In some instances, incorporating the extended neck material with the rear closure design into disposable, non-surgical gowns ensures that critical zone A remains protected and covered, even when the wearer is bending forward or moving about. Critical zone A also remains protected for one-size-fits all gowns, and/or gowns that are hastily donned using the technology disclosed herein.

As such, the gown provides real-world critical zone A coverage while meeting various preset parameters to ensure incorporation into the current disposable gown manufacturing industry. Solutions disclosed herein can work with mass-produced, one-size-fits-all gowns and may be incorporated with gowns donned from the front as well as those pulled on over the head. The solution can work with current materials used for disposable, non-surgical gowns (mainly polypropylene, polyester, or polyethylene) and/or those assembled using thermal, chemical, or mechanical seaming.

The technology disclosed herein can increase protection and safety for all wearers, regardless of their size or the fit of the gown. Moreover, the disclosed technology does not substantially increase the cost to manufacture the gowns.

Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed technology will become apparent from the detailed description below.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 including a gown 102, such as a personal protection gown 104, with frontal coverage. The frontal coverage can be provided by a neck protector 106 that extends from a neckline 108 of a body portion 110 of the personal protection gown 104. The neck protector 106 can include a shielding strip 112 that wraps around a neck region of a user wearing the personal protection gown 104. Furthermore, the neck protector 106 can have a front partial coupling 114 to the body portion 110 so that a neck gap 116 is formed between a bottom edge 118 of the shielding strip 112 and a neckline edge 120 of the neckline 108. Furthermore, in some instances, the shielding strip 112 includes one or more extension straps 122 that can be pulled back around the neck of the user and tied in a knot behind the neck of the user. As such, the neck protector 106 can be secured in place and can hold up the body portion 110 such that the body portion 110 is prevented from falling or sliding down around the neck region of the user. Additionally, the personal protection gown 104 can be usable with a variety of different body shapes and sizes, with the front partial coupling 114 providing flexibility for pulling the shielding strip 112 as tightly as needed without cinching the neckline 108.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example system 200 including the personal protection gown 104, which can form at least a portion of the system 100 depicted in FIG. 1. The personal protection gown 104 can include the front partial coupling 114, as discussed in greater detail below.

In some instances, the personal protection gown 104 includes the front partial coupling 114 of the neck protector 106 to the body portion 110. The front partial coupling 114 can be a portion of the neckline 108 from which the neck protector 106 extends and/or to which the neck protector 106 adjoins, couples, attaches, and so forth. For instance, the front partial coupling 114 can be a continuous portion of the fabric or material connecting the body portion 110 and the neck protector 106. In other words, the personal protection gown can be manufactured by coupling the neck protector 106 to the body portion 110 at the front partial coupling 114, or by cutting both the neck protector 106 and the body portion 110 from a single material or fabric such that the front partial coupling 114 omits any seam and/or is formed of the continuous material of the body portion 110 and the neck protector 106.

In some examples, the front partial coupling 114 is inset a predefined distance 202 from a first shoulder edge 204 of the neckline and a second shoulder edge 206 of the neckline 108. The first shoulder edge 204 and/or the second shoulder edge 206 can be defined as one or more center line(s) of the personal protection gown (e.g., as seen from a top view) that divides a front of the personal protection gown 104 from a back of the personal protection gown 104. As such, the front partial coupling 114 of the neck protector 106 to the body portion 110 can form only a partial coupling at a front edge 208 of the neckline 108. Put another way, a first side portion 210 of the front edge 208 can omit any coupling to the neck protector 106 (e.g., for the predefined distance 202), and a second side portion 212 of the front edge 208 can omit any coupling to the neck protector 106 (e.g., for the predefined distance 202).

In some scenarios, a cut-out of material extending the predefined distance 202 can define a front boundary (e.g., a beginning and/or end) of the neck gap 116 at the front edge 208 of the neckline 108. For instance, the neck gap 116 can include a first gap 214 formed between the first side portion 210 of the front edge 208 of the neckline 108 (e.g., and/or the first shoulder edge 204) and the bottom edge 118 of the shielding strip 112. The neck gap 116 can also include a second gap 216 formed between the second side portion 212 of the front edge 208 of the neckline 108 (e.g., and/or the second shoulder edge 206) and the bottom edge 118 of the shielding strip 112. The front partial coupling 114 can be disposed between the first gap 214 and the second gap 216 at the front edge 208, for instance, at a center front edge 218 of the neckline 108. The center front edge 218 including the front partial coupling 114 can have a center coupling width distance, such as one inch, two inches, three inches, four inches, five inches, six inches, seven inches, eight inches, and/or a range of distances, such as between two inches and six inches, between one inch and ten inches, and so forth. Furthermore, in some scenarios the first gap 214 can extend all the way around a rear of the neck protector 106, forming a rear gap, which can transition back around and into the second gap 216. In other words, the first gap 214, the rear gap, and the second gap 216 can be a continuous gap encircling a majority of the neckline 108 except the front portion of the neckline 108 including the front partial coupling 114. Additionally, the material forming the shielding strip 112 can have a height dimension, such as two inches, three inches, four inches, five inches, six inches, seven inches, eight inches, and the like.

In some examples, the personal protection gown 104 can be a surgical gown, a surgical isolation gown, a non-surgical isolation gown, or so forth, as defined by FDA. For instance, the personal protection gown 104 can be a non-surgical isolation gown with a critical zone A 220 defined as a front torso region of the personal protection gown 104, extending up to the neckline 108. By using positioning mechanisms to secure the neck protector 106 in place around the neck of the wearer, the critical zone A 220 can be held upright and prevented from sagging in real world settings, for instance, when a user leans over. As such, the personal protection gown 104 can be prevented from gaping open in the front and exposing the wearer's upper torso, neck, and/or chest. Moreover, in some instances, the personal protection gown 104 is a disposable gown made of a low-cost plastic, fabric, or nonwoven material such as polypropylene, polyester, or polyethylene. Rather than sewn, the garments can be assembled using thermal, chemical, or mechanical seaming. In some instances. The personal protection gown 104 can be of a first style with a back opening, such that the personal protection gown 104 is pulled on in front. Additionally, or alternatively, the personal protection gown 104 can be of a second style omitting any back opening, such that the personal protection gown 104 is pulled over the head of a user.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example system 300 including the personal protection gown 104, which can form at least a portion of the system 100 depicted in FIG. 1. The personal protection gown 104 can include one or more positioning mechanism 302 for securing the neck protector 106 in place, as discussed in greater detail below.

In some examples, the personal protection gown 104 includes one or more positioning mechanisms 302 to secure the neck protector 106 in place on the user. For instance, the neck protector 106 itself can include the extension straps 122, which can be wrapped around the neck and tied into a knot 304 and/or loop behind the neck. As shown in FIG. 3, the neck protector 106 can be separated from the body portion 110 by a rear gap 306 that extends fully around the rear of the neck and the shoulders up to the front partial coupling 114.

Furthermore, the personal protection gown 104 can include one or more gown closure straps 308 for closing a rear opening 310 of the personal protection gown 104. The one or more gown closure straps 308 can include a first set of gown closure straps 312 hemmed into the neckline 108 below the neck protector 106, which can be tied into a second knot 314 below the first knot 304 of the neck protector 106. Moreover, the personal protection gown 104 can include a second set of gown closure straps 316 disposed around a waist of the personal protection gown.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system 400 including the personal protection gown 104, which can form at least a portion of the system 100 depicted in FIG. 1. The personal protection gown 104 can include various configurations of the positioning mechanism(s) 302, as discussed in greater detail below.

In some examples, as noted above, the positioning mechanism(s) 302 can include the knot 304 tied by the extension straps 122. For instance, a first extension strip 402 of the shielding strip 112 can extend from a first side of the neck protector 106 and a second extension strip 404 can extend from a second side of the neck protector 106, both extension strips wrapping around the neck and meeting at a rear of the neck where they can be tied together to form the knot 304. Additionally, or alternatively, the positioning mechanism(s) 302 can include one or more adhesive strips 406 (e.g., one, two, three, etc.) to secure a first end 408 of the shielding strip 112 to a second end 410 of the shielding strip 112. Moreover, the positioning mechanism(s) 302 can include one or more clips, hooks, pins, buttons, strings, straps, hook-and-loop strips, combinations thereof, and the like.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method 500 for manufacturing the personal protection gown 104 depicted in the systems 100-400 depicted in FIGS. 1-4.

In some examples, at operation 502, the method 500 forms a body portion of a personal protection gown from an unwoven material, a top of the body portion defining a neckline. At operation 504, the method 500 can form a neck protector that extends from a front of the neckline, the neck protector operable to cover a front area of a neck region during use of the medical gown, the neck protector partially coupling to the front of the neckline such that a first gap is formed at a first side of the front of the neckline and a second gap is formed at a second side of the front of the neckline. At operation 506, the method 500 can form one or more positioning mechanism into the neck protector for securing the neck protector around the neck region. At operation 508, the method 500 can form one or more gown closure straps into the neckline, the one or more gown closure straps operable to close a rear opening of the medical gown via a knot formed by the one or more gown closure straps below the one or more positioning mechanism.

It is to be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method(s) 500 depicted in FIG. 5 and throughout this disclosure are instances of example approaches and can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. For instance, any of the operations depicted in FIG. 5 and throughout this disclosure may be omitted, repeated, performed in parallel, performed in a different order, and/or combined with any other of the operations depicted in FIG. 5 and throughout this disclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6D depict an exemplary embodiment of personal protection gown 104. FIG. 6A depicts a view of the back of personal protection gown 104 comprising body portion 110 comprising back opening 602 comprising a first edge 610 and a second edge 612. As shown, body portion 110 is connected to neck protector 106 at neckline 108. Here, neck protector 106 is shown in an open configuration where neck protector extension 604 is not coupled to neck protector 106 by neck protector extension fastener 614 and neck protector fastener 616. For clarity, FIG. 6B depicts a closed configuration where neck protector extension 604 is coupled to neck protector 106. Turning back to FIG. 6A, neck protector 106 comprises neck protector extension 604, which, in some embodiments described above, may be generally referenced as extension strips 402, 404. As shown, neck protector 106 extends from a first shoulder portion 606 around the front of personal protection gown 104, over a second shoulder portion 608, around to the back of personal protection gown 104, and ends at or along first edge 610 of back opening 602. As such, neck protector extension 604 extends from and is a part of the neck protector 106 extending from the edge of back opening 602 as shown.

FIG. 6A depicts neck protector extension 604 beginning at a location where neck protector 106 ends at first edge of 610. In some embodiments, neck protector extension 604 may be part of neck protector 106, may be integrally formed with neck protector 106, and may be coupled to neck protector 106 by any type of fastener described herein. Furthermore, neck protector extension 604, in some embodiments, comprises neck protector extension fastener 614 configured to couple to neck protector fastener 616 of neck protector 106. For example, neck protector extension fastener 614 and neck protector fastener 616 may be any type of fastener such as, for example, buttons, snaps, hook and loop, adhesive, adhesive tape, clips, clamps, and the like. In some embodiments, neck protector extension fastener 614 and neck protector fastener 616 may not be provided and neck protector extension 604 may couple to neck protector 106 by external fastener 638 (FIG. 6C).

In some embodiments, neck protector fastener 616 may extend around to the front of personal protection gown 104. Neck protector extension fasteners 614 may wrap from the back over first shoulder portion 606 to the front of personal protection gown 104. Neck protector fastener 616 may attach to neck protector 106 at the front or even beyond to second shoulder portion 608 depending on the width of the user's neck. As such, in some embodiments, neck protector fastener 616 may extend around the front of neck protector 106 and around to above second shoulder portion 608, in some embodiments.

FIG. 6B depicts an embodiment of personal protection gown 104 with neck protector 106 in the closed configuration. The closed configuration comprises neck protector extension 604 coupled to neck protector 106 by one or more fasteners; here, the one or more fasteners are neck protector fastener 616 and neck protector extension fastener 614; however, other fasteners may be used (e.g., external fastener 638). As shown, neck protector extension 604 may extend from neck protector 106 providing a neck protector extension bottom edge 620 above neckline edge 120 of neckline 108. Here, gap 622 is provided between neckline edge 120 and neck protector extension bottom edge 620. In some embodiments, neck protector extension 604 may be a full width or nearly the full width of neck protector 106 such that gap 622 is minimal or does not exist.

Continuing with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6B, neckline edge 120 is shown because neck protector edge 624 is offset from second edge 612. In some embodiments, there is no offset as described below in reference to FIG. 6D. Gap 622 may also be provided based on the difference between neck protector edge 624 and second edge 612. Here, the location of neck protector edge 624 may be defined by shoulder portions 606, 608. In some embodiments, shoulder portions 606, 608 may be provided where the user's shoulders may be positioned while wearing personal protection gown 104. For example, first shoulder portion 606 may comprise first shoulder portion area 626 extending from neckline 108 outward laterally, or toward the sides of personal protection gown 104 to first arm portion 630. First shoulder portion 606 may also extend longitudinally, or from front to back, by a shoulder width 634. In some embodiments, shoulder width 634 may be centered between the front and the back of personal protection gown 104 and may be any distance such as, for example, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 inches or the like. Furthermore, in some embodiments, front and back of personal protection gown 104 are separated by shoulder seam 642. As such, first shoulder portion area 626 may be described as covering an area with equal portions of the front and the back of personal protection gown 104 and extending from shoulder seam 642. Second shoulder portion 608 may comprise second shoulder portion area 628 and may be a mirror image of first shoulder portion 606 reflected on the other side of personal protection gown 104 as shown in FIG. 6B.

