US3738367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patient garment with temperature control
Assignee: Angelica Corp
•
Filing: 1971-02-11
•
Granted: 1973-06-12
•
Expires: 1991-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A hospital patient garment of lateral stretch fabric for conforming to different body shapes. Small-diameter tubes attached to the garment for conveying heating or cooling fluids circulated by a hyperthermia machine. The tubes lie longitudinally of the garment to uniformly blanket the entire surface area of the garment while permitting lateral expansion of the fabric when the garment is worn by relatively obese persons. Strategically located zippers for easy donning and doffing of the garment and for providing selective access to different areas of the body, such as for operations. Special adjustment straps spaced along the torso zippers for holding the garment in place on the body of an exceptionally obese person with the torso zippers unzipped. A resilient pad snaps to the back of the garment for improving comfort by yielding to the impressions of the fluid conveying tubes. Flaps at the back of the garment can be releasably held folded away from the lower torso area with the leg zippers partially unzipped to free the garment from interference with the use of a bed pan.
Inventors
- 👤 J Hardy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/02; A61F2007/0001; A61F2007/0054; A61F2007/0086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
525 words
A garment comprising fabric having torso, leg and arm covering portions, a plurality of small-diameter tubes fastened to the inner surface of said fabric in spaced relation to one another and extending generally over the entire inner surfaces of said torso, leg and arm covering portions of said garment, whereby substantial portions of the lengths of said plurality of small-diameter tubes can confront and engage the corresponding portions of the torso, legs and arms of a wearer of said garment, said garment having elongated openings in said torso, leg and arm covering portions thereof which are selectively closable to enable said fabric to hold said substantial portions of the lengths of said plurality of small-diameter tubes in confronting and engaging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, said elongated openings being selectively openable to enable said fabric to bodily move said substantial portions of the lengths of said plurality of small-diameter tubes out of said confronting and engaging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, each tube of said plurality of small-diameter tubes having a supply span for receiving temperature-controlled fluid and a return span for returning said temperature-controlled fluid after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, at least some of said small-diameter tubes being disposed so said supply spans and said return spans thereof coact to provide U-shaped paths for said temperaturecontrolled fluid which are alternated with each other to provide uniform temperature distribution over substantially the entire inner surfaces of said torso, leg and arm covering portions of said garment, said plurality of small-diameter tubes extending longitudinally of said torso, leg and arm covering portions of said garment, a bag secured to and extending downwardly beyond one of said leg-covering portions of said garment, small header means connected to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and adapted to receive temperature-controlled fluid from a means to circulate temperature-controlled fluid and to supply said temperature-controlled fluid to said supply spans of said smalldiameter tubes and thereby enable said small-diameter tubes to circulate said temperature-controlled fluid in heat-exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, and further small header means connected to said return spans of said small-diameter tubes to receive said temperature-controlled fluid from said return spans of said small-diameter tubes after said temperaturecontrolled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment and adapted to return said temperaturecontrolled fluid to said fluid-circulating means, the first said small header means being located within said bag and thus being immediately adjacent to and being supported by said one legcovering portion of said garment, said further small header means being located within said bag and thus being immediately adjacent to and being supported by said one leg-covering portion of said garment, said further small header means being adjacent to said first said small header means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
525 words
A garment comprising fabric having torso, leg and arm covering portions, a plurality of small-diameter tubes fastened to the inner surface of said fabric in spaced relation to one another and extending generally over the entire inner surfaces of said torso, leg and arm covering portions of said garment, whereby substantial portions of the lengths of said plurality of small-diameter tubes can confront and engage the corresponding portions of the torso, legs and arms of a wearer of said garment, said garment having elongated openings in said torso, leg and arm covering portions thereof which are selectively closable to enable said fabric to hold said substantial portions of the lengths of said plurality of small-diameter tubes in confronting and engaging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, said elongated openings being selectively openable to enable said fabric to bodily move said substantial portions of the lengths of said plurality of small-diameter tubes out of said confronting and engaging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, each tube of said plurality of small-diameter tubes having a supply span for receiving temperature-controlled fluid and a return span for returning said temperature-controlled fluid after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, at least some of said small-diameter tubes being disposed so said supply spans and said return spans thereof coact to provide U-shaped paths for said temperaturecontrolled fluid which are alternated with each other to provide uniform temperature distribution over substantially the entire inner surfaces of said torso, leg and arm covering portions of said garment, said plurality of small-diameter tubes extending longitudinally of said torso, leg and arm covering portions of said garment, a bag secured to and extending downwardly beyond one of said leg-covering portions of said garment, small header means connected to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and adapted to receive temperature-controlled fluid from a means to circulate temperature-controlled fluid and to supply said temperature-controlled fluid to said supply spans of said smalldiameter tubes and thereby enable said small-diameter tubes to circulate said temperature-controlled fluid in heat-exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, and further small header means connected to said return spans of said small-diameter tubes to receive said temperature-controlled fluid from said return spans of said small-diameter tubes after said temperaturecontrolled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment and adapted to return said temperaturecontrolled fluid to said fluid-circulating means, the first said small header means being located within said bag and thus being immediately adjacent to and being supported by said one legcovering portion of said garment, said further small header means being located within said bag and thus being immediately adjacent to and being supported by said one leg-covering portion of said garment, said further small header means being adjacent to said first said small header means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
