Patent Publication Number: US-8990966-B2

Title: Medical garment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The application relates generally to a medical garment, and more particularly to an adjustable medical garment with improved belt features for concealing a patient&#39;s body and providing an attractive appearance while allowing access for medical reasons. 
     Medical garments or gowns used by medical facilities are known, and may take a variety of forms. They may be made from a variety of materials, and are provided with various forms of securing means. It is desirable to have a medical garment that is suitable for patients of varying size and shape, yet provides adequate access for medical exams and provides a pleasing appearance to help improve a patient&#39;s mental state. 
     Many current medical gowns are based on nightshirts worn in hospitals in the 19 th  century, though the present-day versions often have an opening in the back. The gown is typically secured in the back, making it difficult for a user to secure without assistance. Such designs are also not considered attractive by most users and may serve to make a user mentally and/or physically uncomfortable during wear. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,172 issued 5 Dec. 1961 to Daniel Tames and titled “Surgical gown with moisture-proof conductive grounding means”, discloses a surgical gown with a central panel having a moisture-proof conductive grounding sheet secured thereto and two side panels. One side panel overlaps the other side panel when the gown is worn. A waist band for a tape or belt extends across the grounding sheet and a side panel with slits at the juncture of the central panel and one side panel and the edge of the of the other side panel to provide access to the tape for securing the gown when worn. U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,124, issued 9 Aug. 1977 to Richard L. Zoephel and titled “Hospital gown having fitting means”, discloses an adjustably-fitting hospital gown with portions of fabric coated or impregnated with cohesive-adhesive material which has affinity only to itself. This allows closure and close fitting of all areas desired to be adjustably fitted. U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,715, issued 24 Oct. 2000 to Jane L. McLennan and titled “Medical patient gown”, shows a patient gown formed from a single piece of fabric for wrapping about a patient. This gown can be worn forward or backward. 
     While there are a wide variety of medical gowns available, it is desirable to provide a medical garment that is attractive, yet easily secured around a patient&#39;s body to conceal the patient&#39;s body while allowing access to the body by medical personnel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A medical garment formed of a central body section or panel and two side sections or panels with two independent belts and an inner tie for securing the garment when worn is provided. The central body panel may be worn on the back or front and may have a v-neck form. A waistband extends across the central body panel and one side panel. A first belt in the waistband is secured at the junction of the central body panel and one side panel and exits the waistband at the outer edge of the side panel. The second belt extends from the secured end of the first belt through the waistband across the central body panel exiting at the outside of the junction of the second side panel and central body panel. A first securement member positioned at the outer edge of the second panel along the position of the waistband to cooperate with a second securement member secured to the inside of the waistband between the body panel and first side panel. In exemplary embodiments, the two securement members are fixed ties, or hook and loop fasteners. 
     This construction allows a patient to tie the two fixed ties to secure the garment about her body with the second side panel in place and then wrap the first side panel over the second side panel and secure it by tying the first belt in the first side panel to the second belt in the waist-band exiting at the second side of the central body panel. This allows the second belt to cause the central body panel to gather about the patient&#39;s body. Passing the first belt through the waistband allows the patient to gather excess material in the first side panel and provide an attractive gown. The configuration allows a patient to secure the ties and belts of the gown at one side regardless of whether the central body panel is worn on the front or back of the patient. 
     The gown may be formed from a single piece of fabric, or from a single piece of fabric cut into panels to provide the separate sections or panels. In a preferred embodiment the panels are individual pieces of fabric secured together by stitches. Sleeves are formed between the central body panel and the side panels and have closeable fasteners to allow access to the patient&#39;s arms. Pockets may be provided between the panels below the waistband. Additional pockets may be provided on the central body and side panels. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved adjustable medical garment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an inside plan view of a medical garment according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial plan view of the outside or central body panel of the garment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the garment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  being worn by a patient with the central panel worn on the patient&#39;s back; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the garment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; with the central panel worn on the patient&#39;s front; 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the garment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  worn by the patient as shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is an inside plan view of a medical garment according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A medical garment or gown  11  constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Here, gown  11  is shown in an open configuration. Gown  11  is formed from a middle or central body region or panel  12  having a first side edge  12   b  and an opposed second side edge  12   c , a first side region or panel  13  and a second side region or panel  14 . First side panel  13  with an outer edge or placket  13   a  and an inner edge  13   b  is joined to first edge  12   b  of central body panel  12  along a first seam  16 . Second side panel  14  with an outer edge or placket  14   a  and an inner edge  14   b  is joined to the other side of central body panel  12  at second edge  12   c  by a second seam  17 . Gown  11  has a first sleeve  18  formed between, and joined to central body panel  12  and first side panel  13  at a first armhole  19 . A second sleeve  21  is formed between the opposite side of central body panel  14  and second side panel  12  at a second armhole  22 . All joints and seams of gown  11  are depicted herein as being sewn, but may be joined in any convenient form, such as by stitches, glue, any of a variety of fasteners, or the like. The gown  11  is depicted or described herein as being a medical gown, presumably for use in hospital, nursing home, or other health-care settings, but is also suitable for use in health spas, beauty salons, private homes, or any other suitable use environment wherein a wearer (referenced herein as a patient) desires, or is required to, wear a garment having the characteristics of the gown  11 . 
     Gown  11  may be formed of any suitable natural or synthetic fabric material, such as, but not limited to, polyester, acrylic, polyamide or polyolefin fiber, a blend of these, or any other suitable material or combination of materials. The material may be woven, knit, non-woven or formed in any other manner. The gown  11  can be made substantially of a single piece of material or may instead be formed from separate pieces of material. The material and structure should be selected to withstand the rigors of use and multiple washings for reuse in hospitals, doctor&#39;s offices and the like. 
     Central body panel  12  is substantially rectangular with an upper hem or placket  12   a , first side  12   b  and second side  12   c , and a lower hem or placket  12   d . First seam  16  and second seam  17  represent two outer vertical sides  12   b  and  12   c  of the rectangle. Central body panel  12  also includes a v-neck region  39  along upper hem  12   a . The upper portions of sides  12   b  and  12   c  of central body panel  12  are cut to form armholes  19  and  22 . 
     First side panel  13  and second side panel  14  are also substantially rectangular with upper inclined sections  13   b  and  14   b . When the gown  11  is being worn, overlapped inclined sections  13   b  and  14   b  cooperatively form a v-neck  51  as shown in  FIG. 3 . V-neck  51  is located on the patient&#39;s front or back, depending how gown  11  is worn. The inner edges of first and second side panels  13  and  14  are cut similarly to the upper portions of sides  12   b  and  12   c  of central body panel  12  to complete the formation of armholes  19  and  22 . 
     Gown  11  includes a waistband  23 , which is a tunnel-like area having multiple layers of material, extending across the inside of central body panel  12  and first side panel  13  between outer edge  13   a  of first side panel  13  and vertical side  12   c  of central body panel  12 . Waistband  23  has a first opening  23   a  at outer edge  13   a  of first side panel  13  and a second opening  23   b  at second seam  17 . Waistband  23  is located at a “height” (i.e., distance between the upper hem  12   a  and lower hem  12   d ) which at least roughly corresponds to an expected waist location of the patient. 
     A first belt  24  with a first end  24   a  longitudinally spaced from a second end  24   b  is anchored via the first end  24   a  at first seam  16  and at least a portion of the first belt  24  extends through waistband  23 . Second end  24   b  of first belt  24  exits and extends from waistband  23  at outer edge  13   a  of first side panel  13 . A second belt  26  with a first end  26   a  longitudinally spaced from a second end  26   b  is anchored via first end  26   a  at first seam  16  and at least a portion of the second belt  26  extends through waistband  23  across center body panel  12 . Second end  26   b  of second belt  26  exits and extends from waistband  23  at the outside of gown  11  at second seam  17  via opening  23   b  in seam  17 . 
     This belting arrangement allows first and second belts  24  and  26  to cinch or gather the material of first side panel  13  and central body panel  12  around a patient when second end  24   b  of first belt  24  is tied to second end  26   b  of second belt  26 . More specifically, when tensioned, first belt  24  acts in a “drawstring” manner through interaction with waistband  23  to gather the material of first side panel  13  as second belt  26  acts similarly to gather the material of central body panel  12  when belts  24  and  26  are tied together as will be described in more detail below. This makes gown  11  adjustable as it can be used by patients of varying sizes. When two belt “ends” are described as being “tied together”, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a portion of the belt adjacent those “ends” is involved or implicated in the tying process and that “end” is used herein, in describing a tied connection, as an indicator of the general area of the belt which is being tied. 
     In addition to first belt  24  and second belt  26  both fixed at seam  16 , gown  11  includes a first tie  27  with a first end  27   a  longitudinally spaced from a second end  27   b  with first end  27   a  secured to the inside of gown  11  at first seam  16 , at approximately the same height as waistband  26  in proximity to where first belt end  26   a  and second belt end  27   a  are fixedly secured in waistband  23 . 
     A second tie  28  with a first end  28   a , longitudinally spaced from a second end  28   b , is secured at first end  28   a  to second side panel  14  at outer edge  14   a  at the height of waistband  23 . Second ends  27   b  and  28   b , respectively, of first and second ties  27  and  28  may be tied together to help secure the gown  11  around the patient, in cooperation with the drawstring-type cinching and securement provided by the first and second belts  24  and  26 . While first and second belts  24  and  26  and first and second ties  27  and  28  are described as shown in  FIG. 1 , it is contemplated that waistband  23  may instead span central body panel  12  and second side panel  14  and the belts and ties would accordingly be positioned in a mirror image fashion to that shown in the Figures. 
     Gown  11 , as shown in the Figures, also includes a first side pocket  32  at first seam  16  and a second side pocket  33  at second seam  17 . A central body panel pocket  41  is formed on the outside surface of central body panel  12 . 
     First sleeve  18  and second sleeve  21  are formed with a first sleeve slit and a second sleeve slit,  36  and  37 , respectively, across the top of each sleeve. Each of the first and second sleeve slits  36 ,  37  includes a plurality of fasteners  38  therealong. Here, fasteners  38  are shown as snaps, but may be coordinating hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro™), buttons, or any other suitable fasteners. Fasteners  38  allow ready access through the first and second sleeve slits  36  and  37  to the patient&#39;s arms by medical personnel. 
       FIG. 2  shows the outside of central body panel  12  folded at seams  16  and  17  with first side panel  13  overlapping second side panel  14 , and both first and second side panels  13  and  14  being concealed from view underneath central body panel  12  in the arrangement of  FIG. 2 . The configuration shown in  FIG. 2  may be a front or back view of gown  11 , depending upon how the gown  11  is donned by the patient. Upper hem  12   a  of central body panel  12 , may include v-neck section  39 . When gown  11  is worn by the patient with central body panel  12  to the patient&#39;s back, side body panel pocket  48  is a breast pocket as shown in  FIG. 3 . Central body panel pocket  41  may be provided on the outside surface of central body panel  13  to provide a breast pocket when central body panel  12  is worn to the patient&#39;s front as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     When gown  11  is to be donned, the patient places one of her arms in each of first and second sleeves  18  and  21  and pulls second side panel  14  around her body. The patient then ties second end  27   b  of first tie  27  and second end  28   b  of second tie  28  together to begin to secure gown  11  about her body. Regardless of whether central body panel  12  becomes the front or back of gown  11 , first and second ties  27  and  28  are secured at the patient&#39;s side. This side tying for the initial securement makes wearing gown  11  much simpler and more convenient for the patient or a caregiver than for the patient to don a gown, such as a conventional hospital gown, having a rear opening that must be tied at the patient&#39;s back. After first and second ties  27  and  28  are secured together to secure the second side panel  14  to the junction of the first side panel  13  and the center panel  12 , first side panel  13  is pulled across the patient&#39;s body to cover tied first and second ties  27  and  28  and to overlap second side panel  14 , then first belt  24  and second belt  26  are tied together on outside of the gown  11  and at the patient&#39;s other side, opposite tied first and second ties  27  and  28 . Once first and second ties  27  and  28  and first and second belts  24  and  26  are secured together, the material of center panel  12  and first and second side panels  13  and  14  may be gathered around waistband  23  in a drawstring-like manner and arranged to provide the patient with an attractive and relatively form-fitting covering. 
       FIG. 3  shows a patient  51  with her front  52  facing forward wearing gown  11  with central body panel  12  worn on the patient&#39;s back and second end  24   b  of first belt  24  tied to second end  26   b  of second belt  26  at the patient&#39;s left side. The ease with which first side panel  13  ruches when first and second belts  24  and  26  are tied illustrates the attractiveness and form-fitting ability of gown  11 . Second side panel  14  is draped across patient&#39;s front and tied at the right side, then the first side panel  13  is overlapped with the second side panel  14  and tied on the left side. Side body panel pocket  48  is positioned as a breast pocket. 
       FIG. 4  also shows patient  51  with her front  52  facing forward but with central body panel  12  to the patient&#39;s front. This shows the outer surface of central body panel  12  with central body panel pocket  48  on her left side. In the configuration of  FIG. 4 , gown  11  is worn “backward” by patient  51  compared with the configuration of  FIG. 3 . First and second belts  24 ,  26  are now tied on the right side of patient  51 . The ease with which the material about waistband  23  is gathered shows the attractive and form-fitting way in which gown  11  can be worn. 
       FIG. 5  is a right side view of patient  51  wearing gown  11  in a closed condition and in the “backward” configuration of  FIG. 4 . Here, second sleeve  21  is on the right arm or patient  51  and is shown with fasteners  38  along first sleeve slit  37  in a closed condition. Patient  51  is shown with her right hand in second side pocket  33 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a medical garment constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention. Here, a gown  111  similar to gown  11  of  FIG. 1  has a pair of cooperating fasteners  127  and  128  in place of ties  27  and  28 . All other elements are substantially identical to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5  and have the same reference numerals. In this case, fasteners  127  and  128  are hook and loop fasteners that allow second panel  14  to be secured to the junction of central body panel  12  and first side panel  13  in a secure and convenient manner. Once fasteners  127  and  128  are secured, first side panel  13  is placed over second side panel  14  and belts  24  and  26  are tied as described in connection with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
     While aspects of the present invention have been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment above, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the first and second ties  27  and  28  or fasteners  127  and  128  could be omitted, with the second side panel  14  merely drawn or laid across the patient&#39;s body, to be held in place by friction with the overlapping first side panel  12 . A device or method incorporating any of these features should be understood to fall under the scope of the present invention as determined based upon the claims below and any equivalents thereof. 
     Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.