U.S. patent application number 12/707709 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-03 for disposable hospital gown.
Invention is credited to Virginia Porowski.
Application Number | 20110024485 12/707709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43526050 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110024485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Porowski; Virginia |
February 3, 2011 |
DISPOSABLE HOSPITAL GOWN
Abstract
A disposable hospital gown is provided having a main body and a
pair of sleeves. Integrally formed with the hospital gown is a
disposable wrapper that is particularly positioned or placed such
that the gown can be rolled or folded into a bundle, after which
the disposable wrapper is reversed and in the process of reversing
the disposable wrapper, the bundled gown is stuffed or placed into
the reversed disposable wrapper for disposal. The disposable
hospital gown is suitable for use as an isolation hospital gown, a
surgical gown, or a patient disposable gown.
Inventors: |
Porowski; Virginia;
(Raleigh, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COATS & BENNETT, PLLC
1400 Crescent Green, Suite 300
Cary
NC
27518
US
|
Family ID: |
43526050 |
Appl. No.: |
12/707709 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12533383 |
Jul 31, 2009 |
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12707709 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/87.16 ;
2/114; 229/87.17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/129 20130101;
A41D 2400/44 20130101; A41D 13/1209 20130101; A41D 2400/52
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/87.16 ;
2/114; 229/87.17 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/18 20060101
B65D085/18; A41D 13/12 20060101 A41D013/12 |
Claims
1. A disposable hospital gown adapted to assume a wearing
configuration and a disposable configuration, the disposable
hospital gown in the wearing configuration comprising: a main body;
a pair of sleeves extending from the main body; the main body
having a front area, a back area, and including an inner surface
and an outer surface; a pliable disposable wrapper for receiving
and holding the hospital gown secured on the inner surface of the
main body of the gown about a lower portion of the front area of
the main body; the disposable wrapper in the wearing configuration
including an outer surface and an inner surface; the disposable
hospital gown in the disposable configuration comprising: a bundle
formed by the hospital gown wherein the sleeves are contained in
the bundle; at least a portion of the back area is folded over the
outer surface of the front area; wherein the back area and the
front area form a part of the bundle; and the disposable wrapper
assuming an inside-outward orientation wherein the inside-outward
orientation of the disposable wrapper forms a pouch that receives
and holds the bundle and wherein the inner surface of the
disposable wrapper becomes an outer surface of the pouch and
wherein the outer surface of the disposable wrapper becomes an
inner surface of the pouch.
2. The disposable gown of claim 1 including a pair of laterally
spaced apart fold lines formed on the front area of the main body
of the gown, and wherein the fold lines facilitate folding right
and left hand back portions of the gown across right and left
portions of the front area.
3. The disposable gown of claim 2 wherein the fold lines include at
least two fold seams with each fold seam being secured into the
front area of the main body of the gown.
4. The disposable hospital gown of claim 1 wherein the wrapper
includes two opposed side edges, and wherein the two opposed side
edges taper generally downwardly and inwardly with respect to the
gown so as to facilitate the folding of the gown.
5. A method of removing a disposable hospital gown and gloves from
a person, and disposing of the disposable hospital gown and gloves,
comprising the steps of: removing the gloves from the hands of the
person wearing the hospital gown, and in the process of removing
the gloves from the hands of the person, positioning the removed
gloves inside the sleeves of the gown; removing the gown from the
person; rolling or folding the removed gown into a bundle to form a
bundled gown wherein the bundled gown includes the removed gloves
held within the sleeves of the gown; and the disposable wrapper
assuming an inside-outward orientation wherein the inside-outward
orientation of the disposable wrapper forms a pouch that receives
and holds the bundled gown and wherein the inner surface of the
disposable wrapper becomes an outer surface of the pouch and
wherein the outer surface of the disposable wrapper becomes an
inner surface of the pouch.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein removing the gloves from the hands
includes using a first hand to grab an opposite sleeve and an
opposite glove at the same time, and pulling a second hand from the
opposite glove resulting in the opposite glove being left within
the opposite sleeve.
7. The method of claim 6 further including utilizing the second
hand while contained within the opposite sleeve, to grab both the
other sleeve and the other glove, and to hold the other sleeve and
the other glove while the first hand is removed from the other
glove such that the first hand is free from the glove.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the gown includes a left sleeve
and a right sleeve, and wherein the person wearing the gown
includes a left hand inserted into a left hand glove, and a right
hand inserted into a right hand glove, and wherein a right gloved
hand is formed when the right hand is inserted into the right hand
glove, and a left gloved hand is formed where the left hand is
inserted into the left hand glove, and wherein the method includes:
utilizing the right gloved hand to grip the left sleeve and the
left hand glove at the same time, and withdrawing the left hand
from the left hand glove, freeing the left hand, and leaving the
left hand glove within the left sleeve; utilizing the freed left
hand to grip the right sleeve and the right hand glove, and
withdrawing the right hand from the right hand glove, freeing the
right hand, and leaving the right hand glove within the right
sleeve; utilizing the freed left hand and right hand to fold back
portions of the gown over front portions of the gown; and folding
or rolling the gown into a bundle with the left hand glove
contained within the left sleeve and the right hand glove contained
within the right sleeve.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the gown includes a glove integral
with each sleeve and extending from an end of each sleeve, or
wherein the gown includes a pair of gloves tethered to the
gown.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the wrapper includes a pair of
opposed edges, and wherein the edges are tapered inwardly and
downwardly with respect to the gown.
11. A disposable hospital gown that is configured to be folded or
rolled into a disposable bundle and in a disposable mode is
contained within a wrapper that forms an integral part of the
disposable gown, the disposable gown comprising: a main body; a
pair of sleeves extending from the main body; the main body having
a front area and a back area; a pliable disposable wrapper for
receiving and holding the hospital gown secured to the main body of
the gown about a lower portion of the main body; and wherein the
disposable wrapper is reversible so as to assume and inside-outward
orientation wherein the inside-outward orientation of the
disposable wrapper form a pouch that receives and holds the bundled
gown wherein the inner surface of the disposable wrapper becomes an
outer surface of the pouch and wherein the outer surface of the
disposable wrapper becomes an inner surface of the pouch.
12. The disposable gown of claim 11 including a pair of laterally
spaced seams formed vertically on the main body of the disposable
gown to facilitate folding or rolling the gown into a bundle.
13. The disposable hospital gown of claim 11 including adhesive
means for securing portions of the gown together.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/533,383 filed Jul. 31, 2009 entitled
"Disposable Isolation Hospital Gown." The content of this
application is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to gowns, and more
particularly to a disposable hospital gown.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Disposable hospital gowns are well known. They are worn by
doctors, nurses, other healthcare providers, hospital workers and
visitors in hospitals and healthcare facilities in the course of
treating or handling patients with serious contagious diseases,
infections, potential infections or compromised immune systems. One
of the concerns with disposable hospital gowns is that the removal
of a gown from a person will spread germs, bacteria and other
infections that might affect the person wearing the gown or other
people in and around the gown and carried to later infect others
the individuals come in contact with, Generally, no matter how much
care is exercised in the conventional handling of a disposable
hospital gown, there is a chance that contamination found on the
exterior of the gown will spread.
[0004] There has been and continues to be a need for a disposable
hospital gown that can be discarded and disposed of in such a
fashion that substantial risk of spreading contamination,
infections, etc. is avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is a disposable hospital gown that
includes an integral one or two part disposable wrapper. Once the
gown has been used or exposed to infection or contamination, the
hospital gown is rolled or folded into a bundle and wrapped in the
integral disposable wrapper.
[0006] The present invention also entails a method of disposing of
a disposable hospital gown by folding or rolling the hospital gown
into a bundle and reversing an integral disposable wrapper that
forms a part of the gown and wherein in the process of reversing
the disposable wrapper, the bundled gown is placed or stuffed in
the reversed disposable wrapper.
[0007] The present invention also entails a disposable hospital
gown that includes donned gloves or gloves that are integral with
sleeves of the gown or tethered to the gown. This enables the
gloves to be removed from the hands as the gown is being removed
from a person such that the gloves can be contained within the
bundle and placed inside the disposable wrapper. In addition, the
disposable gown includes folding seams or lines formed vertically
across the front of the gown. These folding seams or lines
facilitate the folding and bundling of the gown for disposal.
[0008] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent and obvious from a study of the following
description and the accompanying drawings which are merely
illustrative of such invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the disposable
hospital gown of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the hospital gown with
the back thereof being open to illustrate a disposable wrapper
integral with the gown.
[0011] FIG. 3A is a front elevational view of the hospital gown
illustrating a portion of a method or process for disposing of the
gown.
[0012] FIG. 3B is a continuation of the method for disposing of the
gown and illustrates portions of the gown being positioned to be
folded or rolled into a bundle.
[0013] FIG. 3C is a front elevational view of the gown showing
other portions of the gown being positioned for subsequent folding
or rolling into a bundle.
[0014] FIG. 3D is a front elevational view and shows the continuing
method or process for folding or rolling the gown into a
bundle.
[0015] FIG. 3E is an elevational view continuing to show the method
or process of folding the gown into a bundle.
[0016] FIG. 3F is an elevational view that shows the continuing
method or process of folding the gown into a bundle.
[0017] FIG. 3G shows the gown being folded or rolled into a
bundle.
[0018] FIG. 3H illustrates the disposable wrapper integral with a
gown being reversed and wrapped over the bundled gown.
[0019] FIG. 3I shows the disposable wrapper enclosing the bundled
gown.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of an alternative design
for the disposable hospital gown.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the hospital gown shown
in FIG. 4 with the back thereof being open to illustrate the
disposable wrapper.
[0022] FIGS. 6A-6M are a sequence of drawings illustrating the
method or process for disposing of the gown, wherein:
[0023] FIGS. 6A shows a front elevational view of the gown in an
unfolded position;
[0024] FIG. 6B is a front elevational view of the gown showing one
sleeve of the gown and a glove being grasped by one hand;
[0025] FIG. 6C is a view that illustrates a continuation of the
method shown in FIG. 6B;
[0026] FIG. 6D is a view showing the other sleeve being
grasped;
[0027] FIG. 6E illustrates a continuation of the method or process
of removing the gown;
[0028] FIG. 6F shows a side portion of the gown being folded over
the front of the gown along a seam or fold line;
[0029] FIG. 6G shows a continuation of the method shown in FIG. 6F
where the right hand grabs the bundled gloves and sleeves that the
left hand has been holding.
[0030] FIG. 6H shows a left rear portion of the gown being folded
over a front left portion of the gown.
[0031] FIG. 6I shows the gown being rolled or folded from the
top.
[0032] FIG. 6J shows the gown being rolled or folded downwardly to
a position adjacent the wrapper 30.
[0033] FIG. 6K illustrates the gown being folded to a point where
the gown is closely adjacent the wrapper and is ready to be
inserted therein.
[0034] FIG. 6L shows the wrapper being turned inside-out and the
gown being placed inside the inside out wrapper.
[0035] FIG. 6M shows the wrapper, disposed inside-out, being
secured with the disposable gown contained therein.
[0036] FIG. 7A shows one embodiment of the hospital gown where a
disposable glove is tethered to the end of the sleeve of the
gown.
[0037] FIG. 7B shows another embodiment where the disposable glove
is integrally formed or attached to the end of the sleeve.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0038] With further reference to the drawings, a disposable
hospital gown is shown therein and indicated generally by the
numeral 10. Hospital gown 10 can be constructed of various
materials such as conventional materials that are typically used in
the construction of hospital gowns, especially disposable isolation
hospital gowns, disposable surgical gowns, or disposable patient
gowns that are exposed to contamination. Hospital gown 10 includes
a main body indicated generally by the numeral 12 and a pair of
long sleeves 14 that project from the upper portion of the main
body. Main body 12 includes two basic areas, a front area 12A and a
back area 12B. Front area 12A is particularly shown in FIG. 1 and
the back area is shown in FIG. 2. Back area 12B is split and
includes terminal edges 18. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 and
enables the gown 10 to be easily placed on and taken off a person.
It is appreciated that the main body 12 includes an outer surface
and an inner surface. In FIG. 1, the outer surface of front area
12A is shown. In FIG. 2, the outer surface of the back 12B is
shown. Also in FIG. 2, the inner surface of the front area 12A is
shown.
[0039] Continuing to refer to the gown 10, there is provided a neck
opening 16 that extends around an upper portion of the main body
12. Further, adjacent the edges 18 of the back area 12B, there is
provided one or more fasteners for securing the back area portions
together when the gown 10 is worn by a person.
[0040] Gown 10 includes an integral disposable wrapper indicated
generally by the numeral 30. Disposable wrapper 30 is secured to
and forms a part of the gown 10. Note in the preferred embodiment
the particular location of the disposable wrapper 30. It is placed
about the lower portion of the front area 12A. As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the disposable wrapper 30 is generally centrally
located with respect to the side edges of the front area 12A. That
is, the disposable wrapper 30 is generally aligned with the neck
opening 16. Also as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the disposable wrapper
is disposed on the inside of the front area 12A.
[0041] Disposable wrapper 30 is pliable, non-permeable, and in one
embodiment is comprised at least in part of plastic material.
Disposable wrapper 30 can be secured or integrated into the gown 10
in various ways. For example, the disposable wrapper 30 can be
glued or stitched into the gown 10. In one embodiment, a portion of
the front area 12A can also serve as a side or surface of the
disposable wrapper 30.
[0042] Secured to the side or panel 30A of wrapper 30 is a tab 30C.
Tab 30C can be utilized to maintain the disposable wrapper 30
closed while the gown 10 is worn. In addition, and as discussed
hereafter, tab 30C is utilized to close the disposable wrapper when
the gown 10 has been wrapped therein.
[0043] FIGS. 3A-3I illustrate how the disposable hospital gown 10
is rolled or folded into a bundle and disposed of by wrapping the
bundled gown in the disposable wrapper 30 that forms an integral
part of the gown. Starting with FIG. 3A, the left-hand sleeve 14 is
turned inside-outward to form the inside-outward left sleeve 14
shown in FIG. 3A. This is typically accomplished by the person
wearing the gown simply grasping an inside surface of the sleeve
and pulling the arm out of the sleeve. Once the left-hand sleeve 14
has been turned inside-outward, a left portion of the back area 12B
can be positioned across the front area 12A as shown in FIG. 3B.
Note that the back area 12B that is folded over the front area 12A
generally underlies the inside-outward sleeve 14. In order to
narrow the width of the gown, a portion of the back area 12B is
lapped over another portion and this gives rise to seam or fold 12C
shown in FIG. 3B. As seen in FIG. 3B, it is important to appreciate
that the portion of the back area 12B shown therein and exposed is
the inner surface of the back area. Thus, the person removing the
gown and folding or rolling the gown into a bundle can contact the
inner surface of the inside-outward sleeve 14 or the inner surface
of the back area 12B. This enables the person to avoid touching the
outer surface of the main body 12 or even the outer surface of a
sleeve 14. The wrapper is wide enough that it can encompass any
reasonable size rolled gown.
[0044] The method or process described above and shown in FIGS. 3A
and 3B with respect to the left side of the gown 10 is repeated for
the right side of the gown. This is illustrated in FIG. 3C. As FIG.
3C illustrates, both sleeves 14 have been turned inside-outward and
the back area 12B from both sides has been positioned over a
portion of the front area 12A. As seen in FIG. 3C, the complete
area of the outer surface of 12A has been covered by the back area
12B of the gown. Furthermore, the exposed portion of the back area
12B is the inner surface of the back area and not the outer surface
thereof.
[0045] After the gown 10 has been placed in the general
configuration shown in FIG. 3C, the gown is folded or rolled
downwardly from the top. This is illustrated in FIG. 3D. Note in
FIG. 3D where a portion of the front area 12A is rolled or folded
downwardly over a portion of the inside-outward sleeves 14. The
upper portion of the front area 12A exposed in FIG. 3D is the inner
surface of the front area.
[0046] The folding or rolling of the gown is continued as shown in
FIG. 3E. Again, the upper portion of the gown as viewed in FIG. 3E
comprises a portion of a front area 12A, but again the upper
exposed surface of the front area is the inner surface thereof.
[0047] The process continues as illustrated in FIG. 3F. Note that
in FIG. 3F, the closing tab 30C formed on the inner surface of the
front area 12A is shown.
[0048] Eventually, the gown is folded or rolled to a point where a
bundle is formed. The bundled gown is shown in FIG. 3G. In this
orientation, the bundled gown 10 overlies the disposable wrapper
30. In order to place the bundled gown into the disposable wrapper
30, the disposable wrapper is turned inside-outward and in the
process wraps around the bundled gown as illustrated in FIG. 3H. In
this process, the former inner surface 30B of the disposable
wrapper 30 becomes the outer surface of the formed pouch or
container. That is, by turning the disposable wrapper 30
inside-outward, the wrapper wraps around while the bundled gown is
stuffed, pushed or placed into the interior area of the formed
pouch. Therefore, the former exterior or outer surface 30A of the
disposable wrapper 30 becomes the interior surface of the pouch
shown in FIGS. 3H and 3I. The former inner surface 30B of the
disposable wrapper 30 now becomes the outer surface or exterior
surface of the pouch. Finally, the closing tab 30C, which can be a
piece of tape, an adhesive strip or other closing device, is closed
down on the exterior surface 30B of the pouch and this
containerizes by wrapping the bundled gown.
[0049] This wrapper forms an additional line of defense, as it
creates a barrier helping to guard against the transmission of
possible infectious agents, such as but not limited to,
staphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) etc., which can be spread on contact.
[0050] To facilitate the folding or rolling of the gown into the
bundle, the outer surface of the main body 12 and sleeves 14 could
be a different color from the inner surface of the main body and
sleeves. In addition, the gown 10 can be provided with indicia that
facilitates and makes the folding or rolling of the gown into a
bundle easier. That is, indicia or lines can be drawn or provided
on the gown to indicate the appropriate position of portions of the
gown during various stages of the rolling or folding process.
[0051] In the embodiment illustrated, there is one tab 30C for
closing the formed pouch or container. It is understood and
appreciated that there can be a plurality of tabs and, indeed,
there can be provided a closing device formed in the disposable
wrapper or formed in conjunction with the gown that will provide a
generally airtight seal when the pouch is closed.
[0052] In most cases, persons wearing the gown 10 will also have
gloves. These gloves can be removed prior to removing and folding
the gown 10 into the bundle. In the alternative, the gloves can be
removed during the process of removing the sleeves 14. It should
also be noted that waist ties that might be used with the gown
should be of a length such that they cannot hang below the gown. It
should also be noted that any process of removing the disposable
gown that folds or rolls the gown into the wrapper and adheres to
hospital protocol (where the wearer does not have contact with the
contaminated portion) is acceptable.
[0053] It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the gown
10 can assume various designs and styles. However, the use of the
integral disposable wrapper 30 and the general method or process of
disposing of the gown will remain the same. The basic method or
process of forming the disposable hospital gown into a bundle and
containerizing the disposable gown in a disposable wrapper will
remain the same.
ALTERNATIVE DESIGN FOR THE DISPOSABLE HOSPITAL GOWN
[0054] With reference to FIGS. 4-7B, an alternative design is shown
therein for the disposable hospital gown. Basically, the
alternative design is similar in many respects to the design
discussed above and shown in FIGS. 4-7B.
[0055] With reference to FIG. 4, the alternative design shown
therein is provided with two parallel fold lines 70 formed about
the front portion 12A of the gown. The fold lines 70 can be
constructed or formed in various ways. In one embodiment the fold
lines actually comprise a pair of seams sewn or formed into the
hospital gown. In other embodiments the fold lines 70 may include
press lines or folding seams that are formed during manufacture or
even formed when the gown is folded for packaging purposes. In any
event the purpose of the fold lines 70 is to facilitate and make
easier the folding of the gown 10 for the purpose of compacting the
gown such that it can be placed in the wrapper 30. The fold lines
70 also enable the gown 10 to be neatly folded and compactly rolled
or otherwise transformed into a relatively small configuration.
Although some examples of forming or creating the fold lines 70 are
given, it is appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are
other means for forming the fold lines.
[0056] The alternative design for the hospital gown also envisions
the use of a light adhesive in order to secure the back edges of
the gown together. A light adhesive can be sprayed or applied to
selected areas along the rear edges of the gown back such that the
rear edges can be overlapped at selected areas and easily secured
together because of the presence of the light adhesive. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, one edge of the rear portion of
the gown 10 is provided with a series of tabs 20. These tabs can be
sprayed on one side with a light adhesive that is effective to
secure the tabs to the other back edge of the gown. In addition,
the gown along these back edges could be simply sprayed in spots or
streaks with such a light adhesive such that the back edges can be
easily secured together to close the gown 10 about the back when
being worn. As discussed before, there are various means for
attaching the edges of the back together.
[0057] Further, the alternative design as shown in FIG. 4 includes
a wrapper 30 that has a different shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the
side edges of the wrapper 30 taper generally inwardly and
downwardly from the top of the wrapper. The wrapper 30 as oriented
assumes a generally inverted trapezoidal shape. The inwardly and
downwardly tapering sides or side edges of the wrapper 30 are
designed to facilitate folding and disposing of the gown 10. To
some extent at least, with the side edges being tapered downwardly
and inwardly, the side edges of the wrapper 30 do not actually
interfere or otherwise make the folding of the gown more difficult.
It is appreciated that the wrapper 30 can assume various
configurations and that the configurations disclosed herein are
examples.
[0058] Another feature of the alternative design is that the gown
10 is designed to be worn and used in conjunction with disposable
gloves. The alternative design envisions that gloves will be worn
by healthcare professionals while the gown is being worn. The
alternative design envisions in one embodiment a pair of gloves 80
being integral with the sleeves 14 of the gown or being tethered to
the gown. In FIG. 7A, the gloves 80 are tethered to the gown while
in the design shown in FIG. 7B the gloves 80 are integrally
constructed with the sleeve 14 of the gown.
[0059] FIGS. 6B-6M describe and show how the disposable hospital
gown is rolled or bundled and held within the wrapper 30. In FIG.
6B, the right gloved hand RGH grabs the end of the left hand sleeve
at the wrist, and at the same time grabs the wrist portion of the
left hand glove LG.
[0060] With reference to FIG. 6C, the right gloved hand RGH holds
the left sleeve and the left hand glove LG and the left hand is
pulled from the left hand glove. This effectively turns the left
hand glove inside out and the left hand glove remains inside the
left hand sleeve. This leaves the left hand (ungloved) within the
left hand sleeve.
[0061] FIG. 6D shows that the left hand LH, while within the left
sleeve, is used to reach over and grab the right hand glove RG at
the wrist, and at the same time grab the right sleeve at the wrist.
Then while the left hand LH holds the right sleeve and the right
glove RG, the right hand RH is pulled from the right glove and in
the process the right hand is free and the right glove is turned
inside outwards and remains in the right sleeve. Viewing FIG. 6E,
it is seen that both hands lie inside the respective sleeves. Both
gloves have been removed and lie inside the sleeves. It should be
noted that both gloves at this time are inside out. Still, at this
point, the left hand LH is still holding onto the right sleeve, the
right glove RG, and the left glove LG.
[0062] In FIG. 6F, the free right hand RH is moved to where the
right hand engages a right back portion of the gown, and with the
right hand, this right back portion of the gown is folded over the
front right portion of the gown. In an embodiment where the front
portion includes seam 70, the right back portion of the gown is
folded along one seam.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 6G, the right hand RH then grabs the
bundled gloves and sleeves that the left hand LH has been
holding.
[0064] Now, as illustrated in FIG. 6H, the left hand LH releases
from the left sleeve and engages the left back portion of the gown,
and folds the left back portion of the gown over a left front
portion of the gown. Again, this is illustrated in FIG. 6H.
[0065] Turning to FIG. 6I, the person wearing the gown then begins
to fold or roll the gown downwardly from the top. The hands can be
within the bundle or outside of the bundle.
[0066] FIG. 6J shows the gown continuing to be rolled downwardly
towards the position of the wrapper 30. Eventually, the gown is
rolled or folded downwardly to a position adjacent the wrapper 30.
See FIG. 6K. The wrapper 30 is turned inside out and the bundle or
folded gown is placed or stuffed inside the wrapper 30. As
discussed before, at this juncture in the method or process, the
wrapper 30 is turned inside out and the gown is placed inside the
wrapper as it is turned inside out. See FIG. 6L.
[0067] Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 6M, the closing tab 30C is
fastened to the wrapper 30 and the disposable hospital gown is
safely secured therein.
[0068] There are numerous options or alternative ways to roll and
package the disposable gown. For example, reference is made again
to FIG. 6E. At this point, the free hands can remain inside the
sleeves and the person wearing the gown can begin to roll the gown
while the free hands are still within the sleeves. The gown is
continued to be rolled to a selected point where the hands are then
removed and then the hands are used to further roll, fold, or
manipulate the gown sufficient for the gown to be inserted inside
the inside out wrapper 30.
[0069] The present invention may, of course, be carried out in
other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing
from the scope and the essential characteristics of the invention.
The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all
aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming
within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are
intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *