POST-SURGICAL COMPRESSION GARMENT

Abstract

A garment with back closure for post-operatively immobilizing surgically corrected tissues to ensure proper healing from, in any combination, breast lift and breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction of the stomach, waist and hips, and gluteoplasty procedures including buttock enhancement and contouring in which a main closing zipper is located in the rear of the garment.

Claims

1. A compression garment with back closure for post-operatively immobilizing surgically corrected tissues to ensure proper healing from, in combination, breast lift and breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction of the stomach, waist and hips, and gluteoplasty procedures including buttock enhancement and contouring, the garment comprising: A front side having: A central mid panel which compresses the lower abdomen of a user; A central upper panel extending upward toward the chest area of the user; Side panels and central lower panels extending on either side of the garment up to the breast area of the user and down to the user's waist below the user's abdomen; Two molded and seamless breast supporting cups coupled to the upper panel and side panels with lower wireless, self adjusting stretch casing; A neckline extending across the top portions of the breast supporting cups from a centerpoint outward; Lower front shorts portions extending downward from the central lower panels with a lower strip portion having a gripping device attached thereto; A rear side having; An upper portion having a top edge; A mid section flank compression panel extending downward from the upper portion; Minimally compressive supportive molded buttocks coupled to the base of the mid section flank compression panel; One or more centrally located elongated closing devices selected from the group consisting of zippers, buttons, fabric snaps, hook and eye tape, hook and loop material extending from the top edge of the upper portion downward through the mid section flank compression panel to the buttocks; A thick guard made of a plush, compressive and protective material disposed along the inside of the one or more centrally located elongated closing devices to protect the skin of the user from the compressive forces developed within the closing device in a closed position; and Lower short portions extending downward from the molded buttocks with a lower strip portion having a gripping device attached thereto, thereby forming a compression gradient extending throughout the garment from a most compressive and inelastic central mid panel which lies across the lower abdomen of the user to a less compressive upper panel and side flank compression panels that covers the upper abdominal region and sides flank regions of the user to yet less compressive side panels and lower panels that cover the sides and lower lap regions of the user to the least compressive breast cups, molded buttocks and lower shorts which provide the least amount of compression to the breasts, buttocks and upper legs but also provide support in those areas; A reinforced open crotch; and A pair of shoulder straps extending from the neckline on the front side to the top edge of the upper portion on the rear side of the garment.

2. A post-surgical compression garment with back closure or recovery from surgically corrected tissue and to ensure proper healing from a mommy makeover surgical procedure, the garment providing a compressive force gradient to the user in which the compressive strength of the garment in the region of the lower abdomen of the user is the greatest, the compressive strength of the garment decreases in the region of the mid and upper abdomen as well as the rear side flank regions of the user to a less compressive level, the compressive strength of the side panels and lower lap panels of the garment decreases to yet an even lower level, and the compressive strength of the upper molded breast cups, molded buttocks and the shorts panels is the least, and wherein a main closing zipper is located in the rear of the garment and is guarded from creating excess localized pressure to the skin of the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1A is a front right-side perspective view of an embodiment of the post-surgical compression garment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 1B is a rear right-side perspective view of the post-surgical compression garment shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 1C is a front view of the post-surgical compression garment shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 1D is a rear view of the post-surgical compression garment shown in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a representative perspective rear view of an embodiment of the post-surgical compression garment of the present invention with an open zipper.

[0030] FIG. 3A is a representative front side 140 view showing a compression gradient used in an embodiment of the post-surgical compression garment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 3B is a representative rear side 160 view showing a compression gradient used in an embodiment of the post-surgical compression garment 100 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The description that follows is presented to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principals discussed below may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but the invention is to be given the largest possible scope which is consistent with the principals and features described herein.

[0033] FIG. 1A is a front right-side perspective view of an embodiment of the post-surgical compression garment 100 of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a rear right-side perspective view of the post-surgical compression garment 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1C is a front view of the post-surgical compression garment 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1D is a rear view of the post-surgical compression garment 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a representative view showing the rear side of an embodiment of the post-surgical compression garment of the present invention with an open zipper.

[0034] A reinforced front center seam 102 runs down the center of the front side 140 of the garment 100 starting from the upper flat hem neckline 104. The upper front portion of the garment 100 consists of molded double layer seamless, cotton-knit cups 106. The bias cut cups 106 contour and support the breasts. Starting at the centerpoint 108 of the neckline 104, the cups 106 are bounded downwardly and outwardly by wireless, self-adjusting stretch casing 110. At the centerpoint 108 is a convenient location to place a small logo or medallion 109 on the garment 100 in the form of a woven emblem, button or fabric snap, etc.

