Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MEDICAL GOWN
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to medical gowns and more specifically tear-
off and disposable
medical gowns.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medical gowns are commonly used in hospitals, clinics, and other medical
facilities, where they
are worn by patients and staff at medical facilities. Medical gowns are used
for their protective
function to protect the wearer from contact with germs and other microscopic
items and to
limit the transmission of germs, bodily fluids and microscopic items in the
medical facility. In
addition, medical gowns can serve a privacy function when used by patients to
cover their
bodies during procedures which require the patient to disrobe.
One issue with the prior art medical gowns is that they can be difficult to
remove. Users of
hospital gowns often aim to remove the gown using minimum contact to the gown
thereby
reducing the spread of germs and other microscopic items between the medical
gown and the
user.
Another issue with the prior art medical gowns is that they require the user
to raise the gown
above the user's head during doffing which risks germs and other microscopic
items coming
into contact with the wearer or surroundings.
Some designs have used complicated and difficult to manufacture perforations
and scores to
assist the wearing in removing the medical gown. Other designs have
characteristics that are
uncomfortable for some wearers.
For example, US Patent Application Publication No. US 2013/0276203 teaches a
gown that
requires perforations to be made in the gown to assist the wearer with
removing the gown.
As another example, US Patent Application Publication No. US 2014/0007316
teaches a gown
wherein the neck line contains a round or crew cut on one side and a pointed
or "v" cut on the
other side which is complicated to manufacture and less comfortable for the
wearer.
It would be advantageous to have an improved gown that is easy to remove and
simple to
manufacture.
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SUMMARY
The present invention firstly provides for a gown comprising non-woven fabric
having a front
portion, a rear portion, a lower edge, and a head insertion aperture that is
between the front
portion and the rear portion. The gown comprises an opening in the rear
portion; this opening
.. is formed at the lower edge and extends upwards towards the head insertion
aperture, and is
configured to assist the wearing in donning the gown. There is a bridge
extending across the
rear portion at least partially between the opening and the head insertion
aperture. This bridge
is being configured to tear and split the rear portion when the front portion
is pulled away from
the wearer.
.. The present invention secondly provides for a method of wearing and
removing a gown,
comprising a number of steps.
In the first step, the wearer accesses the gown comprising non-woven fabric
having a front
portion, a rear portion, a lower edge, and a head insertion aperture that is
between the front
portion and the rear portion. The gown comprises an opening in the rear
portion; this opening
is formed at the lower edge and extends upwards towards the head insertion
aperture, and is
configured to assist the wearing in donning the gown. There is a bridge
extending across the
rear portion at least partially between the opening and the head insertion
aperture. This bridge
is being configured to tear and split the rear portion when the front portion
is pulled away from
the wearer.
Next, the wearer passes their head through the head insertion aperture to don
the gown. To
remove the gown, the wearer pulls the front portion of the non-woven fabric
layer, thereby
tearing the bridge and splitting the rear portion of the non-woven fabric
layer between the
head insertion aperture and the opening to remove the gown.
The present invention secondly provides for a method of making the gown,
comprising a
number of steps.
The first step provides for one or more non-woven fabrics each are having a
top edge, a bottom
edge, and two opposing side edges and then layering the one or more non-woven
fabrics to
form multiple layers of the non-woven fabric. The layers of the one or more
non-woven fabrics
are then cut to provide a head insertion aperture between the top edge and the
bottom edge
between the two opposing side edges and an opening parallel to the side edges
from the
bottom edge to a point short of the head insertion aperture, thereby defining
a bridge.
Next, the one or more layers of cut non-woven fabric are separated. Each
individual layer of cut
non-woven fabric is folded along a first line parallel to the top edge, the
first line extending
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across the non-woven fabric through the head insertion aperture thereby
defining a front
portion and a rear portion. After the layers of cut non-woven fabric are
folded, the front
portion and the rear portion are then attached along at least a part of the
outside edge.
It is to be understood that other aspects of the present invention will become
readily apparent
to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein
various
embodiments of the invention are shown and described by way of illustration.
As will be
realized, the invention is capable for other and different embodiments and its
several details
are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing
from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. Accordingly the drawings and detailed
description are to be
regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A further, detailed, description of the invention, briefly described above,
will follow by
reference to the following drawings of specific embodiments of the invention.
