GB2481654A - Weighted garments - Google Patents

Abstract

A weighted garment to be worn on the shoulders and torso comprises a main garment body 101, a pocket 102 within the main garment body and positioned across its back for location on the shoulders of a wearer, and a weighted pad (201, figure 2) shaped to fit around the shoulders of the wearer and to be held inside the pocket. The garment body may be a jumper, a t-shirt, a shirt or a vest, and may comprise a hood 107. The pocket may be fastened using one or more of buttons 103, press-studs, hook and loop fastenings or zips. The weighted pad is preferably shaped roughly in a C-shape. The weighted garment may be used to provide deep pressure for sufferers of sensory processing disorder and similar disorders. The weighted pad may comprise wheat grain as a weighting medium, which may be treated with essential oils or perfumes. Lavender may be used for a calming effect.

Description

A weighted garment to be worn on the shoulders and torso

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to weighted garments, more specifically, those worn on the torso.

[2] Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a neurological disorder that causes difficulties with processing sensory information, such as touch, as well as proprioception -awareness of the relative position of the body. Sensory information is sensed normally, so sufferers can use their eyes for vision for example, but the information is interpreted abnormally by the brain. This can cause great distress, anxiety and insecurity.

[3] SPD is more common amongst those individuals also suffering from autism-spectrum disorders or ADHD.

[4] There is no cure for SPD, but it can be treated. Many therapies for SPD centre on increasing proprioception, using deep pressure through weights on the body to make the sufferer feel more grounded' and secure, and better able to interpret the position of their body.

[5] As a result, therapeutic devices utilising weights are known in the art, and generally fall into three categories: weighted blankets, weighted neck wraps and weighted vests.

[6] Weighted blankets are simple blankets filled with weighting mediums. For example, the Weight-2-Go Blanket is a blanket with internal chambers filled with non-removable polypropylene pellets. These are typically used by sufferers when sleeping at night, as the deep pressure can aid relaxation and, as a consequence, sleep. Though these could be wrapped around the sufferer whilst undertaking some daily tasks, they are generally inconvenient to use when out of the home and are therefore unsuitable for day-to--day use.

[7] weighted neck wraps work in a similar manner, but are long strands that may be wrapped around the neck to sit on the shoulders. Deep pressure on the shoulders has been found to be particularly effective, and thus these neck wraps can be especially helpful in a therapeutic context. However, many sufferers of SPD, particularly young children, can become very distressed and anxious and often need restraining; before this can occur, and before the neck wrap can take any effect, the child is likely to have removed it.

[8] Weighted vests go some way to solving this problem.

They are worn as normal garments, usually on top of existing garments, and comprise pockets to hold removable weights.

However, as the pockets for the weights are usually positioned at the front of the vest where standard pockets would be, albeit internally, the weights are still easily accessible by the child and may be quickly removed before they take any effect.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[9] It can be seen by the forgoing that a need has arisen for a weighted garment that can provide deep pressure for sufferers of SPD and similar disorders, ideally at the shoulders, where the weights are not easily accessible and removable by the wearer. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a device.

[10] To this end, disclosed is a weighted garment to be worn on the shoulders and torso comprising: a main garment body; a pocket within the main garment body positioned across its back where the garment sits on the shoulders of the wearer; a weighted pad in a C' shape, to fit around the shoulders of the wearer, and to be held inside the pocket within the main garment body.

[11] The weighted pad is simpiy inserted into the pocket within the main garment body, and then worn by the SPD sufferer. The weighted pad provides deep pressure, making the wearer feel calm and more secure.

[121 An advantage of the present invention is that it is very difficult for the wearer to remove the weights or the garment, ensuring the weights stay in place long enough to take effect.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [13] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [14] Figure one shows a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[15] Figure two shows a preferred embodiment of the weighted pad.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment

[16] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 1, a weighted garment to be worn on the shoulders and torso is disclosed, comprising: a main garment body 101; a pocket 102 within the main garment body 101 positioned across its back where the garment sits on the shoulders of the wearer; a weighted pad 201 roughly in a C' shape, to fit around the shoulders of the wearer, and to be held inside the pocket 102 within the main garment body 101.

