Apparel – Body garments
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-13
2001-07-17
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Body garments
C002S079000, C002S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260200
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a garment which restricts unassisted disrobing, and which is particularly well-suited for use on, among others, patients who are in advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, or on people who otherwise have a tendency to disrobe in inappropriate places or at inappropriate times.
It is known that some people, such as patients who are in advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, have a tendency to undress in inappropriate places or at inappropriate times. This is especially problematic in the assisted living environment. Prior attempts to prevent such inappropriate undressing have included, for example, restraining the person using a restraint garment or locking the clothing onto the person using a locking mechanism, which locking mechanism only permits disrobing when a key is used.
Such locking mechanisms, however, can prevent or hamper assistance from those who do not have a key. In addition, in assisted living environments, there are regulations which preclude the use of locking mechanisms or restraints. Restraints are less than ideal for other reasons as well. They are believed to have a negative impact on the wearer's dignity and can significantly hamper legitimate activity. There is consequently a need for a garment which restricts unassisted disrobing, without restraining the wearer and/or without requiring a key when disrobing assistance is to be provided.
Alzheimer's disease patients have exhibited a tendency to play with fasteners (e.g., buttons, snaps and the like), closure devices (e.g., zippers and the like), and belts and belt buckles. This tendency is believed to play a significant role in the observed actions of some patients to undress in inappropriate places and at inappropriate times. There is consequently a need for a garment having belt buckles, fasteners and/or closure devices which are manually actuatable by the wearer without facilitating unassisted disrobing.
Many conventional restraint garments and garments with features adapted to restrict undressing have little in common with traditional clothing. The noticeable differences between such garments and traditional clothing also are believed to have a negative impact on the wearer's dignity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to satisfy at least one of the foregoing needs and/or solve at least one of the aforementioned problems by providing a garment adapted to restrict disrobing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a garment having minimal differences in appearance from traditional clothing, despite being adapted to restrict unassisted disrobing.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a garment adapted to restrict unassisted disrobing and having belt buckles, fasteners and/or closure devices which are manually actuatable by the wearer in a way that does not facilitate unassisted disrobing.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a garment which restricts unassisted disrobing, but without restraining the wearer and/or without requiring a key when disrobing assistance is being provided.
To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides a garment adapted to restrict unassisted disrobing by a wearer. The garment comprises front and rear panels of clothing material, an opening in the rear panel, an operable closure device, and a cover for an actuator of the operable closure device. The front panel of clothing material is adapted to cover at least a front portion of the wearer's body. The rear panel is adapted to cover at least a rear portion of the wearer's body. The opening in the rear panel facilitates donning of the garment. The operable closure device is located at the opening and is operable to at least partially close the opening to thereby prevent removal of the garment. The operable closure device extends into an inaccessibility zone of the rear panel. The inaccessibility zone is arranged so that, when the garment is donned, the inaccessibility zone is located between the wearer's shoulder blades at a predetermined distance from the neck of the wearer. The operable closure device has an actuator which is movable along the operable closure device to effect opening or closing of the opening. The cover for the actuator is located substantially at the inaccessibility zone. The cover is selectively closable to prevent access to the actuator when the actuator is positioned in the inaccessibility zone.
The present invention also provides a garment adapted to restrict unassisted disrobing by a wearer, wherein the garment comprises clothing material, an opening in the clothing material, an operable closure device, a cover for an actuator of the operable closure device, at least one operable fastener, and at least one simulated fastener. The clothing material is adapted to cover a portion of the wearer's body. The opening in the clothing material facilitates donning of the garment. The operable closure device is located at the opening and is operable to at least partially close the opening to thereby prevent removal of the garment. The operable closure device has an actuator which is movable along the operable closure device to effect opening or closing of the opening. The cover for the actuator is adapted to extend over the actuator and prevent operation of the actuator when the actuator is positioned so as to effect closure of the operable closure device. The cover is secured to the clothing material on one side of the opening. The operable fastener(s) is (are) adapted to removably secure the cover to the clothing material at an opposite side of the opening, while the cover extends over the actuator. The simulated fastener(s) is (are) located on or about the cover, to distract the wearer from the operable fastener(s) and from the operable closure device.
Also provided by the present invention is a garment adapted to restrict unassisted disrobing by a wearer and adapted to facilitate assisted disrobing in a keyless manner. The garment comprises front and rear panels of clothing, an opening in the rear panel, an operable closure device, and a cover for an actuator of the operable closure device. The front panel of clothing material is adapted to cover at least a front portion of the wearer's body. The rear panel is adapted to cover at least a rear portion of the wearer's body. The opening in the rear panel facilitates donning of the garment. The operable closure device is located at the opening and is operable to at least partially close the opening to thereby prevent removal of the garment. The operable closure device extends into an inaccessibility zone of the rear panel. The inaccessibility zone is arranged so that, when the garment is donned, the inaccessibility zone is located between the wearer's shoulder blades at a predetermined distance from the neck of the wearer. The operable closure device has an actuator which is movable along the operable closure device to effect opening or closing of the opening in a keyless manner. The cover for the actuator of the operable closure device is located substantially at the inaccessibility zone. The cover is selectively closable to prevent access to the actuator when the actuator is positioned in the inaccessibility zone.
The above and other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Calvert John J.
Hoey Alissa L.
Liniak, Berenato, Longacre & White LLC
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