Self-securing garment with a yoke

Abstract

The application is directed to self-securing garments designed to be donned quickly and safely secured to the body in a matter of seconds. Described are garments having an opening in the back terminating at two opposite edges. Attached to the outside of the garment is at least one flexible elongated band at least partially comprised of a shape-memory material. A yoke attached to the garment allows at least one elongated band to be placed around the neck of the wearer without risk of contamination. The ends of the band are formed into dual, oppositely wound coils. To use, the wearer puts on the garment as usual and, grasping a flexible coil in each hand, pulls them so that they unwind and elongate while simultaneously wrapping them around the sides of the body. Upon release, the shape-memory material causes the coil to contract, thus embracing the body and holding the garment between the body and the uncoiled band. The garment can have one or more coiled bands, such as at the waist, chest, or neck, to secure the garment closely to the body quickly and without assistance.

1 . A garment capable of covering at least some part of the upper body, said garment having attached thereto at least one elongated band comprising:
 a first coiled end and a second coiled end with a defined length there between;   a means for attaching the band to the garment;   where at least a portion of said band comprises a flexible shape-memory material; and   a yoke fixedly attached to and covering at least a portion of the garment, such that at least a portion of the at least one elongated band can be utilized between the yoke and the garment.   
     
     
         2 . The garment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the yoke covers at least a portion of the upper chest area and shoulders of the garment. 
     
     
         3 . The garment, according to  claim 2 , wherein the yoke extends over the shoulders and covers at least a portion of the back of the garment. 
     
     
         4 . The garment, according to  claim 3 , wherein the yoke is fixedly attached at or near the collar of the garment. 
     
     
         5 . The garment, according to  claim 4 , wherein the yoke is fixedly attached to the garment at one or more side edges. 
     
     
         6 . The garment, according to  claim 5 , wherein a lower back edge of the yoke is fixedly attached to the garment so as to form one or more channels between the yoke and the back of the garment. 
     
     
         7 . The garment, according to  claim 6 , wherein the attachment of the yoke to the garment forms a closed seam. 
     
     
         8 . The garment, according to  claim 7 , comprising a surgical gown. 
     
     
         9 . The garment, according to  claim 8 , wherein the first coiled end and second coiled end are blunted. 
     
     
         10 . The garment, according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one elongated band is attached to the garment such that it is at least partially covered by the yoke. 
     
     
         11 . The garment, according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one elongated band is attached to the garment such that it is fully covered by the yoke. 
     
     
         12 . A garment capable of covering a wearer, said garment having attached thereto at least one elongated band comprising:
 a first coiled end and a second coiled end with a defined length there between;   a means for attaching the band to the garment;   where at least a portion of said band comprises a flexible shape-memory material; and   at least one collar tab fixedly attached at or near the neck of the garment such that the first coiled end and the second coiled end of the at least one elongated band can be utilized between the at least one collar tab and the garment.   
     
     
         13 . The garment, according to  claim 12 , wherein at least two collar tabs are fixedly attached on a front portion of the garment at or near the neck area. 
     
     
         14 . The garment, according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least two collar tabs fixedly attached on a back portion of the garment at or near the neck area. 
     
     
         15 . The garment, according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least two collar tabs are further attached at or near the back edges. 
     
     
         16 . The garment, according to  claim 15 , comprising a surgical gown. 
     
     
         17 . The garment, according to  claim 12 , wherein the first coiled end and second coiled end are blunted. 
     
     
         18 . A method for securing a garment to a wearer, said garment having attached thereto:
 at least one elongated band comprising,
 a first coiled end and a second coiled end with a defined length there between; 
 a means for attaching the band to the garment; 
 where at least a portion of said band comprises a flexible shape-memory material; and 
   a yoke fixedly attached to and covering at least a portion of the garment, such that at least a portion of the first coiled end and the second coiled end of the at least one elongated band can be utilized between the yoke and the garment,   said method comprising,   uncoiling the first coiled end and the second coiled end of the elongated band;   placing the uncoiled first end and the uncoiled second end around the neck of the wearer, beneath the yoke, so that the uncoiled first end and uncoiled second end are secured around the wearer and between the yoke and the garment.   
     
     
         19 . A garment capable of covering at least some part of the upper body, said garment comprising:
 a yoke fixedly attached to and covering a front part of the garment and extending over each shoulder of the garment to form a first and second channel, said first and second channels extending over each shoulder to terminate at or near a back open edge of the garment;   an elongated collar stay having a covered end under the yoke at about the front of the garment, said collar stay extending through the first channel, such that an uncovered end of the collar stay extends past the first channel, at the back of the garment, sufficiently to reach the opposite shoulder of the garment;   an elongated collar support having a first end under the yoke at about the front of the garment, said collar support extending through the second channel to terminate at or near the termination of the second channel at the back of the garment;   an attachment apparatus coupled to the uncovered end of the collar stay, for attaching the collar stay to the yoke.   
     
     
         20 . The garment, according to  claim 19 , further comprising one or more ties for securing the garment around the waist. 
     
     
         21 . The garment, according to  claim 20 , wherein the garment comprises two ties. 
     
     
         22 . The garment, according to  claim 21 , further comprising a tie tab removably attached to the uncovered end of the collar stay. 
     
     
         23 . The garment, according to  claim 19 , further comprising back open edges that are angled towards each other. 
     
     
         24 . A method for securing a garment to a wearer, said garment comprising:
 a yoke fixedly attached to and covering a front part of the garment and extending over each shoulder of the garment to form a first and second channel, said first and second channels extending over each shoulder to terminate at or near a back open edge of the garment;   an elongated collar stay having a covered end under the yoke at about the front of the garment, said collar stay extending through the first channel, such that an uncovered end of the collar stay extends past the first channel, at the back of the garment, sufficiently to reach the opposite shoulder of the garment;   an elongated collar support having a first end under the yoke at about the front of the garment, said collar support extending through the second channel to terminate at or near the termination of the second channel at the back of the garment;   an attachment apparatus coupled to the uncovered end of the collar stay, for attaching the collar stay to the yoke,   said method comprising,   manipulating the first end of the collar support to adjust a first back open edge of the garment around the body;   manipulating the covered end of the collar stay to place the uncovered end of the collar around the back of the garment and over the second channel;   attaching the uncovered end of the collar stay to the yoke, such that the collar stay overlays the second channel and the collar support therein.   
     
     
         25 . The method, according to  claim 24 , wherein the garment further comprises,
 at least two ties for securing the garment around the waist;   a tie tab removably attached to the uncovered end of the collar stay, wherein at   least one tie is removably attached to the tie tab,   said method further comprising,
 removing the tie tab from the uncovered end of the collar stay after attachment to the yoke; 
 positioning the tie tab at or about the waist; 
 disconnecting the tie from the tie tab; and 
 securing the at least two ties.