Garment for accomodating medical devices

• US 20060253953A1
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jody D. Williams
• Original Assignee: Jody D. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Jody D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1236 Patients' garments
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1272 specially adapted for babies

Abstract

A garment for accommodating medical devices comprises a garment panel detachably coupled to a garment body. The garment panel contains a concealed pocket suitable for accommodating one or more medical devices. The garment panel is detachable from the garment body at predetermined attachment zones which provide access to device sites and permit complete detachment of the garment panel. The panel may also be fixed to the garment body at anchor zones, while allowing decoupling at attachment zones. The pocket may contain an inner compartment for receiving a supplemental material such as an absorbing or deodorizing material. Apertures to the inner compartment allow the supplemental material to proximate device sites on the patient body or medical apparatus stored in the pocket. Stabilizers positioned on the interior of the garment may be used to secure medical monitor wires, tubing, or other devices. The garment is intended for wear by children and adults.

Claims

1. A garment, comprising:

a body, and

a panel detachably coupled to said body, said panel having a pocket for accommodating at least one medical device.

2. A garment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pocket is located at an interior face of said panel.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein said panel is detachably coupled to said body at one or more predetermined attachment zones.

4. The garment of claim 3, wherein at least one predetermined attachment zone is provided at a device site.

5. The garment of claim 3, wherein at least one predetermined attachment zone is provided at a crotch portion of the body.

6. The garment of claim 3, further comprising at least one releasable fastener located at said predetermined attachment zone.

7. A garment, as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one first fastener portion located on said body at said predetermined attachment zone and at least one second fastener portion located on said panel at said predetermined attachment zone, said first fastener portion and said second fastener portion adapted to releasably engage so that said panel can detachably couple to said body.

8. The garment of claim 6, wherein said releasable fastener is a plastic snap.

9. A garment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panel includes an auxiliary compartment for receiving a supplemental material.

10. A garment, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said auxiliary compartment includes an aperture for receiving said supplemental material.

11. The garment of claim 10, wherein said aperture is provided at a predetermined location such that said supplemental material is proximate a device site.

12. The garment of claim 10, wherein said aperture is provided at a predetermined location such that said supplemental material is proximate the contents of said pocket.

13. A garment, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising device stabilizers.

14. A garment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body and said panel are made of a wicking material.

15. A garment body, comprising:

a back portion;

a front portion attached to said back portion;

an opening for providing access to a wearer;

at least one predetermined attachment zone adapted to detachably couple a panel over said opening; and

at least one predetermined underarm attachment zone adapted to detachably couple said back portion to said front portion.

16. A garment body, as claimed in claim 15, further comprising at least one releasable fastener at said predetermined attachment zone and at least one releasable fastener at said predetermined underarm attachment zone.

17. A garment body, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one releasable fastener is a plastic snap.

18. A garment body, as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one said predetermined attachment zone is located at a device site.

19. A garment body, as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one said predetermined attachment zone is a crotch attachment zone.

20. A garment body, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said front portion comprises a first front subportion detachably coupled to a second front subportion.

21. A garment body, as claimed in claim 15, further comprising device stabilizers.

22. A garment body, as claimed in claim 15, made of a wicking material.

23. A garment body, as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a sleeve portion.

24. A garment body, as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a sleeve attachment zone.

25. A garment body, as claimed in claim 24, further comprising at least one releasable fastener at said sleeve attachment zone.

26. A garment body comprising:

a back portion;

a front portion attached to said back portion;

a first armhole for receiving a first arm of a wearer;

a second armhole for receiving a second arm of a wearer;

an opening for providing access to a wearer; and

at least one predetermined attachment zone adapted to detachably couple a panel over said opening.

27. A garment body, as claimed in claim 26, further comprising at least one releasable fastener at said predetermined attachment zone.

28. A garment body, as claimed in claim 26, wherein said releasable fastener is a plastic snap.

29. A garment body, as claimed in claim 26, wherein at least one said predetermined attachment zone is located at a device site.

30. A garment body, as claimed in claim 26, wherein at least one said predetermined attachment zone is a crotch attachment zone.

31. A garment body, as claimed in claim 26, wherein said front portion comprises a first front subportion detachably coupled to a second front subportion.

32. A garment body, as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a neckhole adapted to enclose a neck of a wearer.

33. A garment body, as claimed in claim 26, further comprising device stabilizers.

34. A garment body, as claimed in claim 26, made of a wicking material.

35. A detachable garment panel, comprising:

a base;

a pocket attached to said base; and

at least one predetermined attachment zone on said base that is adapted to detachably couple a garment body.

36. The detachable garment panel of claim 35, wherein said pocket is adapted to accommodate at least one medical device.

37. A detachable garment panel, as claimed in claim 35, further comprising at least one releasable fastener positioned in said predetermined attachment zone.

38. The detachable garment panel of claim 37, wherein said releasable fastener is a plastic snap.

39. A detachable garment panel, as claimed in claim 35, further comprising an auxiliary compartment adapted to receive a supplemental material.

40. A detachable garment panel, as claimed in claim 39, further comprising an aperture in said auxiliary compartment.

41. A detachable garment panel, as claimed in claim 39, wherein said received supplemental material is a conventional nursing pad.

42. A detachable garment panel, as claimed in claim 40, wherein said aperture is adapted to allow said supplemental material to be proximate a device site.

43. A detachable garment panel, as claimed in claim 40, wherein said aperture is adapted to allow said supplemental material to be proximate the contents of said pocket.

44. A detachable garment panel, as claimed in claim 35, made of wicking material.

45. A method of making a garment, comprising:

providing a garment body, said garment body having an opening for accessing a portion of a wearer; and

providing a garment panel, said garment panel having a pocket adapted to accommodate a medical device, wherein said garment body and said garment panel are adapted to detachably couple to conceal said opening.

46. A garment comprising:

a garment body, and

a garment panel having a pocket adapted to accommodate a medical device;

wherein said garment panel is detachably coupled to said garment body at one or more predetermined attachment zones and

wherein said garment panel is fixedly attached to said garment body at one or more anchor zones.

47. The garment of claim 46, wherein at least one predetermined attachment zone is provided at a device site.

48. The garment of claim 46, wherein at least one predetermined attachment zone is a crotch attachment zone.

49. The garment of claim 46, further comprising at least one releasable fastener at said predetermined attachment zone.

50. A garment, as claimed in claim 46, further comprising at least one first fastener portion located on said garment body at said predetermined attachment zone, and at least one second fastener portion located on said garment panel at said predetermined attachment zone, wherein said first fastener portion and said second fastener portion fasteners are adapted to releasably engage so that said garment panel can detachably couple to said garment body.

51. A garment, as claimed in claim 46, wherein said pocket is positioned on an interior face of said garment panel.

52. A garment, as claimed in claim 46, wherein said garment panel comprises an auxiliary compartment for receiving a supplemental material.

53. A garment, as claimed in claim 52, wherein said auxiliary compartment comprises an aperture for receiving said supplemental material.

54. The garment of claim 53, wherein said aperture is provided at a predetermined location such that said supplemental material is proximate a device site of a wearer.

55. The garment of claim 53, wherein said aperture is provided at a predetermined location such that said supplemental material is proximate the contents of said pocket.

56. A garment, as claimed in claim 46, further comprising device stabilizers.

57. A garment, as claimed in claim 46, wherein said garment is made of wicking material.

58. A method of making a garment, comprising:

providing a garment body, said garment body having an opening for accessing a portion of a wearer; and

providing a garment panel, said garment panel having a pocket for accommodating at least one medical device, wherein said garment body and said garment panel are adapted to detachably couple at one or more predetermined attachment zones to conceal said opening, and said garment panel is fixed to said garment body at one or more anchor zones.