GARMENT WITH ACCESSIBLE SLEEVES

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a garment including a body portion and a sleeve configured to cover an arm of a wearer. The sleeve includes a zipper track, a first zipper head, and a second zipper head. The first zipper head is movable along the zipper track between a first position proximate a wearer's shoulder and a second position proximate a wearer's wrist and is configured to move from the second position towards the first position to expose at least a first portion of the arm of the wearer. The second zipper head is movable along the zipper track between a first position proximate the shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate the wrist of the wearer and is configured to move from the first position towards the second position to expose at least a second portion of the arm of the wearer.

Claims

1. A garment comprising: a body portion; and a sleeve configured to cover an arm of a wearer, the sleeve comprising: a zipper track; a first zipper head movable along the zipper track between a first position proximate a shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate a wrist of the wearer, wherein the first zipper head is configured to move from the second position towards the first position to expose at least a first portion of the arm of the wearer; and a second zipper head movable along the zipper track between a first position proximate the shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate the wrist of the wearer, wherein the second zipper head is configured to move from the first position towards the second position to expose at least a second portion of the arm of the wearer, and wherein an end of the sleeve proximate the wrist is open, such that the sleeve is configured to fall away from the arm of the wearer as the second zipper is moved from the second position towards the first position.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the second zipper head is adjacent the first zipper head when the second zipper head is in the second position.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first zipper head is adjacent the second zipper head when the first zipper head is in the first position.

4. (canceled)

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first zipper head and the second zipper head are continuously positionable along the zipper track.

6. The garment of claim 1, further comprising an opening extending between the second position and the first zipper head.

7. The garment of claim 1, further comprising an opening extending between the first position and the second zipper head.

8. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a thumb loop on a portion of the sleeve proximate the wrist of the wearer.

9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the zipper track is configured to overlie a lateral surface of the arm of the wearer.

10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first portion is equal to the second portion.

11. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first portion is different from the second portion.

12. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a second sleeve configured to cover a second arm of the wearer, the second sleeve comprising: a second zipper track; a third zipper head movable along the second zipper track between a first position proximate a second shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate a second wrist of the wearer, wherein the third zipper head is configured to move from the second position towards the first position to expose at least a first portion of the second arm of the wearer; and a fourth zipper head movable along the second zipper track between a first position proximate the second shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate the second wrist of the wearer, wherein the fourth zipper head is configured to move from the first position towards the second position to expose at least a second portion of second the arm of the wearer.

13. A garment comprising: a body portion; and a sleeve configured to cover an arm of a wearer, the sleeve comprising: a zipper track configured to overlie a lateral surface of the arm of the wearer; and a first zipper head movable along the zipper track between a first position proximate a shoulder of a wearer and a second position proximate a wrist of the wearer, wherein the first zipper head is configured to move from the second position towards the first position to expose at least a portion of the arm of the wearer, and wherein an end of the sleeve proximate the wrist is open, such that the sleeve is configured to fall away from the arm of the wearer as the first zipper is moved from the second position towards the first position.

14. The garment of claim 13, further comprising an opening extending between the second position and the first zipper head.

15. The garment of claim 13, further comprising a thumb loop on a portion of the sleeve proximate the wrist of the wearer.

16. The garment of claim 13, further comprising a second zipper head movable along the zipper track between a first position proximate the shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate the wrist of the wearer, wherein the second zipper head is configured to move from the first position towards the second position to expose the arm of the wearer.

17. The garment of claim 13, further comprising a second sleeve configured to cover a second arm of the wearer, the second sleeve comprising: a second zipper track configured to overlie a lateral surface of the second arm of the wearer; and a second zipper head movable along the second zipper track between a first position proximate a second shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate a second wrist of the wearer, wherein the second zipper head is configured to move from the second position towards the first position to expose at least a portion of the arm of the wearer.

