BELT FOR PREGNANT WOMAN

Abstract

A belt for a pregnant woman includes a ventral part that includes a central portion and two lateral portions positioned on both sides of the central portion. The central portion covers the median region of the woman's stomach while the lateral portions cover the left and right sides. A dorsal part fastens at the back. Each lateral portion incorporates a wedging cushion whose lateral portion is thicker than the central portion, so when the woman is lying on her side, corresponding to the side of her stomach covered by this lateral portion, the wedging cushion supports the woman's stomach, each lateral portion comprising at least one textile panel, to which the corresponding wedging cushion is attached and to which the central portion and the dorsal part are permanently secured. The textile panels of each lateral portion form a pouch in which the corresponding wedging cushion is removably received.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A belt for a pregnant woman, including: a ventral part that includes a central portion, as well as two lateral portions positioned on both sides of the central portion, such that, when the belt is worn by a pregnant woman, the central portion covers the median region of the woman's stomach while the lateral portions cover the left and right sides, respectively, of the woman's stomach, and a dorsal part that is suitable for being fastened at the woman's back, wherein each lateral portion of the ventral part incorporates a wedging cushion at which this lateral portion is thicker than the central portion such that, when the woman is laying on her left or right side, corresponding to the side of her stomach covered by this lateral portion, the wedging cushion supports the woman's stomach by filling in a space between the corresponding side of the stomach and the surface on which the woman is laying, wherein each lateral portion of the ventral part comprises at least one textile panel, to which the corresponding wedging cushion is attached and to which the central portion and the dorsal part are permanently secured, and wherein the at least one textile panel of each lateral portion of the ventral part forms a pouch in which the corresponding wedging cushion is removably received.

15. The belt according to claim 14, wherein each lateral portion of the ventral part has, at the corresponding wedging cushion, a thickness at least locally equal to more than three centimeters.

16. The belt according to claim 14, wherein each wedging cushion is made up of a body that is removable in one piece relative to the rest of the belt and that is complementary to the corresponding pouch to be received therein in an adjusted manner.

17. The belt according to claim 16, wherein each wedging cushion is made in the form of a shape memory foam block.

18. The belt according to claim 16, wherein each wedging cushion comprises a cover filled with padding.

19. The belt according to claim 16, wherein each wedging cushion comprises a sealed bag filled with air, liquid and/or gel.

20. The belt according to claim 14, wherein each wedging cushion has a thickness that increases gradually, then decreases gradually when one travels over this wedging cushion from its edge, turned toward the central portion, to its edge turned opposite the central portion.

21. The belt according to claim 20, wherein each wedging cushion has an outer face that is configured to be more curved than an inner face of the wedging cushion.

22. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the dorsal part is narrower than the central portion of the ventral part, and wherein each lateral portion of the ventral part accommodates the difference in width between the central portion and the dorsal part, each wedging cushion having its edge, turned toward the central portion, wider than its edge turned opposite the central portion.

23. The belt according to claim 14, wherein the central portion of the ventral part comprises: a main panel, which is extendable so as to adapt to the evolution of the stomach of the woman during the pregnancy, and two bands, which border the main panel, while respectively being situated above and below this main panel, and which each connect the lateral portions to one another elastically, and wherein the elasticity modulus of the bands is greater than that of the main panel, such that the central portion is kept in place on the stomach of the woman more by the bands than by the main panel.

24. The belt according to claim 14, wherein the dorsal part comprises two straps, which respectively extend from one and the other of the lateral portions of the ventral part and which are provided with respective parts of a fastening system.

25. The belt according to claim 14, wherein the central portion of the ventral part and the dorsal part are sewn to the at least one textile panel of each lateral portion.

26. The belt according to claim 23, wherein the dorsal part comprises two straps, which respectively extend from one and the other of the lateral portions of the ventral part and which are provided with respective parts of a fastening system, wherein the central portion of the ventral part and the dorsal part are sewn to the at least one textile panel of each lateral portion, and wherein the main panel and the bands of the central portion of the ventral part, as well as the two straps of the dorsal part, are sewn to the at least one respective textile panel of the lateral portions.

