U.S. patent application number 13/422010 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-20 for gown up.
Invention is credited to Franchot Slot.
Application Number | 20120233737 13/422010 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46827231 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120233737 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Slot; Franchot |
September 20, 2012 |
Gown Up
Abstract
An architecture is presented that provides a combination gown
and glove garment designed primarily for use in hospital and
healthcare settings. The garment comprises an apron comprising a
first end and a second end, and at least one sleeve secured to the
first end of the apron. The at least one sleeve can also comprise a
glove secured to an end of the sleeve as an integral unit. The
glove comprises a wrist gather for retaining the glove on a hand of
the user. Furthermore, the garment comprises a neck tie and/or a
waist tie for securing the garment to a user. Multiple compressed
garments are then removably secured together into one unit. The
multiple compressed garments are secured via a tear-away edge at
the top of the unit, such that users can rapidly don the garment in
one fluid motion, tearing it away from the unit.
Inventors: |
Slot; Franchot; (Gig Harbor,
WA) |
Family ID: |
46827231 |
Appl. No.: |
13/422010 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61454017 |
Mar 18, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/52 ; 2/48;
2/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 2400/72 20130101;
A41D 13/1209 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/52 ; 2/48;
2/69 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/04 20060101
A41D013/04; A41D 13/12 20060101 A41D013/12 |
Claims
1. A combination garment, comprising: an apron comprising a first
end and a second end; and at least one sleeve secured to the first
end of the apron, the at least one sleeve comprising a first end
and a second end; and wherein the at least one sleeve comprises a
sleeve opening for inserting a user's arm; and wherein multiple
combination garments are compressed together into one unit from
which a single combination garment can be removed.
2. The combination garment of claim 1, further comprising at least
one glove secured to a first end of the at least one sleeve.
3. The combination garment of claim 2, wherein the at least one
glove comprises a wrist gather secured to the first end of the at
least one sleeve before the at least one glove.
4. The combination garment of claim 1, further comprising a neck
tie located at a first end of the apron.
5. The combination garment of claim 4, wherein the neck tie
comprises at least one of a strap and loop, a tie strap, or a hook
and loop fastened tab.
6. The combination garment of claim 1, further comprising a waist
tie located at a waist of the apron.
7. The combination garment of claim 6, wherein the waist tie
comprises at least one of a strap and loop, a tie strap, or a hook
and loop fastened tab.
8. The combination garment of claim 1, wherein the multiple
compressed combination garments are removably secured together at
top of the unit.
9. The combination garment of claim 8, wherein the multiple
compressed combination garments are removably secured via a
tear-away edge.
10. The combination garment of claim 9, wherein the unit is
attached to at least one of a wall, a doorway, or a hook.
11. The combination garment of claim 10, wherein the unit is
attached via at least one of a bar clamp or holes with suspension
rods.
12. A combination gown and glove garment, comprising: an apron
comprising a first end and a second end; at least one sleeve
secured to the first end of the apron, the at least one sleeve
comprising a first end and a second end; and at least one glove
secured to a first end of the at least one sleeve; and wherein the
at least one sleeve comprises a sleeve opening for inserting a
user's arm; and wherein multiple gown and glove garments are
compressed together into one unit from which a single gown and
glove garment can be removed.
13. The combination gown and glove garment of claim 12, wherein the
multiple compressed garments are removably secured together at top
of the unit.
14. The combination gown and glove garment of claim 13, wherein the
multiple compressed garments are removably secured via a tear-away
edge.
15. The combination gown and glove garment of claim 14, wherein the
unit is attached to at least one of a wall, a doorway, or a
hook.
16. The combination gown and glove garment of claim 12, further
comprising a neck tie located at a first end of the apron.
17. The combination gown and glove garment of claim 16, wherein the
neck tie comprises at least one of a strap and loop, a tie strap,
or a hook and loop fastened tab.
18. A method of utilizing a unit of compressed garments, wherein
the compressed garments are a plurality of combination gown and
glove garments, comprising: grasping a sleeve opening of one of the
compressed garments to open a sleeve; inserting a user's arms into
the sleeve openings; inserting a user's hands into a pair of gloves
at an end of the sleeve openings; and separating the compressed
garment away from the unit.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the unit of compressed garments
is removably attached to at least one of a wall, a doorway, or a
hook.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising securing the
compressed garment to a user by utilizing a neck tie located around
neck opening of the compressed garment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This application claims priority from Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/454,017 filed Mar. 18, 2011.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Current medical-grade gowns used at hospitals and/or
doctors' offices, whether the medical gowns are disposable or
laundered gowns, require the appropriate medical personnel to put
on the gown and then also to put on the gloves which are separate
from the gown. These medical gowns are typically used to avoid
contamination by the wearer and to prevent transmission to other
patients or personnel. It can take several minutes to suit up, no
matter the length of the patient interaction. Furthermore, after
medical personnel visit patients, they must change out of the
gloves and medical gown before the next patient interaction. This
process continues until all of the patients are seen. Thus, this is
a very time consuming and inconvenient process for the caregiver,
and further increases the wait time that individuals currently
experience at hospitals, doctors' offices, and other medical
facilities. Furthermore, the separate gown/glove combinations make
it difficult for the wearer to remove without self-contamination in
either sequence of gown or glove removal. This is particularly true
with laundered gowns, which cannot be torn away from the wearer to
be removed.
[0003] Additionally, medical gowns are often stored in rolling
cabinets, which are typically left in the halls in front of
patients' rooms. The cabinets can be a fire hazard and can have
additional costs associated with their acquisition and use.
Further, large trash cans are typically used to dispose of
currently used disposable medical gowns, which can cause the same
costs and fire hazard complications. For laundered gowns,
significant expenses are incurred in cleaning and/or sterilizing
the gowns due to the amount of detergent, water, electricity, and
personnel required to complete this task. Also, the repeated
washing/sterilizing of the gowns causes the same to deteriorate
which, in turn, leads to the need to replace the gown which can be
expensive. Consequently, an effective solution is necessary.
[0004] There is a need for an improved medical-grade gown that
medical personnel can rapidly put on and take off with little or no
third party assistance, and that can be stored out of the way until
needed. The present invention discloses a medical-grade gown that
is a unitary gown and glove combination garment, and also discloses
a method of utilizing such a garment. A plurality of the gown and
glove combination garments are then compressed into one unit and
the unit is secured to a wall or other similar place. To use the
gown and glove combination garment, a user simply inserts his or
her arms into the sleeve openings and pulls the single gown away
from the unit. Thus, individuals can rapidly don the combination
gown and gloves garment in one fluid motion, tearing it away from
the unit and dramatically reducing the time it takes to suit up for
brief patient interactions and eliminating or significantly
reducing the possibility of contamination. Anyone that works in a
hospital, doctor's office, or other medical facility will
appreciate the convenience and practicality that this invention
affords.
SUMMARY
[0005] The following presents a simplified summary in order to
provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed
innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is
not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the
scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a
simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that
is presented later.
[0006] The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one
aspect thereof, comprises a combination gown and glove garment
designed primarily for use in hospital and healthcare settings. The
garment comprises an apron comprising a first end and a second end,
and at least one sleeve secured to the first end of the apron. In
use, a user would grasp a sleeve opening to open the sleeve and
would insert his or her arm(s) into the sleeve(s). The at least one
sleeve can also comprise a glove secured to an end of the sleeve as
an integral unit. The glove comprises a wrist gather for retaining
the glove on a hand of the user.
[0007] Furthermore in the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the garment comprises an optional neck tie for securing
the garment around the neck of a user. The neck tie is secured to
the neck or first end of the apron. Furthermore the garment
comprises an optional waist tie for securing the garment around the
waist of a user. The waist tie is secured to a right and left sides
of the apron. Multiple compressed garments are then removably
secured together into one unit. The multiple compressed garments
are secured via a tear-away edge at the top of the unit, such that
users can rapidly don the garment in one fluid motion, tearing it
away from the unit.
[0008] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends,
certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are
described herein in connection with the following description and
the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but
a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein
can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and
their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become
apparent from the following detailed description when considered in
conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a combination gown
and glove garment in accordance with the disclosed
architecture.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a combination gown
and glove garment folded up in a compressed unit in accordance with
the disclosed architecture.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a unit of multiple
compressed combination gown and glove garments in accordance with
the disclosed architecture.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a methodology of utilizing a unit of
compressed garments in accordance with the disclosed
architecture.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The innovation is now described with reference to the
drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like
elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident,
however, that the innovation can be practiced without these
specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and
devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a
description thereof.
