Patent Grant
9770059
The present disclosure is related to a co-owned U.S. nonprovisional patent application filed on even day herewith, entitled MEDICAL GOWN WITH ADJUSTABLE TIE STRAPS having named inventors George Daniel Reese and Donna L. Reese, referred to herein as “Related Application,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to medical gowns and, in particular, to a medical gown adjustable in size.
Background
Medical gowns for use by various health care workers, as well as by hospital visitors, are well-known in the art. Such protective wear may be designed to provide various levels of protection depending on the particular use and potential contaminants that the health care worker may be exposed to. At the least, a medical gown should shield the wearer's clothes and skin from direct contact with any bodily fluids or medical waste that may be contaminated with germs or viruses. Preferably, the medical gown is appropriately fitted on the wearer for use, such that no portions of the gown may loosely drape or inadvertently contact contaminated surfaces or substances. While medical gowns may be manufactured in different sizes to accommodate healthcare workers of various stature, finding an appropriate fit may be difficult for some healthcare workers. Furthermore, donning time as well as convenience is important, as it is undesirable to require a healthcare worker to waste time trying on different sized medical gowns to find the appropriate fit.
A need exists, therefore, for medical gowns that are adjustable in size to accommodate health care workers of varying stature. A need also exists for a medical gown that is quickly and easily donned while adjustably sized to accommodate healthcare workers of various stature.
Features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of this disclosure.
The present disclosure is directed to a medical gown that is adjustable in size. The present disclosure is also directed to a medical gown that is easily and quickly donned while adjustably sized to accommodate healthcare workers of various stature.
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a medical gown including a torso portion and an upper portion extending upward from the torso portion. The upper portion includes a left arm member and a right arm member for covering a left and right arm, respectively, of a wearer of the medical gown, and an upper torso section connecting the left arm member to the right arm member. The upper torso section further includes an opening for fitting a wearer's head therethrough.
The upper torso section further includes at least one self-adjusting strap for expanding the upper torso section in use beyond a nominal girth thereof.
In one aspect, the at least one self-adjusting strap is formed from a pattern of perforations in the upper torso section. A portion of the medical gown forming the at least one self-adjusting strap may at least partially break away when in use along the perforations to allow expansion of the upper torso section, while remaining attached to the medical gown for securing the medical gown on the wearer during expansion of the upper torso section.
In another aspect, the nominal girth of the medical gown is maintained when donned by a wearer having an upper torso girth less than the nominal girth, the at least one self-adjusting strap remaining intact with substantially no breaking away along the perforations. During use by a wearer requiring an upper torso girth greater than the nominal girth, the at least one self-adjusting strap at least partially breaks away along the perforations to allow expansion of the upper torso section as needed to fit the wearer.
In a further aspect, the pattern of perforations includes perforations arranged to form at least one arc for breaking away to form an opening that allows expansion beyond the nominal girth of the upper torso section.
In yet a further aspect, the pattern of perforations includes perforations aligned in an S-shape. Preferably, neither end of the S-shape extends to a corresponding upper or lower edge of the upper torso section.
In still another aspect, the pattern of perforations further includes a curved segment around an end of the S-shape. The curved segment and the end of the S-shape define the portion of the medical gown forming the at least one self-adjusting strap. The at least one self-adjusting strap is configured to at least partially break away along the perforations and elongate across the upper torso section when in use by a wearer having an upper torso girth greater than the nominal girth.
One end of the curved segment of perforations may extend to one of a top edge and a bottom edge of the upper torso section.
In one aspect, the upper torso section includes a front side and a back side, wherein the at least one self-adjusting strap is formed on the back side of the upper torso section.
In aspects, the at least one self-adjusting strap comprises an upper strap and a lower strap.
In yet another aspect, the torso portion includes a front portion and a left and a right side portion connected on opposing sides thereto. The medical gown further includes a tie member extending on one end from one of the left and right side portions. A section of the tie member is folded over lengthwise. A portion of the folded section is detachably connected to one of the left and right arm members that is proximate the one end, the tie member operable upon being detached from the one of the left and right arm members by a wearer to unfold and elongate for tying around a waist of the wearer.
In additional aspects, the tie member is a first tie member extending from the left side portion proximate the left arm member. The first tie member is detachably connected to the left arm member. The medical gown further includes a second tie member extending from the right side portion proximate the right arm member. A section of the second tie member is folded over lengthwise, a portion of the folded section of the second tie member being detachably connected to the right arm member. The second tie member is operable upon being detached from the right arm member by the wearer to unfold and elongate for tying around the wearer.
In still another aspect, each of the first tie member and the second tie member is operable to extend around each of the left and the right side portions and to tie together to form a closure around the wearer. A size of the closure is adjustable by unfolding one or both of the first tie member and the second tie member being tied together.
In another aspect, each of the first tie member and the second tie member is sufficiently long, once unfolded, to extend around each of the left and right side portions, respectively, to the back of the medical gown, and to further extend around each of the right and left side portions, respectively, to tie together in the front of the gown.
In aspects, the detachably connected portion is formed from a perforated section of material connecting the one of the left and the right arm members to the tie member.
The detachably connected portion may be formed from one of a weak seam, an adhesive, and loose stitches connecting the one of the left and the right arm members to the tie member.
In additional aspects, the tie member may include a first section and a second section, which are bonded along one end to form a folded edge. The tie member is lengthwise folded and unfolded along the folded edge.
The medical gown in various aspects may be formed of a material comprising polyethylene coated spunbond polypropylene.
The medical gown in various additional aspects may be formed of a material and of a construction to provide fluid resistant protection to a wearer of the medical gown.
The material may further include an antimicrobial agent.
In yet further aspects, each of the right and left arm members of the medical gown may include a full-length sleeve for fitting a wearer's arm therethrough and comprising a first opening for at least a portion of a wearer's hand and a second opening for fitting a wearer's thumb therethrough.
In addition to the above aspects of the present disclosure, additional aspects, objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the embodiments presented in the following description and in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The drawings constitute a part of this disclosure and include examples, which may be implemented in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances, various aspects of the disclosure may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate understanding. The teaching of the disclosure can be readily understood by considering the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below.
The various aspects of the present disclosure mentioned above are described in further detail with reference to the aforementioned figures and the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments.
Particular illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the described embodiments provided herein are illustrative only and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. All features disclosed in this description may be replaced by alternative features serving the same or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Therefore, numerous other embodiments of the modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present disclosure of a medical gown as defined herein and equivalents thereto. Well-known functions or constructions and repetitive matter are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary or redundant detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting. In this description, as well as in the drawings, like-referenced numbers represent elements which may perform the same, similar, or equivalent functions.
Throughout the description, where items are described as having, including, or comprising one or more specific components or features, or where methods are described as having, including, or comprising one or more specific steps, it is contemplated that, additionally, there are items of the present disclosure that consist essentially of, or consist of, the one or more recited components or features, and that there are methods according to the present disclosure that consist essentially of, or consist of, the one or more recited processing steps.
The present disclosure is directed to a medical gown that may reduce the risk of exposure to healthcare workers of contaminants. The present disclosure is also directed to a medical gown that minimizes the risk of exposure to healthcare workers of contaminants while also being adjustable in size to accommodate health care workers of various stature. The embodiments described herein are directed to improvements to a type of a medical gown which may be referred to as a “personal protection gown.” Although the medical gown of the embodiments shown does not fully cover a wearer's back, as one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, the present disclosure is not, however, limited thereto. Accordingly, the gown of the present disclosure may be constructed with a full back layer and other features, for example, to comply with different levels of AAMI (“Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation”) protection. In embodiments, the medical gown of the present disclosure may include gowns of varying lengths, as well as gowns that fully cover the back as well as the front of a wearer, and, optionally, the head. In addition, while the embodiments described are directed to a gown that is donned over the wearer's head, the scope of the claims is not limited to the particular configuration that is described in the embodiments. For example, the medical gown of the present disclosure may include, but is not limited to, personal protection gowns, surgical gowns, isolation gowns, and so on, including gowns formed of the appropriate materials and of the appropriate construction as to provide the desired level of fluid resistant and/or fluid impervious protection to the wearer. The medical gown of the present disclosure may also be formed of a material that comprises antitoxins and/or antimicrobials.
“Nominal” is used herein to describe a “nominal size” or “nominal girth,” which refer to a size of the medical gown or a girth (circumferential measurement) around, for example, a wearer's chest, as it is packaged, having not been stretched or enlarged as a result of use by a wearer of a larger size than the nominal size. The nominal size and nominal girth of a medical gown of the present disclosure may correspond to an industry standard's determination of a size and girth of an “average” person of “medium” size, or of a person of a “large” size, an “extra large” size, a “small” size and so on.
In embodiments, the nominal size and nominal girth of a medical gown of the present disclosure may correspond to an industry standard “medium” size, for example, suitable to be worn by persons of average size or smaller without requiring stretching or enlarging. The medical gown of the present disclosure can be adjustably sized and enlarged to also accommodate persons of larger stature for a “one size fits all” gown.
“Ties,” “tie straps,” and “tie members” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a long narrow strip of material used for binding or securing the medical gown on a wearer by tying.
Referring to
Referring to
In the embodiment of
While the self-adjusting straps shown in
Referring to
While the self-adjusting straps 84, 86 are releasable from the adjacent material of the gown to which they are nominally connected along the perforations 88, the straps remain connected at their ends 90 to the upper torso section 25 to continue to secure the medical gown on a wearer during use.
In embodiments, the perforations 88 may be in the form of an arc 92 or C-shape, which may be approximately centered in the back 62 of the upper torso section 25. Breaking away of the perforations forming the arc 92 provides an opening that allows expansion beyond the nominal girth of the upper torso section, and defines upper strap 84 and lower strap 86.
