Abstract
An adjustable placket closure system is attached to a device at a placket formed in the material of the device. First and second fasteners of the closure system attach to the first and second sides of the placket at the placket opening, and each may include releasable portion(s) and fixed portion(s) thereof. The releasable portions of the fasteners are selectively released from the placket sides to provide access beneath the device without disengaging the fixed portions, opening the entire placket or removing the device. The device may be a medical device or garment. An access slit provided in the garment accommodates a medical tube apparatus, such as a central line, and passes the tube through the garment. This system may further be used on other materials and containers beyond garments, such as adaptive clothing and bags.
Claims
1. An adjustable placket closure system, comprising: a placket being an opening formed in one or more pieces of material and defining a first placket side on one side of said opening and a second placket side on an opposite side of said opening; a first fastener attached to said first placket side and having a fixed portion along at least a portion of said first fastener fixedly attached to said first placket side; a second fastener attached to said second placket side and having a fixed portion along at least a portion of said second fastener fixedly attached to said second placket side; at least one of: (i) said first fastener having a releasable portion along at least a portion of said first fastener releasably attached to said first placket side, and (ii) said second fastener having a releasable portion along at least a portion of said second fastener releasably attached to said second placket side; and said first fastener being correspondingly configured and selectively attachable to said second fastener.
2. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 1, wherein said first fastener comprises both said releasable portion and said fixed portion attached to said first placket side.
3. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 2, wherein said second fastener comprises both said releasable portion and said fixed portion attached to said second placket side.
4. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 2, wherein said second fastener consists of said fixed portion.
5. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one access slit formed in said material, said access slit having a terminal end at said placket opening; and at least one finger formed of said material and defined between said at least one access slit and an end of said material; wherein said at least one finger and said at least one access slit are located on at least one of said one or more pieces of material having said releasable portion.
6. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 5, wherein said at least one access slit is continuous with said placket opening.
7. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of access slits formed in said material, a first finger defined between one of said plurality of access slits and an end of said material, and a second finger defined between adjacent ones of said plurality of access slits.
8. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 1, wherein said first fastener and said second fastener collectively define one of a zipper, buttons, snaps, a magnetic closure, and hook-and-loop fasteners.
9. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 1, further comprising a releasable attachment mechanism between said releasable portion and said placket, selectively joining said releasable portion to said placket.
10. The adjustable placket closure system of claim 9, wherein said releasable attachment mechanism is one of a zipper, buttons, snaps, a magnetic closure, and hook-and-loop fasteners.
11. A device, comprising: the adjustable placket closure system of claim 1, wherein said device comprises said material, said placket is formed in said material of said device, and said first and second fasteners are mounted to said placket of said device.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein said device is a garment being one of a vest, a wrap, a band, a garment suitable for wearing by a user, an adaptive garment, and a medical garment.
13. The garment of claim 12, further comprising at least one access slit formed in said material and having a terminal end at said placket such that said at least one access slit is continuous with said placket opening; and at least one finger formed of said material and defined between said at least one access slit and an end of said material.
14. The garment of claim 13, wherein said releasable portion of at least one of said first and second fasteners is disposed in proximity to said at least one access slit.
15. The garment of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of access slits formed in said material, a first finger defined between one of said plurality of access slits and an end of said material, and a second finger defined between adjacent ones of said plurality of access slits.
16. The garment of claim 12, wherein said garment is a vest having at least a neck and said first and second fasteners extend from said neck at one of (i) substantially perpendicular to said neck of said vest and (ii) an oblique angle relative to said neck of said vest.
17. The garment of claim 12, further comprising at least one of (i) at least one rear fastener disposed proximate to a back of said user when said garment is worn, and at least one shoulder fastener disposed proximate to a shoulder of said user when said garment is worn and (ii) at least one detachable fastener element mounted to said material of said garment in proximity to at least one access slit formed in said material, securing a medical tubing to said garment.
18. The garment of claim 17, wherein at least one of said at least one rear fastener and said at least one shoulder fastener is selectively adjustable.
19. The device of claim 11, wherein said device is one of a bag, a backpack, luggage, a pouch, a pocket, a purse, a wallet, a messenger bag, a tote bag, a rucksack, a container, or an accessory.
20. The device of claim 19, further comprising a pocket accessible through at least one of (i) said first placket side and said second placket side and (ii) said placket and said releasable portion, said pocket being selectively sealed by at least one of (iii) said first fastener and said second fastener and (iv) said releasable attachment mechanism.
21. A method of using a garment having an adjustable placket closure system, said method comprising: providing the garment of claim 12; placing said garment on a user; connecting said first fastener to said second fastener; selectively detaching said releasable portion of at least one of said first and second fasteners from said garment; at least one of: (i) inserting a medical tubing through an access slit in said garment, (ii) manipulating said medical tubing extending through an access slit in said garment, and (iii) removing said medical tubing from said access slit in said garment; and reattaching said releasable portion of said at least one of said first and second fasteners to said garment.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, when said releasable portion is detached from said garment, manipulating a finger formed in said garment by said access slit extending from at least one of said first placket side and said second placket side adjacent to said releasable portion.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1A is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of the adjustable placket closure system of the present invention, shown on a portion of a medical garment.
