Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02562528 2006-10-04
INTRAVENOUS INFUSION BAG COVERING
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
10011 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an intravenous infusion bag
covering. More
particularly, relating to animal-like simulative coverings intended for
receipt of devices
such as intravenous infusion bags to conceal the intravenous infusion bag
during an
infusion procedure and which can then be converted into a plush toy or animal
after the
infusion procedure.
[002] Description of the Related Art
There are numerous patients who for various reasons are hospitalized and
require an
intravenous infusion bag. Many of the aforementioned patients are children
and/or young
adults, whom may be scared or intimated at the sight of the intravenous
infusion bag and
the fluids retained therein. As such, it is desirable to provide a cover to
generally conceal
or hide as best as possible the intravenous infusion bag during an infusion
procedure.
[003] Numerous devices for use in covering or carrying various medical
containers such as
plastic bags, including but infusion bags exist. Examples of such devices are
shown and
described in U.S. Patents 3,667,467; 4,606,736; 2,515,413; 4,874,387; Des.
426,634;
Des. 442,278; Des. 347,890; Des. 401,347; Des. 470,586; and Des. 321,758.
[004] One drawback of prior intravenous infusion bag coverings is difficulty
in accessing the
intravenous infusion bag so that one may periodically view gradient markers
and thus the
level of fluid in the bag. Heretofore, the covering needed to be completely
removed from
the infusion bag to view to contents of the bag. Another drawback exists in
providing a
covering that is attractive and completely conceals the intravenous infusion
bag while at
the same time permits the continuous functioning of the of the bag without
impartment.
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In yet another drawback, the coverings heretofore functioned as only a
covering and were
discarded after use.
[005] As such, while the aforementioned devices perform their intended
function, there still
exists a need for an improved medical container covering such as for example
an
intravenous infusion bag which completely conceals the infusion bag during an
infusion
procedure, allows quick and readily access to the infusion bag to view the
contents of the
bag, to adjust infusion rate, to readily allow hanging of the infusion bag, is
simulative in
appearance to a comforting object, and which can be converted into a plush toy
after the
infusion procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of
medical container
covering devices, such as for example an intravenous infusion bag coverings ,
the present
invention provides a new intravenous infusion bag covering construction that
overcomes
all of the disadvantages of the known devices and which may be converted into
a stuffed
animal or doll for the patient after the infusion procedure to comfort the
patient during
stay at the hospital and to take home with them from the hospital.
[007] In general, in one aspect, an intravenous infusion bag covering for
concealing an
intravenous infusion bag having a front portion displaying gradient markers,
an.upper end
with a hanger means and a lower end with an infusion tube extending therefrom,
is
provided. The intravenous infusion bag covering includes a body having a front
portion
and a rear portion defining an internal cavity therebetween, and a top opening
and a
bottom opening extending into the internal cavity for removeably receiving the
intravenous infusion bag. The intravenous infusion bag having a hanger means
on one
end of the bag and intravenous tubing extending from the opposite end of the
bag. The
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hanger means extending through the top opening and the intravenous tubing
extending
through the bottom opening. The front portion having a front opening extending
into the
internal cavity and being of a size permitting viewing of the gradient markers
of the
intravenous infusion bag. Also provided, is a cover which is removeably
detachable to
the front portion thus covering or exposing the front opening.
[008] In general, in another aspect, the bottom opening of the intravenous
infusion bag covering
being of a size permitting insertion of the intravenous infusion bag into the
internal
cavity.
[009] In general, in another aspect, there is provided a first mateable
closure for closing the top
opening; and a second mateable closure for closing the bottom opening. In
order to allow
the stuffing material to befit and fill the internal cavity.
[0010] In general, in another aspect, the body is shaped to resemble a teddy
bear, fish, clown,
monkey, baby doll, or the like.
[0011] In general, in another aspect, there are mating fasteners for
removeably attaching the
cover to the front portion of the body. This allows a user to remove the cover
from the
front portion in order to view the gradient markers of the intravenous
infusion bag. This
also allows the user to attach the cover to the front portion in order to
conceal the
intravenous infusion bag from the patient. The cover also facilitates the
conversion from
an intravenous infusion bag covering to a stuffed animal.
[0012] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention
in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better
understood and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
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[0013] Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
be readily apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed
description of
presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present
invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable
of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it
is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the
purpose of
descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0014] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,
upon which this
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other structures,
methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is
important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent
constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
present
invention.
[0015] For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages
and the specific
objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and
descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those
set forth above will
become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed
description
thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the figure-like
intravenous bag covering
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
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[0018] Figure 2 is a front diagrammatic view of the intravenous infusion bag
covering,
illustrating an intravenous infusion bag inserted into the internal cavity of
the intravenous
bag covering, and further illustrating the front opening which facilitates a
user in viewing
the gradient markers of the intravenous infusion bag;
[0019] Figure 3 is a bottom perspective diagrammatic view of the intravenous
infusion bag
covering, illustrating the intravenous infusion bag being removeably inserted
into the
internal cavity by way of the bottom opening of the intravenous bag covering.
Further
illustrating a mateable closure for closing the bottom opening; and
[0020] Figure 4 is an exploded diagrammatic view of the intravenous infusion
bag covering
illustrating the stuffing material and the cover exploded from the body.
Further
illustrating the first and second complementary fastener elements surrounding
the
peripheral of the front opening and attached to the cover about the peripheral
edge
thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
100211 Referring now to Figures 1- 4, there is shown an intravenous infusion
bag covering 10
for concealing an intravenous infusion bag 12. The covering 10 having a body
14,
preferably an animal-like figure. The body 14 having a front portion 16 and a
rear portion
18 defining an internal cavity 20 therebetween, a top opening 22 and a bottom
opening 24
extending into the internal cavity. The bottom opening 24 being of a size
permitting
insertion of the intravenous infusion bag 12 into the internal cavity 20. The
intravenous
infusion bag 12 having a hanger means 30 on one end of the bag and intravenous
tubing
32 extending from the opposite end of the bag. The internal cavity 20
removeably
receives the intravenous infusion bag 12 with the hanger means 30 protruding
through the
top opening 22 and the intravenous tubing 32 extending through the bottom
opening 24.
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The front portion 16 having a front opening 26 extending into the internal
cavity 20 and
being of a size permitting viewing of the gradient markers 34 of the
intravenous infusion
bag 12 . The intravenous infusion bag covering 10 having a first mateable
closure 36 for
closing the top opening 22 and a second mateable closure 38 for closing the
bottom
opening 24.
[0022] The intravenous infusion bag covering 10 having a stuffing materia146
removeably
insertable into the internal cavity 20. The aforementioned mateable closures
facilitate the
stuffing materia146 to be inserted or removed, as well as retaining the
stuffing material
within the internal cavity 20. Essentially converting the intravenous infusion
bag
covering 10 into a stuffed animal or doll.
[0023] A cover 28 is removeably detachable to the front portion 16 of the body
14 to facilitate
exposure or concealment of the intravenous infusion bag 12 thorough the front
opening
26. The user can periodically check the fluids in the intravenous infusion bag
12 by
removing the cover 28 and then recover the front opening 26 so the
aforementioned bag is
completely blocked from view. The intravenous infusion bag covering 10 having
mating
fasteners 40 for removeably attaching the cover 28 to the front portion 16
thus covering
the front opening 26. The aforementioned mating fasteners 40 include a first
complementary fastener element 42 and a second complementary fastener element
44.
The first complementary fastener element 42 of each of the mating fastener 40
may be
attached to the front portion 16 of the body 14 and surround the peripheral
edge 48 of the
front opening 26. The second complementary fastener element 44 of each of the
mating
fasteners 40 may be attached to the cover 28 about the peripheral edge 50
thereof.
100241 In a preferred embodiment, the cover 28 is nontransparent having a
similar color pattern
and material as the body 14, thus the cover and body are complementary and
simulate the
appearance of an animal. Thus when the cover 28 is attached to the front
portion 16 of
the body 14 a seamless whole animal-like figure is created. In a preferred
embodiment
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the front opening 26 and corresponding complementary cover 28 may be oval,
rectangular, circle or square in shape.
[0025] The choice of fabric for the intravenous infusion bag covering 10
depends on the choice
of animal-like figure, but preferably the intravenous infusion bag covering
has a fur-like
exterior and coloring which simulates the appearance of an animal. The
intravenous
infusion bag covering 10 may alternatively be partially or solely made of
leather, plastic,
cotton or other non-fur like material to simulate skin and creates the
appearance of a baby
doll or clown. Preferably the body 14 is in the shape to resemble a teddy
bear, but the
body is also envisioned to be in the shape of essentially any animal or doll
such as a
monkey, fish, bird, clown, baby doll, etc.
[0026] A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described.
Nevertheless, it
will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing
from the
spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within
the scope of
the following claims.
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