Abstract:
An infant garment preserves body heat and facilitates access to a localized region of the body surface of a patient. The garment has a slit on the front that allows the region of the patient&#39;s body surface to be monitored and, if necessary, treated without requiring removal of the garment. The garment also has sleeves with cuffs that can be reversibly folded to cover or uncover the hand-openings in the distal ends of the sleeves.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to patient garments. More specifically, the present invention relates to garments for preserving an infant&#39;s body heat and facilitating access to a localized region of the body surface of a patient. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Around the beginning of the twentieth century, most women gave birth at home. As modern hospitals gained popularity during the 1920s, women were encouraged to seek professional health care for themselves and their newborns in the supervised environments of these new hospitals. By 1936, approximately one-third of all live births occurred in hospitals, and by 1945, approximately eighty percent of women gave birth in hospitals. Although tremendous advances have been made in the field of medicine, hospital apparel—including infant garments—has changed little. 
         [0003]    For years, the traditional infant garment has been a short shirt ending at the waistline. Typically, some type of undergarment, such as a diaper, has also used been used for additional protection against soiling. The short shirt is open in the front with two side panels crossing over one another for closing and fastening the shirt shut. Early shirts were shut in the back with ties. These ties were later replaced with snap fasteners. The short shirt allows a cloth diaper to be used, thereby decreasing the possibility of soiling the upper garment and reducing the frequency of laundering. Although rubber or plastic pants can also be used with short shirts, their use has typically been discouraged because they can contribute to improper air circulation and increased susceptibility to the development of rashes. 
         [0004]    Another type of traditional undergarment for infants is the undershirt. Undershirts for newborns have front tabs that can be fastened to a cloth diaper with safety pins. This forms a full-length, warm, cloth garment that can be secured in place so as to not ride up on the infant. As disposable diapers were slowly introduced into nurseries in the late 1970s, however, the front tabs have been omitted since potentially hazardous safety pins were no longer necessary. 
         [0005]    Currently, hospital garments for infants have the same waist-length undershirt with cross-over front panels that snap shut. Such garments typically require the use of a separate, disposable diaper. A drawback of these types of garments is that crossing the front panels over and snapping them shut can be confusing and cumbersome. Since the garment is separate from the diaper, another drawback of the infant garment commonly in use today is that the shirt may tend to ride up under the infant&#39;s armpits. This unnecessarily exposes portions of the surface of an infant&#39;s body and can contribute to a loss of body heat. 
         [0006]    Since the body temperatures of infants should normally be maintained within a very narrow range, the effects of heat loss on infants can be especially dangerous. Excessive heat loss stemming from the use of existing infant garments can, for example, contribute to the onset of hypothermia. As a result, newborn care, policies, and techniques attempt to thermo-regulate the body of newborns by achieving a healthy and an efficient balance between heat loss and heat production. Because the garments worn by infants sometimes may not always effectively maintain a proper body temperature, however, it can become necessary to expend significant resources to create appropriate temperature-controlled neonatal environments. 
         [0007]    Another drawback of current hospital garments is that they can impede patient care. Specifically, the garment itself can impede access to various locations on an infant&#39;s body which may require monitoring or treatment. Current standards of patient care, however, emphasize the responsibility of hospital personnel to easily assess patients and quickly identify real and potential problems. 
         [0008]    Therefore, there is a need in the industry for hospital garments, especially garments for infants, that more effectively preserve body heat while providing improved access for the assessment and care of the patient wearing the garment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The apparatuses and methods according to the various embodiments of the present invention provide thermo-regulating infant garments. The thermo-regulating infant garments generally present an opening that provides accessibility for assessing a physical condition or parameter or caring for a wound site. The wound site may be, for example, the site of a post-birth resection of the umbilical cord, an introduction of an intra-venous tube or a needle, a surgical incision, or other physical injury. The physical condition or parameter may be, for example, heart rate, respiration, or the functioning of the bowels. 
