HOSPITAL GOWN

Abstract

A hospital gown having strategically positioned slits and fitted fasteners along the front, back and sides to allow preferential closing of the open seams and securing sensor connected leads or intravenous tubing to the patient. The hospital gown has a rear-opened garment, fasteners for closing the shoulder and sleeves sections, rear fasteners, plurality of strategically positioned slits for passing tubes and wire and plurality of pockets. The hospital gown may comprise a side-opened garment, shoulder fasteners, side fasteners, plurality of slits for passing tubes and wire and plurality of pockets. The preferred and alternative embodiments of the hospital gown feature one or more hook-and-loop strips or snaps strategically placed at the front, sides and, or back of the hospital gown.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 11/796,624 filed Apr. 27, 2007 which claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/795,439 filed Apr. 27, 2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to clothing, and more particularly, to a hospital gown having a plurality of slits that allow tubes and wire-connected sensors to be attached to the wearer without opening or lifting the gown.

2. Description of the Background Art

When a patient is in the hospital, they are typically connected to a number of tubes and sensors comprising wire. The tubes and wire are typically run under the gown, through the sleeves and neck opening making direct contact with the patient's skin. This direct contact with the skin increases the risks of irritation, infection and stress. Routing lines under the gown is also uncomfortable and leaves the patient exposed, which can be embarrassing. While conventional hospital gowns fit over the patient, they do not provide for receiving tubes and wires without exposing the patient. If a hospital gown existed that had openings and structure for accommodating hospital tubes, wires and the like in a manner that increased patient comfort and privacy and reduced the risks of irritation, infections and stress, it would be well received.

Although there are a variety of hospital gowns known in the background art, there are no known hospital gowns that adequately address the problems in the prior art as contemplated by the instant invention. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,268, issued to Freeman, discloses a patient's gown having a body portion with a main panel positioned on the rear or front side of the patient and pair of adjacent side panels and sleeves sewn to the body portion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,848, issued to Buckley, discloses a cardiac garment having a front closing, an interior pocket for a monitor, a belt tying in front or in back, and closure means. It provides modesty, comfort, durability and an attractive appearance. The garment is designed for use in all cardiac rehabilitation situations including exercise and stress testing. The entire garment is made of x-ray transparent materials. U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,702, issued to Piloian, discloses a garment with an interior pocket that houses and holds an ostomy appliance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,414, issued to Smith, discloses a hospital privacy gown having a body garment with a front portion, a vertically split rear portion divided into two segments, a pair of sleeves and a neck opening, so that the body garment can be worn by a patient with a fastener is for retaining the two segments of the vertically split rear portion together at the neck opening. U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,923, issued to Maria, discloses an easily attached and detached patient gown that consists of a back piece and an identical front piece. U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,758, issued to Burkard et al., discloses a feeding tube accessible wearing apparel for giving a user a sense of dignity and privacy during a medical procedure. U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,187, issued to Siegel, discloses multipurpose medical clothing, such as a gown or robe, that safely accommodates medical appliances attached to a patient, affords privacy, and thus encourages the patient to be up and ambulatory. U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,321, issued to Shamam, discloses a closed rear gown for a patient to wear in the hospital that provides for modesty and for convenient access to the patient's body by the medical and nursing staff for patient care. U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,800, issued to Leger et al., discloses a garment including a torso portion of an extent sufficient to encircle a garment wearer's torso and arm openings provided in the torso portion. U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,812, issued to Cho et al., discloses a papilla gown having a cloth web that is adapted to cover the body of a patient, an elongated hole provided on the cloth web communicating the inside of the cloth web with the outside of the cloth web, a pocket attached to the cloth web, a cover portion that is provided on the outside of the cloth web and covers the hole, and a fastener that fastens the cover portion to the outside of the cloth web.

The foregoing noted background art fails to disclose a hospital gown with strategically positioned openings and structure for accommodating hospital tubes, wires and the like that adequately addresses and resolves the above noted problems. Accordingly, there exist a need for a hospital gown that addresses the shortcomings in the prior art. The instant invention addresses this unfulfilled need in the prior art by providing a hospital gown that accommodates tubes, wires and other hospital instruments as contemplated by the instant invention disclosed herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hospital gown that runs tubes and wire without exposing the patient.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide a hospital gown that does not lift a sleeve or neck opening leaving the patient exposed when running tubes and wire.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a hospital gown with strategically positioned openings or slits for passing tubes and wire without lifting sleeves or openings and, or leaving the patient exposed.

It is an additional object of the instant invention to provide a hospital gown that reduces patient skin contact with medical lines to decrease the risks of irritation, infections and stress.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a hospital gown that improves patient comfort and privacy.

It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide a hospital gown that replaces safety pins and facilitates early ambulation.

In light of these and other objects, the instant invention comprises a hospital gown having strategically positioned slits and fitted fasteners along the front, back and sides to allow preferential closing of the open seams enhancing modesty and securing sensor connected leads or intravenous tubing to the patient. The hospital gown of the instant invention allows remains closed covering the patient while connected to wired sensors and, or intravenous tubing. The hospital gown preferably comprises a side-opened garment, sleeve fasteners for closing the shoulder and IV sleeve sections, side fasteners, plurality of strategically positioned slits for passing tubes and wire (i.e. medical lines) and plurality of pockets. In an alternative embodiment, the hospital gown comprises a rear-opened garment, IV sleeve fasteners, rear fasteners, plurality of slits for passing medical lines and plurality of pockets. The preferred and alternative embodiments of the hospital gown feature one or more strings or snap fasteners strategically placed at the front, sides and, or back of the hospital gown. Alternatively, the fasteners may comprise hook-and-loop.

In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational back view of the alternative embodiment of the hospital gown in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational front view of the alternative embodiment of the hospital gown in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational back view of preferred embodiment of the hospital gown in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational front view of the preferred embodiment of the hospital gown in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational front view of the preferred embodiment of the hospital gown in an opened position in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevational rear view of the preferred embodiment of the hospital gown in an opened position in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 7 is an elevational front view of the alternative embodiment of the hospital gown in an opened position in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 8 is an elevational rear view of the preferred embodiment of the hospital gown in an opened position in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the hospital gown in use in accordance with the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 9 depict the preferred and alternative embodiments of the instant invention which is generally referenced as a hospital gown and, or by numeric character 10. The instant invention 10 is a hospital gown having slits and fitted with Velcro strips at the front, back and sides to allow preferential closing of the open seams enhancing modesty and securing sensor connected leads or intravenous tubing to the patient. The hospital gown 10 will allow the user to wear a single hospital gown while maintaining a closed and covered backside and connected to wired sensors or intravenous tubing.

With reference to FIGS. 1-2 and 7-8, the alternative embodiment of the hospital gown 10 comprises a rear-opened garment 12, shoulder fasteners 14 for closing the shoulder and IV sleeves sections, rear fasteners 16, leads slit 20, first pocket 22, central line slits 21, 23, gastronomy slit 24 for percutaneous feeding, drainage tube slit 26, second pocket 28, slit 30 and third pocket 32. The rear fasteners 16 may comprise strings, snaps or hook-and-loop. The shoulder fasteners 14 preferably comprise snaps or strings but may comprise hook-and-loop.

With reference to FIGS. 3-6, the preferred embodiment of the hospital gown 10 comprises a side-opened garment 12, shoulder fasteners 14, side fasteners 15, leads slit 20, first pocket 22, gastronomy slit 24 for percutaneous feeding, slit 30 and pocket 32. The rear fasteners 16 may comprise strings, snaps or hook-and-loop. The shoulder fasteners 14 preferably comprise snaps or strings but may comprise hook-and-loop. The preferred and alternative embodiments of the hospital gown 12 features one or more fasteners 14 and 15 or 16 strategically placed at the front, sides and, or back of the hospital gown 10. The side fasteners 15, 16 are preferred as they fully close the gown 10 from the side enhancing modesty. One or more pockets 22, 28, 32 or similar attachments are included at the front and, or sides of the gown to hold identification, excess medical lines or medical devices. The garment 12 may be manufactured with one or more front or side slits 20, 24, 26 and, or 30. The garment 12 may be printed, dyed, colored or stenciled to display a logo, emblem or other graphic representation. The hospital gown 10 may be manufactured from cloth, woven plastic or plastic film with woven cotton cloth being the preferred material for construction.

To use the instant invention, the hospital gown 10 is worn in the same manner as a conventional hospital gown except that the fasteners 14 and 15 or 16 are mated together to provide modest closure of the rear and sides. When needed the sensor-connected leads or intravenous tubing are run through the garment's slits 20, 24, 26, and, or 30 and excess tubing or other medical instruments connected to the tubing or otherwise may be placed in one or more of the pockets 22, 28, 30. The fasteners 14 and 15 or 16 are released when it is necessary to remove the hospital gown 10 or when it is necessary to access the patient's body beneath the garment. The garment 10 is placed in the laundry or discarded when no longer needed.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious structural and/or functional modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A hospital gown for a patient, said device comprising:

a garment comprising body portion formed by a panel that wraps around the torso and has opposing side edges that are releasably joinable to completely cover the patient's back side, releasably closeable sleeves each having opposing edges that are releasably joinable proximal the shoulder sections and a neck section formed by said body portion;

body portion means for releasably joining said body portion side edges;

sleeve means for releasably joining said sleeve edges;

at least one central line slit formed through said body portion below and proximal said neck section;

at least one telemetry slit formed through said body portion below said central line slit;

at least one gastrostomy slit formed through said body portion below and to the side of said telemetry slit; and

a telemetry pocket disposed over said telemetry slit.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one pocket disposed on said body portion below said telemetry pocket.

3. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said body portion means for joining said body portion side edges comprises fasteners disposed proximal the side edges for joining said body portion side edges on the patient's side.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a drainage tube slit proximal each side of said garment; and

a pocket over each said drainage tube slit.

5. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portion edges comprises a plurality of cooperating hook-and-loop strips.

6. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for releasably joining said sleeve edges comprises a plurality of cooperating hook-and-loop strips.

7. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portion edges comprises a plurality of cooperating snaps.

8. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portion edges comprises a plurality of cooperating snaps.

9. A hospital gown, said device comprising:

a garment comprising body portion formed by a panel that wraps around the torso and has opposing edges that are releasably joinable along the side of one's torso and releasable closeable sleeves each having opposing edges that are releasably joinable proximal the shoulder sections, said garment comprising a recessed neck section;

means for releasably joining said body portion edges;

means for releasably joining said sleeve edges;

at least one leads slit disposed below and proximal said recessed neck section;

at least one gastrostomy slit disposed below said central line slit;

at least one drainage tube slit disposed below said gastrostomy slit; and

at least one central line slit defined below at least one of said sleeve opposing edges.

10. A device as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a pocket over said leads slit.

11. A device as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a pocket over said drainage tube slit.

12. A device as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a drainage tube slit proximal each side of said garment; and

a pocket over each said drainage tube slit.

13. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portion edges comprises a plurality of cooperating hook-and-loop strips.

14. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for releasably joining said sleeve edges comprises a plurality of cooperating hook-and-loop strips.

15. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portion edges comprises a plurality of cooperating snaps.

16. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portion edges comprises a plurality of cooperating snaps.