U.S. patent number 3,745,587 [Application Number 05/107,289] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-17 for disposable hospital patients gown with cohesive-adhesive applied so the areas of application have space therein free of cohesive-adhesive.
Invention is credited to Theodore Bradley.
United States Patent |
3,745,587 |
Bradley |
July 17, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
DISPOSABLE HOSPITAL PATIENTS GOWN WITH COHESIVE-ADHESIVE APPLIED SO
THE AREAS OF APPLICATION HAVE SPACE THEREIN FREE OF
COHESIVE-ADHESIVE
Abstract
A disposable hospital patient's gown made from a sheet of
disposable material with a medial neck opening, and arm openings
with a cohesive-adhesive applied to confronting surfaces of the
sheet at the top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
and applied along the confronting surface areas of the side edges
so the areas of application have spaces therein without
cohesive-adhesive as a means for attaching, separating and
reattaching the top edge of the sheet and the sides of the sheet
about the patient's body.
Inventors: |
Bradley; Theodore (Monterey,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
27493572 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/107,289 |
Filed: |
January 18, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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828407 |
Mar 12, 1969 |
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534903 |
Mar 16, 1966 |
3451062 |
Jun 24, 1969 |
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584322 |
Sep 27, 1966 |
3399406 |
Sep 3, 1968 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D
13/129 (20130101); A41D 13/1236 (20130101); A41D
2400/52 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41D
13/12 (20060101); A41b 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/83,114 ;260/740
;161/146,148 ;117/44 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lawson; Patrick D.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part application to
application Ser. No. 828,407 filed Mar. 12, 1969 not yet issued
entitled: "Disposable Hospital Patient's Gown with
Cohesive-Adhesive:" A one piece disposable hospital patient's gown
having neck and arm openings in its top edge and having
cohesive-adhesive with high shear adhesive-adherence and low peel
adhesive adherence, as a first means for separating and
re-attaching the top of the gown and adjacent the sides of the gown
as a second means of separating and re-attaching the sides of the
gown.
Continuation-in-part application Ser. No. 828,407 filed Mar. 12,
1969 not yet issued is a continuation-in-part application of
application Ser. No. 534,903 filed Mar. 16, 1966 which issued June
24, 1969 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,062 entitled: Disposable
Examination Gown: A one piece Hospital Examination Gown having Neck
and Arm openings in its top edge, and opening and closing at the
shoulders lateral to the neck opening, and opening and closing at
the back or the front.
Disposable Office Gown, application Ser. No. 584,322 filed Sept.
27, 1966 issued Sept. 3, 1968, as U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,406 entitled:
A two-piece Disposable Gown having overlapping front and rear
panels that also open and close at the shoulders. This was a
continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 534,903
filed Mar. 16, 1966 which issued June 24, 1969 as U.S. Pat. No.
3,451,062 entitled Disposable Examination Gown: A one Piece
Hospital Examination Gown having neck and arm openings in its top
edge, and opening and closing at the shoulders lateral to the neck
opening and opening and closing at the back or the front.
Claims
I claim:
1. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges;
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may be
peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions.
2. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, said areas
having spaces therein free of said cohesive-adhesive; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and reattaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions said areas
having spaces therein free of said cohesive-adhesive.
3. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in dots;
and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions in
dots.
4. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and side edges, a bottom
edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a
pattern; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive adhesive applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions in a
pattern.
5. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening and each extending downwardly from
the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom of
the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a random
application; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions in a random
application.
6. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and edges, a bottom edge,
and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings, formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said said edges, in a
discontinuous application; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions in a
discontinuous application.
7. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, said areas
having spaces therein free of said cohesive-adhesive; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and reattaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may be
peeled apart but whicn is not readily sheared apart, applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions said areas
having spaces therein free of said cohesive-adhesive.
8. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in dots;
and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may be
peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions in
dots.
9. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and side edges, a bottom
edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a
pattern, and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may be
peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions in a
pattern.
10. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening and each extending downwardly from
the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom of
the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a random
application; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may be
peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions in a random
application.
11. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening and each extending downwardly from
the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom of
the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a
discontinuous application; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other,
said second means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may be
peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied along
the confronting surface areas of said top edge portions in a
discontinuous application.
12. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, said areas
having spaces therein free of said cohesive-adhesive; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
13. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in dots;
and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
14. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a
pattern; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
15. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening and each extending downwardly from
the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom of
the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a random
application, and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
16. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a
discontinuous application; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
17. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said edges, said areas
having spaces therein free of said cohesive-adhesive; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
18. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in dots;
and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
19. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a
pattern; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
20. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and,
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck opening and each extending downwardly from
the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom of
the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other;
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a random
application, and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
21. A disposable hospital patient's gown, comprising:
A. a sheet of material forming said gown and having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing:
1. A medial neck opening, and
2. Two arm openings formed each respectively, intermediate said
side edges and said neck openings, and each extending downwardly
from the top edge of said sheet, part of the way toward the bottom
of the sheet, as the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded
inwardly to engage each other:
B. first means for attaching, separating and re-attaching said side
edges, said first means consisting of a cohesive-adhesive which may
be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart, applied
along the confronting surface areas of said side edges, in a
discontinuous application; and
C. second means for attaching, separating and re-attaching portions
of said top edge intermediate said arm openings and said neck
opening, and intermediate said arm openings and said side edges,
after said side edges are folded inwardly to engage each other.
22. A Disposable hospital patient's Gown, comprising:
A sheet of material forming said gown having side edges, a bottom
edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing: 1) a medial
neck opening; and 2) two arm openings, each respectively,
intermediate said side edges and said neck opening, and each
extending downwardly from the top edge of said sheet, part of the
way toward the bottom of the sheet, and is then angled medially
part of the way towards the midline of the sheet; cohesive-adhesive
which may be peeled apart but which is not readily sheared apart is
applied to selected confronting surfaces of the material, so that
when the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded inwardly to
engage each other, and the flaps that have been created lateral to
the neck opening are folded downward and the cohesive-adhesive
adjacent to the upper edge of the sheet between the arm openings
and the neck opening is sealed to the cohesive-adhesive that is
adjacent to the upper edge of the medial portion of the arm
openings that extends towards the midline of the gown and to the
cohesive-adhesive that extends lateral from the said medial portion
of the arm openings toward the lateral edge of the sheet, sleeves
are created that cover the shoulders and part of the upper arms,
and extend lateral to the body of the gown.
23. A Disposable Hospital Patent's Gown, Comprising:
A sheet of material forming said gown having side edges, a bottom
edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown containing: 1) a medial
neck opening; and 2) two arm openings, each respectively,
intermediate said side edges and said neck opening, and each
extending downwardly from the top edge of said sheet, part of the
way toward the bottom of the sheet, and is then angled medially
part of the way towards the midline of the sheet; cohesive-adhesive
is applied to selected confronting surfaces of the material,
applied so these areas have spaces therein without
cohesive-adhesive; so that when the outermost side edges of said
sheet are folded inwardly to engage each other, and the flaps that
have been created lateral to the neck opening are folded downward
and the cohesive-adhesive adjacent to the upper edge of the sheet
between the arm openings and the neck opening is sealed to the
cohesive-adhesive that is adjacent to the upper edge of the medial
portion of the arm openings that extends towards the midline of the
gown and to the cohesive-adhesive that extends lateral from the
said medial portion of the arm openings toward the lateral edge of
the sheet, sleeves are created that cover the shoulders and part of
the upper arms, and extend lateral to the body of the gown.
