GB2554376A - A handling garment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a patient handling garment 2 in the form of a sleeveless jacket or vest. The garment comprises a body piece 3 having a front section 4 and a back section (6, figure 2) arranged to at least partially cover the front and back of a users torso in use. The body piece includes at least one attachment point 26, (34, figure 2) for attaching the garment to a hoisting apparatus and a gusset piece (150, figure 4) arranged in use to fit between a users legs. The gusset preferably comprises an elongate section that is attached fixedly or removably to the front and back sections of the body piece. The garment is preferably formed from spacer fabric with at least one handle 24, 30, (38, figure 2) for manoeuvring the wearer of the garment.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

University of Salford Enterprises Limited (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

Acton Square, SALFORD, Greater Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Jo-anne Webb

Barbara Mary Ackley

1616173.9 (51) [_NT ci_:

A41D 13/00 (2006.01) A62B 35/00 (2006.01)

23.09.2016 (56) Documents Cited:

GB 2476962 A WO 2016/068609 A US 6101634 A US 3252704 A

GB 2432297 A JP 2006144140 A US 5361418 A US 20070281842 A1 (58) Field of Search:

INT CLA41D, A62B Other: Online: EPODOC, WPI (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Wilson Gunn

Charles House, 148/9 Great Charles Street, BIRMINGHAM, B3 3HT, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: A handling garment Abstract Title: A patient handling garment (57) The invention relates to a patient handling garment 2 in the form of a sleeveless jacket or vest. The garment comprises a body piece 3 having a front section 4 and a back section (6, figure 2) arranged to at least partially cover the front and back of a user’s torso in use. The body piece includes at least one attachment point 26, (34, figure 2) for attaching the garment to a hoisting apparatus and a gusset piece (150, figure 4) arranged in use to fit between a user’s legs. The gusset preferably comprises an elongate section that is attached fixedly or removably to the front and back sections of the body piece. The garment is preferably formed from spacer fabric with at least one handle 24, 30, (38, figure 2) for manoeuvring the wearer of the garment.

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A Handling Garment

Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a patient handling garment and in particular a garment for attachment to a patient lifting device. The invention further relates to lifting or hoisting garments.

Background to the Invention

It is known to provide patient lifting or hoisting devices to enable safe and effective handling and lifting of people with profound and/or long-term disabilities who cannot bear their own weight through their legs or are unable or unwilling to do so for long periods of time. Most current lifting or hoisting equipment includes hooks or couplers which are arranged to attach to a sling fitted to the user’s body.

Existing slings may take the form of standalone slings which are arranged to be fitted underneath and/or around a person’s body. There are inherent problems in using such slings, such as difficulty in fitting the sling to the person and difficulty in removing it after use.

In addition many slings include a toileting aperture and are used to transfer a person from one place to a toilet. The very nature of a sling with a toilet aperture means that the person may have to be transferred naked from the waist down or there may be difficulty in removing the person’s clothes after fitting the sling (Hignett.S (2003) Systematic review of patient handling activities starting in lying, sitting and standing positions. J Adv Nurs. 41(6):545-552) and an additional transfer to a changing table is often required.

Due to these issues it is an unfortunate fact that patients may be toileted less often than necessary, due to pressures of staff time, and patients may be issued with continence pads or waterproof sheets instead. This can lead to many problems such as bed (pressure) ulcers inactivity and muscle wastage, and a reduction in the patient dignity /International review: Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Pressure, Shear, Friction and Microclimate in Context (a consensus document). London, UK: Wounds International; (2010)). The unwillingness to use such slings also reduces the patient’s rehabilitation (Spilsbury. K; Nelson. A; Cullum. N; Iglesias. C; Nixon. J; and Mason. S (2007) Pressure ulcers and their treatment and effects on quality of life: hospital inpatient perspectives. J Adv Nurs. 57(5):494-504).

