Article of clothing with side access

Abstract

A garment to be worn by a person has a first fabric panel having a first side edge and a second fabric panel having a second side edge. The first and second panels are joined by stitching to form a seam near the first and second side edges. An aperture is formed between the fabric panels by an interruption in the stitching. The aperture may be formed directly on the garment, or may be provided as a set-in that is attached to the garment. The aperture may be positioned on the garment so that it will be located under the arm of a person wearing the garment.

1 . A garment to be worn by a person, comprising:
 a first fabric panel having a first side edge;   a second fabric panel having a second side edge;   said first and second panels joined proximate said first and second side edges by stitching to form a seam;   an aperture formed between said first and second fabric panels and adjacent said seam by an interruption in said stitching; and   a flap proximate said aperture and extending underneath at least one of said first or second panels and across said seam such that the person's skin is not readily viewable through said aperture when said aperture is opened.   
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said flap is formed by extending a portion of said second panel beneath said first panel. 
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said aperture is positioned so as to be approximately under an arm of the person wearing the garment. 
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising an aligning stitch below said aperture and through said first fabric panel and said second fabric panel. 
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said flap comprises a third panel joined to said first panel or said second panel, or to both said first and second panels. 
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 5 , further comprising an inner trim panel above said aperture, wherein an upper portion of said third panel is sewn to a lower portion of said inner trim panel. 
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an aft inner trim panel above said aperture; and   a forward inner trim panel above said aperture;   wherein an upper portion of said third panel is sewn to a lower portion of said forward inner trim panel and a lower portion of said aft inner trim panel.   
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein said aperture is positioned so as to be approximately under the arm of the person wearing the garment. 
   
   
       9 . A set-in for a garment, comprising:
 a first flap;   a second flap that contacts said first flap;   said first and second flaps defining a non-fastenable aperture; and   a perimeter circumscribing said first and second flaps and adapted to be sewn into the garment.   
   
   
       10 . The garment set-in of  claim 9 , wherein the first flap abuts the second flap. 
   
   
       11 . The garment set-in of  claim 9 , wherein the first flap extends under the second flap. 
   
   
       12 . The garment set-in of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said first flap or said second flap has fabric trim along the contact with the other said flap. 
   
   
       13 . A garment, comprising:
 at least one panel covering the skin of a person wearing the garment;   a set-in joined to said panel, said set-in comprising:   a non-fastenable aperture in said set-in,   a first flap on said set-in,   a second flap that contacts said first flap, and   a perimeter circumscribing said first and second flaps and joining said set-in to said panel.   
   
   
       14 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein said first flap abuts said second flap. 
   
   
       15 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein said first flap extends under said second flap. 
   
   
       16 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said first flap or said second flap has fabric trim along the contact with the other of said first flap or said second flap. 
   
   
       17 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein said set-in is positioned so as to be approximately located under an arm of a person wearing the garment. 
   
   
       18 . A method of manufacturing a garment to be worn by a person comprising:
 obtaining a first fabric panel having a first side edge;   obtaining a second fabric panel having a second side edge;   stitching the first and second panels proximate the first and second side edges to form a seam;   interrupting the stitching to form an aperture in the seam between the first and second panels; and   providing a flap proximate the aperture and extending underneath at least one of the first or second panels and across the seam, such that the skin of the person wearing the garment is not readily viewable through the aperture when the aperture is opened.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing a flap further comprises:
 stitching a third panel into the garment.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 positioning the aperture to be approximately under the arm of the person wearing the garment.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising sewing a top trim along at least one of the first side edge or the second side edge proximate the aperture. 
   
   
       22 . A method of manufacturing a garment with provisions for intimate contact comprising:
 obtaining at least one panel covering the skin of a person wearing the garment;   obtaining a set-in comprising:   a non-fastenable aperture,   a first flap,   a second flap that contacts the first flap,   a perimeter circumscribing the first and second flaps; and   joining the set-in to the panel.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 positioning the aperture to be approximately under the arm of the person wearing the garment.