[0027] FIG. 1B is a front elevation view of a variation of the system of FIG. 1A with first and second access slits on each side of the placket.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the system of FIG. 1A with the first and second plackets joined at their respective fasteners.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the system of FIG. 2 where a releasable portion of the fasteners has been pulled away from the garment.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the system of FIG. 3 where a releasable portion of the fasteners has been further pulled away from the garment, making the fingers and access slits accessible.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the system of FIG. 2 where the portion of the garment having fixed fasteners attached thereto has been lifted to reveal its underside and may be releasably attached to the remainder of the garment in the lifted position.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the garment having the adjustable placket closure system of FIG. 1A having wings shown on a user.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the garment and system of FIG. 6 with the first and second plackets joined at their respective fasteners.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the garment and system of FIG. 7 where a releasable portion of the fasteners has been pulled away from the garment.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the garment and system of FIG. 8 where a releasable portion of the fasteners has been further pulled away from the garment, making the fingers, access slits, and the chest of the user accessible for inserting, removing, or otherwise accessing a medical tube in the subject.
[0036] FIG. 10A is a front elevation view of the garment and system of FIG. 9 where the releasable portion of the fasteners has been reaffixed to the garment, passing a medical tube under a finger and through the access slit.
[0037] FIG. 10B is a front elevation view of the garment and system of FIG. 10A where the medical tube is secured to the garment by a tubing securement mechanism.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the garment and system of FIG. 6 where the portion of the garment having fixed fasteners attached thereto has been lifted to reveal both its underside and the torso of a user.
[0039] FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the adjustable placket closure system of the present invention having a flap attached to one of the first and second fasteners which is sized to fold over and cover the fasteners.
[0040] FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the system of FIG. 12 where the flap has been folded over the first and second fasteners, covering the fasteners.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of a third embodiment of the adjustable placket closure system of the present invention, with the releasable and fixed portions in different locations on the garment.
[0042] FIG. 15 is a front elevation view a fourth embodiment of the adjustable placket closure system of the present invention, showing a shorter garment and different proportions of the releasable and fixed portions of the fasteners.
[0043] FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of a fifth embodiment of the adjustable placket closure system of the present invention, showing a diagonal orientation of the placket and closure system.
[0044] FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a sixth embodiment of the adjustable placket closure system having an intermediate releasable fastener portion.
[0045] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a bag having the adjustable placket closure system shown in FIG. 17, providing access to a pocket within the bag.
[0046] FIG. 19 is a front elevation view of a jacket having the adjustable placket closure system shown in FIG. 17, providing access to a pocket within the jacket.
[0047] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0049] It is understood that the present subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense. Indeed, the subject matter is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of these embodiments, which are included within the scope and spirit of the subject matter as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. It will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present subject matter may be practiced without such specific details set forth herein order to provide a thorough understanding of the present subject matter.
[0050] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. It is contemplated that any features of one foregoing embodiment may be interchanged with an element of any of the other embodiments or the equivalents thereof.
[0051] The present invention is directed to adjustable placket closure systems and devices on which they are utilized. For instance, in some embodiments such as those depicted in FIGS. 1A-16, the device 100, 200 may be a medical garment, such as a vest, wrap, band, or other garment suitable for wearing. In certain embodiments, such as shown in FIGS. 1A-16, the device 100, 200 may be a central line vest accommodating a central medical line. In other embodiments, the device 100, 200 may accommodate different types of medical tubing, such as but not limited to catheter lines, trachea tubes, intravenous catheters, ports, PICC lines, or any one of many central venous access devices (CVADs). Some embodiments can further include temperature sensors, pulse sensors, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the sensor can measure the body temperature of a user. In further embodiments, the sensor can measure the pulse of a user. In further embodiments, the sensors can collect information relating to respirations, which is an indicator of sepsis.
[0052] In other embodiments, the device 100 may be adaptive clothing, such as but not limited to shirts, pants, shorts, jackets, undergarments, skirts, dresses, shoes, slippers, outerwear, and hats. As used herein, adaptive clothing means clothing and apparel items that are designed for differently-abled individuals, such as those with a disability or reduced motor function, to make the item easier to secure to, remove from, or adjust on the user. In some embodiments, adaptive clothing may also be considered a medical garment, such as described above, though it need not be.
[0053] Some embodiments of the device 100, 200 come in sizes that can range from 13 inches to 60 inches as measured around the chest, preferably 15 to 34 inches in at least one embodiment. Other embodiments can come in sizes that range from 13 inches to 60 inches as measured around the waist, preferably 15 to 45 inches in certain embodiments. Those of skill in the art, however, will recognize that sizing depends on the size of the user. Some embodiments of the device 100 may be sized for an infant or child, while other embodiments are sized for an adult. Still other embodiments of the device 100 may be sized and configured for an animal, for uses such as, but not limited to, veterinary, animal husbandry, or research uses, and are of a size and shape suitable for the intended species.
[0054] In still other embodiments, the device 100, 300 may be an accessory rather than a clothing item. For instance, as shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 18-19, the device 300 may be a bag or luggage or other type of garment such as a jacket. In other embodiments, the device 300 may be a bag, backpack, luggage, pouch, pocket, purse, wallet, messenger bag, tote bag, rucksack, or other garment, accessory, or container having an interior space suitable for carrying item(s) and having a placket 320 and closure 330, 340 for accessing the interior space.
