DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] According to one aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 there is provided a garment 10 used by a caregiver to manipulate the patient, illustrated and identified by reference numeral 12. The garment 10 includes a garment body 14 including front garment portion 10F and a back garment portion 10B constructed and arranged for traversing front area 12F and back area 12B of the patient from at least a waist line area 12W of the patient. The garment body 14 is provided with extended garment portions 16, 18 and 24 movable into positions to cover e.g. traverse at least part a patient and forming a garment body interconnection between the front garment portion 10F and the back garment portion 10B. The extended garment portions 16, 18 and 24 have lengths sufficient to anchor the front and back garment portions about the garment waist area 10W in at least one direction perpendicular to the waist line area 12W of the patient. The waist line area 12W corresponds substantially to the waist line area 10W of the garment 10. In some embodiments of the present invention, the garment is comprised of only an upper portion extending from the waist line area 10W to the extended garment portion 24 and in other instances the garment is comprised of only a lower portion extending from the waist line area 10W to the portions 16 and 18. The portions 16 and 18 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 take the form of a right tail portion and a left tail portion passing through the groin area i.e. crotch of the patient. In other embodiments described hereinafter the portions 16 and 18 take the form of trouser leg portions preferably with a releasable leg closure structure extending about the inseam of the trouser. The portions 24 take the form of shoulder strap portions traversing the trapezius of the patient. The garment body is provided with a plurality of handholds 32, 35, 36, 38, 40 and 140 dimensioned and arranged to allow a caregiver to establish a positive load transferring grip of the garment in the area immediately surrounding the handhold. The handholds 32, 35, 36, 38, 40 and 140 are strategically disbursed about the front and back portions of the garment to aid use by a caregiver to manipulate the patient. In another aspect of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 provides the handholds including at least one rigid member 92 in the garment body for improving a grip by a caregiver to manipulate a patient.

[0052] In FIG. 1 the patient is nominally designated as a male patient. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate patterns for a garment, generally designated 20 which is similar to garment 10. The front of a garment formed by pattern 20 is formed as a vest. A garment 10 according to the pattern 20 includes a left tail portion 16 having distal end 17 and a right tail portion 18 having distal end 19. According to the pattern 20 when garment 10 is placed on a male patient 12, left tail portion 16 and right tail portion 18 are drawn through crotch 13 of the male patient 12. Left tail portion 16 is positioned to the left of the genitals of male patient 12 and right tail portion is positioned to the right of the genitals of male patient 12. For garment 10, left tail portion 16 and right tail portion 18 are attached to attachment devices 22. It is presently preferred that attachment devices 22 be loops. Preferably, distal end 17 of left tail portion 16 is drawn through the left loop 22 and attached back on itself by hook and loop fasteners (not shown), of which Velcro is a well known brand name. Likewise, distal end 19 of right tail portion 18 is drawn through the right loop 22 and attached back on itself by hook and loop fasteners (not shown). For garment pattern 20, left tail portion 16 and right tail portion 18 are drawn through fastening devices 154 and fastened back on themselves. It is presently preferred that fastening devices 154 be reinforced openings. Garment pattern 20 also includes bottom edge handholds 152.

[0053] Garments 10 produced according to pattern 20 has shoulder straps 24 having handholds 32. Preferably, shoulder strap handholds 32 comprise epaulettes. Preferably, garment 10 and pattern 20 further comprise upper front handholds 36, and garment 10 has armhole handholds 35 adjacent armholes 54. Garment 10 further includes lower front handholds 38. Garment pattern 20 further includes upper front handholds 150 and nape handhold 155. Handholds 36 and 38 are formed as openings cut in garment 10 on opposite sides of front closure 15. Garments 10 and 20 also comprise upper side handholds 40. Garment 10 further comprises lower side handholds 140 disposed adjacent bottom edge 11 of garment 10. In the embodiments illustrated, handholds 36, 38 40, 42, 150 and 156 each comprise parallel openings defining a strap there between. A preferred construction of these handholds is shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of reinforcing patches 48, which are applied around the openings 45 shown in FIG. 13A, as illustrated in FIG. 13B. Reinforcing patches 48 may include padding (not shown) in the back and side garment grips with fiber, synthetic padding or gel when desired to protect the hand of the caregiver and skin of the patient.

[0054] A variety of fabrics may be employed for unitary body 14 of garment 10. Unitary body 14 may be formed of a soft, quilted fabric for a male patient 12 who generally remains in bed. Alternatively, unitary body 14 of garment 10 may be formed of a non-stretch performance or sport fabric for a patient in physical therapy, and for partial weight bearing patients. Mesh fabric may be used for disposable garments.

[0055] FIGS. 5A and 5B are front and back views, respectively, of a patient 51 wearing an upper garment 50. FIGS. 6A and 6B show patterns for the upper garment 50. Upper garment 50 has arm holes 54 and a hole 52 for the neck of patient 51. Garment 50 has handholds 40 on sides thereof and upper front handholds 136. Garment 50 also has left and right shoulder strap handholds 32. It also has back handholds 42.

[0056] FIGS. 7A and 7B are front back views, respectively of a lower garment 60 for a male patient 12 (shown in FIG. 1). FIGS. 8A and 8B are front and back patterns for lower garment 60. Lower garment 60 has a left tail portion 16 and a right tail portion 18, and is similar, in this regard to the garment 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. Lower garment 60 has handholds 38, 40 and 42 for positioning or moving male patient 12.

