Abstract:
A garment adapted for wear by persons desiring to maintain their arms in a fixed position along their upper body. The garment includes an upper portion, such as a shirt, adapted for wear on the upper body, and at least one hand portion, such as a glove. The shirt is preferably made of a loop material and the glove includes a region of hook material. Utilizing the loop and hook materials, the glove can be releasably attached to the shirt to maintain the user&#39;s hand in a fixed position along the user&#39;s upper body. The garment is primarily intended for maintaining one or both of the user&#39;s arms close against the body to facilitate relaxation while in cramped or tight positions, such as in an airplane seat. However, the garment may also be used in a wide variety of applications wherein it is desired to support one or both of the user&#39;s arms in a releasably fixed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a garment, and more specifically to a garment adapted for assisting a person to releasably secure one or both hands to his or her upper body.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Various devices have been proposed for wear on a body to assist a person in maintaining his or her arms or legs in a desired position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,137 to Bustance describes an athletic training device adapted to be worn by a boxer to help maintain the boxer&#39;s arms in the desired “ready” position during training exercises. The device in Bustance includes a vest element worn around the torso and a pair of sleeve elements worn around the bicep region of each arm. The vest and sleeve elements each include attachment means for releasably attaching the sleeves to the vest. This device improves the boxer&#39;s form by training him to hold his upper arms tightly against the sides of his torso while in the defensive position.  
         [0005]     In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,779 to Gerstung describes a form-keeping device for training gymnasts or spring-board divers to hold their legs and feet together during a gymnastic exercise or a dive. The device in Gerstung comprises a pair of straps adapted to be worn around the ankles and a pair of spacing elements configured to maintain the ankles at a fixed distance apart. Each of the ankle straps includes a portion having a loop or hook material for releasably attaching the two straps together during use to keep the ankles together during the desired routine.  
         [0006]     In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,334 to Proffer describes a harness adapted for wear by the front rider of a tandem pair on a motorcycle. The harness is provided with a number of handholds for enabling the rear rider to hold on to the front rider. The handholds are positioned on the garment such that the rear rider can comfortably maintain his or her arms around the waist of the front rider.  
         [0007]     Although various garment-type devices have been proposed for assisting persons to maintain their arms or legs in desired positions during physical activities, none of the proposed devices provides a means for assisting persons to releasably secure their hands to a desired location along their upper body. Such a device is very desirable for a number of reasons.  
         [0008]     For example, larger individuals are often quite uncomfortable during travel, such as by airplane, bus or train, because seats on these vehicles are typically not well-suited for larger body sizes and cannot be adjusted in width. As a result, the arms of larger individuals tend to extend over the armrest and thereby contact adjacent passengers. Worse yet, an individual&#39;s arm may extend into an aisle where it can be hit and injured by passersby or food carts.  
         [0009]     To avoid contacting other passengers and objects, some individuals have found it helpful to cross their arms and lay their hands flatly against their chest with their palms facing their torso. This position effectively narrows the individual&#39;s body width and thereby helps to prevent the problems just described. However, this position is difficult or impossible to maintain for extended periods due to the resulting muscle strain on the individual&#39;s shoulders and arms. The muscle strain and the associated discomfort can make it difficult or impossible for the passenger to relax or sleep during travel. Moreover, it has been found that prolonged muscle strain can lead to long-term health problems, such as, for example, tendinitis.  
         [0010]     Another situation where it would be desirable for a person to maintain one or both hands along his or her upper body is after an injury. Following an injury to an arm or shoulder, a sling is typically used to immobilize the arm. However, in many situations, a conventional sling may be uncomfortable, cumbersome or impractical. Furthermore, during the latter stages of the healing process, it may be desirable to use an injured arm for limited purposes; however, it can be very cumbersome to take off and put on a sling each time the person wishes to use his or her arm.  
         [0011]     Another situation where it would be desirable for a person to maintain one or both hands along the upper body is during transportation of a victim via a stretcher or similar means. Many stretchers do not include a strap or belt for securing the victim onto the stretcher. Other times, a victim is unable or unwilling to accept being secured to a stretcher via a strap. When no strap is used, it is difficult to prevent the victim&#39;s arms from falling over the sides of the stretcher, particularly if the victim is particularly large or the stretcher is narrow. If one or both of the victim&#39;s arms fall over the sides of the stretcher it can seriously aggravate an existing injury or result in an additional injury.  
         [0012]     Another situation where it would be desirable for a person to maintain one or both hands along the upper body is for minimizing the effects of certain neurological disorders. Some types of neurological disorders may be outwardly manifested by conditions such as body tremors or involuntary muscular movements. At times, such as in certain social situations or for safety concerns, it would be desirable to provide a device to help stabilize the person&#39;s hands and/or arms to prevent involuntary movements of the hands and/or arms.  
         [0013]     Thus, for at least these reasons, there remains a very real and substantial need for a new and improved garment that can be used to releasably secure a user&#39;s hands to the upper body in a desired position, such as in a folded configuration. Such a garment would be beneficial for the reasons described above and would be particularly useful for allowing larger individuals to travel in greater comfort. To be practical, it is desirable that such a garment be comfortable to wear. It is also desirable that such a garment has a minimum number of parts and utilizes simple attachment means for convenience and ease of use. It is also desirable that such a garment is constructed of durable materials that can be washed and reused. Finally, it is desirable that such a garment be inexpensive to manufacture, aesthetically appealing, and versatile enough for a wide range of applications. The present invention addresses these needs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a garment that enables a person to releasably secure one or both hands to his or her upper body.  
         [0015]     In one aspect, the garment comprises an upper portion, such as a vest or shirt, adapted for wear on the user&#39;s torso region. The upper portion has at least a region formed with a first attachment means. The garment also comprises a hand portion, such as a glove or strap, adapted for wear along at least one of the user&#39;s hands. The hand portion has a region formed with a second attachment means that is releasably engageable to the first attachment means for attaching the user&#39;s hands to his or her upper body.  
         [0016]     In another aspect, a variety of attachment means can be used with the present invention including, but not limited to, loop and hook materials, buttons, hooks, snaps and clasps.  
         [0017]     In another aspect, the upper portion of the garment is in the form of a strap that can be worn around the user&#39;s neck. The first attachment means is preferably located along the ends of the strap. The strap may include a padded region along the portion of the strap that passes along the back of the user&#39;s neck. The padded region increases the user&#39;s comfort and can be used to support the user&#39;s head during rest.  
         [0018]     In another aspect, the upper portion of the garment comprises a shoulder strap or a chest strap having a section with the first attachment means disposed along the outer surface of the strap. The hand portion, such as a glove, is releasably engageable to the strap for immobilizing one or both hands or arms. The embodiment using the shoulder strap is particularly well-suited for immobilizing an injured arm during rehabilitation. This embodiment has numerous advantages over a conventional sling, such as, for example, the arm can be easily detached or reattached to the strap as needed and the arm can be attached at a selectable location along the strap to increase comfort.  
         [0019]     In another aspect, a method of manufacturing the garment is provided. In one preferred embodiment, the method generally comprises providing an upper portion adapted for wear on the torso region of the user&#39;s body, the upper portion being formed of a loop material that is adapted to be releasably engageable with a hook material. The method also comprises providing a hand portion adapted for wear on at least one of the user&#39;s hands and attaching a portion of the hook material along the palm side of the hand portion.  
         [0020]     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the garment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the garment of  FIG. 1  during use.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a neck pad adapted for attachment to the upper portion of the garment of  FIG. 1  for improved head and neck support.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the neck pad of  FIG. 3  during use.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the garment wherein the upper portion comprises a crossing strap that is worn around the neck.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the crossing strap of  FIG. 5  during use.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the garment wherein the upper portion comprises a strap that wraps around the neck.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating the strap of  FIG. 7  during use.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a top view of another alternative embodiment of the garment wherein the hand portions comprise a pair of hand straps.  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a top view of another alternative embodiment of the garment wherein the hand portions comprise a pair of wrist straps.  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the garment wherein the upper portion comprises a shoulder strap.  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11  wherein the hand portion of the garment is attached to the shoulder strap in a different location.  
