4,590,624
`[11] Patent Number:
`[19]
`United States Patent
`
`Weiser [45] Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
`
`4
`
`[54] BIRTHING GOWN
`[75]
`Inventor: Georgian“ Weiser’ Dallas’ Oreg.
`'
`[73] Assignee: Weiser Design, Ltd., Amity, Oreg.
`[21] APPL N0~? 733375
`ml
`May
`[51]
`Int. Cl.“ .......................... A41B 9/00; A41B 9/14;
`A4lD 1/22
`............................................. 2/114; 2/74;
`_
`2/76
`[58] Field of Search ..................... 2/114, 105, DIG. 7,
`2/74, 243 B, 76
`
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`
`I561
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5/1955 Paterson ................................. .. 2/76
`2,707,282
`
`2,722,011 ll/1955 Maines .... ..
`2/76
`3,708,800
`1/1973 Burton .................................... .. 2/74
`
`Primary Examiner—Doris L. Troutman
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-——Robert L.- Harrington
`57
`B
`[
`_
`A STRACI
`'_
`_
`A birthing gown of the front overlapping variety for
`expectant mothers in birthing clinics. Separate blouse
`:::;‘:3::::“1::i;:,:::":i:1a;:1:::f::;::s::,.‘;‘:;;::‘:*:
`gathering darts, they permit billowing to accommodate
`the enlarged breasts and abdomen of the pregnant
`woman. The skirt panel is sheared along its top edge
`and connected to the corresponding blouse panel. The
`left and right front side portions of the gown each com-
`prising interconnected blouse and skirt panels, are re-
`'$5?S?"31Yelfifififniiiféleédfie§¥§3fI}£"f -7§3Z§§i"iff.’$53
`positioned between the breasts and abdomen of the
`Patient-
`
`5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
`
`
`
`DMC Exhibit 2034_001
`
`

`
`DMC Exhibit 2034_002
`
`

`
`1
`
`BIRTHING GOWN
`
`FIELD OF INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to a gown having principal
`application to women patients in a birthing clinic.
`BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
`
`The procedure for birthing a child has been dramati-
`cally changed with the advent of birthing clinics. Preg-
`nancy studies have determined that pregnant women, in
`normal health, need not and should not be prohibited
`from physical exercise. Proper exercise will enhance the
`delivery process, making the term of pregnancy, the
`birthing process, and the recovery period far easier for
`the new mother. Not to be discounted in this recent
`development, is the rapid accelleration of medical costs.
`It is this combination of events, i.e. the birthing studies
`and the hospital/doctor expenses,
`that have largely
`encouraged the emergence of the birthing clinics.
`A birthing clinic can take many different forms. Typi-
`cally such clinics promote natural child birth with a
`minimum of confinement. An expectant mother, ready
`to give birth, will check into the clinic,‘be assigned a
`bed and issued bed clothes. She is monitored by the
`clinic’s staff but otherwise is free to roam the premises,
`visiting with relatives or other patients until “her time
`arrives”. She is then ushered into a delivery room and
`assisted by a midwife. With a minimum of fuss and
`bother she is provided with sufficient bed rest and then
`released with her new baby to return home. All this will
`typically occur over a period of one or two days.
`The casual atmosphere created in the birthing clinic
`has generated a desire for an appropriate birthing gown.
`An appropriate birthing gown will have a combination
`of features to satisfy comfortability, attractiveness, and
`birthing compatibility. An expectant mother is uncom-
`fortable enough in the final days of her pregnancy and
`a loose but nice fitting garment is a must. Whereas the
`patient is exposed to the public in her bed clothes, she
`will want to avoid the feeling of being unattractive in
`the birthing gown anymore than she obviously feels as
`a result of her “bigness”. A gown that looks nice on her
`is thus _very important to the patient. Finally, as the
`concept of the birthing is intended to leave the patient
`to her own devices until the last minute, when that last
`minute arrives it is important that the birthing gown
`accommodate the birthing process.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
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`45
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`This invention is believed to satisfy the three above
`described criteria for a birthing gown, but in a manner
`that enables the gown to be efficiently and inexpen-
`sively produced (obviously a fourth criteria is cost, in
`that cost is a major consideration in the emergence of 55
`the birthing clinic). Very briefly, the gown is produced
`from five separate panels. One panel forms the back
`section of the gown including the sleeve and neck areas
`(hereafter referred to as the back panel); two of the"
`panels provide a skirt section for the front of the gown
`(hereafter referred to as the left and right skirt panels),
`and two of the panels provide the blouse section for the
`front of the gown (hereafter referred to as the left and
`right blouse panels). These five panels are cut out and
`sewn together to provide a one piece gown that is of the
`front overlapping variety i.e.