In order to overcome the issues with slings, alternative hoisting and lifting devices have been developed. One of the more recent developments is the lifting or hoisting jacket, such as the jackets described in GB2432297B, which is arranged to fit around a patient’s upper body, just like a standard jacket. The jackets include coupling points to enable hooks or couplers for hoists to be attached. There are many advantages in using jackets in place of slings. Jackets enable a patient to be fully clothed during the lifting and hoisting process, so that when toileting a patient, the patient’s clothes only need to be removed at the point of toileting. In addition, the jacket can be fitted to a patient and left on during the day, so that repeated removal and re-attachment of lifting or hoisting apparatus is prevented. The jacket can also be made to look like a standard jacket or vest worn by people for everyday wear, and thus the patient’s dignity is increased.

On the other hand jackets do have some inherent disadvantages over slings. When connected to a hoist or lift, a jacket tends to lift up a patient’s torso under the patient’s weight, and can become uncomfortable. In some instances the jacket may become loose or become tangled with the patient, increasing the chance of an accident. In order to mitigate the chance of the jacket slipping off in use, the jacket may be tightened with straps or other connectors but this may result in pressure ulcers if the patient remains in the jacket for long periods of time and rests against a surface, such as a bed or chair. Alternatively the jacket may be provided with auxiliary means to lift or hoist the patient in order to take part of the patient’s weight. Such auxiliary means may include leg pieces which are also connectable to a lift/hoist, or a separate sling. In all cases, the addition of auxiliary means increases the complexity of the lifting or hoisting process and may even remove the advantages of using a jacket in place of a sling, especially in the case of auxiliary slings. Any increase in complexity of the hoisting or lifting process should be avoided in order to ensure no undue pressure is put on staff time, which may lead to an increased likelihood of the patient reverting to wearing continence pads or other continence garments.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a lifting or hoisting jacket which overcomes or at least mitigates at least one of the problems of the prior art discussed hereinabove, or any other problem of the prior art. In particular it would be advantageous to provide a lifting or hoisting jacket which can be used for prolonged periods of time but reduces the likelihood of pressure ulcers or pressure injuries. It would also be advantageous to provide a lifting or hoisting jacket in which the jacket is provided with means to reduce or prevent the likelihood or the jacket being removed, or slipping, in use. Finally it would be advantageous to provide a patient handling garment which enables more control by medical staff or carers of a patient’s movement whilst in the garment.

Summary of the Invention

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a patient handling garment comprising a body piece having front and back sections arranged to at least partially cover the front and back of a torso of a user, the body piece including at least one attachment point for attaching the garment to a hoisting apparatus in use, and wherein the body piece comprises a spacer fabric.

By “hoisting” we include any hoisting, lifting or carrying action. By “patient” we mean any person requiring physical handling, lifting, hoisting or moving, whether physically or mentally impaired or otherwise.

The spacer fabric comprises two layers of fabric material separated by a spacer material. In preferred embodiments the spacer fabric comprises two layers of knitted embroidered or woven material separated by a spacer yarn. The material of the two layers and the spacer yarn may be independently selected from polyester; nylon; Kevlar; polyamide; acrylic material; a natural material such as wool, flax, jute, cotton or linen; or any combination thereof, for example. In some embodiments the two layers and the spacer yarn comprise polyester, nylon or polyamide. In some embodiments the spacer fabric is a breathable fabric, enabling flow of air through the fabric and enabling water and heat to be wicked away from the patient. In some embodiments the spacer fabric may be waterproof or water resistant, whilst still allowing air flow through the fabric.

The spacer fabric may have a thickness of at least 2mm, at least 3mm, at least 4mm, at least 5mm, at least 7mm, at least 10mm, at least 15mm or at least 20mm. The spacer fabric may have a thickness of no more than 50mm, no more than 40mm or no more than 30mm. In some embodiments the spacer fabric has a thickness of between 5mm and 30mm, such as between 7mm and 25mm.

In some embodiments substantially the whole of the front piece and back sections comprises spacer fabric, and substantially the whole garment may comprise spacer fabric.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a patient handling garment comprising a body piece comprising front and back sections arranged in use to at least partially cover the front and back of a user’s torso, the body piece including at least one attachment point for attaching the garment to a hoisting apparatus in use, and wherein the garment further comprises a gusset piece, arranged in use to fit between a user’s legs.

