Accessible Clothing Technologies, Systems and Methods Using Integrated Soft Robotics

Abstract

An adaptive bra including an encircling band, a front panel connected to the encircling band and including at least one support panel configured to substantially cover at least one breast of a wearer, and at least one expanding panel including at least one shape memory material (SMM) actuator, wherein the at least one SMM actuator generates a linear contraction of the expanding panel when activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adaptive garment, comprising:
 a garment body having an expanded state and a fitted state;   one or more shape memory material (SMM) actuators connected with the garment body such that activation of the one or more SMM actuators contracts the garment body from the expanded state into the fitted state; and   a fastener system affixed to the garment body that latches the garment body in the fitted state in response to the SMM actuators contracting the garment body into the fitted state.   
     
     
         2 . The adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the fitted state is conformed to a user's body relative to the expanded state. 
     
     
         3 . The adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment body assuming the fitted state triggers latching of the fastener system. 
     
     
         4 . The adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener system is manually latched. 
     
     
         5 . The adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener system comprises one or more of a button buckle, nursing clips, a reel-based fastener system, a hook-and-eye fastener system, and a magnetic fastener system. 
     
     
         6 . The adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptive garment is one of a bra, a belt, a support band, a shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more SMM actuators comprise shape memory allow (SMA) springs. 
     
     
         8 . The adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more SMM actuators are activated by application of heat or current. 
     
     
         9 . An adaptive garment, comprising:
 a garment body including at least one opening in the garment in an expanded state;   a fastener system configured to secure the at least one opening such that the garment body is donned upon at least a portion of a user; and   one or more SMM actuators affixed to the garment body such that activation of the SMM actuators draws the garment body into a fitted state.   
     
     
         10 . The adaptive garment of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one opening is closed by the fastener system. 
     
     
         11 . The adaptive garment of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one opening is made a restricted opening by the fastener system. 
     
     
         12 . The adaptive garment of  claim 9 , wherein the fastener system is manually secured. 
     
     
         13 . The adaptive garment of  claim 9 , wherein the fastener system is configured for one-handed operation. 
     
     
         14 . The adaptive garment of  claim 13 , wherein the fastener system comprises one of a button buckle and a nursing clip. 
     
     
         15 . The adaptive garment of  claim 9 , wherein the SMM actuators are affied to the garment body in an actuation panel. 
     
     
         16 . The adaptive garment of  claim 15 , wherein the actuation panel comprises a mesh panel. 
     
     
         17 . The adaptive garment of  claim 15 , wherein the actuation panel comprises a plurality of SMM actuators. 
     
     
         18 . The adaptive garment of  claim 15 , wherein the adaptive garment comprises at least two actuation panels. 
     
     
         19 . The adaptive garment of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two actuation panels are arranged on opposing sides of the garment body. 
     
     
         20 . The adaptive garment of  claim 18 , wherein the adaptive garment comprises at least three actuation panels.