Field of Invention.

[001] The present invention relates generally to the field of alternative therapies. More specifically, the present invention relates to a garment adapted to hold one or more healing objects against the skin during wear and an adapter for use with such garments.

Background

[002] Crystal healing is an alternative medical technique in which crystals and other stones are used to cure ailments and protect against disease. It is theorized that the crystals act as conduits for the natural healing powers of the body — enabling positive, healing energy to flow into the body as negative, disease-causing energy flows out.

[003] The technique is thought to be more effective when the crystals are in physical contact with the body, thus users will often carry crystals on their person. However, carrying a crystal in the pocket does not actually facilitate this, since the fabric of the clothing provides a barrier to physical contact between the crystal and the skin. Furthermore, carrying multiple crystals on one's person, even if they are in some way affixed to the user, for example by string, can lead to a disarrayed appearance with multiple crystals dangling about one's person.

[004] There is a need for a more efficient way to carry crystals on ones' person that actually enables physical contact with the skin without getting in the way of one's daily life.

[005] It is within this context that the present invention is provided.

Summary

[006] The present disclosure provides a garment having an interior surface which is specially adapted to hold crystals and other objects with healing properties against the skin of a user. This may be achieved either by having a plurality of mesh pocket pouches disposed on the interior surface, or by a plurality of mounting points each configured to receive an adapter with the crystal held therein. An adapter comprising a holding cup with a layer of adhesive for attaching a crystal and a hook and loop surface for mounting to such a garment is therefore also provided herein. [007] Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a garment, the garment comprising: an inner surface which during wear is at least partially in contact with the skin of a user; one or more pocket pouches disposed on the inner surface of the garment, each pocket pouch comprising a rear fabric wall coupled to the inner surface and a front mesh wall having an opening formed therein, the front mesh wall being adapted to hold a crystalline object in place in the pouch.

[008] According to another aspect, there is provided a garment, the garment comprising: an inner surface which during wear is at least partially in contact with the skin of a user; one or more mounting points disposed on the inner surface of the garment, each mounting point comprising a fabric strip coupled to the inner surface and having a hook and loop arrangement on the exposed surface; and one or more adapters, each adapter comprising a fabric strip with a corresponding hook and loop arrangement on a first surface and an opposing surface coupled to convex side of a holding cup, an opposing concave side of the holding cup having a layer of adhesive formed thereon adapted to hold a crystalline object.

[009] In some embodiments, the garment is a bra. The bra may comprise widened straps and an extended strip of fabric running under the cradle to provide additional surface area for mounting the one or more pocket pouches or mounting points and adapters.

[010] In some embodiments, the garment is a corset. The mounting points may be disposed between structural rods of the corset.

[Oil] In some embodiments, the garment incorporates multiple pocket pouches of different sizes.

[012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an adapter, the adapter comprising a fabric strip with a hook and loop arrangement on a first surface and an opposing surface coupled to convex side of a holding cup, an opposing concave side of the holding cup having a layer of adhesive formed thereon adapted to hold a crystalline object.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[013] Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. [014] FIG.l illustrates an isometric view of a first embodiment of a garment according to the present disclosure.

[015] FIG.2 illustrates an isometric view of a second embodiment of a garment according to the present disclosure.

[016] FIG.3 illustrates an isometric view of a third embodiment of a garment according to the present disclosure.

[017] FIG.4 illustrates an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of a garment according to the present disclosure.

[018] FIG.5 illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of an adapter according to the present disclosure.

[019] FIG.6 illustrates an isometric view of the embodiment of the adapter according to the present disclosure with a crystalline object coupled therewith.

[020] Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, and elements/functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims.

Detailed Description and Preferred Embodiment

[021] The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by the claims.

[022] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured. [023] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[024] The present disclosure provides two variations of a garment with a specially adapted interior surface for holding objects against a user's skin, one with pocket pouches and one with mounting points for receiving adapters. These variations are exemplified using two example types of garment: a bra and a corset, however it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the concepts illustrated herein can be applied to effectively any garment.

[025] Thus, with reference to FIG.l, an isometric view of a bra garment 100 is shown which has a plurality of mesh pocket pouches 112 disposed on an interior surface 110.

[026] The bra garment 100 comprises, like most bras, a pair of wings 102 with fasteners/hooks 103, shoulder straps 104 with sliders, and a pair of cups 106 held in a cradle. In the present example, the wings have been widened using an additional strip of fabric 108 to provide additional internal surface area 110 for mounting crystals 114 against a user's skin.

[027] A plurality of pocket pouches 112 are mounted at various points on the internal surface 100, each one comprises a fabric backing and a mesh layer that holds the crystals 114 in place while also allowing direct contact between the crystals and the user's skin when the garment is worn.

[028] Pocket pouches of various sizes can be incorporated on the same garment, as illustrated by the larger pocket pouches 116 on the top part of the wings 102.

[029] Referring to FIG.2 a variation of the bra garment 200 is shown with an identical garment structure - a pair of wings 202 with fasteners/hooks 203, shoulder straps 204 with sliders, and a pair of cups 206 held in a cradle. An additional fabric strip 208 providing additional internal surface area 210. [030] In this variation however, the pocket pouches are replaced by mounting points 218 for attaching adapters with crystals held on them. Each mounting point 218 comprises a fabric strip with attachment means for coupling with the adapters - for example a hook and loop type surface like Velcro.

[031] The mounting points can also come in various sizes to accommodate different sizes of crystals, as shown by the larger mounting points 220 at the top of the wings.

[032] FIGs 3 and 4 show the same two variations on a corset type garment 300, 400. The corset type garment comprises a sheet of fabric 302, 402 with structural rods 304, 404 running along its length and giving it shape, and a plurality of fasteners 306, 406 to hold it wrapped around a wearer's torso as with traditional corsets.

[033] The interior surface 310, 410 of the corset garment has linear surface areas 308, 408 running between the structural rods where the crystals 314, 414 can be mounted.

[034] In FIG.3 the interior surface 310 is shown with smaller pocket pouches 312 and larger pocket pouches 316 mounted thereon and the crystals 314 already held within the mesh.

[035] In FIG.4 the interior surface 410 is shown with smaller mounting points 412 and larger mounting points 416 mounted thereon, ready for the adapters with the crystals to be affixed.

[036] Referring to FIG.5, an isometric view of an example structure of an adapter 500 for use with the mounting point variation of the garment of the present disclosure is shown.

[037] As can be seen, the adapter 500 comprises a holding cup 502 with a layer of adhesive 504 disposed on the concave side and a fabric strip 506 and layer of hook and loop type material 508 such as Velcro disposed on the opposing convex side of the cup. The holding cup 502 may be made out of a flexible material such as for example silicone.

[038] FIG.6 shows a crystalline object 514 in place on the holding cup 502, held in place by the layer of adhesive 504. The user would place a plurality of such adapters on various mounting points on the internal surface of their garment before wearing it, the Velcro of the adapters coupling with the Velcro of the mounting points - although other attachment means could also be used. [039] As with the pocket pouches and mounting points, various sizes and shapes of adapter can be used to accommodate different shapes and sizes of crystal.

[040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[041] The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the garment have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

[042] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.