BABY GARMENT

Abstract

The present disclosure relates, in one embodiment, to a garment for a baby. The garment may include a torso portion, a top opening in the torso portion, a bottom opening in the torso portion, a first leg loop, and a second leg loop. The first leg loop may be attached to the bottom opening such that the first leg loop is configured to receive a first leg of the baby so that the first leg loop passes over the crotch region and the buttocks region of the baby. The second leg loop may be attached to the bottom opening such that the second leg loop is configured to receive a second leg of the baby so that the first leg loop passes over the crotch region and the buttocks region of the baby.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a baby garment that does not require the use of a fastener to secure the garment on the baby. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to improvements to traditional baby garments.

Traditional baby garments have used various fasteners to secure the baby garment onto a baby. Such fasteners have included snaps, zippers, Velcro, and various other mechanisms. These fasteners have been used, for example, to close the bottom of the baby garment and cover the diaper in the baby's crotch and buttocks region. However, such fasteners sometimes frustrate the caregiver because some caregivers may have a hard time quickly getting snaps to connect correctly or the zipper gets stuck.

What is needed, therefore, is an improved system for securing a garment to a baby. The present disclosure utilizes the garment itself to secure the garment onto the baby without requiring the user to engage a fastener.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Briefly, the present disclosure relates, in one aspect of the disclosure, to a garment for a baby comprising a torso portion, a top opening in the torso portion, a bottom opening in the torso portion, a first leg loop and a second leg loop. The first leg loop may be attached to the bottom opening such that it receives the first leg of the baby so that the first leg loop passes over the crotch region and the buttocks region of the baby.

In another embodiment, the torso portion may further include a front and a back, both of which includes a right and left side. The first leg loop then includes a front end and a back end such that the front end attaches to the right side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attaches to the right side of the back of the torso portion. The second leg loop then includes a front end and a back end such that the front end attaches to the left side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attaches to the left side of the back of the torso portion.

In another embodiment, the first leg loop includes an inner edge and an outer edge and the second leg loop includes an inner edge and an outer edge such that the inner edge of the first leg loop is configured to cross over the inner edge of the second leg loop.

In another embodiment, the torso portion further includes a front and a back, both of which also include a right and a left side. The first leg loop includes a front end and a back end such that the front end attaches to the right side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attaches to the left side of the back of the torso portion, and the second loop includes a front end and a back end such that the front end attaches to the left side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attaches to the right side of the back of the torso portion.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a garment for a baby comprises a torso portion including a front and a back, a top opening in the torso portion, a bottom opening in the torso portion, a first leg loop attached to the bottom opening that includes an inner edge and an outer edge, and a second leg loop attached to the bottom opening that includes an inner edge and an outer edge. The inner edge of the first leg loop crosses over the inner edge of the second leg loop.

In another embodiment, the inner edge of the first leg loop attaches to the back of the bottom opening at a position aligned with a midline of where the second leg loop attaches to the back of the bottom opening.

In another embodiment, the front and back of the torso portion include a right and a left side. The first leg loop also includes a front end and a back end such that the front end attaches to the right side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attaches to the left side of the back of the torso portion. The second loop also includes a front end and a back end such that the front end attaches to the left side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attaches to the right side of the back of the torso portion.

In another embodiment, the garment further includes a midline, and the first leg loop crosses over the second leg loop in a symmetrical manner across the midline of the garment. In another embodiment, the first leg loop crosses over the second leg loop in an asymmetrical manner across the midline of the garment.

In any of the above embodiments, the garment may be made of a stretchy material. In any of the above embodiments, the torso portion, the first leg loop, and the second leg loop may be made of a plurality of fabric pieces. In any of the above embodiments, the first leg loop or the second leg loop is at least partially detachable from the torso portion. In any of the above embodiments, the first leg loop has a first length, the second leg loop has a second length, and the first length is different from the second length. In any of the above embodiments, the first length is 5% longer than the second length. In any of the above embodiments, the first length is 10% longer than the second length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of an embodiment of a baby garment including two leg loops in a secured configuration.

FIG. 1B is a back view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A including two leg loops in a secured configuration.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A including the two leg loops in an unsecured configuration.

FIG. 2B is a back view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A including the two leg loops in an unsecured configuration.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A placed on the baby in an unsecured configuration.

FIG. 3B is a back view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A placed on the baby in an unsecured configuration.

FIG. 4A is a front view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A placed on the baby in a partially secured configuration.

FIG. 4B is a back view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A placed on the baby in a partially secured configuration.

FIG. 5A is a front view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A placed on the baby in a secured configuration.

FIG. 5B is a back view of the baby garment of FIG. 1A placed on the baby in a secured configuration.

FIG. 6A is a front view of an embodiment of the baby garment where the baby garment is a dress.

