Right-and-left-seam opening medical-patient shorts and methods of use

Abstract

A pair of medical-patient shorts that are opened entirely at the right and left outside seams, while allowing the rear, front, and crotch seams to remain intact, is disclosed. The shorts include the use of a stuttered series of hook-and-pile patches that largely define the outer seams of the shorts, which are largely comprised of a front fabric panel and a rear fabric panel. The design of the outside side seams to enhance user comfort and to make access to the patient's body, dressing, etc. more convenient. In addition, the shorts provide features to provide convenient physical support for medical apparatuses, such as drainage bags and tubing, for example. Finally, associated methods of use for the medical-patient shorts are disclosed.

1 . A pair of shorts suitable for a medical patients and athletes, comprising:
 a front fabric panel,
 wherein said front fabric panel has a top and bottom edge, 
 wherein said front fabric panel has an outer-right-seam edge and an outer-left-seam edge, said right and left orientations associated with the perspective of a user wearing said pair of shorts, and 
 wherein said front fabric panel has a waistband segment along its top edge; 
   a rear fabric panel,
 wherein said rear fabric panel has a top and bottom edge, 
 wherein said rear fabric panel has an outer-right-seam edge and an outer-left-seam edge, said right and left orientations associated with the perspective of a user wearing said pair of shorts, 
 wherein said rear fabric panel has a waistband segment along its top edge, and 
 wherein said two waistband segments for said front and rear fabric panels can be detachably coupled together at substantially each end of each said waistband segment; 
   a crotch region defining an interface wherein said front fabric panel bottom edge is coupled to said rear fabric panel bottom edge;   an outer-right seam defined by the coupling of said outer-right-seam edges of said front and rear fabric panels,
 wherein said coupling of said outer-right-seam edges uses a stuttered pattern of hook-and-pile mated patches along said outer-right-seam edges, 
 wherein the hook-part of a given hook-and-pile mated patch is disposed on either the front or rear fabric panel, with the pile-part of that given hook-and-pile mated patch being disposed on the opposite fabric panel, 
 wherein said stuttering of said hook-and-pile patches creates intermittent points along said outer-right seam that remain uncoupled even when said pair of shorts are worn by a user, and 
 wherein said front and rear fabric panels are configured to substantially cover the hip and outer upper-left leg of a wearer of said shorts; and 
   an outer-left seam defined by the coupling of said outer-left-seam edges of said front and rear fabric panels,
 wherein said coupling of said outer-left-seam edges uses a stuttered pattern of hook-and-pile mated patches along said outer-left-seam edges, 
 wherein the hook-part of a given hook-and-pile mated patch is disposed on either the front or rear fabric panel, with the pile-part of that given hook-and-pile mated patch being disposed on the opposite fabric panel 
 wherein said stuttering of said hook-and-pile patches creates intermittent points along said outer-left seam that remain uncoupled even when said pair of shorts are worn by a user, and 
 wherein said front and rear fabric panels are configured to substantially cover the hip and outer upper-left leg of a wearer of said shorts. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pair of shorts of  claim 1 , wherein each said waistband segment is elastic. 
     
     
         3 . The pair of shorts of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said detachable coupling at each end of said waistband segments is accomplished using a hook-and-bar device; and   wherein for each said coupling point, the hook-part of said hook-and-bar coupling can be disposed on either the front or rear waistband segment, with the bar-part of said hook-and-bar coupling being disposed on the opposite waistband segment.   
     
     
         4 . The pair of shorts of  claim 1 , wherein said front waistband segment further comprises a drawstring for user-specified tightening. 
     
     
         5 . The pair of shorts of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one patch-type pocket disposed on the outer surface of said front fabric panel. 
     
     
         6 . The pair of shorts of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one corded loop for the attachment of medical devices,
 wherein said at least one corded loop is sewn into the outside seam of said at least one patch-type pocket,   wherein said outside seam of said at least one patch-type pocket is defined as the right seam for an associated patch-type pocket disposed on the right side of said front fabric panel, and   wherein said outside seam of said at least one patch-type pocket is defined as the left seam for an associated patch-type pocket disposed on the left side of said front fabric panel.   
     
     
         7 . The pair of shorts of  claim 1 , wherein each said front and rear fabric panels are substantially made from snag-resistant and quick-drying fabric material. 
     
     
         8 . The pair of shorts of  claim 7 , wherein said fabric material is selected from the group consisting of cotton fabric, nylon fabric, polyester-blend fabric, and SUPPLEX®. 
     
