Post-surgical garment

Abstract

A post-surgical torso garment configured to be easily donned and doffed by a wearer having limited mobility through the elimination of fixed arm and neck openings. The torso garment including a single layer breathable front panel having first and second shoulder strap securement pads, and a single layer breathable back panel having first and second shoulder straps terminating in respective first and second shoulder strap fasteners configured to selectively couple to the first and second shoulder strap securement pads of the front panel, wherein the front panel and back panel are stitched together along respective first and second edges thereof to form a tubular fabric body configured to cover at least a portion of a torso of a wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post-surgical torso garment configured to be easily donned and doffed by a wearer having limited mobility through the elimination of fixed arm and neck openings, the post-surgical garment comprising:
 a tubular fabric body configured to cover at least a portion of a torso of a wearer, the tubular body comprising   a single layer breathable front panel having a top edge including:
 first and second arcuate cutouts contoured to accommodate the arms of a wearer; 
 a third arcuate cutout contoured to accommodate the neck of a wearer; and 
 first and second shoulder strap securement pads; 
   a single layer breathable back panel having a top edge including:
 first and second arcuate cutouts contoured to accommodate the arms of a wearer; 
 a third arcuate cutout contoured to accommodate the neck of a wearer; and 
 first and second shoulder straps terminating in respective first and second shoulder strap fasteners configured to selectively couple to the first and second shoulder strap securement pads of the front panel; 
   wherein the front panel and back panel are stitched together along respective first and second edges thereof to form the tubular fabric body.   
     
     
         2 . The postsurgical torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein the respective first and second edges of the front panel and the back panel are contoured to provide a narrower portion of the tubular fabric body between the top edge and a bottom edge. 
     
     
         3 . The postsurgical garment of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the bottom edge and a portion of the top edge are reinforced with additional layers along a seam assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The postsurgical torso garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second shoulder strap fasteners couple to the respective first and second shoulder strap securement pads by way of hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The postsurgical torso garment of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second shoulder strap fasteners and the first and second shoulder strap securement pads are constructed of a semi-rigid pad having rigidity greater than that of the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         6 . The postsurgical torso garment of  claim 5 , wherein the semi-rigid pad is folded over on itself to encompass at least a portion of the top edge of the respective front panel or second panel. 
     
     
         7 . The postsurgical torso garment of  claim 6 , wherein one or more edges of the semi-rigid pad are folded over on itself and secured into place to further increase rigidity. 
     
     
         8 . The postsurgical torso garment of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more edges of the semi-rigid pad are folded over on itself to create a pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The postsurgical torso garment of  claim 8 , wherein a semi-rigid stiffening member is inserted into the pocket to further increase rigidity. 
     
     
         10 . The postsurgical torso garment of  claim 9 , wherein a semi-rigid stiffening member is constructed of fabric. 
     
     
         11 . A method of donning a post-surgical torso garment on a wearer with limited arm mobility, the method comprising:
 providing a post-surgical torso garment without fixed arm and neck openings, the post-surgical garment having a tubular fabric body configured to cover at least a portion of a torso of the wearer, the tubular body having a single layer breathable front panel having a top edge including first and second arcuate cutouts contoured to accommodate the arms of a wearer, a third arcuate cutout contoured to accommodate the neck of a wearer, and first and second shoulder strap securement pads, and a single layer breathable back panel having a top edge including first and second arcuate cutouts contoured to accommodate the arms of a wearer, a third arcuate cutout contoured to accommodate the neck of a wearer, and first and second shoulder straps terminating in respective first and second shoulder strap fasteners configured to selectively couple to the first and second shoulder strap securement pads of the front panel, wherein the front panel and back panel are stitched together along respective first and second edges thereof to form the tubular fabric body;   threading the torso of the wearer through the tubular fabric body, such that the tubular fabric body covers at least a portion of the torso of the wearer, the respective first and second arcuate cutouts of the front and back panels are positioned proximate the underarms of the wearer, and the respective third arcuate cutouts of the front and back panels are positioned proximate the base of the neck of the wearer; and   securing the first and second shoulder strap fasteners of the rear panel to the respective first and second shoulder strap securement pads of the front panel, thereby fixing the arm and neck openings in position.   
     
     
         12 . The method  claim 11 , wherein the respective first and second edges of the front panel and the back panel are contoured to provide a narrower portion of the tubular fabric body between the top edge and a bottom edge. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the bottom edge and a portion of the top edge are reinforced with additional layers along a seam assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second shoulder strap fasteners couple to the respective first and second shoulder strap securement pads by way of hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second shoulder strap fasteners and the first and second shoulder strap securement pads are constructed of a semi-rigid pad having rigidity greater than that of the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the semi-rigid pad is folded over on itself to encompass at least a portion of the top edge of the respective front panel or second panel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein one or more edges of the semi-rigid pad are folded over on itself and secured into place to further increase rigidity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more edges of the semi-rigid pad are folded over on itself to create a pocket. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a semi-rigid stiffening member is inserted into the pocket to further increase rigidity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a semi-rigid stiffening member is constructed of fabric.