Abstract:
A self-contained expandable hospital gown having a central retainment belt from which expandable adjustable upper and lower gown portions can be selectively deployed. Engagement and interlocking tabs provide deployment on the upper torso extending portion and a lower torso extending portion with independent retainment and positioning access openings associated therewith.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to hospital gowns that are used to cover patients in hospital and medical practice venues that require a simple universal garment for the patient to wear for examinations and procedures. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art garments of this type are typically cloth with modified sleeves and a series of fabric fastener strip extending therefrom. Such gowns are characterized by having an open back which allows for ease of placement and removal. Other such gowns are of a disposable type made of paper and are used more often in doctor offices for exams or for testing purposes. Such paper gowns are less body conforming than cloth and of a quality for a one time temporary use. 
     Examples of prior art gowns can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,040,124, 5,097,534, 5,361,414, 5,768,707 and 6,694,522. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,124 a hospital gown with fitting means is disclosed in which a gown garment is provided with an adjustable belt band that encircles the wearer&#39;s body about the waist with a cohesive adhesive adjustable attachment material positioned thereon. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,534 discloses a protective garment folded up in a compact configuration which can be used unfolded displaying a garment with arms, legs and a hood portion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,414 claims a hospital privacy gown having a front portion with a split open rear portion divided into two segments that are retained together by fastener type elements. A cover-up component is provided to assure personal modesty. 
     An examination gown is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,707 formed of multiple fabric panels seamed together so that two upper body panels are joined with four lower body panels defining multiple access slits in front and back for ease of examination access. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,522 discloses a universal hospital gown with an overlapping vertical rear opening having multiple interlocking spaced fastener segments of hook and loop material which allow for size adjustment depending on height and weight of the patient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An expandable self-contained deployable hospital gown having a central adjustable deployment belt from which upper body portion and a lower body portion can be selectively pulled therefrom. Fastening surface adjustably inner engage adjacent gown portions to define the expandable tubular upper and lower gown body portions. Elastic insert assures upper portion retention under the arms of the patient with an integral examination hinged flap opening allowing for quick access to the patient&#39;s body. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the new gown of the invention in deployed use position. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the gown of the invention with portions broken away in non-deployed position. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged front elevational view in partial deployment with portions broken away. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial sectional view of the belt storage compartment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan graphic representation of the deployment belt in adjustable use position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings an expandable disposable hospital gown  10  of the invention can be seen in extended deployed use position on a patient P. The gown  10  has a dual compartment storage belt  11  with oppositely disposed end fastener surfaces  12  and  12 A extending inwardly therefrom. This will allow for user adjustment about the waist W of the patient P illustrated in broken lines by overlapping the respective end thereof and associated fastener surfaces. 
     An upper torso portion  13  extends from an upper elongated compartment  13 A of the storage belt  11  in a folded expandable bellows fashion. An integrated elastic band  14  is secured within and along its upper perimeter free edge  15  so as to apply elastic retainment when secured to its oppositely disposed end surface. Conversely, lower body and leg cover portion  16  is foldably deployed from an elongated lower compartment  16 A of the storage belt  11  so as to be extended down around the patient&#39;s P legs L shown in broken lines in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings, the dual storage compartments  13 A and  16 A are formed from inner and outer flexible wall portions  17 A,  17 B and  17 C,  17 D respectively joined together centrally at  18  in this example defining oppositely disposed elongated deployment openings at  19  and  20 . 
     Selective retainment fastener surfaces  21  of cohesive adhesive coating along the respective free perimeter edges thereof temporarily close and retain the respective bi-folded upper and lower cover portions  13  and  17  therewithin until deployment. 
     Pairs of engagement and deployment tabs  23 A,  23 B and  24 A,  24 B extend along and from the respective end edge surfaces of the cover portions  13  and  17  outwardly from the compartments of the storage belt allowing for user deployment of the respective bi-fold cover portions  13  and  17  once the storage belt  11  is adjustably secured about the user&#39;s waist as hereinbefore described. 
     Due to the overlapping relationship of the respective upper and lower edges and co-adhesion of the deployment tabs  23 A,  23 B and  24 A,  24 B, the gown  10  of the invention, once deployed, provides a secure comfortable modesty cover for both the upper and lower portions of the patient&#39;s body. 
     Referring now back to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, an exam access panel  25  is provided in the upper torso cover portion  13  with a live hinge  26  and selective fastener surfaces  27  therealong allowing simple easy exam access to the patients by healthcare professionals. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, a modified sectional view of the storage compartments  13 A and  17 A can be seen wherein the respective upper expandable torso cover  13  and lower body cover  17  are bi-folded within the respective storage compartments. The storage belt  11 , covers  13  and  17  are preferably made of disposable paper products prefolded and fabricated in the above disclosed novel configuration. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and novel disposable, deployable, compact hospital gown  10  of the invention has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I claim: