Garment with Frontal Support System

Abstract

The present invention is a garment including a rigid rear panel having a waist support belt attached to a lower end thereof. The garment also includes a pair of support straps connected between the rear panel and a pair of front panels operably connected to the rear panel. The straps, either by their construction or through an adjustment in the length of the straps, enables the weight of items positioned on the front panels can be shifted onto the hips of the individual and off of the shoulders, while the support belt is engaged around the waist of the individual, to increase the freedom of motion of the shoulders and to reduce fatigue.

1 . A garment comprising:
 a) at least one rigid rear panel;   b) at least one front panel connected to the rear panel; and   c) a support mechanism including at least one strap secured between the at least one rigid rear panel and the at least one front panel.   
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the at least one strap is secured to the at least one rigid rear panel and the at least one front panel in a position to define an arm opening above the at least one strap. 
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the at least one strap is adjustable in length 
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the at least one rigid rear panel is engageable with a waist of a wearer. 
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 4  further comprising a support belt secured to an interior surface of the at least one rigid rear panel that is engageable around the waist of the wearer. 
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 5  wherein the support belt includes at least one rigid insert disposed within the support belt. 
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 6  wherein the support belt includes a central portion secured to the at last one rigid rear panel and a pair of arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of the central portion, wherein the inserts are disposed within each of the pair of arms. 
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the at least one rigid rear panel is formed of a plastic material. 
   
   
       9 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the at least one rigid rear panel is formed of at least one stiffener disposed within a rear section of the garment. 
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 9  wherein the at least one stiffener is removably secured within the rear section of the garment. 
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 9  wherein the at least one stiffener is disposed within a sleeve formed in the rear section of the garment. 
   
   
       12 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the at least one rigid rear panel forms a rear section of the garment. 
   
   
       13 . A garment comprising:
 a) at least one rigid rear panel formed of at least one stiffener disposed within a rear section of the garment;   b) at least one front panel connected to the rear panel; and   c) a support mechanism including at least one adjustable length strap secured between the at least one rigid rear panel and the at least one front panel, wherein the at least one strap is secured to the at least one rigid rear panel and the at least one front panel in a position to define an arm opening above the at least one strap.   
   
   
       14 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein the at least one stiffener is removably secured within the rear section of the garment. 
   
   
       15 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein the at least one stiffener is disposed within a sleeve formed in the rear section of the garment. 
   
   
       16 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein the at least one stiffener forms the rear section of the garment. 
   
   
       17 . A garment comprising:
 a) at least one rigid rear panel engageable with a waist of a wearer, the at least one rigid rear panel formed as at least one stiffener disposed within a rear section of the garment;   b) at least one front panel connected to the rear panel; and   c) a support mechanism including at least one strap secured between the at least one rigid rear panel and the at least one front panel.   
   
   
       18 . The garment of  claim 17  wherein the support belt includes at least one rigid insert disposed within the support belt. 
   
   
       19 . The garment of  claim 18  wherein the support belt includes a central portion secured to the at least one rigid rear panel and a pair of arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of the central portion, wherein the inserts are disposed within each of the pair of arms.