Garments with pocket and aperture arrangements for managing apparatus components

Abstract

Disclosed are garments that incorporate at least one pocket configured to accommodate a wearable apparatus portion such as a medical pump and having an aperture for receiving therethrough an elongate flexible element of the apparatus such as a tube or wire. Also described are methods for making and using the garments, and combinations including the garments and the apparatus components.

1 . A sweatshirt garment, comprising:
 a torso-surrounding fabric self layer having a rear side and a front side, the rear side defining a rear side outer surface and a rear side inner surface, the front side defining a front side outer surface and a front side inner surface, the self layer defining an aperture on the front side and extending between the front side inner surface and the front side outer surface;   an outer pocket layer defining an outer surface and an inner surface, the pocket layer fixed to the front side of the self layer so as to define an outer pocket interior between the front side outer surface and the inner surface of the pocket layer and to define at least one outer pocket opening for accessing the outer pocket interior, wherein the outer pocket layer is positioned over the aperture defined by the front side of the self layer;   an inner pocket layer fixed to the front side of the self layer, wherein the inner pocket layer is positioned between the outer pocket layer and the self layer and defines an inner pocket interior between an inner surface of the inner pocket layer and the front side outer surface of the front side of the self layer and further defines at least one inner pocket opening;   wherein the inner pocket layer is positioned over the aperture defined by the front side of the self layer such that the aperture provides access between the front side inner surface of the front side of the self layer and the second pocket interior; and   wherein the first pocket interior is lined by the inner surface of the outer pocket layer, the outer surface of the inner pocket layer, and the front side outer surface of the front side of the self layer.   
     
     
         2 . The sweatshirt garment of  claim 1 , also comprising first and second arm sleeves joined to the self layer and a hood joined to the self layer. 
     
     
         3 . The sweatshirt garment of  claim 1 , wherein the self layer is a loose-fitting shell. 
     
     
         4 . The sweatshirt garment of  claim 1 , wherein the self layer is formed from a knit fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The sweatshirt garment of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is at least partially bounded by an embroidered edge. 
     
     
         6 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The sweatshirt garment of  claim 5 , wherein the embroidered edge has a stiffness configured to bias the aperture to an open condition. 
     
     
         10 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The sweatshirt garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outer pocket opening includes a left side pocket opening and a right side pocket opening, and wherein the outer pocket interior is in the form of a passageway extending between the left side pocket opening and the right side pocket opening. 
     
     
         22 . A garment, comprising:
 a fabric self layer defining an inner volume for surrounding a torso of a wearer, the self layer having a self layer outer surface and a self layer inner surface and defining an aperture extending between the self layer inner surface and the self layer outer surface;   an outer pocket attached to the self layer and defining an outer pocket interior, wherein the outer pocket includes a left side pocket opening and a right side pocket opening, and wherein the outer pocket interior is in the form of a passageway extending between the left side pocket opening and the right side pocket opening;   an inner pocket defining an inner pocket interior, the inner pocket positioned within the outer pocket and over the aperture such that the aperture provides access to the inner pocket interior from a position within the inner volume defined by the self layer.   
     
     
         23 . The garment of  claim 22 , also comprising first and second arm sleeves joined to the self layer. 
     
     
         24 . The garment of  claim 22 , also comprising a hood joined to the self layer and configured to cover a head of a user. 
     
     
         25 . The garment of  claim 22 , wherein the self layer is not configured to form fit to a user and is formed from a knit fabric. 
     
     
         26 . The garment of  claim 22 , wherein the aperture is at least partially bounded by an embroidered edge. 
     
     
         27 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the aperture is completely surrounded by an embroidered edge. 
     
     
         28 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A garment, comprising:
 a fabric self layer defining an inner volume for surrounding a body portion of a user, the self layer having a rear side defining a rear side outer surface and a rear side inner surface and a front side defining a front side outer surface and a front side inner surface; and   a pocket joined to the self layer and defining a pocket opening, the pocket defining a pocket interior; and   an aperture defined in a layer that bounds the pocket interior and separates the pocket interior from the body portion of the user, wherein the aperture is at least partially bounded by an embroidered edge, the embroidered edge having a stiffness configured to bias the aperture to an open condition, and the embroidered edge having stitches raised above adjacent surfaces of the layer bounding the pocket interior.   
     
     
         44 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A combination, comprising:
 a garment according to  claim 1 , an apparatus base unit received in the inner pocket interior, and an elongate flexible apparatus element connected to the apparatus base unit and extending through the aperture.   
     
     
         66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A method for managing an apparatus, comprising:
 wearing a combination according to claim  65 .   
     
     
         68 . A method for managing an apparatus on a body of a user, comprising:
 wearing a garment according to  claim 1  on the body of the user; inserting an apparatus base unit into the inner pocket interior through the inner pocket opening; passing an end of an elongate flexible apparatus element through the aperture; and, connecting an end of the elongate flexible apparatus element to the body of the user.   
     
     
         69 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . A combination, comprising:
 a garment according to claim  43 , an apparatus base unit received in the inner pocket interior, and an elongate flexible apparatus element connected to the apparatus base unit and extending through the aperture.   
     
     
         73 . A method for managing an apparatus, comprising:
 wearing a combination according to claim  72 .   
     
     
         74 . A method for managing an apparatus on a body of a user, comprising:
 wearing a garment according to claim  43  on the body of the user; inserting an apparatus base unit into the inner pocket interior through the inner pocket opening; passing an end of an elongate flexible apparatus element through the aperture; and, connecting an end of the elongate flexible apparatus element to the body of the user.