Uncontaminated garment packaging

Abstract

A packaged garment includes a garment and a sealed bag. The garment has a torso portion, a sleeve portion connected to the torso portion, and a leg portion connected to the torso portion. The garment has an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The sealed bag contains the garment with the sleeve portion folded onto the torso portion, a portion of the sleeve portion folded at least once underneath the sleeve portion between the sleeve portion and the torso portion, and the leg portion folded onto the torso portion. The garment is manipulated so that the inner surface of the torso portion faces outward and the torso portion forms an inner space containing the sleeve portion and the leg portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaged garment, comprising:
 a garment having a torso portion, a sleeve portion coupled to the torso portion, and a leg portion coupled to the torso portion, the garment having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface; and   a sealed bag containing the garment with the sleeve portion folded onto the torso portion, a portion of the sleeve portion folded at least once underneath the sleeve portion between the sleeve portion and the torso portion, the leg portion folded onto the torso portion, and the folded garment manipulated so that the inner surface of the torso portion faces outward and the torso portion forms an inner space containing the sleeve portion and the leg portion.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged garment of  claim 1 , wherein the uncontaminated garment further comprises a collar portion. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged garment of  claim 2 , wherein the folded garment is manipulated so the collar portion protrudes. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged garment of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve portion and leg portion are folded within the inner space. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged garment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the sleeve portion faces outward. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged garment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the leg portion faces outward. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged garment of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed bag is irradiated at a predetermined irradiation level for a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a coverall. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged garment of  claim 1 , wherein folding a portion of the sleeve portion at least once comprises rolling said portion of the sleeve portion. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a packaged garment having an outer surface, an inner surface opposite the outer surface, a torso portion, two sleeve portions coupled to the torso portion at respective arm accesses, and two leg portions coupled to the torso portion at respective leg accesses, the method of manufacturing comprising the steps of:
 folding the two sleeve portions onto the torso portion;   folding a portion of each of the two sleeve portions at least once underneath the sleeve portion between the sleeve portion and the torso portion;   folding the two leg portions onto the torso portion; and   manipulating the folded garment so that the inner surface of the torso portion faces outward with the two sleeve portions and the two leg portions within.   
     
     
         11 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 disposing the garment in a bag; and   sterilizing the garment and the bag.   
     
     
         12 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of sterilizing is by irradiation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of hermetically sealing the garment in the bag. 
     
     
         14 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of heat sealing the garment in the bag. 
     
     
         15 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of disposing the bag in a shipping container. 
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 disposing the bag in a sealing layer; and   disposing the sealing layer in a shipping container.   
     
     
         17 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 10 , wherein the outer surface of the sleeve portions and the leg portions face outward. 
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of fully extending the leg portions within the torso portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of arranging the arm accesses and the leg accesses to lie substantially at an outer peripheral edge of the folded garment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 9 , wherein the step of folding a portion of each of the two sleeve portions at least once comprises rolling said portion of each of the two sleeve portions. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a packaged uncontaminated garment having an outer surface, an inner surface opposite the outer surface, a torso portion with an opening, sleeve portions coupled to the torso portion at respective arm accesses, and leg portions coupled to the torso portion at respective leg accesses, the method of manufacturing comprising the steps of:
 folding the sleeve portions onto the torso portion;   folding a portion of the sleeve portion at least once underneath the sleeve portion between the sleeve portion and the torso portion;   folding the leg portions onto the torso portion over the sleeve portions;   manipulating the opening of the torso portion over the folded sleeve portions and leg portions so that the inner surface of the torso portion faces outward with the outer surface of the sleeve portions and the leg portions facing outward within the torso portion;   fully extending the leg portions within the torso portion; and   arranging arm accesses and leg accesses to lie substantially at an outer peripheral edge of the folded garment.   
     
     
         22 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
 folding the garment to be disposed in a bag;   disposing the garment in the bag;   hermetically sealing the bag;   disposing the sealed bag in a carton; and   irradiating the garment, the bag, and the carton externally at a predetermined level for a predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         23 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of disposing the sealed bag in a carton further comprises the steps of:
 disposing the bag in a sealing layer;   closing the sealing layer; and   disposing the sealing layer in a carton.   
     
     
         24 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of folding a portion of the sleeve portion at least once comprises rolling said portion of the sleeve portion.