422 words
A garment comprising fabric having torso, leg and arm covering portions, a plurality of small-diameter tubes fastened to the inner surface of said fabric in spaced relation to one another and extending generally over the entire inner surfaces of said torso, leg and arm covering portions of said garment, said garment having elongated openings in said torso, leg and arm covering portions thereof which are selectively closable to enable said fabric to hold said plurality of small-diameter tubes in confronting relation with corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of a wearer of a wearer of said garment, said elongated openings being selectively openable to enable said fabric to bodily move said plurality of small-diameter tubes away from said confronting relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, each tube of said plurality of small-diameter tubes having a supply span for receiving temperature-controlled fluid and a return span for returning said temperature-controlled fluid after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, small distributor means connected to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and adapted to receive temperature-controlled fluid from a fluid-circulating means and to supply said temperature-controlled fluid to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and thereby enable said small-diameter tubes to circulate said temperature-controlled fluid in heat exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, further small distributor means connected to said return spans of said small-diameter tubes to receive said temperature-controlled fluid from said return spans of said small-diameter tubes after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment and adapted to return said temperature-controlled fluid to said fluid-circulating means, said small-diameter tubes which are fastened to said torso-covering portion underlying the torso of said wearer of said garment whenever said wearer of said garment is lying on his back, and a semirigid sheet which is disposed inwardly of the fabric at the rear of said torso-covering portion and inwardly of said small-diameter tubes which are fastened to said inner surface of said fabric at said rear of said torso-covering portion, said semirigid sheet being readily detachable from said garment for laundering and sterilization convenience, said semirigid sheet distributing the compressive load of said small-diameter tubes, thereby improving the mechanical comfort of said garment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
422 words
A garment comprising fabric having torso, leg and arm covering portions, a plurality of small-diameter tubes fastened to the inner surface of said fabric in spaced relation to one another and extending generally over the entire inner surfaces of said torso, leg and arm covering portions of said garment, said garment having elongated openings in said torso, leg and arm covering portions thereof which are selectively closable to enable said fabric to hold said plurality of small-diameter tubes in confronting relation with corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of a wearer of a wearer of said garment, said elongated openings being selectively openable to enable said fabric to bodily move said plurality of small-diameter tubes away from said confronting relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, each tube of said plurality of small-diameter tubes having a supply span for receiving temperature-controlled fluid and a return span for returning said temperature-controlled fluid after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, small distributor means connected to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and adapted to receive temperature-controlled fluid from a fluid-circulating means and to supply said temperature-controlled fluid to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and thereby enable said small-diameter tubes to circulate said temperature-controlled fluid in heat exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment, further small distributor means connected to said return spans of said small-diameter tubes to receive said temperature-controlled fluid from said return spans of said small-diameter tubes after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with said corresponding portions of said torso, legs and arms of said wearer of said garment and adapted to return said temperature-controlled fluid to said fluid-circulating means, said small-diameter tubes which are fastened to said torso-covering portion underlying the torso of said wearer of said garment whenever said wearer of said garment is lying on his back, and a semirigid sheet which is disposed inwardly of the fabric at the rear of said torso-covering portion and inwardly of said small-diameter tubes which are fastened to said inner surface of said fabric at said rear of said torso-covering portion, said semirigid sheet being readily detachable from said garment for laundering and sterilization convenience, said semirigid sheet distributing the compressive load of said small-diameter tubes, thereby improving the mechanical comfort of said garment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
307 words
