The present invention relates to an infant garment and, in particular, to a bodysuit adapted to accommodate infants of various heights and girths.
Children wearing diapers are often dressed in a bodysuit including a torso portion and a crotch or leg portion. The crotch portion includes flaps that are drawn between the infant's legs and secured via snaps. The leg portion typically includes enclosures for the legs, including integrated socks. These conventional configurations, however, do not effectively accommodate a growing child. That is, the dimensions of the bodysuit cannot be adjusted as the child grows. Consequently, the bodysuit becomes ill fitting until it can no longer be worn. This necessitates the purchase of new bodysuits of larger sizes.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a bodysuit capable of accommodating a growing child thereby delaying the purchase of a new, larger bodysuit.
The present invention discloses a one-piece bodysuit for infants and toddlers having a torso portion and a crotch or leg portion. In one embodiment, a portion of the bodysuit may be formed of unidirectional expansion fabric. In another embodiment, a portion of the bodysuit includes a first coupling member including connection material that engages a fastener disposed on a second coupling member. In still another embodiment, the torso portion is formed of a first unidirectional expansion fabric configured to expand in a first direction, and the coupling portion includes a coupling member formed of a second unidirectional expansion material configured to expand in a second direction. With these configurations, the bodysuit can accommodate children of various heights and girths and, as such, can accommodate a growing child more effectively than conventional bodysuits.
Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
The shoulder portions 135A, 135B may be formed integral with the back body panel 120B and configured such that the shoulder portions overlap the front body panel 120A. The outer lateral edge of overlapping shoulder portion sections is secured to the front body panel 120A along a sleeve seam 145. That is, the shoulder portions 135A, 135B are adapted to translate along the torso portion 105 of the bodysuit 10. With this configuration, the neck opening 130 is expandable, with the shoulder portions 135A, 135B moving (e.g., laterally) to accommodate the placement of the garment on the infant and infant movement, as well as to accommodate infants of various sizes.
The coupling or crotch portion 110 of the bodysuit 10 includes a pair of coupling or crotch members or flaps adapted to be wrapped between the legs of the infant. The crotch flaps are further configured to selectively couple at a plurality of overlapping positions. Referring to the embodiment of
The rear coupling member 155 defines an interior (child-facing) surface 165A and an exterior (outward-facing) surface 165B. A fastener 170 is disposed on the interior surface 165A of the rear coupling member 155, proximate coupling member distal end. In another embodiment, the fastener 170 is disposed on the exterior surface 165B of the rear coupling member 155. By way of example, the fastener 170 is a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. A hook-and-loop fastener is typically a sheet of woven synthetic material having raised loop threads wherein the loops of one member are cut at their outer extremities to form hook-type elements and/or loop threads that are uncut to form loop-type elements. When one loop-type element is pressed together in a face-to-face relationship with a hook-type element, substantial engagement between the two elements results. It should be understood, however, that the fastener 170 may be any fastener suitable for its described purpose. Similarly, the fastener may possess any shaped and dimensions suitable for its described purpose. By way of example, the fastener may possess a generally oval shape.
The front coupling member 150 may possess a shape complementary to that of the rear coupling member 155. Specifically, the front coupling member 150 may be in the form of a generally tongue-shaped flap extending distally from the lower edge of the front body panel 120A. The front coupling member 150, similar to that of the rear coupling member 155, terminates in a rounded distal end 180. The front coupling member 150 may possess dimensions similar to or different from those of the rear coupling member 155. By way of example, the dimensions (the transverse and longitudinal dimensions) of the front coupling member 150 may differ from those of the rear coupling member 155, with the front coupling member being smaller than the rear coupling member.
With the above described configuration, the coupling members 150, 155 forming the coupling portion 110 cooperate to secure the bodysuit 10 to the infant, being drawn between the legs of the infant and positioned such that the coupling members overlap. As such, the coupling members 150, 155 wrap around the crotch of the infant, forming first and second leg openings.