     
         9 . A method of making a pair of shorts suitable for a medical patients and athletes, comprising the steps of:
 providing a front fabric panel,
 wherein said front fabric panel has a top and bottom edge, 
 wherein said front fabric panel has an outer-right-seam edge and an outer-left-seam edge, said right and left orientations associated with the perspective of a user wearing said pair of shorts, and 
 wherein said front fabric panel has a waistband segment; 
   providing a rear fabric panel,
 wherein said rear fabric panel has a top and bottom edge, 
 wherein said rear fabric panel has an outer-right-seam edge and an outer-left-seam edge, said right and left orientations associated with the perspective of a user wearing said pair of shorts, 
 wherein said rear fabric panel has a waistband segment; 
 wherein said two waistband segments for said front and rear fabric panels can be detachably coupled together at substantially each end of each said waistband segment; 
   providing a crotch region defining an interface wherein said front fabric panel bottom edge is coupled to said rear fabric panel bottom edge;   providing an outer-right seam defined by the coupling of said outer-right-seam edges of said front and rear fabric panels,
 wherein said coupling of said outer-right-seam edges uses a stuttered pattern of a plurality of hook-and-pile mated patches along said outer-right-seam edges, 
 wherein the hook-part of a given hook-and-pile mated patch is disposed on either the front or rear fabric panel, with the pile-part of that given hook-and-pile mated patch being disposed on the opposite fabric panel, 
 wherein said stuttering of said hook-and-pile patches creates intermittent points along said outer-right seam that remain uncoupled even when said pair of shorts are worn by a user, and 
 wherein said front and rear fabric panels are configured to substantially cover the hip and outer upper-left leg of a wearer of said shorts; and 
   providing an outer-left seam defined by the coupling of said outer-left-seam edges of said front and rear fabric panels,
 wherein said coupling of said outer-left-seam edges uses a stuttered pattern of a plurality of hook-and-pile mated patches along said outer-left-seam edges, 
 wherein the hook-part of a given hook-and-pile mated patch is disposed on either the front or rear fabric panel, with the pile-part of that given hook-and-pile mated patch being disposed on the opposite fabric panel 
 wherein said stuttering of said hook-and-pile patches creates intermittent points along said outer-left seam that remain uncoupled even when said pair of shorts are worn by a user, and 
 wherein said front and rear fabric panels are configured to substantially cover the hip and outer upper-left leg of a wearer of said shorts. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each said waistband segment is elastic. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said detachable coupling at each end of said waistband segments is accomplished using a hook-and-bar device; and   wherein for each said coupling point, the hook-part of said hook-and-bar coupling can be disposed on either the front or rear waistband segment, with the bar-part of said hook-and-bar coupling being disposed on the opposite waistband segment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of providing a drawstring in said front waistband segment for user-specified tightening. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of providing at least one patch-type pocket disposed on the outer surface of said front fabric panel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of providing at least one corded loop for the attachment of medical devices,
 wherein said at least one corded loop is sewn into the outside seam of said at least one patch-type pocket,   wherein said outside seam of said at least one patch-type pocket is defined as the right seam for an associated patch-type pocket disposed on the right side of said front fabric panel, and   wherein said outside seam of said at least one patch-type pocket is defined as the left seam for an associated patch-type pocket disposed on the left side of said front fabric panel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each said front and rear fabric panels are substantially made from snag-resistant and quick-drying fabric material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said fabric material is selected from the group consisting of cotton fabric, nylon fabric, polyester-blend fabric, and SUPPLEX®. 
     
     
         17 . A method of donning a pair of shorts according to  claim 1 , wherein the user of said pair of shorts is a medical-care patient, comprising the step of:
 by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, ensuring that both the left and right outer seams of said pair of shorts are uncoupled;   by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, placing said crotch region of said pair of shorts between said patient's legs,
 wherein said rear fabric panel is positioned to cover said patient's posterior/buttock region, and 
 wherein said front fabric panel is positioned to cover said patient's anterior/groin region; 
   by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, engaging each of said waistband coupling devices, thus forming a continuous and functional waistband; and   by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, coupling at least one of said plurality of hook-and-pile mated patches on each of said outer-right and outer-left seams.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said pair of shorts further comprises the limitations of  claim 6 , the method further comprising the step of:
 by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, attaching a medical drainage pouch to said corded loop on said patch-type pocket,
 wherein said medical drainage pouch is configured to receive drainage of bodily fluids from tubing that is connected on the distal end of said tubing to said patient's leg. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, supporting said tubing by positioning said tubing through uncoupled portions of said outer seam of said shorts on the side of the leg being treated such that said tubing is positioned around and supported by at least one said hook-and-pile mated patch coupling,
 wherein if more than two of said hook-and-pile mated patches are employed to support said tubing, then said tubing is alternately positioned around said front-fabric-panel side of said at least one hook-and-pile mated patches and around said rear-fabric-panel side of said at least one hook-and-pile mated patches. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said pair of shorts further comprises the limitations of  claim 6 , the method further comprising the step of:
 by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, attaching tubing to said patient at a point below said patient's waist, with the other end of said tubing attached to a medical device adapted to deliver local anesthetic infusion to said patient,   by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, supporting said tubing by positioning said tubing through uncoupled portions of said outer seam of said shorts on the side of the leg being treated such that said tubing is positioned around and supported by at least one said hook-and-pile mated patch coupling,
 wherein if more than two of said hook-and-pile mated patches are employed to support said tubing, then said tubing is alternately positioned around said front-fabric-panel side of said at least one hook-and-pile mated patches and around said rear-fabric-panel side of said at least one hook-and-pile mated patches. 
   
     
     
         21 . A method of removing a pair of shorts according to  claim 1 , wherein the user of said pair of shorts is a medical-care patient, comprising the steps of:
 by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, disengaging each of said plurality of hook-and-pile mated patches on each of said outer-right and outer-left seams;   by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, disengaging each of said waistband coupling devices; and   by either said patient or a medical-care provider on behalf of said patient, removing said pair of shorts from between said patient's legs.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said pair of shorts further comprises the limitations of  claim 6 , the method further comprising the step of:
 before the step of disengaging each of said plurality of hook-and-pile mated patches on each of said outer-right and outer-left seams, detaching said medical drainage pouch from said corded loop on said patch-type pocket.