FIG. 6B is a front view of the baby garment of FIG. 6A with the skirt portion of the dress is partially raised.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more drawings of which are set forth herein. Each drawing is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure and is not a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.

Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in, or are obvious from, the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B show one embodiment of a baby garment 100. The baby garment 100 may include a torso portion 102, top opening 104, two arm openings 106, 108, and a bottom opening 110. The baby garment may further include arm sleeves 112, 114 as desired. The baby garment may also include a left leg loop 116 and a right leg loop 118, each of which may form a “U” shape when the leg loops 116, 118 attach to the front and back of the bottom opening 110. The “U” shape of the leg loops 116, 118 extends below the bottom opening 110 such that the leg loops may wrap around the crotch region of the baby to secure the baby garment 100 to the baby when the baby garment 100 is placed on the baby. The baby garment 100 may be made of any acceptable material, including cotton, spandex, lyocell, modal, and any similar material or combination of materials as would be used by a person skilled in the art. Some users may prefer, for example, that the material be stretchy to move with the baby and to make working with the leg loops easier.

The baby garment 100 may also be made of a single, unitary piece of fabric. Other embodiments may further include the baby garment 100 being made of more than one piece of fabric. For example, the right side of the baby garment 100—which may include the right side of the torso portion 102, the right sleeve 114, and the right leg loop 118—may be all one piece of fabric, while the left side of the baby garment 100—which may include the left side of the torso portion 102, the left sleeve 112, and the left leg loop 116—is made of a second piece of fabric. Similarly, other embodiments may make any combination of the torso portion 102, sleeves 112, 114, and leg loops 116, 118 of separate pieces of fabric as desired. The divisions of the different pieces of fabric may be configured in any way that would occur a person skilled in the art. For example, rather than dividing the garment into a left and right side, the fabric may be divided into front and back pieces, include a piece that goes over the top of the shoulder such that a seam does not rest on the shoulders, or other configurations that would occur to a person of ordinary skill. Other embodiments may also use the leg loop configurations described herein as part of various types of garments. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the leg loop configuration could be used in a baby dress where the leg loops 116, 118 are arranged under the skirt 122 of the dress. FIG. 6B shows one such embodiment where the leg loops 116, 118 can be seen beneath the skirt 122 of the dress. As used throughout this disclosure, the term “attached” is not limiting and may refer to features that are formed out of a single piece of fabric. For example, when the left leg loop 116 is made from the same piece of fabric as the torso portion 102, the left leg loop 116 is “attached” to the torso portion 102.

The leg loops 116, 118 may be configured in a variety of ways to achieve the benefits disclosed herein. In general, the preferred embodiments enable a caregiver to place a baby's legs through the leg loops 116, 118 such that the fabric of the leg loops 116, 118 cover the crotch and buttocks regions of the baby, and therefore also cover the diaper. For example, the leg loops 116, 118 may cross over each other to form an “X” shape, though such a crossing is not required in every embodiment, as described below. In this way, leg loops 116, 118 provide a caregiver a way to secure the baby garment 100 to the baby without engaging any fasteners.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B show one embodiment where the leg loops 116, 118 may be configured such that the leg loops 116, 118 cross-over one another and the attachment seams of the leg loops 116, 118 do not overlap. For example, the left leg loop 116 may be attached to the bottom opening 110 at the front on the left side of the baby garment 100 and then attach to the bottom opening 110 on the back of the baby garment 100 on the right side. The right leg loop 118 may then be attached to the bottom opening 110 at the front on the right side of the baby garment 100 and then attach to the bottom opening 110 on the back of the baby garment 100 on the left side. Other embodiments may still include the cross-over without the overlap while also allowing at least a portion of the attachment seams for both leg loops 116, 118 to be on the same side of the midline 120. FIGS. 1A and 1B show the leg loops 116, 118 in a closed configuration, such that the baby garment 100 would appear when secured on a baby. FIGS. 2A and 2B show the leg loops 116, 118 in an open configuration, such that the baby garment 100 would appear when it is not secured on a baby.

In another embodiment, the leg loops 116, 118 are configured such that the leg loops 116, 118 overlap at the attachment seam for both leg loops 116, 118 to the back of the baby garment 100 at the bottom opening 110 by passing the inner edge of a first leg loop 116, 118 over the inner edge of the second leg loop 116, 118. The amount of the seam of the leg loops 116, 118 that overlap the midline 120 may be symmetrical across the midline 120 of the baby garment 100 such that the same length of the seam is present on the left and right of the midline 120. In other embodiments, the seam of the leg loops 116, 118 that overlap the midline 120 may be asymmetrical across the midline 120 of the baby garment 100 such that more of the seam is on the left side of the midline 120 or more of the seam is on the right side of the midline 120. For example, the left leg loop 116 may be the only leg loop that crosses over the midline 120 to form the overlap or vice versa. Similarly, in some embodiments, only a portion of the left leg loop 116 may cross the midline 120 to form the overlap, and in other embodiments the entire left leg loop 116 may cross over the midline 120 to form the overlap. Other embodiments may vary the amount of overlap by the leg loops 116, 118. For example, in one embodiment the attachment seams of the leg loops 116, 118 may be configured to completely overlap such that they are coextensive. In another embodiment the overlapping portion of the leg loops 116, 118 may be configured at the attachment seam to overlap only one quarter, half, three quarters, or any other amount of the leg loops 116, 118 desired.

In another embodiment, the leg loops 116, 118 may be configured such that the leg loops 116, 118 do not overlap. In this configuration, the leg loops 116, 118 may still be configured to receive the legs of the baby such that the leg loops 116, 118 cover the crotch and buttocks region of the baby. For example, each leg loop 116, 118 may be configured to receive the respective leg of the baby at the inner edge of the leg loop 116, 118 and allow the leg to pass out through the outer edge of the leg loop 116, 118. In this configuration, for example, the left leg loop 116 may have a front end attached to the bottom opening 110 on the front of the baby garment 100 on the left side and a back end attached to the bottom opening 110 on the back of the baby garment 100 on the left side. The right leg loop 118 may also have a front end attached to the bottom opening 110 on the front of the baby garment 100 on the right side and a back end attached to the bottom opening 110 on the back of baby garment 100 on the right side.

The leg loops 116, 118 may be any width desired. The left leg loop 116 and the right leg loop 118 may also have different widths. For example, the left leg loop 116 may be wider than the right leg loop 118 and vice versa. The width of each leg loop 116, 118 may also be constant for the entire length of the leg loops 116, 118. Alternatively, the width of the leg loops 116, 118 may vary at different portions of the leg loops 116, 118. For example, the back end of the left leg loop 116 may be wider than the front end of the left leg loop 116, or any other variation that may occur to a person skilled in the art. Similarly, the leg loops 116, 118 may have the same or different lengths. For example, the left leg loop 116 may be longer than right leg loop 118 so that the left leg loop 116 may better cross over the right leg loop 118. Such longer leg loop may be 5-10% longer than the shorter leg loop, or any other desired ratio.

The leg loops 116, 118 may also be detachable for various purposes such as cleaning the leg loops or to provide the user options for how to secure the baby garment 100 to the baby. In these embodiments, the baby garment 100 may still be secured using the attached leg loops as contemplated in this application, but allowing the leg loops 116, 118 to detach may provide additional functionality to the user. The leg loops 116, 118 may be configured to detach using various types of fasteners such as snaps, zippers, Velcro, or other fasteners that would occur to a person skilled in the art.

An exemplary method of use will now be described for the baby garment 100, the various stages of the method are illustrated in FIGS. 3A-5B. The following description of the method uses the embodiment of the baby garment 100 shown in the Figures, but a person skilled in the art will recognize that the same method or a similar method can be used for any embodiment.

First, the user places the torso portion 102 of the baby garment 100 onto the baby, similar to the unsecured configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. This step may vary depending on the configuration of the baby garment 100. For example, the baby garment 100 may be configured to pass over the head of the baby by placing the bottom opening 110 over the head of the baby. In other embodiments, the baby garment 100 may be configured for the legs of the baby to pass through the top opening first. Other embodiments of baby garment 100 may instead include a zipper, buttons, or similar fastening device for fitting the torso portion 102 onto the baby. In such embodiments, the baby may enter the baby garment 100 in accordance with the typical use of these fastening devices.

Second, the user may pass the head through the top opening 104 and the arms through the arm openings 106, 108 in accordance with the configuration of the baby garment 100 as described above.

Third, the user may pass the first leg, the left or right leg as the user prefers, through the corresponding leg loop 116, 118 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B or in any other manner contemplated in this disclosure. The first leg may pass through the inner edge of the first leg loop 116, 118 and then out the outer edge of the first leg loop 116, 118 such that the first leg loop 116, 118 passes over the crotch region and the buttocks region.

Fourth, the user may pass the second leg through the corresponding leg loop 116, 118 to configure the baby garment 100 as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B or in a similar configuration contemplated in this disclosure. The second leg may pass through the inner edge of the second leg loop 116, 118 and then out the outer edge of the second leg loop 116, 118 such that the second leg loop 116, 118 passes over the crotch region and the buttocks region. Frequently in embodiments that include the leg loops 116, 118 crossing over and/or overlapping each other, the second leg loop 116, 118 will pass over the first leg loop 116, 118 that has already received a leg and is passing over the crotch region and the buttocks region of the baby. When the leg loops 116, 118 are wrapped around the corresponding legs of the baby, the baby garment 100 is secured.

To remove the baby garment 100, the user may perform the same steps in reverse or any preferred order.

Another method of use is now described that takes advantage of the benefits disclosed herein where the user is able to quickly and easily access a baby's diaper while the baby is wearing the baby garment 100.

With the baby garment 100 secured to the baby, the user first slides the first leg loop 116, 118, either the left leg loop 116 or the right leg loop 118 as the user prefers, over the corresponding leg of the baby such that the leg no longer passes through the first leg loop 116, 118. In this state, the first leg loop 116, 118 may be placed along the outer side of the baby's corresponding leg and hip. Second, the user slides the second leg loop 116, 118 over the corresponding leg of the baby such that the leg no longer passes through the second leg loop 116, 118. In this state, the second leg loop 116, 118 may be placed along the outer side of the baby's corresponding leg and hip.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Although embodiments of the disclosure have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. While specific uses for the subject matter of the disclosure have been exemplified, other uses are contemplated. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained herein.

Claims

1. A garment for a baby comprising: a torso portion;a top opening in the torso portion;a bottom opening in the torso portion;a first leg loop attached to the bottom opening, the first leg loop configured to receive a first leg of the baby such that the first leg loop passes over a crotch region and a buttocks region of the baby; anda second leg loop attached to the bottom opening, the second leg loop configured for a second leg of the baby to pass through such that the second leg loop passes over the crotch region and the buttocks region of the baby.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein: the torso portion includes a front and a back, the front and the back both including a right side and a left side;the first leg loop includes a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the right side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attached to the right side of the back of the torso portion; andthe second leg loop includes a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the left side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attached to the left side of the back of the torso portion.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein: the first leg loop includes an inner edge and an outer edge;the second leg loop includes an inner edge and an outer edge; andwherein the inner edge of the first leg loop is configured to cross over the inner edge of the second leg loop.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein: the torso portion includes a front and a back, the front and the back both including a right side and a left side;the first leg loop includes a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the right side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attached to the left side of the back of the torso portion; andthe second leg loop includes a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the left side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attached to the right side of the back of the torso portion.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein: the garment is made of a stretchy material.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein: the torso portion, the first leg loop, and the second leg loop are made of a plurality of fabric pieces.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the first leg loop or the second leg loop is at least partially detachable from the torso portion.

8. The garment of claim 8, wherein: the first leg loop has a first length; andthe second leg loop has a second length that is different from the first length.

9. The garment of claim 8, wherein: the first length is 5% longer than the second length.

10. The garment of claim 8, wherein: the first length is 10% longer than the second length.

11. A garment for a baby comprising: a torso portion including a front and a back;a top opening in the torso portion;a bottom opening in the torso portion;a first leg loop attached to the bottom opening including an inner edge and an outer edge;a second leg loop attached to the bottom opening including an inner edge and an outer edge; andwherein the inner edge of the first leg loop crosses over the inner edge of the second leg loop.

12. The garment of claim 11, wherein: the inner edge of the first leg loop attaches to the back of the bottom opening at a position aligned with a midline of where the second leg loop attaches to the back of the bottom opening.

13. The garment of claim 11, wherein: the front and the back of the torso portion include a right side and a left side;the first leg loop includes a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the right side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attached to the left side of the back of the torso portion; andthe second leg loop includes a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the left side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attached to the right side of the back of the torso portion.

14. The garment of claim 11, wherein: the garment includes a midline;the first leg loop crosses over the second leg loop in a substantially symmetrical manner across the midline of the garment.

15. The garment of claim 11, wherein: the garment includes a midline;the first leg loop crosses over the second leg loop in an asymmetrical manner across the midline of the garment.

16. The garment of claim 11, wherein: the garment is made of a stretchy material.

17. The garment of claim 11, wherein: the torso portion, the first leg loop, and the second leg loop are made of a plurality of fabric pieces.

18. The garment of claim 11, wherein: the first leg loop and the second leg loop are detachable from the torso portion.

19. The garment of claim 11, wherein: the first leg loop has a first length; andthe second leg loop has a second length that is different from the first length.

20. The garment of claim 19, wherein: the first length is 5% longer than the second length.

21. A garment for a baby comprising: a torso portion, including a front and a back, the front and the back both including a right and a left side;a top opening in the torso portion;a bottom opening in the torso portion;a first leg loop attached to the bottom opening and including a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the right side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attached to the left side of the back of the torso portion, and the first leg loop configured to receive a first leg of the baby such that the first leg loop passes over a crotch region and a buttocks region of the baby; anda second leg loop attached to the bottom opening and including a front end and a back end, the front end attached to the left side of the front of the torso portion and the back end attached to the right side of the back of the torso portion, and the second leg loop configured for a second leg of the baby to pass through such that the second leg loop passes over the crotch region and the buttocks region of the baby.wherein the first leg loop has a first length; andwherein the second leg loop has a second length that is different from the first length.