Gown with pleated opening for discrete elimination of urine and method of manufacture

Abstract

A gown with pleated opening for discrete elimination of urine and method of manufacture provides privacy to the wearer of a gown while the wearer eliminates urine through the penis. The gown has a gown body with an open posterior side that can be closed with a fastener. The gown has an opposing anterior side defined by a central section, which is approximately aligned with the penis when the gown is donned. The groin section forms a vertical slit that is sized to enable the wearer to easily egress and ingress a urine bottle, or the penis for elimination of urine. The slit is visibly not obvious when viewed from the front of the gown body because of one or more pleats that selectively cover the slit. The pleats are integral with the gown, formed along the longitudinal of the slit from the extra loose fabric from the central section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gown with pleated opening for discrete elimination of urine, the gown comprising:
 a gown body defined by a sheet-like resilient material adapted to at least partially cover a wearer,   the gown body further being defined by an inner surface and an outer surface,   the gown body further being defined by a neckline adapted to align with the wearer's neck and an opposing hem adapted to orient to the wearer's feet,   the gown body further being defined by a posterior side having opposing parallel side edges, the posterior side being adapted for covering the wearer's posterior body regions when the gown body is donned by the wearer,   the gown body further being defined by an anterior side having a groin section, the anterior side being adapted for covering the wearer's anterior body regions, and the groin section being adapted for at least partially covering the wearer's crotch and groin body regions when the gown body is donned by the wearer,   the groin section of the anterior side forming an elongated slit, the slit being approximately aligned with the penis when the gown body is donned by the wearer, whereby the slit enables the penis to egress and ingress through the slit,   the groin section of the anterior side being gathered into a plurality of successive pleats, the pleats forming along the longitudinal of the slit, each pleat comprising an overlap in the resilient material, whereby a portion of the outer surface is disposed adjacent to another portion of the outer surface of the gown body.   
     
     
         2 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the gown body is defined by a pair of sleeves extending from the outer surface, the sleeves providing communication with the inner surface and adapted for placement of the wearer's arms therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the gown body is defined by a woven sheet-like resilient material. 
     
     
         4 . The gown of  claim 3 , wherein the woven sheet-like resilient material comprises cotton. 
     
     
         5 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the gown body is defined by a nonwoven sheet-like resilient material. 
     
     
         6 . The gown of  claim 5 , wherein the nonwoven sheet-like resilient material comprises a disposable polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the neckline is about 21 inches from the pleats. 
     
     
         8 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the slit is oriented along the longitudinal of the gown body. 
     
     
         9 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the slit is about 8 inches long. 
     
     
         10 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the slit is sized and dimensioned to enable a urine bottle or a urinary catheter to egress and ingress through the slit. 
     
     
         11 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the pleats form along the longitudinal of the slit, and terminate at opposing ends of the slit. 
     
     
         12 . The gown of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastener disposed along the length of the side edges. 
     
     
         13 . The gown of  claim 12 , wherein the fastener includes at least one of the following: a twill tie, a button, a hook and loop fastener, a clip, and a magnet. 
     
     
         14 . The gown of  claim 1 , wherein the gown body comprises a hospital gown. 
     
     
         15 . A gown with pleated opening for discrete elimination of urine, the gown comprising:
 a gown body defined by a sheet-like resilient material adapted to at least partially cover a wearer,   the gown body further being defined by an inner surface and an outer surface,   the gown body further being defined by a neckline adapted to align with the wearer's neck and an opposing hem adapted to orient to the wearer's feet,   the gown body further being defined by a pair of sleeves extending from the outer surface, the sleeves providing communication with the inner surface and adapted for placement of the wearer's arms therethrough,   the gown body further being defined by a posterior side having opposing parallel side edges, the posterior side being adapted for covering the wearer's posterior body regions when the gown body is donned by the wearer,   the gown body further being defined by an anterior side having a groin section, the anterior side being adapted for covering the wearer's anterior body regions and the groin section being adapted for at least partially covering the wearer's crotch and groin body regions when the gown body is donned by the wearer,   the groin section forming an elongated slit oriented along the longitudinal of the gown body, the slit being approximately aligned with the penis when the gown body is donned by the wearer, whereby the slit enables the penis to egress and ingress through the slit,   the groin section being gathered into a plurality of successive pleats, the pleats forming along the longitudinal of the slit and terminate at opposing ends of the slit, each pleat comprising an overlap in the resilient material, whereby a portion of the outer surface is disposed adjacent to another portion of the outer surface of the gown body; and   at least one fastener disposed along the length of the side edges of the posterior side.   
     
     
         16 . The gown of  claim 15 , wherein the neckline is about 21 inches from the pleats. 
     
     
         17 . The gown of  claim 15 , wherein the slit is about 8 inches long. 
     
     
         18 . The gown of  claim 15 , wherein the gown body is defined by a woven sheet-like resilient material. 
     
     
         19 . The gown of  claim 15 , wherein the gown body is defined by a nonwoven sheet-like resilient material. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a gown with pleated opening for discrete elimination of urine, the method comprising:
 providing a sheet-like resilient material;   cutting, from the sheet-like resilient material, the dimensions for a gown body;   forming a posterior side having opposing parallel side edges, the posterior side being adapted for covering the wearer's posterior body region when the gown body is donned by the wearer;   forming an anterior side having a groin section, the anterior side being adapted for covering the wearer's anterior body region, and the groin section being adapted for at least partially covering the wearer's crotch and groin body regions when the gown body is donned by the wearer;   joining the posterior and anterior sides together;   cutting a slit in the anterior side of the gown body, the slit being approximately aligned with the penis when the gown body is donned by the wearer;   gathering a portion of the groin section into a plurality of successive pleats, the pleats forming along the longitudinal of the slit, each pleat comprising an overlap in the resilient material, whereby a portion of the outer surface is disposed adjacent to another portion of the outer surface of the gown body;   concealing, with the pleats, the slit and the penis of the wearer; and   selectively manipulating a urine bottle, a urinary catheter, or the penis to egress and ingress through the slit for elimination of urine.