The body piece may be as described for the first aspect of the invention and may comprise a spacer fabric. The gusset piece may comprise a spacer fabric as described hereinabove.

The gusset piece may comprise an elongate fabric having one end permanently or detachably connected to one of the front and back section of the body piece, and a second end detachably connectable to the other of the front and back section of the body piece. In some embodiments the gusset piece is permanently connected to the back section of the body piece and detachably connectable to the front section of the body piece. The gusset piece is preferably at least 5cm, 6cm, 7cm, 8cm, 9cm or 10cm wide and may be at least 15cm, 20cm or 25cm wide.

The gusset piece may be detachably connectable to both the front and back sections of the body piece. In this way the gusset piece may be fully detachable and reattachable to the body piece. The body piece may comprise a lower edge or hem, and the gusset piece may be connectable to the lower edge, or in the region of the lower edge, of at least the front or back section of the body piece. In some embodiments one end of the gusset piece may be permanently connected to or in the region of the lower edge of the rear section, and the other end may be detachably connectable to the front section, which may be the lower edge of the front section or may be elsewhere on the front section.

At least one end of the gusset piece may comprise a first coupler and the body piece may comprise a second coupler, and the first and second couplers may be arranged to couple, in use, in order to connect said end of the gusset piece to the body piece. In some embodiments the gusset piece is permanently connected at one end to the body piece and the other end includes a first coupler for coupling the gusset piece with a second coupler on the body piece. In some embodiments, the gusset piece is permanently connected at one end to the back section of the body piece and the other end is arranged to couple with a coupler located on the front section of the body piece. The first coupler may comprise a male coupler and the second coupler may comprise a female coupler, or vice versa. The first and second couplers may comprise a click-fit coupling system. The first and/or second coupler may be located on a strap, which may be adjustable. In this way an adjustable strap connected to the first and/or second coupler allows adjustment in the overall length of the gusset piece such that the hoisting garment may be used with patients of various sizes to improve comfort and support.. In other embodiments the gusset piece permanently connected at one end to the front section of the body piece. In embodiments where the gusset is permanently connected to the front section of the body piece, and detachably connected to the back section of the body piece, the gusset may be more manoeuvrable for the purposes of toileting or removing lower clothes of a patient. A free end of the gusset piece may comprise one or more couplers to couple the free end to the body piece when it is required to hold up the gusset piece such as during toileting or removal of a patient’s lower clothes, for example. The coupler(s) may be arranged to couple with corresponding coupler(s) on the body piece, which may be on an interior or exterior surface, preferably an exterior surface.

One or both ends of the gusset piece may be wider than the middle of the gusset piece. The gusset piece may be oval, elliptical or oblong. The gusset piece may comprise at least one hoisting or lifting apparatus attachment point.

The following statements apply to both the first and second aspects of the invention.

The body piece may comprise an adjustable waist strap or belt. The waist strap or belt may extend substantially around both the front and back sections. The body piece may comprise webbing which may include the one or more attachment points.

The body piece may comprise two webbing strips extending from the adjustable waist strap on the front section and which extends over shoulder portions of the body piece and down the back section to the adjustable waist strap or belt thereon.

The body piece may also include an adjustable chest strap or belt, which may extend around the front and back sections.

The webbing may include a loop, or carabiner attachment point. Each webbing strip may comprise a loop, carabiner or carabiner attachment point. Each loop, carabiner or carabiner attachment point, may be arranged to be connected to a hoisting apparatus.

The waist and chest straps or belts may be detachable and may be removed when hoisting is not in progress.

The body piece may be openable and closable at the front or back. The front or back section may comprise left and right sections which are separable from each other and which may be connected via a zipper, hook and loop connectors (such as Velcro), press studs or the like, to form a closed front section. Each of the left and right sections may extend from and be integral with the back section. Alternatively the left and right sections may be detachable from the back section and may be connected to the back section via a zipper, hook and loop connectors, press studs or the like, for example. Having separable front left and right sections and/or front sections detachable from the back section, enables maximum flexibility for attaching and removing the garment to or from a patient.