[0055] Regardless of the embodiment, the device 100, 200, 300 is formed of a material 110, 210, 310 having a first material portion 111, 211, 311 and a second material portion 112, 212, 312 thereof. The material 110, 210, 310 can be made from a plurality of materials, including fabrics, elastic materials, polymers, plastics, or combinations thereof, as described further below. The material 110, 210, 310 can be lightweight material, flexible material, elastic material, bonded material, and/or a combination thereof. The material 110, 210, 310 and other suitable parts of the device 100, 200, 300 may be made from the materials described herein. In some embodiments, the material 110, 210, 310 can be a breathable fabric, a cotton material, a poly cotton material, a nylon Supplex material, a synthetic hybrid material, a charged cotton fabric, an absorbent material, a material designed to wick and spread moisture away from the skin, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the nylon Supplex material comprises nylon and spandex. In other embodiments, the nylon Supplex material has nylon and spandex in a range from about 80% nylon to about 20% spandex, from about 90% nylon to about 10% spandex, from about 70% nylon to about 30% spandex, from about 60% nylon to about 40% spandex, from about 50% nylon to about 50% spandex, or a combination thereof. The material can be a synthetic material, a Lycra material, a Lycra spandex material, an elastane material, a material comprising polyurethane polymer, polyester polymer, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, polyurethane polymer is in a range from about 50% to about 95%, from about 60% to about 95%, from about 70% to about 95%, from about 80% to about 95%, from about 85% to about 95%, or a combination there of. In some embodiments, polyurethane polymer is about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, or about 95%. The material 110, 210, 310 can be made from a bonded material or an elastic bonding film. In some embodiments, the bonded material can comprise a fiber web, including a fiber blend comprising from about 50 to about 75 weight percent of a fiber having a fineness less than about 3 denier and from about 25 to about 50 weight percent of a fiber having fineness ranging from about 3 to about 5 denier wherein the fiber web is bound together by fiber bundles transverse to the plane of the web. The fiber blend can further comprise from about 3 to about 7 percent by weight of a fiber having fineness greater than about 5 denier. The fibers comprising the fiber blend can be entirely hydrophobic, or the about 3 to about 5 denier fiber can be hydrophilic.
[0056] The material 110, 210, 310 and other suitable parts of the device 100, 200, 300 may be made from absorbent material, which can exhibit a high degree of absorption and fluid retention and cannot wet back even under compression. The transverse fiber bundles formed during the mechanical bonding of the web can function as wicks for transferring fluid from the surface of the material 110, 210, 310 to an inner portion of the material 110, 210, 310. The fiber bundles can also act as support structures resisting compression and maintaining void space and absorbent surface area within the material, even when wet. The material 110, 210, 310 can be reusable and can be strong enough to withstand numerous washings. The material 110, 210, 310 can be useful as a component of reusable absorbent products further comprising an outer layer or body-side layer. The material 110, 210, 310 can be fluid impermeable, gas permeable or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the material 110, 210, 310 can be disposable. In other embodiments of, the material 110, 210, 310 may be leather, plastic, cotton, or any other synthetic or natural material which may be used to form garments, bags, luggage, or the like.
[0057] The material 110, 210, 310 can be selected for comfort and/or for ease of removal. It may be hand washable or machine washable to ensure that it can be removed and cleaned rapidly, when necessary. In some embodiments, the material 110, 210, 310 and other elements of the invention discussed below are integral with one another so as to include one material or a combination of materials. In other embodiments, the material 110, 210, 310 and other elements of the invention can be made from separate components that can include one material or a combination of materials. The device 100, 200, 300 may be made from a material that is non-invasive, non-adhesive, or a combination thereof. In further embodiments, the material can reduce medical adhesive related skin injuries (MARSI).
[0058] In some embodiments the device 100, 200, 300 can include additional components that can increase the stretch, elasticity, or a combination thereof of the device 100, 200, 300. In some embodiments, the additional component is optional. In some embodiments, the additional component can be an elastic strip. In further embodiments, the material 110, 210, 310 or other portions of the device 100, 200, 300 can comprise the elastic strip. In some embodiments, the material 110, 210, 310 may be layered and the elastic strip can be layered between a first material layer and a second material layer.
[0059] FIGS. 1A-5 show a first embodiment of the present invention directed to a device 100 being a wearable garment having an adjustable placket closure system 101. As shown in FIG. 1A, the device 100 includes a placket 120 extending through the material 110. The placket 120 may extend through the material 110 at any angle relative to the general orientation of the device 100, such as an oblique, transverse, acute, or perpendicular angle. The placket 120 may be of any shape, size, length and in some embodiments, may change its angle relative to the device 100 at any point along the placket 120. For example, in a first embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1A-5, the placket 120 may extend substantially perpendicular to at least one edge of the material 110 of the device 100. As shown, the placket 120 may extend the entire length of the device 100, such as from one edge of the material 110 to the opposite end of the material 110. In other embodiments, such as a fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 16 and described further below, the placket 220 may extend diagonally across the device 100.
[0060] The placket 120 divides the material 110 into first 111 and second 112 material portions, defining a placket opening 124 therebetween. A first placket side 121 formed on the first material portion 111 and a second placket side 122 formed on the second material portion 112 extend along at least a portion of the length of the placket opening 124 on opposite sides thereof. The first 121 and second 122 placket sides may be substantially straight and may be correspondingly or matingly configured to one another when the first 111 and second 112 material portions are joined at the placket 120.
[0061] In some embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 1A-15, one or more access slits 116, 116 may be formed within at least one of the first 111 and second 112 material portions. The slit(s) 116, 116 may have a terminal end 117 at the first 121 or second 122 placket side, so that the slit 116, 116 is continuous with the placket opening 124 and the material 110 may be separated at the slit 116, 116 as well as the placket opening 124. As shown in FIG. 1B, first 116 and second 116 access slits are provided on each of the first 111 and second 112 material portions. The slit(s) 116, 116 may extend through the first 111 or second 112 material portions at any angle relative to the placket 120, such as an oblique or transverse angle. The slit(s) 116, 116 may be of any shape and configuration, and in some embodiments, may change its angle relative to the placket 120 at any point along a given slit 116, 116. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, a slit(s) 116, 116 initially extends perpendicular to the placket 120 but changes direction as it progresses through the material 110 away from the placket 120. A finger portion 118 of the material 110 may be defined between the slit(s) 116, 116 and the material end, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. Although, a finger 118 may be formed between two slits 116, 116 and on either or both of the first 111 and second 112 portions of the material. Other embodiments, such as but not limited to the sixth embodiment shown in FIGS. 17-19, may have no slit(s) 116, 116.
[0062] Continuing with FIGS. 1A-5, the adjustable placket closure system 101 includes a first fastener 130 affixed to the first placket side 121 and a second fastener 140 affixed to the second placket side 122. Because each placket side 121, 122 is formed from its respective material portion 111, 112, the first fastener 130 and second fastener 140 are each attached to the material portions 211, 212 by their attachment to the placket sides 121, 122. Each fastener 130, 140 may generally extend along the entire length of its respective placket side 121, 122, or along a portion thereof. The fasteners 130, 140 may be any type of fastener suitable for collectively closing a placket therebetween, such as but not limited to zippers, buttons, snaps, magnetic closures, hook-and-loop fasteners such as VELCRO, and the like. First 130 and second 140 fasteners interact to join the first 121 and second 122 placket sides and therefore the first 111 and second 112 material portions, closing the placket opening 124, as shown in FIG. 2. This joining may be accomplished by various methods, such as by interdigitation of zipper halves, reception of male into female receivers as in buttons or snaps, interlocking of corresponding components such as hooks into loops of hook-and-loop fastener, and the like, depending on the specific type of fastener. In certain embodiments, such as in FIGS. 1A-5, first 130 and second 140 fasteners collectively form a zipper and join first and second placket sides 121, 122 and material portions 111, 112 via interdigitation of zipper halves, closing the placket opening 124.
[0063] The first fastener 130 on the first placket side 121 includes a releasable portion 132 and a fixed portion 134 thereof. However, in some embodiments, such as the sixth embodiment shown in FIGS. 17-19, a given placket side may have only a releasable portion or a fixed portion. The releasable portion 132 is selectively releasably affixed to the material 111 at the first placket side 121, extending generally along at least a portion of the first placket side 121. In embodiments having a slit 116, 116 on the first material portion 111, this releasable portion 132 is selectively releasably affixed to the portion of the first placket side 121 having the slit 116, 116, preferably in proximity to the slit 116, 116. For instance, in at least one embodiment, the releasable portion 132 of the fastener 130 is selectively releasably secured to the first placket side 121 adjacent to and overlapping the slit 116, 116 in covering relation to at least a portion of the slit 116, 116 such that it spans the slit 116, 116, as shown in FIG. 2. In embodiments where the terminal end 117 of the slit 116, 116 is at the placket opening 124, the releasable portion 132 of the first fastener 130 spans the terminal end 117 of the slit 116, 116, as in FIGS. 2-3. With reference to FIGS. 3-4, when release from the first placket side 121 is desired, the releasable portion 132 is selectively removed, released, or otherwise detached from the first placket side 121, revealing the first placket side 121 underneath, as well as the slit 116, 116, in embodiments having a slit 116, 116, and the terminal end 117 thereof depending on the configuration. The releasable portion 132 is selectively releasably attached to and released from the first placket side 121 through a selectively releasable attachment mechanism 133, such as by interdigitation of zipper halves, reception of male into female receivers as in buttons or snaps, interlocking of corresponding components such as hooks into loops of hook-and-loop fastener, magnetic attachment mechanisms, and the like. To be clear, this selectively releasable attachment mechanism 133 refers only to how the releasable portion of the first fastener 130 attaches to the first placket side 121, not how the fasteners 130, 140 interact with each other to open and close the placket 120. For instance, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A-15, the first and second fasteners 130, 140 collectively form a zipper for closing and opening the placket 120, whereas the selectively releasable attachment mechanism 133 attaching the first fastener 130 to the first placket side 121 is a hook-and-loop fastener. This is but one non-limiting example. In some embodiments, the same mechanism may be used for both placket closure between the fasteners 130, 140 and releasable attachment of the fasteners 130,140 to the placket sides 121, 122, though even in these embodiments the selectively releasable attachment mechanism 133 is separate and distinct from the placket 120 closure. The foregoing may apply to any of the fasteners 130, 140, 230, 240, 330, 340, plackets 120, 220, 320, releasable portions 132, 142, 232, 242, 332, 342, and releasable attachment mechanisms 133, 143, 233, 243, 333, 343 disclosed herein.
[0064] Once released, the releasable portion 132 may be pulled away from the first material portion 111 and first placket side 121 to reveal the same, as shown in FIG. 3. When the releasable portion 132 is selectively released, the finger 118 formed by the slit 116, 116 may be manipulated such as by pulling, pushing, and twisting to reveal the space beneath the finger 118. For example, FIG. 4 shows the finger 118 moved away from the general placket 120 area, with the releasable portion 132 of the first fastener 130 being folded down. In embodiments having a slit 116, 116, the releasable attachment mechanism 133 should be configured to both close the terminal end 117 of the slit 116, 116 when the releasable portion 132 is attached to the first placket side 121 and, when released, not interfere with the ability of the terminal end 117 to open and allow access to the continuous space between the slit 116, 116 and the placket opening 124, as shown in FIG. 4. The releasable portion 132 is proximate to one or more slits 116, 116, the terminal ends 117, and one or more fingers 118 such that the releasable portion 132 may extend across or span the slit 116, 116, terminal end 117 and finger 118 when affixed to the respective placket side 121. Accordingly, when released from the material 111, the releasable portion 132 reveals the first placket side 121 and the terminal end of the slit 117. When released, the releasable portion 132 is interconnected with the device 100 by the fixed portion 134 of the first fastener 130.