         [0010]    When worn by a patient, the garment of the present invention helps retain the patient&#39;s body heat. A desired region of the patient&#39;s body surface can also be accessed and for assessing a physical condition and, if necessary, providing treatment. A slit in the garment allows such assessment and treatment without requiring the garment to be removed. In addition, a cuff sewn onto the distal end of a sleeve of the garment can be folded so as to selectively cover or uncover the open, distal end of the sleeve. Covering the open, distal end of the sleeve can thereby cover the hand-opening of the sleeve to reduce the risk of self-inflicted injury and further retain body heat. 
         [0011]    The present invention is generally described in relation to embodiments of garments for neo-natal babies. Alternative embodiments could easily be adapted for use by adults, however, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a thermo-regulating infant garment provides access to an umbilical region of a patient and includes (i) a torso cover having a front and a back and defining a head opening, two spaced-apart arm openings, and a bottom opening, (ii) a pair of rollable sleeves having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the torso cover at the arm openings and the distal end defining a hand opening and forming a cuff, and (iii) a flap intermediate the front and the back of the torso cover and opposite the head opening. The flap is attachable to the torso cover to at least partially cover the bottom opening. The front of the torso cover has a bottom edge and defines a slit extending from the bottom edge. The cuff is reversibly foldable over the hand opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The embodiments of the present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an infant garment according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an infant garment according to an embodiment of the present invention having a sleeve folded over itself; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an infant garment according to an embodiment of the present invention presented on the body of an infant. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    While the present invention is amendable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the present invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The garment of the present invention can be used in a variety of applications, including as hospital and non-hospital garments for children and adults. The garment is particularly advantageous for use as an infant garment, however. Accordingly, the present invention is described by way of example in connection with, but is not limited to, a neo-natal infant garment, as indicated generally at garment  100  in  FIG. 1 . It should be understood that garment  100  of the present invention is not in any way limited to such use and can be applied to a variety of other garments, such as garments for toddlers and adults. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , garment  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes torso cover  102 , sleeves  104 , and pelvic flap  106 . Torso cover  102  generally has front  110 , back  111 , patient-assessment opening  112 , head opening  114 , armpit regions  116 , and shoulder regions  118 . Torso cover  102  may also have a hood (not shown). Generally, overlapping portions of front  110  and back  111  of torso cover  102  define head opening  114  and shoulder regions  118 . Lower edge  120  of front  110  of garment  100  generally has fastening members  122   a . In an example embodiment, pelvic flap  106  of garment  100  is attachable to front  110  of torso cover  102 . 
         [0020]    Patient-assessment opening  112  permits a portion of the body of a user wearing garment  100  to be accessed. Patient-assessment opening  112  facilitates such access without requiring garment  100  to be removed or pelvic flap  106  to be detached from front  110  of torso cover  102 . In an example embodiment, patient-assessment opening  112  is positioned on garment  100  so that the umbilical or lower abdominal region of a user wearing garment  100  can be accessed, as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Patient-assessment opening can also be positioned on garment  100  so that a different region of the patient&#39;s body can be accessed. This allows a particular condition or parameter to be monitored or assessed while decreasing the disturbance normally caused by repositioning garment worn by a patient. In an alternative embodiment, patient-assessment opening  112  is positioned on garment  100  so that heart, lungs, or bowels of a patient can be monitored, such as, for example, with a stethoscope. 
         [0021]    Patient-assessment opening  112  may be any number of types of openings that would permit an area of a patient&#39;s body, such as the umbilical or lower abdominal region, to be monitored. Generally, patient-assessment opening  112  defines slit  124 . In an example embodiment, slit  124  is in front  110  of garment  100  and runs from lower edge  120  toward head opening  114 . Slit  124  can be between approximately one inch and eight inches in length. In an example embodiment, slit  124  is approximately four-and-one-half inches in length. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that patient-assessment opening  112  may have a configuration other than slit  124  and/or be located in an area other than front  110  of garment  100  running from lower edge  120  toward head opening  114  without departing from the spirit of scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , slit  124  has slit edges  126 . In an example embodiment, slit edges  126  are not fastenable or overlapping. Patient-assessment opening  112  thereby remains open in an example embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 3 . In an alternative embodiment, slit edges  126  may have fastening members so that patient-assessment opening  112  may be closed. 
         [0023]    Each sleeve  104  has proximal end  130 , distal end  131 , anterior side  132 , and posterior side  133 . Proximal end  130  is contoured so as to define a shape complementary to armpit regions  116  of torso cover  102 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . Distal end  131  has cuff  134  with cuff edge  135 . Distal end  131  also defines hand opening  136 . Hand opening  136  is generally large enough and positioned on sleeve  104  so as to be able to receive the hand of an individual wearing garment  100 . Generally, cuff  134  occupies only a portion of distal end  131 . For example, cuff  134  may be located on the anterior side  132  or posterior side  133  of sleeve  104 , but generally does not extend around the circumference of distal end  131  of sleeve  104 . The portion of sleeve  104  that has cuff  134  therefore generally has more layers of fabric material than the portion of sleeve  104  that does not have cuff  104 . 
         [0024]    Cuff  134  can be folded over distal end  131  of sleeve  104  to cover or uncover hand opening  136 . Sleeve  104  having uncovered hand opening  136   a  and sleeve  104  having covered hand opening  136   b  are depicted in  FIG. 3 . In an example embodiment, cuff  134  is positioned on anterior side  132  of sleeve  104  having uncovered hand opening  136   a  and is positioned on the posterior side  133  of sleeve  104  having covered hand opening  136   b , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Accordingly, cuff edge  135  can be viewed on anterior side  132  of sleeve  104  having uncovered hand opening  136   a , but cannot be viewed on anterior side  132  of sleeve  104  having covered hand opening  136   b . In an alternative embodiment, cuff  134  is positioned on anterior side  132  of sleeve  104  having covered hand opening  136   b  and is positioned on posterior side  133  of sleeve having uncovered hand opening  136   a , as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, cuff edge  135  can be viewed on anterior side  132  of sleeve  104  having covered hand opening  136   b , and can also be viewed on posterior side  133  of sleeve  104  having uncovered hand opening  136   b . By having cuff  134  that can be selectively folded and unfolded, sleeves  104  of garment  100  can be quickly and easily modified to cover the hands of an individual wearing garment  100 , such as, for example, an infant. 
         [0025]    Pelvic flap  106  has bottom edge  140  and side edges  142 . Bottom edge  140  has fastening members  122   b . Generally, fastening members  122   b  on bottom edge  140  of pelvic flap  106  function in concert with fastening members  122   a  of lower edge  120  of front  110  of torso cover  102 . Fastening members  122   a,b  can be any number of fastening members that facilitate the attachment of bottom edge  140  of pelvic flap  106  to lower edge  120  of torso cover  102 . In an example embodiment, fastening members  122   a,b  are snaps. In alternative embodiments, fastening members  122   a,b  are zippers, button-and-eye fasteners, or hook-and-loop fasteners. 
         [0026]    Pelvic flap  106  of garment  100  can have any numbers of shapes and sizes. In an example embodiment, pelvic flap  106  is shaped so that, when attached to torso cover  102 , pelvic flap  106  and torso cover  102  form leg openings  148 , but otherwise substantially cover an individual below his or her umbilical region, as depicted in  FIG. 3 . For example, side edges  142  may have a convex shape when pelvic flap  106  is not attached to torso cover  102 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the legs of an individual wearing garment  100  can be extended through leg openings  148  when pelvic flap  106  is attached to torso cover  102 . In an alternative embodiment, bottom edge  140  and side edges  142  of pelvic flap  106  are shaped so to not form an opening when pelvic flap  106  is attached to torso cover  102 . In this alternative embodiment, pelvic flap  106  generally defines a pair of apertures (not shown) through which the legs of an individual wearing garment  100  can be extended. 
         [0027]    Sleeves  104  and pelvic flap  106  may be attached to torso cover  102  in any number of ways. In an example embodiment, sleeves  106  are separate from torso cover  102  and pelvic flap  106 . In accordance with this embodiment, sleeves  104  are generally sewn onto torso cover  102 , as depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 . In an alternative embodiment, sleeves  104 , pelvic flap  106 , and torso cover  102  constitute the same piece of fabric material. In accordance with this embodiment, a single shape can be cut out from a roll of fabric material such that the cut material forms garment  100  when folded over itself and sewn together. In another embodiment, sleeves  104 , pelvic flap  106 , and torso cover  102  are all formed from separate pieces of material. 
         [0028]    Garment  100  may be made from any number of materials and in any number of ways. Referring to  FIG. 1 , torso cover  102  and pelvic flap  106  generally form a single piece of material, while sleeves  104  form separate pieces of material. Sleeves  104  and torso cover  102  and pelvic flap  106  can be made from tubular or non-tubular fabric that is sewn together. In an example embodiment, sleeve material is sewn along seam  150  to form sleeve  104  having cuff  134 , while torso cover  102  and pelvic flap  106  are formed from tubular fabric. Generally, back  111  is cut higher than front  100 . An elongated back  111  can then be folded toward front  110  to create shoulder regions  118 . 
         [0029]    In an alternative embodiment, torso cover material and lower portion material is sewn along seams (not shown) to form torso cover  102  and pelvic flap  106 . Torso cover  102  and pelvic flap  106  can also be sewn so as to have seam bindings  154 ,  156 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . In an example embodiment, seam bindings  154 ,  156  are formed by folding a separate piece or pieces of fabric material over the edges of garment  100  and sewing the separate piece or pieces. In an alternative embodiment, seam bindings  154 ,  156  are formed by folding over and sewing the edges of fabric material, such as, for example, bottom edge  140  of pelvic flap  106  and lower edge  120  of front  110  of garment  100 . 
         [0030]    In example embodiment, sleeves  104  are attached to armpit regions  116  of torso cover  102  along attachment seams  158 . Although  FIGS. 1-3  depict garment  100  constructed from torso cover  102 , sleeves  104 , and pelvic flap  106  cut in a particular pattern, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that any number of shapes can be cut from fabric material so as to form garment  100 . For example, in an alternative embodiment, torso cover  102  and pelvic flap  106  are separate, individual components. 
         [0031]    Generally, all components of garment  100  are made from the same materials. In an example embodiment, garment  100 —other than fastening members—is made substantially from an elastic cotton knit. Seam bindings  154 ,  156  and garment  100  can be made from the same or different material and can have the same or different weaves. In an example embodiment, seam bindings  154 ,  156  are made from the same material as garment  100 , but have a tighter weave per square inch than garment  100 . In an alternative embodiment, garment  100 —other than fastening members—is made from a non-cotton material. 
         [0032]    In operation, garment  100  can be worn by an individual to reduce the loss of body heat while providing an access point to the umbilical region of the individual. Specifically, an individual&#39;s arms can be inserted through sleeves  104  and the individual&#39;s head can be inserted through head opening  114  of torso cover  102 . Pelvic flap  106  is drawn between the legs of the individual from back  111  of torso cover  104  toward front  110  of torso cover  102 . To maintain pelvic flap  106  in place, fastening members  122   b  on bottom edge  140  of pelvic flap  106  are secured to fastening members  122   a  on lower edge  120  of front  110  of garment  100 . 
         [0033]    With garment  100  secured around the individual, the area of the individual&#39;s body exposed by the patient-assessment opening  112  can be monitored and/or cared for. In an example embodiment, patient-assessment opening  112  allows the site at which the umbilical cord was resected from a neo-natal baby to be monitored and/or be cared for. 
         [0034]    Garment  100  can also be used to cover the hands of an individual wearing garment  100 . Specifically, cuff  134  can be folded over hand opening  136  of sleeve  104  so as to cover hand opening  136 . Cuff  134  can also be folded back over hand opening  136  of sleeve so as to uncover hand opening  136 . In an example embodiment, hand opening  136  is covered by folding cuff  134  from anterior side  132  of sleeve  104  to posterior side  133  of sleeve  104 , while hand opening  136  is uncovered by folding cuff  134  from posterior side  133  of sleeve  104  to anterior side  132  of sleeve  104 . In an alternative embodiment, hand opening  136  is covered by folding cuff  134  from posterior side  133  of sleeve to anterior side  132  of sleeve  104 , while hand opening  136  is uncovered by folding cuff  134  from anterior side  132  of sleeve  104  to posterior side  133  of sleeve  104 . 
         [0035]    The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are within the claims. In addition, although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated contrary to the explicit disclosure herein.