BED GARMENT

Abstract

A garment has a front side and a back side. The front side of the garment is located adjacent to the chest of the person when the garment is worn. The back side is located opposite from the front side. The front side includes a front flap, and the back side includes a rear flap. The rear flap is shorter in length than the front flap. The front side further includes a pocket member for storing objects. The garment also includes sleeve members, which may selectively open to allow access to the arm(s) and selectively close to form a sleeve. The front side of the garment also includes flap members which can open and close to allow access to the upper body portion of the wearer when open.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/689,946, filed Jun. 26, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment to be worn in health care environments like hospitals or skilled nursing care facilities. More particularly, the invention relates to a warm garment having a shorter rear flap than front flap, sleeves that can be opened and closed, open side portions, and various openable flaps for accessing portions of the body frequently used during medical procedures and examinations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Often times, in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, patients are required to wear gowns that allow a doctor to easily examine the patient or otherwise perform a medical procedure on the patient. Such garments are often constructed of thin cotton that leaves a patient uncomfortable and cold. When such a thin garment is worn, a patient needs to use numerous blankets (which typically are also thin) to try to make up for the thinness of the gown. Such gowns also require complete or partial disrobing in order for a doctor to place IV lines or access chest ports that may be used during procedures involving chemotherapy and other treatments.

The gowns typically used in hospitals or other medical facilities also do not include pockets in which personal belongings or other medical instruments and/or devices may be placed. Some garments include a single pocket near the chest, but that pocket is limited in size and thus its ability to hold items.

Finally, such gowns in the prior art include excess, bulky material and often get caught when a patient is lying in a bed. Those gowns do not allow for a range of motion for a patient and can cause a patient to “fight” against himself or herself to rise out of a bed or chair.

An improved garment to be worn by patients that is warmer, more accessible for doctors and other medical professionals, has increased storage, and allows for a greater range of motion for a patient when worn is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A garment for the upper body or a bed garment described herein aims to improve upon the shortcomings of previously existing bed gowns. The improved bed garment is preferably made of a warm material such as a fleece, or in some embodiments, warm, breathable cotton. Near the neck, the bed jacket preferably includes a shawl/fold over neck to increase the warmth of the garment.

The bed garment preferably has a back portion that is shorter than its front portion such that the patient does not sit on the back portion, thus acting as a hindrance to the patient's movement. The shorter back portion also does not act as a hindrance when the wearer uses the restroom. The back portion and front portion are preferably separated from one another along the side portions of the garment below the sleeve portions to further increase the range of motion of a wearer. Having open sides as described preferably allows a medical professional such as a doctor or nurse to more easily access a patient's back, abdomen, or trunk.

The sleeves in the improved bed garment are also preferably able to be opened and closed along the length of the sleeve for easy access. When the sleeves are closed to form complete circular sleeves, portions of the sleeves may overlap, thus increasing warmth for the wearer. The sleeve portions, which may be openable and closable by way of hook and loop fasteners, may also be adjusted for a personal, customized fit. The overlapping sleeves having the ability to be opened and closed may makes it easier for a medical professional such as a doctor or nurse to access or introduce an IV line to the patient or otherwise access the patient.

At an upper portion of the front side of the garment, near the patient's chest, a flap member is preferably provided on either side of the garment. The flap member is located on either side of the garment and is preferably able to be opened so that a doctor or other medical professional may access the wearer's chest. The ability to access the wearer's chest may be beneficial, for example, when a doctor or nurse needs to access chemotherapy ports located on the wearer's chest. The flap members may be opened and closed in one embodiment by use of hook and loop fasteners.

In one embodiment, the garment may be worn during radiation due to the lack of metal parts. In a preferred embodiment, a large, kangaroo-style pocket is also preferably provided near a lower front portion of the garment, where the wearer's abdomen is traditionally located. The wearer may store personal belongings and/or necessary medical instruments or devices in the pocket, or may use the pocket as a location to place his or her hands to warm them up when the garment is worn. Thus, the wearer may slide his or her hands into the pocket to warm them. More details regarding the bed garment are set forth below in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawing, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the view.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bed garment constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type of industry application depicted in the FIGURES. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numbers wherein like numbers refer to like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates a bed garment 1 constructed according to the teachings set forth below. As shown in FIG. 1, the garment 1 may have a general sweater-like structure, and like traditional garments, the garment 1 includes each of a front side 5 and a back side 10. As understood in the art, the front side 5 is designed to be worn adjacent a front side or chest of a wearer or patient, while the back side 10 is designed to be worn so that it abuts the rear side or back of a patient or wearer. In other embodiments, the garment 1 may be a jacket, coat, sweatshirt, or other type of garment for the upper body portion of a person. Preferably, the garment 1, including its front side 5 and back side 10, is constructed of a warm material like fleece. In some embodiments, it may be constructed of a different type of warm material like breathable cotton.

A shawl or crossover style collar 15 is preferably provided where the neck of a wearer would be located when the garment 1 is donned. The fold over or shawl collar 15 may be similar to those seen and used on sweaters. At a location where the collar 15 folds over itself, an attachment point 20 is preferably provided. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment point 20 may be a hook and loop fastener type, though in alternative embodiments, the attachment point 20 may be a button and hole style attachment, a snap fastener, or a zipper. The ability to use the attachment point 20 to attach the portion of the collar 15 where it overlaps with itself may allow for a snugger and more comfortable fit for a wearer. Furthermore, the attachment point 20 and its crossover-style material may allow for increased warmth around the neck area of a wearer.

The rear side 10 of the garment 1 preferably includes a rear flap 25 that is shorter in length than a front flap 30 of the front side 5 of the garment 1. The rear flap 25, designed to cover a substantial portion of a wearer's back, is preferably shorter than the front flap 30 such that when a patient or wearer is wearing the garment 1, he or she does not sit on the rear flap 25. In other prior art gowns or jackets, the rear portion or rear flap may be the same length as the front portion or front flap. This can cause a wearer to sit on the rear flap and limit his or her motion when he or she sits on the flap. Moreover, a longer back portion creates excess bulk material and can get wedged between the wearer's back and his or her bed and/or chair. Thus, it is preferred in the current invention that the rear flap 25 be shorter than the front flap 30. Moreover, as shown and illustrated in FIG. 1, the front flap 30 and the rear flap 25 are preferably separated from one another so that a doctor or nurse (or other medical professional) may more easily access a patient's abdomen, back, or trunk. In another embodiment, the front flap 30 and the rear flap 25 may be selectively engageable with each other for added warmth. In embodiments where the front flap 30 and the rear flap 25 are selectively engageable, the front flap 30 and rear flap 25 may preferably engage each other via hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, zippers, and other types of methods known in the art.

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, and like other garments, the garment 1 preferably includes sleeve members 35 through which a wearer's arms may be placed when the garment 1 is worn. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve members 35 may be opened and closed so that a nurse, doctor, or other medical professional may easily access the wearer's arms. A medical professional may need to access a patient's arms in a number of situations, including the establishment of, or access to, an IV line.

In other words, the sleeve member 35 may include a slit 36 that extends longitudinally along the sleeve member 35. The sleeve member 35 further includes a first sleeve member side 37 and a second sleeve member side 38 located and positioned on either side of the slit 36. Each sleeve member 35 has a first sleeve member position and a second sleeve member position. In the first sleeve member position, the first sleeve member side 37 and second sleeve member side 38 are adjacent to and abut each other to form a circular tube or sleeve. The sleeve member 35 is therefore closed or secured in the first position. In the second sleeve position, the sleeve member 35 is open, and the first sleeve member side 37 does not abut the second sleeve member side 38. The arm of the wearer can therefore more easily be accessed by a medical professional when the sleeve member is in its second position.

The sleeve members 35 may be opened and closed in a variety of manners, but in a preferred embodiment, the sleeves may be opened and closed by way of hooks 40 and loops 45 that together make for a hook and loop fastener. In alternative embodiments, the sleeve members 35 may be opened and closed using alternative fastening methods including zippers, buttons, snap fasteners, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, when the sleeve member 35 is closed in the first sleeve position as shown in the right sleeve member 35, a portion 50 of the sleeve member 35 overlaps with itself. The overlapping portion 50 preferably allows for a wearer to adjust the sleeve members 35 to have a variety of circumferences so that the sleeve member 35 may snuggly fit a wearer. Increased personal fit by way of the overlap 50 of the sleeve members 35 may improve the comfort and the warmth of a wearer.

Near an upper portion 53 of the garment 1, the garment 1 is preferably provided with flap members 55. The garment 1 may include at least one flap member 55. In one embodiment, there are preferably two flap members 55. The flap members 55 are preferably embodied as rectangularly shaped members that may be opened so as to access the chest area of a wearer. The flaps member 55 may be other shapes in alternative embodiments. The flap members 55 may include a first flap end 57 and a second flap end 58. The first flap end 57 selectively engages the garment 1 in a first flap position, where the flap member 55 is closed. The first flap end 57 engages the garment 1, and allows the second flap end 58 to pivot at the first flap end 57.

In a second flap position, the first flap end 57 pivots at the second flap end 58, and the first flap end 57 does not engage with the garment 1. Thus, in the second flap position, the flap member 55 is open, and a medical professional may more easily access the wearer's body. However, in alternative embodiments, the first flap end 57 and the second flap end 58 may be reversed, allowing the second flap end 58 to selectively engage the garment 1.

The flap members 55 are preferably located on either side of the collar 15 near locations that may be frequently needed to be accessed by a medical professional. The first flap end 57 may selectively engage or be disengaged from the garment 1, so that the medical professional can reach through the garment to the area underneath the flap member 55. In a preferred embodiment, the flap members 55 may be opened and closed via hooks 60 and loops 65 to create a hook and loop type fastener. In other embodiments, the flap members 55 may be opened or closed through snap fasteners, conventional buttons, or other mechanisms known in the art. When a medical professional or other person would like to access a wearer's chest at the location of either of the flap members 55, he or she simply may pull the flap member 55 at the first flap end 57 outwardly such that the hooks 60 detach from the loops 65. A healthcare professional may then access the wearer's chest, for example to administer chemotherapy treatment to a port located on the wearer's chest. While the garment 1 may include at least one flap member 55, the garment 1 may include two flap members 55, or more or fewer flap members 55 in other embodiments.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the front side 5 and front flap 30 of the garment 1 preferably includes a pocket member 70. The pocket member 70 may be used to store various items therein including personal belongings such as lip balm or lotion and/or medical supplies that may be used by a healthcare professional. In one embodiment, the pocket member 70 may include an opening only at its upper portion, and in other embodiments, it may include openings only at its side portions. As such, it may act as a “kangaroo style” pocket or a pocket that is substantially similar to those found on hooded sweatshirts. In the latter embodiment, the pocket 70 may be used to further warm the hands of a patient that is wearing the garment 1.

In another embodiment, the garment 1 may further include at least one pocket section 75. The pocket section 75 may be a conventional pocket, also capable of holding personal items or medical supplies. The at least one pocket section 75 may be located and positioned adjacent and on top of or over the pocket member 70. However, in yet another embodiment, the pocket section 75 may be located in other places on the garment 1.

As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention is not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications, applications, variations, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawing. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses in applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present inventions are deemed to be covered by the inventions.

Claims

1. A garment for an upper portion of a human body comprising:

a front side and a back side, the front side of the garment including a front flap, the back side of the garment including a rear flap, the rear flap being shorter in length than the front flap; and

at least one sleeve member capable of being opened and closed.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment further includes at least one flap member integrally formed in the garment that may be opened or closed to access the upper portion of the human body.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein the garment includes two flap members.

4. The garment of claim 2 wherein the at least one flap member selectively engages the garment to be one of open and closed through hook and loop fasteners.

5. The garment of claim 1 wherein a first sleeve member side of the at least one sleeve member selectively engages a second sleeve member side of the at least one sleeve member via a hook and loop fastener.

6. The garment of claim 1 wherein a first sleeve member side of the at least one sleeve member selectively engages a second sleeve member side of the at least one sleeve member through at least one snap fastener.

7. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment includes an attachment point near a collar of the garment to provide a snugger fit for the collar.

8. A garment for an upper portion of a human body comprising:

a front side including a front flap;

a back side including a rear flap, wherein the front flap is greater in length than the rear flap; and

at least one flap member positioned and located on the front side of the garment that may be selectively opened and closed to provide access to the upper portion of the human body.

9. The garment of claim 8 wherein the garment includes at least one sleeve member.

10. The garment of claim 9 wherein a first sleeve member side of the at least one sleeve member and a second sleeve member side of the at least one sleeve member may selectively engage each other via a hook and loop fastener.

11. The garment of claim 9 wherein a first sleeve member side of the at least one sleeve member and a second sleeve member side of the at least one sleeve member may selectively engage each other via at least one snap fastener.

12. The garment of claim 8 wherein the at least one flap member is integrally formed from the garment.

13. The garment of claim 8 wherein the at least one flap member selectively engages the garment via a hook and loop fastener.

14. The garment of claim 8 wherein the front side of the garment includes at least one pocket member.

15. A garment for an upper portion of a human body comprising:

a front side and a back side;

at least one sleeve member, each sleeve member having a first sleeve member position and a second sleeve member position, wherein the at least one sleeve member is closed in the first position, and wherein the at least one sleeve member is open in the second position; and

at least one flap member positioned and located on at least one of the front side of the garment and the back side of the garment, each at least one flap member having a first flap end and a second flap end, each at least one flap member having a first flap member position and a second flap position, and wherein the first flap end selectively engages the garment in the first flap position, and wherein the first flap end does not engage the garment in the second flap position.

16. The garment of claim 15 wherein the rear side is shorter than the front side.

17. The garment of claim 15 wherein the front side of the garment includes a pocket member for storing items.

18. The garment of claim 15 wherein the garment includes an attachment point near a collar of the garment to provide a snugger fit for the collar.

19. The garment of claim 15 wherein the first flap end selectively engages the garment via a hook and loop fastener.

20. The garment of claim 15 wherein the at least one sleeve member is selectively closed via a hook and loop fastener.