Maternity Garment

Abstract

A maternity garment includes a neck opening, arm openings, a torso section, and a layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material. The torso section includes stretchable material to fit around an abdominal portion of a pregnant woman. The layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material is positioned at a front surface of the torso section and designed to change color when and where a force is applied by a fetus striking or pressing against the abdominal portion.

Claims

1. A maternity garment comprising: a neck opening; arm openings; a torso section comprising stretchable material configured to fit in a snug condition around an abdominal portion of a pregnant woman; and a layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material disposed at a front surface of said torso section such that the layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material is snugly positioned over a womb of the pregnant woman and wherein the layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change color when and where a force is applied to the layer of pressure-sensitive material by a fetus striking or pressing against the abdominal portion covered by the layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material.

2. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to permanently change color.

3. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein: said pressure-sensitive material is configured to change into more than one color.

4. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein: said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change into more than one color with each color corresponding to different amounts of force.

5. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein: said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change into different intensities of a color with the different intensities corresponding to different amounts of force.

6. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein: said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change into more than one color with each color corresponding to a different corresponding range of force and different intensities of each color corresponding to different amounts of force within each different corresponding range of force.

7. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein: said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change color only when a force of at least 15 Newtons is applied.

8. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein: said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change color only when a force of at least 20 Newtons is applied.

9. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein: said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change color only when a force of at least 30 Newtons is applied.

10. (canceled)

11. The maternity garment of claim 1, wherein: said flexible pressure-sensitive material is removably positioned in a flexible, clear plastic sleeve attached to the front surface of said torso section.

12. A maternity garment comprising: a neck opening; arm openings; a torso section comprising stretchable material configured to fit in a snug condition around an abdominal portion of a pregnant woman; a layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material disposed at a front surface of said torso section such that the layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material is snugly positioned over a womb of the pregnant woman and wherein the layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material is and configured to change color when and where a force is applied by a fetus striking or pressing against the abdominal portion, wherein: said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to permanently change color, said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change into more than one color with each color corresponding to a different corresponding range of force and different intensities of each color corresponding to different amounts of force within each different corresponding range of force, said flexible pressure-sensitive material is configured to change color only when a force of at least 15 Newtons is applied, and said flexible pressure-sensitive material is attached to the front surface of said torso section or is removably positioned in a flexible, clear plastic sleeve attached to the front surface of said torso section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0010] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of a maternity garment according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new maternity garment embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0017] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the maternity garment 10 generally comprises a neck opening 12, arm openings 14, a torso section 16, and a layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material 18. The torso section 16 includes stretchable material to fit around an abdominal portion 72 of a pregnant woman 70. The layer of flexible pressure-sensitive material 18 is positioned at a front surface 20 of the torso section 16 and designed to change color when and where a force is applied by a fetus striking or pressing against the abdominal portion 72.

[0018] The pressure-sensitive material 18 is a layer of material that changes color in response to the application of force. Examples of such material are known as pressure-sensitive paper. The pressure-sensitive material 18 is designed to permanently change color, which can be a single color or a variety of different colors. The color change could be in response to and correspond to different amounts of force, such as changing to different colors, different intensities, or a combination of different colors and intensities. The pressure-sensitive material 18 could also be designed to change color only when a certain minimum force is applied to help avoid accidental activation. For example, the minimum or threshold force could be at least 15 Newtons, or at least 20 Newtons, or at least 30 Newtons.

[0019] The pressure-sensitive material 18 is attached to the front surface 20 of the torso section 16. For example, the pressure-sensitive material 18 could be adhered to or otherwise bonded to the garment material. In another possible embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the pressure-sensitive material 18 is removably positioned in a flexible, clear plastic sleeve 22 or pouch attached to the front surface 20 of the torso section 16. This would allow the user to replace one layer of pressure-sensitive material 18 with another as desired.

[0020] The maternity garment 10 could be a shirt as shown in the figures, or essentially any garment that has a torso section 16 that covers the abdominal portion 72 of a pregnant woman 70.

[0021] The purpose of the maternity garment 10 is to allow a user to create a keepsake or memento of the pregnancy experience or journey. The mother wears the maternity garment 10 while pregnant. When the baby kicks or presses against the abdominal wall of the mother, the force generated by that action will activate the pressure-sensitive material 18 at that section of the layer, thereby causing a color change. Over time, additional kicks or presses will result in additional activations. Depending on the force, type of contact, and type of pressure-sensitive material 18, different impressions can be made in the pressure-sensitive material 18. FIG. 4 shows, for example, hand and footprints 74 created by pressing force. Alternatively or in addition, more abstract or random shapes 76 would be created by the pressing force that are irregular blobs or streaks and do not match a hand or footprint, much like an abstract painting or artwork. Regardless of the actual shape, a memento can be created relating to the time when the child was in the womb, which can be shared between family members in the future. Parents and family members can also enjoy watching the image develop over time due to the activity of the baby.

[0022] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.