[0057] FIGS. 9A and 9B are front and back views, respectively, of a lower garment 70 for a male patient 12 (shown in FIG. 1). FIGS. 10A and 10B are front and back patterns for lower garment 70. Lower garment 70 is formed as short trousers having waist handholds 138, and back waist handhold 142, as well as additional handholds 43 located on thigh portions of lower garment 70. Lower garment 70 has a cutout 72 in the crotch area to prevent compression of genital organs of male patient 12. An undergarment 74, which in this embodiment is sweat shorts, is visible in FIGS. 9A and 9B. In its presently preferred embodiment, lower garment 70 is openable along inseam 76 to facilitate removal of undergarment 74 for toileting. Lower garment 70 is also recloseable along inseam 76 by devices such as hooks, snaps, zippers or hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro. It is anticipated that the toilet will have grab bars. The patient will be lowered onto the toilet with the garment 70 in place. The patient will then rock or tilt to left and right as a caregiver removes the subsequently replaces undergarment 74 and recloses inseam 76.

[0058] FIGS. 11A and 11B are front and back views, respectively, of a lower garment 80 for a female patient. FIGS. 12A and 12B are front and back patters for lower garment 80. Lower garment 80 has waist handholds 138 and 142 as well as lower side handholds 140 for positioning or moving the female patient. Lower garment 80 has a single tail 82 shown in FIGS. 11A and 12B. Garment 80 may have a stretch fabric panel insert for comfort in the crotch. (Not Shown). Panel may also be bifurcated for easier toileting.

[0059] FIG. 13A shows a handhold 44 that may be employed at any location on any embodiment of this invention. Handhold 44 includes parallel openings 45 cut in fabric 100. Parallel openings 45 define strap 47 there between. Preferably, handhold 44 includes stitching 46 to strengthen handhold 44. Bartack stitching can be used, as necessary, for reinforcement throughout any garment according to the present invention.

[0060] FIG. 13B illustrates reinforced handhold 144 wherein a reinforcing patch 48 having parallel openings 145 defining strap 147 there between is added to handhold 44 and attached thereto by reinforcing stitching 146. Patterns for reinforcing patches 48 are shown in FIG. 4. Studs 149 of the type employed around the pockets of jeans, may be employed to further strengthen handhold 144. Bartack stitching, which is well known in the art, may alternatively be used.

[0061] FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an alternative handhold 90 that is generally employable on front portions or sides of garments. Handhold 90 includes a rigid member, preferably a rod 92 having rounded or chamfered end 94. FIG. 14 is a view of handhold 90 assembled and FIG. 15 illustrates section 15-15 in FIG. 14.

[0062] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate fabrication of handhold 90. The fabric 100 has a linear opening 45 and a three-sided cut 96 defining a flap 98. Rod 92 having rounded or chamfered ends 94 is placed on fabric 100. Flap 98 is then wrapped around rod 92 to enclose rod 92 and attached by stitching 46. To use handhold 90, a caregiver inserts his or her hand through opening 99, around rod 92 and brings his or her fingers back out of opening 45 to have a good grip on handhold 90. A lingerie bone, a plastic dowel, or a wooded dowel is possible alternatives for the rigid member, here shown as rod 92. Generally, a handhold such as handhold 90 having a rigid member would not be employed on a back portion of a garment because it would be uncomfortable for the patient. For back portion padding alternatives for rigid member may be synthetic padding, natural fiber or gel.

[0063] FIGS. 18-21 illustrate a handhold having exceptional strength. FIG. 18 shows openings 160 cut in the fabric 100, leaving a strap 162 there between. FIG. 19 illustrates a rectangular patch 165 having opening 168 cut in fabric rectangle 170. Patch 165 has right side portions 169. FIG. 20 illustrates a rectangular patch 166 having opening 168 cut in fabric rectangle 170. Patch 166 has left side portion 171. FIG. 21 illustrates a completed handhold 175 wherein patches 166 and 165 are sewn, in that order, to fabric 100. Opening 168 in patch 166 is aligned with the right one of openings 160 and opening 168 in patch 165 is aligned with the left one of openings 160. Left side portion 171 of patch 166 is laid over strap 162 and the right side portion 169 of patch 165 is laid over left side portion 171 of patch 166, so that there is one layer of material 100 and two layers of the material of fabric rectangle 170 between openings 160 of handhold 175. Patches 165 and 166 are preferably attached by stitching (not shown).

[0064] FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate a releasable reinforcement 200 for a handhold such as handhold 144 for application at the desecration of the caregiver. The releasable reinforcement 200 includes a two ply layer of fabric 201 and 202 sewn about the outer peripheral edge and receiving elongated strips of a Velcro hook patch of 204 and Velcro pile patch 205 at opposite facing marginal ends of the layered fabric. An elongated cylinder 206 is interposed in a pocket formed between the layers 201 and 202 at the central midportion of the layers of fabric. The elongated cylinder 206 forms a reinforcing member and is comprised of material selected form the group consisting of dowel, synthetic fabric, natural fiber, or gel.

[0065] A variety of handholds may be employed for garments of the present invention, handhold 44 and handhold 90 being examples. Filler may be added to handholds as padding to protect the caregiver's hand or patient's skin. Filler may be synthetic or natural fiber. One type of alternative handhold would be formed of synthetic webbing, (not shown). Another type would be cord type, as is commonly employed on mattresses. A skid resistant fabric may be employed on a handhold to facilitate gripping the handhold. Generally, in any of the places where fastening means are needed, hooks, buckles, snaps, zippers or Velcro may be employed. Garments involving one or two tail portions for passing through the crotch of a patient in front may be secured by fastening means attached to a band similar to an abdominal binder, but generally lacking elasticity.

[0066] While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.