U.S. patent application number 11/672387 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for garment for dialysis patients.
Invention is credited to Lucy Coronado.
Application Number | 20070199127 11/672387 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38442637 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070199127 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Coronado; Lucy |
August 30, 2007 |
Garment for Dialysis Patients
Abstract
The present invention provides a garment that includes a neck
opening, a front portion, a back portion, and a first and second
opposing sleeve portions, and a first, second, third and fourth
closable openings. The first and second closable openings extend
substantially from a cuff to a shoulder end of the first sleeve
portion or the neck opening. The third and fourth closable opening
extend substantially from the neck opening to an underarm portion
of a first side of the front portion. The garment may also include
a pair of pants having a first pant and a second pant each having a
front portion and a back portion, and a first and second closable
openings extending substantially from an abdomen area to a knee
area or ankle area of the front portion of the first and second
pants.
Inventors: |
Coronado; Lucy; (Fort Worth,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHALKER FLORES, LLP
2711 LBJ FRWY, Suite 1036
DALLAS
TX
75234
US
|
Family ID: |
38442637 |
Appl. No.: |
11/672387 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60776254 |
Feb 24, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 2300/30 20130101;
A41D 13/1254 20130101; A41D 13/1245 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/69 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/00 20060101
A41D013/00 |
Claims
1. A garment comprising: a jacket having a neck opening, a front
portion, a back portion, and a first and second opposing sleeve
portions; a first closable opening extending substantially from a
cuff to a shoulder end of the first sleeve portion; a second
closable opening extending substantially from a cuff to a shoulder
end of the second sleeve portion; a third closable opening
extending substantially from the neck opening to an underarm
portion of a first side of the front portion; and a fourth closable
opening extending substantially from the neck opening to an
underarm portion of a second side of the front portion.
2. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first,
second, third and fourth closable openings are positioned to
facilitate dialysis treatments.
3. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first,
second, third and fourth closable openings are: secured with a
fastener; or hidden by a seam, a flap or a combination thereof.
4. The garment as recited in claim 3, wherein the fastener
comprises one or more zippers, hook and loop tape, snaps, buttons
or a combination thereof.
5. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second
closable openings extend substantially from the cuff to the neck
opening.
6. The garment as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or
more decorative designs on the jacket.
7. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the jacket comprises
a pullover, a warm-up suit top, a jogging suit top or a sweat suit
top.
8. A garment comprising: a pair of pants comprising a first pant
and a second pant each having a front portion and a back portion; a
first closable opening extending substantially from an abdomen area
to a knee area of the front portion of the first pant; and a second
closable opening extending substantially from the abdomen area to a
knee area of the front portion of the second pant.
9. The garment as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the first and
second closable openings are positioned to facilitate dialysis
treatments.
10. The garment as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the first
and second closable openings are: secured with a fastener; or
hidden by a seam, a flap or a combination thereof.
11. The garment as recited in claim 10, wherein the fastener
comprises one or more zippers, hook and loop tape, snaps, buttons
or a combination thereof.
12. The garment as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second
closable openings extend substantially from the abdomen area to an
ankle area.
13. The garment as recited in claim 8, further comprising one or
more decorative designs on the pants.
14. The garment as recited in claim 8, wherein the pants comprises
a pullover, a warm-up suit bottom, a jogging suit bottom or sweat
suit bottom.
15. A garment comprising: a jacket having a neck opening, a front
portion, a back portion, a first and second opposing sleeve
portions, a first closable opening extending substantially from a
cuff to a shoulder end of the first sleeve portion, a second
closable opening extending substantially from a cuff to a shoulder
end of the second sleeve portion, a third closable opening
extending substantially from the neck opening to an underarm
portion of a first side of the front portion, and a fourth closable
opening extending substantially from the neck opening to an
underarm portion of a second side of the front portion; and a pair
of pants comprising a first pant and a second pant each having a
front portion and a back portion, a fifth closable opening
extending substantially from an abdomen area to a knee area of the
front portion of the first pant, and a sixth closable opening
extending substantially from the abdomen area to a knee area of the
front portion of the second pant.
16. The garment as recited in claim 15 wherein each of the first,
second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth closable openings are
positioned to facilitate dialysis treatments.
17. The garment as recited in claim 15, wherein each of the first,
second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth closable openings are:
secured with a fastener; or hidden by a seam, a flap or a
combination thereof.
18. The garment as recited in claim 17, wherein the fastener
comprises one or more zippers, hook and loop tape, snaps, buttons
or a combination thereof.
19. The garment as recited in claim 15, wherein: the first and
second closable openings extend substantially from the cuff to the
neck opening; and the fifth and sixth closable openings extend
substantially from the abdomen area to an ankle area.
20. The garment as recited in claim 15, further comprising one or
more decorative designs on the jacket or pants.