24. A Disposable Hospital Patient's Gown, comprising:
A sheet of material forming side gown having side edges, a bottom
edge, and a top edge of gown containing:
1) A medial neck opening; and 2) two arm openings each
respectively, intermediate said side edges and said neck opening
and each extending downward and medially from the top edge of said
sheet, part of the way toward the bottom and midline of the sheet;
cohesive-adhesive which may be peeled apart but which is not
readily sheared apart which penetrates into the materials is
applied to selected confronting surfaces of the material, so that
when the outermost side edges of said sheet are folded inwardly to
engage each other, and the flaps that have been created lateral to
the neck opening are folded downward and the cohesive-adhesive
adjacent to the upper edge of the sheet (between the arm openings
and the neck opening) is sealed to the cohesive-adhesive on the
reverse surface of the sheet that extends superiorly and laterally
from the end of the downward arm openings, sleeves are created that
cover the shoulders and part of the upper arms.
25. A Disposable Hospital Patient's Gown, comprising:
A sheet of material forming said gown having side edges, a bottom
edge, and a top edge of gown containing:
1) a medial neck opening; and 2) two arm openings each
respectively, intermediate said side edges of said neck opening and
each extending downward and medially from the top edge of said
sheet, part of the way toward the bottom and midline of the sheet;
cohesive-adhesive which may be peeled apart but which is not
readily sheared apart is applied to selected confronting surfaces
of the material, applied so these areas have spaces therein without
cohesive-adhesive; so that when the outermost side edges of said
sheet are folded inwardly to engage each other, and the flaps that
have been created lateral to the neck opening are folded downward
and the cohesive-adhesive adjacent to the upper edge of the sheet
(between the arm openings and the neck opening) is sealed to the
cohesive-adhesive on the reverse surface of the sheet that extends
superiorly and laterally from the end of the downward arm openings,
sleeves are created that cover the shoulders and part of the upper
arms.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Invention
The invention is a disposable hospital patient's gown that a
patient can sleep in without having the gown tear to pieces.
The gown is made from a single sheet of disposable material, it has
a medial neck opening and arm openings intermediate the medial neck
opening and the side edges at the top of the sheet.
The gown opens at the back or front and also opens at the shoulders
lateral to the neck opening.
The accepted definition of a cohesive-adhesive is an adhesive that
when dry will generally only adhere to itself. A cohesive-adhesive
is applied to confronting surfaces of the sheet along the side
edges, so they adhere together when the side edges are folded
inwardly to engage each other; and applied to confronting surfaces
of the sheet along the top edge intermediate the neck opening and
the arm openings and intermediate the arm openings and the side
edges so the edges at the top of the gown can be sealed around the
shoulders lateral to the neck openings.
The confronting surfaces at the edges of the gown have
cohesive-adhesive applied so that spaces therein of these areas are
not applied with cohesive-adhesive.
Having the cohesive-adhesive applied to the selected confronting
surfaces so that these areas have spaces at their surfaces without
cohesive-adhesive will allow the gown to be opened more readily
than if the cohesive-adhesive were an unbroken strip, and since
heat, pressure and time will frequently fuse areas of contact
between the layers of cohesive-adhesive on the two confronting
surfaces, then even if some of the areas of contact on the
confronting surfaces have become fused together are torn off when
the confronting surfaces are peeled apart, other areas of
cohesive-adhesive that have not come in o contact with each other
will be unused and will be available to permit the confronting
surface to readhere a second or more times.
The cohesive-adhesive used may contain latex or it may be a hot
melt adhesive containing a ferro-magnetic substance. After the hot
melt adhesive with the ferromagnetic substance has been applied to
the confronting surfaces, and allowed to dry, and these areas are
placed in a magnetic field, the adhesive will become a
cohesive-adhesive and will in general bond only to itself.
The application of hot melt adhesive may be applied so that the
areas of application have spaces therein without cohesive-adhesive.
This gives the cohesive-adhesive the property of high shear
adhesive adherence, by preventing the two confronting
cohesive-adhesive surfaces from sliding apart, thereby increasing
the high shear adhesive adherence. If the hot melt adhesive
containing a ferromagnetic substance is applied so that the areas
of application have spaces therein without hot melt adhesive
containing a ferromagnetic substance, for example, in dots; then
when the magnetic dots on the confronting surfaces tend to slide
apart, the magnetic dots on the confronting surfaces will tend to
adhere at their sides; thereby creating high shear adhesive
adherence.
Description of the Prior Set
The gown described by H.F.T. Thompson U.S. Pat. No. 1,489,046
consists of a "Plurality of Sections" (From 3 to 11 Sections)
attached by snaps along the edges of the sections, and there are no
"Openings running downward from the top edge of any of the sections
or panels."
The applicant's patent application contains a limitation of the
length of the arm openings extending downwardly from the top edge
of the sheet, Part of the way toward the bottom of the sheet.
The Thompson gown is fastened by "Buttons, hooks and eyes, or
preferably snap-fasteners" at the sides of the gown below the arm
openings. If the Thompson gown was made of disposable material and
the sides of the gown below the arm openings was fastened by
"Buttons, hooks and eyes, or preferably snap fasteners," these
methods concentrate the stress at those points and they would just
tear out of the gown when the patient rolled over in bed.
Even if the Thompson gown were made of disposable material and the
panels of disposable material were attached by cohesive-adhesive
with high shear adhesive adherence and low peel adhesive adherence
as described by the applicant and if the manufacturer assembled
these panels described by Thompson and then the assembled gown is
given to the patient, you still do not have the same gown as that
described by the applicant, because if you take three panels of
disposable material and apply a cohesive-adhesive with high shear,
low peel adhesive adherence to the edges and then attach them as
suggested by Thompson and then wear it in bed overnight, when you
wake in the morning, the gown has opened spontaneously down its
sides during the night, because the arms are located at the sides
above the seams, and the stress is concentrated in these seams at
the sides of the gown, by the arms, when you roll over in bed and
this stress causes these seams at the sides to open.
However, there is no problem in the gown described by the
applicant, because the closure is only in the back or in the front
of the gown where the stress is least.
The gown described by the applicant is manufactured without
assembling it. It is folded so that its cohesive-adhesive areas do
not come into contact until the gown is worn. Eliminating the costs
of assembling the gown make this gown inexpensive enough for it to
be disposable.
The complexity of the Thompson gown makes it impractical.
It would be somewhat difficult to understand if one were to hand 3
or more panels of material to a patient and tell them to attach the
medial edge of the left panel to the left lateral edge of the
center panel and the medial edge of the right panel to the right
lateral edge of the center panel, but leave the upper quarter of
the medial edge of the left panel unattached to the upper quarter
of the left lateral edge of the center panel and leave the upper
quarter of the medial edge of the right panel unattached to the
upper quarter of the lateral edge of the center panel and then
place the gown on by closing the upper edge of the left panel to
the upper left hand edge of the center panel and the upper edge of
the right panel to the upper right hand edge of the center panel
and then attach the lateral edge of the right panel to the lateral
edge of the left panel.
The gown described by the applicant is as simple as A -- B -- C and
it is obvious to the patient how to put on this gown.
A. I. Kegan U.S. Pat. No. 2,329,055 describes a cohesive-adhesive
on an envelope. There is nothing in his patent to suggest that this
might be used on a disposable hospital patient's gown that a
patient can sleep in and nothing to suggest that it would work on a
disposable hospital patient's gown that a patient can sleep in.
The gown designed by S. L. Cater U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,036 does not
describe a disposable hospital patient's gown that a patient can
sleep in, even though it does mention that the gown may be made of
plastic. The fact that it may be made of plastic does not make it
disposable.
Any gown may be made of disposable materials but that does not make
it disposable, if the design of the gown is complicated and the
cost of manufacture of the gown is too expensive.
The gown described by Cater consists of a panel of "A size to form
both the front and back panels and encircle the wearer" and two
other panels which are stitched to the top edge of the panel to
form the shoulders. The top panels are stitched to the body panel
on one edge and detachably connected to the body panel at the other
edge.
However, the gown is so complicated to construct that even if it
were manufactured out of plastic or other disposable material it
would be too expensive to be disposable.
The gown designed by Cater opens only at one side. If the gown were
opened and placed on the front of an unconscious patient lying on
the operating table after an operation, there would be a large flap
(one-half the width of the gown) which forms the back of the gown
that would hang down on one side until you rolled the patient over
on their side and pushed the flap beneath them. However, it is
usually unwise to roll the unconscious patient on their side.
The gown designed by the applicant may be applied to the front of
the patient like a drape sheet. The top of the sheet wraps around
the shoulders of the patient and closes at the top of the
shoulders. The back of the gown may be left unclosed until the
patient awakes.
The seams formed by the attachment of the shoulders of a gown are
strong enough when the gown is constructed of cloth -- but because
of the low internal strength of disposable materials, the seams
formed by the attachment of the shoulders to the body of the gown
would tear apart when the patient rolls over while sleeping if the
gown were made of disposable materials.
The gown described by Cater closes at the shoulders by means of
snap fasteners, ties, or velcro. The snap fasteners and ties are
too expensive to use in a gown if the gown is to be manufactured
cheaply enough to dispose of. Furthermore, the snaps and ties
concentrate the stress at a small area of the gown and since the
disposable material does not have much internal strength, the snaps
or hooks merely pull out of the gown and cannot withstand the
stress and strains of a patient sleeping in the gown.
If the Velcro were fastened to the Cater gown or the Thompson gown
made of disposable material, the cost of manufacturing and
attaching the complicated panels in the Cater gown and the Thompson
gown not to mention the cost of attaching the strip of Velcro to
the gown, together with the cost of the Velcro would make the cost
of the disposable gown prohibitive.
Snaps or hooks cannot be used to close the free edges of a
disposable hospital patients gown because:
1. They are too uncomfortable to sleep on.
2. They concentrate too must stress at a small area of the gown and
since the disposable material does not have much internal strength,
the snaps or hooks merely pull out of the gown, and cannot
withstand the stresses and straining of a patient sleeping in the
gown.
However, by closing the free edge of the disposable hospital
patient's gown by means of a cohesive-adhesive with high shear
adhesive adherence, low peel adhesive adherence, the stresses are
diffused over the entire gown and the gown described by the
applicant remains intact when it is slept in. There are no free
edges at the back or front of the gown to become twisted and
bunched up under the patient and tear the gown apart.
The gown described by L. E. Sabee U.S. Pat. No. 3,230,546 is not
useable as a disposable hospital patient's gown that a patient can
sleep in because the sleeve is permanently closed at the top and
would not permit the gown to be removed over intravenous fluids in
the patient's arm or casts on the patient's arm. The ties at the
back of the gown are uncomfortable to lie on. The ties at the back
of this gown would not withstand the stresses and strains of a
patient sleeping in bed.
Gowns that are held together by ties expose the patient when the
patient bends over. This gown would be expensive to manufacture
because the ties at the back of the gown are recommended in the
description as being double thickness, so this gown is not made of
a single sheet of paper. It requires extra pieces of paper to be
glued on to the gown and then be cut. It would be more practical to
just glue on the ties. It is not intended to seal, open and reseal
by any cohesive-adhesive. It is permanently glued along it's sides
and in it's final form it is merely a paper copy of the
conventional hospital patient's gown that is made of cloth.
At least, the conventional hospital patient's gown made of cloth
remains intact when the patient rolls over in bed, even though the
ties bind the patient across the chest. However, ties made of
disposable material would merely tear off the gown at the point
where the double thickness ties joins the single thickness body of
the gown.
The patent issued to J. F. Graham U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,537 describes
a burn dressing of several layers (nine to twenty) of different
materials attached by "Fastening means such as tapes or ties" lines
49 - 50 column 2 page 1, or by "adhesive tabs" lines 46 - 47 column
3 page 2, or by "Snaps, hooks, tieable non-adhesive tapes" Lines 28
- 29 column 4 page 2.
"Adhesive tabs" merely concentrate the stresses at these points and
since the disposable materials used in a disposable hospital
patient's gown have a low internal strength, the adhesive tab will
merely tear off the outer layer of the disposable material and will
not allow the adhesive tab to reseal the gown a second time.
The Graham Patent does not describe a one piece disposable hospital
patient's gown that seals, opens and reseals along it's confronting
side edges and top edges by means of a cohesive-adhesive with high
shear adhesive adherence and low peel adhesive adherence.
J. J. Grimm U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,927 describes adhesive tape or
similar fasteners to close his gown (col. 2 line 24). This is not a
resealable adhesive means of closing the gown. Because of the soft
texture required for a disposable hospital patient's gown suitable
for a patient to sleep in, the disposable material has a low
internal strength. As soon as the adhesive tape were applied to the
gown, the adhesive tape would just peel off the outer layer of the
paper gown if any attempt were made to peel the adhesive tape off
the gown in order to open the gown, and the adhesive tape could not
be used to reseal the gown because it would have paper attached to
its's surface.
Adhesive tape is not a resealable adhesive when applied to a
disposable hospital patient's gown.
When ties are used on a hospital patient's gown made of cloth that
the patient sleeps in, the ties make the gown bind the patient
across the chest. However, when ties are used on a hospital
patient's gown made of disposable materials, the ties either tear
off the gown or the gown tears across the chest opposite to where
the ties are attached.
The disposable hospital patient's gown described by the applicant
is attached along its free edge and the stress of a patient
sleeping in it is diffused over the entire gown.
The gown described by Grimm does not describe an effective means of
sealing, opening and resealing a disposable hospital patient's gown
that may be used by the patient to sleep in.
K. J. Ptasnik U.S. Pat. No. 2,515,423 describes a method of
applying adhesive (not cohesive-adhesive) in dots to one side of
cellulose (scotch) tape so the scotch tape may be unrolled and not
be permanently stuck together in a roll.
