Abstract:
A garment having a tubing management system incorporated therein is provided. The tubing management system includes at least one conduit and a coupling system for the conduit. The coupling system has at least one coupling point, which is located, for example, at the neck opening of the garment. The coupling system defines a path for the conduit, i.e., there is more than one attachment point, therefore the path of the conduit may be controlled. In this configuration, the conduit moves with the user and, as such, there is a reduced chance that the user&#39;s movements, even while asleep, will cause the facemask to be pulled from its proper position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §371 of international patent application no. PCT/IB2010/054370, filed Sep. 28, 2010, which claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/255,585 filed on Oct. 28, 2009, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for providing a garment structured to manage one or more tubes, and, in particular, a garment wherein the tube(s) are restricted to a longitudinal path along the garment. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    People with breathing disorders, or other medical conditions, are often required to wear a patient interface device, such as a facemask, which is typically structured to supply air or oxygen to the airway of the user. The patient interface device is coupled to a gas supply conduit, which is further coupled to a gas source. The conduit, often identified as “tubing” or “patient circuit”, typically extends from the gas source to patient interface device. As a result, if, for example, the tubing is located to the user&#39;s right and the user turns his/her head to the left, and if there is insufficient slack in the tubing, the tubing will not move with the user&#39;s head and the facemask may be pulled out of position. This often happens when the user is asleep as such system are often worn during sleep for the treatment of sleep apnea. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides for a garment having a tubing management system incorporated therein. The tubing management system includes at least one conduit and a coupling system for the conduit. The coupling system has at least one coupling point, which is located at the neck opening of the garment. In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling system defines a path for the conduit, i.e., there is more than one attachment point, therefore the path of the conduit may be controlled. In this configuration, the conduit moves with the user and, as such, there is a reduced chance that the user&#39;s movements, even while asleep, will cause the facemask to be pulled from its proper position. 
         [0007]    The coupling system is incorporated into the garment, but may also be simply coupled to the garment. The garment, which may be a shirt, a gown, pajamas, a robe, etc. is identified as a “covering.” The coupling system on the covering may be, for example, one or more loops through which the tubing management system conduit extends. These loops define the path of the conduit. Moreover, as the loops are part of the covering, and, as the covering moves with the user, the conduit also moves with the user. The coupling system may be in the form of an elongated loop that extends along the path of the conduit. For example, the elongated loop may be formed from a flap extending from the covering. The conduit is disposed between the flap and the covering, and the distal end of the flap is coupled to the covering. This defines a pocket through which the conduit extends. Alternately, the covering may have a first magnetic material incorporated therein. The conduit may then have a second magnetic material incorporated therein. When the magnetic materials are placed near each other, the conduit is magnetically coupled to the covering along a path defined by the first magnetic material. 
         [0008]    There are a number of variations to these embodiments which are encompassed by the claimed concept. For example, rather than a single conduit, which may have a relatively large diameter, the conduit may be split into a number of smaller conduits. As each conduit in a plurality is thinner than a single conduit, the garment may allow for the user to, for example, roll over in their sleep without feeling the conduits. Further, the covering may incorporate padding over the conduit/conduits to further reduce the impact of the conduit on the user. 
         [0009]    These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of a user wearing a garment with a tubing management system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of a user wearing an alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic front view of a user wearing another alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic front view of a user wearing another alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic front view of a user wearing another alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a schematic front view of a user wearing another alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a schematic front view of a user wearing another alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a schematic front view of a user wearing another alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a schematic front view of a user wearing another alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a schematic front view of a user wearing another alternate embodiment of the garment with a tubing management system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    As used herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs. As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as a single piece or unit. That is, a component that includes pieces that are created separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” component or body. As used herein, a “facemask” includes any type of oral, oral-nasal, or nasal mask or nose-plug, structured to provide a gas to a user. As used herein, a “matrix” includes random as well as symmetric/regular constructs. 
         [0021]    As used herein, a “first magnetic material” and a “second magnetic material” include a material that is attracted to iron or steel, e.g., a typical magnet, and material such as iron, steel, or another magnet to which the first material is attracted. It is understood that the purpose of the “first magnetic material” and the “second magnetic material” is to have the materials magnetically attracted to each other. Thus, two non-magnetized materials, e.g. two pieces of normal steel, are not a “first magnetic material” and a “second magnetic material.” 
