Undergarment for Colostomy Patients

Abstract

The present invention provides a two-piece undergarment system with a pocket to hold the colostomy bag and allowing easy wearing and removal of a part of the garment.

Claims

1. A two-piece undergarment system comprising: an upper segment as a protective waistband to hold and support the colostomy bag, wherein the protective waistband consists of a thick layer of fabric around the waist of the user, and a pocket located on the exterior of the protective waistband to house the colostomy bag; a lower segment, wherein the lower segment of the garment consists of a layer of fabric covering the pelvic area of the user; plurality of snap fasteners at the back and front of both the upper segment and the lower segment to attach and detach the lower segment from the upper segment, wherein the upper segment consists of male snaps affixed at the bottom of the protective waistband and the lower segment consists of female snaps affixed at the top of the fabric.

2. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the pocket located on the outside fabric of the protective waistband to house the colostomy bag further consists of a pouch formed by two layers of fabric to hold the colostomy bag, a tube hole sewn on the layer of the fabric closest to the skin of the user and aligned with the stoma or insertion on the body of the user, a vertical opening sewn on the outside fabric of the waistband for the insertion of colostomy bag into the pouch, a flap cover to cover the vertical opening, and a snap enclosure on the flap cover to close the flap cover onto the fabric thereby providing extra support to keep the colostomy bag in its place in the pouch.

3. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the pocket on the exterior of the protective waistband can be on the left or right side of the upper segment.

4. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the lower segment attaches and detaches completely from the upper segment as desired by the user without exposing the colostomy bag.

5. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the lower segment detaches halfway in front exposing the crotch area of the user without exposing the colostomy bag.

6. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the fabric of the upper segment of the undergarment is preferably in two layers to provide thickness for pressure and support for holding the colostomy bag.

7. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the fabric of the lower segment of the undergarment is soft and stretchable fabric to cover the entire pelvic area of the user.

8. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the fabric of the upper and lower segment preferably consists of bamboo, cotton, polyester, or spandex.

9. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the number of male snaps on the bottom strap of the upper segment in the front are preferably 1 to 5.

10. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the number of male snaps on the bottom strap of the upper segment in the back are preferably 1 to 8

11. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the number of female snaps on the top strap of the lower segment in the front are preferably 1 to 5.

12. The two-piece undergarment of claim 1, wherein the number of female snaps on the top strap of the lower segment in the back are preferably 1 to 8.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The novel features of the invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

[0020] FIG. 1: shows a front view of a preferred embodiment of an undergarment according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 2: shows a right side view of a preferred embodiment of an undergarment according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 3: shows a front view of detached upper and lower segments of an undergarment according to the invention;

[0023] FIG. 4: shows a half detached lower segment of an undergarment according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] What follows is a description of various aspects, embodiments and/or examples in which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, and the information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The aspects, embodiments and/or examples described herein are presented for exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications could be made by someone of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a full front view of an undergarment according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a two-piece undergarment (10) of the present invention comprises an upper segment (11) and a lower segment (12), a protective waistband (13), a pocket (14), a pouch (15), a vertical opening or slit (16), a tube hole (17), a flap cover (18), and a snap enclosure (19).

[0026] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 & 4, the upper segment (11) of the undergarment (10) made up of a thick layer of fabric forms a protective waistband (13) which extends around the waist of the user. The said waistband (13) includes a pocket (14) which holds and supports the colostomy bag in its place. The protective waistband (13) formed in the upper segment (11) of the garment (10) is preferably constructed with two layers of fabric to form a cavity or pouch (15) within a pocket (14) to house the colostomy bag inserted through the vertical opening (16) formed on the exterior of the waistband (13). In one embodiment, the whole protective waistband is made up of two layers of fabric. In another embodiment, only the pouch on the waistband is made up of two layers of fabric in order to create a cavity to hold the colostomy bag.

[0027] The pocket (14) further includes a flap cover (18) on the exterior of the waistband and the said flap cover (16) covers the vertical opening (16) by means which may include, but not limited to, a snap or Velcro to form a snap enclosure (19) as shown in FIG. 1. The snap enclosure helps in keeping the bag in the pouch and prevents it from falling or coming out even when it gets detached from the stoma on the abdomen of the user. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 & 4, the pocket (14) also includes a tube hole (17) on one side of the pouch (15) to be aligned with the stoma or hole on the body of the user.

[0028] In one embodiment, the said pocket on the exterior of the fabric of the upper segment of the undergarment can be on the right or left side of the garment depending upon the location of the stoma.

[0029] According to the present invention, the lower segment (12) of the undergarment (10) can be detached from the upper segment (11) of the undergarment (10) whenever the user desires an access to her genitals. The lower segment (12) of the undergarment (10) is made up of a sheet of fabric that extends from bottom of the upper segment in front to the bottom of the upper segment in rear thereby forming leg opening (22), as shown in FIG. 2, on each side and covering the entire pelvic area of the user.

[0030] Further, the top strap of lower segment (12) and bottom strap of the upper segment (11) at the back and front are provided with snap fasteners for easy attachment and detachment of both the segments from each other.

[0031] The snap fasteners on upper and lower segments respectively hold the lower segment in its place and also helps in attaching and detaching the lower segment from the upper segment of the undergarment. The snap fasteners located on the upper and lower segment of the undergarment include but not limited to plastic or metal snap buttons, tape, hooks, Velcro. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower segment (12) is provided with, 1 to 5 male snaps (20) in the front and 1 to 8 male snaps, in the back of the upper segment of the undergarment, whereas 1 to 5 female snaps (20) in the front and 1 to 8 female snaps (20) in the back of the lower segment (12) of the undergarment (10) are used to attach and detach the lower segment from the upper segment. In another embodiment, the female snaps are provided on the upper segment and males snaps are provided on the lower segment of the undergarment.

[0032] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 & 4, the lower segment (12) of the undergarment (10) of the present invention can be detached and still have the waistband or belt (13) on the body to retain or cover the colostomy bag. In one embodiment, the lower segment (12) of the undergarment (10) of the present invention detaches completely from the upper segment (11) of the undergarment (10), as shown in FIG. 3. The removal of only the lower segment of the undergarment helps the user maintain a normal lifestyle, for e.g. the lower segment can be removed during any medical examination of the pelvic area or during intimate moments without disturbing or worrying about the colostomy bag. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the said lower segment (12) can be detached halfway in front, wherein, the back portion of the lower segment (12) remains hooked or snapped at the back with the upper segment (11) of the undergarment (10). The halfway drop down of the lower segment of the undergarment allows the user to relieve oneself without removing the whole undergarment.

[0033] The upper segment and lower segment of the undergarment are made up of a fabric or combination of fabrics. According to the present invention, the fabric of the upper and lower segment preferably consists of bamboo, cotton, polyester or spandex. Bamboo provides many benefits for patients who have undergone a colostomy procedure and the benefits include anti-microbial properties, and good wicking properties for the wound whereas spandex material provides elasticity and stretchability to an undergarment.

[0034] The undergarment of the present invention can be designed for both male and female users and moreover, the said undergarment works for all kinds of drainable and closed colostomy bags. Further, the pouch that houses the colostomy bag can fit bags with variable lengths, shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the undergarment of the present invention can be manufactured for daily wear or can be designed with laces and/or sheer for fancy wear for female users. In addition, the undergarment of the present invention can be made in different varieties including, but not limited to, classic briefs, high-cut briefs, control briefs, hipsters, bikinis, and the like.

[0035] The feature of the protective waistband with the pocket and pouch therein, which helps not only in hiding the bag but also supporting and keeping the colostomy bag in its place, and the detachment of the lower segment of the undergarment from the upper segment of the undergarment without removing the whole undergarment, helps in normalizing intimate moments for the patients.

[0036] While many of the fundamental characteristics and features of the undergarment have been described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it should be apparent that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should be understood that such substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the invention as defined herein.