[0065] The first fastener 130 also includes a fixed portion 134 along at least part of its length. The fixed portion 134 is fixedly attached to at least a portion of the first placket side 121. The fixed portion 134 may extend generally along at least a portion of the first placket side 121 and preferably is continuous with the releasably attached portion 132. In embodiments having a slit 116, 116, the fixed portion 134 extends along the portion of the first placket side 121 not having the slit 116, 116 or terminal end 117 thereof. The fixed portion 134 may be affixed to the first placket side 121 by a permanent, formidable, or secure attachment mechanism 135 not easily removed, such as but not limited to stitching, adhesive, a Bemis adhesive film or tape, bonding, being integral with the material 111, or the like. By this secure attachment, the fixed portion 134 does not release from the first placket side 121, providing support to the system 101 and device 100 as a whole. In an exemplary embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 5, the fixed portion 134 is attached to the first placket side 121 via stitching 135 which extends through the material 111. The form of the device 100 also allows the material 111 having the fixed portion 134 of the first fastener 130 to be lifted as shown in FIG. 5, revealing the space beneath the material 111 and optionally attaching via reception of male into female receivers as in buttons or snaps or interlocking of corresponding components such as hooks into loops of hook-and-loop fastener located at the end of the material 111 having the releasable portion 132, covering the releasable portion 132.
[0066] The adjustable placket closure system 101 also includes a second fastener 140 on the second placket side 122. The second fastener 140 is the mate to the first fastener 130 and is correspondingly and/or matingly configured to engage the first fastener 130 in closing the placket 120. Accordingly, the second fastener 140 has both a releasable portion 142 and a fixed portion 144 thereof, each of which are largely as described above for the corresponding releasable portion 132 and fixed portion 134 of the first fastener 130. In an exemplary embodiment and as shown in FIGS. 1A-5, the second fastener 140, second placket side 122, releasable portion 142, and fixed portion 144 are mirror images of the first fastener 130, the first placket side 121, the releasable portion 132, and the fixed portion 132, respectively. The second fastener 140, second placket side 122, and releasable and fixed portions 142, 144 may have all the functionality described above. However, in alternate embodiments, the second fastener 140 may have any combination of a releasable portion 142 and/or fixed portion 144 while a first fastener 130 may have a non-identical combination of a releasable portion 132 and/or a fixed portion 134. The releasable portion 142 of the second fastener 140 may have an attachment mechanism 143 as described above with regard to the attachment mechanism 133 of the releasable portion 132 of the first fastener 130. The fixed portion 144 may have an attachment mechanism 145 as described above with regard to the attachment mechanism 135 of the fixed portion 134 of the first fastener 130.
[0067] The Figures show various embodiments of the adjustable placket closure system 101, 201, 301 and device 100, 200, 300 on which it is used. In the various embodiments shown throughout the Figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts and corresponding descriptions may apply to similarly numbered parts. For instance, in certain embodiments, the device may be a garment 200 in the form of a vest, medical garment, or other adaptive garment, clothing, or item to be worn by a user 290. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6-11, the garment 200 is a central line vest designed to accommodate a central line or other medical tube apparatus 280 inserted in a user 290 and which may be resident therein. The medical tube apparatus 280, in some embodiments, may be catheter lines, trachea tubes, intravenous catheters, ports, PICC lines, or any one of many central venous access devices (CVADs) or other medical tubes.
[0068] The garment 200 is made of material 210 in first 211 and second 212 portions which may be formed in substantially the shape of a vest or any other suitable garment. The garment 200 may contain a number of adjustable features which provide a secure fit on a user 290. For instance, shoulder supports 214 and shoulder strap loops 215 may be included on each of the first 211 and second 212 portions of the material 210. In the first embodiment, first closure straps 261 and second closure straps 262, or other similar securing mechanisms may extend from one or both the first and second portions 211, 212 of the material 210. A closure, being a separate piece of material capable of receiving straps or other similar structures (not pictured) opposite the placket 220 may be present and secured proximate to the back of a user 290. In at least one embodiment, this closure has loops to receive first and second closure straps 261, 262, allowing the closure straps 261, 262 to pass through the loop and attach to themselves via hook and loop or any similar attachment mechanism. In at least one embodiment, the opposite closure 260 also has shoulder straps extending therefrom which pass through the shoulder strap loops 215 and attach to themselves via hook and loop or any similar attachment mechanism. This opposite closure need not be adjusted, opened, or re-secured frequently due to the presence of the placket 220 and the first 230 and second 240 fasteners thereon. Accordingly, the opposite closure 260 may have a semi-permanent attachment mechanism, such as ties, adhesive, a Bemis adhesive film or tape, bonding, or stitching, or any other attachment mechanism described herein, as well as adjustable ties, buckles, hook and loop, or the like. In other embodiments, the material 210 of the garment 200 extends continuously from the edge of the first material portion 211 to the edge of the second material portion 212 such that part of the material 210 spans the back of the user when worn. In such embodiments, a back closure is not necessary.
[0069] The placket 220 is formed of a first placket side 221 and second placket side 222 which surround an opening 224 between the first portion 211 and second portion 212 of the material 210. The placket sides 221, 222 are sized and configured to allow the garment 200 to be put on or removed from a user 290 with ease. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-11, the placket sides 221, 222 extend from the portion of the vest 200 closest to the head of a user 290 to the portion of the vest closest to the waist of the user 290 when worn and are preferably centrally located on the vest 200. In alternate embodiments, such as the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 16 and described further below, the placket 220 and placket sides 221, 222 may extend diagonally across the body of a user 290. It should be appreciated that the placket 220 may extend in any direction across the garment 200 and relative to the user 290 or edge of the material 210.