[0035] Beneath the cups 106, the novel central full abdominal graded compression panel system consists essentially of 2 each of identical opposing central upper panels 112, identical opposing central mid panels 114, identical opposing side panels 116 and identical opposing central lower panels 118. A strong stretch blind hem stitch 119 is used to outline the upper central panels 112, the lower central panels 114 the side panels 116 and the central lower panels 118. It will be understood that the two portions of the opposing central upper panels 112 could be formed as a single central upper panel, and the central mid panels 114 could similarly be formed into a single central mid panel portion.

[0036] Short leg portions 120 extend from the front side 140 of the garment 100 to the lateral sides 150 of the garment 100 to the rear side 160 of the garment 100. A reinforced open crotch 122 allows hygienic comfort for the user. The lower edge 124 of the short portions 120 is made with power elastine lace and coated with a gripper silicon on at least the inside of the lower edge 124.

[0037] Front detachable and adjustable shoulder straps 125 extend from the front side 140 over the user's shoulders to the rear side 160 of the garment. A strong bra strap slide 126 allows for adjustability of the strap 124 as desired. In addition, double-reinforced strap attachments 128 are utilized on both the front side 140 and on the rear side 160 of the garment 100.

[0038] On the rear side 160 of the garment 100, a central back locking zipper 162 is lined on the interior with a comfortable plush guard 164 having hook and eye tape 166 to protect the user from the slider 168. Attached to the pull 170 is a pull cord 172 to assist the user of the garment 100 operate the rear zipper 162. The base of the zipper 162 is reinforced with a bottom stop 174. Plush guard 164 is made of any type of soft, absorbent, non-irritating fabric made of natural and/or synthetic materials would be suitable in this application. The guard 164 could be layers of fabric, padded, or other construction suitable for preventing irritation, indentation or pressure marking of the underlying skin.

[0039] In addition, rear upper portions 180 are bounded by the upper neckline 104 that extends from the front side 140 around the lateral sides 150 to the rear side 160 beneath the shoulder straps 125. The rear upper portions 180 are also bounded by the opposing side panels 116 and the central zipper 162 in the middle of the rear side 160. Mid section flank compression panels 182 couple to the bottom of the rear upper portions 180 and to the opposing side panels 116 using the strong stretch blind hem stitch 119 used in the front side 140 of the garment 100.

[0040] A minimally compressive molded buttocks portion 184 couples to the lower edge of the flank compression panels 182 with a strong flat surge stitch 186. As on the front side 140, the lower shorts portion 120 has a base edge 124 with lace and inside coated silicone gripping surface to prevent the garment 100 from riding up the leg of the user (not shown). The reinforced opening in the crotch 122 extends from the front side 140 to the rear side 160 of the garment 100.

[0041] FIG. 3A is a representative front side 140 view showing a compression gradient used in an embodiment of the post-surgical compression garment 100 of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a representative rear view showing a compression gradient used in an embodiment of the post-surgical compression garment of the present invention.

[0042] The areas that appear darker in the shading have more compression. This is achieved by overlapping fabric panels in strategic areas. For example, the darkest panel is a combination of the central mid panels 114 that cover the lower tummy. Applying maximum compression in this area helps with the healing of the abdominoplasty incision. This is achieved using 4 layers of strong, elastic material. A second zone consisting of a combination of the right and left upper panels 112. A third level compressive zone is achieved at the side panels 116 and central lower panels 118, as well as across the rear flank panels 182. A fourth level compression is achieved using highly supportive but less compressive construction in the bra portions as well as the shorts and buttocks molds 184. The single layer of highly fabric provides the least amount of compressive force in the bra area 106 as well as in the shorts 120. Likewise, the buttock molds 184 have the least amount of compressive force. However, the buttock molds 184 are molded to provide support but not necessarily high compression.

[0043] Thus, when the main vertically-oriented zipper 162 is located on the rear side 160 of the garment 100, and a plush fabric guard 164 is layered directly underneath the zipper 162, the compressed tissue in the area directly beneath fabric guard 164 of the zipper 162 does not become deformed or show a series of indentations in the skin due to the zipper 162 pressing into the tissue.

[0044] Thus, the compression garment with back closure 100 of the present invention can easily be closed from the rear and the back closure provides preferred comfort, aesthetic and ergonomic functionality. A rear-closure in a compression garment 100 of the present invention provides an alternative to compression garments that close in the front, have bulky zippers or other front closures that are uncomfortable to wear, can cause pain or bruising to underlying skin, tissue or bones, and deform the underlying tissue making the garment irritating to wear and also deforming to the user's body.

[0045] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications and patent documents referenced in the present invention are incorporated herein by reference.

[0046] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, with the limits only of the true purview, spirit and scope of the invention.