There is no suggestion of applying cohesive-adhesive to both
surfaces of the tape or that adhesive areas may be permanently
fused and that some of these areas may be torn off and remain
behind. In fact, that is the opposite of what Ptasnik is seeking in
his method.
Adhesive tape is not cohesive-adhesive. It will adhere to any
surface. The properties of adhesive tape could not be used in a
disposable gown because the adhesive surface would then adhere to
everything else it came in contact with.
The adhesive method described by Doyle U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,326 is
not a method of sealing, opening, and resealing any product. It
describes an adhesive that is used to adhere two plies of a wall of
a paper bag together by using an adhesive (not a cohesive-adhesive)
that remains constantly "tacky" so that if the two surfaces are
accidentally pulled apart the adhesive will cause the two surfaces
to readhere. Doyle states lines 18 to 19 Page 1, that the adhesive
should "be nonpenetrating so as to form a surface adhesion." He
also states (Line 65 Page 1) "When the plies are brought together
only sufficient pressure should be applied to cause adherence
without penetration of the plies."
This method could certainly not be used to open and reclose
confronting surfaces at selected edges of a disposable gown since
the amount of pressure forcing the two plies together cannot be
controlled and since the adhesive must partly penetrate the soft
disposable material to increase its "internal strength" to keep the
adhesive from peeling off the outer layer of the disposable
material. Furthermore, since the adhesive described by Doyle is
constantly tacky it could not be used in a disposable product as a
method of allowing the product to close, open and reseal since it
would stick to everything it touches -- other products, skin and to
other areas of the product itself.
There is nothing to suggest that adhesive areas in the bag
described by Doyle may become fused by time, pressure and heat and
then if these adhesive areas are torn off, other adhesive areas
that have not come in contact permit the surfaces of the bag to
become adherent again. On the contrary, the adhesive used to cause
the two layers of the bag described by Doyle to adhere together are
described on lines 15 to 17 Page 1, as "The compound should be such
as to retain its tackiness between the plies through low and high
temperatures in the range - 20.degree.F and 250.degree.F." Every
adhesive area in this method adheres. It is only able to readhere
because it remains constantly tacky.
This adhesive is specifically not a cohesive-adhesive, since
cohesive-adhesives are not tacky but adhere only to themselves.
Edgar L. Budden, U.S. Pat. No. 2,523,860 describes the application
of adhesive (and specifically not cohesive-adhesive) in an
intermittent pattern for purposes of economy and to make the
adhesive seal adhere better.
The patent described by Budden does not suggest applying
cohesive-adhesive in the form of dots on opposing surfaces to
enable the adhesive area to be resealed when the paper surfaces are
separated at their interfaces and adhesive dots that have
permanently sealed are torn off. In fact the opposite effect is
sought. The adhesive is applied to only one surface to increase the
binding power of the adhesive.
It is a new concept to apply cohesive-adhesive to the confronting
surfaces at selected edges so the areas of application have spaces
therein without cohesive-adhesive, thereby enabling the confronting
surfaces to be adhered, peel apart, and then readhere, even if some
of the areas containing cohesive-adhesive are torn off when the
confronting surfaces are peeled apart.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
During an operation intravenous fluids are frequently running into
one of the patient's arms and if the gown has any sleeves, it is
difficult to place the gown on the patient without interrupting the
intravenous fluids and possibly contaminating the intravenous
set-up. Similarly, bandages or casts on the patient's arm prevent
placement of the gown or removal of the arm from the sleeve.
Applicant's gown is applied to the front of the patient's trunk and
is then wrapped around the patient's trunk and around the patient's
arms. The confronting surfaces of the edges of the shoulders of the
gown adhere together and the confronting surfaces of the side edges
of the gown adhere together, enabling securement of the gown
longitudinally at the front or rear of the patient. Placing the
gown on the patient or removing the gown from the patient is not
obstructed by bandages, casts, or intravenous fluids.
The prior art requires that the unconscious patient sit up in order
to place the gown over the patient's head, or the gown is required
to be stepped in. It is virtually impossible to pull an examination
gown over the lower extremities and over the lower trunk while a
patient is unconscious. The present gown may be placed on the front
of the patient's trunk as a drape to cover the unconscious
patient's chest and abdomen.
The shoulders may be covered by pushing the top part of the flaps
that cover the patient's back behind the patient where their
confronting surfaces at the edges will adhere at the top to form a
sleeve without sitting the patient up. Even if the patient is
unconscious it is possible to push the flaps that cover the
patient's back, behind the patient where their confronting surfaces
at their edges will adhere, without rolling the patient on their
side or sitting the patient up, in order to fasten the back of the
gown.
The gown described by the applicant is the first disposable gown a
patient can sleep in and is the first disposable gown that
eliminates the expensive manufacturing process of assembling it
into a gown.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of confronting
surfaces of the gown at edges 3 and 4 of disposable materials 2 as
secured to each other by cohesive-adhesive 1;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan of confronting surfaces of the gown at
edges 3 and 4 of disposable materials as applied with
cohesive-adhesive in gridiron pattern 5 and 6;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan of confronting surfaces of the gown at
edges 3 and 4 of the disposable materials as applied with
cohesive-adhesive in dot pattern 7;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of confronting
surfaces of the gown at edges 3 of disposable materials 2 showing
the partial penetration of the cohesive-adhesive within the
confronting surface of the disposable material 1, the confronting
surface being treated with talc particles 8 to nullify the bonding
power of the cohesive-adhesive sufficiently to weaken the bond so
that it may be peeled apart.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan of confronting surfaces of the gown at
edges 3 and 4 of disposable materials as applied with
cohesive-adhesive in a pattern of small circles 9;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan of confronting surfaces of the gown at
edges 3 and 4 of disposable materials as applied with
cohesive-adhesive in a pattern of larger circles 10;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan of confronting surfaces of the gown at
edges 3 and 4 of disposable materials as applied with
cohesive-adhesive in a pattern of diamonds 11;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan of confronting surfaces of the gown at
edges 3 and 4 of disposable materials as applied to one confronting
surface over a broader area 12 than is required for attachment to
the cohesive-adhesive on the other confronting surface 12;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan of confronting surfaces of the gown at
edges 3 and 4 of disposable materials as applied to one confronting
surface on more than one area 13 and 13 to allow a choice of area
of attachment to the cohesive-adhesive on the other confronting
surface 13 and thereby permit a variation of sizes and
adjustments.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the disposable hospital patient's
gown as worn;
FIG. 11 is a rear prespective;
FIG. 12 is a top plan in disassembled position and prior to placing
upon a patient;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of first embodiment of hospital disposable
gown illustrating configuration of single sheet aperture;
FIG. 14 is a back view of assembled first embodiment of hospital
disposable gown;
FIG. 15 is a plan view of second embodiment of hospital disposable
gown illustrating configuration of single sheet;
FIG. 16 is back view of assembled second embodiment of hospital
disposable gown;
FIG. 17 is a plan view of third embodiment of hospital disposable
gown illustrating configuration of single sheet.
