Infant bodysuit

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/407,555, entitled "Infant Bodysuit," filed on October 28,2010, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in full.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A common type of clothing worn by infant children (generally those under 12 months, but extending up to those as old as 24 months) is known as an infant bodysuit. As is well known, the infant bodysuit typically covers the entire torso of the infant with a single piece of clothing. The bodysuit may have no sleeves, short sleeves, or long sleeves. Typically, the bodysuit is open at the bottom and has detachable closure devices located along the bottom edge of the front and back panels. Most typically, these closure devices may be snaps which may include a stud and a matching socket for receiving the stud.

[0003] With many bodysuits, there is a plurality of such snaps. For example, there may be a single row of three snaps that can be used to removably attach the back panel to the front panel. In order to allow for some growth of the infant, at least one manufacturer of bodysuits has included a pair of rows of snap members (e.g. sockets) along the bottom of the front panel so that either of the rows of sockets of the front panel can be used to receive the studs of the snap portions on the back panel.

[0004] DE 299 14 379 is directed to a garment, especially for baby bodies, by which at least the torso of the body is covered with openings for the head, arms and legs. The garment has at least one closure means between the leg openings.

SUMMARY

[0005] Accordingly the present teaching provides a bodysuit for an infant in accordance with claim 1. Advantageous features are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a front view of an infant bodysuit showing the lower portion of the back panel attached to the lower portion of the front panel.

[0007] Figure 2 is another front view of the infant bodysuit of Figure 1, showing the lower portion of the back panel detached from the lower portion of the front panel.

[0008] Figure 3 is a magnified view of a lower portion of the infant bodysuit of Figure 1.

[0009] Figure 4 is a magnified view similar to Figure 3, but showing the lower portion of the back panel detached from the lower portion of the front panel and a portion of the front panel folded over to show the backside of that portion of the front panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The following description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the following teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention.

[0011] An infant bodysuit 10 is shown in Figure 1. The bodysuit 10 includes a neck opening 12, a pair of sleeves 14, a trunk portion 16, and a bottom portion 18.

[0012] Figure 2 shows the bodysuit 10 with a back panel 20 detached or disconnected from a front panel 22. Figure 2 also shows a curved row of snap studs 24 disposed along the bottom edge of the back panel 20 and a pair of curved rows of snap sockets 26 disposed near the bottom of the front panel 22. As can be seen in each of the figures (but particularly in Figures 2 and 4), each of the rows of snaps studs 24 and snap sockets 26 are located along a curved line, wherein the curved line follows a curve having a relatively large radius. In other words, the curved line is closer to a straight line than it is to prior art designs where the curve follows a relatively small radius of curvature. In such prior art designs, the center snap socket in the curved row may be located (equidistant to, if not) closer to the outer snap sockets of the row above it than to the outer snap socket in the same row. Further, in the present design, if a straight line were to be drawn between the top edges of the outer snap sockets of a given row, the straight line would pass through a portion of the center snap socket of the same row. This would not be the case with prior art designs. It has been discovered that providing these less-curved rows makes it much easier for the caregiver that is reattaching the snaps to reattach the snaps to a given row than in prior art designs. In some prior art designs, the relative positions of the snap features at times made it more difficult for the caregiver to properly attach the front and back panels together. Further, by having the curves of the snap studs 24 and snap sockets 26 correspond to each other, there will be less bunching and wrinkles in the fabric when the front and back panels 20 and 22 are connected together. The curved rows of snap features on the front and back panels match and correspond to each other when they are being attached together (as shown in Figures 1 and 3). At that time, the center snap feature in each row is located closer to the neck opening of the bodysuit than are the outermost of each row of snap features. Conversely, when the snap features are not attached and the bottom edge of the back panel extends downward away from the neck opening (as shown in Figure 2), the curved row of snap features on the back panel curve in an opposite direction such that the center snap feature in that row is located further from the neck opening of the bodysuit than are the outermost of that row of snap features.