[0014] The present invention discloses a medical-grade gown that is
a unitary gown and glove combination garment, and also discloses a
method of utilizing such a garment. The garment is comprised of an
apron with a neck area and one or more sleeves, and could further
comprise a glove attached to one or more of said sleeves. The
garment can be manufactured in various sizes or can be produced as
a one-size-fits-all garment. Multiple garments are compressed into
one unit and the unit is secured to a wall by means commonly known
in the art. A user inserts his or her arms into the sleeve openings
and tears the gown away from the unit. Thus, individuals can
rapidly don the combination gown and gloves garment in one fluid
motion, tearing it away from the pack and dramatically reducing the
time it takes to suit up for brief patient interactions and
eliminating the possibility of contamination.
[0015] The combination garment is primarily intended for use in
hospitals and healthcare settings where contact isolation is
required by staff, physicians, family members and loved ones
interacting with a patient. However, it can also be used in the
food industry or other industries in which a simple body and hand
barrier is necessary.
[0016] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a
combination gown and glove garment 100 designed primarily for use
in hospital and healthcare settings. The garment 100 comprises an
apron 102 comprising a first end 104 and a second end 106.
Typically, the apron 102 is rectangular shaped, however any other
suitable shape can be used as is known in the art without affecting
the overall concept of the invention. The apron 102 can also be
shaped to be narrower on the first end 104 such that the apron 102
forms a neck or chest piece without affecting the overall concept
of the invention. The chest piece would be of variable size and
shape depending on the needs and sizes of the users. Additionally,
the first end 104 forms the neckline of the garment 100 and can be
either a crew neckline or a "V-neck-shaped" neckline, or any other
suitable neckline shapes as is known in the art. The apron 102
would generally be constructed of sheer plastic or cellophane, such
as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), though any other suitable material may be used to
manufacture the apron 102 as is known in the art without affecting
the overall concept of the invention. The apron 102 is
approximately between 40 and 50 inches in length as measured from
tear-away edge to second end 106, approximately between 50 and 65
inches wide as measured from side to side, and approximately
between 1 and 20 millimeters thick, as measured from front to back
as it lays flat. Further, at the tear-away edge or neck line the
apron 102 is approximately between 20 and 30 inches wide. The
sleeves are between 15 and 25 inches long or between 25 and 35
inches long as measured from tear-away edge.
[0017] The garment 100 further comprises at least one sleeve 108
secured to the first end 104 of the apron 102. Additionally, the
sleeve 108 can be an integral part of the apron 102, and the apron
and sleeve can be manufactured as a one-piece article, without
affecting the overall concept of the invention. The at least one
sleeve 108 has the appearance of a typically constructed sleeve as
is known in the art, and having a first end 110 and a second end
114. The second end 114 is secured to the first end 104 of the
apron 102 and forms a sleeve opening 126 for a user to insert an
arm. The at least one sleeve 108 can also comprise a glove 112
secured to the first end 110 of the sleeve 108 as an integral unit.
The glove 112 is secured to the sleeve 108 via any suitable
securing means as is known in the art, such as gluing, welding,
stitching, etc. The glove 112 has the appearance of a typically
constructed glove as is known in the art, and can also comprise a
wrist gather 116 for retaining the glove 112 on a hand (not shown)
of a user. The wrist gather 116 can be an elastic band or other
suitable means for securing the glove to a user's hand as is known
in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention.
Additionally, the glove 112 can be secured to the sleeve 108 such
that the thumbs of the glove 112 are oriented toward the garment
100 or away from the garment 100. Thus, a user would put on the
garment 100 by placing his or her arms into the sleeves 108 with
palms facing up or palms facing down depending on the orientation
of the gloves 112.
[0018] Additionally, the garment 100 comprises a neck tie 118 for
securing the garment 100 around the neck of a user. The neck tie
118 is secured to the neck or first end 104 of the apron 102, and
can be any securing means such as tie straps, hook and loop
fastener (Velcro.RTM.) straps, snaps, slip-over loop and strap,
etc. as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept
of the invention. The neck tie 118 is secured to the apron 102 via
any suitable securing means as is known in the art. Furthermore the
garment 100 comprises a waist tie 120 for securing the garment 100
around the waist of a user. The waist tie 120 is secured to a right
122 and left 124 sides of the apron 102, and can be any securing
means such as tie straps, hook and loop fastener (Velcro.RTM.)
straps, snaps, slip-over loop and strap, etc. as is known in the
art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The
waist tie 120 is secured to the apron 102 via any suitable securing
means as is known in the art.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates the combination gown and glove garment
100 folded up in a compressed unit. The garment 100 comprises an
apron 102 comprising a first end 104 and a second end 106 and at
least one sleeve 108 secured to the first end 104 of the apron 102.
The at least one sleeve 108 comprises a first end 110 and a second
end 114. The second end 114 is secured to the first end 104 of the
apron 102 and forms a sleeve opening 126 for a user to insert an
arm. A user would grasp the sleeve opening 126 to open the sleeve
108 and then would insert his or her arm into the sleeve opening
126. The at least one sleeve 108 can also comprise a glove 112
secured to the first end 110 of the sleeve 108 as an integral unit.
The glove 112 comprises a wrist gather 116 for retaining the glove
112 on a hand (not shown) of a user.
[0020] Additionally, the garment 100 could comprise a neck tie 118
for securing the garment 100 around the neck of a user. The neck
tie 118 is secured to the neck or first end 104 of the apron 102.
Furthermore, the garment 100 could also comprise a waist tie 120
for securing the garment 100 around the waist of a user. The waist
tie 120 is secured to a right 122 and left 124 sides of the apron
102. Then entire garment 100 is folded up in a compressed unit that
lays relatively flat. Specifically, folds 200 at the first end 104
and the second end 106 of the apron 102, and above the gloves 112
are used to ensure the garment 100 lays in a relatively flat
position for storage and use. Further, the folds 200 are to allow
expansion of the garment 100 when removed from storage and also to
form the garment 100 into a rectangular shape for packaging into a
box or other storage device.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a unit 300 of multiple compressed
combination gown and glove garments 100. The multiple compressed
garments 100 are removably secured together at the top 302 of the
unit 300. Typically, the multiple compressed garments 100 are
removably secured via a tear-away edge, but the multiple compressed
garments 100 can be secured via any other suitable means as is
known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the
invention, such as adhered together, stapled, loose-leaf or in a
binder, suspended from hooks, cold welded, hook and loop fastened
(Velcro.RTM.), or clamped. In operation, a user (not shown) grasps
the sleeve openings 126 and pulls to open the sleeves 108, then
inserts his or her arms into the sleeve openings 126. The user then
steps back, away from the unit 100 and applies a downward pressure
to tear off the garment 100 in which the user has inserted his or
her arms.
[0022] Additionally, unit 300 can be removably attached and/or
mounted to a wall, doorway, a hook, etc. The unit 300 can be
mounted anywhere that a user needs or desires, as long as the
structure can support the weight of the unit 300. The unit 300 is
typically attached via a bar clamp or holes with suspension rods.
However, any other suitable means for attaching or mounting can be
used without affecting the overall concept of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a methodology of utilizing a unit of
compressed garments, according to various aspects of the
innovation. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the
one or more methodologies shown herein (e.g., in the form of a flow
chart or flow diagram) are shown and described as a series of acts,
it is to be understood and appreciated that the subject innovation
is not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in
accordance therewith, occur in a different order and/or
concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein.
For example, those skilled in the art will understand and
appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as
a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state
diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to
implement a methodology in accordance with the innovation.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, a method of utilizing a unit of
compressed garments is illustrated, wherein the compressed garments
are a plurality of combination gown and glove garments. At 400, the
unit of compressed garments is secured to a wall, a doorway, a
hook, etc. At 402, a user grasps sleeve openings of one of the
compressed garments to open the sleeves of the garment. At 404, a
user inserts his or her arms into the sleeve openings of the
compressed garment. At 406, a user inserts his or her hands into
the attached gloves at an end of the sleeve openings. At 408, a
user pulls the compressed garment away from the unit via a
tear-away edge at the top of the unit. And at 410, a user secures
the compressed garment to a user by utilizing a neck tie located
around the neck opening of the compressed garment.
[0025] What has been described above includes examples of the
claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe
every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for
purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of
ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further
combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are
possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to
embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that
fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in
either the detailed description or the claims, such term is
intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term
"comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a
transitional word in a claim.
* * * * *