The garment may also include one or more handles for enabling handling of the garment and manoeuvring of a patient wearing the garment. The handles may comprise loops and the each loop may be formed in any webbing on the body piece of the garment. Alternatively, the or each loop may be formed into or connected to the body piece at a location not comprising webbing.

There may be at least one handle on the front of the body piece. There may be a handle on each of the left and right sections of an openable front piece. Each handle may be formed in webbing strips extending from the waist strap or belt.

There may be at least one handle on the back section of the body piece. There may be two handles on the back section, which may be located either side of a centreline of the back section. The handles may be formed into webbing strips extending down the back section to the waist strap or belt.

The may be at least one handle located on the back section in a shoulder region of the body piece. There may be two spaced apart handles on the back section in the shoulder region of the body piece.

There may be a handle in a position corresponding to each side of the body piece, when worn by a patient, in use.

In some embodiments there may be a handle on the front section, a handle on the back section and a handle on each side of the body piece, when worn by a patient, in use.

In some embodiments the body piece comprises arms, but in preferred embodiments the body piece comprises arm holes. The at least one handle on the back section in the shoulder region may be located adjacent to the arm holes.

According to the third aspect of the invention there is provided a patient handling garment comprising a body piece having a front section, side sections and back section arranged in use to at least partially cover a user’s torso, wherein the front piece includes at least one handle, the back piece includes at least one handle and there is a handle located on each side section of the body piece.

There may be at least one handle on the front or back section in an area corresponding to a patient’s shoulders, and there may be a handle on both the front and back sections in an area corresponding to a patient’s shoulders.

The or each handle on the back section may be located in the upper third of the back section. The or each handle on the side sections may be located in the middle third of the garment.

The or each handle on the side sections may be positioned vertically up the garment. The or each handle on the front and back piece of the garment may be positioned horizontally across the garment. In some embodiments the or each handle may be positioned substantially diagonally across the garment.

The front, side and back sections may be integral. Alternatively the front, side and back sections may be connected together, such as by stitching, for example.

The front, back and side sections may be as described for the first and second aspects of the invention. The patient handling garment of the third aspect of the invention may include at least one attachment point for attaching to a hoisting apparatus. The patient handling garment of the third aspect of the invention may comprise a gusset piece, as described for the second aspect of the invention and may comprise a spacer fabric as described for the first aspect of the invention.

The garment of any of the first to third aspects of the invention may be a jacket, (with or without arms) vest or a waist-jacket, for example.

The garments of the second or third aspects of the invention may be waterproof or water-resistant, and may take the form of a swim-vest, swim-jacket or wet-suit jacket. Such garments may be formed of neoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, natural rubber or any suitable natural or synthetic elastomer or blend of elastomers. The swim-vest, swimjacket or wet-suit jacket may therefore be used by a patient during swimming or bathing activities and the hoisting or lifting attachment points of said garments enable easy manipulation of the patient into or out of the water in a pool or bath.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention there is provided use of a garment of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention to assist in handling or hoisting of a person.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of handling a patient comprising fitting a garment any one of the first to third aspects of the invention to a person and attaching the garment to a hoisting apparatus.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a patient handling garment of the first and third aspects of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a rear view of the patient handling garment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of a patient handling garment of the second aspect of the invention, with the garment in a closed configuration; and

Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the garment shown in Figure 3 with the garment opened up.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an example of a patient handling garment 2 of the first and second aspects of the invention comprises a body piece 3, comprising a front section 4 and a rear section 6.

The garment 2 is in the form of a sleeveless jacket or vest.

The front section 4 is further split into a left section 8 and a right section 10, in the form of flaps which may be opened and closed to allow a patient to put on and take off the garment 2. The right 8 and left 10 sections are reversibly sealed closed by way of a Velcro fastener 12. In alternative embodiments the Velcro fastener 12 could be replaced by a zipper, press studs or the like for example. The garment 2 also includes side sections 11, 1T which are arranged around the sides of a patient’s torso in use.

The body piece 3 also includes arm holes 32, 32’ and in use a patient wears the garment 2 in the way of a normal, vest, waistcoat or waist jacket.

Present on the body piece 3 are a number of webbing strips, straps and handles. On the front section 4 of the garment 2 webbing strips 22, 22’ extend vertically up the front section 4, over the shoulders of the garment and vertically down the back section 6 of the garment 2. The webbing strips 22, 22’ include hoisting apparatus attachment points 26, 26’ and also include vertically oriented handles 24, 24’, approximately halfway down the front section 4. The webbing strips 22, 22’ are located on the right section 10 and left section 8 respectively of the front section 4.

Towards the bottom of the body piece 3 is a belt 14, which includes a snap fit connector 18. The belt 14 is adjustable, to enable patients of varying girth and body size to wear the garment 2, and for the garment to be appropriately tightly fitted to any patient. Likewise, the body piece 3 includes a chest strap 16 located just below the arm holes 32, 32’ and which also includes a snap fit connector 20. As with the waist belt 14, the chest strap 16 is adjustable to adjust to the size of the patient’s chest or upper body.

Present on side sections 11, 1T are two side handles 30, 30’.

Referring to Figure 2, the rear section 6 of the garment 2 includes the webbing strips 22, 22’ as described above. Present on the webbing strips 22, 22’ are hoisting apparatus attachment points 34 and 34’ respectively, and rear handles 38, 38’. The waist belt 14 also extends around the side sections 11, 11’ and round the rear section 6. In addition to the rear handles 38, 38’, the rear section 6 includes two shoulder handles 36, 36’ extending substantially horizontally adjacent to the lower edge of the arm holes 32, 32’ (approximately one quarter of the distance down from the top of the rear section 6 or in the region of the lower edge of a patient’s scapula).

The body piece 3 is constructed from a spacer fabric. The spacer fabric includes two fabric layers of polyester separated by a spacer yarn also formed from polyester. The thickness of the spacer fabric is between 5mm and 25mm. In other embodiments, the polyester spacer fabric can be replaced with spacer fabrics of different materials such as nylon, polyamide, acrylics or natural fibres such as wool, cotton or jute. The spacer fabric may be a breathable fabric, which allows air to flow through the garment.

In use, the patient handling garment 2 is used to enable handling and hoisting of a patient. A patient is fitted with the garment 2 by unclipping the chest connector 20 and waist connector 18 and opening the left 8 and right 10 sections of the front section 4. The patient is then placed in the garment 2 with his or her arms extending through the arm holes 32, 32’, and the left 8 and 10 and right 10 sections are closed around the front of a user’s torso. The waist strap 14 and chest strap 16 are then closed via connectors 18 and 20, and adjusted such that the garment 2 is appropriately tightened around the torso of the patient.

Once the patient is wearing the garment 2 a carer or member of medical staff may manoeuvre the patient using any one or more of the handles 24, 24’, 30, 30’, 36, 36’ or 38, 38’. The side handles 30, 30’ and the shoulder handles 36, 36’ are particularly useful in handling patients with impaired mobility, as they allow a carer or member of medical staff to be located above or to the side of the patient, in order to manoeuvre them into a standing, sitting or lying position. The side handles 30, 30’ are particularly effective in enabling a carer to stand behind or in front of the patient, and manoeuvre the patient sideways without putting undue strain on the waist strap 14 or chest strap 16, and also prevents strain being placed on the body piece 3 in the areas of the neck or shoulder of the patient, thus avoiding the potential for strangling or asphyxiation. The shoulder handles 36, 36’ are particularly effective in enabling a carer to raise the patient from a sitting to standing position, or from a lying to sitting position.

The hoisting apparatus attachment points 26, 26’, 34, 34’ also allow a hoisting or lifting apparatus to the garment 2 in order to physically lift the patient from one place to another, such as lifting the patient from a chair onto a toilet or from a bed onto a chair. Further hoisting apparatus attachment points may also be added to the garment 2 at appropriate points (such as on the waist strap 14 or chest strap 16). The garment 2 may be accompanied by leg cuffs or straps which may also include hoisting apparatus attachment points.