`the gown “comes to-
`gether” at the front, with one side (e.g. the left side)
`folded over the front of the patient with its side edge
`
`65
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`4,590,624
`
`2
`
`fastened to the inside of the right side of the gown (e.g.
`under the patient’s right arm) and the right side of the
`gown is folded across the front of the patient where it is
`fastened to the outside of the left side of the gown (e.g.‘
`under the patient’s left arm).
`-
`Using this five panel concept, the blouse panels can
`be made especially to accommodate the fullness of a
`pregnant woman’s breasts without binding the breasts
`and without use of unsightly sewing darts. The skirt
`panels likewise can be gathered in an attractive manner
`to accommodate the enlarged stomach area. The over-
`lapping sides are easily and quickly opened and closed
`to facilitate easy robing and disrobing by the patient and
`provide ready opening at an instants notice in prepara-
`tion for the birthing process.
`The invention will be more clearly understood and
`appreicated by reference to the following detailed de-
`scriptions and drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES
`
`FIG. 1 is a front view of a birthing gown as if worn
`by an expectant mother, in accordance with the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a side view of the birthing gown as taken on
`view lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a view of the left blouse panel shown in
`solid lines as a separate panel laid flat, and shown in
`dash lines as when incorporated into the gown of FIGS.
`1 and 2;
`FIG. 4 is a view of the left skirt panel shown in solid
`lines as a separate panel laid flat, and shown in dash lines
`as when incorporated into the gown of FIGS. 1 and 2;
`and
`
`FIG. 5 is a view of the back panel shown in solid lines
`as a separate panel laid flat, and shown in dash lines as
`when incorporated into the gown of FIGS. 1 and 2.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a gown 10 is shown as if
`worn by an expectant mother just prior to giving birth.
`The gown 10 is made up of five panels including a back
`panel 12, a left blouse panel 14, a right blouse panel 16,
`a left skirt panel 18 and a right skirt panel 20.
`Blouse panels 14 and 16 are mirror images and thus
`only the left blouse panel 14 is shown in FIG. 3.
`Similarily, skirt panels 18 and 20 are mirror images and
`thus only the left skirt panel 18 is shown in FIG. 4. It
`will be understood that "the explanations given for the
`panels of FIGS. 3 and 4 are equally applicable to the
`right panels except where the differences are pointed
`out hereafter.
`"
`
`Again referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted that
`the left blouse panel 14 is sewn to the back panel 12 at ‘
`the shoulder portion of the gown along seam 22, and
`panel 16 along seam.24. Panels 14 and 16 are respec-
`tively sewn to the skirt panels 18 and 20 along seams 26
`and 28, and the skirt panels 18 and 20 as respectively
`sewn to the back panel along seams 30 and 32. Left and
`right arm openings 34 and 36 are provided between the
`back panels 12 and blouse panels 14 and 16, and seams
`38 and 40 join the back panel 12 and blouse panels 14
`and 16 under the arm openings 34 and 36.
`Reference is now specifically made to FIG. 2 which
`illustrates, in profile, the typical shape of the birthing
`gown as filled out by the expectant-mother. In order for
`the gown to look nice and feel comfortable, it must
`
`DMC Exhibit 2034_003
`
`

`
`4, 5 90, 624
`
`4
`is avoided by the overlaping arrangement of the panels
`14 and 16.
`
`3
`accommodate the enlarged breasts and stomach of the
`patient. A woman in the last stages of pregnancy is very
`self-conscious of her breasts and stomach, and attrac-
`tiveness to her means that the gown must accommodate
`her shape without the impression that the gown is being
`stretched over her chest and abdomen. To provide
`enlarging gussets and sewing darts is not the answer
`because it draws attention to the enlarged areas and
`increases self-consciousness.
`
`The present invention satisfies the need for a birthing
`gown that inconspicuously accommodates the enlarged
`breasts and stomach of a pregnant woman. The inven-
`tion further provides such a gown that will accommo-
`date the many variations in shapes and sizes of pregnant
`women, and it accomplishes these objectives in a unique
`and simple manner that enables the gown to be inexpen-
`sively produced. In the first
`instance,
`the gown is
`viewed as having three independent sections which, as
`has been previously established, are the back section,
`the blouse section and the skirt section. The back sec-
`tion is provided with a full panel that essentially drapes
`over the full back area of the wearer. As viewed in FIG.
`5, back panel 12 in solid lines illustrates the panel sepa-
`rated from the blouse and skirt panels and laid flat. As
`seen in dash lines, the upper shoulder edges 22a and 24a
`are curled partially over the woman’s shoulder to be
`joined with the blouse panels in forming seams 22 and
`24 (FIGS. 1 and 2). A neck opening 42 is formed in part
`by providing tucks 44 in the back panel as illustrated.
`The side edges 30a and 32a, and 38a and 40a, are curled
`partially around the sides of the wearer to be joined
`with the breast and skirt panels in forming seams 30, 32,
`38 and 40. Whereas this back panel 12 is not particularly
`significant by itself, it forms the base panel from which
`the “accommodating” breast and skirt panels are sup-
`ported.
`A major factor in the design of the illustrated birthing
`gown is the provision of a “waist” line; i.e., an identifi-
`ble separation in the front of the gown between the
`blouse panels and the skirt panels. A pregnant woman
`having enlarged breasts and stomach has a vary defini-
`tive waist line or reduced girth line just below the
`breasts. In designing the breast and skirt panels for the
`gown, the joining edges (seams 26 and 28) are provided
`at this waist line. This is accomplished by providing tie
`strings 46 at each end of the seams 26 and 28. Referring
`to FIG. 1, a string 46 on the inside of the gown at the
`inner end of scam 28 is tied to a string 46 on the outer
`end of scam 26. Sirnilarily, a string 46 on the outside of
`the gown at the inner end of scam 26 is tied to a string
`46 on the outer end of seam 28. The strings 46 allow
`adjustment of the gown to the girth of the wearer, and
`insures the positioning of the seams 26 and 28 at the
`patient’s waist line.
`The blouse panels are illustrated in FIG. 3. Again the
`solid lines illustrate the blouse panel separated from the
`gown and laid flat, whereas the dash lines illustrate the
`panel as formed when made part of the gown. Thus
`edge 22b is gathered when worn as shown in its dash
`position. This is permitted by the curled over edge 22a
`of the back panel 12. The configuration of the blouse
`panel is such that the free edge 48 is longer than the
`opposite edge defining the arm opening 34. When edge
`26b is brought into alignment with the waist band of the
`patient, a substantial billowing of the blouse panel is
`permitted as illustrated in the dash lines of FIG. 3 and
`more dramatically illustrated in the side view of FIG. 2.
`It will be noted from FIG.‘ 1 that exposure of the breast
`
`Referring now to FIG. 4, the skirt panel 18 is illus-
`trated in the same manner as for FIGS. 3 and 5, with the
`panel shown in solid lines as if separated from the gown
`and laid flat, and shown in dash lines as if formed as part
`of the gown of FIGS. 1 and 2. Essentially panel 18 is a
`large almost square piece of cloth that is preferably
`slightly wider than it is long. The top edge 26c is
`sheared, i.e. gathered together in tight pleats, to reduce
`the top edge width as shown in dash lines to about 40%
`of the original width shown in solid lines. The sheared
`edge 26c is then sewn to edge 26b to thereby provide
`the expansion for the patient’s stomach, protruding
`outwardly from the waist line as illustrated in FIG. 2.
`The result is that the skirt attractively and comfortably
`billows outwardly over the protruding stomach and
`hangs evenly to give a neat appearance without telltale
`seams and gussets.
`
`PRODUCTION PROCESS
`
`From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the
`gown of the invention readily accomplishes all of the
`heretofore stated objectives for a birthing gown. Pro-
`duction of the gown requires three simple pattern
`pieces. The back panel pattern piece is laid out on a
`cloth section and is cut to the configuration of FIG. 5
`(in solid lines). Darts 44 are sewn in to form the neck
`line. The blouse panel pattern piece is used to cut out a
`left blouse panel 14 (as seen in solid lines in FIG. 3) and
`then the pattern piece is inverted for cutting out the
`right blouse panel 16. The pattern piece for the skirt
`panels is used for cutting out the skirt panels 18 and 20
`in a similar manner. The skirt panels are then shreaded
`to produce the gathered configuration as seen in dash
`lines in FIG. 4.
`
`The resultant five panels (left and right blouse panels,
`left and right skirt panels, and the back panel) are then
`sewn together by aligning edges 24a with 24b, 22a with
`22b, 26b with 26c etc. and sewing the edges together to
`form the seams (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38 and 40). The
`free edges are all faced and the tie strings 46 are tacked
`on each end of the seams 26 and 28 (the inner string of
`seam 28 being on the inside, and the inner string of scam
`26 being on the outside). The gown is now ready to be
`worn.