         [0033]      FIG. 13  is a top view of another alternative embodiment of the garment wherein the upper portion comprises a chest strap.  
         [0034]      FIG. 14  is a top view of another alternative embodiment of the garment similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 13  but wherein the wrist straps are adapted to attach to each other.  
         [0035]      FIG. 15  is a top view of another alternative embodiment of the garment wherein the upper portion comprises a harness. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0036]     Larger individuals are often uncomfortable while seated on vehicles such as airplanes, buses or trains because their arms tend to extend over the armrests and contact adjacent passengers or passersby. As a result, many individuals have found it helpful to place their arms in a folded position across their chest. This position effectively narrows their body width and helps to avoid contact with others. Unfortunately, however, this position can be very difficult to maintain, particularly during longer trips. Therefore, a need exists for a garment system that provides users with the ability to releasably secure their hands or arms at selectable locations along their upper body. Such a device would help prevent muscle strain and thereby significantly increase the user&#39;s comfort during travel. Such a device would also be useful in a wide variety of other applications, such as for maintaining a user&#39;s hands or arms in a fixed position during rehabilitation after an injury or to help control body tremors resulting from neurological disorders. To be practical, the garment system must be reliable, convenient and easy to transport.  
         [0037]     To address these needs, the present invention provides a new and improved garment adapted for providing users with the ability to releasably secure their hands or arms along their upper body. Referring now to  FIGS. 1-2 , for purposes of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a garment  10  including, generally, an upper portion  12  and a pair of hand portions  14 . The upper portion  12  is worn over the torso and can take a variety of different forms, such as, for example, a shirt, a vest or a sweater. The upper portion  12  is preferably made of a material that provides a first attachment means, such as, for example, a loop material. Alternatively, patches of material can be sewn or otherwise attached to the upper portion of the garment to provide first attachment means in specific locations.  
         [0038]     The hand portions  14  preferably comprise a pair of gloves with open fingers for comfort and convenience. However, it will be appreciated that the hand portions may take a variety of different forms. Furthermore, the hand portions may be worn on the wrists or forearms and therefore the term “hand portions” should not be construed as limited to articles adapted for wear only on the hands. The hand portions  14  include at least a region of material, such as, for example, a hook material, that provides a second attachment means. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the hand portions  14  is provided with a region of material  16  along the palm. The second attachment means releasably adheres to the first attachment means for providing the user with the ability to affix at least one hand to his or her upper body at a selectable location.  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 1  during use wherein the garment  10  provides a comfortable and convenient means for maintaining the user&#39;s hands in a fixed position along his or her upper body. As discussed above, this garment is particularly well suited for larger people while traveling on vehicles, such as on airplanes, buses, or trains, wherein the seats are often too narrow for their body size. By enabling the user to easily maintain his or her arms in a desired position along his or her upper body, the user&#39;s arms are prevented from contacting adjacent passengers or passersby and therefore the user can relax or sleep in comfort.  
         [0040]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , when the user places his or her palms against his or her upper body in the desired location, the region of material  16  along the palm of each of the hand portions  14  removably adheres to the material on the upper portion  12 . Thus, the user can relax his or her shoulders and arms and permit the garment to bear the load of the dead weight of the arms. As a result, muscle strain and tendonitis in the arms and shoulders can be avoided. The first and second attachment means are chosen to be sufficiently strong such that the dead weight of the arms will not cause the first and second attachment means to separate disadvantageously. As discussed below, this garment can take many different forms; however, each of the forms is manufactured to be capable of providing the user with a reliable means to support of one or both arms.  
