FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to garments that include an upper body portion and a pant portion, and more particularly but not exclusively to garments that inhibit removal by the wearer.

BACKGROUND

[0002] It is common amongst autism spectrum disorder children, that they remove their underwear or outwear (clothing). Frequently the clothing is "sensory skin suits" that are firm fitting and compress against the skin of a wearer.

[0003] It is a disadvantage of sensory skin suit garments that the child can access their underwear or remove the garments.

OBJECT OF INVENTION

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] There is disclosed herein a garment including:

a pant part including a waist portion to be positioned adjacent a wearer's waist, a pant front portion and a pant rear portion, the pant front and rear portions extend downwardly from the waist portion and providing a left and a right leg portion;

a top part, at least partly overlaying the pant part and including a top front portion and a top back portion cooperating to provide a neck opening, and portions through which arms of the wearer may extend; and wherein

the top front portion and top back portion have lower extremities that extend downwardly past the waist portion so as to partly overlay the pant part, with the pant part secured to the top part to inhibit the wearer removing the garment. [0006] Preferably, the top front portion and the top back portion are integrally formed.

[0007] Preferably, the top back portion has a zipper extending downwardly from the neck opening to aid a carer in removing the garment from the wearer.

[0008] Preferably, the garment includes a body suit including an upper body suit portion extending to the neck opening, with said pant part providing a suit pant portion of the body suit.

[0009] Preferably, the upper body suit portion includes a suit front panel and a suit rear panel cooperating to provide ann openings.

[0010] Preferably, the suit front panel and the suit rear panel are integrally formed.

[001 1] Preferably, the suit rear panel is provided with a zipper extending downwardly from the neck opening towards the waist.

[0012] Preferably, the suit pant part is formed of stretch material so that when the garment is worn, the suit pant portion is resiliently urged into contact with the wearer.

[0013] Preferably, the upper body suit portion is formed of stretch material so that when the garment is worn, the upper body suit upper portion is resiliently urged into contact with the wearer.

[0014] Preferably, the body suit is formed of stretch material so that when the garment is worn, the body suit is resiliently urged into contact with the wearer.

[0015] Preferably, the body suit is integrally formed of the stretch material.

[0016] Preferably, the upper body suit portion is secured to the top part adjacent the neck opening.

[0017] Preferably, the top part and upper body suit portion have side edges that are secured together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of a garment;

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic rear elevation of the garment of Figure 1;

[0021 ] Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of the garment of Figures 1 and 2;

[0022] Figure 4 is a schematic front elevati on of the modification of the garment i llustrated in Figure 1;

[0023] Figure 5 is a schematic rear elevation of the garment of Figure 4; [0024] Figure 6 is a schematic side elevation of the garment of Figure 4;

[0025] Figure 7 is a schematic front elevation of the upper body part of the garment of Figure 4; [0026] Figure 8 is a schematic rear elevation of the upper body part of Figure 7; [0027] Figure 9 is a schematic front elevation of a body suit of the garment of Figure 4; and [0028] Figure 10 is a schematic rear elevation of the body suit of Figure 9. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a garment 10 particularly adapted to be worn by an autism spectrum disorder child.

[0030] The garment 10 includes an upper body (top) part 1 1 , and a body suit 25 providing an upper part suit portion 26 and a pant suit portion 12.

[0031] The part 11 includes a front portion 13 and a back portion 14, with the portions 13 and 14 cooperating to provide a neck opening 15. [0032] The top part 1 1 may be a shirt (as depicted) or maybe a t-shirt so that the arms 16 are shorter than those actually depicted.

[0033] The part 1 1 has a lower extremity 17 that extends below the waist of the wearer.

[0034] The back portion 14 is provided with a zipper 18 that extends downwardly from the neck opening 15 towards the lower extremity 17.

[0035] The zipper 18, when undone, facilitates removal of the garment, as well as placing the garment on the child.

[0036] The upper suit portion 26 extends downwardly from the neck opening 15 to the waist 19, and is secured to the part 1 1 adjacent the neck opening 15. The upper suit portion 26 includes a front panel 27 and a rear panel 28 that are preferably integrally formed with the pant portion 12. The panels 27 and 28 also provide ann openings 30 aligned with the arms 16. The panel 28 also has a zipper 32.

[0037] The pant suit part 12 includes a portion 29 adjacent the waist 19, and optionally a waist band 20, and has legs 21 extending downwardly away from the waist portion 19. The pant portion 12 also includes a front portion 24 and a rear portion 25 from which the legs 21 extend.

[0038] In the above garment 10, the portion 19 is located above the lower edge 22 of the part 1 1 so that the shirt or t-shirt (part 1 1 ), has the appearance of regular shirt or t-shirt as the lower edge 22 is not attached to the suit 25.

[0039] The part 1 1 at least partly overlays the pant portion 12 and is attached thereto. The attachment can be around the neck opening 15, that is the neck seam 23, and/or along side portions 31 . The attachment is preferably achieved by having parts 1 1 and suit 25 sewn together. Preferably the attachment is achieved by sewing along the upwardly extending side portions 31 and around the neck seam 23. In one preferred form, the part 1 1 and suit 25 are permanently secured together. In an alternative preferred form, they are detachable.

[0040] In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 10, the lower portion of the legs 16 is provided with an elasticised part 32 providing a leg opening, while in an alternative embodiment (shown only in Figure 4) sock portions 33 are provided to at least partly encompass the user's feet, while being secured to the parts 32.

[0041] In manufacturing the garment 10, preferably the body suit 25 is formed, and then the portions 13 and 14 attached thereto along the seam 23 and down the side portions 31.

Thereafter, the arms 16 are secured to the part 1 1 and body suit 25.

[0042] Preferably, body suit 25 is formed of a stretch material so that when the garment 10 is worn, the garment 10 is resiliently deformed so as to be resiliently urged into contact with the wearer. Preferably, the top part 1 1 is formed of non-stretch material, such as cotton or wool.

[0043] The above described preferred embodiment has the advantage that it is difficult, without assistance, to remove the garment 10. Removal requires operation of the zippers 18 and 31. This is particularly suitable for autism spectrum disorder children, that commonly attempt to remove their garments, as the garment 10 is difficult for them to remove.

[0044] The above described preferred embodiment has the further advantage that at least the lower edge portion 22 of the front portion 13 is not attached to the suit 25, thereby giving the appearance of a shirt or T-shirt. A further advantage i s provided if the lower portion 22 of the back portion 14 is not secured to the suit 25, further enhancing the appearance that the wearer is merely wearing a shirt or T-shirt.

[0045] A still further advantage of the above embodiment is that the garment 10 is a sensory garment that inhibits removal, and inhibits access to and removal of underwear.