Patent Abstract:
An apparatus and system for designed for supporting a hip of a pregnant woman who often experiences hip pain associated with her pregnancy to help relieve this pain including a leggings with hook-and-loop belts, straps and strips associated with pillows for the thigh and ankles.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/809,799 filed Apr. 8, 2013, entitled “Hip Apparatus”, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a woman&#39;s hip and, more particularly, an apparatus designed to support the hip of a pregnant woman who often experiences hip pain associated with her pregnancy to help relieve this pain. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known that abdominal distention due to excess weight causes pain. Though not limited to pregnancy, abdominal distention is especially encountered during pregnancy. In this respect, it is known that there is substantial weight gain during pregnancy, especially during the latter 20 gestational weeks. Weight increase during pregnancy may often reach 40 pounds or more with the largest amount of the increase occurring during the last 20 gestational weeks. 
     It is also well known that during pregnancy, the joints, ligaments and muscle structure of the pelvis and spine are particularly lax to increase the joint laxity and elasticity to accommodate the shape of the fetus. 
     Hip and pelvic pain is a very common aliment for both men and women. However, these symptoms are usually worse during a pregnancy. There are several reasons for the hip pain symptoms to be worse during a pregnancy. One reason is that during pregnancy the body of a woman releases a hormone called Relaxin. This hormone relaxes and softens joints and muscle tissue to accommodate the baby moving through the birth canal during delivery. 
     Unfortunately, this hormone can also increase the risk for joint injury and can cause hip pain during pregnancy. Second, as the pregnancy progresses, the uterus becomes larger. As previously stated above, pregnant women also gain weight. The added pressure on the pelvis from the gravid uterus with an unborn fetus developing inside of it and weight gain can aggravate hip and pelvic pain. Lastly, a pregnant woman is instructed to sleep on her side with the left side being more optimal than the right side. This recommendation is usually given after 20 weeks gestation. This positioning helps to optimize placental perfusion with the least amount of stress on the mother&#39;s cardiovascular system. However, sleeping in this position causes added strain on the hips and thus leading to more hip pain. 
     Unfortunately, treatment options for the hip pain are limited due to safety restrictions in pregnancy. There are some treatment recommendations to counter this hip and pelvic pain as listed below but usually these steps supply minimal to moderate relief:
         1) Bending legs, not crossing the legs while sleeping   2) Body pillows   3) Heating pads   4) Proper mattresses   5) Hip exercises and stretches   6) Swimming/water aerobics   7) Yoga/Pilates   8) Perinatal massages   9) Maternity belt iliac brace used when woken up &amp; about—not for sleeping   10) BELLA BANDS®   11) Analgesics such as TYLENOL®   12) Sitz baths       

     Therefore, what is really needed to help alleviate the hip pain is added support across the joint to counter the reasons listed above. This is exactly what the apparatus of the present invention accomplishes. The apparatus of the present invention securely holds the ball in the socket of the hip joint while sleeping and therefore lessens the strain across the joint and thus lessens the possible hip pain during a woman&#39;s pregnancy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The apparatus of the present invention incorporates a unique design to women leggings. The leggings may be made from stretch cotton, a modal fabric that resists pilling and still holds its shape for extended wear during pregnancy. The leggings may have a comfortable midrise to go with a slim elastic waistband that offers an easy fit for pregnant women that generally is ankle-length but the leggings may be shorter or longer in length depending upon the circumstances. So the leggings may be made from a mix of cotton, modal, and small percentage of SPANDEX®. Of course other materials like polyester, rayon and nylon or any combination thereof that is normally used for clothing leggings is a fine material too. Also, leather or rubberized leggings might also be material suitable for the hip support hip apparatus. 
     So the general stretch cotton leggings of various sizes and colors include fabric hook-and-loop fastener sewn along the inner and outer leg of the leggings or approximately in opposing position with respect to one another. 
     A belt with fabric hook-and-loop fastener sewn along the inside and outside is also a component part of the apparatus used in combination with the leggings to provide the structure that helps to alleviate hip pain when attached in a number of different ways. A back pillow comprised of a generally foam material inside with a cloth material on the outside includes openings generally at either end of the pillow cloth enclosure thereof to allow the VELCRO® belt to slip through the openings to use the pillow as a cushioned support when engaging the back of a pregnant lady using the support apparatus. 
     An alternate structure is where 1) the padding is now sewn into the pants; 2) the leg straps of fabric hook-and-loop fastener are sewn into the padding and exit from a slit on the outside of the legs; and 3) the strap is 2 inches thick with a fabric hook-and-loop fastener along the length. 
     Therefore, the present invention comprises generally cotton leggings of various sizes and colors with Velcro straps sewn along the inner and outer leg of the leggings, a belt with a fabric hook-and-loop fastener sewn along the inside and outside surfaces of the belt, a back support pillow including a foam core and cloth exterior pillow ease includes openings at opposite ends of the pillow case enclosing the foam core wherein the openings in the pillow case receive the belt there through to have the pillow slide onto the belt with opposing ends of a predetermined length of the belt with fabric hook-and-loop fastener hang out of the pillow case to engage the fabric hook-and-loop fastener straps along the inner and/or outer leg of the leggings, a foam thigh support pillow with a fabric hook-and-loop fastener attached thereto for fastening to the belt or to the inner fabric hook-and-loop fastener strap sewn on the inner leg of the legging, and a foam ankle support pillow with a fabric hook-and-loop fastener strap to keep the pillow in place between the ankles on the pregnant woman. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of leggings made in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the leggings of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  show a frontal view of a foam core pillow enclosed by a cloth pillow case having openings at opposing ends in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a cloth belt having predetermined strips of fabric hook-and-loop fastener along its length. 
         FIG. 5  shows a front view of the cloth belt having a portion of the belt attached to a foam core back support pillow within a cloth pillow case in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a back view of a cloth belt attached to a foam core back support pillow within a cloth pillow case of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of a foam thigh support pillow in accordance with the present invention having fabric hook-and-loop fastener in the concave portion thereof; 
         FIG. 8  shows a side view of a foam ankle support pillow with a fastening strap; 
         FIG. 9  shows a side view of the leggings on a person in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows the support pillow around the waist and one end of the belt attached to the outside fabric hook-and-loop fastener on the leg of the legging in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  shows both the thigh and ankle from pillows of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hip apparatus or system made in accordance with the present invention comprises a leggings  10  having two legs  12  and  14  with a strap  16  having fabric hook-and-loop fastener  18  on at least one side over generally the length of the exposed strap  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one end of the strap  16  is sewn into the upper portion of the leggings or garment  10 . Also, the leggings or garment includes a hook-and-loop strips  20  or the like running down the inside and outside of each leg  12  and  14  a predetermined distance for attachment to the hook-and-loop fastener  18  on the strap  16  or to a belt  22  hanging down from either end of a back support pillow  24  as shown in  FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 10  with a pair of openings  26  on generally opposing ends of the pillow  24  for receiving the belt  22  with a hook-and-loop fastener  28  running generally the length of the belt  22  for attaching to the hook-and-loop fastener  28  to the hook-and-loop fasteners  20  on the outside of the legs  12  and  14 , respectively. The pillow  24  is made of a foam block or any other suitable material that is generally solid or slightly flexible but generally holds it shape. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 11 , a thigh support pillow  30  of similar material to pillow  24  includes opposing concave portions  32  and  34 , respectively, with opposing hook-and-loop fasteners  36  and  38  therein that is placed between the thighs of a pregnant woman  40  sleeping on her left side is further attached to either the belt  22  or to the fasteners  20  on inside of the each leg  12  and  14  of the leggings  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 11 , an ankle support pillow  42  having an opening  44  therethrough for receiving a belt  46  through the opening  44  and having a hook-and-loop fastener  48  generally running the length of the belt  46  is placed between the ankles of a pregnant woman  40  and the fabric hook- and loop fastener  48  or the like to hold the pillow  42  in place between the ankles. 
     The combination of the leggings  10  of various sizes and colors, hook-and-loop fabric straps or belts  16  sewn into leggings and extending through the pillow  24  within the leggings  10  and having the inner and outer length of each leg  12  and  14  over a predetermined distance with hook-and-loop strips  20  to engage the hook-and-loop fasteners  18  of the belts  16  provide a back support for the pregnant woman  40 . 
     The back support pillow  24  with the opposing openings  26  at either longitudinal end thereof allowing the belt  22  to slide through the openings  26  and then hang down a predetermined distance from either side of the pillow  24  to engage the hook-and-loops strips  20  on the outside of each leg  12  and  14 , the thigh support pillow  30  attaching to the inner side of each leg on the leggings  10  and the ankle support pillow  42  attached via hook- and loop strap  46  attached thereto or other fastener are all elements comprising the overall apparatus and system for relieving hip pain in the pregnant women  40  while trying to sleep. 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific structural embodiment, it is understood certain elements are widely variable in composition of materials and design and that the materials shown do not limit the field of practical application or the substitution of similar materials to achieve the same result. Therefore many modifications and changes are possible without deviation from the scope of the attached patent claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0