Patent Publication Number: US-2023157423-A1

Title: Quick-release constant care garment

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to quick-release garments, and more particularly to quick release shirts and pants that may be used in medical settings. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Although there have been many advances in medical technology, a basic medical gown has hardly changed in close to a century. Medical gowns include at least two types, e.g., gowns that are typically worn by patients, and personal protective equipment (PPE) that are typically worn by surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and others with access to patients. 
     Medical gowns worn by patients are typically open in the back. The gown, if so equipped, may be fastened in the back, which cannot be performed by most patients. Such gowns can be cumbersome to remove from a patient during a procedure, and there is concern of the possible spread of infection handling the gowns. 
     In addition, as patients may have oxygen masks, breathing tubes, intravenous connections, etc., changing or removing a shirt, pants or a gown of a patient undergoing constant care can be quite cumbersome. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a quick-release includes a front piece having a first attachment portion, and a back piece having a second attachment portion configured to detachably connect with the first attachment portion of the front piece along a torso of a living body. The front piece and the back piece are configured to form an enclosure that is attachable and detachable directly from the torso portion of the living body. 
     In an embodiment, the front piece is separate from the back piece, and the first attachment portion includes a first plurality of fasteners. The second attachment portion comprises a second plurality of fasteners aligned with the first plurality of fasteners to detachably connect the front piece and the back piece of the quick-release garment together. 
     In an embodiment, the first plurality of fasteners and the second plurality of fasteners are snap fasteners. 
     In an embodiment, each of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion includes a tie string. 
     In an embodiment, the first attachment portion has a first slot partially enclosing a first tie string, and the second attachment portion has a second slot partially enclosing a second tie string, and the first tie string of the first attachment portion is aligned with the second tie string of the second attachment portion to detachably connect the front piece and the back piece of the quick-release garment together. 
     In an embodiment, the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion each includes touch fastener strips that are aligned to detachably connect the front piece and the back piece of the quick-release garment together. 
     In an embodiment, the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion each includes magnetic strips that are aligned to detachably connect the front piece and the back piece of the quick-release garment together. 
     In an embodiment, the quick-release garment is a shirt. 
     In an embodiment, the quick-release garment is a pair of pants. 
     In an embodiment, the quick-release garment is a gown. 
     In one embodiment, a quick-release garment includes a garment body having a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion. The first attachment portion and the second attachment portion are aligned to detachably connect to form an enclosure around at least a torso portion of a living body. The garment body is attachable and removable directly from the torso portion of the living body. 
     The first attachment portion and the second attachment portion are aligned to detachably connect to form an enclosure configured to receive at least a portion of a living body. 
     In an embodiment, the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion detachably connect along a front or a back of the garment body. 
     In an embodiment, the first attachment portion includes a first plurality of fasteners, and the second attachment portion includes a second plurality of fasteners aligned with the first plurality of fasteners to detachably connect the first attachment portion and second attachment portion of the garment body together. 
     In an embodiment, the first plurality of fasteners and the second plurality of fasteners are snap fasteners. 
     In an embodiment, the first attachment portion includes a first tie string and the second attachment portion includes a second tie string, and at least one of the first plurality of fasteners and the second plurality of fasteners is selected from the group consisting of buttons, zippers, and magnets. 
     In an embodiment, the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion each includes touch fastener strips that are aligned to detachably connect the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion of the garment body together. 
     In an embodiment, the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion each includes magnetic strips that are aligned to detachably connect the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion of the garment body together. 
     In an embodiment, the garment body is seamless. 
     In an embodiment, the quick-release garment is an article of clothing selected from the group consisting of a gown, a shirt, and pants. 
     In an embodiment, wherein the first attachment portions and the second attachment portions arranged along center of a single garment body. 
     These and other features will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition to or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all the components or operations that are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same or like components or operations. 
         FIG.  1    shows front and rear views of a quick-release garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an enlarged view of an attachment portion of the quick release garment shown in  FIG.  1   , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    shows front and rear views of another quick-release garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates the fasteners embodied in the quick-release garment according to  FIG.  3   , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates some examples of fasteners according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates some types of fasteners according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it should be understood that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high level, without detail, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings. 
     The term “fasteners” as used herein is to be interpreted broadly and may include any type of elements used to attach portions of a garment. For example, snaps, snap buttons, Velcro® (which is sometimes referred to as “hook and loop” fasteners) zippers, magnets, magnetic strips, etc. 