In some embodiments, shoulder portions 606, 608 may be used to illustrate relative locations of various components of personal protection gown 104. For example, neck protector edge 624 may extend upward from first shoulder portion 606 as shown in FIG. 6B. Furthermore, first shoulder portion 606 may be 1 inch wide (shoulder width 634) and centered over shoulder seam 642 or provided by equal portions to the front and the back of personal protection gown 104. In some embodiments, shoulder seam 642 may separate the front from the back of personal protection gown 104 as described above.

FIG. 6C depicts an embodiment of personal protection gown 104 in the closed configuration comprising external fastener 638 configured to couple neck protector extension 604 to neck protector 106. Here, external fastener 638 is depicted as a material attached to neck protector extension 604 and neck protector 106. In some embodiments, external fastener 638 comprises an adhesive that is attachable to both neck protector extension 604 and neck protector 106. In some embodiments, external fastener 638 may be adhesive tape and may be applied to neck protector extension 604 and neck protector 106 at any location along neck protector 106 depending on a size of the neck of a user as described above. Furthermore, in some embodiments, external fastener 638 may comprise various fastener types including, for example, buttons, snaps, hook and loop, adhesive, adhesive tape, clips, clamps, and the like.

FIG. 6D depicts various distances (D1-D6) for some embodiments of the disclosure. Distances D1-D6 described herein are exemplary and defined to illustrate relative relationships of various components of personal protection gown 104. As shown in FIG. 6D, D1 illustrates a distance between first edge 610 of body portion 110 and the origin of neck protector extension 604 from neck protector 106. Here, D1 may be up to several inches (e.g., 1-3) in length or may be zero inches. As described above, in some embodiments, neck protector extension 604 may be integrally formed with first edge 610. As such, neck protector extension 604 may extend from neck protector 106 at first edge 610 as described above and shown in FIGS. 6A-6C.

D2 is depicted in FIG. 6D to illustrate an embodiment of personal protection gown 104 comprising neck gap 116 as described above. Neck gap 116 may be any distance. For example, D2 may be zero inches or may be 2-3 inches wrapping around to the front of personal protection gown 104 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described in detail above. In some embodiments, neck protector 106 may start at the back of personal protection gown 104 just above second edge 612. In the configuration where neck protector 106 begins at or above second edge 612 neck protector 106 may be separated by neck gap 116 providing D2, or neck protector 106 may be integrally formed with or coupled to second edge 612 similarly to how neck protector 106 may be integrally formed with first edge 610 as described above.

Further illustrated in FIG. 6D is the height of neck protector 106 represented by D3. D3 may be any length and may depend on average neck lengths of various categories of people such as male, female, nationality, height, weight, and the like. In some embodiments, D3 may be based on medical standards for coverage as described above. Furthermore, the height of neck protector 106 may extend from neckline 108 to neck protector top edge. In some embodiments, the height may be 1, 2, 3, 4, inches or anywhere between. As described above, the extension height (e.g., D4) of neck protector extension 604 may be equal to or less than the height of neck protector 106. As shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, extension height of neck protector extension 604 is less than the height of neck protector 106. D4 represents a height of neck protector extension 604. In some embodiments, as described above, neck protector extension 604 may extend from neck protector 106 and may be shorter than neck protector 106 (e.g., D4<D3). However, D4 may also be the same as D3 and be configured to provide full coverage across the back and the sides of a user's neck.

D5, as shown in FIG. 6D, depicts a height of a portion of neck protector 106. D5 illustrates that neck protector 106 may not be a constant height. As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described above, there may exist a neck gap 116 below portions of neck protector 106. Neck gap 116 may be useful in some embodiments of the configurations described in FIGS. 6A-6D as the neck gap 116 may provide more flexibility to the neck protector to comfortably fit various neck sizes. As such, any of the above-described embodiments of personal protection gown 104 may be incorporated into the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6A-6D.

In some embodiments, personal protection gown 104 comprises alternative attachment locations for neck protector extension 604. In some embodiments, neck protector extension 604 may be attachable at body portion 110. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, neck protector extension 604 may extend from neck protector 106 around to the front of personal protection gown 104. Here, neck protector extension 604 is couped to the front of personal protection gown 104 at or near second shoulder portion 608. Neck protector extension 604 may couple to second shoulder portion 608, chest area (shown as dashed in FIG. 7) or any other section of body portion 110 or, in some embodiments, the sleeves. Here, neck protector extension 604 is coupled to body portion 110 using external fastener 638 at attachment points 702 (described in detail below); however, neck protector extension fastener 614 or any method of fastening (e.g., pins, buttons, snaps, adhesives, hook and loop, etc.) may be used. In some embodiments, neck protector extension 604 may extend from the opposite side (e.g., second edge 612) and cross over to the front of body portion 110 coupling to, or near, first shoulder portion 606 creating a mirror image of that shown in FIG. 7.

Attachment point 702 may provide selective attachments to any point on the front of body portion 110 including the shoulder areas and the chest area. As described above, neck protector extension 604 may be coupled to body portion 110 by buttons, snaps, and the like. As such, attachment points 702 may be specifically located at permanent fastener locations on body portion 110. However, in some embodiments, attachment points may comprise hook and loop, pins, adhesives, or the like that attache anywhere to the body portion 110, in some embodiments depending on the fabric of body portion 110. For example, neck protector extension 604 may comprise a fastener (hook and loop or adhesive) that may secure neck protector extension 604 to the material of body portion 110 such that attachment point 702 can be anywhere on body portion 110. For example, body portion 110 may comprise material, or fabric, that provides a suitable loop for a hook-type fastener disposed on neck protector extension 604. Furthermore, body portion 110 may provide a plastic that provides a suitable surface for coupling neck protector extension 604 by a reusable adhesive. As such, neck protector extension 604 may be attachable at any point on body portion 110. It should be understood that the materials and attachment points and methods described herein are extendable to any embodiments disclosed in reference to FIGS. 7-10 and 11A-11B. Furthermore, in embodiments described below, attachment points 702 may be permanent attachments.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, neck protector extension 604 may couple to the back of body portion 110. As shown, neck protector extension 604 extends across the back opening from first edge 610 crossing back opening and second edge 612 to couple to body portion 110 on the opposite side of first edge 610. As such, neck protector extension 604 may secure personal protection gown 104 closed at the back. It should be noted that the placement of the coupling of neck protector extension 604 to body portion 110 is exemplary and neck protector extension 604 may be secured to body portion 110 higher or lower on body portion and closer to second edge 612 or second shoulder portion utilizing the fastening methods described above. Here, neck protector extension 604 is coupled to body portion using external fastener 638; however, neck protector extension fastener 614 or any other method of fastening (e.g., pins, buttons, snaps, hook and loop, etc.) may be used. Furthermore, in some embodiments, neck protector extension 604 may extend from or near second edge and couple on the opposite side of that shown in FIG. 8 providing a mirror image of personal protection gown 104 illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary embodiment of personal protection gown 104 comprising neck protector 106 as a ribbon-like material coupled on each end at the front of body portion 110 and tied around a back of personal protection gown 104 (around the back of the user when donned). Here, neck protector 106 comprises first neck protector 106a and second neck protector 106b. Neck protectors 106a, 106b, may couple to the front (e.g., chest or shoulder areas) of body portion 110. Neck protectors 106a, 106b may be configured to extend to the back of body portion 110 and tie at the back of body portion 110. Therefore, when the user dons personal protection gown 104, the user may tie neck protectors 106a, 106b behind the user's covering at least a portion of the user's neck. Again, attachment points 702 are exemplary and neck protectors 106a, 106b may attach anywhere on body portion 110. Furthermore, neck protectors 106a, 106b may be permanently or selectively attached as described herein.

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment of personal protection gown 104 comprising neck protector 106 comprising neck protector extensions 604 coupled to the front of body portion 110. Here, neck protector 106 is configured to wrap around to the back of body portion 110 from attachment points 702 on the front of body portion 110. Attachment points 702, as shown, may be positioned near the center, or chest area (dashed lines), of the front of body portion 110 or closer to the shoulder areas (solid lines); however, as described above, attachment points 702 may be positioned anywhere on the front of body portion 110. Furthermore, attachment points 702 may be permanent or selective. Here, at least one attachment point of attachment points 702 may be permanently fixed to the front of body portion 110. For example, neck protector extensions 604 may be sewn, integrally formed with, or adhered to body portion 110. As such, only one end of neck protector 106 may be free to wrap around the user and selectively couple to the front of body portion 110. As such, either end or neither end can be permanently attached.

FIG. 11A depicts an embodiment of personal protection gown 104 comprising waist belt 1102 coupled at the first side of personal protection gown 104 at waist belt attachment point 1104 and configured to wrap around body portion 110. Furthermore, waist belt 1102 comprises waist belt fastener 1106 configured to couple waist belt 1102 to body portion 110. FIG. 11A illustrates personal protection gown 104 with waist belt 1102 in an uncoupled state allowing personal protection gown 104 to be loose on the user.

In some embodiments, waist belt 1102 may comprise the same material as body portion 110. Waist belt 1102 may be integrally formed with body portion 110 or may be added after body portion 110 is formed by sewing, bonding, or adhering waist belt to body portion 110 at waist belt attachment point 1104. It should be noted that, when donned by the user, waist belt attachment point 1104 is on the left side (first side); however, this is exemplary, and waist belt attachment point 1104 may be on the right side. Furthermore, waist belt attachment point 1104 may be higher or lower on body portion 110 and/or farther to the front or back of body portion 110. The placement of waist belt attachment point 1104 is exemplary in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

FIG. 11B depicts personal protection gown 104 comprising waist belt 1102 in a secured configuration illustrating how waist belt 1102 can couple to body portion 110 cinching personal protection gown 104 around the user when donned. Here, waist belt 1102 is configured to extend from waist belt attachment point 1104 around any size of user to couple to body portion 110 at any location. Therefore, when waist belt 1102 is wrapped around the user, there is minimal slack in personal protection gown 104.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, waist belt 1102 comprises waist belt fastener 1106. Waist belt fastener 1106 may be any fasteners described above including, for example, buttons, snaps, pins, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. Waist belt fastener may be configured to attach to body portion 110 directly or by an intermediate fastener (e.g., buttons, snaps, hook and loop patch, etc.). As describes above, body portion 110 may comprise material configured for attaching waist belt fastener 1106. For example, body portion 110 may comprise fabric for receiving hook fasteners or may be plastic configured to receive reusable adhesive fasteners.

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary process 1200 of forming personal protection gown 104. At step 1202, body portion 110 of personal protection gown 104 is formed from woven or unwoven material. Body portion 110, in some embodiments described above, comprises at least front and back separated by shoulder seam 642, arm portions 630, 632, neckline 108, and shoulder portions 606, 608. In some embodiments, arm portions 630, 632 comprise sleeves with holes for thumbs to be inserted and sleeves at least partially cover a user's hands when worn. In some embodiments, first shoulder portion 606 and second shoulder portion 608 may be illustrative to provide relative locations of components of personal protection gown 104. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B shoulder width 634 may be any width up to approximately 5 inches and may be centered at shoulder seam 642 of personal protection gown 104 body portion 110 or centered between front and back of personal protection gown 104.

Furthermore, at step 1202, waist belt 1102 may be formed with or added to body portion 110. In some embodiments, waist belt 1102 may be formed with body portion 110. For example, body portion 110 may comprise a plastic or composite material and waist belt 1102 may be integrally formed with body portion 110 in manufacturing. Similarly, or alternatively, waist belt 1102 may be added to body portion 110 after body portion 110 is formed. For example, waist belt 1102 may be bonded to, sewn to, or coupled to waist belt attachment point 1104 after body portion 110 is formed.

At step 1204, neck protector 106 may be formed above neckline 108 of body portion 110. In some embodiments, neck protector 106 may extend around the entire neckline 108 with no neck gap 116. In some embodiments, portions of neck protector 106 may not be connected to body portion 110 providing neck gap 116 at various locations around neckline 108. In some embodiments, neck protector 106 may extend from neckline 108 a portion of the distance around neckline 108 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6A-6D as described above. The height (D3) of neck protector 106 may be 1-6 inches and based on standard neck heights of people and classifications of people as described above. Furthermore, neck protector height (D3) may be based on medical standards for coverage of personal protection medical gowns. In some embodiments, neck protector 106 may provide a second height D2 providing neck gap 116 as shown in FIG. 6D. Furthermore, the length of neck protector 106 around the neckline 108 may be based on general neck circumferences and medical standards for coverage as described above.