The drawings
depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be
considered
limiting of its scope. In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view of one example of a gown in accordance with
one or more
embodiments of the invention;
Figure 2 is a rear elevation view of one example of the gown of figure 1;
Figure 3 is a rear elevation view of another example of a gown of the present
invention,
containing a notch and tie members configured in accordance with one or more
embodiments
of the invention;
Figure 4 is rear perspective view of a user wearing an example of a gown
containing a notch
configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;
Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a user removing another example of a
gown in
accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;
Figure 6(a) is a plan view of one example of one or more embodiments of a
method of making
the invention.
Figure 6(b) is a plan view of one example of one or more embodiments of a
method of making
the invention; and
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Figure 7 is a close up view of the rear portion of the head insertion aperture
with alternative
notch.
The drawing is not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may
have been
exaggerated in order more clearly to depict certain features.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
The description that follows and the embodiments described therein are
provided by way of
illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the
principles of various
aspects of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes
of explanation,
and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention in its various
aspects.
With reference to the figures (1), (2), (3) and (4), the present invention
relates to a new and
useful medical gown (1). The present invention is designed to overcome
difficulties in removing
medical gowns and complexities involved in manufacturing medical gowns.
While the present invention is described as a medical gown, this invention
could be any number
of gowns and is not necessarily confined to medical applications, and thus any
references to a
medical gown include garments, apparel, cover gowns, surgical gowns, surgical
isolation gowns,
front protection gowns or other gowns. More preferably, the garments related
to the present
invention are medical gowns such as surgical or isolation gowns.
While the present description may refer to such medical gowns and accessories
and parts
thereof, it would .be understood by a person of skill in the art that the
present invention can be
applied to any number of other garments or fabric in general without departing
from the scope
of the invention.
The present invention provides for a medical gown (1) comprised of non-woven
fabric. The
medical gown (1) having a front portion (2) and a rear portion (3) with a head
insertion
aperture (4) and a lower opening (23). The lower opening being defined by the
front portion (2)
and rear portion (3) lower edges.
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In one embodiment, the length of the front portion (2) is equal to the length
of the rear portion
(3). In another embodiment, the length of the front portion (2) varies from
the length of the
rear portion (3) and is preferably greater in length than the rear portion.
In one embodiment, the head insertion aperture (4) is comprised of curved
edges on the front
.. portion (2) and the rear portion (3). In another embodiment, the head
insertion aperture (4) is
comprised of straight edges on the front portion (2) and the rear portion (3).
Optionally, the
head insertion aperture (4) contains elastic configured to engage the neck of
the wearer and
hold the medical gown (1) close to the neck of the wearer. In other
embodiments, the head
insertion aperture may be cinched tighter with ties, which ties may be elastic
or otherwise, or
other methods readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
The rear portion (3) of the medical gown (1) preferably comprises an opening
(5). In one
embodiment, the opening (5) comprises a slit. Preferably, the opening is
formed into the rear
portion (3) starting from a lower rear edge (6) to a point short of the head
insertion aperture (4)
on the rear portion (3). In a preferred embodiment, the opening (5) is a
straight line along the
rear portion (3) of the medical gown (1). In another embodiment the opening
(5) runs
perpendicular to the lower rear edge (6). Optionally, the opening (5) runs
along the centre of
the rear portion (3) of the medical gown (1). In another option, the opening
(5) is formed
directly below but separate from the lowest point of an overall head insertion
aperture (4). In
one embodiment, the opening (5) is an opening where the opening is formed into
the rear
portion (3) starting from a lower rear edge (6) to a point short of the head
insertion aperture (4)
on the rear potion (3). The width of the opening can range from greater than 0
cm to span the
entire rear portion (3). Where the opening spans the rear portion (3), the
rear portion is
defined as the bridge.
Between the opening (5) and the head insertion aperture (4) is a bridge (7).
The bridge (7) can
.. be defined as the piece of non-woven fabric between the head insertion
aperture (4) and the
opening (5). The bridge (7) is configured to tear and split the rear portion
(3) when the front
portion (2) is pulled away from the wearer. Preferably, the bridge (7) when
measured from the
head insertion aperture (4) to the opening (5) is between 5 ¨ 10 cm. More
preferably, the
bridge (7) is comprised of non-woven fabric that when measured from the lowest
point of the
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curved head insertion aperture to the opening (5) is 5 cm. The bridge (7) is
comprised of either
continuous fabric or separate fabric attached to the rear portion (3).