FIG. 18 is back view of assembled third embodiment of hospital
disposable gown;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIGS. 10-12, a disposable hospital patient's gown 50 is
illustrated as comprised of a sheet of disposable material having
side edges 62 and 64, to which cohesive-adhesive 90 has been
applied, neck opening 54 and arm openings 60 extending downward
from top edge 84 to which cohesive-adhesive 90 also has been
applied. When the gown is worn, side edges 62 and 64 may be applied
to each other as a longitudinal securement at the front or at the
back of the wearer, as illustrated in FIG. 11. Similarly, top edge
84 outer segments are folded over and secured to the under segments
86 by means of cohesive-adhesive so as to support the garment upon
the shoulders of the wearer, while the wearer's head protrudes
through neck opening 54 and the arms protrude laterally through arm
openings 60. The hospital disposable gown, as seen in FIGS. 13-18,
is generally designated by reference numeral 50 and consists of a
sheet of paper 52 or other disposable material cut or slit to
predetermined pattern to provide neck opening, sleeves and the
like, as desired. As seen in the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14,
single sheet 52 is provided with neck opening 54, surrounded by
tapered cutout portions 56 and 58 intersecting at cuts 60. Also
segments 56 and 58 and free edges 62 and 64 are provided with the
below-described cohesive-adhesive fastening technique. Although the
folding and fastening technique is apparent, FIG. 14 illustrates
back of assembled gown in which openings 60 now provide openings
for arms. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 15, single sheet 52 may be
provided with sections 61 cutout L-shape slits 63 and fastening
technique applied along surfaces 65. In this manner, the assembled
gown is provided with sleeves 66 as seen in the back view of FIG.
16.
FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate a disposable Hospital Patient's Gown,
comprising: A sheet of disposable material forming said gown having
side edges, a bottom edge, and a top edge, said top edge of gown
containing: 1) A medial neck opening; and 2) Two arm openings, each
respectively, intermediate said side edges and said neck opening,
and each extending downwardly from the top edge of said sheet, part
of the way toward the bottom of the sheet, and is then angled
medially part of the way towards the midline of the sheet;
cohesive-adhesive is applied to the confronting surface of the
disposable material adjoining the upper edge of the medial portion
of the arm openings; The application of cohesive-adhesive is also
applied to the confronting surface from the medial end of the
medial portion of the arm openings on the upper and lower edges of
the medial portion of the arm opening and is continued laterally
towards the lateral edge of the sheet but on the surface of the
reverse side of the sheet to the first said medial application of
cohesive-adhesive; Cohesive-adhesive is also applied to the
confronting surface of the disposable material along the upper edge
of the gown (between the arm openings and the neck opening) and
cohesive-adhesive is applied on the same surface side of the sheet
as the application of cohesive-adhesive above that portion of the
arm openings that extend medially towards the midline of the gown;
the portion of disposable material above the lateral application of
cohesive-adhesive and lateral to the downward portion of the arm
openings, is excised; when the outermost side edges of said sheet
are folded inwardly to engage each other, and the flap that has
been created lateral to the neck opening is folded downward and the
cohesive-adhesive adjacent to the upper edge of the sheet (between
the arm openings and the neck opening) is sealed to the
cohesive-adhesive that is adjacent to the upper edge of the medial
portion of the arm openings (that extends towards the midline of
the gown) and to the cohesive-adhesive that extends lateral from
the medial end of the said medial portion of the arm openings
toward the lateral edge on the reverse side of the sheet, sleeves
are created that cover the shoulders and part of the upper arms,
and extend lateral to the body of the gown.
Although the gown described above is most effective if the
cohesive-adhesive is applied to all the confronting surfaces
described above, this is given as an example and does not imply
that this gown can not be constructed with the cohesive-adhesive
applied to less than the above described number of confronting
surfaces.
As illustrated in FIG. 17, diagonal cuts 68 may be made in sheet 52
with fastening technique located along diagonal lines 70, and on
the surfaces 71 as seen in the rear view of FIG. 18, a flap is thus
provided in this version of disposable gown 50.
FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate A Disposable Hospital Patient's Gown,
comprising: A sheet of disposable material having side edges, a
bottom edge, and a top edge containing:
1. A medial neck opening, extending downwardly from said top edge
part of the way toward the bottom of the sheet; and
2. Two arm openings each respectively, intermediate said side edges
and said neck opening and each extending downward and medially from
the top edge of said sheet, and each is angled downward and
medially part of the way toward the bottom and midline of the
sheet; Cohesive-adhesive is applied to the confronting surface of
the disposable material along the uPper edge of the gown (between
the downward arm openings and the downward neck opening).
Cohesive-adhesive is also applied on the reverse surface of the
sheet (to the cohesive-adhesive on the confronting surface at the
upper edge of the sheet between the arm openings and the neck
opening) to the confronting surface of the disposable material at
the upper edge of a line angled partly upward and laterally from
the bottom end of the arm opening towards the side edge of the
sheet. The portion of disposable material above the
inferior-lateral application of cohesive-adhesive, and lateral to
the downward arm opening, 18 excised; when the outermost side edges
of said sheet are folded inwardly to engage each other, and the
flap that has been created lateral to the neck opening is folded
downward and the cohesive-adhesive adjacent to the upper edge of
the sheet (between the arm opening and the neck opening) is sealed
to the cohesive-adhesive on the reverse surface of the sheet that
extends superiorly and laterally from the end of the downward arm
opening, a sleeve is created that covers the shoulder and part of
the upper arm.
The Neck Opening may consist of one of the following:
1. A medial cut-out at the top edge of the sheet, extending
downward part of the way toward the bottom of the sheet. The
cut-out may be curved, square, rectangular, V-shaped, or any
regular or irregular shape.
2. A medial slit extending downward part of the way toward the
bottom of the sheet.
3. The top edge of the sheet may be horizontal without having any
slits or cutouts in the medial portion of the sheet, with neck
opening located between the top edge of the medial portion of the
front section of the sheet and the top edge of the medial portion
of the posterior section of the sheet, after the outermost side
edges of the sheet are folded inwardly to engage each other.
4. A combination of the above.
Arm Openings may consist of one of the following:
1. Cut-outs between the neck opening and the side edges extending
downwardly part of the way toward the bottom of the sheet. The
cut-outs may be curved, square, rectangular, V-shaped or any
regular or irregular shape.
2. Slits between the neck opening and the side edges extending
downward part of the way toward the bottom of the sheet.
3. A combination of the above. The arm openings may be slits with a
circular cutout at the bottom of the slit to keep the bottom of the
slit from tearing. A slit tends to tear at the bottom of slit
because all the stress is concentrated at one point at the bottom
of the slit.
The confronting surfaces adjacent to the edges may be the inside
surface of one side that adheres to the inside surface of the other
side; or the confronting surfaces may be overlapping surfaces, that
is, the inside surface of one side that adheres to the outside
surface of the other side. This applies whether the confronting
surfaces are adjacent to the side edges of the gown when they are
folded inwardly to engage each other, or whether the confronting
surfaces are adjacent to the top edges of the gown, lateral to the
neck opening, and medial to the side edges of the sheet.
The confronting surfaces of the gown at the left shoulder may be
stamped with the letter "A."
The confronting surfaces of the gown at the right shoulder may be
stamped with the letter "B."