     The term “shirt” is to be interpreted broadly, and can include a patient gown. For example, the garment shown in  FIG.  3   , if sufficiently long enough to cover beyond the torso area of a body, (e.g., approach the mid-thigh area or lower) can be considered a gown. For brevity,  FIG.  3    shows dashed lines  330  that represent that the shirt may also be considered a gown. Although short sleeves are shown, a person of ordinary skill in the art is to understand that long sleeves are included. In addition, a shirt or a gown may not have any sleeves, e.g., just openings for the arms to extend through. The various embodiments of a quick-release garment according to the present disclosure can facilitate changing and/or removal by including quick release fasteners along the torso area, so that the garment can be worn and/or removed without be pulled over a patients head, or in the case of pants, pushed/pulled along their legs. When patients are using oxygen masks, breathing tubes, have various intravenous connections, and/or hose attachments for bodily fluids, putting on or removing garments can be cumbersome, sometimes necessitating disconnection of such equipment. However, the quick-release garments according to the present disclosure can be attached and/or disconnected from the torso of a patient, thereby facilitating quick removal. The rolling of a patient to their side during a change of clothing can be eliminated or reduced. 
       FIG.  1    shows at  100  front and rear views of a quick-release garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the front piece  101  and the back piece  110  appear to be identical. However, the appended claims of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, the back piece  110  may have a seat portion that extends out from the area between the waist band and mid-thigh. The front piece  101  includes one or more first attachment portions  105  that are in substantial alignment with one or more second attachment portions  109 . The front piece  101  and the back piece piece  110  are typically arranged on opposite sides of a patient, and then connected via the first attachment portions  105  and the second attachment portions  109 . Although not shown, the front piece  101  and back piece  110  may be sewn, bonded, zippered, of otherwise fastened together in the crotch area to reduce an effort to align the front piece  101  and the back piece  110  when being put on a patient. One or more ties  107  are shown on both the front piece  101  and the back piece  110  that can be used to join or to enclose the garment on a patient. The ties  107  are optional, and may be used in conjunction with fasteners  108 . 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an enlarged view  200  of an attachment portion of the quick release garment shown in  FIG.  1   , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  2    shows first attachment portions  205 , second attachment portions  209 , the ties  207  and fasteners  208   a ,  208   b.  A front fastener  208   a  is shown on the first attachment portion  205  of the front piece  201 , and a back (or receiving) fastener  208   b  is shown on the second attachment portion of the back piece  210 . In the case where fasteners  208   a  and  208   b  are snaps, The front fastener  208  may have a groove that makes a snapping sound place when pressed into the back fastener  208   b.  The fasteners, which may be referred to a press stud, a dome fastener, a popper, and/or a snap are a pair of interlocking discs that can be made of out of, for example, a metal, nylon or plastic. 
     In a case where the fasteners are magnets, the front fastener  208   a  and the back fastener  208   b  are magnets with opposite polarities. For example, the front fasteners  208   a  may be “N” and the back fasteners  208   b  may be “S”. 
     It is to be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the appended claims are not limited to the type of fasteners, nor the quantity of the positions as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , which have been provided for illustrative purposes. For example, adhesive strips, hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) can be used in conjunction with or in place of the snaps. 
       FIG.  3    shows front and rear views of another quick-release garment  300  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, front and rear pieces of a shirt are shown. It is to be understood that according to the present disclosure, based on the length of the shirt, the term “shirt” can also be referred to as a gown. The front piece  303  and the back piece  305  are shown. The body  301  of the shirt has first attachment portions  310 ,  315  on the front piece  303 , and second attachment portions  320  on the back piece  305 . It is to be understood that the front piece  303  and the back piece  305  can be permanently joined on one side by sewing, bonding etc. Thus the first attachment portions  310 ,  315  and the second attachment portions  320 ,  325  are not limited to the illustration in  FIG.  3   , and may there may only be a single attachment portion. Moreover, as previously discussed, the sleeves are optional, and may also be longer than shown, or not present. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an example of how the front piece  403  and the back piece  405  can be connected via the first attachment portion  415  and second attachment portions  420  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fasteners are the same or similar as discussed with regard to  FIGS.  1  and  2    above, and may include ties, magnets, adhesives, etc. 
     It is to be understood that the drawings have been provided for illustrative purposes and do not limit the appended claims of the disclosure. For example, the body of the garment may be seamless (a unitary body) having the first and second attachment portions along a center of a front or a rear of the garment. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates some types of fasteners  500  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the appended claims are not limited to the types of fasteners shown and described herein. A zipper  501  has teeth  503  and a handle  505 . The zipper may be attached along the front, sides, or back of a garment to assist with quick-release. In addition, a button  510  is shown. Buttons may be used in place of snaps to secure or release portions of a garment, such as the front and the back. 
     Conclusion 
     The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present teachings have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. 
     The components, operations, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages that have been discussed herein are merely illustrative. None of them, nor the discussions relating to them, are intended to limit the scope of protection. While various advantages have been discussed herein, it will be understood that not all embodiments necessarily include all advantages. Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain. 
     Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated. These include embodiments that have fewer, additional, and/or different components, steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages. These also include embodiments in which the components and/or steps are arranged and/or ordered differently. 
     It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any such actual relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.