Abstract:
A post-abdominal-surgery garment comprising a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion including at least one compression region capable of providing a pressure level to an item contained beneath said compression region and a selectively sealable division capable of transitioning from a first configuration and a second configuration; said selectively sealable division being located substantially within said upper portion, wherein said selectively sealable division can have maintain any configuration between said first configuration and said second configuration without substantially affecting the pressure level beneath the compression region.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional patent application No. ______ filed 24 Jan. 2005, by R. Kasprzak, the complete contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The disclosed invention relates generally to clothing, specifically a garment to be worn after surgery.  
         [0004]     2. Background  
         [0005]     In today&#39;s modern world, child birth can often be complicated and/or difficult for women. Thus, many women and their doctors opt for or are forced to deliver children via caesarian section surgery. Such surgical procedures can be fairly invasive and can, and do, result in trauma to the abdominal muscles. Such surgical procedures can therefore leave a new mother with impaired abdominal strength and an incision mark which can scar significantly if the surrounding tissue and muscles are not properly rested and given time to heal.  
         [0006]     Additionally, modern, cosmetic surgical procedures such as abdominoplasty have become popular. Such procedures can also leave the patient with weakened abdominal muscles. More problematic, give the cosmetic nature of the surgery, is how to minimize scarring. Significant movement or agitation of the tissue can result in significant scarring.  
         [0007]     Presently, most doctors wrap patients in large bandages to prevent movement and agitation of the tissue. However, such bandages can interfere with everyday tasks. Particularly, for new mothers, the bandages can restrict or prohibit breast feeding without removal of the bandages.  
         [0008]     What is needed is a garment that provides appropriate support and compression that can be easily removed and/or partially released, when desired, without causing unnecessary abrasion, so that the user can perform normal functions.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts a front view of one embodiment of a post-abdominal-surgery garment in a first configuration.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a front view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , in a second configuration.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts a rear view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  depicts an alternate rear view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts an alternate embodiment of the post-abdominal-surgery garment shown in  FIG. 1   
         [0014]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternate embodiment of the post-abdominal-surgery garment shown in  FIG. 1   
         [0015]      FIG. 7  depicts a rear view of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  depicts an alternate rear view of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7   
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment of a post-abdominal-surgery garment  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the garment  100  includes a body  102 , shoulder supports  104 , arm holes  106 , leg openings  108  and a selectively sealable division  110 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the garment  100  can include a compression region  112  and breast support  114 .  
         [0018]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the body  102  can be comprised of any capable of elastic deformation. In some embodiments, the body  102  can be comprised of 90% cotton with a 10% elastic thread composition, such as Lycra®. However, in alternate embodiments, the body  102  can be comprised of synthetic material, such as Nylon® and/or any known and/or convenient material or can be comprised of any natural material, such as cotton, wool and/or any known and/or convenient material. In still further alternate embodiments, the body  102  can be comprised of any combination of natural and/or synthetic materials. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the garment  100  can be formed as a single, seamless unit made from any known and/or convenient material.  
         [0019]     In some embodiments, the garment  100  and/or the body  102  can be comprised of two or more layers of material bound together at the perimeter of the garment  100 . In some embodiments, the two or more can be selected such that they have a low coefficient of friction relative to each other, such that the layers slide easily against each other.  
         [0020]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the shoulder straps  104  can be integral with the body  102  of the garment  100  and can be comprised of the same material. However, in alternate embodiments, the shoulder straps  104  can be comprised of a material different from the body  102  of the garment. In some embodiments, the shoulder straps  104  can be comprised of a translucent material and can be removably attached to the body  102  using any known and/or convenient detachable mechanism. In alternate embodiments, the straps can be fixed to the body  102  of the garment  100 , but can be a contrasting material.  
         [0021]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the shoulder straps  104  are depicted as uniform in thickness. However, in alternate embodiments the shoulder straps  104  can have any convenient geometry or proportions and/or can be adjustable in any known and/or convenient manner. In some embodiments, the shoulder straps  104  may be absent.  
         [0022]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the garment  100  includes arm holes  106  which are specifically identified and located below the shoulder straps  104 . In alternate embodiments, the shoulder straps  104  and the arm holes  106  can be integral and have any convenient geometry. Additionally, in alternate embodiments, the arm holes  106  can include elastomeric elements at the edge of the garment  100 .  
         [0023]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the garment  100  includes leg openings  108 . The leg openings  108  can be proportioned to accommodate a human leg. In some embodiments, the perimeter of the leg openings  108  can include an elastomeric member.  
         [0024]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the garment  100  includes a selectively sealable division  110 . In some embodiments, the selectively sealable division can incorporate a zipper, hook/loop patch closure (such as Velcro®), spaced fasteners and/or any other known and/or convenient selectively sealable mechanism.  
         [0025]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the garment  100  can include a compression region  112 . The compression region  112  can be located such that it encompasses the abdominal region and/or part of the torso of a wearer. In alternate embodiments the compression region  112  can have any convenient geometry and/or location relative to the garment  100  and/or selectively sealable division  110 . The compression region  112  can be formed by including a higher composition of elastomeric material within the region  112  or can be created by the introduction of an additional layer of elastomeric material associated with the body  102 . In alternate embodiments, the compression region  112  can be formed and/or created in any known and/or convenient manner using any know and/or convenient mechanism, material and/or composition thereof. In some embodiments, the compression region  112  can be formed from the same material as the body  102  of the garment  100 .  