The confronting surfaces of the back or the front of the gown may
be stamped with the letter "C."
These letters will make it easier for the nurse or the patients to
assemble the gown by sealing one confronting surface marked "A" to
the other confronting surface marked "A," and one confronting
surface marked "B" to the other confronting surface marked "B," and
one confronting surface marked "C" to the other confronting surface
marked "C."
The cohesive-adhesive is more effective if it is applied along the
entire length of the confronting surfaces of the side edges of the
gown and along the entire length of the confronting surfaces of the
upper edge of the gown between the lateral border of the neck
opening and the medial border of the arm openings and between the
lateral border of the arm openings and the side edges of the gown,
however, it should be clearly understood, that this is an example
and does not imply that the length of the application of the
cohesive-adhesive on the confronting surfaces is limited to the
entire length of the confronting surfaces and is not to be
construed as a limitation of the scope of the appended claims.
The gown is constructed of a single sheet of disposable material,
however, this does not imply that the gown cannot be constructed of
a single sheet of disposable material of more than one thickness
stuck together.
Even though the gown is most effective if it is fastened at the
shoulders with cohesive-adhesive on the confronting surfaces at
portions of the top of the gown between the neck opening and the
arm openings and between the arm openings and the sides of the
gown, it should be clearly understood, however, this is an example
and does not imply that the fastenings of the gown at the shoulders
is limited to a cohesive-adhesive and is not to be construed as a
limitation of the scope of the appended claims.
Free edges 56, 58, 62, 64, and surfaces 65, and 70, 71 and 73 of
sheets 52 of the FIGS. 13-18 embodiments of hospital gown 50 may be
secured by several techniques, some of which will now be
described.
Cohesive-adhesive may be coated on each of the confronting areas
56, 58, 62, 64, 65, 70, 71 and 73 of sheets 52. Most liquid
adhesives strike through the disposable materials leaving a layer
of adhesive on the inside of the disposable gown that is sticky and
unpleasant for the patient to lie on. The cohesive-adhesive used
may penetrate into the disposable material so there is no layer of
cohesive-adhesive on the inside of the gown for the patient to lie
on.
Disposable materials that a person wears close to their skin must
be soft and absorbent. This type of disposable material has a low
internal strength. If the cohesive-adhesive sits of the surface of
the disposable material it will only make the surfaces of the
disposable material adhere. When the disposable product is opened,
the layers of cohesive-adhesive on the two confronting surfaces do
not separate at the interface between the two layers of
cohesive-adhesive but merely peel off the outer layer of the
disposable material so the cohesive-adhesive will not adhere a
second time.
The cohesive-adhesive used may penetrate into the disposable
material and increase the internal strength of the disposable
material in that area, so that when the disposable gown is opened,
the gown separates at the interface between the two layers of
cohesive-adhesive without peeling off the outer layer of the
disposable gown.
However, even if the cohesive-adhesive penetrates into the
disposable material and increases the internal strength of the
disposable material, or if the disposable material used has a high
internal strength; heat, pressure and time will frequently fuse
areas of contact between the layers of cohesive-adhesive on the two
confronting surfaces, and when the disposable product is opened,
the areas of cohesive-adhesive on the confronting surfaces that
have fused will prevent the disposable product from being opened at
the interfaces of the cohesive-adhesive that has been applied at
these areas. If the disposable material has a low internal strength
and the cohesive-adhesive has penetrated into the disposable
material, the areas of cohesive-adhesive that have become fused
will merely tear out those portions of disposable material when the
product is opened.
If the disposable material has a high internal strength, then the
areas of cohesive-adhesive that fuse at their interface will tear
off the disposable material at their surface of attachment to the
disposable material.
These areas will be unable to readhere because there will no longer
be cohesive-adhesive on both confronting surfaces.
However, if the cohesive-adhesive is applied so the areas of
application have spaces therein without cohesive-adhesive; for
example, if the cohesive-adhesive is applied in the form of dots,
then even if some of the dots on the confronting surfaces that have
become fused together are torn off when the confronting surfaces
are peeled apart, other dots that have not come in contact with
each other will be unused and will be available to permit the
confronting surfaces to readhere a second time.
It should be clearly understood however, that the application of
cohesive-adhesive in the form of dots to the confronting surfaces
is an example and does not imply that the application of
cohesive-adhesive is limited to dots and is not to be construed as
a limitation of the scope of the appended claims.
The characteristic of low peel adhesive adherence in a
cohesive-adhesive may also be achieved at the area of contact
between the two confronting surfaces by applying cohesive-adhesive
in an unbroken strip and then applying a non-adhesive substance
such as talc powder to the surface of the cohesive-adhesive to
nullify the bonding power of the cohesive-adhesive at the area
where the non-adhesive substance has been applied, so that areas of
cohesive-adhesive on one confronting surface will come into contact
with areas of cohesive-adhesive on the other confronting surface
that have been nullified by non-adhesive substances so the
confronting surfaces may be peeled apart and areas of
cohesive-adhesive will be unused and will be available to allow the
confronting surfaces to adhere again.
It should be clearly understood, however, that the application of
talc powder to the cohesive-adhesive is given as an example and
does not imply that the application of non-adhesive substances to
the cohesive-adhesive is limited to talc powder and is not to be
construed as a limitation of the scope of the appended claims.
In order to disclose the nature of a cohesive-adhesive with high
shear adhesive adherence and low peel adhesive adherence, that
penetrates into the disposable materials, an example is fully
described below. It should be clearly understood, however, that
this done as an example and is not to be construed as a limitation
of the scope of the appended claims.
The following cohesive-adhesive may be varied in percentage and
composition; other substances may be substituted for the tackifying
resins, for the cellulose thickeners, for the defoamers, for the
wetting agents, for the antioxidants and for the preservatives: and
the percentage of the natural latex in aqueous solution with casein
may be varied.
74.00% Natural Latex (62% solids)
3.00% Casein
4.00% Sodium Polyacrylate
0.80% sodium pentachlorophenate
0.40% Aqua Ammonia
1.00% 4, 6 Dinonyl-O-cresol
0.01% Tolune
0.01% Silicone Antifoam A (Dow Corning Co.)
16.78% Water
Even though a cohesive-adhesive is used that has properties of high
shear adhesive adherence that enables the confronting surfaces to
adhere together tightly, and properties of low peel adhesive
adherence that enables the confronting surfaces to be peeled apart:
however, heat, pressure, and time will sometimes make areas of this
cohesive-adhesive fuse together permanently so that the confronting
surfaces cannot be peeled apart at the interfaces between the two
surfaces of cohesive-adhesive.
The liquid cohesive-adhesive is applied to the confronting surfaces
at the edges of the gown so these areas of application have spaces
therein without cohesive-adhesive: the application may be in a
pattern: for example, dots, circles, diamond shapes, or grid or any
other pattern; or at random: for example, dots, circles, diamond
shapes or any other shape. The application may be in a
discontinuous form: for example, dots or any shape not continuous;
or in a continuous form: for example, a grid or lines, vertical
and/or horizontal: or even in the form of a signature, or in the
form of a scribble, so that after the cohesive-adhesive on the
confronting surfaces has dried, when these confronting surfaces are
pressed together, some of the limbs of cohesive-adhesive on one
surface will come in contact with some of the limbs of
cohesive-adhesive on the other surface and will adhere. The
cohesive-adhesive used may penetrate into the disposable material
and increase the internal strength of the disposable material in
the area of the cohesive-adhesive; or the cohesive-adhesive used
may not penetrate into the disposable material.
