Swimming Garment and Corresponding Method of Use Thereof

The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,838,099, entitled “SWIMMING GARMENT, AND CORRESPONDING METHOD OF USE THEREOF”, and filed at the Canadian Patent Office on Dec. 20, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a garment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a swimming garment.

Swimming garments are well known in the art.

Also well known in the art are the various disadvantages associated with conventional swimming garments.

For instance, when considering a women's conventional one-piece swimming garment, it is disadvantageous (ex. time-consuming, tedious and cumbersome) in that a user will typically have to remove the entire one-piece swimming garment if she wants or needs to go to the bathroom, for example. Another disadvantage associated with this type of conventional one-piece swimming garment is that after swimming in it, for example, and if water is still impregnated in the garment, one cannot simply put on a pair of pants or shorts thereover, because the water embedded in the lower portion of the garment will soak the pair of pants or shorts that have been put on.

These types of disadvantages are also associated with conventional one-piece swimming suits used for little girls, in that, if a parent needs to change a diaper worn by a given child or needs to access to a lower body portion of the child in order to assist in any sort of related ways (for example, going to the bathroom, etc.), then typically the entire one-piece swimming garment needs to be removed from the child, which one again, is time-consuming, tedious and cumbersome, for a variety of different reasons.

Hence, in light of the aforementioned disadvantages, there is a need for an improved garment which, by virtue of its design and components, would be able to overcome at least some of the above-discussed concerns.

The shortcomings of the prior art are generally mitigated by the different embodiments of the present invention.

According to a broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a garment for enabling a user of said garment to selectively have access to a lower body portion below a waistline of said user, the garment comprising:

• • an upper body portion configured for removably mounting about an upper body portion of the user, the upper body portion of the garment having a front side and a rear side; and
  • a lower body portion configured for removably and selectively covering a lower body portion of the user, the lower body portion of the garment having a front side and a rear side, the lower body portion of the garment extending downwardly from a given side of the upper body portion and being removably apposeable to an opposite side of said upper body portion.

The garment may also be provided with a plurality of different accessory components which enable the lower body portion either to be removably mountable onto the upper body portion, or to being interchangeable with other possible lower body portions, as well as for enabling a given lower body portion cooperating with the upper body portion of the garment to be operated in a secured/affixed/raised manner with respect to said upper body portion, in a variety of a different ways.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method of operating or using the above-mentioned garment and/or components thereof.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method of securing/affixing the above-mentioned garment and/or components thereof.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a kit with components for assembling the above-mentioned garment and/or components thereof.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a set of components for interchanging with components of the above-mentioned kit.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of assembling components of the above-mentioned kit and/or set.

The advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A novel swimming garment will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. Furthermore, for sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly burden the figures with several references numbers, only some figures have been provided with reference numbers, and components and features of the present invention illustrated in other figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures are preferred, for exemplification purposes only.

Moreover, although the present invention was primarily designed for use with as a swimming garment or swimsuit for kids, it may be used with other objects and/or in other types of applications, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason, expressions such as “swimming”, “swimsuit”, “kids”, etc., used herein should not be taken so as to limit the scope of the present invention and include all other kinds of objects and/or applications with which the present invention could be used and may be useful.

Moreover, in the context of the present invention, the expressions “garment”, “device”, “system”, “suit”, “assembly”, “product”, as well as any other equivalent expressions and/or compound words thereof, may be used interchangeably. The same applies for any other mutually equivalent expressions, such as “portion”, “part”, “section” and “segment” for example, or even “fastener”, “attachment” and “connector”, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Furthermore, in the context of the present description, it will be considered that expressions such as “connected” and “connectable”, or “mounted” and “mountable”, for example, and/or other similar ones, may be interchangeable, in that the present invention also relates to a kit with corresponding components for assembling a resulting fully assembled and operational garment 1.

In addition, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprise various components, and although the preferred embodiments of the garments 1 and corresponding parts as shown consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken so as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the garment 1 and corresponding parts according to the present invention, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Broadly described, and as better exemplified in the accompanying drawings, the present invention relates to a garment 1 with improved shape, components and features enabling for better, easier and more convenient access to a lower body portion of the user, when compared to conventional women's' one-piece swimming garments, for example.

List of numerical references for some of the corresponding possible components illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

• 1. garment (ex. swimming garment)
• 3. front side (of garment)
• 3a. front side (of upper body portion)
• 3b. front side (of lower body portion)
• 5. rear side (of garment)
• 5a. rear side (of upper body portion)
• 5b. rear side (of lower body portion)
• 7. upper body portion
• 9. lower body portion
• 11. waist line
• 13. given side
• 15. exposed body area
• 17. exposed back area
• 19. neck
• 21. lateral support portion (of upper body portion)
• 23. sectional portion (of lower body portion)
• 23a. crotch portion (of lower body portion)
• 23b. groin portion (of lower body portion)
• 23c. posterior portion (of lower body portion)
• 23d. inner liner
• 25. belt strip
• 25a. first belt strip (ex. left belt strip)
• 25b. second belt strip (ex. right belt strip)
• 27. connecting component
• 27a. first complementary portion (of connecting component)
• 27b. second complementary portion (of connecting component)
• 29. loop
• 31. securing component
• 31a. first complementary portion (of securing component)
• 31b. second complementary portion (of securing component)
• 33. connection location
• 35. strap
• 35a. first strap
• 35b. second strap
• 37. fastening component
• 37a. first complementary portion (of fastening component)
• 37b. second complementary portion (of fastening component)
• 39. skirt portion (of garment)
• 41. sleeve
• 41a. first sleeve
• 41b. second sleeve
• 43. leg portion
• 43a. first leg portion
• 43b. second leg portion
• 45. attachment component
• 45a. first complementary portion (of attachment component)
• 45b. second complementary portion (of attachment component)
• 47. accessory component

Now referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a garment 1 to allow a user to access to a lower portion, typically below the waistline of the person wearing the garment 1 in accordance with the principles of the present invention embodied as a swimming garment is shown. The garment 1 comprises a front side 3, a rear side 5, an upper body portion 7 and a lower body portion 9. The upper body portion 7 comprises a front side 3a and a rear side 5a, substantially covers the upper body portion of a person wearing the garment 1 and is removably mounted to the upper body portion of the garment wearer. The lower body portion 9 comprises a front side 3b and a rear side 5b. The lower body portion 9 is configured for removably and selectively covering a lower body portion of the wearer and extends downwardly from a given side 13 of the upper body portion 7. A given side 13 (front 3b or rear 5b) of the lower body portion 9 is removably apposeable to an opposite side (rear 5a or front 3a) of the upper body portion 7.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the upper body portion 7 is typically of cylindrical shape so as to cover a substantial portion of a torso of the wearer. One skilled in the art shall understand that the upper body portion 7 may have a great variety of forms and designs depending on the model without departing from the present invention as long as the garment at least partially covers the upper body of the user.

According to another embodiment, the upper body portion 7 comprises at least one exposed body area 15 or at least one exposed back area 17. The upper body portion 7 typically also comprises a neck portion 19. The neck portion 19 may be a neck selected from the groups consisting of V-necks, closed necks and open necks. The upper body portion 7 may also comprises lateral support portions 21.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the garment 1 may comprise a lower body portion 9 comprising a plurality of sectional portions 23. Such plurality of sectional portions 23 may be similar or different depending on the embodiment of the invention.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the lower body portion 9 typically comprises a crotch portion 23a, a groin portion 23b and a posterior portion 23c. The crotch portion 23a is generally configured to go over a crotch portion 23a of the user of the garment 1. In the preferred embodiment, the crotch portion 23a of the lower body portion 9 of the garment is typically substantially trapezoidal. The groin portion 23b is generally configured to go over a groin portion of the user of the garment 1. In the preferred embodiment, the groin portion 23b of the lower body portion 9 of the garment 1 is substantially rectangular and provided with an optional inner liner. The posterior portion 23c is generally configured to go over a posterior portion of the user of the garment 1. The posterior portion 23c of the lower body portion 9 of the garment 1 is generally substantially trapezoidal as that of the crotch portion 23a.

According to one embodiment of the present garment 1 the lower body portion 9 comprises a belt strip 25 removably connectable about the given side 13 of the upper body portion 7. The lower body portion 9 may alternatively comprise a pair of belt strips, the belt strips 25a, 25b being removably connectable to one another about the given side 13 of the upper body portion 7. The side of the garment 1 where the belt strips 25 are removably connectable to one another is typically the front side of the garment 1. However, one with the skills in the art shall understand that the belt strips 25 could reasonably removably connect to one another on any side of the body as along as the strips 25 are positioned in a way that keeps the lower body portion 9 on the side opposite to the side where the lower body portion 9 is attached to the upper body portion 7. Each belt strip is preferably selectively adjustable in length and preferably made from elastically stretchable materials.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the belt strips 25 are typically removably connectable to one another about the given side of the upper body portion 7 by means of at least one connecting component 27. Each connecting component 27 typically comprise a first and second complementary portions 27a, 27b, the first complementary portion 27a of the connecting component 27 being mounted about a given belt trip 25a and the second complementary portion 27b of the connecting component 27 being mounted about another belt trip 25b. Although the first complementary portion 27a of the connecting component 27 could alternatively be mounted about a given belt trip 25b and the second complementary portion 27b of the connecting component 27 being mounted about another belt trip 25a. The first complementary portion 27a of the connecting component 27 may also be mounted about a loop of said given belt trip 25 and wherein the second complementary portion 27b of the connecting component 27 is mounted about a loop of said another belt trip 25b. The connecting component 27 is generally a connecting component selected from the group consisting of clips, hooks-and-loops (ex. Velcro™) belts, laces, loops, knots, magnets, zippers and fasteners. Also as a matter of design choice, the connecting component 27 may also be chosen from several custom shapes such as a heart-shaped connecting component 27. The connecting components 27 according to the present invention is preferably made of a plastic material.

The belt strip 25 may also be removably securable about another part of the garment 1, preferably on a securing component 31 provided on a given connection location of the upper body portion 7 of the garment 1. The connection location 33 of the upper body portion 7 of the garment is typically positioned on the rear side 5a of the garment 1. In another embodiment, the connection location 33 of the upper body portion 7 of the garment may be positioned on the front side 3a of the garment 1. In the preferred embodiment, the connection location 33 of the upper body portion 7 of the garment 1 is positioned adjacent to a given strap 35 of the garment 1. The securing component is typically a securing component selected from the group consisting of clips, hooks-and-loops (ex. Velcro™), belts, laces, loops, knots, magnets, zippers and fasteners and is generally mounted about a given loop 29 affixed to the garment 1. A connecting component 27 may also be cooperable with a securing component 31 of the garment 1.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising first and second connecting components 27, and first and second securing components 31, one of the connecting components 27 is positioned adjacent to one of the securing components 31. One of the connecting components 27 and one of the securing components 31 may be located adjacent to one another on a same belt strip 25 of the garment 1. One the connecting components 27 may also be mounted about a given loop 29 on a belt strip 25 having one of the securing components 31 mounted about another loop 29 of the same given belt strip 25. Also, one belt strip 25 or a pair of belt strips 25 of the garment 1 may be removably connectable about one chosen strap 35 of the garment.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the upper body portion 7 of the garment 1 comprises at least one strap 35 which extends in a substantially straight manner from the front side 3a of the upper body portion 7 to the rear side 5a thereof. The strap 35 may alternatively extend in a substantially crossed manner from the front side 5a of the upper body portion 7 to the rear side 5a thereof. The upper body portion 7 of the garment 1 may either comprise a pair of substantially straight or substantially crossed straps 35.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lower body portion 9 of the garment 1 extends from the front side 3a of the upper body portion 7 and is removably apposeable to an opposite rear side 5a of said upper body portion 7 by means of at least one fastening component 37.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, now referring to FIGS. 6-9 the lower body portion 9 of the garment 1 is removably detachable from the upper body portion 7 by means of a fastening component 37. Each fastening component 37 generally comprise first and second complementary portions 37a, 37b, the first complementary portion of the fastening component 37a being provided about the upper body portion 7 of the garment 1 and the second complementary portion of the fastening component 37b being provided about the lower body portion 9. The first complementary portion of the fastening component 37a is generally mounted about a loop 29 of the upper body portion 7 of the garment 1 and wherein the second complementary portion of the fastening component 37b is mounted about a loop 29 of the lower body portion 9 of the garment 1. The fastening component 37 according to the present invention is preferably a fastening component 37 selected from the group consisting of clips, hooks-and-loops (ex. Velcro™), belts, laces, loops, knots, magnets, zippers and fasteners.

Still referring to FIGS. 6 to 9, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the upper body may comprise a closed neck 19. The upper body portion 7 may also comprise one sleeve or a pair of sleeves configured for receiving the corresponding arm of the user of the garment 1. Similarly, the lower body portion 9 may comprise one leg 43 or a pair of leg portions 43 configured for receiving the corresponding leg of the user of the garment 1. According to one embodiment, a first portion of each leg portion 43 is optionally removably attachable to a remaining portion of said leg portion 43 by means of an attachment component 45. The front side of each leg portion 43 is typically removably attachable to the rear side of the leg portion 43 by means of an attachment component 45. The attachment components 45 are preferably disposed on respective lateral bottom sides of the garment 1. The attachment component 45 is typically an attachment component 45 selected from the group consisting of clips, hooks-and-loops (ex. Velcro™), belts, laces, loops, knots, magnets, zippers and fasteners.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the garment may be made of an elastically stretchable material, a waterproof material, a meshed material or a material selected from the group consisting of natural material, synthetic materials and/or combinations thereof. In addition, different portions of the garment mar have different ornamental patterns.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the garment may comprise a plurality of components assembled and packaged as a kit. The kit typically comprises at least one upper body portion 7, at least one lower body portion 9 and at least one accessory component 47. The accessory component 47 is generally selected from the group consisting of connecting components 27, securing components 31, fastening components 37 and attachment components 45.