Description

[0025] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, provided solely as an example and done in reference to the drawings, in which:

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views, from different respective viewing angles, of a pregnant woman wearing a belt according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation view of the belt of FIGS. 1 and 2, in the flat deployed state;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view along line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the use of the belt by the pregnant woman laying on her right side; and

[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view in the plane VI of FIG. 5.

[0031] FIGS. 1 to 6 show a belt for a pregnant woman 1. In FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the belt 1 is worn by a pregnant woman F whose pregnancy is in its second half, or even the third trimester. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the belt 1 not being worn, considered to be spread out flat.

[0032] As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the belt 1 globally assumes the form of an elongated band, the longitudinal direction of which is referenced X1. When the belt 1 is not worn and is deployed flat as in FIGS. 3 and 4, the longitudinal direction X1 is substantially rectilinear, whereas when the belt 1 is worn by the woman F as in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the belt 1 surrounds the entire body of the woman F, at the height of her stomach V, the longitudinal direction X1 running all the way around the body of the woman F while following the profile of her stomach V and back D.

[0033] In light of the general band shape of the belt 1, the latter has an inner face and an outer face: the inner face, which is oriented toward the reader in FIG. 3 and which is oriented downward in FIG. 4, is turned toward the body of the woman F when the belt 1 is worn, whereas the outer face, which is oriented upward in FIG. 4, is turned opposite the body of the woman F when the belt is worn. Subsequently, the thickness is defined as the dimension of the belt between its inner and outer faces, the direction associated with this thickness naturally being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X1. The third dimension of the belt 1, i.e., it is dimension other than its thickness and length (dimension along the longitudinal direction X1), makes up the width of the belt 1.

[0034] As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the belt 1 is distributed between a ventral part 10, which covers the stomach V of the woman F when she is wearing the belt 1, and a dorsal part 20, which covers the back D of the woman F when she is wearing the belt. These ventral 10 and dorsal 20 parts of the belt 1 will gradually be described in more detail.

[0035] As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the central part 10 includes a central portion 10C and two lateral portions that are positioned on both sides, in the longitudinal direction X1, of the central portion 10C, i.e., a left lateral portion 10G and a right lateral portion 10D. When the belt 1 is worn, the central portion 10C covers the median region VM of the stomach V of the woman F, i.e., the region of her stomach where her belly button and the zones surrounding the belly button both laterally and vertically, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, are found, whereas on the one hand, the left lateral portion 10G covers the left side VG of the stomach V, and on the other hand, the right lateral portion 10D covers the right side VG of the stomach V, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6. In other words, when the woman F is wearing the belt 1, her stomach V is covered in front by the central portion 10C and laterally by the portions 10G and 10D.

[0036] In the embodiment considered in figures, the central portion 10C of the ventral part 10 of the belt 1 comprises a main panel 11 that is bordered, above and below, by upper 12 and lower 13 bands. When the belt 1 is worn by the woman F, the main panel 11 covers the umbilical zone of the median region VM of her stomach V, while the upper 12 and lower 13 bands are situated substantially at the height of the epigastric zone and the hypogastric zone, respectively, of the median region VM of the stomach V, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The main panel 11 is provided to be extendable, while for example and non-limitingly being made from jersey, so as to adapt, by flexible extension, to the evolution of the stomach V of the woman F during the pregnancy. Each of the bands 12 and 13 connects the lateral portions 10G and 10D to one another elastically, while for example and non-limitingly being made at least partially from an elastomeric material. Advantageously, the elasticity modulus of the bands 12 and 13 is greater than that of the main panel 11, such that, when the belt 1 is worn, the central portion 10C is kept in place on the stomach V of the woman F, both to the left and the right as well as upward or downward, more by the bands 12 and 13 than by the main panel 11. In other words, in both lateral and vertical stress, the bands 12 and 13 contribute, predominantly within the central portion 10C, to keeping this central portion 10C and, as a result, the belt 1 in place opposite the stomach V of the woman F, while the main panel 11 comfortably and lightly hugs the median region VM of the stomach V of the woman F.