         [0026]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper portion of the garment  100  can include breast support  114 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the breast support  114  can be an elastomeric member integrated and/or coupled with the body of the garment designed to provide support to the wearer&#39;s breast tissue. In alternate embodiments, the breast support  114  can be any known and/or convenient mechanism or material that can be used to support the breasts of wearer. In still further alternate embodiments, the breast support  114  can be absent.  
         [0027]     The garment  100  can be appropriately sized such that the body, and in particular the abdominal region and torso, of wearer will be bound with a prescribed level or range of pressure. Sizing and material composition can be altered such that a prescribed level or range of pressure is achieved.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  depicts a front view of an embodiment of the garment  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the selectively sealable division  110  is in an unsealed position. Although the selectively sealable division  110  is in the unsealed position, the compression region  112  can still deliver a prescribed level or range of pressure is maintained. The pressure level in the compression region  112  when the selectively sealable division  110  is in an unsealed position can be lower than or equal to the pressure level in the compression region  112  when the selectively sealable division  110  in the sealed position. In some embodiments, the selectively sealable division  110  can be in a partially open and/or closed position. The geometry of the garment  100  and the selectively sealable region can be selected such that a mother can uncover her breast to breast feed her child without significantly impacting the pressure level in the compression region  112 .  
         [0029]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the garment  100  can include a fastening mechanism  202  located in the nether and/or lower region of the garment  100 . In some embodiments the fastening mechanism  202  can be located between the leg openings  108  and can be a hook/loop patch, snap-type fastener and/or any other known and/or convenient fastening mechanism. In alternate embodiments, the fastening mechanism  202  can be located in any convenient location below the compression region  112 . The fastening mechanism  202  can be opened to allow a wearer to urinate and/or defecate without removal of the garment  100 . In some alternate embodiments, the fastening mechanism  202  may be absent.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  depicts a rear view of the garment  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the rear of the body  102  of the garment  100  has a dropped region  302 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the dropped region  302  is substantially horizontal. However, in alternate embodiments, the rear of the body  102  can have any convenient geometry that does not interfere with the pressure level in the compression region  112  while the selectively sealable division  110  is in any possible position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  depicts a rear view of an alternate embodiment of the garment  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear of the body  102  of the garment  100  has a rounded dropped region  402 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the rounded dropped region  402  is adjacent to the compression region  112 . However, in alternate embodiments, the rear of the body  102  can have any convenient geometry that does not interfere with the pressure level in the compression region  112  while the selectively sealable division  110  is in any possible position.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  depicts a front five of an alternate embodiment of the garment  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the lower portion of the garment  100 , including the leg holes  108  and fastening mechanism  202  are absent. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the lower portion of the garment  100  can include fasteners  502  designed to attach the garment  100  to another item of clothing and/or any other convenient attachment point. The fasteners can be any known and/or convenient fastening mechanism. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the fasteners  502  are located within the compression region  112 . However, in alternate embodiments, the fasteners can be located in any convenient location on the garment  100  and/or may be absent. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the base of the garment  100  can also include an elastomeric member  504 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the elastomeric member  504  can be integral with the body  102 , coupled with the body  102  or detachably coupled with the body  102 . However, in some embodiments the elastomeric member can be absent.  
         [0033]     In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 5 , the front of the body  102  of the garment  100  can have a depressed neckline  506 . In alternate embodiments, the neckline  506  can have any convenient geometry that does not substantially interfere with the operation of the selectively sealable division  110  and/or the pressure within the compression region  112 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternate embodiment of the garment  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the selectively sealable division  110  can be held in the closed position by a continuous and/or partially continuous hook/loop patch, such as Velcro®, a resealable adhesive and/or any other known and or convenient selectively sealable mechanism; collectively  602 .  
         [0035]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the garment can include hook/loop fasteners  604  that can selectively attach to other articles to secure the lower portion of the garment  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the hook/loop fasteners are located at the perimeter of the lower portion of the garment  100 . However, in alternate embodiments, the hook/loop fasteners  604  can be located in any convenient location on the garment  100 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  depicts a rear view of an embodiment of the garment  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , a substantial portion of the rear portion of the garment  100  has been removed to leave a plunged back  702 . In some embodiments the garment can be manufactured in the suggested geometry or can be tailored into the desired geometry. In alternate embodiments, the rear of the garment  100  can have any convenient geometry that does not substantially interfere with the pressure level in the compression region  112  at the abdomen of the wearer.  
         [0037]     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  depicts a rear view of an alternate embodiment of the garment  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , a substantial portion of the rear portion of the garment  100  has been removed to leave a plunged back  802  having at least a partially rounded edge. In some embodiments the garment can be manufactured in the suggested geometry or can be tailored into the desired geometry. In alternate embodiments, the rear of the garment  100  can have any convenient geometry that does not substantially interfere with the pressure level in the compression region  112  at the abdomen of the wearer.  
         [0038]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the garment  100  can include a strap  804  that can connect opposing sides of the back of the body  102  of the garment  100  across a plunged back  102 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the strap  804  can be comprised of an adjustable elastomeric material. However, in alternate embodiments the strap  804  can be comprised of any known and/or convenient material capable of connecting opposing sides of the back of the body  102  of the garment  100  across the plunged back  102 . In some embodiments, the strap  804  may not be present.  
         [0039]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  the strap  804  can be removeably coupled with the garment  100  via connectors  806 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the connectors  806  can be hook/look fasteners, snap-style fasteners, hook-style fasteners and/or any known and/or convenient fastening mechanism. In some embodiments, the connectors  806  can be permanent fastening mechanisms, can be integral with the body  102  and/or can be absent.  
         [0040]     Although the description of the garment  100  has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the apparatus, as described and hereinafter claimed, is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.