A garment comprising fabric having torso, leg and arm covering portions, said fabric being stretch fabric which is stretchable in a lateral direction to conform to differently-sized bodies of wearers of said garment, a plurality of small-diameter tubes fastened to said fabric in spaced relation to one another and extending generally over the entire surface of said garment, each tube of said plurality of small-diameter tubes having a supply span for receiving temperature-controlled fluid and a return span for returning said temperature-controlled fluid after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with the wearer of said garment, distributor means connected to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and adapted to receive temperature-controlled fluid from a fluid-circulating means and to supply said temperature-controlled fluid to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and thereby enable said small-diameter tubes to circulate said temperature-controlled fluid in heat-exchanging relation with said wearer of said garment, further distributor means connected to said return spans of said small-diameter tubes to receive said temperature-controlled fluid from said return spans of said small-diameter tubes after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with said wearer of said garment and adapted to return said temperature-controlled fluid to said fluid-circulating means, zippers extending along the sides of said torso-covering portion of said garment, said zippers being openable for access to the body of said wearer of said garment and to increase the size of said garment for an obese wearer, and straps spaced along the length of each zipper, each strap being sewn to said garment adjacent one side of a zipper and being movable in pivotal fashion to span the gap between, and to extend to and beyond, the other side of such zipper, and releasable fastener means for selectively holding said strap to said garment adjacent said other side of said zipper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
307 words
A garment comprising fabric having torso, leg and arm covering portions, said fabric being stretch fabric which is stretchable in a lateral direction to conform to differently-sized bodies of wearers of said garment, a plurality of small-diameter tubes fastened to said fabric in spaced relation to one another and extending generally over the entire surface of said garment, each tube of said plurality of small-diameter tubes having a supply span for receiving temperature-controlled fluid and a return span for returning said temperature-controlled fluid after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with the wearer of said garment, distributor means connected to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and adapted to receive temperature-controlled fluid from a fluid-circulating means and to supply said temperature-controlled fluid to said supply spans of said small-diameter tubes and thereby enable said small-diameter tubes to circulate said temperature-controlled fluid in heat-exchanging relation with said wearer of said garment, further distributor means connected to said return spans of said small-diameter tubes to receive said temperature-controlled fluid from said return spans of said small-diameter tubes after said temperature-controlled fluid has been in heat-exchanging relation with said wearer of said garment and adapted to return said temperature-controlled fluid to said fluid-circulating means, zippers extending along the sides of said torso-covering portion of said garment, said zippers being openable for access to the body of said wearer of said garment and to increase the size of said garment for an obese wearer, and straps spaced along the length of each zipper, each strap being sewn to said garment adjacent one side of a zipper and being movable in pivotal fashion to span the gap between, and to extend to and beyond, the other side of such zipper, and releasable fastener means for selectively holding said strap to said garment adjacent said other side of said zipper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The garment of claim 3 wherein said releasable fastener means comprises a hook-type fastener and a pad-type fastener which are readily securable to and separable from each other in a non-destructive manner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The garment of claim 3 wherein there are at least three straps spaced vertically along each zipper which is located at the side of said torso-covering portion of said garment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
The garment of claim 3 including a zipper extending downwardly along the inner side of each of said leg-covering portions, each zipper being oriented to open from its upper end, a slit in the back of said torso-covering portion of said garment extending upwardly to a point adjacent the waist of said garment and dividing the portions of the fabric adjacent the lower back of said torso-covering portion into two flaps that, when the two leg zippers are at least partially unzipped, can be folded outwardly and away from the rear of said body of said wearer of said garment to create an opening freeing said garment from interference with the use of a bed pan by said wearer of said garment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
The garment of claim 3 including a zipper extending downwardly along the inner side of each leg-covering portion, each zipper being oriented to open from its upper end, a slit in the back of said torso-covering portion of said garment extending upwardly to a point adjacent the waist of said garment and dividing the portions of the fabric adjacent the lower back of said torso-covering portion into two flaps that, when the said two leg zippers are at least partially unzipped, can be folded outwardly and away from the rear of said body of said wearer of said garment to create an opening freeing said garment from interference with thE use of a bed pan by said wearer of said garment, and releasable fastener means for selectively holding said two flaps in said outward folded condition and thereby releasably holding said two flaps so they cannot interfere with the use of said bed pan by said wearer of said garment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
184 words
The garment of claim 3 including a zipper extending downwardly along the inner side of each leg-covering portion, each zipper being oriented to open from its upper end, a slit in the back of said torso-covering portion of said garment extending upwardly to a point adjacent the waist of said garment and dividing the portions of the fabric adjacent the lower back of said torso-covering portion into two flaps that, when the said two leg zippers are at least partially unzipped, can be folded outwardly and away from the rear of said body of said wearer of said garment to create an opening freeing said garment from interference with the use of a bed pan by said wearer of said garment, and releasable fastener means for selectively holding said two flaps in said outward folded condition and for releasably holding said two flaps so they cannot interfere with the use of said bed pan by said wearer of said garment, said releasable fastener means comprising hook-type fasteners and pad-type fasteners which are readily securable to and separable from each other in a non-destructive manner.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |