US2840077A - Combination cast protector and diaper holder - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1958 w. A. MORGAN 2,840,077

COMBINATION CAST PROTECTOR AND DIAPER HOLDER Filed Sept. 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTDQNEYS June 24, 1958 w. A. MORGAN 2,840,077

COMBINATION CAST PROTECTOR AND DIAPER HOLDER Filed Sept. 27, 1957 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. wmu a A. MORE-AN ATTOQN EYE- United States PatentQ COMBINATION cAsr PROTECTOR AND DIAPER HOLDER Willie A. Morgan, Lawton, Okla.

Application September 27, 1957, Serial No. 686,774 4 Claims. c1.12s z s4 body, and about the legs, for the purpose of aiding in treatment of the infant for dislocated hip or hips, broken hip orhips, broken pelvis, broken legs, :etc. Such a cast is known as a frog-leg type, and, is-provided, at the lower end of the trunk, with an opening through which wastes eliminated by the infant may pass.

It hasbeen foundthat the cast tends to become wet and soiled, and definitely unsanitary, in the region of the cast that extends about said opening. This is readily understandable, in view of the fact that in many instances, the diaper will come in direct contact with the cast. In other instances, the edge of the opening is wholly unprotected, and is therefore impinged upon the eliminated wastes. Keeping the cast dry and cleantis avery serious problem, accentuated by the long. period of time during which the cast must remain upon the infant. The conventional use of diapers or diaper holders is not possible, since ordinary diaper holders are designed to fit fairly snugly against the childs body, this being impossible, of course, where the body is directly contacted by the cast. Further, even should there be a space between the childs body and the cast, it is impossible toinsert a complete diaper holderinto said space. t f

There has been, therefore, no protection for the 'edge of the opening, that is, for the wall of the cast opening, the inner surface of the cast immediately adjacent and surrounding said opening, and the outer surface of the cast in the same region.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a combination cast protector and diaperv holder that will eliminate all the difliculties that have been described above.

Another object of importance is to provide, in a device of this nature, a protective portion of the protector or diaper holder, which will overlie the wall of the opening and the inner surface of the cast in the area surrounding the diaper, while still providing full comfort so far as the child is concerned.

Yet another object is to provide a garment of the character described which will be particularly designed to facilitate its application or removal.

A further object is to facilitate the swift insertion or removal of a conventional diaper, in the garment.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combination garment, fully opened and showing the inner surface.

thereof;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, on a slightly enlargedscale, substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is aperspective view of the garment, as it appears when it is brought up about the trunk of the infant in its use position; I

Figure 4 is a perspective view on a reduced scale showing the garment applied to a surgical, frog-leg" cast;

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 in which the garment has been opened; and 1 Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the garment 10 constituting the present invention comprises a generally rectangular covering overlying the lower portion of a surgical cast generally designated 12 having the body or trunk part 14-merging into the leg portions 16, said cast having the usual approximately oval, comparatively large opening 20 at the crotch 18, through which opening wastes eliminated from the body B of the infant may pass.

The garment includes an outer panel 28 which may be of laminated construction, including an outer or covering plate 22 of fabric, and an inner piece 24 which may be of a flexible, thin material such as plastic. The outer piece can be ornamentally colored or otherwise finished, so as to provide a dressy or attractive appearance for the panty-type protector constituting the present invention.

The outer and inner pieces 22, 24 are stitched together throughout their peripheries, at 26, as shown in Figure 1. In this connection, the outer panel 28 need not necessarily be of laminated formation, of course.

In any event, elongated, shallow recesses 30 are formed in the opposite sides of the outer panel 28, and define at opposite ends of said sides laterally outwardly extending projections 32, the projections at one end of the panel being narrower than those at the opposite end. Extending laterally outwardly from each of the narrower projections '32 are ties 34. Cooperating ties 36 are extended longitudinally of the outer panel, from the other projections 32, so that when the projections are overlapped to provide leg openings as shown in Figure 3, said projections may be tied together, also as best shown in this figure of the drawing. ."An'inner panel 38, also of a waterproof material, is secured at its periphery to the periphery of the outer panel by the stitching 26. Inner panel 38 thus cooperates with the outer panel in defining a cavity, extending over substantially the full area of .the garment, designated at 29 and adapted to receive a conventional, folded diaper D.

Centrally formed in the inner panel 38 is'an elongated opening 40 corresponding in size and configuration to the cast opening 20. Said opening communicates with the cavity 29 as shown in Figure 2. Extending about the opening, and secured to the inner panel 38 in overlying relation thereto, is a protective, wide, continuous lip or flange 42, the inner edge of which is registered with the edge of the opening 40, said flange 42 being secured by stitching 44 to the inner panel 38.

The flange 42 is also formed of a flexible, waterproof material such as plastic.

In use of the invention, one first inserts a folded diaper D in cavity 29, through opening 40. The center portion of the diaper is thus exposed through the opening so as to receive wastes eliminated by the infant through opening 20 of the cast.

The garment with the inserted diaper is then applied as shown in Figure 5. The garment is merely placed at one and under the trunk portion 14 of the cast, and

Patented June 24, 1958 then folded upwardly over the crotch, in a manner similar to application of a conventional diaper, after" which" the ties 34, 36 are connected" as shown in Figures 3 and 4 However, .before the garment is brought up and tied, the flangei42"is"inserted, ov r" thefull circumference or the opening 40, into the opening 20, and is pushed: up

into overlying relation to"th'e inner surface of east,

through the full areaof said inner surface tha't surrounds" the edge portion of the opening 20, b oth onthe. inner and outer? surfaces of thecast are covered by waterproofing material as at 42, 38 respectively. Therefore, whenthe wastes are eliminated, they can under no circumstances impinge upon the edge portion of the opening, or upon the inner surface of the cast. assured, with possibility. of soilage being reduced to a full minimum. At the same time, the ,applicationor removal of the. garment, andthechanging of diapers, is

accomplished with maximum speed and case.

It is believed apparent thatthe inventionzis not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention; to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation, and the means presently devised to carry out saidprinciples, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in constructionthat may be, permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A combination surgical cast protector and diaper holder, for application to a surgical cast having a trunkencircling portion formed at its lower end with an opening, comprising: an outerpanel; an inner panel peripherally secured to the outer panel to cooperate with theouter panel in forming a cavity between the panels in which a diaper may be disposed, said innerpanel having a centrally disposed opening adapted to be registered with that of the cast; and a' protective flange secured to the inner panel in position extending about said opening thereof, so as to cooperate with the inner panel. in embracing between them' the portion of the cast that surrounds the cast opening.

2. A combination surgical cast protector and diaper A clean, dry cast is thus holder, for application to a surgical cast having a trunkencircling" portion formedat its lower end with an opening, comprising: an outer panel; an inner panel peripherally secured to the outer panel to cooperate with the outer panel in forming a cavity between the panels in which a diaper may be disposed, said inner panel having a centrally disposed openingqadapted to be registered with that of the cast; and'a protective flange secured to the inner panel in. position extending about said opening thereof, so as to cooperate"with the inner panel in embracing between themthe portion of the cast that surrounds the cast opening, said flange being formed from a wide, continuous 'strip' or flexible material.

3. A combination surgical cast protector and diaper holder, for application to a surgical cast having a trunkencircling portionformed at its lower end with an opening, comprising: an outer panel; an inner panel peripherally secured to the outer panel to cooperate with the oirter' panel in forming a cavity betwee'n'the panels in which a diaper maybe disposed, said'in'ner" panel having a centrally disposed opening adapted to be registered with that of the cas'tyand a protective flange secured to the inner panel'in position extending about said opening thereof, so as to cooperate with the'inner panel in embracing between them the portion'ofth'e cast that surrounds the cast opening, said tlange being 'for'med from ajwide, continuous'strip'of fiexible. material, at least the inner panel and flange being formed of a waterproof material.

4. A combination surgical cast'protector and diaper holder, for application to a surgical cast having a'trunkencircling portion formed at its lower end with an opening,

7 comprising: an outer panel; aninner panel peripherally secured to theouter panel to cooperate with the outer panel informing a cavity between the panels in which a diaper may be disposed; said' inner panel having a centrallydisp'os'ed opening adaptedto be registered with that 1 of the cast; and a protective flange secured to theinner panel in position extending about said" opening thereof, so as to cooperate with the inner panel in embracing between them the portion of i the cast that surrounds the cast opening, said outer panel including means 'at its opposite ends for connecting the ends of the outer panel together at opposite sides of the outer panel, in position receiving said trunkp'ortio'n of the cast.

References Cited in the file of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Friem'an W--. Oct. s, 1948 Donovan Nov. 31, 1951

Images