Garment Configured to Discreetly House Medical Fluid Bag

Abstract

A garment is configured to discreetly house a medical fluid bags such as drainage bags used after surgery and/or in conjunction with catheters. The garment can include a pocket for housing the fluid bag. In some embodiments this pocket can be waterproof. In other or the same embodiments, this pocket is easily cleanable. In some embodiments the garment includes a closing mechanism such as a series of buttons, a series of snaps, a zipper, or a hook-and-loop fastener. The garment can be made of a number of materials, including but not limited to cotton, wool, polyester denim, leather, fur, silk, nylon, elastane, rayon, flannel and combinations of the same.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/935,093 having a filing date of Feb. 3, 2014, entitled “Inside Surgical Pocket Shirt for Holding Drainage Bags”. The '093 application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to clothing to be worn by those requiring the use of catheters, medical fluid bags such as drainage bag and IV bags, and/or infusion pumps. More specifically, the garment includes discreet pockets and/or straps that hold in place the fluid bags, infusion pumps, and/or catheters of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Individuals often find themselves having to utilize medical fluid bags, infusion pumps, and/or catheters. This use can be short term, as in the case of those individuals who have recently had surgeries such as heart surgery or breast reduction. In other cases the use is long term such as in those who are required to use a catheter due to incontinence or to inject insulin to combat diabetes.

Individuals are often embarrassed at the thought of having to use medical fluid bags, infusion pumps, and/or catheters. For this reason many individuals requiring these devices refuse to go out in public and/or are embarrassed when they do go out. While some garments exist for aiding in the use of medical fluid bags, infusion pumps, and/or catheters, these garments suffer from several limitations, most notable being that they do not look like regular attire, but instead resemble hospital gowns.

What is needed is a garment that aids in the use of medical fluid bags, infusion pumps, and/or catheters but discreetly hides these bags and resembles traditional clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A garment configured to house a medical fluid bag can include a pocket configured to hold a medical fluid bag; and a closing mechanism. In some embodiments this pocket can be located on the interior of the garment. In other or the same embodiments, the pocket is waterproof.

Various closing mechanisms can be used, including, but not limited to, a series of buttons, a zipper, and a series of snaps.

The garment can be made of a variety of materials, including but not limited to, cotton, polyester, and wool.

The term garment is meant to include various articles of clothing, including but not limited to shirts, coats, dresses, skirts, pants, and shorts. When the garments is a shirt, the shirt can be short or long sleeved,. The shirt can also have a variety of necklines, including but not limited to V-necks and turtlenecks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment configured to hold medical fluid bag, infusion pump and/or catheter.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the inside of the garment illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the inside of the garment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a medical fluid bag in the pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of garment 100. In some embodiments the neck of garment 100 can be a V-neck as shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments the neck of the garment can be in the style of a polo neck, plunging neck, scoop neck, collared, turtleneck, or other known styles. In some embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 1, garment 100 has short sleeves. In other embodiments garment 100 can have full, no, three-quarter or other known styles of sleeves.

Garment 100 can be made of a number of materials including, but not limited to, cotton, wool, polyester, denim, leather, fur, silk, nylon, elastane, rayon, flannel and combinations of the same.

In some embodiments garment 100 can include printed or embroidered indicia.

FIG. 1 also shows tag 10. Tag 10 can be used to hang garment 100 or provide information such as washing instructions.

Closing mechanism 18 can also be present: on garment 100. In FIG. 1 closing mechanism is displayed as a series of buttons, however other mechanisms such as a series of snaps, string, zippers, and hook-and-loop fasteners can be used. Closing mechanism 18 allows the garment to be placed on the user without the user having to raise his arms; this can be especially useful when a user is recovering from surgery. in other embodiments, garment 100 does not open at the front or back and closing mechanism 18 is not present.

In some embodiments, garment 100 can include front pocket 22. Front pocket 22 can be connected to pocket 28 (see FIG. 2) to allow for manual, discreet control of devices placed in pocket 28.

FIG. 2 shows the inside of garment 100. In particular is illustrates pocket 28. Pocket 28 is configured to hold medical fluid and/or drainage bag 26 (see FIG. 3). In some embodiments pocket 28 is located on only one side of garment 100. In other embodiments, multiple pockets 28 are present on garment 100.

Pocket 28 can be made of a waterproof and/or easily cleanable material so that if medical fluid and/or drainage bag 26 spills, it does not leak out of pocket 28 and or can be easily cleaned.

FIG. 3 is another view of the inside of garment 100. In particular it shows medical fluid and/or drainage bag 26 inside pocket 28. It also shows tube 24. In some embodiments tube 24 can be held in place by guide loops (not shown) that can be sewn into garment 100.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.

Claims

1. A garment configured to house a medical fluid bag comprising:

a. a pocket wherein said pocket is configured to hold said medical fluid bag; and

b. a closing mechanism.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pocket is located on the interior of said garment.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein said:closing mechanism is a series of buttons.

4. The garment of claim 2 wherein said closing mechanism is a zipper.

5. The shirt of claim 2 wherein said closing mechanism is a series of snaps.

6. The garment of claim 2 wherein said pocket is waterproof.

7. The garment of claim 2 wherein said garment is made of cotton.

8. The garment of claim 2 wherein said garment is made of polyester.

9. The garment of claim 2 wherein said garment made of wool.

10. The garment of claim 2 wherein said garment is a shirt.

11. The garment of claim 2 wherein said garment is a coat.

12. The garment of claim 10 wherein said shirt has short sleeves.

13. The garment of claim 10 wherein said shirt has long sleeves.

14. The garment of claim 10 wherein the neck of said shirt is a V-neck.

15. The garment of claim 10 wherein the neck of said shirt is a turtleneck.