Abstract:
A gown with an opening to allow passage the user&#39;s head allowing the gown to rest on the user&#39;s shoulders and an opening in the back with one cord attached to the inside of each side of the opening in the back of the gown and each cord then extends toward the shoulder area where each cord is temporarily attached and the cord further extends toward a hole in the opposite side of the opening in the back where it passes through a hole to the outer portion of the gown.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many types of gowns used in medical procedures by patients, visitors, and medical personnel exist. Both disposable and reusable gowns are utilized. It is important that they can easily be put on and secured by the user. Securing the gown so that it does not fall off is critical. Various means are used such as ties, belts, buttons, hooks and loops, and snaps. Current gowns use a waist tie or belt that require the user to either tie the belt behind their back or reach around their back to tie the belt. As a result, improper gown use is common because many users have difficulty passing the belt around their backs or reaching behind their back to tie it. In many situations medical personnel cannot have anything on the front of the gown including the joining of straps securing the gown. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    A gown which can be pulled over the user&#39;s head and then secured by easily reaching straps/cords which are pulled and secured together to secure the gown. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front of the gown. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the back of the gown. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the front of the gown with hidden/internal components shown in broken lines. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the back of the gown with hidden/internal components shown in broken lines. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is the back of the gown with internal components exposed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is the back of the gown when placed on the user. 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the gown when placed on the user. 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is the back of a second embodiment of the gown having an opening that starts below the neck/head opening, with internal components exposed 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The described embodiment shown on the figures is a gown  1  intended to be pulled over the user&#39;s head and rest on the user&#39;s shoulders, said gown  1  having an opening in the back thereof extending from the top area near the user&#39;s shoulders, to the bottom area of the gown. The opening may span the entire length of the gown  1  or only a portion thereof. One or more cords  2  are attached to the interior of the gown  1  on each side of the opening in the rear of the gown  1 . 
         [0012]    One end of the first cord  2  is securely attached to the interior of the gown  1  on one side  3  of the opening in the back of the gown, at a height corresponding to the waist area of the user. One end of the second cord  2  is attached to the inside of the gown  1 , on the other side  4  of the opening, also at a height corresponding to the waist area of the user. 
         [0013]    A means to temporarily attach the cord to the gown in the shoulder area is provided. The cord can be temporarily attached to the gown using a variety of well-known attachment methods such as a loop through which the cord is passed, hook and loop design, adhesives, and magnets. The choice of which method is to be used to temporarily attached the cord to the gown may depend on whether the gown is disposable or reusable. 
         [0014]      FIG. 5  shows the use of a loop  5  secured to the interior of each side of the gown  1 . The loops  5  are positioned in the top area of the gown  1 , just inside the opening. The loop  5  may be oriented either vertically or horizontally. One or more ends of the loop  5  are secured in such a manner that it may be easily detached from the gown  1 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , each cord  2  runs upwards along the inside edge of the opening on the same side of the gown  1  to which they originate. The cords  2  are then attached to the gown as described above, such as by passing through the loop  5  that is on the same side of the gown  1  from which that cord  2  originates. 
         [0015]    Each cord  2  then passes through the loop  5  on the side of the gown  1  opposite the side from which that particular cord  2  originates. The cords  2  are then passed through holes  6  in the gown  1 , which are positioned near the side of the gown  1  and at the approximate height of the waist of the user. The cords  2  are passed through the hole  6  that is on the opposite side of the gown  1  from which that particular cord  2  originates. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 8 , the opening in the back of the gown  1  begins below the neck opening and extends the remaining length of the gown  1 . Each cord  2  is temporarily attached to the gown  1  at only one location, just above the opening. For example, each cord  2  passes through one loop  5  instead of two. In this embodiment, one end of the first cord  2  is secured to the interior of the gown  1 , on one side  3  of the opening, at a height corresponding to the waist area of the user. The end of the second cord  2  is attached to the inside of the gown  1 , on the other side  4  of the opening, also at a height corresponding to the waist area of the user. The cords  2  run upwards along the inside edge of the opening on the same side of the gown  1  from which that particular cord  2  originates. The cords  2  are passed through the single loop  5  at the top of the gown  1 . The cords  2  are then passed through holes  6  in the gown  1 , which are positioned near the side of the gown  1  and in the waist area of the user. The cords  2  are passed through the hole  6  that is on the opposite the side of the gown  1  from which they originate. 
         [0017]    As previously stated the gown  1  is designed to be pulled down over the head of the user and rest on the user&#39;s shoulders. The gown  1  may be closed in the neck area with a hole large enough for a user&#39;s head to pass. Alternatively, the opening in the back of the gown  1  may span the entire length of the gown  1  with one or more elastic/stretchable strips  7  utilized to secure two sides of the back opening together. As shown in  FIG. 5 , one end of the strip  7  is secured to one side  3  of the opening in the back of the gown with the second end of the strip  7  attached to the other side of the opening in the gown  1 . If included, the elastic strip(s)  7  is located on the upper portion of the gown  1  near the neck/shoulder area, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0018]    The material of the gown  1  can be varied as warranted by the intended use and the intended user. Thus the gown  1  can be disposable or reusable. They gown  1  may also be made of a breathable material. 
         [0019]    In the proposed method of use the gown  1  is placed over the head of the user and rests on the user&#39;s shoulders. The user pulls downwards on the cords  2 , thereby separating the attachment cords from their temporary attachment to the gown  1 . The cords  2  are then pulled towards the front or one side of the user until the back of the gown  1  is closed. The cords  2  may then be tied together in the front or side of the gown  1 . 
         [0020]    Numerous embodiments are envisioned by this invention. I also include gowns used in other applications besides medical such as food preparation, chemical testing and industrial clean rooms. 
         [0021]    The above is a detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention. It is recognized that departures from the disclosed embodiments may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. Those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed herein and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All of the embodiments disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure.