Over the head, full coverage disposable medical gown

• US 7,971,274 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Icp Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Salus Corporation
• Inventors: Graneto, Joseph A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanatta; Amy B
• Application Number:
  US12/552,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20100299805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 211/4, 2 5/1, 2 5/2, 2 4/8, 2 4/91, 2 8/4, 2 8/8, 2 4/6, 2 492- 495, 2 5/0, 245/7, 245/6, 2 6/9, 2 6/95, 2 7/5, 2 8/0, 2 8/3, 2 8/5, 2 9/2, 2 8/7
• US Class Current: 2/114
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1209 Surgeons' gowns or dresses
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/44 Donning facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/52 Disposable

Abstract

A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown is described. The gown includes a front member, a left rear member, and a right rear member. The left rear member and the right rear member are folded over the front member to define a body portion of the gown. The left rear member and the right rear member are attached to one another to define a neck opening for the gown. This attachment occurs in an area that lies between the neck and the shoulder blades of a person wearing the gown. At least one of said left rear member and said right rear member includes perforations therein that extend from the neck opening to an edge of the respective rear member proximate the attachment area.

Claims

1. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown, comprising:

a front member having a first length associated therewith;

a left rear member; and

a right rear member, said left rear member and said right rear member folded behind said front member to define a body portion of said gown, said left rear member and said right rear member having a length substantially equal to said front member to provide the full coverage, said left rear member and said right rear member attached to one another to define a neck opening for said gown, the attachment occurring only within an area that lies generally between the neck and the shoulder blades of a person wearing said gown, at least one of said left rear member and said right rear member comprising perforations therein, said perforations extending from the neck opening to a side edge of the respective rear member proximate the attachment between said left rear member and said right rear member.

2. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 1 wherein the attachment between said left rear member and said right rear member is made using at least one of a stitching process, a sealing process, and an adhesive process.

3. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 1 wherein said front member, said left rear member, and said right rear member each comprise a top edge, attachment of said left rear member top edge to said front member top edge defining a first shoulder for said gown and a portion of the neck opening for said gown, attachment of said right rear member top edge to said front member top edge defining a second shoulder for said gown and a portion of the neck opening for said gown.

4. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 1 wherein said front member;

said left rear member, and said right rear member are formed from a single piece of material, a partial cut through the material along a fold line between said front member and said left rear member defining a first arm opening upon folding of said left rear member over said front member, a partial cut through the material along a fold line between said front member and said right rear member defining a second arm opening, upon folding of said right rear member over said front member.

5. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 4 further comprising sleeves attached to said gown about the first arm opening and the second arm opening.

6. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 5 wherein said sleeves comprise an elastic strip attached thereto, said elastic strip positioned along a length of said sleeves to provide a gathering function for excess sleeve material when said gown is worn by a user.

7. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 5 wherein said sleeves each comprise thumb holes and hand holes therein defining a strap which engages the hand of a user in the area between their thumb and fingers.

8. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 5 wherein said sleeves each comprise an impervious pad attached thereto, said impervious pads positioned within said sleeves to counteract, to a certain extent, fluids and liquids that may be encountered in a user environment.

9. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 1 wherein said front member comprises an impervious pad attached thereto, said impervious pad positioned to counteract, to a certain extent, fluids and liquids that may be encountered in a user environment.

10. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 1 wherein said front member, said left rear member, and said right rear member comprise at least one of polypropylene that has been coated with a polyethylene coating and spunbond meltblown spunbond (SMS) material.

11. A full coverage, over the head, disposable medical gown according to claim 1 further comprising a tie strap attached to said front member, said tie strap for tying about the waist of a user, said tie strap further comprising at least one perforation therethrough operable for easily breaking said tie strap when removing said gown.

12. A medical gown, comprising:

a single piece body member comprising a first edge and a second edge, said body member folded to form a front, a rear, and shoulders of said gown such that said first edge and said second edge are proximate one another to form the back of said gown and partially define a neck opening, the front and the rear having a substantially equal length;

an attachment between a portion of said body member proximate said first edge and a portion of said body member proximate said second edge, the attachment limited to an area that lies between the neck opening and the shoulder blades of a person wearing said gown; and

a plurality of perforations through said single piece body member contained within an area proximate said attachment and extending from the neck opening to one of the first edge and the second edge, said perforations allowing a user to easily rip said medical gown in the area of said perforations for removal of said medical gown from the user.

13. A medical gown according to claim 12 wherein said attachment comprises at least one of stitching, a seal, and an adhesive between said body member proximate said first edge and said body member proximate said second edge.

14. A medical gown according to claim 12 wherein said body member proximate said first edge comprises a first portion of a manufacturers label attached thereto, said attachment comprising a second portion of said manufacturers label attached to said body member proximate said second edge.

15. A medical gown according to claim 14 wherein at least a portion of said perforations extend through said manufacturers label.

16. A medical gown according to claim 12 further comprising a cut in said body member proximate each fold and each shoulder, said cuts operable as arm openings.

17. A medical gown according to claim 16 further comprising a plurality of sleeves attached to said body member about perimeters defined by said cuts and each shoulder.

18. A medical gown according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said sleeves comprise an elastic strip attached thereto, said elastic strip positioned along a length of said sleeve to provide a gathering function for excess sleeve material.

19. A medical gown according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said sleeves comprise an impervious pad attached thereto.

20. A medical gown according to claim 12 wherein said body member comprises an impervious pad attached thereto, said impervious pad located on said body member such that it is proximate a front of the user.

21. A medical gown according to claim 12 further comprising a tie strap attached to said body member, said tie strap for tying about the waist of a user, said tie strap further comprising at least one perforation therethrough operable for easily breaking said tie strap when removing said gown.