Expandable Infant Clothing

Abstract

Infant clothing is expandable by the use of hidden rows of connectors which are attached in a first position for younger infants of approximately three months of age. As the infant grows, the connectors can be detached, thus expanding the length of the garment and thereby extending its life and usefulness. Front and back tunic components are also provided which overlay the connections when the connections are both attached and disconnected.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing and specifically clothing for infants and babies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clothing for infants is routinely purchased to match the infant's age, size, and shape. However, as infants get older and grow, especially during their early months, they quickly outgrow the clothes originally worn. This results in parents having to buy new clothing frequently, thereby incurring significant expense. As a result, there is a need to provide clothing for infants which can be expanded to larger sizes as the infant grows, thus obviating the need to continually replace perfectly wearable clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide infant clothing which is expandable, in order to extend the life of otherwise wearable clothing.

This and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, clothing which is expandable by the use of hidden snaps, buttons, Velcro,® and like connections located in the midsection area of the garment. As the baby grows, the connectors can be detached, thus expanding the length of the garment and thereby extending its life and usefulness. Front and back tunic components are also provided which overlay the connections when the connections are both attached and disconnected.

The designs of the present invention will encompass both boy, girl, and gender neutral—for parents who do not know the sex of the infant before birth. Some of the designs may have decorative fabric around the midsection to mask the fabric seam.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the front view of the expandable infant clothing of the present invention sized for a small infant, e.g. approximately three months of age.

FIG. 2 shows the back view of the expandable infant clothing of the present invention sized for a small infant, e.g. approximately three months of age.

FIG. 3 shows the front view of the expandable infant clothing of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the clothing is to be expanded.

FIG. 4 shows the back view of the expandable infant clothing of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the clothing is to be expanded.

FIG. 5 shows the front view of the expandable infant clothing of the present invention in its initial state, prior to expansion.

FIG. 6 shows the back view of the expandable infant clothing of the present invention in its initial state of expansion.

FIG. 7 shows the front view of the expandable infant clothing of the present invention in its fully expanded state.

FIG. 8 shows the back view of the expandable infant clothing of the present invention in its fully expanded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Expandable clothing, e.g. an infant's Onsies,® 1 comprises top clothing member 2 having arm sections 4 and 6, front tunic section 8, and rear tunic section 10. Expandable clothing 1 also comprises bottom clothing member 3 comprising upper section 12 having a front 14 and a back 16, and lower section 18 having a front 20 and a back 22.

Upper section 12 comprises first row of connectors 24 on front 14 extending across the width of the upper section, the row having a plurality of connectors 26; a second row of connectors 28 on the front extending across the width of the upper section, the row having a plurality of corresponding connectors 30; a third row of connectors 32 on the back extending across the width of the upper section, the third row of connectors having a plurality of connectors 34; and a fourth row of connectors 36 on the back extending across the width of the upper section, the fourth row of connectors having a plurality of connectors 38. Front midsection component 40 is located between and separates first row of connectors 24 and second row of connectors 28. Back midsection component 42 is located between and separates third row of connectors 32 and fourth row of connectors 36.

Lower section 18 comprises front leg sections 44 and 46 and back leg sections 48 and 50. Front leg sections 44 and 46 comprise a curved shape fifth row of connectors 52 having a plurality of connectors 54 and back leg sections 48 and 50 comprise a curved shape sixth row of connectors 56 having a plurality of connectors 58. Fifth row of connectors 52 and sixth row of connectors 56 are configured to have their respective connectors attach front leg sections 44 and 46 to back leg sections 48 and 50.

In use, expandable clothing 1 is configured to be in a first position for a small infant, perhaps about three months old, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to secure clothing 1 in this position, connectors 26 of the first row of connectors 24 and connectors 30 of the second row of connectors 28 are attached and connectors 34 of the third row of connectors 32 and connectors 38 of the fourth row of connectors 36 are attached, such that midsection component 40 is folded up between the first and second row of connectors. See FIGS. 3 and 4. This results in the first position of expandable clothing 1, in which its overall length is shortened.

As the infant grows, expandable clothing 1 is designed to be adjusted to a second position in which the length L of the clothing is increased. For this expanded position, connectors 26, 30, 34, and 38 are detached and midsection component 40 is unfolded and extended to lengthen the clothing. See FIGS. 5 and 6. The fully extended second position of expandable clothing 1 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In both the first and second positions, front tunic section 8 and rear tunic section 10 are configured to overlay and cover first row 24, second row 28, third row 32, and fourth row 36 of connectors and midsection components 40 and 42.

The FIGs herein show the use of snaps to connect the various rows of connectors. However, it is contemplated that any commonly utilized connector, e.g. buttons, Velcro,® stitching, etc., can be used.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. Expandable clothing for infants comprising: a top clothing member having two arm sections and front and rear tunic sections;a bottom clothing member comprising an upper section having a front and a back, and a lower section having a front and a back;said upper section comprising: a first row of connectors on the front extending across the width of the upper section, a second row of corresponding connectors on the front extending across the width of the upper section, a third row of connectors on the back extending across the width of the upper section, a fourth row of connectors on the back extending across the width of the upper section, a front midsection component located between and separating the first and second rows of connectors, and a back midsection component located between and separating the third and fourth row of connectors;said lower section comprising: two front leg sections and two back leg sections, the front leg sections having a fifth row of connectors and the back leg sections having a sixth row of connectors, the fifth and sixth rows of connectors being configured to attach the front leg sections to the back leg sections.

2. The expandable clothing for infants as in claim 1 wherein in a first position, the first and second row of connectors are attached, and the third and fourth row of connectors are attached such that the midsection component is folded up and the length of the clothing is shortened, and in a second position, the first, second, third, and fourth row of connectors are detached, and the midsection component is unfolded and extended to increase the length of the clothing.

3. The expandable clothing for infants as in claim 2 wherein in both the first and second positions, the front and rear tunics overlay and cover the first, second, third and fourth rows of connectors and the front and back midsection components.

4. The expandable clothing for infants as in claim 1 wherein all the connectors are snaps.