Patient gown

Abstract

A poncho-like patient gown is described. This gown comprises an essentially rectangular fabric sheet having a center aperture. The aperture is adapted to fit over the head of the patient, causing the front and back panels of the sheet to drape downward from the patient's shoulders and cover the torso of the patient. Closure means, such as a sash, gather the panels about the torso to preserve patient modesty.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to patient gowns, suitable for wear in a physician's office or hospital setting. They are intended both to ensure patient modesty and to facilitate treatment by a medical provider.

Conventional patient gowns usually look much like a robe, but are worn facing the opposite direction. They normally cover the torso front and sides as well as parts of the arms of a patient, while opening down the back.

This back or rear opening of conventional gowns has long been the target of attempts at humor. It is, however, far from desirable to many patients because of the modesty problems which it presents.

Conventional gowns also present impediments to the treatment of a patient. Direct access to the front of the patient's torso, especially in the area of the chest, is normally restricted. The gown must be loosened at the neck or even partially removed from the shoulders for such a treatment, including examination, by a medical provider.

Where the patient is seated or lying in bed, these problems are compounded. In these positions, the patient's weight usually lies on one or both gown sides, adjacent the rear opening. This makes an attempt to loosen the gown even more difficult.

There has been no meaningful design improvement in patient gowns for decades. Both medical care providers and patients have therefore continued to suffer these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a patient gown which allows enhanced patient modesty.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a patient gown which facilitates direct access to the front and/or back of the patient's torso for the purpose of treatment, including examination.

These and more specific objects and advantages are obtained through the present patient gown comprising an essentially rectangular sheet of water-permeable material having a center aperture. The center aperture is adapted to fit over the head of the patient, causing the front and back panels to drape downward from the patient's shoulders and cover the torso of the patient. Closure means, such as a sash, gather the panels about the torso of the patient.

The poncho-like sheet of the present gowns is, as previously indicated, essentially rectangular. Preferably, the dimensions of the adjacent sides of a sheet are in a ratio of approximately 2:1. In this embodiment, the sheet is most desirably approximately 80 inches long by 40 inches wide.

The sheet is composed of water-permeable material such as paper or fabric. Desirably, it is a readily washable fabric such as cotton. This makes it both comfortable as well as reusable.

In the center of the present sheets there is an aperture. By “center”, what is meant is the approximate point defined by the intersection of lines drawn between opposite corners of the sheet. This aperture is adapted to fit over the head of the patient, permitting the sheet to drape evenly from the patient's shoulders.

The center aperture of the sheet may take any number of forms. Most simply, it may be a slit or oval, desirably parallel to either the longer (length) or shorter (width) sides of the sheet. Other embodiments include an essentially round or v-shaped opening, as are customary in t-shirts and other wearing apparel.

Once the aperture is fitted over the head and the sheet rests on the patient's shoulders, the sheet is defined into front and back panels. The panels are normally of approximately equal size, each representing about one-half of the sheet. These two panels cover the respective front and back portions of the patient's torso as the sheet drapes downward, like a poncho, from the patient's shoulders.

The panels should extend downward from the shoulders to cover at least the torso of the patient. Desirably, they drape further, to cover to below the patient's knees. The exact length, however, is largely a matter of individual preference and/or modesty. Moreover, it will vary somewhat, dependent upon the build of the particular individual wearing a given gown.

The closure means for the present gowns is largely intended to ensure patient modesty. This closure means reduces the side openings between adjacent edges of the panels which would otherwise expose both flanks of a patient. Accordingly, this closure means should detachably gather the two panels about the torso, desirably at about the waist. This ensures that the space between the adjacent side edges of the panels is reduced or eliminated over most of their length.

These closure means may be permanently affixed to the gown at the front and/or back panels. If closure means are affixed to both panels, only the closure means on one panel need be used at any given time and the gown may be closed at the front or back, at the patient's option.

Normally this closure is performed by first gathering one of the panels about the patient's torso. The other panel may then be pulled around the torso from the opposite direction, its side edges overlapping the side edges of the first or underlying panel. Then, for example in the case of a sash closure means, the ends of the sash may simply be tied over the second, outer panel. This holds the gown in place.

Other suitable closure means may include buttons/buttonholes, snaps, velcro or the like which detachably affix the two panels about the patient. Preferably, however, the closure means comprises an elongated sash employed to surround the torso.

Such a preferred sash may be as simple as a belt-like length of the same material as the gown sheet. The sash may be placed at the waist, circumscribing the torso, and its two ends tied together in the same manner as a bathrobe sash. This gathers the panel closely to the patient's body, insuring modesty.

In still more preferred embodiments, the sash is permanently affixed to the gown so that it will always be available for use. One desirable manner in which this may be accomplished is to sew or otherwise attach a portion of the sash(es) permanently to a panel, leaving the ends free to be tied in a manner which detachably gathers the sheet panels about the patient's torso.

For example, the approximate mid-length of a sash can be sewn to the approximate mid-width of a sheet panel. The two free ends of that sash may then be tied about the torso, gathering both panels as already described. An alternative manner in which this may be accomplished is to sew or otherwise attach the ends of two sashes to a panel, usually proximate the opposing sides of the panel. For example, the attached end of each sash may be sewed to a panel within six inches of its side edge leaving the remainder of the sash free. Then, the unattached or free sash ends may be tied together about the torso, again gathering the panels to the patient as previously described.

The present gown is particularly easy to put on and take off. Unlike conventual gowns, patients are not confused as to how it should be worn. Because there is no substantial difference between the panels, a patient cannot put it on backwards. Further, one size will fit almost anyone and, unless the patient intends to leave the examination room, it is not even necessary to employ the closure means.

Once a patient is wearing the present gown, its other advantages over conventional gowns become apparent. It offers an enhanced ease of treatment, including examination. A patient therefore disrobes, if not completely, then desirably at least to the patient's undergarments and then adorns the present gown for treatment by a medical provider.

A medical provider can readily gain access to both the front and back areas of a patient wearing the present gown. There will be slit-like openings between adjacent panel edges, along the patient's sides above the closure means. A medical provider can readily access all upper body areas through these openings. Below the closure means, access is available simply by lifting a panel. Consequently, there is seldom any need to loosen or remove the gown for treatment of any body areas of a patient.

It also makes little difference for treatment, whether the patient is seated or in bed. With conventional gowns, the patient's weight will normally rest on part of the gown. This can make access to certain body areas difficult. With the present invention, however, neither of these positions substantially effects the side openings exhibited by this poncho-like patient gown. Similarly, neither position restricts the ability to lift the upper-most panel. Consequently, direct access to the patient's entire torso for treatment, including examination, is essentially unimpeded.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The sole FIGURE is a plan view drawing of a patient gown of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates a patient gown embodying the present invention. Patient gown 1 is of an essentially rectangular shape and comprises a cotton fabric sheet 2 having a center aperture 3. Here, this aperture 3 is shown as an oval-neck opening, its longer axis being aligned with that of the sheet 2.

After the gown 1 has been placed on a patient (not shown) by inserting the patient's head through the aperture 3, the sheet 2 will drape downward from the patient's shoulders (see broken line representing the approximate break-line of the sheet over a patient's shoulders), thereby defining a front panel 4 and back panel 5 of the sheet 2.

Ends 8 and 9 of two lengths of sash 6 and 7 are sewn to the back panel 5. The opposite free ends 10 and 11 of the sashes 6 and 7 may be pulled around the torso of the patient, gathering the panels 4 and 5, and may be detachably tied together at the patient's front to ensure modesty.

Also shown in this embodiment is a second set of two additional lengths of sash 6′ and 7′ having corresponding ends 8′ and 9′ sewn to the other panel 4. The free ends 10′and 11′ are similarly available to gather the panels 4 and 5 and be detachably tied together around the patient's torso (not shown), should the patient prefer, or choose instead, to use them.

This embodiment of the present invention incorporating both an oval neck opening and a set of sashes on each panel is a particularly preferred one. As should be apparent, it is totally symmetrical in form, although only one set of the sashes is usually used at any given time to tie the gown closed. Consequently, patients have exhibited no uncertainty concerning how to put on, or wear, such a gown. This is quite helpful under medical conditions which patients may perceive as stressful.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, it is to be understood that this description is by way of example only. The protection granted is to be limited only by the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A patient gown comprising an essentially rectangular sheet of water-permeable material, said sheet having a center aperture adapted to fit over the head of said patient, causing said sheet to drape from the patient's shoulders, thereby defining front and back sheet panels which cover the torso of said patient and closure means for detachably gathering said panels about said torso.

2. The gown of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises cotton fabric.

3. The gown of claim 2, wherein the closure means comprises an elongated sash for circumscribing the torso of the patient and gathering said panels about said torso.

4. The gown of claim 3, wherein the center aperture is oval shaped.

5. The gown of claim 3, wherein the closure means comprises an elongated sash affixed to one of said panels, the two ends of said sash being adapted to circumscribe the torso of the patient for gathering said panels about said torso.

6. The gown of claim 3, wherein the closure means comprises a set of two elongated sashes, one end of each of said sashes being affixed to one of said panels, the other two ends being adapted to circumscribe the torso of the patient for gathering said panels about said torso.

7. The gown of claim 6, wherein there is a second set of two elongate sashes, one end of each of said sashes being affixed to the second of said panels, the other two ends being adapted to circumscribe the torso of the patient for detachably gathering said panels about said torso.

8. In a method for treatment of the torso of a patient by a medical provider, the improvement wherein said patient at least disrobes to said patient's undergarments and then adorns the gown of claim 1 for said treatment.

9. In a method for treatment of the torso of a patient by a medical provider, the improvement wherein said patient at least disrobes to said patient's undergarments and then adorns the gown of claim 2 for said treatment.

10. In a method for treatment of the torso of a patient by a medical provider, the improvement wherein said patient at least disrobes to said patient's undergarments and then adorns the gown of claim 3 for said treatment.

11. In a method for treatment of the torso of a clothed patient by a medical provider, the improvement wherein said patient at least disrobes to said patient's undergarments and then adorns the gown of claim 6 for said treatment.

12. In a method for treatment of the torso of a patient by a medical provider, the improvement wherein said patient at least disrobes to said patient's undergarments and then adorns the gown of claim 7 for said treatment.