         [0022]    A garment  10  structured to cooperate with a gas supply system  1  is shown in  FIG. 1 . As is known, the gas supply system  1  includes a supply conduit  2  and a facemask conduit  3  as well as a facemask  4 . Supply conduit  2  is structured to be coupled to, and in fluid communication with, a gas supply system  1 . Facemask conduit  3  is structured to be coupled to, and in fluid communication with facemask  4 . Typically, the gas exhaled by the user is exhausted to the atmosphere. If, however, the gas exhaled by the user is to be collected, or otherwise routed away from the user, facemask  4 , supply conduit  2 , facemask conduit  3 , facemask  4 , and the tubing management system at least one conduit  50  (discussed below) may each include one or more exhaust vents (not shown). 
         [0023]    Garment  10  includes a covering  12  and a tubing management system  14 . Covering  12  is, generally, shown in the FIGS. as a shirt. Covering  12  may, however, be any type of covering such as, but not limited to, a gown, pajamas, a robe, tank-top, etc., that is, generally any type of clothing in which a person typically sleeps. Covering  12  is made from a thin, flexible material, such as cloth. Covering  12  has an inner side  16  and an outer side  18 . Covering  12  is structured to be disposed over at least the upper part of a body. Covering  12  further has a neck opening  20  and a waist portion  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , covering  12  may include leggings  24 , which may be separate from, or unitary with, the upper portion of the covering  12 . 
         [0024]    Tubing management system  14  has a coupling system  30  and at least one conduit  50 . Coupling system  30  is structured to couple the tubing management system at least one conduit  50  to covering  12  at least one coupling point  32 . The at least one coupling point  32  is at covering neck opening  20  at the front of the neck opening. The tubing management system at least one conduit  50  is structured to extend from at least covering waist portion  22  to covering neck opening  20 . The tubing management system also includes at least one conduit  50  is structured to be in fluid communication with both supply conduit  2  and facemask conduit  3 . Coupling system  30  is adapted to operate with the type of tubing management system at least one conduit  50  that is used. 
         [0025]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the tubing management system at least one conduit  50  is at least one flexible tube  52 . The at least one flexible tube  52  may be a single elongated, tubular member  53  having a lower, first end  54  and an upper, second end  56 . The at least one flexible tube  52  has a conduit interface  58 , i.e., a detachable coupling, at both first and second ends  54 ,  56 . Each conduit interface  58  is structured to be removably coupled to the supply conduit  2  or the facemask conduit  3 . In this manner, the at least one flexible tube  52  may be detached from either, or both, the supply conduit  2  or the facemask conduit  3 . Thus, a user may, for example, detach the at least one flexible tube lower, first end  54  from the supply conduit  2  so that the user may travel to a restroom. 
         [0026]    Alternatively, the tubing management system conduit at least one flexible tube  52  may be a plurality of smaller elongated tubes  60 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, each conduit interface  58  includes a manifold  62 . That is, manifold  62  is a collar-like body having a larger, single opening  64  and a plurality of smaller openings  66 . At the lower conduit interface  58 , manifold larger opening  64  is coupled to, and in fluid communication with, supply conduit  2 , while each of the manifold plurality of smaller openings  66  is coupled to, and in fluid communication with, one of the plurality of smaller elongated tubes  60 . At the upper conduit interface  58 , each of the manifold plurality of smaller openings  66  is coupled to, and in fluid communication with, one of the plurality of smaller elongated tubes  60  and manifold larger opening  64  is coupled to, and in fluid communication with, facemask conduit  3 . 
         [0027]    For either of these two embodiments, i.e., the at least one flexible tube  52  being either a single tube  53  or a plurality of tubes  60 , coupling system  30  may be at least one loop coupling  70  coupled to each at least one flexible tube  52 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The at least one loop coupling  70  forms a loop  72  about the at least one flexible tube  52 . Loop  72  may be formed entirely separate from the covering  12 , e.g. a metal ring (not shown) coupled to the covering  12  by a strap, or loop  72  may be formed by a strap  74  coupled at either end to the covering  12 . That is, loop  72  is formed by both the covering  12  and the strap  74 . Further, the at least one loop coupling  70  may be disposed on the covering inner side  16  or the outer side  18 . It is noted that, when the at least one loop coupling  70  is disposed on the covering inner side  16 , covering  12  may include padding  13  disposed between covering  12  and the user. Further, it is noted that the at least one loop coupling  70  may include a plurality of relatively thin loops  78  and an elongated loop  80 . 