If the cohesive-adhesive used does not penetrate into the
disposable material, then when the edges of the gown are peeled
apart to open the disposable gown, the limbs of cohesive-adhesive
on one confronting surface will tear off the limbs of
cohesive-adhesive that are in contact on the other confronting
surface. However, even if those limbs of cohesive-adhesive in
contact are torn off, other limbs of cohesive-adhesive not in
contact will be unused and will still be available to allow the
gown to be closed again.
If the cohesive-adhesive has properties of high shear adhesive
adherence and low peel adhesive adherence, but does not penetrate
into the disposable materials, the limbs of cohesive-adhesive on
one confronting surface that are not in contact with limbs of
cohesive-adhesive on the other confronting surface will be unused
and will be available to allow the gown to be closed again, and
some of the limbs of cohesive-adhesive on one confronting surface
that are in contact with some of the limbs of cohesive-adhesive on
the other confronting surface will peel apart and will also remain
behind and be available to allow the confronting surface to adhere
again because the cohesive-adhesive has high shear adhesive
adherence and low peel adhesive adherence and the low peel
adhesive-adherence allows some of the areas in contact to be peeled
apart.
If the cohesive-adhesive that is used penetrates into the
disposable materials and increases the internal strength of the
disposable material in the area of the cohesive-adhesive, and also
has properties of high shear adhesive adherence and low peel
adhesive adherence, then the limbs of cohesive-adhesive on one
confronting surface that are not in contact with limbs of
cohesive-adhesive on the other confronting surface will be unused
and will be available to allow the confronting surfaces to adhere
again, but since the cohesive-adhesive penetrates into the
disposable material and increases the internal strength of the
disposable material in the area of the cohesive-adhesive, and since
this cohesive-adhesive has the properties of high shear adhesive
adherence and low peel adhesive adherence, the low peel adhesive
adherence will enable most of the limbs of cohesive-adhesive on the
confronting surfaces in contact with each other to be peeled apart
and will allow these same limbs of cohesive-adhesive to adhere
again, even if heat and pressure causes some of the
cohesive-adhesive limbs in contact to become permanently fused so
they are torn off when the two surfaces are peeled apart, however,
many of the limbs of cohesive-adhesive in contact on the two
confronting surfaces will not be fused together permanently and may
be peeled apart. The cohesive-adhesive used may have high shear
adhesive adherence and high peel adhesive adherence. If the
cohesive-adhesive is applied so the areas of application have
spaces therein free of cohesive-adhesive, then even if the
cohesive-adhesive used has high shear adhesive adherence and high
peel adhesive adherence, the method of application will create low
peel adhesive adherence without reducing the high shear adhesive
adherence.
It is possible, but highly unlikely, that even if the dots of
cohesive-adhesive are applied in a regular pattern, to the
confronting surfaces, and then allowed to dry, that all the
cohesive-adhesive dots will come into contact when the confronting
surfaces are sealed together at any one time.
If the cohesive-adhesive is applied to the confronting surfaces in
dots 3 MM. in diameter and the dots are placed 3.1 MM. apart
horizontally and 3.0 MM. apart vertically on one confronting
surface and 3.0 MM. apart horizontally and 3.1 MM. apart vertically
on the other confronting surface then it is impossible for all the
dots on the two confronting surfaces to seal together at any one
time, so there are always dots on the two confronting surfaces
unused and available to reseal the confronting surfaces the next
time.
It should be clearly understood, however, that this is an example
and does not imply that the size of the dots are limited or that
the spaces between them are limited and is not to be construed as a
limitation of the scope of the appended claims.
Until the present time only adhesives based on natural latex were
cohesive-adhesives with seal and reseal capabilities. Natural latex
is a water-based system and hence, is not suitable for use as a hot
melt adhesive. Hot melt adhesives are 100 percent solids, and are
generally applied at temperatures in excess of 300.degree.. Until
the present time no hot melt adhesive existed with the properties
of a cohesive-adhesive, that is, adhesives that when dry have the
unique properties of bonding only to themselves; and in particular,
the properties of a cohesive-adhesive with high shear adhesive
adherence and low peel adhesive adherence, that enables the
cohesive-adhesive when dry, to bond only to itself but also cause
the confronting surfaces with cohesive-adherence to adhere together
tightly but also enable the confronting surfaces with
cohesive-adhesive to peel apart easily.
However, the following formulation describes a hot melt adhesive
with the characteristics of a cohesive-adhesive: that is, adhesives
that when dry have the unique properties of bonding only to
themselves.
The alloy alnico in powdered form is added to a hot melt adhesive.
The allow alnico is made of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt steel.
In order to disclose the nature of a hot melt adhesive, an example
is fully described below. It should be clearly understood, however,
that this is done as an example and is not to be construed as a
limitation of the scope of the appended claims.
The following hot melt adhesive may be varied in percentage and
composition and other substances may be substituted.
EXAMPLE OF HOT MELT ADHESIVE
33% -- pentaerithritol Ester of Rosin
34% -- High Melt Micro-Crystalline Wax
33% -- Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
The hot melt adhesive is then applied to the disposable materials,
allowed to dry and the area is placed in a magnetic field.
A hot melt cohesive-adhesive to which the allow alnico has been
added in powdered form and which is then applied to confronting
surfaces at selected areas on a disposable gown and allowed to dry
and these areas are then placed in a magnetic field thereby
constituting a system that has a very broad hysteresis loop and has
a high retention of magnetism when the magnetizing field is
removed.
It should be clearly understood, however, that the example
described, that is, the addition of the alloy alnico in powdered
form to a hot melt adhesive to create a hot melt cohesive-adhesive
after the substance is applied to the disposable material, allowed
to dry and then placed in a magnetic field to create the
cohesive-adhesive properties, is done as an example and not to be
construed as a limitation of the scope of the appended claims.
Any materials having the potential of magnetic properties may be
added to the hot melt adhesive and then be applied to the
confronting surfaces of disposable materials, allowed to dry, and
then be placed in a magnetic field to create ahot melt
cohesive-adhesive; although a hot melt adhesive containing the
alloy alnico in powdered form has a broader hysteresis loop than
most other substances and has a higher retention of magnetism when
the magnetizing field is removed than most other substances.
The amount of ferromagnetic substance added to the hot melt
adhesive will depend on the degree of cohesion desired, the area of
contact between the cohesive-adhesive applied to the confronting
surfaces and the width of the hysteresis loop characterisitc of the
ferromagnetic substance added.
If this hot melt cohesive-adhesive is applied so these areas of
application have spaces therein without cohesive-adhesive, then
this hot melt cohesive adhesive will have the properties of high
shear adhesive adherence and low peel adhesive adherence, after it
has been applied to confronting surfaces of disposable materials,
allowed to dry and then placed in a magnetic field.
