Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HOSPITAL GARMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of hospital gowns or garments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Because caregivers and medical personnel need to have substantially
unencumbered access to areas of the body that have been injured and need to be
examined or treated, and because hospital gowns must be easily put on or
removed,
typical hospital gowns are loose, poorly-fitting garments. Accordingly,
hospital
gowns are notorious for being unstylish and for providing only a modicum of
covering
and dignity for patients. Standard gowns also often do not provide easy access
to
the front or shoulder parts of the body without necessitating undue exposure,
since
the only opening in such gowns is in the back, and if the gown is reversed,
excessive
exposure of the front inevitably ensues. For instance, a patient with a wound
on his
or her shoulder would necessarily have to remove practically the entire gown
during
examination. In addition, patients are often subjected to unnecessary exertion
due to
the lack of adaptability of such gowns to various treatments required in
nursing. For
example, due to the clumsy design and construction of the standard gown, a
mother
suffering from exhaustion following the birth of a child would be forced into
undue
exposure of other portions of her body in order to expose her breast whiie
nursing.
The present garment now in use requires undue manipulation and exacts a wholly
unnecessary toll from such patients. Thus, there exists a need for an
alternative to
the standard hospital gown that is practical, relatively inexpensive, and
overcomes
the disadvantages associated with the standard gown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved hospital garment for use by a patient forms one aspect of the
invention.
This improved garment is of the type comprising a shirt-like portion. This
shirt-like
portion has a placket to permit said shirt-like portion to be donned and
doffed in the
manner of a robe, defines a neck opening through which the neck of said
patient
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extends when said shirt-like portion is operatively disposed on said patient
and
includes sleeves through which the arms of said patient extend when said shirt-
like
portion is operatively disposed on said patient, each sleeve being defined by
a piece
of fabric and by a hook and loop fastener secured thereto. The improvement
comprises, in each sleeve, the fabric piece, when the shirt-like portion is
operatively
disposed upon said patient and the patient is upright, overlapping upon and
being
secured by the hook and loop fastener to itself upon the shoulder of the
patient, such
securement being a releasable securement to permit the shirt-like portion to
be
parted along said each sleeve to the neck opening to provide ready access to
the
upper torso of said patient. The improvement also comprises the fabric piece
being
shaped and dimensioned such that the overlapped part of the fabric piece
substantially overhangs the shoulder so as to be capable of suspending the
shirt-like
portion from said shoulder when the overlapping and overlapped portions are
released from one another by the hook and loop fastener.
Hospital garments for use by a patient form other aspects of the invention.
One garment comprises a shirt and a pair of pants. The shirt has a placket to
permit
said shirt to be donned and doffed in the manner of a robe, defines a neck
opening
through which the neck of said patient extends when said shirt is operatively
disposed on said patient and includes sleeves through which the arms of said
patient
extend when said shirt is operatively disposed on said patient. Each sleeve is
defined by a piece of fabric and by a hook and loop fastener secured thereto.
In each
sleeve, the fabric piece, when the shirt is operatively disposed upon said
patient and
the patient is upright, overlaps upon and is secured by the hook and loop
fastener to
itself upon the shoulder of the patient. This securement is releasable to
permit the
shirt to be parted along said each sleeve to the neck opening to provide ready
access to the upper torso of said patient. The fabric piece is shaped and
dimensioned such that the overlapped part of the fabric piece substantially
overhangs the shoulder so as to be capable of suspending the shirt from said
shoulder when the overlapping and overlapped portions are released from one
another by the hook and loop fastener. The pair of pants includes a pair of
pant
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portions through which the legs of said patient extend when said pair of pants
is
operatively disposed on said patient and further includes a trunk body.
The trunk body: defines a crotch from which the pant portions extend; when
said pair
of pants is operatively disposed on said patient, covers the pelvis of said
patient and
defines a waistline from which the torso of said patient extends; and has a
pair of
portions which flank and define an overlap placket which extends from the
crotch to
the waistline. One of the portions is a flap which overlaps the other of said
portions
when said trunk body is operatively disposed on said patient. The closure is
for
releasably securing the flap to the other portion to releasably secure said
pair of
pants in the operative position.
Another garment comprises a pair of pants including a pair of pant portions
through
which the legs of said patient extend when said pair of pants is operatively
disposed
on said patient. This garment also comprises a trunk body and a closure. The
trunk
body: defines a crotch from which the pant portions extend; when said pair of
pants
is operatively disposed on said patient, covers the pelvis of said patient and
defines
a waistline from which the torso of said patient extends; and has a pair of
portions
which flank and define an overlap placket which extends from the crotch to the
waistline.
