Ostomy pocket patch
A patch for attachment within a shirt or blouse can form a pocket which can accommodate expansion of a concealed ostomy bag. The patch includes a curved middle seam which allows the pocket to expand towards the wearer's skin. Oversized, rounded welts are located adjacent to the pocket opening to protect the patch from peeling off of the garment over time. The patch is intended to be attached to the inside surface of the garment in order to form a definitive pocket which can receive and support an expanding ostomy bag close to the body, and can allow the garment to lie substantially flat against the wearer's body without creating an awkward silhouette. The patch has a substantially triangular, symmetrical shape, which allows it to be rotated prior to attachment, for example, to fit either the right or left corner of a shirt or blouse.
1 . A patch for attachment to an inside surface of a garment to create a definitive pocket for receiving and supporting an ostomy bag, the patch comprising:
a) a first half-patch; and
b) a second half-patch, wherein the first half-patch and the second half-patch are identical, each including an angled corner, a curved side, a straight side, a base side, a welt, and a stitch line, wherein the angled corner and the curved side of the first half-patch are sewn to the angled corner and the curved side of the second half-patch to create a bottom corner and a middle seam for the patch,
wherein the patch is adapted for attachment to the inside surface of a garment to create a definitive pocket, the definitive pocket having an opening for receiving and holding an ostomy bag, wherein the welts are adjacent to either end of the opening, and wherein the middle seam allows the definitive pocket to expand in the horizontal direction towards a wearer's body as the ostomy bag fills.
2 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein the patch has a symmetrical appearance, substantially in the shape of an isosceles triangle, for being rotated and arranged to fit within a corner of the garment prior to attachment.
3 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein the patch is an iron-on, permanently attachable patch for attachment to the inside surface of the garment, and wherein attachment of the patch to the garment creates the definitive pocket having an opening for holding an ostomy bag.
4 . The patch of claim 1 , the patch further comprising a front face and a back face, wherein the back face includes adhesive strips for attaching the straight sides, the welts and the bottom corner of the patch to the inside surface of the user's garment to create the definitive pocket.
5 . The patch of claim 4 , wherein the welts are oversized and rounded for protecting the patch from peeling off of the garment.
6 . The patch of claim 3 , wherein straight sides, the welts, and the bottom corner of the patch are ironed on to the corner seams of the garment for providing additional support to the definitive pocket as the ostomy bag fills.
7 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the definitive pocket includes an elasticized hem.