         [0041]     Additional components may be attached to the upper portion  12  of the garment  10  of  FIG. 1 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a neck pad  16  may be provided for enhanced head and neck support. The neck pad  16  is preferably provided with at least a region  18  of second attachment means, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , for adhering to the upper portion  12  along the front shoulder region. The neck pad  16  can include an additional region  19  of second attachment means for attachment along the back of the user&#39;s collar on the upper portion  12 . The neck pad may take a variety of forms, such as, for example, a stuffed pillow or an inflatable tube.  FIG. 4  illustrates the neck pad  16  of  FIG. 3  during use. In addition, similar pads may be attached to other areas of the upper portion  12  of the garment, such as, for example, along the forearms, elbows or on a shoulder, for enhancing the user&#39;s comfort. Furthermore, pockets (not shown) may be attached to the upper portion at selectable locations for a wide variety of different purposes.  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a garment according to the present invention wherein the upper portion comprises a crossing strap  20 . The crossing strap  20  preferably attaches to itself at attachment location  17  to form a loop. The loop of the crossing strap  20  is placed over the head and is provided with first attachment means at least along the strap ends  22 . A significant feature of this embodiment is the ability to take the crossing strap  20  on and off quickly and easily, as compared with a sweater or vest. The crossing strap  20  illustrated in  FIG. 5  may include a padded neck region  24  for enhanced head and neck support. Hand portions  14  similar to the gloves illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be used with the crossing strap  20 , as illustrated during use in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of a garment according the to present invention wherein the upper portion is provided in the form of a non-crossing strap  21 . The strap  21  is placed around the back of the neck and lays over the front region of the shoulders. The strap  21  is provided with a first attachment means at least along the strap ends  23 . The strap  21  illustrated in  FIG. 7  also includes a padded neck region  25  for enhanced head and neck support. Hand portions  14  similar to the gloves illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be used with the strap  21 , as illustrated during use in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0044]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate alternative embodiments of hand portions comprising straps that are worn around the hands or wrists.  FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of the hand portions comprising palm straps  26  that wrap around the palm region of the hand. Each palm strap  26  includes an attachment region  28  provided with a second attachment means.  FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of the hand portions comprising wrist straps  30 . Each wrist strap  30  includes an attachment region  32  provided with a second attachment means.  
         [0045]      FIG. 11  illustrates yet another embodiment of the garment that is particularly well suited for immobilizing a victim&#39;s arm, such as, during rehabilitation after an injury. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the upper portion of the garment comprises a shoulder strap  34  adapted for wear across one shoulder. A region of first attachment means is provided at least along a region  36  on the exterior of the shoulder strap  34 . During use, the user wears a hand portion, such as one of the wrist straps  30  illustrated in  FIG. 10 , provided with a second attachment means adapted to releasably attach to the first attachment means  36  of the shoulder strap  34  at a selectable location.  
         [0046]     The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11  is particularly advantageous for applications wherein a sling may be impractical or cumbersome. This embodiment also advantageously allows the user to quickly and easily detach the wrist strap  30  from the shoulder strap  34  and thereby free the injured arm when necessary. In contrast, it is much more difficult to remove a conventional sling and then replace the arm in the sling when finished. A significant feature of this embodiment is the ability to select the attachment position of the arm according to the particular needs of the user. To illustrate this feature,  FIG. 12  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 11  during use, but with a wrist strap  30  attached to the shoulder strap  34  at a different location.  
         [0047]      FIG. 13  illustrates yet another alternative embodiment that is particularly well-suited for use in maintaining a user&#39;s hands or arms in a fixed location while laying on a stretcher or cot. In this embodiment, the upper portion of the garment comprises a chest strap  38  adapted for wear around the user&#39;s chest. A region of first attachment means is provided at least along a region  40  on the front exterior of the chest strap  38 . Hand portions, such as the wrist straps  30  shown in  FIG. 10 , provide second attachment means for releasable attachment to the chest strap  38 . The combination of the wrist straps  30  and the chest strap  38  provides the ability to affix the user&#39;s hands or arms along his or her upper body in a quick and easy manner.  