         [0028]    Thus, the at least one loop coupling  70  may be at least two thin loop couplings  78 , formed by a strap  74  and a coupling device  76 , such as but not limited to, buckles  77 , hook-and-loop fabric  94  (discussed below), snaps (not shown), or buttons. In an exemplary embodiment, one loop coupling  78 A is disposed at covering neck opening  20  and one loop coupling  78 B is disposed at covering waist portion  22 . However, there are a plurality of loop couplings  78 C disposed between neck opening loop coupling  78 A and waist portion loop coupling  78 B. 
         [0029]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , for either of these two embodiments, i.e., the at least one flexible tube  52  being either a single tube  53  or a plurality of tubes  60 , coupling system  30  may be an elongated loop  80  extending, substantially, between the neck opening  20  and the waist portion  22 . That is, the at least one flexible tube  52  has a medial portion  55  disposed between the at least one flexible tube first and second ends  54 ,  56 . The at least one flexible tube medial portion  55  may be substantially enclosed within an elongated loop  80 , which may also be identified as a pocket, as discussed below. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the covering  12  may include a flap  90  of material extending from the covering neck opening  20  to the covering waist portion  22 . Flap  90  has a distal end  92  with a hook-and-loop fabric  94  coupled thereto. A strip of the corresponding hook-and-loop fabric  94  is coupled to the covering  12 . Thus, the user may dispose the at least one flexible tube  52  between covering  12  and flap  90 , and couple the flap to the covering using the hook-and-loop fabric  94 . This forms a pocket-like elongated loop  80  through which the at least one flexible tube  52  extends. It is noted that, while  FIG. 4  shows the at least one flexible tube  52  as being a single tube  53 , flap  90  may also be used to enclose a plurality of tubes  60 . If the at least one flexible tube  52  is a plurality of tubes  60 , flap  90  may have an extended width, so that the plurality of tubes  60  may be disposed in a generally flat pattern. 
         [0030]    Elongated loop  80  may also be created from a separate element rather than a flap  90 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . That is, whereas a flap  90  has one edge that is unitary with the covering  12 , the separate element may be an elongated strip of fabric  100  with two strips of hook-and-loop fabric  94  disposed on each elongated edge. Covering  12 , has corresponding strips of hook-and-loop fabric  94  extending generally between the covering neck opening  20  to the covering waist portion  22 . Thus, when the elongated strip of fabric  100  is coupled to covering  12  by the strips of hook-and-loop fabric  94 , an elongated loop  80 , or pocket, is formed. The at least one flexible tube  52  is disposed with the elongated loop  80 . 
         [0031]    In a similar manner, elongated loop  80  may be formed of a separate element that is a magnetic material, as shown in  FIG. 6 . That is, covering  12  may have a first magnetic material  110  incorporated therein. First magnetic material  110  may be limited to a portion, e.g. the front, of covering  12 . In this embodiment, rather than two strips of hook-and-loop fabric  94 , elongated strip of fabric  100  may have two strips of a second magnetic material  112  disposed on each elongated edge. Thus, when elongated strip of fabric  100  is coupled to covering  12  by the strips of a second magnetic material  112 , an elongated loop  80 , or pocket, is formed. The at least one flexible tube  52  is disposed with elongated loop  80 . 
         [0032]    In either embodiment having an elongated strip of fabric  100 , i.e., the embodiment with strips of hook-and-loop fabric  94  or the embodiment with strips of a second magnetic material  112 , the at least one flexible tube  52  may also be adhered to, or otherwise coupled to, the strip of fabric  100  and may be disposed outside of the elongated loop  80 . For example, rather than strip of fabric  100  having two strips of a second magnetic material  112  disposed on each elongated edge, second magnetic material  112  may be in the form of an elongated, flexible sheet  120  of second magnetic material  112 . Sheet  120  of second magnetic material  112  may be, but is not limited to, a flexible rubber having the second magnetic material incorporated therein. The at least one flexible tube medial portion  55  may be fixed, or otherwise coupled, to the elongated, flexible sheet  120  of second magnetic material  112 . 
         [0033]    In another embodiment utilizing magnets, second magnetic material  112  may be incorporated into the at least one flexible tube  52 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . As before, covering  12  may have a first magnetic material  110  incorporated therein. First magnetic material  110  may be limited to a portion, e.g. the front, of the covering  12 . In this embodiment, second magnetic material  112  is in the form of at least one slug  122  fixed to the at least one flexible tube  52 . As with loop couplings  78 , discussed above, in an exemplary embodiment, one slug  122 A is disposed at covering neck opening  20  and one slug  122 B is disposed at covering waist portion  22 . In a further embodiment, there are a plurality of slugs  122 C disposed between neck opening slug  122 A and waist portion slug  122 B. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 8 , which is similar to the embodiments having a flap  90  or elongated strip of fabric  100 , i.e., the embodiment with strips of hook-and-loop fabric  94  or the embodiment with strips of a second magnetic material  112 , a pocket may be incorporated into the covering  12  itself. That is, covering  12  may include at least a portion  130  with an inner layer  132  and an outer layer  134  of fabric. Inner and outer layers  132 ,  134  form at least one plenum  136  therebetween. The at least one plenum  136  has a first, lower opening  138  disposed at the waist portion  22 , and, a second, upper opening  140  disposed at the neck opening  20 . In this embodiment, the plenum  136  is the coupling system  30  with the at least one flexible tube  52  extending therethrough. As before, if the at least one flexible tube  52  includes a plurality of flexible tubes  60 , plenum  136  may be made with a greater width similar to the width shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 9 , the tubing management system at least one conduit  50  may be a bladder  150  rather than at least one flexible tube  52 . Similar to the plenum  136  described above, covering  12  may include at least one portion  160  with an inner layer  162  and an outer layer  164  of fabric. The fabric of the bladder  150 , however, is substantially impervious to gas. Further, bladder  150  includes a first, lower opening  166  having a conduit interface  168  structured to be coupled to the supply conduit  2 , and second, upper opening  170  having a conduit interface  168  structured to be coupled to the facemask conduit  3 . Thus, bladder  150  is structured to be coupled to, and in fluid communication with, both the supply conduit  2  and the facemask conduit  3 . Accordingly, a gas may be transferred to/from the facemask  4  through the covering  12 . 
         [0036]    Just as the single elongated, tubular member  53  may be replaced by a plurality of smaller elongated tubes  60 , single bladder  150  may be replaced either by a plurality of smaller bladders  180 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . That is, the at least one portion  160  of the covering  12  with an inner layer  162  and an outer layer  164  of fabric may include a plurality of portions having the two layers  162 ,  164 , each portion extending from the first, lower opening  166  to the second, upper opening  170 . It is noted that bladders  180  may include manifold bladders  182  disposed about covering neck opening  20  and covering waist portion  22  which act as manifolds. Manifold bladders  182  are in fluid communication with each of the smaller bladders  180 . Thus, if the user collapses one of the smaller bladders  180 , gas may flow through manifold bladders  182  and pass through the open smaller bladders. 
         [0037]    Further, any of the single bladder  150 , smaller bladders  180  or manifold bladders  182  may include a matrix  190  of a rigid material structured to prevent total restriction of fluid flow through the bladder  150 ,  180 ,  182 . Matrix  190  may be, but is not limited to, a plurality of ridges  192 , or tubular members (not shown) extending through the bladder  150 ,  180 ,  182 . Alternately, matrix  190  may be composed of a particulate material, e.g. a plurality of beads (not shown), so long as the particles have a sufficient size so as to not block fluid flow through the bladder  150 ,  180 ,  182 . 
         [0038]    It is noted that in each of the Figures, the path of the tubing management system at least one conduit  50  is shown as being centrally located at the front of the garment  10 . The path of the tubing management system at least one conduit  50 , however, may extend along various routes. For example, a person who tends to sleep on their stomach may prefer that the tubing management system at least one conduit  50  extend along the back of the garment  10 . As such, the disclosed garment is not limited to an embodiment wherein the path of the tubing management system at least one conduit  50  extends over the front and center of the garment  10 . 
         [0039]    Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.