Optionally, the bridge is
comprised of the same fabric of the gown or a different fabric than that
fabric which comprises the
gown. In one embodiment, the bridge (7) takes the configuration of a yoke.
The bridge (7), where included, provides several functions. In one
illustrative example, when the
wearer pulls the medical gown (1) away from her torso, this causes the force
of the pull motion to
focus on the bridge (7) causing the non-woven fabric to tear from the opening
(5) through the
bridge (7). The combination of the tensile strength of the non-woven fabric
that comprises the
bridge (7) and the width of the bridge (7) provides a bridge (7) strong enough
to support the
medical gown (1) when the user is donning and wearing the gown and weak enough
to allow the
user to easily tear and remove the gown. In addition, the width of the bridge
(7) is designed to
ensure that the bridge (7) tears predictably when force is applied to the
medical gown (1).
More specifically, the bridge (7) can be torn by the wearer without the need
for perforations or
scores, the absence of any additional such aids to tearing being shown in
Figures 2 and 6a. In
another illustrative example, the bridge (7) provides more privacy to the
wearer than a "v" neck
cutline in the rear portion (3) otherwise would, allowing the wearer's back to
be covered by the
bridge (7). In addition, and as a further example, in one embodiment the
bridge (7) and the head
insertion aperture (4) are curved, providing a round neck cutline into the
medical gown (1) on the
front portion (2) and the rear portion (3), and this is more comfortable to
the wearer than "v" neck
cutline in the rear portion (3). In a further example, the bridge (7) and the
insertion aperture (4)
that are configured to ensure the gown rests on the neck and shoulders of the
wearer evenly
without "drooping" or "sagging" towards the front portion (2) exposing the
chest of the wearer.
In another embodiment, the rear portion (3) head insertion aperture (4)
comprises one more
notches (12) preferably extending from the head insertion aperture (4) into
the bridge (7). The one
or more notches (12) are preferably cut in a "v" shape comprised of a left
point (13) and right point
(14) and bottom point (15). In a preferred embodiment, the angle formed
between the left point
(13), the bottom point (15), and the right point (14) is greater than zero
degrees. In another
embodiment, the angle formed between the left point (13), the bottom point
(15),
13881389-1 6
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-03
and the right point (14) is between 1 degree and 115 degrees. In a preferred
embodiment, the
angle formed between the left point (13), the bottom point (15), and the right
point (14) is
acute. Optionally, the angle formed between the left point (13), the bottom
point (15), and the
right point (14) is ninety degrees. It would be understood that the one or
more notches (12) can
.. take other shapes, such as a diamond shape as shown in fig. 7 or a line.
In another option, the distance from the left point (13) and the bottom point
(15) is the same as
the distance from the right point (14) and the bottom point (15). In another
option, the
distance from the left point (13) and the bottom point (15) is different than
the distance from
the right point (15) and the bottom point (15). In another option, the
distance from the left
point (13) and the bottom point (15) and distance from the right point (15)
and the bottom
point (15) are each between about 1-5 cm. In the preferred embodiment, the
distance between
the right point (15) and the left point (13) is greater than 0.5 cm. In
another option, the
distance between the left point (13) and the right point (14) is 1 cm. Most
preferably, there is
only one notch (12) and it is centered so the bottom point (15) aligns with
the opening (5).
The one or more notches (12), where included, provide several functions. In
one illustrative
example, when the wearer pulls the medical gown (1) away from her torso, this
causes the
force of the pull motion to focus on the bottom point (15) of the one or more
notches (12)
making it easier for the non-woven fabric to tear from the bottom point (15)
and through the
bridge (7). In another illustrative example, the one or more notches (12)
provide more privacy
to the wearer than a "v" neck cutline in the rear portion (3) otherwise would,
allowing the
wearer's back to be covered by the bridge (7). In addition, and as a further
example, in one
embodiment the one or more notches (12) cut into the head insertion aperture
(4) that is in
round shape providing a round or "crew neck" cutline into the medical gown
(1), is more
comfortable to the wearer than "v" neck cutline in the rear portion (3). In a
further example the
one or more notches (12) cut into the head insertion aperture (4) is
configured to ensure the
gown rests on the neck and shoulders of the wearer evenly without "drooping"
or "sagging"
towards the front portion (2) exposing the chest of the wearer.
In another embodiment, and as shown in figures 4 and 7, the opening (5)
comprises a second
notch (42) preferably extending from the opening (5) into the bridge (7). In
one embodiment, as
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illustrated in Figure 4, the second notch (42) is in the shape of a triangle.
The second notch
(42), in one other option as depicted in Figure 7, is cut in a "diamond" shape
comprising of a
second left point (43), a second right point (45), a second bottom point (47),
and a top point
(48). In a preferred embodiment, the angle formed between the second left
point (43), the
second bottom point (47), and the second right point (45) is greater than zero
degrees. In
another embodiment, the angle formed between the second left point (43), the
second right
bottom point (47), and the second right point (45) is between 1 and 115
degrees. In a preferred
embodiment, the angle formed between the second left point (43), the second
bottom point
(47), and the second right point (45) is acute. Optionally, the angle formed
between second left
point (43), the second bottom point (47), and the second right point (45) is
ninety degrees.
In another option, the distance from the second left point (43) and the second
bottom point
(47) is the same as the distance from the second right point (45) and the
second bottom point
(47). In another option, the distance from the second left point (43) and the
second bottom
point (47) is different than the distance from the second right point (45) and
the second bottom
point (47). In another option, the distance from the second left point (43)
and the second
bottom point (47) and distance from the second right point (45) and the second
bottom point
(47) are each between about 1-5 cm. In the preferred embodiment, the length of
the opening
between the second right point (45) and the second left point (43) is greater
than 0.5 cm. In
another option, the length of the opening between the second left point (43)
and the second
.. right point (45) is 1 cm. Most preferably, there is only one second notch
(43) on the opening (5)
and it is centered at the point of the opening closest to the head insertion
aperture and aligns
with the opening (5). It is understood that to those skilled in the art that
the second notch (42)
could comprise a number of shapes, including a diamond shape as demonstrated
in figure 7, a
triangle as shown in figure 4, or a line.
The second notch (42), where included, provides several functions. In one
illustrative example,
when the wearer pulls the medical gown (1) away from her torso, this causes
the force of the
pull motion to focus on a top point (48) of the second notch (42) making it
easier for the non-
woven fabric to tear from the top point (48) through the land bridge (7).
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In addition, and as a further example, in one embodiment of the second notch
(42) cut into the
opening (5), the head insertion aperture provides a "crew neck" cutline into
the medical gown
(1) that is more comfortable to the wearer than "v" neck cutline in the rear
portion (3). In a
further example of the second notch (42) cut into the opening (5), the head
insertion aperture
provides a "crew neck" cutline into the medical gown (1) that rests on the
neck and shoulders
of the wearer evenly without "drooping" or "sagging" towards the front portion
(2).
Optionally, the medical gown (1) is configured to have a left sleeve (8) and a
right sleeve (9)
attached to the medical gown (1) with each sleeve comprising an arm insertion
aperture. The
left sleeve (8) and right sleeve (9) can be attached to medical gown (1) in a
variety of ways. In
another embodiment, the left sleeve (8) and right sleeve (9) are adhesively
attached to the
medical gown (1). In another embodiment, the left sleeve (8) and right sleeve
(9) are thermally
or ultrasonically bonded to the medical gown (1). In one embodiment, the left
sleeve (8) and
right sleeve (9) are sewn to the medical gown. Optionally, the non-woven
fabric of gown is cut
with sleeves integral to the front portion (1) and/or the rear portion (2). In
other options the
left sleeve (8) and the right sleeve (9) and gown body may be comprised of
different materials.
In one embodiment, the left sleeve (8) and the right sleeve (9) contain a
retention member to
retain each sleeve along the arm of the wearer. Optionally, the retention
member contains
elastic configured to engage the wrist of the wearer and hold the medical gown
(1) close to the
wrist of the wearer.
In one option, the left sleeve (8) and the right sleeve (9) each terminate
with a thumb loop (11)
configured to engage the thumb of the wearer to hold each sleeve to the wrist
of the wearer.
The thumb loops, where included, provide several functions. One illustrative
function is that the
thumb loops keep the sleeves (8)(9) pulled along the wearer's arms and prevent
the sleeves
(8)(9) from "riding up" and exposing the wearer's wrist or arm. Another
illustrative function is
that the thumb loops prevent twisting of the sleeves (8)(9) about the wearer's
arm. Each thumb
loop is configured, in one embodiment, to engage the saddle of a thumb of the
wearer.
In other embodiments, the thumb loop (11) may be combined with a wrist elastic
or a draw
string and mechanism to maintain position around the wrist.
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In another embodiment, one or more tie members (19) may be attached to the
medical gown
(1). The tie members (19) can be made from the same non-woven fabric as the
medical gown
(1). In one embodiment, the tie members include a first tie member (21)
disposed on the left
side (16) of the medical gown (1), and a second tie member (22) disposed on
the right side (17)
of the medical gown (1). Accordingly, one tie member (21) is disposed on one
side of the
opening (5), while the other tie member (22) is disposed on a second side of
the opening (5).
In one embodiment, tie members (21) and (22) are a single tie member and that
single tie
member is attached to some point on the gown, preferably in the middle of the
gown.
The tie member(s) (21)(22) can be attached to the medical gown (1) in a
variety of ways. In one
embodiment, the tie members (21)(22) are sewn to the medical gown (1). In
another
embodiment, the tie members (21)(22) are adhesively attached to the medical
gown (1). In
another embodiment, the tie members (21)(22) are thermally or ultrasonically
bonded to the
medical gown (1). Other attachment methods will be obvious to those of
ordinary skill in the
art.
In the illustration of one embodiment, figure (3), the time members (21)(22)
are attached on a
side medical gown (1). When the tie members (21)(22) are tied across the
opening (5), the body
of the medical gown (1) becomes cinched at the waist region of the wearer.
Optionally, the colour of the non-woven fabric is yellow however other colors
may be preferred
based on the end users practices. Optionally, the non-woven fabric is
impregnated with a
material that changes colour when exposed to liquid or other contaminants.
In one embodiment, to further assist the wearer in removing the gown, the non-
woven fabric is
configured so as to be tearable by a wearer. Thus, if a wearer were to grasp
opposing sides of a
section of the non-woven fabric, and then pull, the non-woven fabric would
tear. As will be
shown below, and in one embodiment, the wearer removes the medical gown by
pulling the
front potion of the gown, this action then tearing the non-woven fabric across
the bridge (7).
Accordingly, a non-woven fabric that is easily torn by a wide range of
strengths of wearers may
be selected for construction of the medical gown (1) in accordance with such
an embodiment.
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Turning now to figure 4 and 5, illustrated therein is a method of wearing and
removing a
medical gown (1) in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
Figure 4
illustrates a wearer who has already donned the medical gown. In this
illustrative embodiment,
the medical gown (1) defines a head insertion aperture (4) between a front
portion (2) and a
rear portion (3). The rear portion (3) of the medical gown (1) contains an
opening (5). The
opening is cut into a lower rear portion (3) starting from the lower rear edge
(6) to a point on
the rear portion (3) short of the head insertion aperture (4). In the
preferred embodiment, the
opening (5) is cut in a straight line. In one embodiment, the opening (5) runs
perpendicular to
the lower rear edge (6). Between the opening (5) and the head insertion
aperture (4) is a bridge
(7). The bridge (7) can be defined as the piece of non-woven fabric between
the head insertion
aperture (4) and the opening (5). The bridge (7) is configured to tear and
split the rear portion
(3) when the front portion (2) is pulled away from the wearer. In another
embodiment, the rear
portion (3) head insertion aperture (4) comprises one more notches (12)
preferably extending
from the head insertion aperture (4) into the bridge (7). The one or more
notches (12) are
preferably cut in a "v" shape comprised of a left point (13) and right point
(14) and bottom
point (15). The medical gown (1) optionally includes one or more tie members
(21)/(22)
extending from the non-woven fabric layer. As shown in figure (4) the wearer
has passed her
head through the head insertion aperture and has optionally also tied the tie
members (21)(22)
about her torso.