One of the portions is a flap which overlaps the other of said portions when
said
trunk body is operatively disposed on said patient. The closure is for
releasably
securing the flap to the other portion to releasably secure said pair of pants
in the
operative position.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a hospital
garment
for use by a patient, the garment being of the type comprising a shirt-like
portion:
having a placket to permit the shirt-like portion to be donned and doffed in
the
manner of a robe, defining a neck opening through which the neck of the
patient
extends when the shirt-like portion is operatively disposed on the patient;
and
including sleeves through which the arms of the patient extend when the shirt-
like
portion is operatively disposed on the patient, each sleeve being defined by a
piece
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of fabric and by a releasable fastener secured thereto, wherein the
improvement
comprises, in each sleeve, the fabric piece, when the shirt-like portion is
operatively
disposed upon the patient and the patient is upright, overlapping upon and
being
secured by the releasable fastener to itself upon the shoulder of the patient,
such
securement being a releasable securement to permit the shirt-like portion to
be
parted along the each sleeve to the neck opening to provide ready access to
the
upper torso of the patient; and being shaped and dimensioned such that the
overlapped part of the fabric piece substantially overhangs the shoulder so as
to be
capable of suspending the shirt-like portion from the shoulder when the
overlapping
and overlapped portions are released from one another by the releasable
fastener.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
hospital
garment for use by a patient having a body surface, the garment being of the
type
comprising a shirt-like portion having a neck opening through which the neck
of the
patient extends when the shirt-like portion is operatively disposed on the
patient; and
including sleeves through which the arms of the patient extend when the shirt-
like
portion is operatively disposed on the patient; the shirt-like portion having
a first
panel overlapping a second panel; a first cord member secured proximate an end
portion to the second panel at a first surface of the second panel, at a
position
spaced from an edge of the first panel when the first panel is overlapped with
the
second panel; a second cord member secured proximate an end portion to the
first
panel; and the first and second cord members being securable to each other to
hold
the first and second panels in overlapping relation.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as
well as
methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure,
and the
combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent
upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended
claims
with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly
described
hereinbelow.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1A is a front layout view of a hospital garment constructed according
to a
first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 1 B is a rear layout view of the structure of FIGURE 1A;
FIGURE 2 is a view of the garment of FIGURE 1 operatively disposed upon a
patient;
FIGURE 3 is a side view of the garment and patient of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a back view of the garment and patient of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, with the shirt-like garment parted
along
one sleeve to the neck;
FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, with the pair of pants parted along
the
overlap placket to the crotch;
FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, with the shirt-like portion reversed;
FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, with the shirt-like garment parted
along
one sleeve;
FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, with the shirt reversed parted along
the
vest placket and the pair of pants reversed and parted along the
overlap placket to the crotch;
FIGURE 10 is an enlarged front layout view of the shirt-like portion of the
garment
of FIGURE 1A, parted along one sleeve;
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FIGURE 11 is a full layout view of the garment of FIGURE 10, parted along one
sleeve and along the vest placket;
FIGURE 12 is an enlarged view of the pants portion of the garment of FIGURE
1A,
parted along the overlap placket;
FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 of a garment constructed according to
a
second preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIGURE 14A is a front layout view of a hospital garment constructed according
to a
another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 14B is a rear layout view of the structure of FIGURE 14A;
FIGURE 15 is a view of the garment of FIGURE 14A operatively disposed upon a
patient;
FIGURE 16 is a side view of the garment and patient of FIGURE 15;
FIGURE 17 is a back view of the garment and patient of FIGURE 15;
FIGURE 18 is a view similar to FIGURE 15, with the shirt-like garment parted
along
one sleeve to the neck;
FIGURE 19 is a view similar to FIGURE 15, with the pair of pants parted along
the
overlap placket to the crotch;
FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 15, with the shirt-like portion
reversed;
FIGURE 21 is a view similar to FIGURE 20, with the shirt-like garment parted
along
one sleeve;
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FIGURE 22 is a view similar to FIGURE 17, with the shirt reversed parted along
the
vest placket and the pair of pants reversed and parted along the
overlap placket to the crotch;
FIGURE 23 is an enlarged front layout view of the shirt-like portion of the
garment
of FIGURE 14A, parted along one sleeve;
FIGURE 24 is a plan view of the garment of FIGURE 23, parted along one sleeve
and along the vest placket, with the garment laid out and having its
generally outward facing surface, directed upwards;
FIGURE 25 is an enlarged view of the pants portion of the garment of FIGURE
14A, parted along the overlap placket;
FIGURE 26 is a view similar to FIGURE 15 of a garment constructed according to
a
second preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A garment constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention
is illustrated in front and rear layout in FIGURES 1A and 1 B and is
designated by the
general reference numeral 20. This preferred garment will be seen to comprise
a
shirt-like portion 22 and a pair of Capri-style pants 24, and should be
understood to
be constructed out of relatively fire-retardant, hard-wearing and soft-
textured fabric,
such as a 35%/65% cotton polyester blend.
The shirt-like portion 22 will be described with reference to FIGURES 2-5,
wherein it
is shown in use, operatively disposed on an upright female patient.
The shirt-like portion 22 takes the form of a shirt and has a vest portion 26,
a pair of
top tie closures 28, a pair of 3/ length Raglan sleeves 30 and a telemetry
pocket 32,
the telemetry pocket 32 being shown in phantom outline in FIGURE 2.
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The vest portion 26 substantially covers the upper torso of the patient and is
provided with a vest placket 34 disposed anteriorly, so as to permit the shirt
22 to be
donned and doffed in the manner of a robe, and with a V-neck opening 35
through
which the neck of said patient extends.
The top tie closures 28 are fabric cords secured to the vest portion 26, one
each on
opposite sides of the vest placket 34, to provide a closure therefor.
As shown on FIGURE 4, the arms of the patient extend through the sleeves 30,
and
each sleeve 30 is defined by a piece of fabric 36 and by a low-lint hook 38
and loop
40 fastener secured thereto. In each sleeve 30, the fabric piece 36 overlaps
upon
and is secured by the hook 38 and loop 40 fastener to itself upon the shoulder
of the
patient. The hook 38 and loop 40 fastening renders the securement releasable,
to
permit the shirt 22 to be parted along said each sleeve 30 to the neck opening
35
and thereby provide ready access to the upper torso of said patient, as shown
in
FIGURE 5.
The overlapped piece 36A is shaped and dimensioned to substantially overhang
the
shoulder, so as to be capable of suspending the shirt 22 from said shoulder
when
the overlapping 36B and overlapped 36A portions are released from one another
by
the hook 38 and loop 40 fastener and the overlapping portion 36B is removed
therefrom, as illustrated in FIGURE 5.
This self-supporting functionality makes it relatively easy for a patient to
re-secure
the garment 20 in place after the overlapping 36B and overlapped 36A portions
have
been released from one another. The overlapped portion 36A of the sleeve 36
need
only be slung over the shoulder, whereupon the mass of the overlapped portion
36A
supports the shirt-like portion 22 in place. Thereafter, the overlapping
portion 36B
can be slung over the shoulder, whereupon the hook 38 and loop 40 fasteners
come
into contact with one another, to secure the garment 20. For patients with
normal
limb mobility, each sleeve 36 can be re-secured by either arm.
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The overlapping portion 36B is similarly shaped and dimensioned, so as to be
capable of suspending the shirt-like portion 22 from said shoulder (not shown)
when
the overlapping 36B and overlapped 36A portions are released from one another
by
the hook 38 and loop 40 fastener. The self-supporting functionality of both
the
overlapped 36A and overlapping 36B portions provides advantages in terms of
modesty, since, if access to only the upper or rear portion of the torso is
required, the
sleeve 36 can be disengaged, and the front or back of the garment, as
applicable,
can be slung over the shoulder to support same in position, without the need
for the
patient to hold same in place at all times to avoid exposure.
A secondary hook 70 and loop 72 fastener is provided to close the end of the
sleeve,
as shown in FIG. 8. This minimizes drafts, and adds to the stylishness of the
garment.
The telemetry pocket 32 is secured to the shirt-like portion 22 so as to lie
interiorly
thereof, adjacent the chest of the patient. The telemetry pocket 32 is sized
to
accommodate conventional patient monitors (not shown) and in the preferred
embodiment comprises a rectangular fabric panel sewn along three edges to the
vest portion 26.
With reference to FIGURE 1A-9, the pair of pants 24 includes a pair of pant
portions
42, a trunk body 44 and a closure 46.
In use, the legs of the patient extend one each through the pant portions 42.
Slit
openings 48 are provided at the hems, to, inter alia, facilitate the passage
of bulky
items, such as casts or footwear, through the pant portions 42.
The trunk body 44 defines a crotch 50 from which the pant portions 42 extend,
covers the pelvis of said patient, defines a waistline 52 from which the torso
of said
patient extends and has a pair of portions 56, 58 which flank and define a
overlap
placket 54 which extends from the crotch 50 to the waistline 52, one of the
portions
56 being a flap which overlaps the other 58, as best seen in FIG. 12.