[0037] Also in the example embodiment considered here, the dorsal part 20 is distributed on both sides, in the longitudinal direction X1, of the ventral part 10. Thus, as clearly shown in FIG. 3, the dorsal part 20 comprises a left strap 21, which extends from the left lateral portion 10G of the ventral part 10, and a right strap 22 that extends from the right lateral portion 10D of the ventral part 10. The straps 21 and 22 are respectively provided with complementary parts of a fastening system, known in itself, making it possible to attach the straps 21 and 22 to one another at the back D of the woman F when the belt 1 is worn, as shown in FIG. 2. As a non-limiting example, the strap 21 is provided, on its outer face, with a male strip 23, provided with textile hooks, while the strap 22 is provided, on its inner face, with a female strip 24, provided with textile loops in which the aforementioned hooks can auto-grip when the outer face of the strap 21 is made to overlap with the inner face of the strap 22, at the back D of the woman F. In other words, in this example, the fastening system is of the Velcro type (registered trademark). Of course, other embodiments can be considered for the fastening system supported by the straps 21 and 22. More generally, it will be understood that the dorsal part 20 of the belt 1 has developments making it possible to attach the dorsal portion 20 at the back D of the woman F, by closing the belt 1 on itself around the body of the woman F and adjusting this belt in its longitudinal direction X1 to tighten it around the body of the woman F.

[0038] As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the lateral portions 10G and 10D is provided with a cushion 14, which, by definition, is flexible and forms an overthickness for the lateral portion 10G, 10D compared to the rest of the belt 1, in particular compared to the central portion 10C. Thus, at each cushion 14, the corresponding lateral portion 10G, 10D has an overthickness greater than that of the central portion 10C, equal to at least two, or even three, or even four, or even five, or even ten times the thickness of the central portion 10C. In practice, the cushion 14 is dimensioned, in particular in terms of thickness, such that the thickness of the corresponding lateral portion 10G, 10D is sufficient to fill in the space between the corresponding side VG, VP of the stomach V of the woman F wearing the belt 1 and the surface S on which the woman F is laying on her side, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, when the belt 1 is worn by the woman F while she is laying on her side on the surface S, the cushion 14 is inserted, by its thickness, between this surface S and the corresponding side VG, VP of the stomach V and therefore laterally supports the stomach V while stabilizing it with respect to the surface S. Thus, the cushions 14 can be described as wedging cushions.

[0039] According to one preferred dimensioning, which guarantees good support and stabilization for the stomach V, each cushion 14 is dimensioned such that the corresponding lateral part 10G, 10D has, at its cushion 14, a thickness equal, at least locally, to more than three centimeters.

[0040] Each cushion 14 is integrated into the corresponding lateral portion 10G and 10D of the ventral part 10 of the belt 1, in that the two cushions 14 are integral parts of the belt 1 while remaining, during use, secured to the rest of this belt. In other words, when the belt 1 is worn, the cushions 14 are secured to the belt 1 at the left lateral portion 10G and the right lateral portion 10D, respectively. This being said, this integration of the cushions 14 into the lateral portions 10G and 10D of the ventral part 10 is provided to be removable, for example for cleaning purposes, with the understanding that the release of the cushions 14 from the lateral portions 10G and 10D is only possible when the belt 1 is not functional. To that end, each cushion 14 is removably received in a pouch 15 defined by the corresponding lateral portion 10G, 10D, this pouch normally being closed when the belt 1 is functional, in particular when it is worn, whereas this pouch can be opened, by any appropriate system, to access the cushion 14 and thus release it, then return it when the belt 1 is not functional. In practice, this pouch 15 is formed by a textile panel of the corresponding lateral portion 10G, 10D or by a set of textile panels of this portion, assembled to one another, this or these textile panels bearing reference 16 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0041] One of the interests of this or these textile panels 16 is that it (they) is (are) easily permanently secured to the central portion 10C of the ventral part 10 and to the dorsal part 20, for example, but non-limitingly, being sewn to the main panel 11, the bands 12 and 13 and the straps 21 and 22.

