Self-donning surgical gown

Abstract

The invention relates to a nonwoven gown made of a gown body terminating in two edges at a back of the gown. The gown contains a closure member that extends around the gown body and terminates at each edge. Manipulation of the closure member moves at least one of the edges toward the other thereby closing the back of the gown. A fastener located along at least a portion of at least one of the edges may be provided. Some suitable fasteners include tape, hook and loop type fasteners, and/or snaps. Such a gown enables a wearer to close and secure the gown by himself while keeping his hands sterile.

1 . A nonwoven gown comprising: 
 a gown body terminating in two edges at a back of the gown;    a fastener located along at a least portion of one of the edges; and    a closure member extending around the gown body and terminating at each edge proximal to the fastener;    wherein manipulation of the closure member moves at least one of the edges toward the other thereby engaging the fastener and closing the back of the gown.    
   
   
       2 . The gown of  claim 1  comprising a casing extending around the gown body terminating at each edge for at least partially containing the closure member within.  
   
   
       3 . The gown of  claim 2  comprising an opening within the casing for an external portion of the closure member to extend therefrom.  
   
   
       4 . The gown of  claim 3  wherein the external portion comprises a loop.  
   
   
       5 . The gown of  claim 3  wherein the external portion comprises a bend extending outward from the opening.  
   
   
       6 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener.  
   
   
       7 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the fastener comprises a clip mechanism.  
   
   
       8 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the gown body comprises a plurality of nonwoven pieces adjoined together.  
   
   
       9 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the closure member comprises a metal strip.  
   
   
       10 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the closure member is malleable.  
   
   
       11 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the closure member comprises a molded plastic.  
   
   
       12 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the closure member is curved to conform to a wearer's body.  
   
   
       13 . The gown of  claim 1  comprising two closure members each having a spiral coiled external member.  
   
   
       14 . The gown of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of spaced apart casings extending around the gown body terminating at each edge for at least partially containing at least one closure member within.  
   
   
       15 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the edges are substantially vertical extending from a neck portion of the gown to a bottommost portion of the gown.  
   
   
       16 . A nonwoven gown comprising: 
 a gown body terminating in two edges at a back of the gown; and    a closure member extending around the gown body, and terminating at each edge;    wherein manipulation of the closure member moves at least one of the edges toward the other thereby closing the back of the gown.    
   
   
       17 . The gown of  claim 16  comprising a fastener located along at least a portion of at least one of the edges.  
   
   
       18 . The gown of  claim 17  wherein the fastener comprises tape.  
   
   
       19 . The gown of  claim 17  wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop type fastener.  
   
   
       20 . The gown of  claim 17  wherein the fastener comprises snaps.  
   
   
       21 . The gown of  claim 16  comprising a casing extending around the gown body terminating at each edge.  
   
   
       22 . The gown of  claim 21  wherein the closure member is at least partially encased within the casing.  
   
   
       23 . The gown of  claim 21  comprising an opening within the casing for an external portion of the closure member to extend therefrom.  
   
   
       24 . The gown of  claim 23  wherein pushing the external portion of the closure member into the opening pushes the at least one of the edges toward the other.  
   
   
       25 . The gown of  claim 24  comprising a fastener for securing the edges.  
   
   
       26 . The gown of  claim 16  comprising a plurality of closure members, each closure member extending around the gown body, and terminating at each edge.  
   
   
       27 . The gown of  claim 26  comprising a plurality of spaced apart casings extending around the gown body terminating at each edge for at least partially containing an individual closure member within.  
   
   
       28 . The gown of  claim 27  wherein at least one of the casings is located between a sleeve portion of the gown and a bottommost portion of the gown.  
   
   
       29 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the edges are substantially vertical extending from a neck portion of the gown to a bottommost portion of the gown.  
   
   
       30 . The gown of  claim 16  comprising a hook and loop fastener located along each edge for securing the gown in a closed position.  
   
   
       31 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the gown body comprises a front panel, a right side panel, a left side panel, a first back panel, and a second back panel, each panel having first and second edges respectively, the first edge of the front panel attached to the first edge of the left side panel, the second edge of the front panel attached to the first edge of the right side panel, the first edge of the first back panel attached to the second edge of the left side panel, the first edge of the second back panel attached to the second edge of the right side panel, wherein the closure member terminates at the second edges of each of the first and second back panels.  
   
   
       32 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the gown body comprises a closed front panel, two side panels, and an open back panel, each side panel attached to opposing edges of the front panel, the back panel attached to one of the side panels at an edge opposite the edge to which the front panel is attached, one edge of the back panel and one edge of the side panel comprising fastening edges, wherein the closure member terminates at the fastening edges.  
   
   
       33 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the closure member comprises a metal strip.  
   
   
       34 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the closure member is malleable.  
   
   
       35 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the closure member comprises a molded plastic.  
   
   
       36 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the closure member is curved to conform to a wearer's body.  
   
   
       37 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the closure member comprises two parts, each part being partially contained within the gown body and having an external portion extending from the gown body.  
   
   
       38 . The gown of  claim 37  wherein the external portion is spiral-coiled.  
   
   
       39 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the closure member is partially contained within the gown body and comprises an external loop extending from the gown body.  
   
   
       40 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein manipulation of the closure member comprises pushing upon the closure member.  
   
   
       41 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein manipulation of the closure member comprises pulling the closure member.