Patent Publication Number: US-2022211127-A1

Title: Personal Protective Gown

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This application provides for a disposable sanitary barrier that can protect a user from contaminants left behind in commonly encountered locations. The disposable sanitary barrier surrounds most of a user&#39;s body to provide extensive protection from contaminants while maintaining easy ingress and egress. The disposable sanitary barrier can be folded and stored compactly for easy transport. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The spread of viruses and germs from contact between a person&#39;s body and a surface in a public area, such as a theater, train, airplane, restroom and the like, are worrisome for many individuals. Toilet seats may be used by dozens of people in a day and may be a vector of disease transmission through normal use. Seats in other public places such as movie theaters, subways, buses, and airplanes may be subjected to spills, accidents or vandalism that leave the seat unsanitary. While cleaning is a solution there are frequently large periods of time when these seats in public places are not properly maintained. A facility may provide covers for the seat that act as a barrier between the seat and the user but these barriers have significant short comings. 
     An issue with current toilet seat covers, for example, is the limited amount of protection provided. A typical toilet seat cover is a thin sheet of paper that solely covers the seat of the toilet. This seat cover only protects from contaminants on the seat. Liquids on the seat often soak through the seat cover. 
     Another challenge for current toilet seat covers is protection from the entirety of the seat. A toilet seat may splash the user during use or spray during flushing. Other seat may have a contaminated back or leg rest that is not covered by a seat cover. A seat may also have contaminated armrests, stalls or other related hardware from which current toilet seat covers do not protect a user from. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a first aspect of the invention a personal protective covering includes a gown, preferably made of an impermeable material, that is designed to accommodate a user. The gown includes multiple openings for the user&#39;s body including arm openings, leg openings, head opening and a waist opening. The gown includes an excreta opening configured to align with the user&#39;s buttocks and urethra. 
     A second aspect of the invention teaches assembling a personal protective gown by molding plastic. A flat sheet of plastic is placed into a mold and heated to acquire the desired shape of the personal protective gown. Holes are cut into the sheet at the desired locations corresponding to arm openings, leg openings, a head opening, a waist opening and an excreta opening. The sheet is then folded and packaged in a container. 
     A third aspect of the invention teaches assembling a personal protective gown by welding sheets of plastic together. Multiple components are cut from a flat sheet of plastic. Each of the individual pieces comprises a section of the personal protective gown and when connected form the shape of the personal protective gown. Holes are cut into the components at the desired locations corresponding to arm openings, leg openings, a head opening, a waist opening and an excreta opening. The components are then welded together to form the personal protective gown. The personal protective gown is then folded and packaged in a container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate various non-limiting examples and innovative aspects of the personal protective gown in accordance with the present description: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the personal protective gown. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the personal protective gown in use. 
         FIG. 3  is a front plan view of the personal protective gown. 
         FIG. 4  is a back plan view of the personal protective gown. 
         FIG. 5  is a right side plan view of the personal protective gown. 
         FIG. 6  is a left side plan view of the personal protective gown. 
         FIG. 7  is a top side plan view of the personal protective gown. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom side plan view of the personal protective gown. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes a novel personal protective gown (PPG)  1  that protects the user from exposure to pathogens and other harmful substances. The disclosed PPG  1  is designed to protect users while using the lavatory or in other similar situations where the user may have to sit for a period of time. The PPG  1  may protect a user while sitting in a theater, office, an airplane or other method of public transit. The PPG  1  protects the user while assisting others in contaminated spaces such as when helping a child or elderly individual to use the restroom. The PPG  1  includes features that improve its ability to protect users in addition to acting as a protective barrier. 
     The PPG  1  serves as an efficient alternative to conventional methods of covering the seat, such as using toilet paper or other covers that may not provide complete coverage. The PPG  1  is hygienic, convenient, timesaving, safe, comfortable to use, sanitary, practical, user friendly, and can be used by individuals of all ages. The PPG  1  has a lightweight and compact design that is easily stored and transported. The PPG  1  is easily folded or otherwise stored compactly and secured away for later use. The PPG  1  can be stored in a utility belt, purse or pocket. The PPG  1  may be individually packaged for sale via an automated vending machine. 
       FIGS. 1-6  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the PPG  1 . In a form of the PPG  1  the device resembles a large human sized plastic bag. The PPG  1  includes a waist opening  5  that a user enters the PPG  1  through, left and right arm openings  3  that the user extends their arms through, and left and right leg openings  8  that the user extends their legs through. 
     The PPG  1  is scaled to multiple sizes to accommodate users of different sizes, including height and weight, and body types comfortably. The location and sizes of the waist opening  5 , arm openings  3  and leg openings  8  is adjusted to accommodate the size of the PPG  1 . The waist opening  5  is designed to leave the user&#39;s body exposed from the neck to just below the waist. In an exemplary embodiment, the PPG  1  is made of a thermoplastic such as polyethylene terephthalate or a similar thermoplastic. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of a PPG  1 .  FIG. 1  shows the waist opening  5 , arm openings  3  and leg openings  8  and their relative location and size. The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  shows a head opening  2  that is integrated into the waist opening  5 . The excreta opening  6  is projected through the PPG  1 . In an exemplary embodiment, a flap covers the excreta opening  6  and may be opened and closed for use. A cleaning wipe container  7  is also provided. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the PPG  1  in use. A 3D model of a human is standing in for a user. Each of the model&#39;s arms are in an arm opening  3 , each of the model&#39;s legs are in a leg opening  8  and the head is in the head opening  2 . The excreta opening  6  is located proximate to the model&#39;s buttocks. 
       FIGS. 3-6  are front, back, left and right plan views of the PPG  1 . The FIGS. show the waist opening  5 , arm openings  3  and leg openings  8  and their relative location and size. The exemplary embodiment detailed in the figures shows a head opening  2  that is integrated into the waist opening  5 . The excreta opening  6  is projected through the PPG  1 . The cleaning wipe container  7  is also visible and welded to the PPG  1 . 
     The PPG  1  includes elements to improve comfort. In an exemplary embodiment the device includes a head opening  2 . The head opening  2  may be integrated into the waist opening or separate. A separate head opening  2  is separated from the waist opening  5  (not shown) by the same material as the PPG  1 . The head opening  2  may be integrated into the waist opening  5  in which case it is an additional cut integrated into the waist opening  5  that can accommodate a user&#39;s head in various positions. 
     The PPG  1  includes elements that provide additional functionality to the device. In an exemplary embodiment the PPG  1  includes an excreta opening  6 . The excreta opening  6  allows the user to relieve themselves at a commode or similar device and benefit from the protection of the PPG  1 . The excreta opening  6  is sized and located to accommodate the urethra and buttocks and account for a user&#39;s size. 
     The excreta opening  6  has additional features that improve the functionality of the device. The excreta opening  6  may also include a cushioned area to provide the user with additional comfort. The cushioned area may be made of an inflated bag or a hygienic foam. The cushioned area preferably can be compressed to reduce the size of the PPG  1  when not in use and improve storage. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the excreta opening  6  forms a seal with the user&#39;s body that is capable of protecting the unexposed portion of the user&#39;s body and clothes from exposure to pollutants and pathogens. The excreta opening may be lined with a rubbery material, for example polyvinyl butyral (PVB), latex or a similar material, configured to form a seal with the user&#39;s body and prevent liquid from infiltrating the PPG  1  through the excreta opening  6 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a user employs the PPG  1  in a quick and simple manner. The PPG  1  comes in a disposable package that the user removes. The PPG  1  is then unfolded to its full size and the interior is opened. The user then steps through the waist opening  5 . The user inserts their arms into the associated arm openings  4  and their legs into the associated leg openings  8 . The user&#39;s head is inserted into the head opening  2  if included. The user then adjusts the location and tightness as described further in detail below and all the opening to ensure a proper fit and protection from any pollutants or pathogens. The user can then sit wherever they like. In an exemplary embodiment of the PPG  1  that includes an excreta opening  6 , the user aligns the excreta opening with their buttocks, urethra and the commode. The user can then relieve themselves protected from any pathogens in or around the commode. 
     Each edge of the PPG  1  preferably has a reinforced seam  3 . The seam  3  may be created using multiple options. Different methods of reinforcing the seam may be used in a PPG simultaneously. In an exemplary embodiment, the seam is manufactured by folding additional material from the edge of the plastic in on itself one or more times and sealing the folds with either heat or a chemical reaction. This process can be done on the side of any of the holes integrated into the PPG  1 . In a separate embodiment, additional material may be added to the seam as reinforcement. For example, a reinforcing tape or mesh may be attached to the seam. Reinforcing material, such as glass fibers or carbon fiber may be integrated into the seams to improve the strength of the material. 
     The seams of the PPG  1  contain an elastic material. The elastic is configured to contract the opening around the users body and creates a seal to keep out liquids, pathogens, etc. The elastic material may be applied to the head opening  2 , arm opening  4 , leg opening  8 , waist opening  5  or any combination thereof. Latex, silicone, natural or synthetic rubber or any similar material are suitable for use in the elastic seam. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the PPG  1 , the seams instead contain an adjusting mechanism, such as a draw string, hook and loop fastener or similar. The user inserts a their body and can then use the adjusting mechanism to seal the associated opening. For example, after a user inserts their legs into the leg opening  8  the user then tightens the adjusting mechanism and forms a seal between the user&#39;s leg and the leg opening  8 . 
     The PPG  1  includes antimicrobial properties. For example, an antimicrobial material such as silver particles, isothiazolinone, zinc pyrithione or a similar substance are integrated into the PPG  1 . 
     The disposable versions of the PPG  1  are made out a biodegradable plastic so it can be used responsibly. The PPG  1  is preferably made from a plastic containing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), Polylycolic acid (PGA), Polybutylene succinate (PBS) or any similar biodegradable plastic. 
     The PPG  1  may include a cleaning wipe container  7 . In an exemplary embodiment, one or more cleaning wipe containers are integrated into the PPG  1 . The container can be on the left or right side, inside or outside of the PPG  1  but is conveniently accessible to the user. The cleaning wipe container  7  holds one or more wipes with antimicrobial or antiviral capabilities. 
     The PPG  1  may include a large pocket integrated into the gown itself (not shown) that the entire gown can fold into for storage. For example, a pocket is added around the head opening  2  and the PPG  1  can be rolled into the pocket. The pocket can then be sealed with a button, zipper or the like so it does not open up in storage. 
     The PPG  1  is constructed from one or more sheets of plastic. In an exemplary embodiment, a single sheet of plastic is heated and formed in a mold to acquire the shape of the PPG  1 . Then the head opening  2 , arm openings  4 , leg openings  8  and waist opening  5  are cut out of the blank at specified locations. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, multiple pieces of plastic are cut from a sheet of plastic such that when the pieces are connected they form the shape of the PPG  1 . Then the head opening  2 , arm openings  4 , leg openings  8 , waist opening  5 , and excreta opening  8  are cut out of each of the plastic pieces. The pieces are then welded together using heat, lasers, ultrasonic, chemical or other similar means. Each PPG  1  is then folded compactly and packaged to keep the PPG  1  sanitary for later use. 
     Although the foregoing description has been made with respect to preferred embodiments of the present invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many variations and alterations are possible. Some of these variations have been discussed above and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     PART DICTIONARY 
     
         
         
           
               1  Personal protective gown 
               2  Head opening 
               3  reinforced seem 
               4  left and right arm openings 
               5  waist opening 
               6  excreta opening 
               7  cleaning wipe container 
               8  left and right leg opening