[0070] An access slit 216 is formed within at least one of the first 211 and second 212 material portions. Though not shown here, it should be appreciated that there may be multiple slits 216, 216 formed within first 211 and second 212 material portions, similar to FIG. 1B. The slit 216 has a terminal end 217, preferably at the first 221 or second 222 placket side, so that the material 210 may be separated at the slit 216. The slit 216 extends within the first 211 or second 212 portions of the material from the terminal end 117 at the placket 220. The terminal end 217 of the slit 216 allows the slit 216 area to be continuous with the placket opening 224. The continuous space formed between the slit 216 and the placket opening 224 allows the tubing 284 of a medical apparatus 280 to be passed through the garment 200. Accordingly, the slit 216 is sized to accommodate such an apparatus 280 and the slit 216 is located on the garment 200 proximate to where a medical tube access point 282 may be located on a user. The slit 216 may be of any shape and configuration. For instance, in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-10, the slit extends substantially perpendicular and proximate to the placket 220 but changes direction across the material 210 further from the placket 220. A finger portion 218 of the material 210 is defined between the slit 216 and the material 210 end. The slit 216 and finger 218 are together located on the garment 200 to provide access to the chest of a user 290 when worn. The tubing 284 of the medical apparatus 280 resides beneath or near the finger 218 or the remainder of the first 211 or second 212 material portion of the garment 200 adjacent to the slit 216 and passes through the slit 216. The slit 216 and finger 218 may have other configurations such as shown in FIGS. 14-15 and described further below.
[0071] A first fastener 230 is affixed to the first placket side 221 and a second fastener 240 is affixed to the second placket side 222, as discussed more generally above. Each fastener 230, 240 extends along the length of its respective placket side 221, 222. In the first embodiment and as shown in FIGS. 6-7, first 230 and second 240 fasteners collectively form a zipper and join plackets 221, 222 and material portions 211, 212 via interdigitation of zipper halves, closing the placket opening 224. Each of the first fastener 230 on the first placket side 221 and the second fastener 240 on the second placket side 222 have both a releasable portion 232, 242 and a fixed portion 234, 244 thereof. The releasable portions 232, 242 are selectively releasably affixed to the material 210 at the first 221 and second 222 placket sides. In at least one embodiment, such as the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-11, the releasable portions 232, 242 are proximate to one or more slits 216, the terminal ends 217, and one or more fingers 218 such that the releasable portions 232, 242 may extend across or span the slit(s) 216, terminal end 217 and finger(s) 218 when affixed to the respective placket sides 221, 222.
[0072] With reference to FIGS. 8-9, when released from the material 210, the releasable portions 232, 242 reveal the first 221 and second 222 placket sides and the terminal end of the slit 217. The releasable portions 232, 242 are selectively releasably attached to the material 210 via a hook-and-loop mechanism 233, 243. FIG. 8 shows the releasable portions 232, 242 pulled away from the material 210 and placket 220, to reveal the same. This also releases the finger portion 218 which may be manipulated to reveal the user's chest 290 and allow access to the medical tube access point beneath the finger 218. FIG. 9 shows the finger 218 moved away from the material 210 and general placket 220 area, with the releasable portions 232, 242 of the fasteners 230, 240 being folded down but maintaining connection with the garment 200 via the fixed portions 234, 244 of the fasteners 230, 240. The finger 218 may be replaced and the releasable portions 232, 242 may be reattached to their respective plackets 221, 222, accommodating the medical tubing 284 which may now extend through the slit 216, as shown in FIG. 10A. This process may be used to insert medical tubing 284 through the slit 216, remove the medical tubing 284 from the slit 216, or adjust the medical tubing 284 at the access point while maintaining its position through the slit 216, such as but not limited to when cleaning the medical tubing 284.
[0073] In some embodiments, the garment 200 may also include at least one detachable fastener element 285, such as those shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 11,607,527 to Gus Gear, Inc. (the '527 patent), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Specifically, and with reference to FIG. 10B, one or more fastener element(s) 285 may be mounted to the material of the garment 200 in proximity to the slit 216, such as by attaching the base of the fastener element(s) 285 to the garment 200 material. Once the medical tubing 284 is passed through the slit 216 of the garment 200 and is positioned where desired, it may be secured to the garment 200 by forming the elongate strap of the fastener element(s) 285 into a loop around at least a portion of the medical tubing and securing the strap as described in the '527 patent. This results in the medical tubing 284 being secured to the garment 200 in a tug-resistant manner. Such fastener element(s) 285 may be provided in any number and in any of the garment embodiments 100, 200 described herein.
[0074] The fixed portions 234, 244 of the fasteners 230, 240 are fixedly attached to at least a portion of the plackets 220 and are preferably continuous with the releasably attached portions 232, 242. The fixed portions 234, 244 extend generally along the portion of the placket 220 not having the terminal end 217 of the slit 216. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-15, the fixed portions 234, 244 are affixed to the material 210 by stitching 235, 245 which extends therethrough; by this attachment, the fixed portions 234, 244 do not release from the first 221 and second 222 placket sides, providing support to the garment 200 as a whole, the remainder of the material 211, 212, and the releasable portions 232, 242 of the fasteners 230, 240. The portion of the garment 200 having the fixed portions 234, 244 thereon is referred to as the support portion 272. The support portion 272 may be lifted as shown in FIG. 11, to both reveal the torso of the user 290 and attach to the upper, opposite portion of the garment 200 having the releasable portions 232, 242 via reception of male into female receivers as in buttons or snaps arranged throughout the garment, such as at the ends of each of the support portion 272 and the upper, opposite portion, or by other means of secure attachment described herein. In an alternate embodiment, the support portion 272 may be selectively attached to the upper portion of the garment 200 by passing through the shoulder support 214 loops 215. When secured to the upper portion of the garment 200, the support portion may assist in securing the placement of the medical tube apparatus 280 on the user 290. This support portion also provides a barrier to accidents and a user's 290 fingers for the medical tube apparatus 280 by limiting exposure to contamination from body fluids and germs through contact.
[0075] With reference to FIGS. 6-11, a user 290 may wear the garment 200 by placing the material 210 on the user's 290 upper body, preferably with the opposite closure 260 and the shoulder straps 214 at least partially affixed, as described above, so that adjustments may more easily be made while the garment 200 hangs on the body of a user 290. As shown in FIGS. 6-11, shoulder straps 214 extending from the opposite closure 260 may be adjusted at the loop 215 provided on the material 210. The first 261 and second 262 closure straps may be affixed to the opposite closure 260 as well. As shown in FIG. 7, first 230 and second 240 fasteners are then joined, bringing together the first 221 and second 222 placket sides and material portions 211, 212 via interdigitation of zipper halves, closing the placket opening 224. Both the shoulder straps 214 and closure straps 261, 262 may then be adjusted to securely fit on the body of a user 290. The shoulder straps 214 and closure straps 261, 262 are selectively attached to themselves along a length thereof by hook-and-loop structures located both at the end of the straps 214, 261, 262 and at an intermediate portion of the straps 214, 261, 262.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 8, releasable portions 232, 242 are removed from the placket 220; the fixed portions 234, 244 remain attached to the placket 220, maintaining closure between the first 221 and second 222 side plackets. This ensures appropriate alignment and registration of the first 211 and second 212 material sides, and thus the proper positioning of the garment 200 on the user 290. Once the releasable portions 232, 242 are removed, the finger 218 is free and may be manipulated, as shown in FIG. 9, to reveal the body of a user 290 and the medical tube apparatus 280 connected to the user 290 underneath. The medical tube apparatus 280 and its tubing 284 are then fed through the slit 216 and the finger 218 is replaced. As shown in FIG. 10A, the medical tubing 284 then passes through the slit 216 and the releasable portions 232, 242 are replaced onto the placket 220. A support portion 272 of the garment 200 may then be flipped up to cover the opposite portion of the garment 200 and is held in such position by the interconnection of snaps across the ends of the material 210. Alternately, the closed placket 220 may be covered by a guard, such as flap 274 illustrated in FIGS. 12-13.
[0077] The adjustable placket closure system 201, by virtue of having releasable 232, 242 and fixed 234, 244 portions thereof, facilitates uncomplicated application and removal of the garment 200. The fixed portions 234, 244 maintain the relative positioning of all closures 215, 220, 260 of the garment 200 when the releasable portions 232, 242 and finger 218 are manipulated. This system 201 ensures that the garment 200 will not be too tight or too loose, and that all closures will maintain their fitted positions with respect to the garment 200 as a whole and the access point(s) for the medical tubing 284. The releasable portions 232, 242 allow easy access to the space underneath the slit 216 without having to remove the garment 200 fully or partially, which could change the positioning or fit of the garment 200, and without disturbing the medical tubing 284, such that any ongoing infusion or other treatment does not need to be stopped and such that the medical tubing 284 does not need to otherwise be adjusted. This system 201 therefore facilitates the application, manipulation, and removal of the garment 200. This is especially helpful when a user 290 is fidgety, restless, or has difficulty with hand dexterity or coordination, which is an improvement over the prior art, as described herein.
[0078] In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6-11, the first fastener 230 and second fastener 240 each have mirror image fixed 234, 244 and releasable 232, 242 portions thereof. In alternate embodiments, the first fastener 230 may have any combination of a releasable portion 232 and/or fixed portion 234 while a second fastener 240 may have a non-identical combination of a releasable portion 242 and/or a fixed portion 244.
[0079] In a second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 12-13, the adjustable placket closure system 201 may include a flap 274 adjacent and secured to one of the first 230 or second 240 fasteners. The flap 274 may extend along at least a portion of the length of a given fastener 230, 240, including both the releasable 232, 242 and fixed 234, 244 portions thereof. The flap 274 is attached to the fastener 230, 240 on the opposite side from the material 210 so that the flap 274 may be removed with the releasable portion 232, 242 and avoid restrictive interaction with the slit 216 and finger 218. The flap 274 has a width at least as large or larger than the combined width of the first 230 and second 240 fasteners, such that it is sized to fold across and cover the first 230 and second 240 fasteners when they are joined together. A connection 275 on the opposite fastener 240, 230, receives the flap 274 when folded over the fasteners 230, 240 to engage and hold the flap 274 in place against the fasteners 230, 240 in a covering fashion. The interaction of the flap 274 with the connection 275 may be by methods such as, but not limited to, reception of male into female receivers as in buttons or snaps, interlocking of corresponding components such as hooks into loops of hook-and-loop fastener, and the like.
[0080] Alternate configurations of the adjustable placket closure system 201 and device 200 are contemplated. For instance, in at least one embodiment and as shown in FIGS. 1A-16, first 211 and second 212 portions of the material are separated in any manner which forms a closable placket opening 224 therebetween. However, in alternate embodiments, such as the sixth embodiment described further below, first 311 and second 312 portions of the material 310 are continuous rather than separated. As discussed in detail below with respect to the sixth embodiment, there may be any combination of releasable 232, 242 and fixed 234, 244 portions on each of the first 230 and second 240 fasteners. For example, in at least one embodiment, a releasable portion 232, 242 of a fastener 230, 240 is bounded on two sides by fixed portions 234, 244, with multiple sections of releasable portions 232, 242 along each fastener. Alternatively, in another embodiment, a fastener 230, 240 has either only releasable 232, 242 or fixed 234, 244 portions thereof. The combination of releasable 232, 242 or fixed 234, 244 fasteners 230, 240 on one portion of the material 210 does not affect the combination present on an opposite portion of material 210. In at least one embodiment, such as those shown in FIGS. 1A-16, one or more access slits 216 are present on either portion of the material 210 and extend across the material 210 in any orientation, shape, or length. However, in other embodiments, such as the sixth embodiment shown in FIGS. 17-19, one or more slits 216 are not present on either portion of the material 210. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the garment 200 is configured to have a slit 216, releasable portions 232, 242, and a finger 218 at the torso of the user 290 rather than the chest of a user 290. In at least one other embodiment, such as the third embodiment, additional supports, such as a lower back securing member is also present to accommodate alternate embodiments of the garment 200. Further, in a fourth embodiment, shown in FIG. 15, the fixed portions 234, 244 are shortened so the garment 200 is held in place while the releasable portions 232, 242 are detached by a relatively short fixed portion 234, 244 without excess length.
[0081] In the fifth embodiment, shown in FIG. 16, first 211 and second 212 portions of the material 210 are not mirror images of one another. A first portion 211 is sized to cover the shoulder and a portion of the chest of a user 290 and a second portion 212 is sized to cover the remainder of the chest and torso of a user 290. The placket 220 extends diagonally from the portion of the material closest to a neck of the user 290, terminating at the underarm of a user 290 rather than the waist. First 216 and second access slits 216 on each side of the placket 220 extend laterally across the chest of a user 290, creating first fingers 218 between the slit 216 and the neckline of the garment 200, and second fingers 218 between the first slit 216 and adjacent second slit 216 on the same portion of the material 210. A releasable portion 232, 242 of first 230 and second 240 fasteners extend across both slits 216, 216 but does not extend beyond the second slit 216 closest to the underarm of a user 290 when worn. The first 230 and second 240 fasteners have fixed portions 234, 244 attaching to the material 210 between the second slit 216 and the edge of the material 210 closest to the underarm of the user 290 when worn. In this fifth embodiment, the support portion flap 272 entirely encloses the placket 220 when flipped up and secured to the opposite portion of the garment 200. Wings 219 may extend from the support portion 272 which cover further area of the opposite portion of the garment 200 and allow for additional attachment on the user 290 when worn. These wings 219 provide coverage to the slits 216, 216 when flipped up and secured to the opposite portion of the garment 200. Such wings 219 may be provided in any of the garment embodiments 100, 200 described herein.
[0082] In the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17-19, the adjustable placket closure system 301 described herein may be used in a bag, backpack, luggage, pouch, pocket, purse, wallet, messenger bag, tote bag, rucksack, or other accessory having an interior space suitable for carrying item(s) 300 or may be used in a jacket or other suitable garment capable of featuring a pocket. The dashed lines surrounding the system 301 shown in FIGS. 17-19 identify the pocket. Alternatively, this embodiment may be used in any of the foregoing which may be within or attached to another container 300 formed in a given material 310, such as but not limited to, a side pocket of a bag, backpack or luggage, interior pouches of a purse or messenger bag, or the like. The material 310 may further form coverings such as tents, tarps, sleeping bags, or other outdoor or tactical supplies. The sixth embodiment of the adjustable placket closure system 301 may be used or useful anywhere a fastener may be used to close a placket, such as but not limited to zippers, buttons, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, and others. Any of the attachment and construction methods described herein may be applicable to the sixth embodiment. The material used in this sixth embodiment may be continuous or separated into multiple pieces; in any case, a first portion 311 of the material 310 and a second portion 312 of the material 310 surround a placket 320 formed in or between the material portions 311, 312. The placket 320 includes a first placket side 321 adjacent to the first portion 311 of the material 310 and a second placket side 322 adjacent to the second portion 312 of the material 310, both surrounding a placket opening 324.
[0083] A first fastener 330 is affixed to the first placket side 321 and a second fastener 340 is affixed to the second placket side 322, as discussed more generally above. Each fastener 330, 340 extends along the length of its respective placket side 321, 322. In the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17-19, first 330 and second 340 fasteners collectively form a zipper and join first and second placket sides 321, 322 and material portions 311, 312 via interdigitation of zipper halves, closing the placket opening 324. The first fastener 330 on the first placket side 321 and the second fastener 340 on the second placket side 322 may each have any combination of a releasable portion 332, 342 and a fixed portion 334, 344, including having only one or the other on each side 321, 322. As shown in FIGS. 17-19, the first fastener 330 includes a fixed portion 334 extending along the entire length of the first placket side 321, secured by stitching 335 to the first material portion 311. The first fastener 330 therefore does not have a releasable portion in this embodiment. The second fastener 340 includes both a releasable portion 342 extending along a portion of its length and a fixed portion 344 extending along at least one other portion of its length along the second placket side 322, secured by hook-and loop 343 and stitching 345, respectively. The releasable portion 342 may be located anywhere along the length of the first placket side 311 and relative to the fixed portion 344. For instance, in this sixth embodiment, the releasable portion 342 is disposed intermediately between two fixed portions 344. When the releasable portion 342 is detached from the second placket side 340, an opening is formed therebetween which provides access to an interior space beneath the material 310. This interior may be the main pocket of a bag 300, an interior pocket, or any other area on the side of the material 310 opposite the fasteners 330, 340. As shown in FIG. 17, the opening formed between the releasable portion 342 and the second placket side 340 is an interior pocket of a bag 300. However, alternate embodiments may provide multiple releasable portions 332, 342, attached by releasable attachment mechanisms 333, 343, interspaced with fixed portions 334, 344, allowing access to multiple interior areas. Fixed portions are securely attached to the bag 300 and provide support for the releasable portions and openings formed therefrom.