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The closure 60 releasably secures the flap 56 to the other portion 58 to
releasably
secure said pair of pants 24, and takes the form of a pair of fabric trunk tie-
up cords
60 secured to the trunk body 44 on opposite sides of the overlap placket 54. A
rear
portion 64 of the waistline is elasticized, to provide a degree of give and
comfort in
wear. The closure 60 can be released, so as to provide access to the pelvic
area of
the patient, as illustrated in FIGURE 6.
A second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURE 13 and
designated as 20'. In this embodiment, the garment 20' comprises a shirt-like
portion in the form of a 3/ length robe 22'. But for its length, robe 22' is
identical to
the shirt-like portion 22 of FIGURE 1-9, and is numbered commensurately. In
view
of similar functionality, further description of this garment is not required
and is not
provided.
Whereas in FIGURES 2-6, the garment 20 is shown in use with the vest placket
34
and overlap placket 54 disposed anteriorly, it should be understood that both
the
shirt 22 and the pants 24 are reversible, so as to provide greater flexibility
to
attending caregivers in terms of body access, as shown by FIGURE 7, wherein
the
shirt 22 is shown reversed, and FIGURE 9, wherein the shirt 22 and pants 24
are
both shown reversed and parted to provide access to the buttocks of the
patient.
Reversal of the shirt 22 and/or pants 24 does not impact substantially on
patient
comfort or coverage.
FIGURES 14A - 26 illustrate other alternative embodiments of the invention. In
these embodiments a "100" numbering scheme is employed to indicate the same
features that are illustrated in the embodiments of FIGURES 1 to 13. For
example in
these embodiments, the vest portion is designated 126.
Differences between the previous embodiments of FIGURES 1-13, and the
embodiments of FIGURES 14A to 26 are described hereinafter.
In these embodiments of FIGURES 14A-26, sleeves 130 are constructed with the
following differences compared to the previous embodiments. As particularly
shown
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in FIGURE 18, the hook and loop fasteners 138, 140 are positioned so as to be
set
back from the neck opening 135, thus providing a gap portion of plain material
139
between the edge 141 of the neck opening 135 and the hook and look fasteners
138,
140. This enhances the comfort of the wearer of the shirt 122.
Also, as shown in particular in FIGURE 21, the overlapping portion of the
sleeve
136B overlaps the overlapped portion of the sleeve 136A to a greater extent
than in
the embodiments of FIGURES 1-13. In these embodiments of FIGURES 14A-26, it
will be noted that the use of additional hook and loop fasteners 70, 72 which
were
depicted in FIGURE 10 are not required to ensure the overlapping portions
136A,
136B remain overlapped when the shirt-like portion 122 is worn.
With particular reference to FIGURES 23 and 24, the shirt-like portion 122 has
a rear
body panel 170, a left panel 172 and a right panel 174. In use on a patient, a
substantial portion of the right panel 174 is overlapped on top of a
substantial portion
of left panel 172. The right panel 174 and left panel 172 are held in
overlapping
relation by joining tie closures 128a and 128b.
One end portion of tie closure 128a (which may in the form of a cord) is
attached to
overlapped left panel 172 of vest placket 134 at an attachment point 133. In
this
illustrated embodiment of the invention, this end portion of the tie closure
128a is
attached to the overlapped panel 172 of the vest placket 134 on the side
surface that
is adjacent to the body of the wearer of the shirt-like portion 122. The tie
closure
128a has a portion that extends through an opening 127 (which may be
configured
like a buttonhole) to permit connection with the second tie closure 128b. A
cover
panel 129 is attached around its periphery to the panel 172 on the side
adjacent to
the wearer of the shirt 122 so that the portion of the tie closure 128a
adjacent the
wearer of the shirt is covered by cover panel 129. This enhances the comfort
of the
wearer of the shirt 122.
Between cover panel 129 and the surface of the vest placket 134 adjacent the
wearer's body a passageway is formed and in this passageway, a portion of tie
closure 128a is received. The tie closure 128a is not secured within this
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passageway. In this way, cover panel 129 and the material of the vest placket
134
can be cinched along tie closure 128a, by decreasing the length of the
passageway
and exposing more of tie closure 128a outside of the passageway. The cover
panel
129 has an opening (not shown) enabling tie closure 128A to pass out of the
passageway through the opening, and then through opening 127 that passes
through panel 172.
In other alternative embodiments of the invention, the secured end portion of
the tie
closure 128a can be attached to the side of the overlapped portion of the vest
placket 134 on the side opposite to the body of the wearer of the shirt 122.
In such
an embodiment, the buttonhole 127 will be omitted and may be replaced by a
loop or
any other method of movable attachment to the overlapped portion of the vest
placket 134.