The application may be in a pattern: for example, dots, circles,
diamond or grid, or any other pattern; or the application may be at
random: for example, dots, circles, diamond shapes, or any other
shape; or the application may be in a discontinuous form: for
example, dots, or any shape not continuous; or in a continuous
form: for example, a grid or lines vertical and/or horizontal or
even in the form of a signature, or in the form of a scribble.
The manner of application of this hot melt cohesive-adhesive as
described above will lower the low peel adhesive adherence and will
increase the high shear adhesive adherence.
In general, hot melt adhesives have the properties of penetrating
into the disposable materials to a greater degree than
cohesive-adhesives based on natural latex. However, the examples of
hot melt cohesive-adhesive that penetrates into the disposable
materials and the example of a hot melt cohesive-adhesive that does
not penetrate into the disposable material are given as examples
and are not intended to be construed as a limitation of the scope
of the appended claims.
It should be clearly understood that the example of a hot melt
cohesive adhesive and a latex based cohesive-adhesive does not
imply that the cohesive-adhesive is limited to latex based
cohesive-adhesives or to hot melt cohesive-adhesives containing
ferromagnetic substances and is not to be construed as a limitation
of the scope of the appended claims.
Cohesive-adhesives with some or all of the characteristics
described above, such as high shear adhesive adherence and high
peel adhesive adherence or high shear adhesive adherence and low
peel adhesive adherence, that penetrate or do not penetrate into
the disposable materials depending on the disposable materials used
and depending on the cohesive adhesive used, may be applied so the
areas of application have spaces therein without the
cohesive-adhesive: the application may be in a pattern for example
dots, circles, diamond shape, grid, or any other pattern: or the
application may be at random: for example dots, circles, diamond
shapes or any other shape: or the application may be in a
discontinuous form: for example dots or any shapes not continuous:
or in a continuous form: for example a grid, or lines vertical
and/or horizontal, or even in the form of a signature, or in the
form of a scribble: applied along the confronting surfaces adjacent
to selected edges of a disposable hospital patient's gown.
If the cohesive-adhesive is applied to one confronting surface over
a broader area than is required for attachment to the
cohesive-adhesive on the other confronting surface, or if the
cohesive-adhesive is applied to one confronting surface on more
that one area, this will allow a choice of area of attachment and
permit a variation of sizes and adjustments. If the
cohesive-adhesive has high shear adhesive adherence and low peel
adhesive adherence, this will allow the area of attachment to be
opened and then be readhered at another area of attachment if
desired.
The cohesive-adhesive may be applied by a platen applicator, by
flexography, by silk screen applicator, by spray applicator, by
spatula, by knife or by a roller applicator.
The roller applicator may have holes through which the
cohesive-adhesive may be fed under pressure, by gravity, or by a
spray.
Applications of the cohesive-adhesive so the areas of applications
have spaces therein free of cohesive-adhesive will allow the
moisture to seep out of the cohesive-adhesive into the adjoining
material and will allow the cohesive-adhesive to dry more
rapidly.
Cohesive adhesive may be applied so that the edge of the
applications of cohesive adhesive is 1/2 inch more or less from the
edge of the disposable material to give one something to grab on
to, thereby making it easier to separate the two confronting
surfaces.
Manifestly, changes in the application of the cohesive-adhesive may
be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of
invention.
Immediately after the operation of obstetrical delivery, hospital
gown 50 is placed on the front of the patient with the arms in the
sleeves of the gown. Gown 50 need not be fastened at the patient's
back until consciousness if regained permitting the patient to be
rolled on their side or replaced in sitting position. However, the
side edges may be secured beneath the patient's back simply by
pressing the side edges 62 and 64 together. All this is
accomplished with hospital gown 50, without providing conventional
large flaps that get in way until fastened around patient's
back.
Obviously, the cuts made in sheet of disposable material of the
hospital gown 50 may be varied to provide a choice of models with
various shapes of sleeves or flaps to cover shoulders. Similarly,
the cuts in upper lateral section or inside of sheet may be varied
to provide different shapes or length of flaps to wrap around
patient and cover patient's back. Optionally, the sleeves of gown
may be omitted, and shoulders and upper arms simply protected by
widening shoulder straps creating flap which will extend over
shoulders and cover upper arm.
The sleeve may be positioned at the top of the arm to close under
the arm -- or the sleeve may be positioned under the arm to close
at the top of the arm -- or the sleeve may be positioned at one
side of the arm to close at the other side of the arm.
To be "disposable" an examination gown should not cost more than
the cost of laundrying a cloth gown plus the cost of the gown
divided by the number of times that it can be used. That rules out
any gown that consists of more than a single sheet.
Even though the gown designed by the applicant is the first
disposable hospital patient's gown that a patient can sleep in, the
gown could still not be manufactured cheaply enough to be
disposable except for a very important factor in its design. It is
the first disposable gown that eliminates the expensive
manufacturing process of assembling it into a gown.
The gown designed by the applicant is a sheet of disposable
material cut to a pattern, cohesive-adhesive is applied to the
confronting surfaces of the free edges at the top and sides of the
sheet. The sheet is assembled into a gown by the patient, thereby
eliminating the manufacturing process of assembling the sheet into
a gown and enables the gown to be manufactured cheaply enough to
dispose of after it has been worn once by the patient.
The gown described by the applicant is the first disposable
hospital patient's gown that consists of a single sheet of
disposable material without requiring separately attached belts,
ties, panels of material or sleeves; the first disposable gown that
may be applied to the front of the patient and then be closed at
the shoulders to form sleeves without sitting the patient up or
rolling the patient over; the first disposable gown that opens at
the shoulders to allow the gown to be removed without interrupting
the intravenous set up; the first disposable gown that is sealed
together with an inexpensive cohesive-adhesive after it has been
placed on the patient; the first disposable gown that may be opened
for examination of the patient and then be resealed, in a manner
that eliminates gaps in the back of the gown that open when the
patient bends over.
Other gowns have described fasteners of ties, tapes, snaps and
hooks.
Snaps, ties, tapes or hooks are not effective to close the free
edges of a disposable hospital patient's gown because:
1. They expose the patient when the patient bends over.
2. They are too uncomfortable to sleep on.
3. They concentrate too much stress at those small areas of
attachment of the gown, and since the disposable material does not
have much internal strength, the snaps, ties, tapes, or hooks
merely pull out of the gown, and cannot withstand the stresses and
strains of a patient sleeping in the gown.
However, by closing the free edge of the disposable hospital
patient's gown at the shoulders and back or front of the gown by
means of a cohesive-adhesive, the stresses are diffused over the
entire gown and the gown described by the applicant remains intact
when it is slept in. There are no free edges at the back or front
of the gown to become twisted and bunched up under the patient and
then cause the gown to be torn apart.
Manifestly, changes in shape of office disposable gown 50, as well
as alternative technique for attaching shoulder straps and panels
of disposable material, may be employed without departing from the
spirit and scope of invention. Similarly, revision of length and
direction of cuts in hospital gown, as well as alteration of
position or size of neck opening and sleeves or changes in the
design of the pattern that the cohesive-adhesive is applied may be
resorted to without departing from spirit and scope of
invention.
* * * * *