GB2245148A

GB2245148A - Gown e.g. surgical gown with gloves

Info

Publication number: GB2245148A
Application number: GB9106373A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jayne Anne Hill
Original assignee: GILLICK TERRI
Current assignee: GILLICK TERRI
Priority date: 1990-03-29
Filing date: 1991-03-26
Publication date: 1992-01-02
Also published as: GB9106373D0

Abstract

A surgical hospital gown comprises a sleeve having an attached hand-receiving pocket. The hand-receiving pocket may be provided integrally with the sleeve, or may be provided by the use of an initially separate glove which is secured, temporarily or permanently, to the sleeve. The glove part may be fingered or have the form of a mitt. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Gown" Description of the Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to gowns, particularly of the kind utilised in situations where it is desired to provide a barrier around the wearer of the gown. For example surgical gowns, as may be worn by surgeons, in hospitals, or veterinary surgeons, pathologists or the like.

Alternatively gowns worn in laboratories where it is desired to minimise contact between the wearer of the gown and an outside agencies, such as chemical or biological agencies.

Conventionally the sleeves of a gown of the kind specified terminate at the wrist, and hands are protected by separate gloves pulled over the hands, and if desired grip around the cuff of the sleeves. Difficulties are encountered, including but not limited to: [aj the difficulty of ensuring a seal between the gloves and the gown as may be necessary where asepsis procedures are to be performed; [b] the potential risk of contamination when the gloves and gown are taken off separately.

Accordingly to this invention there is provided a gown of the kind specified the sleeves of which are enclosed at their end regions to define handreceiving pockets.

Conveniently the hand-received pockets are integral with the sleeves, and may be produced by stitching or otherwise seeming opposite faces of the material of the sleeve together, at the end regions of the sleeve.

In its broader aspect the sleeves may be terminated with mitten-like parts, e.g. by providing the sleeves longer than would be necessary, and defining at least hand and thumb portions into which a wearer of the gown may insert his hand and thumb. In this manner a reliable degree of protection may be provided much less expensively and more reliably than by the use of separate gown and glove.

Where it is desired to utilise limited manipulative techniques whilst wearing the gown, preferably finger-locating portions are provided. However it is general not necessary to provide a constriction at the wrist section. In this manner a single gown may be utilised by persons of a diversity of size in the same manner as which such persons may be accommodated by a surgical gown of single size.

Alternatively constriction may be provided at the wrist section, e.g. by integral elastication, if desired.

Alternatively the gown may have gloves of generally conventional construction attached to the sleeves thereof. Preferably such gloves are permanently secured e.g. by a means which allows the gown and glove portion to be autoclaved, for example by adhesive, ultrasonic welding or the like.

Alternatively the gown and glove portions may be temporarily secured together by a releasable means such as tape (which may be double sided), velcro or the like.

According to this invention there is also provided a hospital gown where the gloves are integral with the gown, either being provided as initial separate components and secured at least semi-permanently to the sleeves of the to the gown (e.g. the ends of the sleeves) or formed integrally with the gown during manufacture.

This alternative is particularly suitable where it is desired that the gown be of more water-resistant nature, providing sufficient water resistance for the gloves.

The invention is particularly suitable in relation to the provision of an operating theatre gown with a pair of disposable gloves attached to it. By the provision of a gown and gloves as a single unit, they may be sterilised together, and after use can be disposed of.

Gowns having different types of gloves or gloves of different lengths may be provided for different uses, and in particular gloves provided in accordance with this invention may be wider at the wrist, allowing the hands and forearms to fit more easily into the glove portions. Additionally, by the use of the invention whilst it may be desired to provide gowns with glove portions of different sizes, in general a smaller number of different sizes will be found to be necessary.

The sleeves of the gown may have a band by which the wearer may accommodate excess length of sleeve.

There will now be given detailed descriptions, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of preferred embodiment which have been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment; FIGURE 2 is a rear view thereof; and FIGURE 3 is a view illustrating an alternative constructions of the invention.

In the first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the gloves are permanently secured to the ends of the sleeves by adhesive or heat sealing. As is shown, the neckline of the gown may also be slightly different to the neck used in conventional gowns, and may be made more into a V-neck.

This would allow the person wearing the gown more room to move and therefore increase the user comfort. The gown conveniently is of a disposable nature so that the gown and gloves may be disposed of together.

In the second embodiment, the sleeve and glove portions only which are illustrated in the drawing, the glove portions are integral with the sleeve portions, a hand-locating pocket being defined by stitching or heat sealing. This allows a gown to be put on very easily and quickly, and is particularly beneficial to where the handling of unpleasant or dangerous methods is required e.g. in an industrial manufacturing process.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A gown of the kind specified the sleeves of which are enclosed at their end regions to define hand-receiving pockets.

2. A gown according to Claim 1 wherein the hand-receiving pockets are integral with the sleeves.

3. A gown according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the hand-receiving pockets are provided by mitten-like parts.

4. A gown according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the hand-receiving pockets define finger-locating portions.

5. A gown according to Claim 1 having gloves of conventional construction attached to the sleeves thereof.

6. A gown according to Claim 5 wherein the glove portions are permanently secured to the sleeves.

7. A gown according to Claim 5 wherein the glove portions are temporarily or releasable secured to the sleeves.

8. A hospital gown wherein the gloves are integral with the gown sleeves, either being provided as initially separate components and semi-permanently secured to the gown sleeves, or formed integrally with the gown.

9. Ahospital gown constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.