At least a portion of the front coupling member 150 is formed of connection material configured to mate with the fastener 170 disposed on the interior surface 165A of the rear coupling member 155, removably capturing the fastener thereto. The connection material 175, connected via a seam 182 (formed, e.g., by stitching), may form a substantial portion of the front coupling member 150 (e.g., at least half of the total area of the front coupling member). By way of example, the connection material 175 may be textured material configured to interconnect with the hooks of a hook-and-loop fastener.
In an embodiment, the connection material 175 is warp knitted fabric. In warp knitting, the yarn zigzags vertically along the length of the fabric such that it follows adjacent columns (wales) of knitting (rather than a single row (course) of knitting). As a result, warp-knit fabric includes a plurality of fibers that extend along the length (the warp) of the fabric (rather than the width) in a zigzag pattern. This configuration results in one side of the fabric including a plurality of fine (non-expandable) vertical ribs running longitudinally along the fabric, and the opposite side including a plurality of horizontal or crosswise ribs. The vertical ribs define a smooth fabric side, while the horizontal or crosswise ribs define a textured fabric side. The material forming the warp knitted fabric is not particularly limited. By way of example, the fabric may be formed of any natural or synthetic fibers (e.g., cotton, wool, silk, rayon, nylon, or a combination thereof) suitable for its described purpose.
In a preferred embodiment, the connection material 175 forming the front coupling member 150 is tricot warp knitted fabric. The connection material 175 is disposed such that the front coupling member 150 has a textured exterior surface 185 and a smooth interior surface. The textured surface 185 includes fiber loops sufficient to grab the hooks of the hook-and-loop fastener 170; consequently, the fastener 170 may be secured to any area of the textured surface 185. In operation, the fastener 170 may be positioned along the front coupling member 150 at selected positions such that the coupling members 150, 155 longitudinally overlap at predetermined distances in accordance with the size of the infant and/or the desired level of fit. As such, the fit of the crotch portion 110 may be altered, with the overall length of the bodysuit 10 being selectively adjusted to accommodate infants of various sizes (heights), as well as to accommodate a growing infant.
With this configuration, the length of the garment is adjusted by changing the height at which the rear coupling member 155 attaches to the textured surface 185 of the front coupling member 150. For example, to accommodate a smaller child, the rear coupling member 155 may be connected to the front coupling member 150 at a first longitudinal position oriented close to the bottom edge of the torso portion 105, thereby reducing the size of the leg openings and reducing the functional length of bodysuit 10 (as measured from the neck opening 130 to the crotch). Conversely, for a larger child, the rear coupling member 155 may be connected at a second, lower disposed further away from the torso portion 105 in order to increase the size of leg openings and increase the functional height/length of the bodysuit 10, thereby accommodating a larger infant.
While a rear coupling member 155 formed of connection material and a front coupling member 150 including a fastener adapted to attach to the textured material are illustrated, it should be understood that the rear coupling member may be formed of the connection material and the front coupling member may include the fastener.
In further embodiments, portions of the bodysuit 10 (e.g., those portions not formed of connection material) may be formed of expansion material configured to expand in a predetermined direction (or to expand significantly more in a first direction than in a second direction (e.g., a direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction)). By way of example, the material may be adapted to expand a vertical direction, e.g., along the y-axis from the viewpoint of the figures) or a lateral direction (e.g., along the x-axis from the viewpoint of the figures). In an embodiment, the body portion 105 is formed of fabric configured to stretch transversely or crosswise (indicated by arrow X) from a normal, contracted position to an expanded position when a predetermined outward lateral force is applied. Once the outward force is removed, the material returns back to its normal, contracted position.
By way of example, as seen in
By way of specific example, the unidirectional expansion fabric may be two-wale cotton. This unidirectional expansion fabric permits lateral expansion (expansion in a direction transverse to the wale), but minimizes expansion in the longitudinal direction (expansion along the wale axis). Stated another way, the fabric permits greater lateral expansion than longitudinal expansion (e.g., the fabric may permit substantially no longitudinal expansion).
