Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MINIMUM CLOTHING FOR SPAS AND CLINICS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to clothing, and in
particular to minimal clothing to cover the genitals and
female breasts of spa users and clinic patients,.
Description of the Prior Art
Robes and sheets are often used in clinics and spas to
allow some modesty for the users when they must encounter
professionals, patients, and other strangers. Wearing
underwear or swimsuits underneath or alone is not an option
because these cover too much and often impede access by the
professional to the areas of the skin to be treated. But
no access or exposure of the genitals and female breasts of
spa users and clinic patients is ever needed in such
situations,.
Fears of unintentional exposure of the genitals or
female breasts are reasons some spa users do not ask for
whole body massages. If these areas could be covered by
some sort of minimal clothing, then the spa users could
confidently ask for massages of parts of the body that are
left exposed and not covered.
Conventional transparent undergarments made from
polypropylene plastic have sides and straps that interfere
with massages, and are not biodegradable..
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, a clothing embodiment of the present
invention comprises biodegradable non-transparent fabric
cloth patches to cover the breasts of females and the
genitals of males and femalesõ Each patch is equipped with
a high-tack painless adhesive along its edges to secure
them to the skin a user for a single use.. After one use
lasting no more than a few hours, the patches are discarded
as biodegradable waste.. Fabric versions of the cloth
patches have stitched edges, darts, and liners. Paper
versions have multiple layers and finished edges,.
These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary
skill in the art after having read the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments that are
illustrated in the various drawing figures..
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IN THE DRAWINGS
Figsõ 1A-1D are front and rear views of a female user
wearing a clothing embodiment of the present invention..
Figs. 1A and 1C show the stitching visible on the outside,
and Figs,. 1B and 1D show the painless adhesive strips and
comfort liners on the inside;
Figs.. 2A-2C are diagrams of a spa clothing embodiment
of the present invention, showing two different tops in
Figs.. 2A and 2B, and a cross section view of a bottom in
Fig. 2C;
Figs. 3A-3D are front, rear, and inside view diagrams
of a thong-type female brief embodiment. of the present.
invention, and a peel-away tab is shown half-off in Figõ
3D;
Figs.. 4A-4C are inside, front, and rear view diagrams
of a male brief embodiment of the present invention;
Figs.. 5A-5B are outside and inside views of the bottom
part of a spa bikini embodiment of the present invention
for a female user;
Figs.. 6A-6D are outside and inside views of the top
two parts of a spa bikini embodiment of the present.
invention for a female user; and
Figs.. 7A-7B are outside and inside views of a spa
bikini brief embodiment of the present invention for a male
user..
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figs. 1A-1D represents a clothing embodiment of the
present invention, herein referred to by the general
reference numeral 100õ Clothing 100 comprises cloth
patches 101-103 to cover the breasts of females and the
genitals of males and females.. Only biodegradable non-
transparent fabrics are used throughoutõ For example,
Lyocell is a fiber made from wood pulp cellulose in the
United States by Lenzing Inc.. (Axis, AL), and is marketed
under the trademark, TENCEL.. The Federal Trade Commission
defines Lyocell as a cellulose fabric that. is obtained by
an organic solvent spinning process, and is classified in a
sub-category of rayon.,
Each patch 101-103 is equipped with a high-tack
painless adhesive strips 104-106 along its edges to secure
them to the skin a user 108 for a single use. Such tapes
are otherwise commonly known as "fashion tape,." Darts can
be included to help fit contours.. Stitchings 110-112 are
used to finish the edges, and elastic gathers 114 can be
included. After one use lasting no more than a few hours,
the patches 101-103 are discarded. Fabric versions of the
cloth patches have stitched edges, darts, and liners..
Paper versions have multiple layers and finished edges.
The high-tack painless adhesive strips 104-106 are
peel-off, pressure sensitive types that can be based on 2-
oct.yly-cyanoacrylat.e type medical tissue adhesivesõ A
LEUKO spray tissue adhesive, and NILTAC or LEUKO tape
remover can be used to assist application and removal of
the clothing 100õ
The high-tack painless adhesive strips 104-106 are
necessarily configured to contact areas of the user's skin
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with little or no hair, e.g., ,above and outside the normal
line of pubic hair, outside the areola, and above the natal
cleft.. Adhesive contact with large hairs or excessive
numbers of hairs can exacerbate any otherwise minimal pain
when removing the clothingõ
Figs.. 2A-2C represents a spa clothing embodiment of
the present invention, herein referred to by the general
reference numeral 200.. Spa clothing 200 comprises
decorative cloth patches 201-203 to cover the breasts of
females and the genitals of males and females.. Each patch
201-203 is equipped with a high-tack painless adhesive
strips 204-206 along its edges to secure them to the skin a
user 208 for a single use.. Stitchings 210-211 are used to
finish the edges in the form of flower petals, for example.,
A thin, absorbent liner 214 is included and can be edged
with elastic gathers.. The spa clothing is discarded after
one use lasting no more than a few hours. A minimal number
of different sizes should fit nearly all users because
there are no straps or belts used.
Biodegradable and disposable paper or fabric cloth is
a good material to use in all the embodiments described
here since it can be inexpensive, hypo-allergenic,
inherently hygienic, and environmentally sustainable
"green" product.. A similar material is used in disposable
baby diapers..
Figs.. 3A-3D represents a thong-type female brief
embodiment. of the present invention, herein referred to by
the general reference numeral 300.. Female brief 300
comprises a decorative front panel 302, a plain panel 304,
a piping 306, and frills 308 visible from the outsideõ On
the inside, a peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack
painless adhesive strip 310 is attached to the top edge of
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a comfort panel layer 312. A pad 314 is located below and
connects to an inner liner 316.. On the far end inside,
another peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless
adhesive strip 318 is attached to the top edge of the
distal end. This distal end is intended to tape on the
skin of a user above the natal cleft.. A peel-off tab 320
is shown as being halfway peeled off to expose the tissue
adhesive underneath in preparation for use..
Figs.. 4A-3D represents a male brief embodiment of the
present invention, herein referred to by the general
reference numeral 400. Male brief 400 comprises a cup
panel 402, a plain panel 404, a front edging 406, and a
rear edging 408 visible from the outside., On the inside, a
peel-off, pressure-sensitive high-tack painless adhesive
strip 410 is attached to the top edge of cup panel 402.. On
the far end inside, another peel-off, pressure-sensitive
high-tack painless adhesive strip 412 is attached to the
top edge of the distal end.. This distal end is intended to
tape on the skin of a user above the natal cleft., as in
Fig.. 4C.
Figs.. 5A-5B represent the bottom part of a spa bikini
embodiment of the present invention for a female user, and
is referred to herein by the general reference numeral 500..
Bottom 500 is general constructed of a soft. fabric strip
with wide ends for the tops of the front, and back., A front
panel 502 and a back panel 504 are joined by a middle part
506 with elastic gathers.. An absorbent comfort. liner 508
reinforces the inside part of the middle 506 and is secured
by flaps 510 and 512 and stitching 514, 516, 518, and 520..
Decorations, like sequins or hotel logo "Fairmont." 522 can
be applied.. A brand name 524 can also help identify the
product source in the commercial market, e..g.., Spa-Kini..
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Peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 526 and
528 are used to firmly attach the bottom 500 to the skin of
a user.. In one embodiment, these peel-off pressure
sensitive adhesive strips 526 and 528 are intended for one-
time use and the bottom 500 is disposableõ
Figs.. 6A-6B represent the left and right. top parts of
a spa bikini embodiment of the present invention for a
female user, and are referred to herein by the general
reference numerals 600 and 601. Tops 600 and 601 are
generally constructed of four half-moon shaped soft. fabric
patches 602-605 joined together horizontally across the
middle to form two round shapes to fit over the breasts of
a female user.. Stitching 606-611 is used on fold over flap
edges 612-615.. Decorations 616-617 and the basic color of
patches 602-605 can be selected to match the bottom part,
like in Figs. 5A-5B, to make a matching set.
Peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 618-621
are used to firmly attach the tops 600 and 601 to the skin
of a female user. In one embodiment., these peel-off
pressure sensitive adhesive strips 600 and 601 are intended
for one-time use and the tops 600 and 601 are disposable,
Figs.. 7A-7B represent a spa bikini brief embodiment of
the present. invention for a male user, and is referred to
herein by the general reference numeral 700. Brief 700 is
general constructed of a soft fabric strip with wide ends
for the tops of the front and back.. Left and right front.
panels 702 and 704 are joined together by a dart 706 to
form a pouch 708 in the middle.. A rear panel 712 is joined
by a seam 714. Stitchings 716--723 finish the edges,. A
brand name 724 can also help identify the product source in
the commercial market., e.g.., Spa-Kini. Decorations, like
sequins or a hotel spa logo "Fairmont" 725 can be applied.
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Referring now to Fig.. 7B, on the inside of brief 700,
seam 714 has a flap of material 728 that results from the
stitching, as do flaps 730-7.34..
Peel-off pressure sensitive adhesive strips 740-743
are used to firmly attach brief 700 to the skin of a user,.
In one embodiment, these peel-off pressure sensitive
adhesive strips 740-74.3 are intended for one-time use and
brief 700 is disposableõ
In general, embodiments of the present. invention
minimally protect the privacy of its wearers, allow access
by masseuse to necessary parts of the body, are low cost
and make biodegradable disposability practical and
encourage widespread use, are comfortable to wear,
hypoallergenic, and have a near universal fit for a wide
variety of users..
Although the present invention has been described in
terms of the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be
understood that the disclosure is not to be interpreted as
limiting.. Various alterations and modifications will no
doubt. become apparent to those skilled in the art, after
having read the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is
intended that. the appended claims be interpreted as
covering all alterations and modifications as fall within
the "true" spirit, and scope of the invention..
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