Garment for Aiding in Recovery from Surgery or Injury

Abstract

A garment comprising one or more body openings for passage of a patient's head and / or extremities. The garment is slit away from, and generally perpendicular to, at least one body opening, such as extending along a leg or arm of the garment, to provide a closable opening for ready access to a wearer's treatment site with minimum discomfort to the wearer. The edge of the closable opening preferably includes hook-and-loop or zipper fastener material. The garment is formed of at least a durable outer layer material and a reduced-friction inner layer material and includes an exterior pocket for receiving a palliative element such as a thermal transfer element or a cushioning element. Preferably, the pocket area of the garment includes a waterproof layer, which may be the inner layer material or a separate layer.

Description

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61 / 353,721, filed Jun. 11, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to garments for injured persons; more particularly, to such garments having one or more openings for convenient access to a bandaged wound, injured site or surgical site (hereinafter referred to as “treatment site” or “site of treatment”) requiring periodic attention; and most particularly, to a such a garment having at least one easy-access opening, at least one outer pocket for receiving a heating or cooling element, and a low-friction barrier layer. The barrier site may also be waterproof or of a material designed not to readily stick or adhere to the treatment site.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is well known in the medicinal arts to provide post-surgical or otherwise treating pat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a garment that has one or more openings for the wearer's head, arm, or leg. The garment is designed to be easily opened and closed for easy access to the treatment site with minimal discomfort to the wearer. The edge of the opening is made with hook-and-loop fastener material. The garment is made of a durable outer layer and a low-friction inner layer. It also has a pocket for receiving a palliative element such as a thermal transfer element or a cushioning element. The pocket area may have a waterproof layer or a non-stick layer."

Problems solved by technology

A shortcoming of this garment is that there is no ready access to a treatment site requiring periodic maintenance procedures.

Further, the inner layer is not provided as a material that can substantially reduce the discomfort felt at the treatment site by a patient when the material slides over the body disposed at the site.

Still further, there is no provision for a waterproof layer between the thermal transfer element and the patient to prevent condensation from seeping through the garment.

Further, there is no provision for a low-friction material as an inner layer in contact with a human wearer.

Still further, there is no provision for one or more pockets to receive a heating or cooling element for treating a treatment site of the wearer.

Still further, there is no provision for a waterproof layer between the thermal transfer element and the patient to prevent condensation from seeping through the garment.

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