With this above described configuration, the bodysuit 10 will expand should the infant onto which the bodysuit 10 is applied possess a girth larger than that accommodated by the fabric in its normal (contracted) position. As such, the bodysuit 10 accommodates infants of various sizes by not only permitting lateral expansion (to accommodate infants of various girths), but also by permitting a parent to selectively adjust the length of the crotch connection (via connection material swatch), accommodating infants of various heights/lengths.
As explained above, the textured side of the connection material 205 includes fiber loops sufficient to grab the hooks of the fastener 170. As a result, the fastener 170 may be secured to any area of the connection material 205. In operation, the fastener 170 on the front coupling member 150 is placed at selected longitudinal positions along the rear coupling member 155 such that the coupling members 150, 155 longitudinally overlap at a predetermined distances in accordance with the size of the infant and/or the desired level of fit. In this manner, the length of the bodysuit 20 may be selectively adjusted to accommodate infants of various sizes (heights), as well as to accommodate a growing infant.
The coupling portion 310 includes a front coupling member 360 and a rear coupling member 365. The front coupling member 360 may be integrally formed with front body panel 320A, being formed of the same unidirectional expansion material forming the front body panel (i.e., the front coupling portion may be formed integral with front body panel 320A). As illustrated, the front coupling member 360 is a truncated member (compared to that of the other embodiments), extending only slightly from the front body panel 320A. The exterior surface 370 of the front coupling member 360 includes at least one fastener 375A adapted to mate with a corresponding fastener 375B disposed on the interior surface 380 of the rear coupling member 365. The fasteners 375A, 375B may be snaps, buttons, etc.
Referring to
With this configuration, the rear coupling member 365 expands from its normal (contracted) position to an expanded position. In the stretched position, the longitudinal dimension of the rear coupling member 365 is increased compared to that of the contracted coupling member. In operation, the body portion 305 expands in a first, transverse (crosswise) direction (indicated by arrow X), while the coupling portion 310 expands a second, longitudinal (lengthwise) direction (indicated by arrow Y). As such, the length of the coupling portion 310 adjusts to accommodate infant of various heights since it automatically expands (in direction Y) when a force is applied thereto. When the parent draws the rear coupling member 365 between the legs, the parent simply pulls the rear coupling member 365 outward until it overlaps with the front coupling member 360. Once positioned in an overlapping relationship, the parent aligns the snaps 375A, 375B, pressing them together to secure the bodysuit 30 to the infant. In addition, during the application of the bodysuit 30 to the infant, the body portion 305 formed of the first unidirectional expansion material automatically expands to the girth of the infant.
To secure the bodysuit 30 to the infant, a user draws the rear coupling member 365 between the legs of the infant, wrapping the member around the crotch and connecting the fasteners 375A, 375B. Note that the first and second expansion materials may be the exact same type of material mated together in differing fiber orientations to enable different stretch directions along a single panel 320A, 320B.
Each of the torso portion 405; sleeves 410A, 410B; shin portions 435A, 435B; and foot enclosures 450A, 450B may be formed of any material suitable for its described purpose. For example, one or more portions of the bodysuit 400 may be made of unidirectional expansion material as described above. In an embodiment, the sleeves 410A, 410B and the shin portions 435A, 435B are formed of material configured to permit expansion in a first direction along a y-axis (in the vertical direction, indicated by arrow Y), including a plurality of horizontal ribs 452 and valleys 453 similar to that described above direction (seen best in
The torso portion 505 may be formed such that it is integral with a first leg member 545A and a second leg member 545B. The leg members 545A, 545B may include an opening 550 disposed along the inner circumference of the leg members. The opening 550 may be secured via a plurality of fasteners 555 such as snaps or buttons. A first foot enclosure portion 560A is connected to the first leg member 545A along a first footie seam 565A. Similarly, a second foot enclosure portion 560B is connected to the second leg member 545B along a second footie seam 565B.
As seen best in
The torso portion 505; chest plate 510; sleeves 520A, 520B; shoulder portions 535A, 535B; leg members 545A, 545B; and foot enclosures 560A, 560B may individually or collectively be formed of any material suitable for their described purpose. By way of example, portions of the bodysuit 500 may be formed of unidirectional expansion material as described above. In an embodiment, the chest 510 and back 570 panel portions are formed of unidirectional expansion material configured to permit expansion in a first direction, along the x-axis (horizontally/transversely), as indicated by arrow X. The torso portion 505 with leg members 545A, 545B is formed with unidirectional expansion material configured to permit expansion in a second direction, along the y-axis (vertically), as indicated by arrow Y direction (seen best in
A leg portion 640 including a first leg member 640A and a second leg member 640B is connected to the lower edge of the waist band portion 620 via leg seam 645. The first leg member 640A, moreover, is connected to a first foot enclosure 650A along the lower edge of the first leg member via a first footie seam 655A. Similarly, the second leg member 640B is connected to a second foot enclosure 650B along the lower edge of the second leg member via a second footie seam 655B.
The torso portion 605; sleeve portions 610A, 610B; waist band portion 620; shoulder portions 635A, 635B; and leg portion 640 may individually or collectively be formed of any material suitable for their described purpose. By way of example, portions of the bodysuit 600 may be formed of unidirectional expansion material as described above. In an embodiment, the torso portion 605 is formed of unidirectional expansion material configured to permit expansion in a first direction, along the x-axis (transversely), as indicated by arrow X. The leg portion 640 is formed of unidirectional expansion material configured to permit expansion in a second direction, along the y-axis (vertically), as indicated by arrow Y. The foot enclosures 650A, 650B are formed of unidirectional expansion material configured to permit expansion in a third direction, along the z-axis (which, e.g., is oriented generally orthogonal to the x and/or y axes).
The bodysuit 70 includes a plurality of fasteners to enable securing of panel portions. For example, the exterior panel 720 includes one or more exterior panel fasteners 740 that mate with corresponding fasteners 745 disposed on the first lateral side 750 of the interior panel 725 (along interior panel outer surface). As seen in
To fit the garment on an infant, the bodysuit begins in an opened position as illustrated in
As with the above embodiments, the various portions of the bodysuit 70 may be formed of any material suitable for its described purpose. By way of example, various portions of the bodysuit 70 may be formed of unidirectional expansion material configured to expand in the direction of the x-axis, the y-axis, or the z-axis.
The crotch portion 830 further includes a fastening system including the connection material as described above. Specifically, the rear crotch flap 832 includes a fastener such as a hook-and-loop fastener 835 as described above. The hook-and-loop fastener 835 is disposed along the rear flap distal portion (e.g., proximate flap distal end). Additionally, the front crotch flap 832 includes a swatch or patch of connection material 837 similar to that described above. By way of example, the entire front crotch flap 832 may be formed of connection material 837. The connection material 837 may be formed integral with the front crotch flap 834, or may be an overlay attached to the front crotch flap 832, e.g., via stitching, adhesive, etc.
The bodysuit 80 may further include a plurality of torso fasteners to enable securing together of torso panels. For example, the exterior panel 820 includes one or more exterior panel fasteners 840 that mate with complementary first interior panel fasteners 845 disposed on the first lateral side 850 of the interior torso panel 825 (e.g., along the seam where the interior torso panel 825 connects to the rear torso panel 827). The first interior panel fasteners 845 may be coupled to the interior panel 825 via tabs 855 (e.g., fabric tabs). In addition, the second lateral side 860 of the interior panel 825 includes second interior panel fasteners 865 (e.g., the fasteners 865 are disposed proximate the distal (non-seam) edge of the interior panel). The second interior panel fasteners 865 are configured to mate with complementary rear panel fasteners 870 disposed on the interior surface of the rear torso panel 827. The rear panel fasteners 870 may be secured to the rear torso panel 827 via tabs 875 (e.g., fabric tabs).
To fit the garment on an infant, the bodysuit 80 infant is placed within the garment, and the interior torso panel 825 is folded over the infant, with second interior panel fasteners 865 mating with rear panel fasteners 870. Once secured, the rear crotch flap 834 is folded between the legs of the infant, and the fastener 835 on the interior surface of the rear crotch flap is brought into contact with the connection material 837 disposed on the exterior surface of the front crotch flap 832. Finally, the exterior torso panel 820 is folded over the interior torso panel 825, with the exterior panel fasteners 840 mating with the first interior panel fasteners 845 disposed along the first lateral side 850 of the interior torso panel 825.
The coupling portion 910 includes a front coupling member 960 and a rear coupling member 965. The front coupling member 960 may be integrally formed with front body panel 920A, (i.e., the front coupling member 960 may be formed of the same material as the front body panel 920A). As illustrated, the front coupling member 960 is a truncated member (compared to that of the other embodiments), extending only slightly from the front body panel 920A. The exterior surface 970 of the front coupling member 960 (e.g., proximate the edge of the member) includes at least one fastener 975A adapted to mate with a corresponding fastener 975B disposed on the interior surface 980 of the rear coupling member 965. The fasteners 975A, 975B may be snaps, buttons, etc.
The rear coupling member 965 may be non-integral with the rear torso panel 920B, being connected along a lower edge of the rear body panel 920B along a seam 985 (e.g., stitching). The rear coupling member 965 may be formed of a second unidirectional expansion material configured to expand in a second direction. Specifically, the rear coupling member 965 may be formed of fabric adapted to expand transversely (in a cross-wise direction). The fabric forming the rear coupling member 965 including a series ribs oriented generally vertically (i.e., the ribs are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal garment axis) interconnected by resilient webbing or valleys that cooperate to permit separation of adjacent ribs, thereby permitting expansion of the fabric in the transverse direction (indicated by arrow X), thereby enabling the increase of the overall width of the rear coupling member 965. As in other embodiments, the second unidirectional expansion material forming the rear coupling member 965 may be two-wale cotton fabric. As shown, the bodysuit 90 (the torso portion 905 and/or the crotch portion 910) may include conventional binding 987 at predetermined locations.
With this configuration, the rear coupling member 965 expands from its normal (contracted) position to an expanded position. In the stretched position, the transverse dimension of the rear coupling member 965 is increased compared to that of the contracted coupling member. In operation, a user draws the rear coupling member 965 between the legs of the infant, wrapping the member around the crotch and connecting the fasteners 975A, 975B. The rear coupling member expands, accommodating the girth of the infant, the diaper worn by the infant, etc.
Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.
Thus, while the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the material forming the bodysuit or portions thereof may be any suitable for its described purpose. The connection material may cover any area of the bodysuit suitable for its described purpose. For example, it may form the entirety of a coupling member. The connection material may form the portion of the garment infant garment, or may be an overlay attached (adhered, stitched, etc.) to material (e.g., fabric formed of natural and/or synthetic fibers) forming the portion of the infant garment. Alternatively, it may form at least half of the total area of the coupling members. In addition, it may form all or part of the body portion (i.e., the body panels), as well as the sleeve portions and shoulder portions. As should be understood, any of the described embodiments may include conventional binding at predetermined locations.
It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components and/or points of reference as disclosed herein, and do not limit the present invention to any particular configuration or orientation. The phrase infant garment is intended to include garments adapted for use with infants and young children.
The present application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/473,407, filed on 8 Apr. 2011 and entitled “Infant Garment,” and to Provisional Application No. 61/534,513, filed on 14 Sep. 2011 and entitled “Infant Garment.” Each of the aforementioned disclosures is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61473407 | Apr 2011 | US | |
61534513 | Sep 2011 | US |