Cover panel 129 can be similarly attached to the overlapped portion of the
vest
placket 134 on the side opposite to the wearer of the shirt-like portion 122
so that
portion of the tie closure 128a is covered.
With reference to FIGURE 25, tie closure 160a, 160b may be constructed in a
similar
manner as tie closure 128a, 128b. In the preferred embodiment, the end portion
of
the tie closure 160a is attached to the pants 124 at attachment point 163. In
this
embodiment of the invention, this end portion of the tie closure 160a is
attached to
the pants 124 on the side adjacent to the wearer of the pants 124. A
substantial
portion of tie closure 160a may run through a channel formed at the top of the
pants
124. This portion of the tie closure 160A extends through buttonhole 162 to
permit
connection with the second tie closure 160b which also has a substantial
portion
running through an opposite channel at the top of the pants 124.
The channel for closure 160a may be formed with a cover panel 161 that is
attached
to the pants 124 on the side adjacent to the wearer of the pants 124 so that
the
portion of the tie closure 160a adjacent the wearer of the shirt is covered.
This
enhances the comfort of the wearer of the pants 124. In other alternative
embodiments of the invention, the portion of the tie closure 160a can be
attached to
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the pants 124 on the side opposite to the wearer of the pants 124. In such an
embodiment, the buttonhole 162 may be replaced by a loop or any other method
of
movable attachment to the pants 124. Panel 161 can be similarly attached to
the
pants 124 on the side opposite to the wearer of the pants 124 so that the
portion of
the tie closure 160a is covered.
With particular reference to FIGURE 24, additional tie closure 131 a, 131b may
be
employed to further attach the overlapped and overlapping panels 174, 172 of
vest
placket 134. Tie closure 131a may have an end portion secured at the surface
of
panel 174 that is adjacent the body of the wearer and may be affixed proximate
an
interior edge of telemetry pocket 132. The opposite closure 131 b may have its
end
portion affixed at an outer edge of panel 172. Closure 131, 131b provides for
additional flexibility in limiting the exposure of the patient during use of
the shirt-like
garment 122
Although not shown, it will also be readily understood by persons of ordinary
skill in
the art that the garment of the present invention can be worn by male patients
as
well as females.
From the foregoing, it will be understood that the present invention provides
a
relatively stylish garment well-adapted to safeguard the modesty of patients,
while
allowing great flexibility in terms of convenient caregiver access. The cut of
the
garment renders same well-suited to institutional deployment, since each
garment
can accommodate a wide range of patient sizes, which is advantageous in terms
of
cost. The garment also facilitates self-dressing and self-bathing, and
accommodates
telemetry equipment.
While but several embodiments of the present invention have been herein shown
and described, it will be understood that various changes in size and shape of
parts
may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
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For example, full-length versions of the pants may be employed, but Capri-
style
pants are presently preferred, since this style tends to accommodate a
relatively
wider range of patient sizes.
As well, whereas 3/4 length Raglan sleeves are provided, other lengths and
sleeve
styles can be used, although it should be understood that in the case of
sleeve styles
that are not commonly understood as extending to the neckline, the "sleeve"
portion
of such garments will, for the purpose of the claims herein, be understood as
including that part of the garment that extends over the shoulder to the
neckline.
Further, telemetry pockets can be omitted, or placed in other locations on the
garment.
As well, neckline styles other than V-necks can also be utilized.
Additionally,
whereas fabric cords are used for the tie-ups, other tie-ups, such as belts,
snaps,
hook and loop fasteners and buttons could be employed. Where hook and loop
fasteners are used, other releasable connectors such as hooks, snaps, buttons,
magnets, clasps, ties, and buckles could be employed.
Moreover, whereas the hook portion of the hook and loop fasteners is shown
secured to the overlapping portion of the sleeve, the hook portion could
equally be
disposed on the overlapped portion, with the loop portion being disposed on
the
overlapping portion.
As well, whereas both the overlapped and overlapping portions of the sleeves
are
described to be of sufficient weight and dimension to suspend the garment
partially
in place when the hook and loop fastener is released, this need not be the
case.
The garment could, for example, be constructed so that only the overlapped
portion
was capable of so suspending the garment.
Yet further, full-length, rather than 3/ length robes could be utilized.
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Furthermore, where releasable attachments are described, permanent methods of
attachment may be used in other embodiments of the invention. For example, in
circumstances where only access to the upper arm of the patient is required,
the
releasable hook and loop fasteners on the sleeves may be replaced by stitching
while still allowing the sleeves to be somewhat opened when required.
Accordingly, it will be understood that the scope of the invention is limited
only by the
claims appended hereto, purposively construed.
