Protective Outer Garment For Wheelchair Occupant

Abstract

An outer garment suitable for use by a wheelchair occupant that may be put on or taken off by an individual without requiring an undue amount of assistance. In one example, the garment takes the form of a “full-front, half-back” coat that fits as a single piece over an individual's head. The two sections are permanently joined along shoulder seams around the neck, outer arms and cuff regions, so that the garment is completely in place when put over an individual's head. A suitable type of releasable attachment (e.g., zipper, hook-and-loop, snaps, and the like) is used secure the sleeves in place and join the front and back sections along the side seams.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment suitable for use by a wheelchair-bound individual, comprising:
 a front section having a head opening, a pair of shoulder seams, and a pair of side seams; and   a back section permanently affixed to the front section across the pair of shoulder seams, the back section further including releasable attachment means for joining the back section to the front section along the pair of side seams.   
     
     
         2 . The garment as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising
 a pair of sleeves, each sleeve permanently affixed to the pair of should seams and terminating at a cuff at an opposing end, each sleeve further comprising open sleeve seams and releasable attachment means for closing the sleeve seams.   
     
     
         3 . The garment as defined in  claim 2  wherein the pair of sleeve seams are adjacent to the pair of sleeve seams, allowing for a single releasable attachment means to join the front section, back section, and pair of sleeves together. 
     
     
         4 . The garment as defined in  claim 1  wherein
 the front section is defined as a full-front section and extends to substantially cover an individual's torso and legs; and 
 the back section is defined as a half-back section, extending downward from an individual's neck and terminating at substantially a waist location. 
 
     
     
         5 . The garment as defined in  claim 4  wherein the full front section further comprises a lower gathering portion extending across a bottom termination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The garment as defined in  claim 5  wherein the lower gathering portion further comprises a releasable clip for supporting a lower region of the full front section in a manner that surrounds substantially all of the lower leg portions of a seated individual. 
     
     
         7 . The garment as defined in  claim 1  wherein
 the front section is defined as a half front section and extends downward from the head opening to terminate at substantially a waist location; and 
 the back section is defined as a half back section, extending downward from an individual's neck and terminating at substantially a waist location. 
 
     
     
         8 . The garment as defined in  claim 7  wherein the garment further comprises
 a lap robe releasably attached to a lower edge of the half front section and used to cover at least a portion of an individual's lower legs. 
 
     
     
         9 . The garment as defined in  claim 8  wherein the lap robe further comprises a lower gathering portion extending across a bottom termination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein the lower gathering portion further comprises a releasable clip for supporting a lower region of the lap robe in a manner that surrounds substantially all of the lower leg portions of a seated individual. 
     
     
         11 . The garment as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a hood portion. 
     
     
         12 . The garment as defined in  claim 11  wherein the hood portion is releasably attached to the front and back sections. 
     
     
         13 . The garment as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a pocket positioned on an exterior portion of the garment. 
     
     
         14 . The garment as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a front pouch having opposing openings for allowing an individual to insert his/her hands within the pouch.