`
`SPECIFIC DIMENSIONS
`
`A gown suitable as a birthing gown was designed
`with the following dimensions:
`Referring to FIG. 5, a back panel 12 was cut out using
`a half pattern i.e. from the center line 48 to the left as
`viewed in FIG. 5, with the center line positioned along
`the fold of a folded yardage of cloth. The half pattern
`had a length along the center line of 43 inches, a width
`across the bottom of 15 inches, a length along edge 32a
`of 27; inches, a sleeve opening length of 12 inches, a
`length along edge 48 of 2§ inches, a width at the waist
`line of 13 inches, a neck opening of 4 inches and _a shoul-
`der length 24a of 13 inches.
`Referring now to FIG. 3, the blouse panel 14 was cut
`out using an invertible pattern having a top edge 22b of
`13 inches, a bottom edge 26b of 14 inches, and a free
`edge 48 of 17 inches. The sleeve opening was 12 inches
`and the edge 38b was 2:1: inches.
`Referring now to FIG. 4, the top edge 26c was made
`30 inches long and sheared down to 12% inches. Edge
`30c was 28 inches and the opposite free edge 30 inches.
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`DMC Exhibit 2034_004
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`4, 590, 624
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`The bottom edge was made 32 inches long. The free
`edge being slightly longer than edge 30c, allows for a
`slight rise in the front of the gown.
`Whereas the dimensions are given as a specific exam-
`ple only of a birthing gown produced in accordance
`with the present invention, it will be appreciated that
`numerous variations are possible without departing
`from the scope of the invention which is defined in the
`claims appended hereto.
`I claim:
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`1. A birthing gown comprising; a back panel, left and
`right blouse panels and left and right skirt panels, said
`back panel forming the back of the gown, the left blouse
`panel and left skirt panel interconnected along lateral
`ajoining edges and forming the left side of the front of 15
`the gown having a free side edge and an interconnected
`side edge with the back panel, and the right blouse panel
`and right skirt panel interconnected along lateral ajoin-
`ing edges and forming the right side portion of the front
`of the gown having a free side edge and an intercon-
`nected side edge with the back panel, said left and right
`side portions having overlaping relationship, and the
`improvement that comprises;
`each of said left and right blouse panels configured
`when laid flat and without stitching to be larger
`than the breast area of the gown, thereby produc-
`ing a billowing of the blouse panels for accommo-
`dating the patient’s breasts with the edges of the
`blouse panels interconnected to the back panel and
`corresponding skirt panels,
`each of said left and right skirt panels configured
`when laid flat and without stitching to be larger
`than the skirt area of the gown, with the top edge
`sheared to produce pleating of the skirt panels and
`to allow billowing of the skirt panels to accommo-
`date the patient’s abdomen,
`said interconnection of the left blouse panel and left
`skirt panel, and right blouse panel and right skirt
`panel cooperatively defining a waist line for loca-
`tion between the breasts and abdomen of the pa-
`tient, and fastening means for fastening the front
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`side portions of the gown together in overlaping
`relationship with the waist line located between the
`patient’s breasts and stomach.
`2. A birthing gown as defined in claim 1 wherein said
`back panel, left and right blouse panels, and left and
`right skirt panels are separate cloth pieces intercon-
`nected at the ajoining edges by sewn seams.
`3. A birthing gown as defined in claim 2 wherein the
`fastening means are tie strings tacked to inner and outer
`positions on the interconnected edges of the blouse and
`skirt panels.
`4. A birthing gown as defined in claim 3 wherein the
`sheared edge of each skirt panel reduces the top edge
`length to about 40% of the unsheared length.
`5. A process for producing a birthing gown that com-
`prises;
`cutting out from a cloth piece a back panel having
`shoulder edges, neck and arm opening edges and
`side edges,
`_
`cutting out from second and third cloth pieces, left
`and right blouse panels configured to have a first
`side edge, an opposite freeside edge and top and
`bottom edges diverging from the first side edge to
`the free side edge,
`cutting out from fourth and fifth cloth pieces, left and
`right skirt panels having top, bottom and side
`edges, shearing the top edge to substantially reduce
`their width along the top edges and thereby to
`develope pleatings in the skirt panels,
`sewing the sheared top edge of each skirt panel to the
`bottom edge of the corresponding blouse panel to
`produce right and left front side portions, and sew-
`ing the back panel along the side edges and shoul-
`der edges to the corresponding side edges and
`shoulder edges of the front side portions, and
`tacking tie strings at the seams between the blouse
`and skirt panels for drawing the front side portions
`together with said seams positioned at the waist
`line between the breast and abdomen of a patient.
`1
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`DMC Exhibit 2034_005