Garment for practical and convenient manipulation

Abstract

A garment suitable for practical and convenient manipulation by a wearer of the garment is presented, wherein the garment includes a front panel, back panel, and a first and second sleeve. A plurality of releasable fasteners are located along a first and second sleeve. A plurality of releasable fasteners begin at a starting point corresponding to a wrist of a person and ascend to an ending point corresponding to an upper portion near a neck of the person. The plurality of releasable fasteners are located at a distance apart from one another to enable a gap to exist between each releasable fastener. As a result, a surface underneath the garment is accessible as a function of the existing gap between each releasable fastener. Portions of the garment are detachable as a result of a positioning of the plurality of releasable fasteners and upon selection by a user.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Illustrative Embodiments

The disclosure relates generally to a garment intended for a human wearer. The garment allows for easier access to the limbs and region of the human wearer's upper body based on an improved garment design. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a garment whereby the garment is connected by releasable fasteners that are conveniently located throughout the garment to allow for easy opening and closing of the garment around a human wearer. This garment is not limited in use, but it is especially useful for those wearers who may be undergoing medical treatment requiring medical and/or rehabilitative devices to be located or attached to the human wearer's upper body torso. Further advantages of the invention are disclosed herein.

2. Description of the Related Art

Patients in a hospital environment have long lamented that the garments provided by hospitals do not provide adequate warmth or comfort to the patient. Hospitals instead require their patients to exchange their own garments for hospital gowns and apparel. The clothing provided by the hospitals tends to be made of very thin, flexible material that provide only basic coverage of the human wearer's upper and lower half. Typically, hospital apparel tends to be too light weight. Most patients end up feeling very cold and inadequately covered. Hospitals and other medical care centers are well-known for having very low temperatures and being very cold. Usually this is because they are focused on maintaining as much as possible a sterile, hygienic environment, and lower overall temperatures assist in keeping bacteria and other less sterile organisms to a minimum. Furthermore, a paramount concern to all involved in the medical care of a person over that of a patients' comfort is the ability for the medical staff to quickly gain access to the patient's limbs and body in order to provide fast and effective care and attention in critical situations. Since the medical staff must be able to quickly access a patient's limbs and body, a patient is often left uncovered or hardly covered at all with any blankets or significant source of warmth. In such situations, a patient experiences additional discomfort from his or her illness as well as the fact that the patient is physically uncomfortable due to their lack of warm coverings and experiencing cold throughout their body.

In most medical situations, such as in a hospital or similar situation where medical care is being administered to a patient, various medical devices, including various tubes and wires are attached to a plurality of parts of a patient's body. These assorted tubes and wires are sensitive to too much manipulation. Indeed, their functionality can be hampered when patients cover themselves with too many sweaters, robes, jackets, and similar such apparel in order to feel warm and comfortable in a hospital environment. Of primary concern to the medical staff is the proper functioning and care of these medical devices, so as to provide the necessary health care to the patient. However, there is still a need to provide a patient with some warmth and comfort that is commonly felt by wearing some type of sweater or covering.

Various attempts to improve the warmth and comfort of a patient in such a scenario have been provided in the past. However, these attempts fail to provide a complete solution to the above-mentioned problems. The types of garments provided in the past usually have to be worn independently of the gowns and apparel that are typically provided by the hospital to the patients. Some existing attempts to solve this problem include garments that pre-locate the medical devices underneath the altered garments. However, these previous embodiments are significantly lacking and critical inadequacies and problems still exist with these attempted solutions.

Because of the inadequacies of previous attempts at this issue, most hospitals and locations providing medical care have entirely failed to adopt these previous embodiments and offer them as alternative garments to their patients. Indeed, a major reason why medical care establishments have failed to adopt some of these previous designs is that hospitals and other medical care establishments have already expended a significant amount of investment in the current gowns and garments provided to patients. A great deal of time, money, and training is spent by the medical staff becoming familiar with the apparel currently provided that are designed to allow for quick and easy access to a patients limbs, front, back, and neck. The currently existing alternatives to the commonly used gowns and apparel in hospitals fail to take this fact into consideration since they do not allow for use of existing gowns and clothing invested into by the hospital or medical care facility. It is highly unlikely that the medical care establishments will forego the lightweight, quick to open and close gowns and garments that are provided to the patients currently based on the significant amount of investment already placed in such items. The problem thus remains that patients still require more coverage and warmth that will also be accommodating of currently distributed hospital and medical apparel to patients.

SUMMARY

According to one illustrative embodiment, a garment that is structurally suitable for practical and convenient manipulation by a wearer of the garment is presented. The garment includes a front panel covering a wearer's chest region, a back panel covering the wearer's back region, wherein the back panel is attached to the front panel along a first and second seam located on a left and right side of the wearer, wherein the front panel is securely connected to the back panel along the first and second seam located on the left and right side of the wearer. A first sleeve is joined to the front panel and to the back panel. A second sleeve is joined to the front panel and to the back panel. A middle portion of the garment is included, wherein two portions of the middle section are fastened by a middle fastener, wherein the middle fastener extends up to the wearer's neck region. The garment further includes a plurality of releasable fasteners located along the first and second sleeve, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners as located on the first and second sleeve begin at a starting point corresponding to a wrist of a person and ascend to an ending point corresponding to an upper portion near the wearer's neck region, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners are located along the first and second sleeve at a distance apart from one another to enable a gap to exist between each releasable fastener, wherein a surface underneath the garment is accessible as a function of said existing gap between said each releasable fastener, wherein portions of the garment are detachable as a result of a positioning of the plurality of releasable fasteners without requiring complete removal of the garment, wherein detaching the portions of the garment is achieved by selecting a particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners to provide exposure to a desired region associated with the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a garment suitable for convenient and practical manipulation with a plurality of releasable fasteners located throughout the garment allowing for detaching portions of the garment without entirely removing the garment from a wearer and concurrently providing easy access to the wearer of the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a garment with a plurality of releasable fasteners and a plurality of identifiers located next to the plurality of releasable fasteners in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of a garment, whereby portions of the garment are detachable by selecting a particular set of the releasable fasteners, whereby medical devices attached to the body of the wearer are not obstructed by the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a garment that is detachable on either side of the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation illustrating the detachability of the garment exposing a desired region of the wearer while still allowing for the majority of the wearer's body to be covered by the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is another illustrative embodiment of how the garment may be detached along both sleeves and still fastened by the middle fastener of the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a garment for convenient and practical manipulation that is a vest-like garment with a plurality of releasable fasteners located along the left and right shoulder to the upper portion of the neck region of the wearer in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a vest-like garment wherein portions of the garment are detached without removing the entire garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A garment for accommodating devices, particular medical devices, is presented herein. There is a critical need for a garment that can be used to provide warmth and coverage to patients. An ongoing problem is how to provide sufficient warmth and comfort to persons undergoing medical treatment and medical care while still allowing for easy access to the patient. Easy access to the patient is needed since various medical devices are commonly attached to a patient undergoing medical care and treatment and the garments currently provided fail to allow for such easy, access or any substantial warmth and comfort to the patient. Most medical apparel tends to come in the form of thin, cotton gowns with various ties and buttons. The medical apparel does not provide adequate warmth to a patient, especially considering the fact that the patient is in a cold, low temperature room or due to illness, may not have a properly regulated temperature, and that such facilities keep the temperature very low to prevent growth of bacteria and preserve greater sanitation.

Additionally, there are various locations on a patient's body that need to be routinely and readily accessible to medical care staff who must be able to administer critical lifesaving support to the patient and therefore cannot be impeded by too many blankets or articles of clothing. In many medical and health related scenarios, a variety of medical devices have to be attached to a patient in order to provide this critical healthcare and medical support. These medical devices are usually sensitive to too much manipulation and cannot handle the weight of too much clothing or objects located over these medical devices since such items would interfere with the proper functioning of these medical devices. Thus, a patient covered with heavy blankets or traditional examples of robes and sweaters risks hindering quick access to his or her body by the medical staff and also risks negative interference with any medical devices attached to his or her body that may be dislodged or impeded due to the heavy blankets or traditional examples of robes and sweaters currently available.

In terms of important regions that should be quickly accessible to medical staff when dealing with a patient, the important regions tend to be the wrists, arms, neck, chest, back, and shoulder regions of the patient. These regions all provide ports and important access points to various veins, arteries, and body parts that medical staff must be able to access to administer medicines, fluids, and critical health care related services. For example, the medical caretaker or hospital staff has to be able to access the veins in the forearms or at the wrist or the back of the hand in order to insert an intravenous line (also known as an IV). Intravenous therapy is often used to to correct electrolyte imbalances, to deliver medications, for blood transfusion or as fluid replacement to correct, for example, dehydration. Compared with other routes of administration, the intravenous route is the fastest way to deliver fluids and medications throughout the body. Some medications, as well as blood transfusions and injections, can only be given intravenously. However, a common problem is that while the patient would like to be able to wear more layers of clothing on top of hospital administered gowns and garments, the potential for these garments to impair proper use and placement of the IV usually prevents the patient from being able to wear multiple layers of regularly available pieces of clothing over their hospital administered gowns and garments. Therefore, the patient must endure both physical illness and physical discomfort due to lack of coverage by the familiar articles of clothing and coverings.

Therefore, there is still a desperate and real need for a garment that may be used to deliver both warmth and comfort without obstructing access to a human wearer's body, especially when the human wearer of the garment is receiving urgent or ongoing medical attention and has various medical devices attached to their person. There is a need for a garment that is capable of practical and convenient manipulation to provide a solution to this problem.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, a garment that is structurally suitable for practical and convenient manipulation by a wearer of the garment is presented. The garment includes a front panel covering a wearer's chest region, a back panel covering the wearer's back region, wherein the back panel is attached to the front panel along a first and second seam located on a left and right side of the wearer, wherein the front panel is securely connected to the back panel along the first and second seam located on the left and right side of the wearer. A first sleeve is joined to the front panel and to the back panel. A second sleeve is joined to the front panel and to the back panel. A middle portion of the garment is included, wherein two portions of the middle section are fastened by a middle fastener, wherein the middle fastener extends up to the wearer's neck region. The garment further includes a plurality of releasable fasteners located along the first and second sleeve, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners as located on the first and second sleeve begin at a starting point corresponding to a wrist of a person and ascend to an ending point corresponding to an upper portion near the wearer's neck region, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners are located along the first and second sleeve at a distance apart from one another to enable a gap to exist between each releasable fastener, wherein a surface underneath the garment is accessible as a function of said existing gap between said each releasable fastener, wherein portions of the garment are detachable as a result of a positioning of the plurality of releasable fasteners without requiring complete removal of the garment, wherein detaching the portions of the garment is achieved by selecting a particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners to provide exposure to a desired region associated with the wearer.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a garment suitable for convenient and practical manipulation with a plurality of releasable fasteners located throughout the garment allowing for detaching portions of the garment without entirely removing the garment and still providing easy access to the wearer of the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. FIG. 1 depicts garment 104 as seen from the front when looking at a person wearing garment 104. FIG. 1 depicts a person wearing garment 104 which is an altered garment meant to provide comfort, warmth, as well as easy access to a body of the person wearing garment 104. Wearer 146 is a person modeling the use of garment 104. Garment 104 may be worn by wearer 146, whether wearer 146 is a child or an adult. Garment 104 may be designed to accommodate a variety of sizes, heights, shapes, and genders represented by wearer 146. Wearer 146 will often be wearing garment 104 in medically related situations wherein wearer 146 is also receiving health care in a hospital, hospice, or any other location where one may receive medical care. Accordingly, wearer 146 may often also be a patient at a facility. However, the uses for garment 104 are not solely limited to medically related scenarios. One of ordinary skill in the art may envision alternate uses and possibilities for garment 104. Indeed, garment 104 is intended to be convenient for use at all times. Garment 104 may serve as both a fashionable and fun part of wearer 146's everyday wardrobe, yet garment 104 may also be used to accommodate and assist when wearer 146 is receiving medical treatment and requires an item of clothing that may be worn over hospital administered gowns or simply to cover his or her own body.

In FIG. 1, garment 104 is located over underlying clothing 102 Underlying clothing 102 may be any type of clothing or apparel. In a hospital setting, underlying clothing 102 will be a piece of clothing that is typically provided and sanctioned by the administering hospital, whereby this piece of clothing will most commonly be some sort of hospital gown. Hospital gowns as provided by most hospitals tend to be made of a thin, cotton material as shown. Such gowns also tend to be short and stop above the knee as shown in this illustrative example in FIG. 1. Often times, such hospital gowns are short sleeved or have no sleeves at all since the primary concern to nurses and physicians is to be able to access the neck, arms, chest, back, and wrists of the wearer very quickly and efficiently. To facilitate ease of access to the torso and body of the wearer, some models of hospital gowns exist whereby the ties are located at the top of the gown and are easy to untie and get to a patient's back, chest, shoulders, or upper torso.

Garment 104 is worn over underlying clothing 102 in FIG. 1. However, it is to be noted, that garment 104 may be worn over any type of apparel or combination of garments in a variety of situations. FIG. 1 is merely exemplary and not exhaustive of the uses and functions of garment 104. Underlying clothing 102 may be any combination of articles of clothing including shirts, pants, jackets, dresses, pajamas, and any other piece of clothing typically worn by people. In some scenarios, wearer 146 may choose to wear garment 104 directly over wearer's 146 torso without an underlying article of clothing, such that a person's upper body is entirely exposed under garment 104 without any obstruction or covering to a wearer's body. In fact, in some situations, hospitals may require that garment 104 be worn directly over a patient's naked body without any additional underlying clothing, such as underlying clothing 102.

Garment 104 in this illustrative embodiment includes a front panel, a back panel, wherein the front panel and back panel consist of material joined at various attachment points. Garment 104 may be comprised of a variety of material, including but not limited to, fleece, cotton, polyester, silk, linen, or a combination or any blend thereof. In a preferred embodiment, garment 104 is made of fleece and is entirely free of any metal in any of the material or the attaching pieces used to hold the material together such as zippers, snaps, buttons, or fasteners. In an illustrative embodiment, garment 104 is entirely devoid of any metal located in the fasteners, pieces, or material of garment 104. Fleece is a type of fabric that is usually a soft, bulky deep-piled knitted or woven fabric. It is used for clothing and blankets chiefly, and provides both softness to the wearer as well as added warmth, since the material is usually wool. However, garment 104 is not limited in any way to use to fleece and may be composed of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, polyester, or any combination thereof or other materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art. An additional advantage of garment 104 is that garment 104 may be worn during medical testing in machines that do not permit the presence of any metal on a person such as, when undergoing testing in an MRI machine, as further discussed below.

Garment 104 includes two long sleeves on both the right and left arm of wearer 146. Left sleeve 122 and right sleeve 132 are attached to front panel 148 and back panel 150 of garment 104. Left sleeve 122 and right sleeve 132 refer to wearer 146's respective left and right side. Left sleeve 122 and right sleeve 132 on garment 104 provide greater coverage and warmth to wearer 146 since the material associated with left sleeve 122 and right sleeve 132 extends down the full length of the arm and stops at or above wrist 138. Left sleeve 122 and right sleeve 132 represent a first and second sleeve joined to front panel 148 and back panel 150 of garment 104. Front panel 148 is the material associated with garment 104 located on the front portion of garment 104. Back panel 150 is the material associated with garment 104 located on the back portion of garment 104. Back panel 150 may not be entirely visible in FIG. 1 according to this view, but is nonetheless present on garment 104 since garment 104 is a two-sided garment covering wearer 146's torso on the front and back side.

Front panel 148 and back panel 150 are joined along right side 134 and left side 136 of wearer 146 along a seam joining front panel 148 and back panel 150. Garment 104 includes the right and left side of wearer 146. Front panel 148 and back panel 150 may be joined through various joining means one of ordinary skill in the art would be familiar with, such as sewing, gluing, fastening, or any other similar means of joining material together.

Middle section 154 is located on front panel 148. Middle section 154 is separated down a middle of front panel 148. Middle section 154 is removeably joined by middle fastener 128, wherein middle fastener 128 extends up to the wearer's neck region and ends thereabout. In FIG. 1, middle fastener 128 is displayed as a zipper extending from the lower bottom of garment 104 to the top of garment 104, ending at wearer 146's neck 142. Middle fastener 128 may be any type of fastening device, including but not limited to zippers, buttons, and snaps. In some embodiments, the fasteners may also be made of Velcro or a combination of Velcro and other types of fasteners, including zippers, buttons, and snaps.

Left sleeve 122 has a plurality of releasable fasteners located along left sleeve 122 and extending up to neck 142 of wearer 146. A plurality of releasable fasteners 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and 120 are located on left sleeve 122. Left sleeve 122 ends at wrist 138 of wearer 146. A plurality of releasable fasteners is comprised of a collection of openable fasteners used to open and close material from one side of left sleeve 122 to the other side of left sleeve 122. A fastener is a joining device appropriate to fasten material together. A releasable fastener may include but is not limited to a variety of fasteners including snaps, buttons, hooks, eye and ball hooks, and many more such fasteners available and known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the releasable fasteners as used in garment 104 do not contain any metal so as to enable a patient to continue wearing garment 104 even when the patient is undergoing tests in a machine that does not allow the patient to have any metal on his or her clothing. For example, releasable fasteners may be made entirely of plastic. However, it is to be noted that, in some embodiments, there may be metal fasteners or metal included in the garment as whole.

FIG. 1 is meant to be illustrative but is not exhaustive of the total number of fasteners that may be used along left sleeve 122 or right sleeve 132. A plurality of releasable fasteners may be located through various portions of garment 104 as needed. Garment 104 is capable of manipulation in a multitude of ways by the operator of garment 104 in order to provide varying degree of coverage to the person wearing the garment 104.

Releasable fasteners placed along the right and left sleeve in garment 104 are spaced at a distance apart from each other. Gap 144 on garment 104 is illustrative of the distance between releasable fastener 114 and 116. Gap 144 allows access to the surface underneath garment 104. Left sleeve 122 and right sleeve 132 thus have both releasable fasteners located down each sleeve that are placed at a distance apart in order to enable gaps, such as gap 144, to exist on left sleeve 122 and right sleeve 132. This enables the person who is wearing garment 104 to be able to wear garment 104 even in a hospital setting which requires a patient's torso, including a patient's arms, to be easily accessible to doctors, nurses, staff, and all other medical care takers. It is important that wrist 138 is accessible since many important medical devices are attached at a person's wrist. Blood pressure is commonly taken by inflating a cuff around a patient's arm. Garment 104 allows easy and convenient access to the arms without obstructing any blood pressure equipment used.

Releasable fasteners 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and 120 may all be opened independently of each other to provide more or less room around a medical device that is located on a patient's arm. The fasteners still allow medical caretakers to access underlying clothing 102 as well or to wearer 146's body underneath gown 102. By placing the releasable fasteners at a distance from each other, a gap is purposefully created between each releasable fastener such that the gap may be used to accommodate a medical device or for other attachable item to wearer 146 through this existing gap.

In another embodiment, the gaps in between the releasable fasteners may be more visible or less visible depending on the type of fasteners utilized on garment 102. In some embodiments, the fasteners may be made of Velcro or a combination of Velcro and other types of fasteners, including but not limited to, buttons, snaps, and zippers. The manner in which the material utilized for garment 104 lays on wearer 146 and the type of fasteners used, may make the gaps, such as gap 144, more or less visible from the front or side.

In another embodiment, the gaps between the releasable fasteners may include another portion of underlying material filling in between the releasable fasteners. Thus, material may extend in between one fastener to another fastener in place of the empty space i.e. gap, such as gap 144. The underlying material in between the gaps may be the same color as the overlying layer from garment 104 or may be a different color. In such embodiments, garment 104 may be further accommodated to suit medical devices or other items in order to access the underlying surface of wearer 146 so that the material in between the releasable fasteners in such an embodiment may be partially removeable to accommodate any medical devices that need to be attached directly to wearer 146.

In a preferred embodiment of garment 104, a patient is able to continue wearing garment 104 even when the patient is placed in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, which is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures. An MRI machine uses a powerful magnetic field to align the magnetization of some atoms in the body, and radio frequency fields to systematically alter the alignment of this magnetization. MRI provides good contrast between the different soft tissues of the body, which make it especially useful in imaging the brain, muscles, the heart, and cancers. However, typically, patients complain that they feel very cold and uncomfortable when undergoing tests in the MRI machine since the patients are required not to wear any clothing or items that contain any metal since this would interfere with the proper functioning of the MRI machine. Therefore, most garments that may provide some warmth such as sweaters or vests or coats to the patient, may not be worn by the patient in the MRI machine since a large percentage of them include some metal in the zippers, buttons, or similar type fasteners. Alternatively, garment 104 allows the wearer to wear garment 104 over any underlying clothes or gowns and since in a preferred embodiment garment 104 is free of metal, the patient should experience more comfort, warmth, and overall satisfaction even when undergoing tests in an uncomfortable machine such as an MRI machine.

While there may be embodiments whereby garment 104 is made entirely without metal, there may also be other embodiments where metal may be included in garment 104. Such a garment 104 may be worn in a variety of circumstances. Current technology for MRI testing typically does not allow for any type of metal to be located on the patient or the clothing worn by the patient while he or she is undergoing MRI testing. However, as technology progresses, MRI machines may allow for testing while the patient has some metal on his or her person and/or clothing. Thus, garment 104 may include metal in the fasteners or even the material to be worn for the convenience of wearer 146. As technology develops, garment 104 may also even be worn while wearer 146 is undergoing testing in a MRI machine, even if garment 104 includes metal. Thus, garment 104 may be devoid of metal or may include metal depending on the uses of garment 104 for wearer 146.

Garment 104 in FIG. 1 is presented as having pockets and a middle section that is closed with middle fastener 128. FIG. 1 attempts to illustrate that garment 104 may be made to look as ornate and fashionable and comfortable as possible, and may include common design elements normally seen in one's clothing, such as pockets, buttons, collars, and can come in a variety of colors and styles. Garment 104 is intended to provide the patient with a greater feeling of dignity and comfort by providing patient with a garment that can be worn in any setting, including a hospital setting, but where the patient still retains a sense of modesty, comfort, and style. Therefore, garment 104 inventively and effectively allows for ease of access to the wearer's body, which is often critical to receiving care in a medical situation, as well as provides a comfortable and appealing garment that patient would want to wear. These illustrative embodiments of garment 104 described herein will be embraced by hospitals, clinics, schools, parents, and people of all ages for a variety of situations, and especially for those receiving critical, medical care as well.

In this illustrative embodiment, right shoulder region 124 and left shoulder region 126 are located on the shoulders near a person's neck and covered in a plurality of releasable fasteners. The plurality of releasable fasteners located along right shoulder region 124 and left shoulder region 126 may be opened independently of the other. In FIG. 1, right shoulder portion 124 and left shoulder portion 126 of garment 104 are portrayed as closed, but in the following figures, one will see embodiments whereby these portions of garment 104 may be opened and detached from wearer 146, but without having to remove the entire garment 104, simply by selecting the plurality of releasable fasteners that extend from neck 142 to the top of left sleeve 122 and right sleeve 132 for releasing. In FIG. 1, garment 104 includes enough material to extend all the way up neck 142 of wearer 146. Garment 104 is portrayed herein as a long-sleeved, turtle neck, whereby turtlenecks are articles of clothing that includes material encircling or covering a wearer's neck. Garment 104 may be designed to provide a varying degree of warmth and coverage to wearer 146. In a preferred embodiment, garment 104 is a turtleneck. However, garment 104 may also have less coverage of a wearer's neck as seen in FIG. 4.

Garment 104 includes a decorative and functional pocket 130. Pocket 130 is displayed in garment 104 as including decorative lines thereon. It is important to note that garment 104 may be covered in a variety of designs, colors, shapes, and made in a variety of styles so as to be trendy as well as functional. In another embodiment, the functionality of pocket 130 may be increased by allowing access to the underlying surface of wearer 146. Pocket 130 may be fully or partially removable to facilitate further attachments and/or medical devices. Pocket 130 may be removable by attaching pocket 130 to garment 104 by a plurality of releasable fasteners that connect pocket 130 to the surface of garment 104. As needed, a user of garment 104 may choose to completely remove pocket 130 from garment 104 at will in order to allow greater access to the underlying surface beneath pocket 130. When wearer 146 desires, he or she may then re-attach removable pocket 130 in such an illustrative embodiment when less access is needed to the underlying surface beneath pocket 130. Other pockets that are located throughout garment 104 may also be functionally removable by attaching them with a plurality of releasable fasteners that may be adjusted by the wearer as needed. Any of the pockets on garment 104 may be made partially or fully removeable. If they are partially removeable, the pockets may be securely attached on one side of the pocket and then made removable by being attached on the remaining sides with a plurality of releasable fasteners.

In a preferred embodiment, pocket 130 may be only partially removable. In such an embodiment, pocket 130 is hinged at one side and attached to garment 104 by at least one side. Pocket 130 in such an embodiment may be opened to access the underside of garment 104 or to access the surface of wearer 146. Such an embodiment with a partially removable pocket 130 is useful because it allows pocket 130 to stay attached to garment 104, which avoids the possibility of losing the pocket or that the pocket may become dirty. However, since pocket 130 is partially removable, pocket 130 does not obstruct any medical devices that need to be attached to wearer 146, thus allowing convenient access to a caregiver to wearer 146. Thus, pocket 130 may be opened on a variety of sides except for one side which will remain securely attached to garment 104. All sides but one of pocket 130 may be detached from garment 104 and then re-attached as desired by an operator of garment 104 or wearer 146. Thus, pocket 130 may be opened and lay flat yet still attached to garment 104, so that the underside of the garment through pocket 130 may be accessed as needed. Pocket 130 may be partially removeable and may be attached to garment 104 using typical attachment methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art including sewing, gluing, fastening pocket 130 on at least one side to garment 104.

In a preferred embodiment, garment 104 is ideally made of lightweight fleece material so as to provide a comfortable, sporty feel to garment 104. Fleece is a type of fabric that is usually a soft, bulky, deep-piled knitted or woven fabric used chiefly for clothing or blankets. Garment 104 is thus appealing to both children and adults since garment 104 is seen as being a regular piece of clothing with decorative embellishments and designs such as pocket 130. However, garment 104 is also very useful in its function, especially in scenarios where wearer 146 must provide access to his or her underlying surface beneath garment 104 in a fast and timely manner, such as in situations where medical care is administered to wearer 146.

The manner in which garment 104 may be worn is unique and novel for wearing such a garment. A garment such as garment 104 may be worn by completely unfastening the plurality of releasable fasteners and then placing garment 104 in such a state with all of the plurality of releasable fasteners opened around wearer 146's body. At that point, an operator or wearer 146 may proceed to fasten the releasable fasteners as desired to enclose the desired regions of wearer 146 that an operator or a wearer cares to enclose and to cover. Thus, the structure and design of garment 104 enables the garment to be administered in a way that is more practical and convenient to the needs of wearer 146.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a garment 104 that focuses on the left sleeve in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Garment 104, middle fastener 128, and underlying clothing 102 are already described above as seen in FIG. 1. Right shoulder portion 124 and left shoulder portion 126 are additionally as described in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 includes top attachment 202 and 210. Top attachment 202 and 210 are releasable fasteners corresponding a top part of a releasable fastener located on top panel 218 of the left sleeve on garment 104. Top attachment 202 and 210 are illustrative of how releasable fasteners as seen by releasable fasteners 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and 120 may be placed and may function on garment 104. Top attachment 202 and top attachment 210 are fasteners that may serve to partially close the material for a sleeve on garment 104, without preventing complete access to a patient's underlying arm. In FIG. 2, underlying clothing 102, is visible underneath garment 104. Both the lower half of underlying clothing 102 is visible to the human eye in FIG. 2 and portions of underlying clothing 102 are visible through the gaps on the right arm as well as left arm. In FIG. 2, top panel 218 of the left sleeve and bottom panel 220 are not fastened together. By unfastening the plurality of releasable fasteners located on the left sleeve, the wearer's arm is made accessible for any necessary care or to accommodate any associated medical devices that can be located along wearer 146's arm. Releasable fasteners 202, 204, 210, and 212 may be plastic snaps in a preferred embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, top attachment 202 corresponds to bottom attachment 204. Top attachment 210 corresponds to bottom attachment 212. Once top attachment 202 or top attachment 210 is connected or fastened to bottom attachments 204 and 212, the sleeve will resemble left sleeve 122 as seen in FIG. 1, in that there will be small gaps in between each releasable fastener, through which can be seen wearer 146's underlying clothing and arms. Therefore, a gap in between, such as gap 144 as seen in FIG. 1 would be present between the closed releasable fasteners.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2, a plurality of identifiers as represented by 206, 208; 214, and 216 have been placed adjacent to the plurality of releasable fasteners located on this left sleeve in FIG. 2. Identifiers 206, 208, 214, and 216 serve to assist in joining the releasable fasteners to each other. Identifiers 206, 208, 214, and 216 assist a user in joining the releasable fasteners to the corresponding fastener. For example, identifier 206 located next to top attachment 202 is in the shape of a triangle. In parallel, identifier 208 is in the shape of a triangle and is located on the other half of the sleeve. Identifier 206 and 208 thus correspond to one another on this sleeve and assist the user in properly joining releasable fasteners 202 and 204 to each other. Similarly, identifier 214 and identifier 216 are both in the shape of a square and assist the user to recognize how to attach top attachment 214 to bottom attachment 216. These identifiers assist a user and avoid the difficulty in correctly matching the plurality of releasable fasteners to each corresponding pair since they provide a visual reminder about the proper corresponding pair.

Identifiers 206, 208, 214, and 216 may include a combination of visual elements and come in a variety of shapes and colors. Identifiers 206, 208, 214, and 216 may further include numerical symbols such as the Roman numeral numeric system, the Arabic numeric system with ten digits commonly used and known as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, or any other numeric system. FIG. 2 is illustrative and not exhaustive of all the types of identifiers that may be used. In FIG. 2, identifiers presented include a variety of well known and recognizable shapes, including but not limited to, triangles, squares, rectangles, hearts, and circles. Further embodiments of identifiers may include animated cartoon figures, text, graphics, colors, or any combination thereof.

Identifiers 206, 208, 212, and 214 may be located next to any releasable fasteners as needed to assist an operator and/or wearer of garment 104. For example, identifiers, such as identifiers 206, 208, 212, and 214 may be placed next to shoulder releasable fasteners as well as exemplified by shoulder releasable fasteners 124 and 126 in FIG. 1.

Identifiers, such as 206, 208, 214, and 216 may be designed to be located on either a top portion of material next to a releasable fastener or on the underlying portion of the material next to a releasable fastener. Thus, identifiers, such as identifiers 206, 208, 214, and 216, may or may not be directly visible to a viewer looking at garment 104 unless the fastener is closed or open. FIG. 2 is an illustrative embodiment only and not meant to limit alternative embodiments. In FIG. 2, identifier 206 is located on the underlying portion of top panel 218 next to releasable fastener 202. Corresponding identifier 208 is located next to releasable fastener 204 on a top portion of panel 220.

In some embodiments, identifiers may be visible on both the top and underlying portion of material and visible from both the top and bottom to a viewer. Identifiers, such as 206, 208, 214, and 216, may be applied by sewing or stamping or a variety of techniques and combinations so as to apply a useful identifier to garment 104.

In other embodiments, identifiers, such as identifiers 206, 208, 214, and 216, may be located as needed throughout garment 104, next to any releasable fastener. Identifiers may be in a variety of styles and shapes. Additionally, garment 104 may have a variety of decorative features and embellishments as seen by pocket 130. Pocket 130, as previously described, in FIG. 1 may be a decorative pocket as well as functional.

In FIG. 3, a pictorial representation of a garment is presented whereby portions of the garment are detachable by selecting a particular set of the releasable fasteners, whereby medical devices attached to the body of the wearer are not obstructed by the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation illustrating garment 104 from FIG. 1 on wearer 146. As seen in FIG. 3, garment 104 has a plurality of releasable fasteners 306, 308, 312, 314, 316, and 318. A particular set of the releasable fasteners has been selected so as to allow convenient manipulation of garment 104 as needed by the wearer. This particular set of releasable fasteners, 306, 308, 312, 314, 316, and 318, have been disconnected so as to allow for greater exposure to the neck region, upper torso, and right arm of the wearer of garment 104 in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, examples of medical devices attached to the wearer are presented. These examples are meant to be illustrative only and not exclusive. Medical device 326 is a type of intravenous line that is connected to the body of wearer 146. As presented herein, medical device 326 is connected to the left arm of the wearer. Medical device 326 is connected to the wearer's left arm, without being obstructed by garment 104, since the garment has been manipulated to allow medical device 326 to be attached to the arm, but still providing warmth and comfort to many portions of wearer's upper torso. Garment 104 may be conveniently and usefully manipulated by selecting a particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners located throughout garment 104. Medical device 326 would be in a real world scenario connected to wearer 146 by a professional knowledgeable in the application of medical device 326. As a general concept, intravenous lines are usually attached to patients receiving medical treatment in order to administer medicines, fluids, and/or nutritional components. Intravenous (IV) lines may be applied by knowledgeable medical staff whose job includes selecting the appropriate IV insertion point on a human body.

Medical device 324 is displayed as connected to wearer 146's chest. It is meant to be exemplary of a medical device commonly known as a Hickman line. A Hickman line is also a type of intravenous catheter most often used for the administration of chemotherapy or other medications, as well as for the withdrawal of blood for analysis. Hickman lines may remain in place for extended periods and are used when long-term intravenous access is needed. The insertion of a Hickman line is usually done under sedation or a general anesthetic by a radiologist or surgeon. It involves two incisions, one at the jugular vein or another nearby vein or groove, and one on the chest wall. At the former entrance incision site, a tunnel is created from there through to the latter exit incision site, and the catheter is pushed through this tunnel until it “exits” the latter incision site. The exit site is where the lumens are seen as coming out of the chest wall. The catheter at the entrance site area is then inserted back through the entrance site and advanced into the superior vena cava, preferably near the junction of it and the right atrium of the heart. The entrance site is sutured. The catheter at the exit site is secured by means of a “cuff” just under the skin at the exit site, and the lumens are held down otherwise by a sterile gauze or dressing centered on the exit site, which also serves the purpose of preventing potential contamination at the exit site. Therefore, the catheter is secured to a person's chest. In FIG. 3, medical device 324 is presented as being attached to wearer 146's bare chest as would be the case if a Hickman line was inserted according to the aforementioned procedure. Medical device 324 is meant to illustrate that many medical devices require a great deal of effort to insert and maintain on a patient. Thus, the medical care staff's primary focus is to ensure that these devices are not unnecessarily interfered with or obstructed. FIG. 3 shows medical device 324 being fixed to the bare chest of wearer 146 and covered by a sterile gauze.

Typically, a patient who has had a medical device such as medical device 324 inserted into their body is not provided adequate clothing to cover his or her body. As it is a complicated and involved procedure to attach the medical device to a person, the medical staff do not want anything to tamper or interfere with the operation of such a medical device. Therefore, patients are usually not encouraged to wear too many articles of clothing or blankets that may weigh down heavily on top of the medical device, such as medical device 324. However, garment 104 provides a tremendous solution to this problem. Garment 104 allows wearer 146 to have a light weight and warmth providing article of clothing without interfering with medical device 324.

As seen in FIG. 3, the positioning of various detachable releasable fasteners along the right and left sleeves and up to the shoulders of wearer 146 enables a portion on the front panel of garment 146 to be detached from the body of wearer 146 without having to entirely remove garment 104.

Middle fastener 304 is an example of middle fastener 128 as seen in FIG. 1. Middle fastener 304 is portrayed herein as a zipper holding both sides of middle section together with the zipper fully fastened and reaching all the way up to the neck of wearer 146. The plurality of releasable fasteners located along the right shoulder regions of wearer 146 and also a select set of releasable fasteners located along wearer 146's left arm are unfastened to allow garment 104 to remain partially open around medical device 324. Note that releasable fastener 318 next to the wrist on the left arm of this wearer is portrayed however as fastened, further indicating how garment 104 may be manipulated by an operator and/or wearer to provide as much coverage on wearer 146 as desired. FIG. 3 is meant to be illustrative of how a wearer, such as wearer 146 of garment 104 may utilize the features of garment 104 to accommodate medical devices attached to a wearer's person without obstructing any of these medical devices. As previously described, the variety of fasteners located throughout garment 104 provide useful, practical function to wearer 146 to accommodate a variety of medical devices existing under certain conditions that may be attached to wearer 146.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a garment that is detachable on either side of the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. In FIG. 4, wearer 146 is portrayed wearing garment 104 over underlying clothing 102, as previously described in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, an alternate presentation of middle fastener 428 is presented as compared to middle fastener 128 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, middle fastener is presented as a series of buttons aligned down the center of the front panel of garment 104. An additional variation in FIG. 4 is that garment 104 is not extending all the way up to wearer 146's neck region but rather stops in a V-neck just under wearer 146's neck. FIG. 4 illustrates further various uses and designs for garment 104.

FIG. 4 includes a plurality of opening and releasable fasteners that begin from the wrist of the wearer of garment 104 and ascend all the way to the neck of the wearer of garment 104. Underlying clothing 102, as already described in FIG. 1, is also visually perceptible underneath garment 104. In FIG. 4, the upper left shoulder and chest 406 corresponding to wearer 146 is accessible without entirely removing garment 104; whereby top left upper panel 402 is disconnected from bottom left upper panel 404. Additionally, the plurality of releasable fasteners located on the shoulders of garment 104 are the same as the plurality of releasable fasteners located on the left and right sleeve of garment 104.

It is to be noted that identifiers, such as identifiers 206, 208, 214, and 216 as previously described in FIG. 2, may be included along any of the illustrative garments 104 included in FIGS. 3 and 4 at the various plurality of releasable fasteners displayed in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to provide further assistance to a user in matching the corresponding pairs of releasable fasteners.

In FIG. 5, a pictorial representation is presented illustrating the detachability of the garment exposing a desired region of the wearer while still allowing for the majority of the wearer's torso to be covered by the garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Wearer 146 is wearing garment 104 whereby back panel 510 is still positioned and providing coverage to the back and neck of wearer 146 while portion 508 of front panel 502 is seen as detached from wearer 146's body. A particular set of releasable fasteners corresponding to this region has been selected so as to enable portion 508 to be disconnected from back panel 510. However, garment 104 did not have to be entirely removed in order to facilitate portion 508 from being removed. Middle fastener 504 is fully fastened as are the plurality of releasable fasteners displayed a long wearer 146's right and left sleeves. Releasable fasteners on left sleeve 506 are fully fastened to provide greater coverage to wearer 146's arm. FIG. 5 further illustrates the usefulness of garment 510. Garment 104 is unlike existing articles of clothing currently available in that the pieces of material are connected around central portions of the upper body that may be released as needed to provide greater access to a wearer.

FIG. 6 is another illustrative embodiment of how garment 104 may be worn by wearer 146. In FIG. 6, left sleeve 606 and right sleeve 608 are part of underlying clothing 102. Underlying clothing 102 may be illustrative of a hospital gown or other such article of clothing commonly provided by hospitals and medical care facilities. Garment 104 is worn over underlying clothing 102.

FIG. 6 illustrates another view of how garment 104 may be worn that is different from the previous views provided in FIGS. 1-5. The view of garment 104 in FIG. 6 is enabled by selecting a particular set of releasable fasteners that allow garment 104 to be worn in such a manner as desired by an operator of garment 104 and/or wearer 146.

Front panel 602 of garment 104 is presented in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, Left sleeve 606 and right sleeve 608 of underlying clothing 102 are not covered by the right and left sleeve of garment 104. By detaching all of the releasable fasteners normally located along the right and left sleeve of garment 104, left sleeve 606 and right sleeve 608 of underlying clothing 102 are not covered by the sleeves normally provided by garment 104. As a result, in FIG. 6, both sleeves of garment 104 are presented as hanging loosely around wearer 146. Thus, an operator or the wearer of garment 104 may determine the quantity of material of garment 104 he or she chooses and which portions of garment 104 to cover the wearer's body at any given time. Middle fastener 604 is displayed as being completely fastened all the way up to a neck region of wearer 146. In FIG. 6, Garment 104 herein allows wearer 146 the option to provide greater exposure to wearer 146's arms.

FIG. 7 presents a garment for convenient and practical manipulation that is a vest-like garment with a plurality of releasable fasteners located along the left and right shoulder to the upper portion of the neck region of the wearer in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Vests are articles of clothing whereby sleeves are usually not included. A vest typically provides coverage to the front and back of a wearer's torso. Vests may also include a turtle neck option whereby a wearer's neck is also covered by material joined together on the vest.

In FIG. 7, wearer 146 is portrayed as wearing underlying clothing 102 beneath garment 704. Underlying clothing 102 is portrayed as including right sleeve 706 and left sleeve 716. Underlying clothing 102 is presented as an article of clothing with a right and left sleeve that is visible beneath garment 704. Underlying clothing 102 may be a hospital gown as typically provided in hospital settings.

Middle fastener 708 is portrayed as a zipper that is completely fastened from the bottom of garment 104 up to a neck region of wearer 146. However, middle fastener 708 may include a variety of fasteners known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Releasable fasteners 710, 712, 714 are illustrative of releasable fasteners that may be used on garment 704. Releasable fasteners located on a left shoulder and on a right shoulder of garment 704 provide means to manipulate garment 704. The releasable fasteners allow for portions of material on garment 704 to be detached from wearer 146's body as desired. Garment 704, the vest-like embodiment of garment 104, may also include a functional pocket, such as pocket 130 from FIG. 1. Such a pocket in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 may or may not be completely removable to allow access to the underneath portion of the pocket.

In this illustrative embodiment of garment 704, a vest-like garment provides some coverage and some warmth to wearer 146, but is even more light weight that a full sleeve embodiment of garment 104 as previously presented in FIGS. 1-6, as seen by garment 104 in FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 8 further presents a vest-like garment wherein portions of the inventive garment are detached without removing the entire garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. FIG. 8 further demonstrates the functions and uses of a vest-like garment such as garment 704. Garment 704 in FIG. 8 resembles garment 704 from FIG. 7.

In FIG. 8, garment 704 is shown with a plurality of releasable fasteners including 810 and 812, located along the shoulder regions of garment 704. Middle fastener 806 is portrayed as completely fastened. By detaching the plurality of fasteners located along the shoulder regions of garment 704, portions of the front panel of garment 704 are detached and hang loosely away from wearer 146's body. FIG. 8 is a further example of the illustrative benefits and advantages of garment 704, which is a vest-like garment meant for the convenient and practical manipulation to the satisfaction of the wearer such as wearer 146.

The illustrative embodiments presented herein include a garment for practical and convenient manipulation. Furthermore, a method for utilizing this garment is presented herein as well, whereby for the method for making a garment structurally suitable for practical and convenient manipulation by a wearer of the garment includes providing a front panel covering a wearer's chest region. The method further comprises providing a back panel covering the wearer's back region, wherein the back panel is attached to the front panel along a seam located on a left and right side of the wearer, wherein the front panel is securely connected to the back panel along the seam located on the left and right side of the wearer. Furthermore, a first sleeve joined to the front panel and the back panel, a second sleeve joined to the front panel and the back panel, and a middle section on the front panel is provided, wherein the middle section is separated down a middle of the front panel, and wherein the middle section is removeably joined by a middle fastener, wherein the middle fastener extends up to the wearer's neck region.

Additionally, a plurality of releasable fasteners located along the first and second sleeve, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners as located on the first and second sleeve begin at a starting point corresponding to a wrist of a person and ascend to an ending point corresponding to an upper portion near a neck of the person, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners are located at a distance apart from one another to enable a gap to exist between each releasable fastener, wherein a surface underneath the garment is accessible as a function of said existing gap between said each releasable fastener, wherein portions of the garment are detachable as a result of a positioning of the plurality of releasable fasteners without requiring complete removal of the garment, wherein detaching the portions of the garment is achieved by selecting a particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners to provide exposure to a desired region associated with the wearer.

Claims

1. A garment structurally suitable for practical and convenient manipulation by a wearer of the garment, wherein the garment comprises:

a front panel covering the wearer's chest region;

a back panel covering the wearer's back region, wherein the back panel is attached to the front panel along a first and second seam located on a left and right side of the wearer, wherein the front panel is securely connected to the back panel along the first and second seam located on the left and right side of the wearer;

a first sleeve joined to the front panel and the back panel;

a second sleeve joined to the front panel and the back panel;

a middle section on the front panel, wherein the middle section is separated down a middle of the front panel, wherein the middle section is removeably joined by a middle fastener, wherein the middle fastener extends up to the wearer's neck region; and

a plurality of releasable fasteners located along the first and second sleeve, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners as located on the first and second sleeve begin at a starting point corresponding to a wrist of a person and ascend to an ending point corresponding to an upper portion near a neck of the person, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners are located at a distance apart from one another to enable a gap to exist between each releasable fastener, wherein a surface underneath the garment is accessible as a function of said existing gap between said each releasable fastener, wherein portions of the garment are detachable as a result of a positioning of the plurality of releasable fasteners without requiring complete removal of the garment, wherein detaching the portions of the garment is achieved by selecting a particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners to provide exposure to a desired region associated with the wearer.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the wearer is provided an option to expose certain regions underneath the garment by making a selection of the plurality of releasable fasteners while keeping the middle fastener in various stages of closure to provide more coverage to a middle region of the wearer.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the desired region includes a left and right shoulder region of the wearer; a right arm region of the wearer, a left arm region of the wearer, a chest region of the wearer, a back region of the wearer, and a neck region of the wearer.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the detachable portions of the garment are selected as needed by an operator of the garment to provide exposure to the desired region on the wearer.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the operator of the garment is separate from the wearer of the garment.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is adjusted by opening the particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners to accommodate a device attached to the wearer.

7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the device attached to the wearer is a medical device for administering health care to the wearer.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein a plurality of identifiers is located next to the plurality of releasable fasteners located on the garment, wherein the plurality of identifiers provide a unique identifying characteristic for assisting the operator of the garment to correctly match the plurality of releasable fasteners by identifying a pair of corresponding identifiers with the corresponding releasable fasteners.

9. The garment of claim 8, wherein the plurality of identifiers comprise a series of shapes, colors, numbers, or a combination thereof.

10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is both lightweight and additionally provides warmth to the person wearing the garment.

11. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is composed of material and pieces whereby the garment includes metal in either the material, the plurality of fasteners, or a combination thereof.

12. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is worn over apparel provided to a medical patient and does not obstruct medical devices attached to the wearer.

13. The garment of claim 1, wherein the person is able to wear the garment in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, wherein the garment is devoid of any metallic pieces.

14. The garment of claim 1, wherein a functional pocket is included on the middle section of the front panel, wherein the functional pocket is partially removable to access an underlying surface beneath the garment, whereby partially removeable comprises being securely attached by at least one side of the functional pocket to the garment, but whereby the functional pocket may be detached from all of the remaining sides to access the underlying surface of the garment.

15. A garment structurally suitable for easy and practical manipulation by a wearer of the garment, wherein the garment is a vest-like garment, wherein the garment comprises:

a front panel covering a wearer's chest region;

a back panel covering the wearer's back region, wherein the back panel is attached to the front panel along a first and second seam located on a left and right side of the wearer, wherein the front panel is securely connected to the back panel along the first and second seam located on the left and right side of the wearer;

a left portion covering the wearer's left shoulder region;

a right portion covering the wearer's right shoulder region;

a middle section on the front panel, wherein the middle section is separated down a middle of the front panel, and wherein the middle section is removeably joined by a middle fastener, wherein the middle fastener extends up to the wearer's neck region; and

a plurality of releasable fasteners located along the left portion and the right portion of the wearer's shoulder regions, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners as located on the along the left portion and the right portion of the wearer's shoulder regions begin at a starting point corresponding to a beginning of a left shoulder and of a right shoulder of a person and ascend to an ending point corresponding to an upper portion near the wearer's neck region, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners are located at a distance apart from one another to enable a gap to exist between each releasable fastener, wherein a surface underneath the garment is accessible as a function of said existing gap between said each releasable fastener, wherein portions of the garment are detachable as a result of a positioning of the plurality of releasable fasteners without requiring complete removal of the garment, wherein detaching the portions of the garment is achieved by selecting a particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners to provide exposure to a desired region associated with the wearer.

16. The garment of claim 15, wherein the vest-like garment comprises a garment with no sleeves covering a right arm or a left arm of the wearer.

17. A method for making a garment structurally suitable for practical and convenient manipulation by a wearer of the garment, wherein the method comprises:

providing a front panel covering a wearer's chest region;

providing a back panel covering the wearer's back region, wherein the back panel is attached to the front panel along a first and second seam located on a left and right side of the wearer, wherein the front panel is securely connected to the back panel along the first and second seam located on the left and right side of the wearer;

providing a first sleeve joined to the front panel and the back panel;

providing a second sleeve joined to the front panel and the back panel;

providing a middle section on the front panel, wherein the middle section is separated down a middle of the front panel, and wherein the middle section is removeably joined by a middle fastener, wherein the middle fastener extends up to the wearer's neck region; and

providing a plurality of releasable fasteners located along the first and second sleeve, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners as located on the first and second sleeve begin at a starting point corresponding to a wrist of a person and ascend to an ending point corresponding to an upper portion near a neck of the person, wherein the plurality of releasable fasteners are located at a distance apart from one another to enable a gap to exist between each releasable fastener, wherein a surface underneath the garment is accessible as a function of said existing gap between said each releasable fastener, wherein portions of the garment are detachable as a result of a positioning of the plurality of releasable fasteners without requiring complete removal of the garment, wherein detaching the portions of the garment is achieved by selecting a particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners to provide exposure to a desired region associated with the wearer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the wearer is provided an option to expose certain regions underneath the garment by making a selection of the plurality of releasable fasteners while keeping the middle fastener in various stages of closure to provide more coverage to a middle region of the wearer.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the desired region includes a left and right shoulder region of the wearer, a right arm region of the wearer, a left arm region of the wearer, a chest region of the wearer, a back region of the wearer, and a neck region of the wearer.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the detachable portions of the garment are selected as needed by an operator of the garment to provide exposure to the desired region on the wearer.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the operator of the garment is separate from the wearer of the garment.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the garment is adjusted by opening the particular set of the plurality of releasable fasteners to accommodate a device attached to the wearer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the device attached to the wearer is a medical device for administering health care to the wearer.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein a plurality of identifiers is located next to the plurality of releasable fasteners located on the garment, wherein the plurality of identifiers provide a unique identifying characteristic for assisting the operator of the garment to correctly match the plurality of releasable fasteners by identifying a pair of corresponding identifiers with the corresponding releasable fasteners.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of identifiers comprise a series of shapes, colors, numbers, or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the garment is worn over apparel provided to a medical patient and does not obstruct medical devices attached to the wearer.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the person is able to wear the garment in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, wherein the garment is devoid of any metallic pieces.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein a functional pocket is included on the middle section of the front panel, wherein the functional pocket is partially removable to access an underlying surface beneath the garment, whereby partially removeable comprises being securely attached by at least one side of the functional pocket to the garment, but whereby the functional pocket may be detached from all of the remaining sides to access the underlying surface of the garment.