The use of a spacer fabric as the material from which the body piece 3 is constructed has a number of particularly useful benefits. The garment 2 may be worn by a patient for prolonged periods of time (unlike hoisting or lifting slings), and may also be worn for everyday use rather than just for a time period where it is required to lift or hoist the patient from one area to another. Wearing a garment such as a jacket for prolonged periods of time when relatively immobile can lead to complications such as pressure sores or bed ulcers The use of a spacer fabric prevents or mitigates the build-up of pressure sores or discomfort, by providing a particularly effective cushion which then reverts the body piece 3 to its regular shape and configuration when the patient no longer puts pressure on the relevant area the body piece 3. Spacer fabrics are also breathable and enable heat and moisture to be wicked away from a patient’s body, or for air to circulate through the garment 2 to the patient’s body. Spacer fabrics are also very easy to clean, and can be laundered in conventional laundry apparatus, for maximum hygiene. Finally, spacer fabrics may be manufactured in any suitable thickness, the thickness being chosen for a balance between comfort for the patient and effective mobility of the patient. In a comparison experiment, using ASTM International D737, the standard test method for air permeability of textile fabrics, air was drawn through both garments comprising knit fabrics and a garment 2 of the invention comprising spacer fabric. While the knit fabrics received only a 10.7 cfm (cubic feet per minute), spacer fabrics received a 99.1 cfm, meaning it was almost 10 times more permeable than regular knit fabrics.

The shape, colour and other aesthetic aspects of the garment 2 may be chosen as appropriate, and one advantage of a garment 2 of the present invention is that it can be used as a standard jacket, waistcoat or coat and configured to look as similar to a standard item of clothing as possible.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, an embodiment of a patient handling garment

102 the second and third aspects of the invention is similar to that described herein above for the garment 2 of Figures 1 and 2. The garment 102 comprises a body piece

103 which comprises a front section 104 split into left 108 and right 110 front sections; right 111 and left 111’ side sections; and a rear section 106. The garment 102 includes webbing strips 122 and 122’ extending down the right 110 and left 108 sections of the front section 104. The webbing strips 122 and 122’ include hoisting apparatus attachment points 126 and 126’ respectively, and handles 124 and 124’ respectively. The garment 102 includes a waist strap 114 with a clip connector 118 for opening and closing the waist strap 114. The garment 102 also includes a chest strap 116 with a clip connector 120 for opening and closing the chest strap 116. The side sections 111 and 111’ include side handles 130 and 130’. Although not shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rear section 106 also includes rear handles and shoulder handles in the same positions as described for the example of the garment 2 of Figures 1 and 2. The garment 102 includes a gusset piece 150, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 4, the gusset piece is an elongate fabric piece which is permanently connected on the rear section 106 of the body piece 103 at a stitch line 154. At the opposite end of the gusset piece 150 is a clip connector 158 which in use is detachably connectable to a corresponding clip connector 160 attached to the inside surface 152’ of the left section 108 of the body piece 103, as shown in Figure 4. The inside surface of the body piece 3 also includes an inside surface 152 of the right front section 110 of the body piece 103 and Velcro fastenings 156 and 156’ on the inside surface 152, 152’ of the body piece 103.

In use, the garment 102 will be worn by a patient in similar manner to the garment 2 of Figures 1 and 2. The left and right sections 108, 110, will be opened, to allow a patient to wear the garment 102, and then closed and secured via the Velcro strips 156, 156’, waist strap 114 and chest strap 116.

However, before closing the left 108 and right 110 sections, the gusset piece 150 may be put in position by firstly positioning the gusset piece 150 between the legs of the patient and then connecting the clip connector 158 of the gusset piece 150 to the clip connector 160 on the inside 152’ of the left section 108 of the body piece 103.

In this way, the gusset piece 150 serves to create a support between the patient’s legs, so that when the patient is lifted or hoisted via any of the hoisting apparatus attachment points (e.g. attachment points 126, 126’), or via any of the handles 124, 124’, 130, 130’ etc. then the jacket is prevented from rising up about the patient’s torso due to the gusset piece 150 preventing upward movement of the garment 102. This has a tremendous effect in facilitating easy and safe lifting and hoisting of a patient, whilst not being subject to the limitations of using slings or straps about the upper legs of a patient, as is known in prior art handling apparatus or garments. The garment 102, including the gusset piece 150, is constructed from a spacer fabric as described hereinabove for the garment 2 of Figure 1 and 2. Again, the use of a spacer fabric for the gusset 150 enables effective padding, and reduction of friction and pressure ulcers through prolonged use. In alternative embodiments, the garment 2 may be constructed from other breathable fabrics, or may be constructed from neoprene or other natural or synthetic rubbers or polymers, which are useful when the garment 102 may be used as a swimming or bathing garment.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (29)

1. A patient handling garment comprising a body piece comprising a front section and a back section arranged to at least partially cover the front and back of a user’s torso in use, the body piece including at least one attachment point for attaching the garment to a hoisting apparatus in use, and wherein the garment further comprises a gusset piece arranged in use to fit between a user’s legs.

2. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body piece is formed from a spacer fabric.

3. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the gusset piece comprises an elongate fabric having a first end connected to one of the front and back sections of the body piece, and a second end detachably connectable to the other of the front and back sections of the body piece.

4. A patient handling garment as claimed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the gusset piece is permanently connected to the back section of the body piece and detachably connectable to the front section of the body piece or the gusset piece is permanently connected to the front section of the body piece and detachably connectable to the back section of the body piece.

5. A patient handling garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the gusset piece is detachably connectable to both the front and back sections of the body piece.

6. A patient handling garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the gusset piece is connected at one end to the body piece and the other end includes a first coupler for coupling the gusset piece with a second coupler located on the body piece.

7. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first and/or second coupler is located on a strap, the strap being optionally adjustable in length.

8. A patient handling garment comprising a body piece having a front section and a back section arranged to at least partially cover the front and back of torso of a user, the body piece including at least one attachment point for attaching the garment to a hoisting apparatus in use, and wherein the body piece comprises a spacer fabric.

9. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 2, 8 or any one of claims 3 to 7 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the spacer fabric has a thickness of between 5mm and 30mm.

10. A patient handling garment as claimed in any preceding claim where in the body piece comprises an adjustable waist strap or belt.

11. A patient handling garment as claimed any preceding claim wherein the body piece comprises webbing which includes the one or more attachment points.

5

12. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 11 wherein the body piece comprises two webbing strips extending from the front section of the body piece and which extend over shoulder portions of the body piece and down the back section.

13. A patient handling garment as claimed in any preceding claim comprising an

10 adjustable chest strap or belt.

14. A patient handling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising at least one handle for enabling manoeuvring of a user wearing the garment.

15. A patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the body piece comprises at least one handle on the front section.

15

16. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 15 wherein the front section comprises left and right openable sections and wherein there is at least one handle on each of the left and right sections.

17. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the at least one handle is located on the back section of the body piece.

20

18. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 17 wherein the at least one handle located on the back section is located in at least one shoulder region of the body piece.

19. A patient handling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18 wherein the body piece comprises the at least one handle in a position corresponding to at

25 least one side of the body piece when worn by a user.

20. A patient handling garment as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 19 comprising a handle on the front section, a handle on the back section and a handle on each side of the body piece when worn by a user.

21. A patient handling garment comprising a body piece having a front section and a

30 back section arranged in use to at least partially cover a user’s torso, wherein the front section includes at least one handle, the back section includes at least one handle and there is at least one handle located on each side of the body piece when located on a user’s torso.

22. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 21 wherein the or each handle on the back section is located in the upper third of the back section.

23. A patient handling garment as claimed in claim 21 or 22 further comprising at least one attachment point for attaching to a hoisting apparatus.

5

24. A patient handling garment as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 23 further comprising a gusset piece.

25. A patient handling garment as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 24 wherein the body piece is constructed from a spacer fabric.

26. A patient handling garment as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the

10 garment is a jacket, vest or waist-jacket.

27. Use of a patient handling garment of any preceding claim to assist in handling or hoisting of a person.

28. A method of handling a person comprising fitting a patient handling garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26 to a person, and attaching the garment to a

15 hoisting apparatus.

29. A patient handling garment, use or method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1616173.9