Turning now to figure (5), the wearer is now removing the medical gown (1).
Specifically, in this
example she is using her left hand to grasp the front portion (2) of the
medical gown (1). She
then pulls medical gown (1) away from her torso. This causes the bridge (7) to
tear, thereby
splitting the rear portion (3) of the medical gown (1). This pulling action
tears the bridge (7) and
splits the bridge (7) between the head insertion aperture (4) and the opening
(5). The wearer
can now simply drop the medical gown (1) about her torso and step out of it or
preferably, the
user may roll the gown from the inside to avoid contact with the potentially
contaminated
outside surface of the gown and dispose of the rolled gown as waste. Where the
tie members
(21)/(22) are loosely tied, the pulling action can cause them to become
untied, thereby
facilitating simple removal of the medical gown (1) with a simple stroke.
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In another embodiment, in which the head insertion aperture (4) has one or
more notches (12),
the wearer pulls the medical gown (1) away from her torso, this causes tensile
force motion to
focus on the bottom point (15) of the one or more notches (12) making it
easier for the non-
woven fabric to tear at the bottom point (15), thereby splitting the bridge
(7) below the bottom
-- point (15) and above the opening (5).
Turning now to figure 6 and the method of making the medical gown (1). The
roll of non-woven
fabric is cut into a rectangle (25) having a top edge (26), a bottom edge
(27), and two opposing
side edges (28(a)(b)), the rectangle (25) being placed on a flat table.
Optionally, multiple
rectangles (25) are placed on a flat table forming layers of rectangles (25)
allowing for
-- efficiencies in the method of making the medical gown (1) as more than one
rectangle (25) can
be prepared simultaneously.
Use of a cutting machine to punch into the rectangles (25) a head insertion
aperture (4) therein
between the top edge (26) and the bottom edge (27) between the two opposing
side edges
(28(a)(b)) and an opening (5) parallel to the opposing side edges (28(a)(b))
from the bottom
-- edge (27) at least partially to a point on or below the top edge (26).
Folding the medical gown
(1) such that top edge (26) and the bottom edge (27) comprise a lower opening
(23).
Then the two opposing side edges (28(a)(b)) are at least partially joined
together with the use
of an ultrasonic weld. Optionally, the two opposing side edges (28(a)(b)) can
be sewn together.
Optionally, a second rectangle having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two
opposing side edges
is placed on a flat table and then manually cut to form a sleeve piece having
a top edge, a
bottom edge, a first sleeve side and a second sleeve side. Optionally,
multiple rectangles are
placed on a flat table forming layers of rectangles before the punch, allowing
for efficiencies in
the method of making the sleeves. In one embodiment, the length of the first
sleeve side is
greater than the length of the second sleeve side.
Optionally, the sleeve piece is placed below a cutting machine that punches
into the sleeve
piece a thump loop (11) near the second sleeve side configured to engage the
thumb of the
wearer to hold each sleeve to the wrist of the wearer. Optionally, sleeve
pieces are placed on a
flat table forming layers of rectangles before the cutting machine punches
into the sleeve piece
10169268-2 12
CA 3047749 2019-06-21
a thump loop to allow for efficiencies in the method of making the thumb loop.
Optionally,
elastic is sown across the sleeve piece at a point between the first edge and
the thumb loop.
Optionally, the sleeve pieces are then joined to the medical gown (1) though
the use of an
ultrasonic weld along the opposing sides. Optionally, the sleeve pieces are
sewn to the medical
gown (1). Preferably, the first sleeve side is attached to the medical gown
(1).
In one embodiment, the tie members (21)(22) are then joined to the medical
gown (1) through
the use of an ultrasonic weld. Optionally, the tie members (21)(22) are sewn
to the medical
gown (1).
All the offcuts of the non-woven fabric can optionally be collected and sent
back to the supplier
of the material to be melted down and recycled.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable
any person skilled
in the art to make or use the present invention. Thus, the present invention
is not intended to
be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full
scope consistent
with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by
use of the article
"a" or "an" is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so
stated, but rather
"one or more". All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of
the various
embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come
to be known
to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the
elements of the
claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the
public regardless
of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.
13881389-1 13
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-03