[0013] Another feature of the bodysuit of the present design is the addition of a woven fabric facing 28 stitched to and along the bottom portion of the backside of front panel 22, as shown in Fig. 4. Although shown here as attached to the backside of the front panel 22, the facing could alternatively or additionally be provided on the front side of the front panel 22. In this design, each of the six snap sockets 26 of the two curved rows of snap sockets 26 are attached to the portion of the front panel that includes the woven fabric facing 28. The facing 28 is significantly stiffer and more rigid than the material that makes up the remainder of the front and back panels 20 and 22. The material that makes up the rest of the panels 20 and 22 is typically a stretchy, knit fabric that is provided for comfort and ease of fit of the infant. On the other hand, the facing 28 is not easily stretched and distorted in shape. This is advantageous because an infant bodysuit is opened and closed multiple times each day as the infant's diaper is changed, for bathing, and for other purposes. Without the stability and reinforcement provided by the facing 28, the bottom portion of the front panel 22 may be stretched and distorted and may adversely affect the continued fit and comfort of the bodysuit on the infant. Further, the stretching and distortion of the material may make future attachment and reattachment by the caregiver more difficult. Most prior art designs do not provide any reinforcement for the snap portions, while some provide only a narrow strip of woven twill that does not provide two-dimensional stability across the entire region where the snap sockets 26 are attached to the front panel 22. In other words, the narrow strip of twill may not reduce or prevent stretching between the two separate rows of snap sockets 26.

[0014] Another feature of the bodysuit 10 is a rib binding 30 that is provided along the border of each of the leg openings. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 4, the rib binding 30 covers the woven fabric facing 28 so as to minimize contact between the infant's leg and the facing 28. Instead, the infant's leg will come into contact with the softer and more pliable rib binding 30. Together, the facing 28 and overlapping rib binding 30 provide a cleaner construction and appearance for this portion of the bodysuit 10 and reduce bulkiness and raw edges that otherwise might contact the infant.

[0015] It can also be seen that a bottom edge 32 of the front panel 22 is a relatively straight-line edge as compared to the curved line bottom edges that are predominant throughout the prior art. The flat straight edge 32 of the bottom of the front panel 22 results in a cleaner appearance and less bulkiness in the bodysuit 10 when worn.

[0016] Another feature of the bodysuit 10 is the shape of the two leg openings as can be seen in each of the drawings. While the width of each of the front and back panels in the vicinity of the leg openings narrow at a higher rate at the top of the leg openings as compared to at the bottom of the leg openings, the width of the front panel 22 narrows much quicker than the width of the back panel 20 as the leg opening proceeds from the upper portion of the leg to the lower portion where the front and back panels 20 and 22 are attached. This even sharper curve, or narrower cut, of the front panel 22 provides for a closer, less-baggy fit than prior art designs, without being too tight. Most prior art designs have the width of the front and back panels staying relatively the same for at least half, if not a significant majority, of the length of the leg opening. It is believed that this improved leg opening in the present design enhances the comfort level of the infant and may also provide the designer with the ability to provide "brief cut" versus "boy cut" styles for boys and girls.

[0017] It can be seen that each of the features described herein increases the comfort of the infant by reducing bulkiness, providing a better fit, and providing soft materials in contact with the skin of the infant. It is believed that each these features also improves the appearance of the bodysuit 10 by providing a clean, not bulky, appearance that lays flat and fits properly and in a flattering manner. It is believed that each of the features of the bodysuit 10 also increase the ease of use of the bodysuit 10 to the caregiver, by providing fasteners that are easy to snap and unsnap from a material that does not stretch or easily wear out and offers extended life by proving a long-lasting durability and the ability to provide different sizes of fit for the infant.

[0018] While various features of the present design have been discussed separately, it should be understood that any of these features may be combined in a body suit with or without any other of the features or combination of the features.

[0019] Although certain details have been described herein, it should be understood that various alternatives and modifications could also be made. For example, the two rows of snap features could be located on either the front or back panel or both. Further, there could be more than two rows. Also, the rows of snap studs could be located on either the front or the back panel and the rows of snap sockets on the other. In addition, the bodysuit design described herein is applicable to any different type of infant bodysuit. Thus, it may be applicable to bodysuits having different types of neck openings, sleeves, and composed of any material suitable for a bodysuit, and could be equally applicable to other possible variations of bodysuits.

Claims

1. A bodysuit (10) for an infant, comprising:

one or more fabric panels (20, 22) substantially configured into a tubular shape to receive the torso of the infant and having openings for the infant's neck, arms, and legs; and

a first closure mechanism (24, 26) on the back side of the leg opening and a second closure mechanism (24, 26) on the front side of the leg opening, wherein the first closure mechanism (24, 26) mates with the second closure mechanism (24, 26);

wherein the first and second closure mechanisms (24, 26) include mating portions of three or more snaps, one of the first and second closure mechanisms (24, 26) including three or more snap studs and the other of the first and second closure mechanisms (24, 26) including three or more snap sockets, the snap studs and snap sockets collectively referred to as snap features;

wherein the snap features in each of the first and second closure mechanisms (24, 26) are formed in a curved row;

wherein at least one of the first and second closure mechanisms (24, 26) includes at least two rows each having three or more snap features, wherein either row can be used to temporarily attach the first closure mechanism (24, 26) to the second closure mechanism (24, 26) so as to temporarily attach the front side of the leg opening to the back side of the leg opening in between the two legs of the infant so as to form a pair of separate leg openings and contain the infant within the bodysuit;

wherein each of the curved rows follows a curve of sufficiently large radius such that there is a straight line passing between a portion of the outermost of the snap features in a given row that passes through a portion of the center snap feature in the same row;

wherein two rows of snap features are located on the front side and one row of snap features is located on the back side; characterized in that:

the portion of the front side where the two rows of snap features are located is reinforced by a fabric material (28) that is stiffer and more rigid than the fabric panels (20, 22) to provide increased two-dimensional stability between the two rows of snap features and between the snap features of a given row.

2. A bodysuit (10) as defined in claim 1, wherein the center snap feature in a given row is one of:

substantially equidistant from the outermost of the snap features in that same row;

significantly closer to the outermost of the snap features in that same row than to the outermost of the snap features in a different row.

3. A bodysuit (10) as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the distance from the neck opening to the center snap feature in a given row on the front side is less than the distance from the neck opening to the outermost of the snap features in that same row.

4. A bodysuit (10) as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the stiffer fabric material (28) is covered along the periphery of the leg openings with a material that is softer than the fabric material.

5. A bodysuit (10) as defined in any preceding claim, wherein a majority of the bodysuit (10) is composed of a knit fabric material, and the knit material covers the stiffer fabric material.

6. A bodysuit (10) as defined in any preceding claim, wherein a majority of the bodysuit is composed of a knit fabric material.

7. A bodysuit (10) as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the snap features on the front side are snap sockets and the snap features on the back side are snap studs.

8. A bodysuit (10) as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the orientation of the curved row of snap features on the back side corresponds to the orientation of the curved rows of snap features on the front side when the front side is temporarily attached to the back side.

Ansprüche

1. Körperanzug (10) für ein Kind, aufweisend:

ein oder mehrere Stoffflächen (20, 22), die im Wesentlichen in einer Rohr-Form gestaltet sind, um den Körper des Kindes aufzunehmen, und sie haben Öffnungen für den Hals des Kindes, dessen Arme und Beine; und

einen ersten Schließmechanismus (24, 26) auf der Rückseite der Beinöffnung und einen zweiten Schließmechanismus (24, 26) auf der Vorderseite der Beinöffnung, wobei der erste Schließmechanismus (24, 26) mit dem zweiten Schließmechanismus (24, 26) zusammenwirkt;

wobei der erste und zweite Schließmechanismus (24, 26) zueinander funktional passende Abschnitte von drei oder mehreren Schnappverschlüssen haben, wobei einer der Schließmechanismen (24, 26) drei oder mehr Schnappknöpfe und der andere der Schließmechanismen (24, 26) drei oder mehr Schnappbuchsen aufweist, wobei die Schnappknöpfe und Schnappbuchsen zusammen als Schnappverschluss-Merkmale zu verstehen sind;

wobei die Schnappverschlussmerkmale in jedem des ersten und zweiten Schließmechanismus (24, 26) in einer gekrümmten Reihe gebildet sind;

wobei mindestens ein Mechanismus des ersten und zweiten Schließmechanismus (24, 26) mindestens zwei Reihen mit jeweils drei oder mehreren Schnappverschluss-Merkmalen aufweist, wobei jede Reihe zum zeitweisen Befestigen des ersten Schließmechanismus (24, 26) an dem zweiten Schließmechanismus (24, 26) verwendet werden kann, um so zeitweilig die Vorderseite der Beinöffnung an die Rückseite der Beinöffnung zwischen den zwei Beinen des Kindes festzulegen, um so ein Paar separater Beinöffnungen zu bilden und das Kind innerhalb des Körperanzuges aufzunehmen;

wobei jede der gekrümmten Reihen einer Kurve von im Wesentlichem großen Radius folgt, derart, dass es eine gerade Linie gibt, die zwischen einem Abschnitt des äußersten Bestandteiles der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale in einer gegebenen Reihe läuft, die durch einen Abschnitt des mittleren Schnappverschluss-Merkmals in derselben Reihe verläuft;

wobei zwei Reihen an Schnappverschluss-Merkmalen auf der Vorderseite und eine Reihe der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale auf der Rückseite platziert sind; gekennzeichnet dadurch, dass:

der Abschnitt der Vorderseite, wo die zwei Reihen der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale platziert sind, durch ein Fasermaterial (28) verstärkt ist, das steiffester und starrer ist als die Stoffflächen (20, 22), um eine erhöhte zweidimensionale Stabilität zwischen den zwei Reihen der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale sowie zwischen den Schnappverschluss-Merkmalen einer gegebenen Reihe zu schaffen.

2. Körperanzug (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das mittlere Schnappverschluss-Merkmal einer gegebenen Reihe entweder
im Wesentlichen äquidistant von dem äußersten Bestandteil der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale in derselben Reihe ist; oder
beträchtlich näher an dem äußersten Bestandteil der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale in derselben Reihe ist als gegenüber dem äußersten Bestandteil der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale in einer anderen Reihe.

3. Körperanzug (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Abstand von der Halsöffnung zu dem mittleren Schnappverschluss-Merkmal in einer gegebenen Reihe auf der Vorderseite kleiner ist als der Abstand von der Halsöffnung zu dem äußersten Bestandteil der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale in derselben Reihe.

4. Körperanzug (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei das steifffestere Stoffmaterial (28) entlang der Peripherie der Beinöffnungen mit einem Material überdeckt ist, das weicher ist als das Stoffmaterial.

5. Körperanzug (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei sich der überwiegende Teil des Körperanzugs (10) aus einem gestrickten Stoffmaterial zusammensetzt, und wobei das gestrickte Material das steiffestere Stoffmaterial überdeckt.

6. Körperanzug (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei sich ein größter Anteil des Körperanzugs aus einem gestrickten Stoffmaterial zusammensetzt.

7. Körperanzug (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Schnappverschluss-Merkmale auf der Vorderseite Schnappbuchsen sind und die Schnappverschluss-Merkmale auf der Rückseite die Schnappverschluss-Knöpfe sind.

8. Körperanzug (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Orientierung der gekrümmten Reihe der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale auf der Rückseite der Orientierung der gekrümmten Reihen der Schnappverschluss-Merkmale auf der Vorderseite entspricht, wenn die Vorderseite zeitweilig an der Rückseite festgelegt ist.

Revendications

1. Maillot (10) pour un nourrisson, comprenant :

un ou plusieurs panneaux de tissu (20, 22) sensiblement configurés dans une forme tubulaire pour recevoir le torse du nourrisson et ayant des ouvertures pour le cou, les bras et les jambes du nourrisson ; et

un premier mécanisme de fermeture (24, 26) sur le côté arrière de l'ouverture de jambe et un second mécanisme de fermeture (24, 26) sur le côté avant de l'ouverture de jambe, dans lequel le premier mécanisme de fermeture (24, 26) s'apparie avec le second mécanisme de fermeture (24, 26) ;

dans lequel les premier et second mécanismes de fermeture (24, 26) incluent des portions d'appariement de trois ou plus de trois boutons-pression, l'un des premier et second mécanismes de fermeture (24, 26) incluant trois ou plus de trois parties mâles de bouton-pression et l'autre des premier et second mécanismes de fermeture (24, 26) incluant trois ou plus de trois parties femelles de bouton-pression, les parties mâles de bouton-pression et les parties femelles de bouton-pression étant collectivement désignées caractéristiques de bouton-pression ;

dans lequel les caractéristiques de bouton-pression dans chacun des premier et second mécanismes de fermeture (24, 26) sont formées en une rangée incurvée ;

dans lequel au moins l'un des premier et second mécanismes de fermeture (24, 26) inclut au moins deux rangées ayant chacune trois ou plus de trois caractéristiques de bouton-pression, dans lequel l'une ou l'autre rangée peut être utilisée pour attacher temporairement le premier mécanisme de fermeture (24, 26) au second mécanisme de fermeture (24, 26) de manière à attacher temporairement le côté avant de l'ouverture de jambe au côté arrière de l'ouverture de jambe entre les deux jambes du nourrisson de manière à former une paire d'ouvertures de jambe séparées et contenir le nourrisson à l'intérieur du maillot ;

dans lequel chacune des rangées incurvées suit une courbe de rayon suffisamment grand de sorte qu'il existe une ligne droite passant entre une portion de la plus à l'extérieur des caractéristiques de bouton-pression dans une rangée donnée qui passe à travers une portion de la caractéristique de bouton-pression centrale dans la même rangée ;

dans lequel deux rangées de caractéristiques de bouton-pression sont situées sur le côté avant et une rangée de caractéristiques de bouton-pression est située sur le côté arrière ; caractérisé en ce que :

la portion du côté avant où les deux rangées de caractéristiques de bouton-pression sont situées est renforcée par une matière de tissu (28) qui est plus raide et plus rigide que les panneaux de tissu (20, 22) pour conférer une stabilité bidimensionnelle accrue entre les deux rangées de caractéristiques de bouton-pression et entre les caractéristiques de bouton-pression d'une rangée donnée.

2. Maillot (10) tel que défini dans la revendication 1, dans lequel la caractéristique de bouton-pression centrale dans une rangée donnée est l'une parmi :

- sensiblement équidistante par rapport aux plus à l'extérieur des caractéristiques de bouton-pression dans cette même rangée ;

- nettement plus proche de la plus à l'extérieur des caractéristiques de bouton-pression dans cette même rangée que la plus à l'extérieur des caractéristiques de bouton-pression dans une autre rangée.

3. Maillot (10) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la distance de l'ouverture de cou jusqu'à la caractéristique de bouton-pression centrale dans une rangée donnée sur le côté avant est inférieure à la distance de l'ouverture de cou jusqu'à la plus à l'extérieur des caractéristiques de bouton-pression dans cette même rangée.

4. Maillot (10) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la matière de tissu plus raide (28) est recouverte le long de la périphérie des ouvertures de jambe d'une matière qui est plus souple que la matière de tissu.

5. Maillot (10) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel une majorité du maillot (10) est composée d'une matière de tissu tricotée, et la matière tricotée recouvre la matière de tissu plus raide.

6. Maillot (10) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel une majorité du maillot est composée d'une matière de tissu tricotée.

7. Maillot (10) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les caractéristiques de bouton-pression sur le côté avant sont des parties femelles de bouton-pression et les caractéristiques de bouton-pression sur le côté arrière sont des parties mâles de bouton-pression.

8. Maillot (10) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'orientation de la rangée incurvée de caractéristiques de bouton-pression sur le côté arrière correspond à l'orientation des rangées incurvées de caractéristiques de bouton-pression sur le côté avant lorsque le côté avant est temporairement attaché au côté arrière.

Drawing