21. The garment as recited in claim 15, wherein the garment
comprises a warm-up suit, a jogging suit or a sweat suit.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This patent application is a non-provisional application of
U.S. provisional patent application 60/776,254 filed on Feb. 24,
2006 and entitled "Garment for Dialysis Patients," which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
garments and, more particularly, to a garment worn by a patient
during dialysis treatments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many people, both adults and children, require ongoing
medical treatment in which medical practitioners must access
certain areas of the body. The medical treatments may be, but are
not limited to, dialysis, chemotherapy, post operative treatment
and attention to diagnostic equipment. Often these treatments
require the patient to expose private areas of their body for
extended periods of time in a semi-public area (e.g., a room or
ward with other patients without any walls or curtains) because the
attending medical personal must visually monitor the treatment
area. As a result, the patient must endure the embarrassment and
indignity of being partially naked in addition to enduring the
medical treatment. For example, a woman undergoing a dialysis
treatment may be required to expose her breast for several hours.
Since each treatment can last several hours and these treatments
can go on for years, they create an ongoing source of anxiety that
can affect the mental state of the patient, which may reduce the
successfulness of the treatments.
[0004] Although the medical facilities could provide garments or
gowns for the patients, this would increase the cost of the
treatments and lengthen the time the patient has to be at the
facility. In addition, the patients would likely feel even more
uncomfortable. Alternatively, several specialty garments have been
designed to provide access to a patient's treatment areas. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,763 provides access to the chest
region, but completely exposes the breast; U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,279
provides a surgical garment, but does not have openings in the
correct place or look like "street clothes"; U.S. Pat. No.
5,926,851 provides a garment for handicapped or elderly
individuals, but does not have openings in the correct place or
look like "street clothes"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,710 provides a
garment for concealing medical appliances, but does not have
openings in the correct place or look like "street clothes"; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,552 provides garment having flaps to expose
certain areas of the body, but exposes large areas of the body with
unwieldy and unattractive flaps. These designs, however, do not
really solve the problem because they expose a larger area of the
body than is necessary, are not flexible enough to provide access
to the most commonly used areas of the body for ongoing medical
treatments and/or use unwieldy and unattractive flaps. Moreover all
these designs look like "patient" clothes; they do not look like
"street clothes."
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a garment that is
attractive, looks like "street clothes", provides access to the
most commonly used areas of the body for ongoing medical
treatments, does not expose too much of the body and thus maintains
the privacy and dignity of the patent. All of which will improve
the mental state of the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a garment that is attractive,
looks like "street clothes", provides access to the most commonly
used areas of the body for ongoing medical treatments, does not
expose too much of the body and thus maintains the privacy and
dignity of the patent. All of which will improve the mental state
of the patient.
[0007] More specifically, the present invention provides a garment
(e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging
suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) that includes a neck opening, a
front portion, a back portion, and a first and second opposing
sleeve portions, and a first, second, third and fourth closable
openings. The first closable opening extends substantially from a
cuff to a shoulder end of the first sleeve portion or the neck
opening. The second closable opening extends substantially from a
cuff to a shoulder end of the second sleeve portion or the neck
opening. The third closable opening extends substantially from the
neck opening to an underarm portion of a first side of the front
portion. The fourth closable opening extends substantially from the
neck opening to an underarm portion of a second side of the front
portion. First, second, third and fourth closable openings can be
secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop
tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM., etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination
thereof. Moreover, first, second, third and fourth closable
openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination
thereof.
[0008] In addition, the present invention provides a garment that
includes a pair of pants (e.g., slacks, warm-up suit bottom,
jogging suit bottom, sweat suit bottom, etc.) having a first pant
and a second pant each having a front portion and a back portion, a
first closable opening extending substantially from an abdomen area
to a knee area or ankle area of the front portion of the first
pant, and a second closable opening extending substantially from
the abdomen area to a knee area or an ankle area of the front
portion of the second pant. First and second closable openings can
be secured with one or more fasteners, such as zippers, hook and
loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM., etc.), snaps, buttons or a
combination thereof. Moreover, first and second closable openings
are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof.
[0009] The present invention is described in detail below with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above and further advantages of the invention may be
better understood by referring to the following description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D illustrate a patient undergoing
dialysis treatments wearing a garment in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a garment in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a garment in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a garment in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a garment in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] While the making and using of various embodiments of the
present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be
appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable
inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of
specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are
merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention
and do not delimit the scope of the invention. The discussion
herein relates primarily to garments for dialysis patients, but it
will be understood that the concepts of the present invention are
applicable to any garment that provides medical access to a patient
while maintaining the privacy of the patient.
[0017] Now referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, a patient
undergoing dialysis treatments wearing a garment in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention are shown. In FIG. 1A, a
dialysis machine 100 is connected to a catheter 102 (not
specifically shown) via tubes 104 that is surgically implanted in
the central right (or left) of the upper chest area of the patient
106. As will be described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 2, 3
and 4, the garment 108 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover,
warm-up suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes
a (fourth) closeable opening 110 extending substantially from a
neck opening 112 to an underarm portion 114. Closable opening 110
provides adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment
area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as
possible. Closable opening 110 can be secured with one or more
fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM.,
etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, closable
opening 110 is preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination
thereof.
[0018] In FIG. 1B, a dialysis machine 100 is connected to a fistula
116 (not specifically shown) via tubes 104 that is surgically
implanted in the right (or left) wrist to forearm area 118 of the
patient 106. As will be described in more detail in reference to
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the garment 108 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse,
pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.)
includes a (second) closeable opening 120 extending substantially
from a cuff 122 to a shoulder end 124 of a (second) sleeve portion
126. Alternatively, the closeable opening 120 can extend
substantially from the cuff 122 to the neck opening 112. Closable
opening 120 provides adequate access (visual and physical) to the
treatment area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy
as possible. Closable opening 120 can be secured with one or more
fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM.,
etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, closable
opening 120 is preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination
thereof.
[0019] In FIG. 1C, a dialysis machine 100 is connected to a fistula
128 (not specifically shown) via tubes 104 that is surgically
implanted in the right (or left) upper arm of the patient 106. As
will be described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4,
the garment 108 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up
suit top, jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes a
(second) closeable opening 120 extending substantially from a cuff
122 to a shoulder end 124 of a (second) sleeve portion 126 (shown
pulled back along side or behind the patient 106). Alternatively,
the closeable opening 120 can extend substantially from the cuff
122 to the neck opening 112. Closable opening 120 provides adequate
access (visual and physical) to the treatment area while
maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as possible. Closable
opening 120 can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as
zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM., etc.), snaps,
buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, closable opening 120 is
preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof.
[0020] In FIG. 1D, a dialysis machine 100 is connected to a fistula
130 (not specifically shown) via tubes 104 that is surgically
implanted in the right (or left) upper leg area of the patient 106.
As will be described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 5 and 6,
the garment 132 (e.g., pants, slacks, warm-up suit bottom, jogging
suit bottom, sweat suit bottom, etc.) includes a (second) closeable
opening 134 extending substantially from an abdomen area 136 to a
knee area 138 of a first pant 140. Alternatively, the closeable
opening 120 can extend substantially from the abdomen area 136 to
an ankle area 142 of the first pant 140. Closable opening 134
provides adequate access (visual and physical) to the treatment
area while maintaining as much of the patient's privacy as
possible. Closable opening 134 can be secured with one or more
fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM.,
etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, closable
opening 134 is preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination
thereof.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, a garment 200 in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The garment 200
(e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top, jogging
suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes a neck opening 112, a
front portion 202, a back portion (not shown), a first 204 and
second 206 opposing sleeve portions, and a first 208, second 210,
third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings. The first closable
opening 208 extends substantially from a cuff 216 to a shoulder end
218 of the first sleeve portion 204. Alternatively, the first
closable opening 208 can extend substantially from the cuff 216 to
the neck opening 112. The second closable opening 210 extends
substantially from a cuff 220 to a shoulder end 222 of the second
sleeve portion 206. Alternatively, the second closable opening 210
can extend substantially from the cuff 220 to the neck opening 112.
The third closable opening 212 extends substantially from the neck
opening 112 to an underarm portion 224 of a first side 226 of the
front portion 202. The fourth closable opening 214 extends
substantially from the neck opening 112 to an underarm portion 228
of a second side 230 of the front portion 202. As shown in FIGS.
1A, 1B and 1C, the first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214
closable openings are positioned to facilitate medical treatments
(e.g., dialysis, etc.) and provide adequate access (visual and
physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the
patient's privacy as possible. First 208, second 210, third 212 and
fourth 214 closable openings can be secured with one or more
fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM.,
etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first
208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings are
preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof. As a
result, first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable
openings combine to provide an aesthetic appeal that is
indistinguishable from "street clothes" and does not look like
medical related clothes. A variety of decorative, comfortable,
stylish and/or warm fabrics can be used. Note that garment 200 may
include a front fastener 232 and pockets 234. Alternatively, the
garment 200 can be pocketless or a pullover design with or without
a top tie string, button, zipper, etc.
[0022] Now referring to FIG. 3, a garment 300 in accordance with
another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The garment
300 (e.g., jacket, shirt, blouse, pullover, warm-up suit top,
jogging suit top, sweat suit top, etc.) includes a neck opening
112, a front portion 202, a back portion (not shown), a first 204
and second 206 opposing sleeve portions, and a first 208, second
210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings. The first closable
opening 208 extends substantially from a cuff 216 to a shoulder end
218 of the first sleeve portion 204. Alternatively, the first
closable opening 208 can extend substantially from the cuff 216 to
the neck opening 112. The second closable opening 210 extends
substantially from a cuff 220 to a shoulder end 222 of the second
sleeve portion 206. Alternatively, the second closable opening 210
can extend substantially from the cuff 220 to the neck opening 112.
The third closable opening 212 extends substantially from the neck
opening 112 to an underarm portion 224 of a first side 226 of the
front portion 202. The fourth closable opening 214 extends
substantially from the neck opening 112 to an underarm portion 228
of a second side 230 of the front portion 202. As shown in FIGS.
1A, 1B and 1C, the first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214
closable openings are positioned to facilitate medical treatments
(e.g., dialysis, etc.) and provide adequate access (visual and
physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the
patient's privacy as possible. First 208, second 210, third 212 and
fourth 214 closable openings can be secured with one or more
fasteners, such as zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM.,
etc.), snaps, buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first
208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable openings are
preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a combination thereof. As a
result, first 208, second 210, third 212 and fourth 214 closable
openings combine to provide an aesthetic appeal that is
indistinguishable from "street clothes" and does not look like
medical related clothes. A variety of decorative, comfortable,
stylish and/or warm fabrics can be used. Note that garment 300 may
include a front fastener 232 and pockets 234. Alternatively, the
garment 300 can be pocketless or a pullover design with or without
a top tie string, button, zipper, etc.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, a garment 400 in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The garment 400
includes a pair of pants (e.g., slacks, warm-up suit bottom,
jogging suit bottom, sweat suit bottom, etc.) having a first pant
402 and a second pant 404 each having a front portion 406 and a
back portion (not shown), a first closable opening 408 extending
substantially from an abdomen area 410 to a knee area 412 of the
front portion 406 of the first pant 402, and a second closable
opening 414 extending substantially from the abdomen area 416 to a
knee area 418 of the front portion 406 of the second pant 404.
Alternatively, the first closeable opening 408 can extend
substantially from the abdomen area 410 to an ankle area 420 of the
first pant 402 and the second closeable opening 414 can extend
substantially from the abdomen area 416 to an ankle area 422 of the
second pant 404. As shown in FIG. 1D, the first 408 and second 414
closable openings are positioned to facilitate medical treatments
(e.g., dialysis, etc.) and provide adequate access (visual and
physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the
patient's privacy as possible. First 408 and second 414 closable
openings can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as
zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM., etc.), snaps,
buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first 408 and second
414 closable openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a
combination thereof. As a result, first 408 and second 414 closable
openings combine to provide an aesthetic appeal that is
indistinguishable from "street clothes" and does not look like
medical related clothes. A variety of decorative, comfortable,
stylish and/or warm fabrics can be used. Note that garment 400 may
include an elastic pullup design 424 and pockets 426.
Alternatively, the garment 400 can be pocketless or include front
fastener with or without a tie string, button, zipper, etc.
[0024] Now referring to FIG. 5, a garment 500 in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The garment 500
includes a pair of pants (e.g., slacks, warm-up suit bottom,
jogging suit bottom, sweat suit bottom, etc.) having a first pant
402 and a second pant 404 each having a front portion 406 and a
back portion (not shown), a first closable opening 408 extending
substantially from an abdomen area 410 to a knee area 412 of the
front portion 406 of the first pant 402, and a second closable
opening 414 extending substantially from the abdomen area 416 to a
knee area 418 of the front portion 406 of the second pant 404.
Alternatively, the first closeable opening 408 can extend
substantially from the abdomen area 410 to an ankle area 420 of the
first pant 402 and the second closeable opening 414 can extend
substantially from the abdomen area 416 to an ankle area 422 of the
second pant 404. In addition, garment 500 may include fasteners 502
on each pant 402 and 404 to convert the garment 500 from long pants
to shorts. As shown in FIG. 1D, the first 408 and second 414
closable openings are positioned to facilitate medical treatments
(e.g., dialysis, etc.) and provide adequate access (visual and
physical) to the treatment area while maintaining as much of the
patient's privacy as possible. First 408 and second 414 closable
openings can be secured with one or more fasteners, such as
zippers, hook and loop tape (e.g., Velcro.RTM., etc.), snaps,
buttons or a combination thereof. Moreover, first 408 and second
414 closable openings are preferably hidden by a seam, flap or a
combination thereof. As a result, first 408 and second 414 closable
openings combine to provide an aesthetic appeal that is
indistinguishable from "street clothes" and does not look like
medical related clothes. A variety of decorative, comfortable,
stylish and/or warm fabrics can be used. Note that garment 500 may
include a front fastener 504, such as a tie string, button, zipper,
etc.
[0025] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that various modifications can be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth
in the appended claims.
* * * * *