Lipowear

Abstract

Contemplated padded undergarments are form-fitted to have a higher than normal ratio of waist circumference to leg circumference and include a padded area that covers substantially the entire contact area of buttocks and legs with a chair when a person wearing such undergarment is sitting on the chair. Such undergarments are particularly advantageous to provide symptomatic relief for a person diagnosed with HIV infection, a neoplastic disease, chronic diabetes, and/or advanced age, which is typically accompanied by lipoatrophy, lipodystrophy, and/or sarcopenia.

1 . An item of manufacture, comprising: 
 a form-fitted undergarment comprising a waist portion having a waist circumference and a leg portion having a leg circumference, wherein a ratio of the waist circumference to the leg circumference is higher than a normal ratio; and    a padded area that is configured to provide protection extending from an upper area of the waist portion to a lower area of the leg portion such that buttocks and legs of a person contacting a seat while sitting on a chair are substantially completely covered by the padded area.    
   
   
       2 . The item of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the waist portion and the leg portion comprises an elastic material.  
   
   
       3 . The item of  claim 1  wherein the ratio is characteristic of a person diagnosed with at least one of lipoatrophy, lipodystrophy, and sarcopenia.  
   
   
       4 . The item of  claim 1  wherein the ratio is further characteristic of the person diagnosed with at least one of an HIV infection, a neoplastic disease, advanced age, and chronic diabetes.  
   
   
       5 . The item of  claim 1  wherein the ratio is at least 1.9.  
   
   
       6 . The item of  claim 1  wherein the ratio is at least 2.0.  
   
   
       7 . The item of  claim 1  wherein the padded area extends to a substantially topmost end of the waist portion.  
   
   
       8 . The item of  claim 1  wherein the padded area extends to a substantially lowermost end of the leg portion.  
   
   
       9 . The item of  claim 1  wherein the padded area is configured as an independent right and left area, and wherein each area includes a removable pad.  
   
   
       10 . The item of  claim 1  wherein the padded area comprises a plurality of vent openings and is further contoured to have a thicker than average thickness in a buttock area.  
   
   
       11 . The item of  claim 10  wherein the padded area is further contoured to have a thinner than average thickness in a peripheral area of the padded area.  
   
   
       12 . A method of providing symptomatic relief for a person suffering from at least one of HIV infection, chronic diabetes, neoplastic disease, lipoatrophy, lipodystrophy, and sarcopenia comprising a step of providing the form-fitted undergarment according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the ratio is at least 1.9.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the ratio is at least 2.0.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the padded area is configured as an independent right and left area, and wherein each area includes a removable pad.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the padded area comprises a plurality of vent openings and is further contoured to have a thicker than average thickness in a buttock area.  
   
   
       17 . A method of providing improved sitting comfort to a person, comprising: 
 providing a form-fitted undergarment comprising a waist portion and a leg portion, and further comprising a padded area;    wherein the padded area is configured to provide protection extending from an upper area of the waist portion to a lower area of the leg portion such that buttocks and legs of a person contacting a seat while sitting on a chair are substantially completely covered by the padded area; and    informing the person that the undergarment provides reduction in at least one of pain, numbness, local hemostasis, and deep vein thrombosis when the garment is worn during a period of sitting over at least three hours.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the padded area has an average thickness of between 0.5 inch to 1 inch.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the padded area is contoured to have a thinner than average thickness in a peripheral area of the padded area.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the padded area is configured as an independent right and left area, and wherein each area includes a removable pad.