Anti-climbing restraining straps on an article of clothing

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6651258
  • Patent Number
    6,651,258
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, September 26, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 25, 2003
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Calvert; John J.
    • Hoey; Alissa L.
    Agents
    • Elnitski, Jr.; John J.
Abstract
An anti-climbing restraining strap attached to article of clothing made for a child. The restraining strap, which is incorporated into the article of clothing, aids in preventing a child from climbing over the railing of a crib, playpen or gate. The article of clothing includes two legs. The article of clothing includes at least one restraining strap between the legs of the article of clothing. The restraining strap is usually detachably fastened to at least one leg using fasteners to allow full mobility of a child, whereby the detached restraining strap is fastened to the article of clothing in some fashion to prevent an unsafe situation.
Description




BACKGROUND




Parents use gates, cribs and playpens to restrain children from getting into dangerous situations. Children between one and three years old can become successful at climbing over gates, on to tables or out of their cribs or playpens. There are garments which restrict the ability of a child to climb over a gate or out of a crib or playpen. These garments usually also restrict all movement of the child. What is need is a means to prevent climbing by the child, yet allow the child to be mobile in their restricted environment.




It is an object of the present invention to provide restraining straps on an article of clothing which aids in preventing a child from climbing, while allow the child to be mobile.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




An anti-climbing restraining strap attached to article of clothing made for a child. The restraining strap, which is incorporated into the article of clothing, aids in preventing a child from climbing over the railing of a crib, playpen or gate. The article of clothing includes two legs. The article of clothing includes at least one restraining strap between the legs of the article of clothing. The restraining strap is usually detachably fastened to at least one leg using fasteners to allow full mobility of a child, whereby the detached restraining strap is fastened to the article of clothing in some fashion to prevent an unsafe situation.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front perspective view of restraining straps on an article of clothing according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a rear perspective view of restraining straps on an article of clothing according to the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a rear close-up perspective view of restraining straps on an article of clothing according to the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a front perspective view of restraining straps on another article of clothing according to the present invention; and





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of restraining straps on an article of clothing according to the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is an anti-climbing restraining strap attached to article of clothing made for a child. The restraining strap, which is incorporated into the article of clothing, aids in preventing a child from climbing over the railing of a crib, playpen or gate.

FIGS. 1-4

show an article of clothing


10


which is commonly know as a sleeper or jumper. The sleeper is a one piece article of clothing


10


which includes a pair of legs


12


.

FIG. 5

shows the article of clothing


10


as a pair of pants, which also includes a pair of legs


12


. Either article of clothing


10


includes at least one restraining strap


14


between the legs


12


of the article of clothing


10


.

FIGS. 1-4

show two restraining straps


14


, while

FIG. 5

shows one restraining strap


14


. The restraining strap


14


is usually detachably fastened to at least one leg


12


using fasteners to allow full mobility of a child, whereby the detached restraining strap


14


is fastened to the article of clothing in some fashion to prevent an unsafe situation.





FIG. 1

shows a front view of a child in a sleeper type article of clothing


10


which has a pair of legs


12


. Attached between the legs


12


are two restraining straps


14


. A female half button


16


of a snap type button assembly is shown on an outside side of a left leg


12


of the sleeper type article of clothing


10


.

FIG. 2

shows a rear view of the child in the sleeper type article of clothing


10


, while the child is near a side of a crib


17


. The female half button


16


of the left leg


12


can be seen, as well as, a female half button


16


on an outside side of a right leg


12


of the sleeper type article of clothing


10


.

FIG. 3

shows a close up of the attachment of the two restraining straps


14


on the sleeper type article of clothing


10


.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, each restraining strap


14


has a sewn end


18


which is sewn into the material of the legs


12


of the sleeper type article of clothing


10


.

FIG. 3

shows one restraining strap


14


sewn to one leg


12


, while the other restraining strap


14


is sewn to the other leg


12


. It is envisioned that each restraining strap


14


could be sewn to the same leg


12


, if desired. Each restraining strap


14


also includes a snap end


20


which includes a male half button


22


which is part of a snap type button assembly.

FIG. 3

shows two additional female half buttons


16


on an inside side of the legs


12


of the sleeper type article of clothing


10


. When in use, the retraining straps


14


are retained in place by snapping the male half buttons


22


of the snap ends


20


of the restraining straps


14


to the female half buttons


16


on the inside sides of the legs


12


of the sleeper type article of clothing


10


. When the restraining straps


14


are not to be used, each restraining strap


14


is wrapped around each leg


12


of the sleeper type article of clothing


10


in which the restraining strap


14


is sewn. After each restraining strap


14


is wrapped around a leg


12


of the sleeper type article of clothing


10


, each restraining strap


14


is secured by snapping the male half buttons


22


of the snap ends


20


of each restraining strap


14


to the female half buttons


16


on the outside sides of each of the legs


22


of the sleeper type article of clothing


10


.





FIGS. 4 and 5

show two alternatives to the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1-3

.

FIG. 4

shows the present invention, whereby the article of clothing


10


is a pair of pants with just one of the restraining straps


14


, as described above and shown in

FIGS. 1-3

. It is envisioned that two or more restraining straps


14


could be used with the pants, as described above and shown in

FIGS. 1-3

.

FIG. 5

shows a restraining strap configuration of two restraining straps


14


made up of right and left strap halves


24


,


26


. Each restraining strap includes a right strap half


24


sewn to an inside side of a right leg


28


of an article of clothing and a left strap half


26


sewn to an inside side of a left leg


30


of an article of clothing. Each leg


28


,


30


of the an article of clothing includes a set of two buttons. A set of female half buttons


16


of a snap type button assembly are shown on the right leg


28


of an article of clothing. A set of male half buttons


22


of a snap type button assembly are shown on the left leg


30


of an article of clothing. The right strap halves


24


have fastening ends


32


opposite of where the right strap halves


24


are sewn into the right leg


28


. A male half button


22


of a snap type button assembly is positioned at the fastening end


32


of each right strap half


24


. The left strap halves


26


have fastening ends opposite


32


of where the left strap halves


26


are sewn into the left leg


30


. A female half button


16


of a snap type button assembly is positioned at the fastening end


32


of each left strap half


26


. When in use, the right and left strap halves


24


,


26


of each retraining strap


14


are fastened together by snapping the male half buttons


22


of the fastening ends


32


of the right strap halves


24


to the female half buttons


16


of the fastening ends


32


of the left strap halves


26


. When the restraining straps


14


are not to be used, the right and left strap halves


24


,


26


are wrapped around each leg


28


,


30


of the article of clothing in which the right and left strap halves


24


,


26


are sewn. After each of the right and left strap halves


24


,


26


are wrapped around the legs


28


,


30


of the article of clothing, the right strap halves


24


are secured by snapping the male half buttons


22


of the fastening ends


32


to the female half buttons


16


on the right leg


28


of the article of clothing and the left strap halves


26


are secured by snapping the female half buttons


16


of the fastening ends


32


to the male half buttons


22


on the left leg


30


of the article of clothing.




The restraining straps


14


prevent children from spreading their legs far enough apart to climb over an object higher than the waist of the child. The restraining straps


14


are usually positioned on an article of clothing


10


between the ankle area and the knee area of the legs of the article of clothing


10


. The positioning of the restraining straps


14


in this manner allows prevention of a child from climbing over a railing, while allowing the child the ability to be mobile. When the restraining straps


14


are not in use and secured to the legs


12


of the article of clothing


10


, the child has full mobility. It is envisioned that other fastening means instead of a snap button assembly may be employed with the restraining straps


14


and the legs


12


of the article of clothing


10


.



