Radiation apron garment holder and methods

Abstract

A wall-mountable radiation garment holder used to hold apron style or other two hanging fixture radiation attenuating garments. The design holds the apron without folding and helps prevent contact with any other surface. The holder is made of nonporous surface material, such as Corian® or stainless steel, which are frequently disinfected. The holder reduces sorption of unhealthful agents. The holder supports the radiation garment away from adjacent surfaces. The holder shown has a central section that contacts the wall, door or other suitable support. Extension sections are connected to the central section and extend away from a supporting wall. Opposing arms are connected near distal ends of the extension sections. On the arms are hooks or other suitable connectors to which the apron or other garment can be easily attached and detached.

1 . An apparatus forming a radiation garment holder, comprising: 
 a central section having a front surface, and a back surface with at least one contact surface thereon, said central section being adapted for mounting upon a support structure having a support surface which is contacted by said at least one contact surface;    first and second clearance sections attached to opposing sides of the central section and extending forwardly therefrom in a cantilevered configuration to provide clearance between a hanging radiation garment and the support surface;    first and second arms connected near distal ends of the first and second clearance sections, said first and second arms extending in opposing directions from said central section;    first and second garment hangers which are connected respectively to the first and second arms;    whereby a radiation garment having two connection fixtures thereon which engage with the first and second garment hangers to hang the radiation garment in a smooth hanging condition clear of the support surface.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the central region is adapted for mounting by having one or more apertures through which fasteners may be placed.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the central region, first and second clearance sections, and the first and second arms are integrally formed.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is made from a non-porous material to reduce sorption of unhealthful agents and allow cleaning and disinfecting of the apparatus.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is made from a non-porous polymer material to prevent or reduce sorption of unhealthy agents and allow cleaning and disinfecting of the apparatus.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is made from an acrylic material to prevent or reduce the sorption of unhealthful agents and to allow cleaning and disinfecting of the apparatus.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is made from a metal to reduce sorption of unhealthy agents and allow cleaning and disinfecting of the apparatus.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is made from at first material which is coated with a non-porous surface coating thereon to reduce the sorption of unhealthy agents and allow cleaning and disinfecting of the apparatus.  
   
   
       9 . A one-piece radiation apron holder comprising: 
 a central region; one or more contact surfaces on the back face of the central region adapted for contacting at least one mounting surface;    first and second cantilevers initially angling away from the one or more contact surfaces from opposite sides of the central region before returning to a plane higher than the one or more contact surfaces for positioning a radiation apron away from contact with the at least one mounting surface;    first and second arms extending from near distal ends of the first and second cantilevers in opposite directions; and    first and second apron hangers extending respectively from the first and second arms for mounting a radiation apron.    
   
   
       10 . A method for producing an apparatus forming a radiation apron hanger, comprising: 
 selecting a nonporous disinfectant resistant sheet of material;    cutting the sheet of nonporous disinfectant resistant material into a form blank having portions for the following features: 
 a central section, having a front surface, and a back surface having one or more contact surfaces;  
 a first clearance section connected to the central section;  
 a second clearance section connected to the central section opposite to said first clearance section;  
 a first arm portion connected to the first clearance section;  
 a second arm portion connected to the second clearance section;  
   forming first and second bends in the first clearance section, for extending the first clearance section forwardly relative to the central section and then outwardly from the central section;    forming first and second bends in the second clearance section, for extending the second clearance section forwardly relative to the central section and then outwardly from the central section;    providing first and second hangers on the first and second arms to which a radiation garment with two connection fixtures thereon which engage with the first and second garment hangers.