AU2008202803A1

AU2008202803A1 - Baby garment

Info

Publication number: AU2008202803A1
Application number: AU2008202803A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bronwyn Cheney; Adam Coey; Patricia Murphy
Original assignee: Bonds Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Bonds Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-25
Publication date: 2009-01-22
Also published as: NZ569411A; CN101331981A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 32

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Baby garment The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 005137065 00 Field of the invention Field of the invention Baby garment The present invention relates to a baby garment and finds particular application in relation to baby garments such as bodysuits and coveralls.

00 oO N 5 Background of the invention 00 C Baby garments are typically created in one piece or two pieces. The two piece garment usually has a pair of pants that are either completely separate from the top or are easily separable if they are joined by buttons etc. One piece garments have the top and pants joined as an integral unit and are preferred for small babies to avoid separation of two 0 pieces exposing the torso. To provide an access hole to a one piece garment, a split is provided in the crotch area so that the garment can be pulled over the baby's head like a t-shirt and closed by fastening the crotch seam together. If the garment has legs, the inside of the legs are also split and fasteners are provided down their length.

The fastening of the crotch area is typically provided by press studs, however buttons, zips and other suitable fasteners are also used. The correct positioning of the fasteners has been an issue for manufacturers as they need to position them so that they are comfortable for the baby and also allow easy access for dressing and changing nappies. Fasteners, particularly zips, can also rub against a baby's delicate skin causing irritation.

It can be quite difficult for even nimble hands to fasten small press studs between a baby's legs, particularly whilst the baby is moving their legs or rolling sideways.

Whilst the standards for testing press studs are stringent in the infant garment industry, they are still a potential choking hazard. After a substantial number of washes, press studs can become loose and be pulled off by a baby.

005137065 00 2

O

ci It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative baby garment that improves the comfort for the baby and eliminates the potential choking hazard associated with the above-mentioned garments.

Summary of the invention oo 5 Accordingly, the present invention provides a baby garment, including: 00 an upper portion for positioning over a baby's upper torso; a lower portion for positioning over a baby's lower torso and crotch area; the garment having a front and a back, and a slit provided across one of the front and back to allow the baby to be placed into and removed from the garment; 0 wherein the slit allows the lower portion to be pulled over the legs of the baby to expose the baby's lower torso and crotch area.

Advantageously, the lower torso portion includes two leg apertures to form a bodysuit.

Alternatively, the lower torso portion may include legs which are integrally formed to form coveralls. The legs may be any desired length and may have integral socks. In an alternate embodiment, the lower torso portion forms the lower portion of an infant sleeping bag.

The slit is preferably provided on the back of the garment. The slit may be positioned approximately half way to two thirds of the way down the length of the torso.

The front and back are preferably joined along side seams. The back is preferably formed as two panels, with the lower panel being joined to the front by a crotch seam, a base seam, or may be integral with the front. The upper panel similarly may be joined to the front by shoulder seams, or may be integral with the front. At the slit, the upper panel and the lower panel overlap. Advantageously, the lower panel sits on top of the upper panel. One or both of the edges of the upper and lower panels at the slit preferably include a strip of elastic. The elastic strip may extend across the entire width 005137065 00 3 C of the back, between the two side seams. The material at the edge of the lower panel is S preferably of greater width than the width of the back and is gathered by the elastic, S thus allowing the lower portion to be stretched over the baby's legs and nappy. In an advantageous embodiment, the width of the lower panel may double when stretched.

C 5 The garment is preferably made from a cotton/elastane jersey fabric. Advantageously, o00 C the fabric is 95% cotton and 5% elastane.

00 S Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: o Figure 1 is a front view of a baby garment according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the baby garment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a baby garment according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a rear view of the baby garment of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a baby garment according to the present invention on a baby; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional partial side view of a baby garment according to the present invention showing the section of the garment near the slit; Figure 7 is a front view of a baby garment according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 8 is a rear view of the baby garment of Figure 7.

00513'7065 00 c Detailed description of the embodiments Referring to Figures 1 to 4, 7 and 8, three different versions of a baby garment 10 are n illustrated. Figure 5 shows the baby garment 10 on a baby in a position to allow its nappy to be changed.

C 5 The baby garment 10 includes an upper portion 12 and a lower portion 14. The upper 00o portion 12 includes sleeves 16 (or arm holes if sleeves are not present) and a neck hole 18. The lower portion 14 includes leg apertures 20 to form a bodysuit (Figures 1 and 2) 00 or legs 22 to form coveralls (Figures 3 and In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the lower portion 14 is the lower portion of an infant sleeping bag. When the 0 garment 10 is being worn by a baby, the upper portion 12 is positioned over the baby's upper torso 24 and arms 26 and the lower portion 14 is positioned over the baby's lower torso 28 and crotch area 30 (Figure The baby garment 10 has a front 32 and a back 34 joined by side seams 35. A slit 36 is provided across one of the front or back. In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the slit 36 is provided across the back 34 sectioning the back 24 into upper panel 50 and lower panel 52. The baby is placed into and removed from the garment 10 through the slit 36. The garment 10 is put on like a t-shirt, with the upper portion 12 in the position shown in Figure 5. The lower portion 14 is then stretched over the baby's legs inserting the legs through the leg apertures The slit 36 allows the lower portion 14 to be pulled over the legs of the baby to expose the baby's lower torso 28 and crotch area 30, as shown in Figure 5. This allows the baby's nappy to be changed, whilst leaving the upper torso 24 and arms 26 fully dressed.

The slit 36 is positioned approximately half way to two thirds of the way down the length of the torso. This allows the slit 36 to be positioned at or above the top of the nappy.

One advantage of the present invention is that fasteners do not need to be undone to check if a nappy is dirty. Additionally, you do not need to attempt to check for a dirty nappy through the leg aperture 20. By pulling out the lower panel and the top of the nappy, the nappy can be easily checked. The upper panel 50 and the lower panel 52 005137065 00 c overlap at the slit 36, as best represented in Figure 6. The overlapping portions 38 and prevent a gap forming that may expose the baby's skin. The lower panel 52 sits on top of the upper panel 50, as the lower panel 52 is the one that is moveable.

The fabric used to make the garment 10 is preferably a cotton/elastane jersey, which allows substantial stretch. This enables the lower portion 14 to be easily pulled over the 00oO c legs of the baby. The edges 54, 56of the fabric at the slit include elastic strips 42, 44 to c ensure that the upper and lower portions 50, 52 hug against the baby's torso. The oo 00 elastic strips 44 on the lower panel 52 includes more gathering of material than elastic C strip 42 to provide additional stretch over the baby's nappy and legs. The width of the 0 lower panel 52 at the elastic strip 44 can double when stretched.

The advantage of the present invention is that the lower portion 14 can be easily and quickly pulled over the legs of the baby to expose the baby's lower torso and crotch area for changing a nappy, whilst leaving the upper torso covered. The removal of all fasteners means that there are no small fasteners that require fastening and the crotch area of the garment is more comfortable for the baby. The potential of any fasteners becoming separated from the garment and posing a choking hazard is no longer an issue.

Claims

2. A baby garment according to claim 1, wherein the slit is provided on the back of 0 the garment.
3. A baby garment according to claim 2, wherein the slit is positioned approximately half way to two thirds of the way down the length of the torso.
4. A baby garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower torso portion includes two leg apertures to form a bodysuit.
5. A baby garment according to claim 4, wherein the lower torso portion includes legs which are integrally formed to form coveralls.
6. A baby garment according to claim 5, wherein the legs include integral socks.
7. A baby garment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the baby garment is a sleeping bag.
8. A baby garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front and back are joined along side seams. 005137065 00 c 9. A baby garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the back is formed as a lower panel and an upper panel. ;Z c 10. A baby garment according to claim 9, wherein the upper panel and the lower panel overlap at the slit. 00 5 11. A baby garment according to claim 11, wherein one or both of the edges of the upper and lower panels at the slit include a strip of elastic. 00
12. A baby garment according to claim 11, wherein the elastic strip extends across the entire width of the back.
13. A baby garment according to claim 11 or 12, wherein material at the edge of the 0 lower panel is of greater width than the width of the back and is gathered by the elastic, thus allowing the lower portion to be stretched over the baby's legs and nappy.
14. A baby garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the garment is made from a cotton/elastane jersey fabric. A baby garment according to claim 14, wherein the fabric is 95% cotton and elastane.
16. A baby garment substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.