Medical gown with slide lock neck closure

Abstract

An over the head gown is provided having a one-way lock for receiving a neck tie strap which facilitates closure of the head opening around the wearer's neck and closure of the rear gap in the back panels of the gown. Initially, the necktie strap is partially inserted through the lock, and then the gown is placed over the wearer's head. The loose end of the strap can then be pulled, without reaching behind the wearer's head or neck, to tighten the head opening and close the gap in the back of the gown. The gown can be removed by detaching the necktie strap or the lock from the gown then pulling the gown from the wearer's body.

1 . An over-the-head medical gown to be worn by a person comprising:
 a front portion;   a back portion having opposite left and right edges defining a vertical opening therebetween and opposite first and second upper corners;   the corners being movable between an initial spaced apart open position and a pulled together closed position;   the front and back portions defining a neck opening extending between the upper corners;   left and right sleeves adapted to receive the person's arms;   the neck opening having only one strap for closing the neck opening after the gown is donned;   the strap having a first end fixed to the back portion adjacent the first upper corner and a free second end; and   a strap lock mounted directly on the gown adjacent the second upper corner without the use of a mounting strap;   the strap and the strap lock being pre-assembled with the free end of the strap pulled partially through the lock such that the neck opening and the strap form a 360° entrance through which a person's head is insertable for donning the medical gown;   whereby the free second end of the strap is adapted to slide in only a first direction through the strap lock to lock the strap in the strap lock and preclude pulling in the opposite direction;   whereby the gown is donned by inserting the person's head through the entrance and their arms through the sleeves;   whereby the strap is adapted to be pulled through the slide lock after the gown is donned to pull the first corner toward the second corner and thereby pull the corners from the first position to the second position to close the the neck opening adjacent a back of the person's neck; and   the strap and the strap lock being positioned on the gown and adapted for pulling the strap through the strap lock after the gown is donned-without reaching behind the person's head; and   one of the strap and the strap lock being detachably mounted on the gown to permit opening of the neck opening while the gown is donned.   
     
     
         2 . The medical gown of  claim 1  wherein the slide lock has teeth to preclude the strap from pulling in a direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         3 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The medical gown of  claim 1  wherein the strap lock has a tubular body with internal teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The medical gown of  claim 6  wherein the body has opposite ends with a bend between the opposite ends. 
     
     
         8 . The medical gown of  claim 6  wherein the strap is smooth and free from protrusions and indentations. 
     
     
         9 . An over-the-head gown for a person to wear, comprising:
 front and back panels with a neck opening;   the back panel having a vertical opening with opposite upper corners;   left and right sleeves;   a strap attached at a first end to the back panel adjacent one of the upper corners; and   a strap lock having a tubular body mounted on the other upper corner without the use of a mounting strap, and the tubular body having an internal member to engage the strap;   the strap having a second end adapted to pass through the strap lock for retention by the internal member so that pulling on the strap closes the vertical opening adjacent the neck opening;   the strap being partially extended through the strap lock before the person dons the gown and is then pullable further through the slide lock after the person dons the gown;   the corners being movable from an initial open position to a closed position, after the gown is donned by inserting the person's head through the neck opening and with arms through the sleeves, by pulling on the second end of the strap by the person from in front of their body without reaching behind their head or neck.   
     
     
         10 . The gown of  claim 9  wherein the strap lock mounted directly on the gown without the use of a mounting strap. 
     
     
         11 . The gown of  claim 9  wherein the strap slides in only one direction through the strap lock. 
     
     
         12 . The gown of  claim 9  wherein the strap is not retractable from the strap lock. 
     
     
         13 .- 19 . (canceled)