully closed as is shown in  FIGS. 1–3 , upper portion  30  is connected to lower portion  32 . As used herein, the term “connected” means that the bottom perimeter of upper portion  30  is connected to the top perimeter of lower portion  32 . In a preferred embodiment, the connection is a continuous connection such as would be effected by the shown zipper fastener means  34 . Hook and loop bands, and slide fasteners would also provide a continuous connection. In another embodiment, the fastener means  34  could be cooperating buttons, snaps, or hooks which are spaced around the bottom perimeter of the upper portion  30  and the top perimeter of the lower portion  32 . 
   When fastener means  34  is fully open (refer to  FIGS. 8–10 ), upper portion  30  is partially connected to lower portion  32  by a connector strip  40  (dashed area in  FIG. 1 ) which is disposed between first end  36  and second end  38  of fastener means  34 . Connector strip  40  is substantially centrally disposed on front side  28 . Also referring to  FIG. 4 , fastener means  34  circumscribes an arc of at least 270° around central axis  24 . In a preferred embodiment, the arc is about 340° (refer to  FIG. 5 ). That is, connector strip  40  is only about 20° wide. In the shown embodiment, the arc is disposed substantially perpendicular to central axis  24 . In other words, fastener means  34  resides in substantially horizontal orientation when jumpsuit  20  is worn by a standing person. It is also noted that first end  36  and second end  38  of fastener means  34  are disposed below the waist  26  and above the hips  42  of the wearer. 
   Jumpsuit  20  further includes a second fastener means  44  having an upper end  46  and a lower end  48 . Second fastener means  44  is disposed on front side  28  oriented parallel to central axis  24 . It substantially bisects connector strip  40 . Second fastener means  44  runs from below fastener means  34  to above waist  26 , and opens upward from lower end  48 . 
     FIG. 4  is a view along the line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1 . Fastener means  34  circumscribes an arc of at least 270° around central axis  24 . This allows lower portion  32  to separate from upper portion  34  so the lower portion may be moved up the wearer&#39;s thighs  500  to the hollow of the knees  502  which is the inside portion of the knee opposite the knee cap (refer to  FIGS. 8–10 ). 
     FIG. 5  is an alternate view along the line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1 . In this view, fastener means  34  circumscribes an arc which is about 340° thereby almost separating upper portion  30  from lower portion  32 . That is, connector strip  40  is only about 20° wide, thereby making the separation of lower portion  32  from upper portion  30  even easier. 
     FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of fastener means  34  starting to be opened by the wearer from a fully closed position. In the shown embodiment, the wearer uses a zipper tab  50  to effect the opening. 
     FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of fastener means  34  in a fully open position. 
     FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of jumpsuit  20  with the wearer in a squatting position as for urination. When fastener means  34  is fully open, lower portion  32  splits away from upper portion  30  so the woman may assume a squatting position wherein lower portion  32  may be pulled all the way down the woman&#39;s thighs  500  thereby vacating lower portion  32  from an area below the woman&#39;s crotch (also refer to  FIG. 10 ). In an embodiment of the invention, lower portion  32  is pulled down the woman&#39;s thighs  500  all the way to the hollow of the woman&#39;s knees  502 . 
     FIG. 9  is rear elevation view of jumpsuit  20  with the wearer in a squatting position. Because of fastener means  34 , lower portion  32  may be split away from upper portion  30  and pulled down the woman&#39;s thighs  500  to the hollow of the knees  502 . 
     FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the jumpsuit with the wearer in a squatting position. It is noted that lower portion  32  has been pulled down the woman&#39;s thighs  500  in direction  52  to the hollow of the knees  502 , thereby removing all jumpsuit material from below the woman&#39;s crotch. In this manner, urination can be effected without wetting jumpsuit  20 . In terms of use, a method for a woman to urinate when dressed in a jumpsuit includes:
         (a) providing a jumpsuit  20  for the woman, the jumpsuit  20  including;
           a body  22  having a central axis  24 , a waist  26 , a front side  28 , an upper portion  30 , and a lower portion  32 ;   fastener means  34  for selectively connecting upper portion  30  to lower portion  32 , fastener means  34  having a first end  36  and an opposite second end  38 , wherein when fastener means  30  is fully closed upper portion  30  is connected to lower portion  32 , and when fastener means  34  is fully open upper portion  30  is partially connected to lower portion  32  by a connector strip  40  disposed between first end  36  and second end  38  of fastener means  34 ;   connector strip  40  substantially centrally disposed on said front side  28 ; and,   fastener means  34  circumscribing an arc of at least 270° around central axis  24 ;   
           (b) fully opening fastener means  34 ;   (c) assuming a squatting position;   (d) pulling said lower portion  32  down the woman&#39;s thighs  500  away from the crotch and toward the hollow of the woman&#39;s knees  502  so that lower portion  32  vacates an area below the woman&#39;s crotch; and,   (e) urinating.       
   The method further including:
         in step (d), pulling said lower portion  32  down the woman&#39;s thighs  500  all the way to the hollow of the woman&#39;s knees  502 .       

   The method further including:
         in step (a), the arc being about 340°.       

   The method further including:
         in step (a), the arc disposed substantially perpendicular to central axis  24 .       

   The method further including:
         in step (a), first end  36  and second end  38  of fastener means  34  disposed below waist  26 .       

   The method further including:
         a second fastener means  44  having an upper end  46  and a lower end  48 , second fastener means  44  disposed on front side  28  and oriented parallel to central axis  24 , second fastener means  44  substantially bisecting connector strip  40 ;   second fastener means  44  running from below fastener means  34  to above waist  26 ;   second fastener means  44  opening from lower end  48 ; and,   before step (d), opening second fastener means  44  from lower end  48  to at least waist  26 .       

   Opening second fastener means  44  can enhance the use of jumpsuit  20  during urination by allowing first end  36  to separate from second end  38  of fastener means  34  at connector strip  40 , thereby effectively increasing the perimeter of lower portion  32 . 
   The preferred embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.