EP2446759A2

EP2446759A2 - Infant bodysuit

Info

Publication number: EP2446759A2
Application number: EP11187036A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lori Sue Ott; Nina Seenae Huh
Original assignee: Disney Enterprises Inc
Current assignee: Disney Enterprises Inc
Priority date: 2010-10-28
Filing date: 2011-10-28
Publication date: 2012-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-28
Also published as: EP2446759B1; CA2756332A1; EP2446759A3; CA2756332C; CN102462012A; ES2440786T3; US20120102616A1

Abstract

An infant bodysuit having a pair of rows of snap sockets either one of which can receive a curved row of snaps studs, the rows of snap sockets and snap studs being provided along a gentle curve that is easy for a caregiver to match up the studs and sockets. Reinforcement, through a woven fabric facing, is provided in the region of the snap sockets on the front panel to provide two-dimensional stability throughout the region. Rib binding is used along the leg openings and covers the facing material for improved comfort to the infant. A flat, straight edge bottom is provided along the bottom edge of the front panel to reduce bulkiness. An improved leg opening is achieved by significantly narrowing the width of the front panel from the top of the leg opening down to the attachment portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

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

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.
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.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a bodysuit for an infant that includes: one or more fabric panels 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 on the back side of the leg opening and a second closure mechanism on the front side of the leg opening, wherein the first closure mechanism mates with the second closure mechanism. The first and second closure mechanisms include mating portions of three or more snaps, one of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap studs and the other of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap sockets, the snap studs and snap sockets collectively referred to as snap features. The snap features in each of the first and second closure mechanisms are formed in a curved row. At least one of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 to the second closure mechanism 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. 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.
The center snap feature in a given row may be substantially equidistant from the outermost of the snap features in that same row. The center snap feature in a given row may be 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. The distance from the neck opening to the center snap feature in a given row on the front side may be less than the distance from the neck opening to the outermost of the snap features in that same row. Two rows of snap features may be located on the front side and one row of snap features may be located on the back side. The portion of the front side where the two rows of snap features are located may be reinforced by a fabric material that is stiffer and more rigid than the fabric panels to provide increased two-dimensional stability between the two rows of snap features and between the snap features of a given row. The stiffer fabric material may be covered along the periphery of the leg openings with a material that is softer than the fabric material. A majority of the bodysuit may be composed of a knit fabric material, and the knit material may cover the stiffer fabric material. The snap features on the front side may be snap sockets and the snap features on the back side may be snap studs. The orientation of the curved row of snap features on the back side may correspond 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.
Also disclosed is a bodysuit for an infant that includes: one or more fabric panels 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 on the back side of the leg opening and a second closure mechanism on the front side of the leg opening, wherein the first closure mechanism mates with the second closure mechanism. The first and second closure mechanisms include mating portions of three or more snaps, one of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap studs and the other of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap sockets, the snap studs and snap sockets collectively referred to as snap features. The snap features in each of the first and second closure mechanisms are formed in a row. At least one of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 to the second closure mechanism 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. The portion of the one or more fabric panels that includes the at least two rows of snap features is reinforced by a fabric material that is stiffer and more rigid than the fabric panels to provide increased two-dimensional stability between the two rows of snap features and between the snap features of a given row.
The stiffer fabric material may be a woven fabric facing. The woven fabric facing may be a single sheet that covers the entire region where the two rows of a snap features are attached. The stiffer fabric material may be covered along the periphery of the leg openings with a material that is softer than the fabric material. A majority of the bodysuit may be composed of a knit fabric material, and the knit material may cover the stiffer fabric material.
Also disclosed is a bodysuit for an infant that includes: one or more fabric panels 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 on the back side of the leg opening and a second closure mechanism on the front side of the leg opening, wherein the first closure mechanism mates with the second closure mechanism. The first and second closure mechanisms include mating portions of three or more snaps, one of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap studs and the other of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap sockets , the snap studs and snap sockets collectively referred to as snap features. The snap features in each of the first and second closure mechanisms are formed in a row. At least one of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 to the second closure mechanism 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. The portions of the one or more fabric panels that form the front side and back side of the leg opening are sized relatively to each other so that the material forming each of the front side and the back side of the leg opening narrow at a significantly higher rate at the top of the leg opening as compared to the bottom of the leg opening and, in addition, the front side of the leg opening is significantly narrower in width from the material forming the back side of the leg opening from the highest side edge of the leg opening down to the bottom edge of the leg opening.
The bottom edge on the front side of the leg opening may be a straight edge. The snap features in each of the first and second closure mechanisms may be formed in a curved row. Each of the curved rows may follow 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

A bodysuit for an infant, comprising:
one or more fabric panels 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 on the back side of the leg opening and a second closure mechanism on the front side of the leg opening, wherein the first closure mechanism mates with the second closure mechanism;
wherein the first and second closure mechanisms include mating portions of three or more snaps, one of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap studs and the other of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 are formed in a curved row;
wherein at least one of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 to the second closure mechanism 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.
A bodysuit for an infant, comprising:
one or more fabric panels 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 on the back side of the leg opening and a second closure mechanism on the front side of the leg opening, wherein the first closure mechanism mates with the second closure mechanism;
wherein the first and second closure mechanisms include mating portions of three or more snaps, one of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap studs and the other of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 are formed in a row;
wherein at least one of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 to the second closure mechanism 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 the portion of the one or more fabric panels that includes the at least two rows of snap features is reinforced by a fabric material that is stiffer and more rigid than the fabric panels to provide increased two-dimensional stability between the two rows of snap features and between the snap features of a given row.
A bodysuit for an infant, comprising:
one or more fabric panels 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 on the back side of the leg opening and a second closure mechanism on the front side of the leg opening, wherein the first closure mechanism mates with the second closure mechanism;
wherein the first and second closure mechanisms include mating portions of three or more snaps, one of the first and second closure mechanisms including three or more snap studs and the other of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 are formed in a row;
wherein at least one of the first and second closure mechanisms 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 to the second closure mechanism 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 the portions of the one or more fabric panels that form the front side and back side of the leg opening are sized relatively to each other so that the material forming each of the front side and the back side of the leg opening narrow at a significantly higher rate at the top of the leg opening as compared to the bottom of the leg opening and, in addition, the front side of the leg opening is significantly narrower in width from the material forming the back side of the leg opening from the highest side edge of the leg opening down to the bottom edge of the leg opening.
A bodysuit as defined in any preceding claim, 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.
A bodysuit 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.
A bodysuit as defined in any preceding claim, wherein two rows of snap features are located on the front side and one row of snap features is located on the back side.
A bodysuit as defined in claim 6, wherein the portion of the front side where the two rows of snap features are located is reinforced by a fabric material that is stiffer and more rigid than the fabric panels to provide increased two-dimensional stability between the two rows of snap features and between the snap features of a given row.
A bodysuit as defined in claim 7, wherein the stiffer fabric material is covered along the periphery of the leg openings with a material that is softer than the fabric material.
A bodysuit as defined in claim 7 or 8, wherein a majority of the bodysuit is composed of a knit fabric material, and the knit material covers the stiffer fabric material.
A bodysuit as defined in any preceding claim, wherein a majority of the bodysuit is composed of a knit fabric material.
A bodysuit 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.
A bodysuit 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.
A bodysuit as defined in claim 2, wherein the stiffer fabric material is a woven fabric facing.
A bodysuit as defined in claim 13, wherein the woven fabric facing is a single sheet that covers the entire region where the two rows of a snap features are attached.
A bodysuit as defined in claim 3, wherein the bottom edge on the front side of the leg opening is a straight edge.
A bodysuit as defined in claim 15, wherein the snap features in each of the first and second closure mechanisms are formed in a curved row.
A bodysuit as defined in claim 3, 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.