Patent Publication Number: US-2018027907-A1

Title: Aromatherapy scarf with pocket pouch

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/368,579, filed Jul. 29, 2016, entitled AROMATHERAPY SCARF WITH POCKET POUCH, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates generally to garments. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention concern an aromatherapy garment used to dispense an aromatherapy substance for the wearer. 
     2. Discussion of Prior Art 
     Aromatherapy involves the use of aromatic and/or medicinal vapors (e.g., from essential oils) for healing, relaxation, mood enhancing, and grounding. Oils can be absorbed via the skin to cleanse, nourish, and rejuvenate the body. Such oils can also be used to heal burns, cuts, or other skin damage. Oil vapors can also enter the olfactory system to provide psychological and physiological benefits. Most aromatherapy substances include plant-based formulations extracted from leaves, flowers, stems, seeds, bark, or roots. Several plants are known to diminish symptoms of physical ailments such as motion sickness, nausea, and headaches. Various garments, such as scarves, have been adapted to carry aromatherapy substances. 
     However, conventional aromatherapy garments have multiple deficiencies. For example, known garments have a carrier element (such as a pad) that absorbs and releases an aromatherapy substance. While prior art garments have an opening to receive and carry a pad, the garments allow the pad to be inadvertently dropped from the opening and lost. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following brief summary is provided to indicate the nature of the subject matter disclosed herein. While certain aspects of the present invention are described below, the summary is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide an aromatherapy garment that does not suffer from the problems and limitations of the prior art garments set forth above. 
     A first aspect of the present invention concerns an aromatherapy garment operable to be donned by a user and to removably receive an aromatherapy element. The aromatherapy garment broadly includes a garment layer and opposed pocket flaps. The garment layer is configured to cover at least part of the user when the aromatherapy garment is donned by the user. The pocket flaps are fixed relative to the garment layer and extend along a length direction. The pocket flaps cooperate to at least partly define a pocket with opposite pocket ends spaced along the length direction, with the pocket being configured to removably receive the aromatherapy element. The pocket flaps extend from corresponding locations adjacent the pocket ends toward one another along the length direction to at least partly cover the pocket and retain the aromatherapy element when the aromatherapy element is received therein. The pocket flaps cooperatively define an access opening therebetween that permits insertion and removal of the aromatherapy element relative to the pocket. 
     A second aspect of the present invention concerns an aromatherapy garment operable to be donned by a user. The aromatherapy garment broadly includes a garment layer, opposed pocket flaps, and an aromatherapy element. The garment layer is configured to cover at least part of the user when the aromatherapy garment is donned by the user. The pocket flaps are fixed relative to the garment layer and extend along a length direction. The pocket flaps cooperate to at least partly define a pocket with opposite pocket ends spaced along the length direction. The aromatherapy element is operable to deliver an aromatherapy scent to the user. The aromatherapy element is removably received in the pocket and extends between the pocket ends. The pocket flaps extend from corresponding locations adjacent the pocket ends toward one another along the length direction to at least partly cover and retain the aromatherapy element. The pocket flaps cooperatively define an access opening therebetween that permits insertion and removal of the aromatherapy element relative to the pocket. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective of an aromatherapy garment constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the garment includes a scarf, a pouch attached to the scarf, and an aromatherapy pad retained within the pouch; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary front elevation of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary rear elevation of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary top view of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , with the opposite bottom view being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary side view of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , with the opposite side view being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , showing the pouch mounted to a side section of the scarf; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the aromatherapy garment similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing the pouch opened to permit removal of the aromatherapy pad; 
         FIG. 9  is a fragmentary cross section of the aromatherapy garment taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 3 , showing the aromatherapy pad retained within the pouch; 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary front elevation of an aromatherapy garment constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary rear elevation of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a fragmentary top view of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , with the opposite bottom view being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 13  is a fragmentary side view of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIGS. 10-12 , with the opposite side view being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIGS. 10-13 , showing the pouch mounted to a side section of the scarf; 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the aromatherapy garment similar to  FIG. 14 , but showing the pouch opened to permit removal of the aromatherapy pad; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective of an aromatherapy garment constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the garment includes a shirt, a pouch, and an aromatherapy pad; and 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the aromatherapy garment shown in  FIG. 16 , showing the pouch attached to an interior sleeve surface of the shirt. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the preferred embodiment. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , an aromatherapy garment  20  comprises an aromatherapy scarf that is operable to be donned by a user and includes an aromatherapy element. In the usual manner, the scarf can be wrapped around the user in a variety of configurations. For instance, it will be appreciated that the scarf may be positioned around the user&#39;s neck (not shown) so that the aromatherapy element is directly below the user&#39;s chin (e.g., so that the user&#39;s face is adjacent and directly exposed to the element). 
     In general, the aromatherapy system allows targeted placement of an aromatherapy substance (not shown) in close proximity to the olfactory system of the wearer to provide continuous, stimulating, relaxing, therapeutic and/or medicinal effects desired by the wearer. 
     The scarf can be worn around the neck, shoulders, or waist of the user, and is preferably maintained by selectively replacing and/or reusing aromatherapy pads. The depicted scarf is long and rectangular in shape, and can be worn as a scarf, shawl, or used as a blanket. Aromatic vapors from the aromatic substance are diffused through the air at normal room temperature. 
     Although the aromatherapy element is integrated into the depicted scarf, it will be understood that the element could be provided as part of an alternative garment (e.g., a shawl, wrap, cloak, hat, shirt, etc.). The illustrated garment  20  preferably includes a scarf  22 , a pouch  24 , and an aromatherapy pad  26 . 
     The depicted scarf  22  is configured to cover at least part of the user when donned. The scarf  22  preferably includes a scarf body  28 , side sections  30  that form opposite side margins  32  of the scarf  22 , and end sections  34 . The body  28  has an elongated, unitary shape and presents opposite sides. The body  28  is preferably formed by a single layer of material, although the body could have multiple layers. 
     Each side section  30  and end section  34  preferably comprises a single piece of material that is folded onto itself to form a pair of overlapping layers. The side sections  30  and end sections  34  are fixed to the body  28  by sewing the sections  30 , 34  thereto along seams  35 . The resulting scarf  22  preferably has an elongated, rectangular shape. It will also be appreciated that the scarf could have an alternative geometrical shape (e.g., where the scarf is square or circular) for aesthetic and/or functional reasons. 
     The scarf  22  preferably includes a flexible fabric material such as silk, cotton, lyocell, wool, or a combination thereof (e.g., a lyocell and wool jersey blend). It is also within the ambit of the present invention where the scarf includes one or more alternative materials (such as an alternative fabric). In various embodiments, the fabric material can include a mixture of both regular fabric threads and stretch fabric threads. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3 and 7-9 , the pouch  24  preferably defines a pocket  36  that is configured to removably receive and secure the pad  26  while allowing the pad  26  to emit an aromatherapy substance outside of the pouch  24  in the form of liquid and/or vapor. The depicted pouch  24  includes a pouch base  38 , an overlapping pocket flap  40 , and an underlapping pocket flap  42  that are integrally formed with one another to form a unitary pouch structure (see  FIG. 9 ). The pocket flaps  40 , 42  cooperate to at least partly define the pocket  36  and opposite pocket ends  44 , 46 , with the ends  44 , 46  being spaced along a length direction L and defining a pocket length dimension D1 measured along the length direction L (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     The pocket flaps  40 , 42  extend from corresponding locations adjacent the pocket ends  44 , 46  toward one another along the length direction L to at least partly cover the pocket  36  and retain the aromatherapy pad  26  when the aromatherapy pad  26  is received therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the pocket flaps  40 , 42  preferably enclose the corresponding pocket ends  44 , 46  and extend from the pocket ends  44 , 46  toward each other to present respective flap edges  48 , 50  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). However, in some alternative embodiments, one or both of the pocket flaps  40 , 42  could extend from locations spaced from the respective pocket end  44 , 46 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the pouch  24  presents opposite side margins  52  that extend along the length direction L (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). The pouch  24  is preferably fixed to the scarf  22  along the opposite side margins  52  by corresponding seams  35  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     The depicted pocket flaps  40 , 42  preferably overlap one another to define overlapped flap portions  54 , 56  in a normal closed condition (see  FIGS. 7 and 9 ). The pocket flaps  40 , 42  can be selectively moved out of the closed condition and away from each other to temporarily expand the access opening  58  in an open condition (see  FIG. 8 ). The pocket flaps  40 , 42  can be selectively returned to the closed condition. 
     The pouch  24  presents an access opening  58  defined between the pocket flaps  40 , 42  (see  FIGS. 7-9 ). The access opening  58  permits insertion and removal of the aromatherapy pad  26  relative to the pocket  36  (see  FIG. 8 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the access opening  58  presents an opening length dimension D2 measured along the length direction L (see  FIG. 9 ). The flap edge  48  and the pocket end  44  cooperatively define the opening length dimension D2 (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     The opening length dimension D2 is preferably less than about one half the length of the pocket length dimension D1. The opening length dimension D2 is also preferably less than about one half the length of a pad length dimension D3. However, it will be appreciated that the opening length dimension D2 could fall outside one or both of these dimensional ranges without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will also be appreciated that the configuration of pocket flaps  40 , 42  permits the pouch  24  to be devoid of any removable fasteners (such as a button, snap, hook-and-loop material, zipper fastener, etc.). Although the pouch  24  is preferably devoid of such fasteners, one or more removable fasteners could be used to removably secure the pocket flaps to one another or to removably secure one or both of the pocket flaps relative to the scarf  22 . 
     However, the pocket flaps  40 , 42  could be alternatively configured to removably secure the pad  26  without departing from the scope of the present invention. Although the pocket flaps  40 , 42  preferably overlap one another, for some aspects of the present invention the pocket flaps could be in a nonoverlapping configuration while being operable to secure the pad  26 . In one such alternative embodiment, the pocket flaps could extend from the respective pocket ends  44 , 46  toward one another without overlapping. 
     In another alternative embodiment, one or both of the pocket flaps could extend from a location spaced between the pocket ends toward the other one of the pocket flaps (e.g., where the pocket ends are at least partly open and exposed). For instance, one or both of the pocket flaps could comprise a unitary strip of material that does not enclose the corresponding pocket end. 
     Each pocket flap  40 , 42  extends between the pocket ends  44 , 46  and is fixed to the scarf  22  along the side margins  52  of the pouch  24 . Although the pocket flaps  40 , 42  are preferably provided as part of the depicted pouch  24 , the pocket flaps  40 , 42  could be alternatively provided with the scarf  22 . For instance, the pocket flaps could be separated from one another (e.g., where the scarf  22  is devoid of the pouch base). In such an alternative embodiment, the pocket flaps could be sewn or otherwise fixed relative to the scarf  22 . However, it will be appreciated that the pocket flaps could be integrally formed as part of the scarf  22  (e.g., where the scarf includes one or more folds to form at least one of the pocket flaps). 
     The pouch  24  preferably includes a fabric material such as silk, cotton, lyocell, wool, or a combination thereof (e.g., a lyocell and wool jersey blend). However, it is within the ambit of the present invention where the pouch  24  includes one or more alternative materials (such as an alternative fabric). In various embodiments, the fabric material can include a mixture of both regular fabric threads and stretchable elastic threads. 
     Although the depicted pocket flaps  40 , 42  comprise a flexible fabric material, it will be appreciated that one or both of the pocket flaps could be formed of another flexible material (such as a rubber material or another elastomer) or a substantially rigid material (such as synthetic resin material or a metallic material, e.g., aluminum). 
     The aromatherapy pad  26  is preferably configured to deliver an aromatherapy substance to the user (in the form of liquid and/or vapor). The illustrated pad  26  includes a unitary pad body  60  and the aromatherapy substance (not shown). The pad body  60  presents a generally rectangular shape but could be variously shaped without departing from the scope of the present invention. The pad body  60  preferably includes a non-toxic absorbent material, such as felt, cotton, leather, synthetic resin (e.g., in the form of an open-cell foam), or any combination thereof. 
     The aromatherapy substance can include one or more of various compounds (in liquid and/or vapor form), such as an essential oil, perfume, or another scented liquid. In the usual manner, oils or perfumes can enter the body of the user via the user&#39;s skin or olfactory system. 
     The pad body  60  is preferably configured to absorb the substance when the substance is applied to one or more surfaces of the pad body  60 . The pad body  60  can be partly or completely saturated with the substance (e.g., to control the intensity and/or duration of substance discharge from the pad  26 ). 
     It will be appreciated that multiple pads  26  can be used to change, modify, or combine various scents. The pads  26  are preferably replaceable and reusable for different aromatherapy protocols. For some aspects of the present invention, the scarf  22  may be worn without the pad  26  on occasions (e.g., when a scent is not desired). Thus, the scarf  22  is operable as a dual-purpose fashion accessory and aromatherapy garment. 
     While the aromatherapy substance is preferably absorbed by the pad body  60 , the substance could also be provided separately from the pad body  60 . For instance, dried herbs such as lavender and potpourri can be inserted into the pouch  24  (either with or without the pad body  60 ). It will also be understood that elements (e.g., leaves, flowers, stems, seeds, bark, roots, or combinations thereof) of various other plant species could be inserted into the pouch  24  (e.g., to provide a desired scent). Also, for some aspects of the present invention, the scarf could be devoid of the aromatherapy pad. 
     The depicted pad  26  is removably received in the pocket and extends between the pocket ends  44 , 46 . In the illustrated embodiment, each pocket flap  40 , 42  at least partly overlaps the aromatherapy pad  26 . However, the garment  20  could be configured so that only one of the pocket flaps overlaps the pad  26  when the pad  26  is received in the pocket  36 . 
     The aromatherapy pad  26  presents the pad length dimension D3, which is measured along the length direction L. The pad length dimension D3 is preferably greater than the opening length dimension D2. The pad length dimension D3 is also preferably less than half of the pocket length dimension D  1 . However, the pad  26  could be alternatively sized (e.g., with respect to various features of the pouch  24 ). 
     In use, one or more of pad body  60  can be selectively saturated with an aromatherapy substance and inserted into the pouch  24 . The one or more pads  26  are inserted by moving the pocket flaps  40 , 42  away from each other from the closed condition to the open condition to temporarily expand the access opening  58  (see  FIG. 8 ). Once the one or more pads  26  are fully inserted into the pocket  36 , the pocket flaps  40 , 42  can be returned to the closed condition. 
     With the one or more pads  26  inserted in the pocket  36  of the pouch  24 , the closed pocket flaps releasably retain the one or more pads. To remove one or more pads  26  from the pouch  25 , the pocket flaps  40 , 42  are shifted away from each other from the closed condition to the open condition so as to expand the access opening  58  (see  FIG. 8 ). Once the one or more pads  26  are removed, the pocket flaps  40 , 42  can be returned to the closed condition. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 10-17 , alternative preferred embodiments of the present invention are depicted. For the sake of brevity, the remaining description will focus primarily on the differences of these alternative embodiments from the preferred embodiment described above. 
     Initially turning to  FIGS. 10-15 , an alternative garment  200  is constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The alternative garment  200  includes an alternative scarf  202 , a pouch  204 , and an aromatherapy pad  206 . 
     The scarf  202  preferably comprises a scarf body  208  that presents opposite side margins  210  of the scarf  202 . The body  208  has an elongated, unitary shape and preferably formed by a single layer of material, although the body could have multiple layers. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the pouch  204  presents opposite side margins  212  that extend parallel to side margins  210  along the length direction L and are preferably fixed to the scarf  202 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , an alternative garment  300  is constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The alternative garment  300  includes a shirt  302 , a pouch  304 , and an aromatherapy pad (not shown). 
     The shirt  302  includes a pair of sleeves  306  that each present a distal margin  308 . The pouch  304  is secured to an interior surface  310  of one of the sleeves  306  by sewing the pouch  304  along side margins  312  of the pouch  304 . The pouch  304  is arranged so that the side margins  312  extend generally perpendicular to the distal margin  308  of the corresponding sleeve  306 . 
     Although the above description presents features of preferred embodiments of the present invention, other preferred embodiments may also be created in keeping with the principles of the invention. Such other preferred embodiments may, for instance, be provided with features drawn from one or more of the embodiments described above. Yet further, such other preferred embodiments may include features from multiple embodiments described above, particularly where such features are compatible for use together despite having been presented independently as part of separate embodiments in the above description. 
     The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The inventor hereby states her intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.