18. A garment comprising: a body portion; and a sleeve configured to cover an arm of a wearer, the sleeve comprising: a zipper track configured to overlie a lateral surface of the arm of the wearer; and a first zipper head movable along the zipper track between a first position proximate a shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate a wrist of the wearer, wherein the first zipper head is configured to move from the first position towards the second position to expose at least a portion of the arm of the wearer, and wherein an end of the sleeve proximate the wrist is open.

19. The garment of claim 18, further comprising an opening extending between the first position and the first zipper head.

20. The garment of claim 18, further comprising a second zipper head movable along the zipper track between a first position proximate the shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate the wrist of the wearer, wherein the second zipper head is configured to move from the second position towards the first position to expose the arm of the wearer.

21. The garment of claim 18, further comprising a second sleeve configured to cover a second arm of the wearer, the second sleeve comprising: a second zipper track configured to overlie a lateral surface of the second arm of the wearer; and a second zipper head movable along the second zipper track between a first position proximate a second shoulder of the wearer and a second position proximate a second wrist of the wearer, wherein the second zipper head is configured to move from the first position towards the second position to expose at least a portion of the second arm of the wearer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more example aspects of the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain their principles and implementations.

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example garment including a first zipper head and a second zipper head according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the garment of FIG. 1 in which the first zipper head is in a partially open position according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the garment of FIG. 1 in which the first zipper head is in a fully open position according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the garment of FIG. 1 in which the second zipper head is in a partially open position according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the garment of FIG. 1 in which the second zipper head is in a fully open position according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 6 shows a detail view of a portion of a sleeve of the garment of FIG. 1 worn on a patient according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the garment of FIG. 1 worn on a patient according to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0016] Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an garment configured for use in procedures that require access to portions of the patient's anatomy, such as a patient's arm or chest area, and/or to a port-coupled to a patient's arm or chest area. The garment may comprise a front portion, a back portion, a first sleeve, and a second sleeve. Each of the first and second sleeves may include a zipper track extending between a shoulder portion of the sleeve and a wrist portion of the sleeve. A first zipper head and a second zipper head are coupled to the zipper track. The first zipper head is configured to move from a position proximate the wrist portion toward a position proximate the shoulder portion to expose the arm or other areas of the patient's anatomy. The second zipper head is configured to move from the position proximate the shoulder portion toward the position proximate the wrist portion to expose the arm or other portion of the anatomy of the wearer.

[0017] According to some aspects, the garment may comprise a shirt. The front and back portions of the shirt may be configured to be worn on the patient's torso. The sleeves may be configured to provide access to the arm or other area of a patient's anatomy or to a medical device coupled to the arm or other accessible area of the patient's anatomy during medical procedures. Example medical devices include intravenous lines, peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines, arm ports, midline catheters, dialysis catheters, and/or casts. Example medical procedures may include dialysis treatments, infusion treatments, wound care, inspection and/or replacement of casts, and so forth. Some example medical procedures, such as, for example, dialysis treatments may require access to the medical device coupled to the patient's arm or other accessible areas of the patient's anatomy for several hours and may occur in cold rooms. Therefore, it would be beneficial for the patient to wear a garment that would allow the patient to remain warm while also providing access to the medical device coupled to the patient's arm.

[0018] As used herein, the term shirt refers to a garment or an article of clothing configured to be worn on the torso and at least a portion of the arms of a patient. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a shirt 10 may comprise a front portion 14, a back portion 18, a first sleeve 22, and a second sleeve 26. A seam 30 may extend along the top 34 and opposing sides 40, 42 of the front portion 14 and the back portion 18 to secure the front portion 14 to the back portion 18. The front portion 14 and the back portion 18 may form a body portion configured to be worn on a patient's torso. An opening 44 in the top of the shirt 10 may be configured receive the head and neck of the patient therethrough. The first sleeve 22 and the second sleeve 26 may be coupled to the opposing sides 40, 42 of the shirt 10 proximate the top of the shirt 10. Example materials for the shirt 10 may include cotton, polyester, rayon, spandex, and combinations thereof.

[0019] The first sleeve 22 and the second sleeve 26 are essentially mirror images of each other and are substantially similar, so only the first sleeve 22 is described in greater detail herein. Like numbers are used to refer to like parts on the first and second sleeves 22, 26.

[0020] The first sleeve 22 may extend between a first end 46 and a second end 50. The first end 46 may be configured to overlie a shoulder of the patient when the shirt 10 is worn by the patient. The second end 50 may be configured to overlie a patient's wrist and/or at least a portion of the wearer's forearm when the shirt 10 is worn by the patient.

[0021] The first sleeve 22 may include a zipper track 54 that may extend between the first end 46 and the second end 50 of the sleeve 22. In some aspects, the zipper track 54 may be spaced from the second end 50 of the sleeve 22, as shown in FIGS. 1-5. A first zipper head 58 and a second zipper head 62 may be coupled to the zipper track 54. The first zipper head 58 and the second zipper head 62 may be movable along the zipper track 54 between a first position proximate the shoulder of the patient (e.g., at the first end 46 of the sleeve 22) and a second position proximate the wrist of the patient (e.g., at the second end 50 of the sleeve 22). The first zipper head 58 may be configured to move from the second position towards the first position to form an opening 66 along the zipper track 54 that exposes an arm and other accessible areas of the wearer's anatomy, such as the chest, for example. The second zipper head 62 may be configured to move from the first position towards the second position to form the opening 66 along the zipper track 54 to expose the arm of the wearer. Each of the first zipper head 58 and the second zipper head 62 may be continuously positionable along the extent of the zipper track 54 to create openings 66 of various sizes and positions, as described in greater detail below.

[0022] In some aspects, the zipper track 54 may be positioned as close to the top of the shoulder portion of the shirt as possible, and even abut the neckline at the shoulder portion (FIG. 7) such that the material of the sleeve 22 falls away from the arm of the wearer as the opening 66 is formed from the top of the shoulder/neckline portion along the zipper track 54.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows the shirt 10 in a configuration in which the first zipper head 58 is in the second position (e.g., proximate the second end 50 of the sleeve 22) and the second zipper head 62 is in the first position (e.g., proximate the first end 50 of the sleeve 22). In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the zipper track 54 is closed (e.g., the opening 66 is not formed along the zipper track 54), such that the sleeve 22 may cover the patient's arm.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the shirt 10 in a configuration in which the second zipper head 62 is in the first position and the first zipper head 58 is in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position. The opening 66 may be formed along the zipper track 54 between the second end 50 of the sleeve 22 and the position of the first zipper head 58 along the zipper track 54. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the patient's forearm may be exposed, which may provide access to a medical device coupled to the patient's forearm and/or allow the patient's forearm to be visually inspected and/or medically treated. In the illustrated configuration, the patient's upper arm may be covered by the sleeve (i.e., the zipped portion of zipper track 54), which may help the patient remain warm during medical procedures in which the forearm may be exposed. The portion of the sleeve between the first zipper head 58 and the end of the sleeve 22 proximate the wrist area is open in the configuration shown in FIG. 2.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the shirt 10 in a configuration in which the second zipper head 62 and the first zipper head 58 are both in the first position. The first zipper head 58 may be adjacent the second zipper head 62. The opening 66 may be formed along the zipper track 54 between the second end 50 of the sleeve 22 and the position of the first zipper head 58 along the zipper track 54. In such a configuration, substantially the entire length of the zipper track 54 may be open. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3, a majority of the patient's arm may be exposed, which may provide access to a medical device coupled to the patient's upper arm, the patient's forearm, adjacent portions of the patient's anatomy, such as the chest area, and/or allow the patient's arm/chest area to be visually inspected and/or medically treated. In the illustrated configuration, the material of the sleeve 22 may fall away from the arm of the patient, which may prevent the fabric of the sleeve 22 from blocking access to the patient's arm/chest area, a medical device coupled to the patient's arm/chest area, and so forth. The portion of the sleeve 22 between the first zipper head 58 and the end of the sleeve 22 proximate the wrist area is open in the configuration shown in FIG. 3.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows the shirt 10 in a configuration in which the first zipper head 58 is in the second position and the second zipper head 62 is in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position. The opening 66 may be formed along the zipper track 54 between the first end 46 of the sleeve 22 and the position of the second zipper head 62 along the zipper track 54. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, the patient's upper arm may be exposed, which may provide access to a medical device coupled to the patient's upper arm and adjacent areas, such as the chest and/or allow the patient's upper arm/adjacent areas to be visually inspected and/or medically treated. In the illustrated configuration, the patient's forearm may be covered, which may help the patient remain warm during medical procedures in which the upper arm may be exposed.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows the shirt 10 in a configuration in which the second zipper head 62 and the first zipper head 58 are both in the second position. The first zipper head 58 may be adjacent the second zipper head 62. The opening 66 may be formed along the zipper track 54 between the first end 46 of the sleeve 22 and the position of the second zipper head 62 along the zipper track 54. In such a configuration, substantially the entire length of the zipper track 54 may be open. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, a majority of the patient's arm/adjacent areas may be exposed, which may provide access to a medical device coupled to the patient's upper arm/chest, the patient's forearm, and/or allow the patient's arm/chest area to be visually inspected and/or medically treated. In the illustrated configuration, the material of the sleeve 22 may fall away from the arm of the patient, which may prevent the fabric of the sleeve 22 from blocking access to the patient's arm/chest area, a medical device coupled to the patient's arm/chest area, and so forth.

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a detail view of the second end 50 of the sleeve 22 of the shirt 10 as the shirt 10 is being worn by a patient. In some aspects, the second end 50 of the sleeve 22 may include a thumb loop 74. In some aspects, the thumb loop 74 may be inside the sleeve 22. As shown in FIG. 6, the thumb loop 74 may be engaged by the patient to apply tension to the sleeve 22 as the patient actuates the zipper heads 58, 62 to allow the patient to easily operate the first zipper head 58 and/or the second zipper head 62 (not shown) with one hand.

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a patient wearing the shirt 10. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, both the first and second zipper heads 58, 62 of the first sleeve 22 may be in the second position, such that the opening 66 may be formed from the first end 46 of the sleeve 22 to the second end 50 of the sleeve 22. As shown in FIG. 7, the opening 66 may allow access to a medical device 78 engaged with the patient's upper arm and adjacent areas, such as the chest. The material of the sleeve 22 may fall away from the exposed portion of the patient's arm, so that the material of the sleeve 22 may not block access to the medical device 78. As shown in FIG. 7, the zipper track 54 is closed (e.g., the first zipper head 58 is in the second position and the second zipper head 62 is in the first position), which may allow the patient to remain warm during procedures requiring access to the medical device 78.

[0030] As best shown in FIG. 7, each of the sleeves 22, 26 may include the zipper track 54, the first zipper head 58, and the second zipper head 62. It may advantageous to include these features on both of the sleeves 22, 26 because the medical device 78 may be coupled to either the right arm or the left arm of the patient. Further, the shirt 10 can be worn for medical procedures that require access to both of the patient'arms/adjacent areas, such as, for example, procedures to remove a first medical device 78 from one of the patient's arms and to couple a second medical device 78 to the other of the patient's arms/adjacent areas.

[0031] Aspects of the present disclosure are also directed to methods of making and using the shirt as described herein.

[0032] While the aspects described herein have been described in conjunction with the example aspects outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example aspects, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later-developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents.

[0033] Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, where reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless specifically so stated, but rather one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed as a means plus function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase means for.

[0034] Further, the word example is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect described herein as example is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term some refers to one or more. Combinations such as at least one of A, B, or C, at least one of A, B, and C, and A, B, C, or any combination thereof include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically, combinations such as at least one of A, B, or C, at least one of A, B, and C, and A, B, C, or any combination thereof may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinations may contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. Nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

[0035] The word about is used herein to mean within 5% of the stated value, optionally within 4%, optionally within 3%, optionally within 2%, optionally within 1%, optionally within 0.5%, optionally within 0.1%, and optionally within 0.01%.