Garment with Integrated Belt Member

Abstract

A garment with an integrated belt. The garment includes a top bottom, front, a first side portion, second side, and rear portions. The belt is attached to the garment and includes: a belt member having front, first rear, and second rear portions, and a belt fastener connected to the first rear portion of the belt member. The front portion of the belt member is attached to at least one of the front portion, first side portion and second side portion, of the garment, at one or more attachment regions, such that the front portion of the belt member is unable to move relative to the garment. In a fastened configuration, the belt fastener connects the first rear portion of the belt member to the second rear portion of the belt member, and the belt fastener is located adjacent to the rear portion of the garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment with an integrated gait belt, comprising:
 a rear-opening garment, including:
 a top portion, 
 a bottom portion, 
 a front portion, 
 a first side portion, 
 a second side portion, and 
 a rear portion having a first side and a second side, the first side including a first edge that extends from the top portion of the garment to the bottom portion of the garment, the second side including a second edge that extends from the top portion of the garment to the bottom portion of the garment; and 
   a gait belt permanently attached to the garment, the gait belt including:
 a belt member having a front portion, a first rear portion and a second rear portion; and 
 a belt fastener connected to the first rear portion of the belt member; 
   wherein the front portion of the belt member is attached to at least one of the front portion, the first side portion and the second side portion, of the garment, at one or more attachment regions, such that the front portion of the belt member is unable to move relative to the garment at the one or more attachment regions; and   wherein in a fastened configuration, the belt fastener connects the first rear portion of the belt member to the second rear portion of the belt member, and the belt fastener is located adjacent to the rear portion of the garment.   
     
     
         2 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion of the belt member is attached to the first and second side portions of the garment and is sewn to the garment. 
     
     
         3 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the first rear portion of the belt member and the second rear portion of the belt member are not attached to the rear portion of the garment. 
     
     
         4 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 1 , wherein the garment defines a head opening forming a “V” shape in the front portion of the garment. 
     
     
         5 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 1 , further comprising a belt-member fastener configured to connect the first rear portion of the belt member to the front portion of the belt member, the belt-member fastener connected to the first rear portion of the belt member or connected to a front portion of the belt member. 
     
     
         6 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 5 , wherein in an unfastened configuration, the first rear portion of the belt member is connected to the front portion of the belt member at the front portion of the garment. 
     
     
         7 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 6 , wherein in the unfastened configuration, the first rear portion of the belt member is folded over a portion of the front portion of the belt member. 
     
     
         8 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a natural-fiber material and the belt member comprises a synthetic material. 
     
     
         9 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 1 , wherein the belt member has an outer side and an inner side, and the inner side of the front portion of the belt member is in contact with the front portion of the garment, and the inner side of the rear portion of the belt member is configured to be in contact with the rear portion of the garment in the fastened configuration, and the outer side of the rear portion of the belt member is configured to be in contact with the outer side of the front portion of the belt member in an unfastened configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A garment with an integrated gait belt, comprising:
 a rear-opening garment, including:
 a front portion, and 
 a rear portion; and 
   a gait belt attached to the garment, the gait belt including:   a belt member having a front portion secured to the front portion of the garment such that the belt member is immovable relative to the garment, and having a first rear portion and a second rear portion;   a belt fastener connected to the first rear portion of the belt member, the belt fastener configured to fasten the first rear portion of the belt member to the second rear portion of the belt member; and   a belt-member fastener configured to connect the first rear portion of the belt member to the front portion of the belt member, the belt-member fastener connected to the first rear portion of the belt member or connected to a front portion of the belt member.   
     
     
         11 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 10 , wherein in a fastened configuration, the belt fastener connects the first rear portion of the belt member to the second rear portion of the belt member, and the belt fastener is located adjacent to the rear portion of the garment. 
     
     
         12 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 10 , wherein in an unfastened configuration, the first rear portion of the belt member is connected to the front portion of the belt member at the front portion of the garment. 
     
     
         13 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 12 , wherein in the unfastened configuration, the first rear portion of the belt member is folded over a portion of the front portion of the belt member. 
     
     
         14 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 10 , wherein the front portion of the belt member is attached to at least one of the front portion, the first side portion and the second side portion, of the garment, at one or more attachment regions, such that the front portion of the belt member is unable to move relative to the garment at the one or more attachment regions. 
     
     
         15 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 10 , wherein the rear portion includes a first side and a second side, the first side having a first edge that extends from the top portion of the garment to the bottom portion of the garment, the second side including a second edge that extends from the top portion of the garment to the bottom portion of the garment. 
     
     
         16 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 10 , wherein the belt-member fastener is one of a hook-and-loop fastener, a clip and a button. 
     
     
         17 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 10 , wherein the first rear portion of the belt member and the second rear portion of the belt member are not attached to the rear portion of the garment. 
     
     
         18 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 10 , wherein the belt member is permanently attached, and no portion of either the first rear portion of the belt member and the second rear portion of the belt member are attached to the rear portion of the garment. 
     
     
         19 . The garment with an integrated gait belt of  claim 10 , wherein the garment comprises a natural-fiber material and the belt member comprises a synthetic material. 
     
     
         20 . A garment with an integrated gait belt, comprising:
 a rear-opening garment, including:
 a top portion, 
 a bottom portion, 
 a front portion, 
 a first side portion, 
 a second side portion, and 
 a rear portion having a first side and a second side, the first side including a first edge that extends from the top portion of the garment to the bottom portion of the garment, the second side including a second edge that extends from the top portion of the garment to the bottom portion of the garment; and 
   a gait belt detachably attached to the garment, the gait belt including:
 a belt member having a front portion, a first rear portion and a second rear portion; and 
 a belt fastener connected to the first rear portion of the belt member; 
   wherein the front portion of the belt member is attached to at least one of the front portion, the first side portion and the second side portion, of the garment, at one or more attachment regions, such that the front portion of the belt member is unable to move relative to the garment at the one or more attachment regions; and   wherein in a fastened configuration, the belt fastener connects the first rear portion of the belt member to the second rear portion of the belt member, and the belt fastener is located adjacent to the rear portion of the garment.