         [0048]      FIG. 14  illustrates yet another alternative embodiment wherein wrist straps  42 ,  44  are provided with attachment means on both the top and bottom sides. Using the wrist straps  42 ,  44  in combination with the chest strap  38 , a first wrist strap  42  may be attached to the chest strap  38  while a second wrist strap  44  is attached to the first wrist strap  42 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 15  illustrates yet another alternative embodiment wherein the upper portion of the garment comprises a harness  46  adapted for wear along the user&#39;s torso. This embodiment provides an upper portion that can be snugly fitted to the user. The harness  46  includes second attachment means  48  along the front exterior.  
         [0050]     In each of the embodiments described above, the upper portion is adapted for wear along the torso region of the body is provided with a first attachment means, such as a durable fabric comprising a loop material. As discussed above, the upper portion may be manufactured in a variety of different forms including, but not limited to, a shirt, sweater, vest or strap. Furthermore, the upper portion may be manufactured to be very durable for long-term use or may be manufactured to be disposable, such as for one-time use by passengers on an airplane, train or bus.  
         [0051]     The entire upper portion may be made of a loop material fabric or, alternatively, the fabric may be provided along only a limited desired region. In addition, the upper portion may have loop material along one or both sides (i.e., it may be single or double-sided). An upper portion manufactured from a double-sided loop material may be reversible and may also provide the ability to attach articles, such as pockets, along both the exterior and interior of the upper portion. The upper portion may also include a zipper in the front, preferably made of a plastic material for increased comfort and for avoiding detection by metal detectors.  
         [0052]     The fabric used in the manufacture of the upper portion is preferably breathable, lightweight, washable, flame-retardant, waterproof and has a soft surface for comfort against the skin. In one preferred embodiment, the fabric comprises a laminated loop material such as VELTEX® manufactured by VELCRO USA, Inc. VELTEX® provides a relatively soft and even surface that is aesthetically pleasing and can be manufactured into a functional garment that can be worn for warmth or style in nearly any environment. In another preferred embodiment, the loop material comprises a medical grade laminate that provides increased attachment strength and improved duty cycles for durability over long periods. Medical grade laminates generally comprise a soft breathable foam substrate with knitted nylon loop provided along one or both surfaces thereof. VELCRO USA, Inc. provides a wide variety of medical grade laminates that are suitable for use with the present invention.  
         [0053]     The hand portions of the garment are preferably manufactured to include a region of hook material, at least along the palm or inner wrist, for providing a second attachment means for attachment with the first attachment means. As discussed above, the hand portions may be manufactured for wear along the hands, wrists or forearms. The gloves may be open-fingered for increased comfort and functionality, similar to weight lifting gloves (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0054]     Although the first and second attachment means of the preferred embodiments are described above with respect to hook and loop materials, it will be appreciated that alternative first and second attachment means may also be used. For example, the invention may be used with attachment devices such as buttons, hooks, snaps and clasps or any other device wherein the first attachment means may be releasably attached to a second attachment means in a quick and easy manner. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that, when hook and loop materials are used, the hooks may be provided on the upper portion while the loops are provided on the hand portions, or vice versa.  
         [0055]     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the garment system of the present invention is very convenient to use. Due to the minimal number of components and ease of use, the garment may be easily transported or stored in small area. In addition, the garment system of the present invention is very versatile and can be used in a broad range of applications at home or during travel.  
         [0056]     In certain applications, the garment system is usable by two or more persons. For example, in one application, the upper portion (e.g., a vest) is worn by a motorcycle rider while the hand portion (e.g., gloves) is worn by a passenger. In this application, the garment provides a safety mechanism by helping to ensure that the passenger&#39;s hands are firmly secured to the rider&#39;s upper body. In other applications, the upper portion and hand portions may be used for instructional purposes, such as hand placement during dancing, or for a wide variety of other instructional or recreational purposes, such as games and the like.  
         [0057]     While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will also be appreciated that various additional modifications can also be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.