Claims
  • 1. An article of clothing for restraining a child from climbing, consisting essentially of:an article of clothing; two legs as part of said article of clothing to cover legs of the child; and at least one restraining strap fastened between said two legs of said article of clothing, said at least one restraining strap fastened at a point between knee and ankle areas of each of said legs when worn.
  • 2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes two ends, wherein one of said ends is attached to one of said legs, while the other of said ends is attached to the other of said legs, and wherein at least one of said ends is detachable from one of said legs using detachable fasteners.
  • 3. The article of clothing of claim 2, wherein both of said ends are detachable from said legs using detachable fasteners.
  • 4. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein there are at least two restraining straps fastened between said two legs of said article of clothing.
  • 5. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said at least one restraining strap is detachable.
  • 6. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes fasteners to fasten said detached at least one restraining strap to one of said legs to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child.
  • 7. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes a sewn end and a snap end; wherein said sewn end is sewn to one of said legs; wherein the other of said legs includes a first snap half of a snap assembly; wherein said snap end includes a second snap half which mates with said first snap half to attach said snap end to the other of said legs including said first snap half.
  • 8. The article of clothing of claim 7, wherein said leg which has said sewn end of said at least one restraining strap attached includes a first snap half attached, such that said at least one restraining strap can be secured to said leg which has said sewn end attached to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child when said at least one restraining strap is detached from said other leg.
  • 9. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes two halves; wherein each half includes a sewn end and a fastening end; wherein each sewn end is sewn into one of said legs; and wherein each fastening end includes mating fasteners, such that the fastening ends of each of said halves of said at least one restraining strap may be fastened together.
  • 10. The article of clothing of claim 9, wherein each of said legs includes fasteners to mate with said fasteners of each of said halves which are sewn to each of said legs, such that each of said halves can be secured to said leg which has said sewn end attached to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child when said halves are detached from each other.
  • 11. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said article of clothing is a one piece sleeper type of article of clothing which includes said legs.
  • 12. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein said at least one restraining strap is detachable.
  • 13. The article of clothing of claim 12, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes fasteners to fasten said detached at least one restraining strap to one of said legs to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child.
  • 14. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes a sewn end and a snap end; wherein said sewn end is sewn to one of said legs; wherein the other of said legs includes a first snap half of a snap assembly; wherein said snap end includes a second snap half which mates with said first snap half to attach said snap end to the other of said legs including said first snap half.
  • 15. The article of clothing of claim 14, wherein said leg which has said sewn end of said at least one restraining strap attached includes a first snap half attached, such that said at least one restraining strap can be secured to said leg which has said sewn end attached to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child when said at least one restraining strap is detached from said other leg.
  • 16. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes two halves; wherein each half includes a sewn end and a fastening end; wherein each sewn end is sewn into one of said legs; and wherein each fastening end includes mating fasteners, such that the fastening ends of each of said halves of said at least one restraining strap may be fastened together.
  • 17. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein each of said legs includes fasteners to mate with said fasteners of each of said halves which are sewn to each of said legs, such that each of said halves can be secured to said leg which has said sewn end attached to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child when said halves are detached from each other.
  • 18. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said article of clothing is a pair of pants which includes said legs.
  • 19. The article of clothing of claim 18, wherein said at least one restraining strap is detachable.
  • 20. The article of clothing of claim 19, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes fasteners to fasten said detached at least one restraining strap to one of said legs to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child.
  • 21. The article of clothing of claim 18, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes a sewn end and a snap end; wherein said sewn end is sewn to one of said legs; wherein the other of said legs includes a first snap half of a snap assembly; wherein said snap end includes a second snap half which mates with said first snap half to attach said snap end to the other of said legs including said first snap half.
  • 22. The article of clothing of claim 21, wherein said leg which has said sewn end of said at least one restraining strap attached includes a first snap half attached, such that said at least one restraining strap can be secured to said leg which has said sewn end attached to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child when said at least one restraining strap is detached from said other leg.
  • 23. The article of clothing of claim 18, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes two halves; wherein each half includes a sewn end and a fastening end; wherein each sewn end is sewn into one of said legs; and wherein each fastening end includes mating fasteners, such that the fastening ends of each of said halves of said at least one restraining strap may be fastened together.
  • 24. The article of clothing of claim 23, wherein each of said legs includes fasteners to mate with said fasteners of each of said halves which are sewn to each of said legs, such that each of said halves can be secured to said leg which has said sewn end attached to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child when said halves are detached from each other.
  • 25. An article of clothing for restraining a child from climbing, comprising:an article of clothing; two legs as part of said article of clothing to cover legs of the child; and at least one restraining strap fastened between said two legs of said article of clothing, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes two halves; wherein each half includes a sewn end and a fastening end; wherein each sewn end is sewn into one of said legs; and wherein each fastening end includes mating fasteners, such that the fastening ends of each of said halves of said at least one restraining strap may be fastened together.
  • 26. The article of clothing of claim 25, wherein each of said legs includes fasteners to mate with said fasteners of each of said halves which are sewn to each of said legs, such that each of said halves can be secured to said leg which has said sewn end attached to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child when said halves are detached from each other.
  • 27. An article of clothing for restraining a child from climbing, comprising:a one piece sleeper type of article of clothing; two legs as part of said one piece sleeper to cover legs of the child; and at least one restraining strap fastened between said two legs of said article of clothing, wherein said article of clothing is a one piece sleeper type of article of clothing which includes said legs, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes two halves; wherein each half includes a sewn end and a fastening end; wherein each sewn end is sewn into one of said legs; and wherein each fastening end includes mating fasteners, such that the fastening ends of each of said halves of said at least one restraining strap may be fastened together.
  • 28. The article of clothing of claim 27, wherein each of said legs includes fasteners to mate with said fasteners of each of said halves which are sewn to each of said legs, such that each of said halves can be secured to said leg which has said sewn end attached to prevent an unsafe situation and allow full mobility of the child when said halves are detached from each other.
  • 29. An article of clothing for restraining a child from climbing, comprising:a pair of pants; two legs as part of said pair of pants to cover legs of the child; and at least one restraining strap fastened between said two legs of said article of clothing, wherein said at least one restraining strap includes two halves; wherein each half includes a sewn end and a fastening end; wherein each sewn end is sewn into one of said legs; and wherein each fastening end includes mating fasteners, such that the fastening ends of each of said halves of said at least one restraining strap may be fastened together.
  • 30. The article of clothing of claim 29, wherein each of said legs includes fasteners to mate with said fasteners of each of said halves which are sewn to each of said legs.
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Entry
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Internet: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/streetgear/dpgirplaidobo.html. Updated Sep. 11, 2001.