[0042] In practice, the component material(s) of the wedging cushions 14 are not limiting with respect to the invention. According to one preferred embodiment, each cushion 14 is made up of a body that is removable in one piece relative to the rest of the belt and that is complementary to the corresponding pouch 15 so as to be received therein in an adjusted manner. Each cushion can thus be removed as a whole in a single gesture, while next being able to be returned to the pouch just as easily, positioned precisely and wedged therein.

[0043] According to one advantageous embodiment, the body making up each cushion 14 is made in the form of a shape-memory foam block, this foam being known as such and being a polyurethane-based chemical compound, mixed with other compounds that increase the density and viscosity thereof to give the foam a viscoelastic behavior. This being said, other materials and/or other structures can be considered for the body making up each cushion 14. A first possibility is that, rather than being made from shape-memory foam, a block forming the body of each cushion 14 can be made from a conventional foam or three-dimensional fabric. A second possibility is for the body of each cushion 14 to include a cover, in particular a textile cover, filled with padding such as cotton wool, cotton, feathers, paper, for example in the form of confetti, beads, microbeads, plant fibers, synthetic fibers, animal fur, sand, stones, in particular cherry stones, and seeds, in particular canola, lavender and/or linen seeds. A third possibility is for the body of each cushion 14 to include a sealed bag filled with air and/or liquid, such as water, and/or gel.

[0044] According to one optional arrangement, which is implemented in the example embodiment considered in the figures and which is particularly visible in FIG. 4, each cushion 14 does not have a constant thickness, but a thickness that varies in the longitudinal direction X1. More specifically, as illustrated by FIG. 4, when one travels over each cushion 14 in the longitudinal direction X1, from its edge 14A turned toward the central portion 10C to its opposite edge 14B, the thickness of the cushion 14 goes from a minimum value E14A at the edge 14A, gradually to a maximum value E14C at a central region 14C of the cushion 14, then gradually to a lower value E14B at the edge 14B, substantially corresponding to the aforementioned minimum value E14A. In this way, the overthickness caused by each cushion 14 is established gradually at the lateral portions 10G and 10D, with respect to the central portion 10C and the dorsal portion 20 when traveling over the belt 1 in its longitudinal direction X1. Any sensation of abutment or a “step”, at the junction between the lateral portions 10G and 10D and the rest of the belt 1, is thus avoided, or at the very least, attenuated. Advantageously, for the comfort of the woman F, this variation in thickness of each cushion 14 causes a more curved configuration for the outer face of the cushion 14 than for its inner face, the latter even being able, if applicable, to be provided to be substantially planar when the cushion is idle, as considered in FIG. 4.

[0045] According to another optional arrangement, which is also implemented in the example embodiment considered in the figures, the dorsal part 20, in particular its straps 21 and 22, is provided to be narrower than the central portion 10C of the ventral part 10. In this way, the vertical span of the zone of the back D covered by the dorsal part 20 when the belt 1 is worn is minimized, i.e., limited compared to the span of the zone of the stomach V covered by the central portion 10C of the ventral part 10. An effort is thus made to increase the comfort of the dorsal part 20, in particular by preventing this dorsal part 20 from ceding heat or limiting the mobility of the woman F in her sleep. The difference in weight between the dorsal part 20 and the central portion 10C of the ventral part 10 is accommodated by the lateral portions 10G and 10D of the ventral part 10, these lateral portions each globally being trapezoidal, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. Each cushion 14 is then also provided with a trapezoidal profile or, more generally, provided such that its edge 14A is wider than its edge 14B, without deteriorating the support and stabilization imparted by the cushions 14 with respect to the sides VG and VD of the stomach V of the woman F.