[17] The main garment body 101 is shown in figure 1 as a jumper with full-length sleeves 104, a half-zip 105 and front hand pocket 106 that fits over the shoulders and torso of the wearer. Alternatively, it may be styled as a t-shirt, a shirt, a vest or any other garment that may be worn over the shoulders and torso. It may be formed of any fabric suitable for clothing.

[18] The main garment body 101 is also shown as comprising a hood 107 to fit over the head of the wearer. This hood 107 provides an enhanced feeling of security by enclosing the head. However, the main garment body may also be provided without a hood as appropriate.

[19] The pocket 102 should be positioned at the back of the main garment body 101, where it comes into contact with the shoulders and back of the wearer. It is shown as being fastened by a series of buttons 103, though it may also be fastened using hook and loop fastenings, zips, press studs or any other means of fastening known in the art. The purpose of both the position and the fastening is to ensure the pocket is difficult for distressed wearers to reach and open.

[20] The weight pad 201 is a pouch shaped roughly as a C', formed to fit over and around the shoulders of the wearer. The pouch is ideally formed of cotton, though any other suitable material known in the art may be used.

[21] To add weight to this pouch, it is filled with a weighting medium. Ideally, the weighting medium is natural wheat grain that may be heated for additional comfort for the wearer. Alternatively, any other suitable weighting medium known in the art may be used.

[221 The weighing medium may be treated with essential oils or perfumes to emit a scent and further alter the mood of the wearer -for example, lavender may be used for a calming effect and so on.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[23] The wearer heats the weight pad 201, perhaps in the microwave, which retains the heat and, if essential oils or perfumes are used, emits a scent.

[24] The weight pad 201 is positioned in the pocket 102 of the main garment body 101, which is then fastened using the fastening 103.

[2511 The garment is placed over the shoulders and torso of the wearer and the weight pad within the main garment body rests upon the shoulders of the wearer. The weight of the weight pad provides deep pressure, calming the wearer and giving a sense of security. It also aids proprioception, reducing the symptoms of SPD.

Claims (7)

1. Claims 1. A weighted garment to be worn on the shoulders and torso comprising: a main garment body; a pocket within said main garment body positioned across its back where said weighted garment sits on the shoulders of a wearer; a weighted pad shaped to fit around the shoulders of said wearer and to be held inside said pocket within said main garment body.
2. 2. The weighted garment of the preceding claim where said main garment body comprises a hood.
3. 3. The weighted garment of any preceding claim where said main garment body is styled as any of the following: a jumper; a t-shirt; a shirt; a vest.
4. 4. The weighted garment of any preceding claim where said pocket within said main garment body is fastened with any of the following: buttons; press-studs; hook and loop fastenings; zips; any combination of the above.
5. 5. The weighted garment of any preceding claim where said weighted pad is shaped roughly in a C' shape to fit around the shoulders of said wearer.
6. 6. The weighted garment of any preceding claim where said weighted pad comprises wheat grain as a weighting medium.
7. 7. The weighted garment of any preceding claim where said weighting medium is treated with essential oils or perfumes.*::r: INTELLECTUAL 7 . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1011238.1 Examiner: Dr Karen Payne Claims searched: 1 -7 Date of search: 12 October 2011 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X 1-5 US5144694A1 (CONRAD DA OUD et al.) See columns 6 -9 and figures 1, 2 & 5 -7.X 1 -5 US 2003/0208832 Al (VANDENBERG) See page 2 and figures 1, 3 & 5.Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX: Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC A4ID; A6IF; A61M; A63B The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report EPODOC, WPI, INTERNET International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From A41D 0011/00 01/01/2006 A41D 0001/04 01/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk