REHABILITATION PANTS

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Some implementations relate to textiles. More specifically, some implementations relate to textiles for use in rehabilitating and/or caring for those with physical disabilities.

BACKGROUND

Those with physical disabilities (such as elderly, infirmed, injured persons) may have various difficulties with pants and other garments. For example, those lacking mobility may have difficulty removing pants or other garments when eliminating bodily fluids. Similarly, those with injuries may endure discomfort from various garments such as pants, shirts, socks, etc. Therefore, there may be a need for garments that are easy to put on and take off, facilitate therapy, provide protection, and/or enable other aspects of comfort, rehabilitation, and/or use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the disclosure may be better understood by referencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a front view of an example therapeutic textile.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the pants 100 in a crotch-open configuration.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a rear view of the pants 100 having a rear access panel in a closed configuration.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a rear view of the pants 100 with a rear access panel in an open configuration.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of padding that may be used in concert with the pants.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of inflatable padding that may be used in concert with the pants.

DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATIONS

The description that follows may include example systems, methods, techniques, and program flows that embody implementations of the disclosure. However, this disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. For clarity, some well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques may not be shown in detail.

Example Implementations

Some implementations include therapeutic textiles (such as pants) configured to enhance rehabilitation, ease of installation and removal, bodily protection, and other aspects that may increase comfort and utility for those with physical ailments.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a front view of an example therapeutic textile. In FIG. 1, the therapeutic textile is embodied as pants 100. The pants may include linen material or any other suitable material that is comfortable to a human wearer (such as material that is breathable, soft, moisture resistant, etc.).

The pants 100 may include a waist region 102. The waist region 102 also may include a large fastener 106 (such as button) configured for easy manipulation. The large fastener 106 is configured for easier manipulation by those who may have physical ailments. The waist region 102 may include a front flap 110 configured to open when the large fastener 106 is unfastened.

The pants 100 may include another fastening device 104 configured to adjust (such as shrink or enlarge) the waist region 102 and to secure the pants 100 about a human waist. The fastening device 104 may be a hook and loop device such as Velcro®. The waist region 102 also may include elastic material configured to self-adjust according to the wearer's waist size. The waist region 102 also may include pockets 107 configured to hold lightweight pads and poultices that may protect vulnerable hipbones and/or other anatomical aspects of the human wearer.

The pants 100 may include a crotch region 108 that includes the front flap 110 (shown in the closed position in FIG. 1). When closed, the pants 100 may have a closed front (such as having contiguous material across the front). When open, the front flap 110 may create a void that exposes human genitals (such as for eliminating bodily fluids, accessing genitals, etc.).

The pants 100 also may include knee regions 114. Each knee region 114 may include one or more pockets 114 configured to hold therapeutic aids. For example, the pockets 114 may hold shock absorbing pads, cold/hot packs, herbal packs or poultices, salves, ointments, or other devices in proximity to the human wearer. Although the pockets 114 are shown in the knee region 114, they may be placed anywhere to enable, at desired locations, placement of shock absorbing pads, cold/hot packs, herbal packs or poultices, salves, ointments, or other devices in proximity to the human wearer. One or more of the pockets 114 may be attachable using hook and loop devices. For example, the pockets 114 may be placed on the tailbone, specific joints/bones/soft tissue, etc.

The pockets 114 may be comprised of a plurality of material types. On the inside, such as where the inner pocket may contact the skin, the pocket 114 may be constructed of cheese cloth or other soft material designed for comfort. The inner pocket material may be designed to deliver ointments, salves, or other dermally delivered therapies. On the outside, the pocket 114 may include an elastic material that can accommodate various sizes of packets and/or pads (such as ice/heat pads, shock absorbing pads, etc.).

The pants 100 also may include the lower knee regions 116. Each lower knee region 116 may include a fastening device 118 configured to attach a lower portion 122 the pants 100. Hence, the fastening device 118 may enable removal of the lower portion 120, thereby converting the pants to knee-length “shorts”. The fastening device 118 may be a hook and loop device or other suitable device (such as a snapping device, buttoning device, etc.).

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the pants 100 in a crotch-open configuration. As shown, the front flap 110 is open. Opening the front flap 110 may expose or otherwise facilitate access to genitals of a human wearer. The front flap 110 may include fasteners 202 (such as hook and loop fasteners) (such as Velcro) that include a first device (such as a hook device) on the front flap 110 that engages with a second device (such as a loop device) on the pants 102 to hold the front flap 110 closed. The first and second devices may be separated to open the front flap 110. In some implementations, the front flap 110 may be fully removable from the pants 100. In some implementations, the front flap 110 operates in concert with a rear access panel that opens the rear of the pants (such as to enable defecation or access to the buttocks of the wearer). As a result, a wearer of the pants 100 can remove the front flap 110 and/or rear access panel to eliminate urine and/or feces without removing the pants 100. The rear access panel is described in greater detail (see discussion of FIGS. 3 and 4).

As noted, the waist region 102 may include self-adjusting elastic material 206 that expands or contracts the waist region 102 to automatically fit a human waist. The self-adjusting elastic material 206 may be sewn into the waist region 102.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a rear view of the pants 100 having a rear access panel in a closed configuration. The pants 100 may include rear pockets 302. The pants 100 may include a rear access panel 304. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear access panel 304 is in a closed position. When closed, the pants 100 have contiguous material across the rear region 306. The rear access panel 304 may be opened to facilitate defecation or exposure of the genitals of the human wearer.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a rear view of the pants 100 with a rear access panel in an open configuration. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear access panel 304 is open. In some implementations, fasteners 402 (such as hook and loop fasteners) hold the rear access panel closed. The rear access panel 304 may span from the rear region 306 down to a lower thigh area. To open the rear access panel 304, a force may be applied to cause separation of the fasteners 402 thereby achieving the configuration shown in FIG. 4. When open, the rear access panel 304 may expose the wearer's anus and facilitate defecation without removing the pants 102.

In some implementations, the rear access panel 304 works in concert with the front flap 110. For example, the front flap 110 may be connected to the rear access panel 304. Hence, the wearer (or other person) may open the front flap 110 by separating the fasteners 202. Because the front flap 110 may be connected to the rear access panel 304, the wearer (or other person) may apply additional force on the front flap 110 to open the rear access panel 304. That is, applying additional force on the front flap 110 may cause separation of the fasteners 402 thereby opening the rear access panel 304.

The pants 100 may include one or more removable portions 404. The pants 100 may be positioned at any desired location. For example, the pants 100 may be made specifically for a person having an injury (such as a burn) at a specific location. The pants 102 may include a removable portion 404 at the burn location. As a result, the wearer may remove the removable portion 404 to avoid contact between the pants and the burn. The removable portions 404 enable the wearer to continue wearing the pants 102 while exposing the burn to the air. The removable portions 404 also may facilitate access to specific anatomical regions of the wearer (such as to deliver treatment).

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of padding that may be used in concert with the pants. The padding 500 may include shock absorbing, recycled/compressed material disposed between two layers of material. The padding 500 may include various seams that segregate pieces of the shock resistant material to optimize comfort and protection.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of inflatable padding that may be used in concert with the pants. As shown in FIG. 6, the self-inflating padding 600 may include fasteners configured to hold the padding in a pocket (such as the pocket 107). Fasteners on the inflatable padding 600 may work in concert with fasteners included in the pocket. For example, for a hook and loop fastener, the hooks may be on the pocket and dilutes may be disposed on the inflatable padding 600. The inflatable padding 600 may be any suitable shape to optimize comfort, protection, or other aspects that aid the human wearer of the pants 100.

FIGS. 1-6 and the aspects described herein are examples meant to aid in understanding example implementations and should not be used to limit the potential implementations or limit the scope of the claims.

As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c.

Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations may be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation also may be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.