Garment with rear access

Abstract

Garments with rear bathroom access spaces are disclosed herein, as are methods of making said garments. The garments include a front panel of a top portion that is fixedly attached to the bottom portion. The top portion also has a rear panel with a free lower region (unattached to the bottom portion). The rear panel can be tucked into the waistband in a secured configuration to provide warmth, modesty, protection, and/or comfort to the wearer. The rear panel can also be untucked from the waistband to provide a bathroom access space. Advantageously, the bottom portion of the garment can be pulled down for bathroom access without having to remove the top portion of the garment.

1 . A garment comprising:
 a front panel comprising a front lower region;   a rear panel comprising a rear lower region;   a bottom portion comprising two leg holes and a waistband;   wherein the front lower region is fixedly attached to the waistband;   wherein the rear lower region is configurable between a secured configuration and a free configuration; and   wherein the rear lower region is tucked into the waistband in the secured configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the rear lower region contacts an interior surface of the waistband in the secured configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the rear lower region and the waistband define a bathroom access space in the free configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the waistband comprises elastic. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 4 , wherein the waistband is configurable between an unstretched configuration and a stretched configuration; and
 wherein a circumference of the waistband is up to about 150% larger in the stretched configuration compared to the unstretched configuration, thus enlarging the bathroom access space.   
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the waistband comprises a drawstring. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the drawstring is configurable between a tied configuration and an untied configuration; and
 wherein a circumference of the waistband is up to about 150% larger in the untied configuration compared to the tied configuration, thus enlarging the bathroom access space.   
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the front panel is coupled to a top portion of the rear panel to define two arm holes and a neck hole. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel and the rear panel are formed from a continuous material and define two arm holes and a neck hole. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion comprises a short that is fixedly attached to the waistband. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom portion further comprises a liner that is fixedly attached to the waistband and configured to underlay the short. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion comprises a skirt that is fixedly attached to the waistband and a liner that is fixedly attached to the waistband and configured to underlay the skirt. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a top portion, and wherein the front panel and the rear panel form at least a portion of an outermost layer of the top portion in a region above the waistband. 
     
     
         14 . A garment comprising:
 a front panel;   a rear panel;   a bottom portion comprising two leg holes and a cinchable waistband;   wherein the front panel is fixedly attached to the cinchable waistband; and   wherein the cinchable waistband is configured to releasably secure the rear panel between the cinchable waistband and a body of a wearer.   
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein releasing the rear panel provides a bathroom access space between the rear panel and the bottom portion. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein securing the rear panel with the cinchable waistband closes the bathroom access space. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 16 , wherein the cinchable waistband comprises elastic. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the cinchable waistband is configurable between an unstretched configuration and a stretched configuration; and
 wherein a circumference of the cinchable waistband is up to about 60% smaller in the unstretched configuration compared to the stretched configuration, thus keeping the bathroom access space closed.   
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 16 , wherein the cinchable waistband comprises a drawstring. 
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 19 , wherein the drawstring is configurable between a tied configuration and an untied configuration; and
 wherein a circumference of the cinchable waistband is up to about 60% smaller in the tied configuration compared to the untied configuration, thus keeping the bathroom access space closed.   
     
     
         21 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein a top portion of the front panel is coupled to a top portion of the rear panel to define two arm holes and a neck hole. 
     
     
         22 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein the front panel and the rear panel are formed from a continuous material and define two arm holes and a neck hole. 
     
     
         23 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom portion comprises a short that is fixedly attached to the waistband. 
     
     
         24 . The garment of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom portion further comprises a liner that is fixedly attached to the waistband and configured to underlay the short. 
     
     
         25 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom portion comprises a skirt that is fixedly attached to the waistband and a liner that is fixedly attached to the waistband and configured to underlay the skirt. 
     
     
         26 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein the garment comprises a top portion, and wherein the front panel and the rear panel form at least a portion of an outermost layer of the top portion in a region above the waistband. 
     
     
         27 . A method of making a garment that is configurable for bathroom access, comprising:
 providing a top portion comprising a front panel and a back panel;   providing a bottom portion comprising a waistband;   securing a lower region of the front panel to the waistband; and   leaving a lower region of the back panel free and unsecured to the bottom portion.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the top portion further comprises left and right side panels, and the method further includes a step of leaving the respective lower regions of the left and right side panels free and unsecured to the bottom portion.