According to another embodiment, the garment 1 may include a skirt portion disposed between the upper body portion of the garment and the lower body portion thereof.

A method of using a garment consistent with the present invention comprises the step of selectively operating the lower body portion of the garment between open and closed configurations. More precisely, the method comprises the step of securing a part of the lower body portion 9 to a part of the upper body portion 7 via at least one connecting component when the lower body portion is in the open configuration. The method additionally comprise the step of securing a part of the lower body portion 9 to a part of the upper body portion 7 via at least one securing component 31 when the lower body portion 9 is in the open configuration.

As may now better be appreciated, the present invention is particularly advantageous over the prior art, in that the garment has an improved shape, components and features enabling for better, easier and more convenient access to a lower body portion of the user employing such a garment. Even though only a few examples have been given in the present patent specification and in the accompanying drawings, it is worth mentioning that various other modifications could be made to the present garment without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Indeed, it is worth mentioning that a variety of different accessory components, whether they be connecting components, securing components, fastening components and/or attachment components, may be used for removably mounting the lower body portion onto the upper body portion, for operating the lower body portion with respect to the upper body portion, or even for allowing an interchangeability of different lower body portions with respect to a same upper body portion. Indeed, one can imagine that for an application used with kids for example, from an aesthetic or amusement perspective, to have different lower body portions which could be interchanged with a same upper body portion would be desirable. This would also be advantageous from a practical point of view, if for whatever reason, a lower body portion of the garment is damaged or soiled, then the garment would enable for a new lower body portion to be interchanged with a former lower body portion having been damaged or soiled. Alternatively, it is worth mentioning that a lower body portion which is full of water of still wet could be interchanged with a cleaner or dryer lower body portion.

Even though in the context of the present description, the garment has been exemplified as being a “swimming” garment typically used for women or little kids, or even for men and/or adults (whether men and/or women) in the case of the “surf” model exemplified in FIGS. 6 to 9, for instance, it is worth mentioning that the garment could have various other applications, in various other fields, such as in geriatrics, for example, where older people with limited or difficult bodily functions which typically need absorbent and/or disposable underwear could benefit from the present garment, and corresponding operation of its lower body portion and associated components. The present garment is particularly advantageous in that it is easy to operate between opened and closed configuration, given the efficiency of the design of the lower body portion and corresponding belt straps 35, and it is also easy to operate and secure onto the upper body portion via a variety of different accessory components.

The present garment is also particularly advantageous in that for example, if used for kids for example, a parent may easily change the diaper or access to the lower body portion of his/her child via a quick and easy operation of the lower body portion, with the additional advantages that said lower body portion may be conveniently affixed or secured onto another part of the garment, such as a securing component located on the upper body portion, or near or adjacent to a corresponding strap 35, which avoids the lower body portion from simply hanging for improved accessibility to the child's lower body portion, while assistance is being given or while a given diaper is being changed, for example.

The present garment is also advantageous in that it is preferably made of an elastic material, which is made to be easily adapted onto a variety of different figures/bodies, and also the nature of the belt strips, which may also be elastic or adjustable in length, enables the garment to be used by a variety of different users with different waist lines 11, for example. If additional support is required, such as by users, and/or elder people, which may have an additional weight around the waistline, then the garment could be provided with additional support or reinforcement portions along one or several locations of the garment, as in exemplified in FIG. 1, for instance.

As may now better be appreciated, the present invention is a substantial improvement over the prior art in that, by virtue of its design and components, as explained herein, and the particular configuration of the lower boy portion and the way it cooperates with the rest of the garment, the garment according to the present invention enables for a quicker, easier, simpler and more effective access to a lower body portion of the user of the garment, something that is not possible with other conventional swimming garments that are available in the prior art.

Numerous other modifications could be made to the above-described garment, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The above-described embodiments are considered in all respect only as illustrative and not restrictive, and the present application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations thereof, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.