In the embodiments of
Referring to
The self-adjusting straps of the present disclosure provide adjustability in size of the medical gown as the gown is donned and used. No adjustments are required by the wearer. On the contrary, the perforations break on their own as the gown is normally used.
In additional embodiment, the medical gown 10 may include additional adjustability in size by providing tie straps for tying around the waist of a user that are adjustable in length. Referring again to
In embodiments, each tie member is detachably connected to its respective proximate arm member. Referring to
Referring still to
The tie members are preferably sufficiently long, once unfolded, to extend around each of the left and right side portions, respectively, to the back of the medical gown, and to further extend back around each of the right and left side portions, respectively, to the front of the gown for tying. This affords great flexibility to the user in adjusting the fit of the gown, and in adjusting the amount of excess strap length after tying.
In embodiments, the detachably connected portions 45 are formed from a perforated section of material connecting the tie member to the respective (proximate) arm member. In particular embodiments described below, detachably connected portions 45 include front 36 and back portions 40, which, as shown in
In embodiments, the detachably connected portions 45 may be formed from a weak seam, an adhesive, or loose stitches connecting the tie member to the respective (proximate) arm member.
Referring to
Referring again to
As shown in
The medical gown 10 of the present disclosure may also include cut-outs to aid in fitting the gown around the wearer. For example, curved cut-outs 44 may be provided in the torso portion 12 proximate the ends 30, 34 of the tie members. When the wearer extends the tie members back around the side portions 16, 18, the side portions separate from the arm members along cut-outs 44, so that the side portions 16, 18 can wrap around the sides and back of a wearer.
Although not shown, the side portions may be weakly tacked to the front portion 14 along the cut-outs 44. For example, a few, small, scattered points of continuity between the front portion 14 and proximate side portion 16, 18 may be provided along the cut-out 44. The side portions 16, 18 easily break away along the cut-outs 44 upon donning the gown 10 and/or when the wearer extends the tie members back around the side portions 16, 18 for tying.
Referring still to
Referring also to
In embodiments, the tie members are sufficiently long, once unfolded and extended, to extend around the left and right sides, respectively, to the back of the medical gown, and to further extend around the right and left sides, respectively, back to the front of the gown. In this configuration, the user can advantageously tie the straps together in the front of the medical gown.
In embodiments, a medical gown may also include a double or multiple folded tie member detachably connected proximate either a left or right arm member in accordance with the present disclosure. Once unfolded, the tie member is long enough to extend entirely around the gown for tying its loose end 58 back onto itself, for example, back onto the end 30, 34 that extends from the side portion 16, 18. Optionally, a loop (not shown) may be provided on the front portion 12, around which the loose end 58 may be tied.
In some embodiments, each of the folded sections 56 and 64 is separately attached to the bottom edge 60, 66, of the back 62 and front sides 68, respectively, of the tie members. For example, referring to
Referring to
In some embodiments, the sections 56 and 64 of each tie member are bonded together at one end to form the folded edge 55. Accordingly, sections 56 and 64 may be formed from separate strips of material.
In embodiments, sections 56 and 64 are bonded together with an adhesive.
In embodiments of a medical gown of the present disclosure, referring to
In further embodiments, each of the right 22 and left arm members 24 is a full-length sleeve for fitting a wearer's arm therethrough, and includes an opening 74 for at least a portion of a wearer's hand. Preferably, a second opening 76 is also provided for fitting a wearer's thumb therethrough.
In other embodiments, an elasticized cuff around the wrist area, or any other appropriate means may be employed instead of the thumb opening shown to keep the arm members and gown in place on a user.
The medical gown may be formed of any suitable material. In embodiments, the medical gown is formed of a synthetic material.
In embodiments, the material comprises polyethylene coated spunbond polypropylene.
The material, along with the construction of the gown, may provide a fluid resistant gown. Higher levels of protection may be provided as described above by appropriate choice of materials and construction.
In other embodiments, at least portions of the medical gown is formed of a natural or nonsynthetic material.
In some embodiments, the material may further include an antimicrobial or antitoxin agent.
The medical gown of the present disclosure can be manufactured using any suitable method known in the art. For example, starting with a single layer of material cut into an appropriate shape for forming the front and back of the gown and arm members, the perforations 88 formed in the upper torso section may be formed using any method known in the art before folding to create the front and back layers. The corresponding section of the material is then folded along the neck line to create the two layers that will comprise the front and back of the gown. This two layer section may then be bonded as needed (along line 70 as shown in the figures, for example) to create the arm sleeves and the attachment strap(s). Bonding of the materials can be achieved by the use of adhesives, heat and pressure, ultrasonics, or any other suitable means. In this way, portions of the folded section below the seam 70 form the extendable strap(s), which are then die cut by commercially available means such as flatbed die cutting, power knife system or similar means. Perforations may be added, in accordance with methods known in the art, along the bottom edge 60, 66 of each of the back side 62 and the front side 68 to enable easier separation of the straps for use.
While particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is illustrative only and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting. Numerous other embodiments of a medical gown are contemplated as falling within the scope of the accompanying claims and equivalents thereto.
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