Reusable medical gown distribution and dispensing

Abstract

Distribution and dispensing modalities are provided for reusable medical gowns which involves generally loose handling thereof. Dispensing containers have a collapsible sidewall structure extending between opposite ends and defining therebetween an interior when un-collapsed or erected, at least one of the ends defining an opening through which clean, reusable medical gowns can be loaded, a closure repeatably manipulatable to open and close the opening, and a controllable access aperture at least a portion, or all, of which is spaced from the opening through which to selectively remove a clean, reusable medical gown. The loaded dispensing container may be transported to or around a healthcare facility and placed where needed for ready access at the point-of-use to clean, reusable medical gowns through the controllable access aperture.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing container for loading with a plurality of clean, reusable medical gowns and selectively dispensing same for use, the container being a flexible bag comprising:
 a sidewall structure defining an interior of the container between first and second ends thereof, the interior being sized to hold a plurality of clean, reusable medical gowns, the sidewall structure being a liquid resistant, flexible web formed into a tube to define a tunnel shape to the container and render the container reusable through laundering;   an opening associated with the first end and communicating with the interior, the opening being sized to receive medical gowns therethrough;   a closure associated with the first end, the closure exposing the opening in an open state so that clean, reusable medical gowns are loadable into the interior through the opening, the closure closing the opening in a closed state so as to obstruct removal of reusable medical gowns from the interior through the opening, the closure being repeatedly manipulatable between the open and closed states;   at least a first controllable, elasticized access aperture communicating with the interior and associated with the second end so as to be spaced, at least in part, from the first end and the opening thereof, the elasticized aperture being selectively closed and opened and through which to selectively remove a clean, reusable medical gown from the interior when the aperture is opened, access to medical gowns in the interior through the aperture being obstructed when the aperture is closed; and   a drawstring associated with the elasticized opening by which to selectively close the elasticized opening.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing container of  claim 1 , the closure being a hood associated with the first end and manipulatable between the open and closed states. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing container of  claim 2  further comprising a pair of spaced-apart hanging straps associated with the first end and located relative to the hood whereby to suspend the dispensing container vertically. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing container of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of spaced-apart hanging straps associated with the first end and located relative to the closure whereby to suspend the dispensing container vertically. 
     
     
         5 . A flexible bag sized to hold and selectively dispense a plurality of clean, reusable medical gowns, the flexible bag having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end and a tunnel-shaped interior space therebetween defined by a liquid resistant, flexible sidewall web extending unobstructed and smoothly between the first and second ends, the interior being sized to hold a plurality of clean, reusable medical gowns, the sidewall web being launderable such that the flexible bag is reusable through laundering, the flexible bag further comprising:
 an opening associated with the first end of the bag and communicating with the interior, the opening being sized to receive medical gowns therethrough;   a closure associated with the first end, the closure exposing the opening in an open state so that clean, reusable medical gowns are loadable into the interior through the opening, the closure closing the opening in a closed state so as to obstruct removal of reusable medical gowns from the interior through the opening, the closure being repeatedly manipulatable between the open and closed states;   a controllable, elasticized access aperture communicating with the interior and associated with the second end so as to be spaced remotely from the first end and the opening thereof, the elasticized aperture being selectively closed and opened and through which to selectively remove a clean, reusable medical gown from the interior when the aperture is opened, access to medical gowns in the interior through the aperture being obstructed when the aperture is closed, the elasticized opening have a drawstring associated therewith by which to selectively close the elasticized opening; and   wherein the flexible bag is configured to be held in a vertical orientation for selective removal of clean, reusable medical gowns from the interior, the bag having a top and a bottom when in the vertical orientation with the first end being at the top and the second end being at the bottom.   
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 5 , the closure being a hood associated with the first end and manipulatable between the open and closed states. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6  further comprising a pair of spaced-apart hanging straps associated with the first end and located relative to the hood whereby to suspend the bag in the vertical orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 5  further comprising a pair of spaced-apart hanging straps associated with the first end and located relative to the closure whereby to suspend the bag in the vertical orientation.