GB2465840A - Scratch mittens incorporated into a pair of sleeves - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment to prevent infants and children from scratching themselves comprising of pair of mittens 1 incorporated into a pair of sleeves 2 which are joined together by a broad strip of fabric 4. The mittens 1 cover the wearer's fingers preventing them from damaging their own skin. The strip of fabric 4 joining the two sleeves fits across the back of the wearer which combined with the sleeves 2 enclosing the wearer's arms makes the garment difficult to remove without outside assistance.

Description

A garment to prevent infants and children from scratching themselves with their fingernails.

This invention relates to a garment that prevents infants and children from scratching themselves with their fingernails and is difficult for the wearer to remove without outside assistance.

Children and infants with irritated or inflamed skin are prone to scratching themselves, by scratching the afflicted patch of skin the infant or child can break the surface of the skin making the problem worse. Conventional scratch mittens cover the infant or child's fingers which reduces the amount of damage that the infant or child can do to their own skin. Scratch mittens are easy for the wearer to remove and require frequent attention from the infant or child's carer to ensure the scratch mittens effectiveness at preventing the wearer from damaging their own skin.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a garment comprising of a pair of mittens incorporated into a pair of sleeves which are joined together by a broad strip of fabric. The mittens cover the wearer's fingers preventing them from damaging their own skin. The strip of fabric joining the 2 sleeves fits across the back of the wearer which, combined with the sleeves enclosing the wearer's arms, makes the garment difficult to remove without outside assistance.

The portion of the garment that covers the infant or child's hands is preferably constructed from 2 layers of fabric that can slide over one another. The inner layer of fabric is preferably made from knitted cotton and the outer layer from silk, although the covering of the fingers may be made from alternative fabrics.

Preferably the mittens covering the infant or child's hands have a single enclosure each into which all of the fingers and thumbs for each hand fit.

The arm holes and the joining fabric are preferably edged with binding or a hem to control the stretch of the garment.

The garment is preferably worn over the infant or child's normal clothing so that the garment is easy for the carer to remove however the garment may be worn in any arrangement with the rest of the clothing to suit the individual needs of the wearer and carer.

The joining strip of fabric is preferably double layered or made from a stiff material to ensure that the garment maintains its shape if slept in.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a pair of sleeves, with incorporated mittens, that are worn over the infant or child's hands and arms and are joined by a broad strip of fabric that fits across the back of the wearer.

Figure 2 shows a pair of sleeves, with incorporated mittens, joined by a strip of fabric with an alternative fitting over the shoulders of the wearer.

Figure 3 shows a pair of sleeves, with incorporated mittens, joined by a strip of fabric with an alternative front fastening.

Figure 4 illustrates the invention being worn by an infant.

In figure 1, the mittens that cover the infant or child's hands 1 are attached to sleeves 2 that cover the wearer's arms. The two sleeves 2 are joined by a strip of fabric 4 which fits around the back of the wearer. The edges of the sleeves and the joining fabric 5 may be reinforced with binding or finished in an alternative measure. The infant or child's arms are inserted into the openings 3. The mittens 1 maybe made of multiple layers of fabric to provide greater protection from scratching.

Figure 2 shows an alternative variation of the garment which has additional fabric that covers the wearer's shoulders 6 and fits closely round the back of the infant or child's neck 7.

Figure 3 shows the garment with alternative extended front panels 9 and a front fastening 10. The fastening could be a button, popper, Velcro or another means of fastening the front panels 9 together.

Figure 4 shows the garment as worn by an infant with the mittens 1 covering the fingers, the sleeves 2 enclosing the arms. The sleeves are joined by a strip of fabric 4 which fits across the back of the infant. The illustration includes the optional binding 5 round the edges of the sleeves 2 and the joining fabric 4.

Claims (7)

1. Claims 1. A garment that prevents a child or infant from scratching themselves with their fingernails and is difficult for the wearer to remove without outside assistance comprising of a pair of mittens that cover the wearer's fingers and thumbs incorporated into sleeves which enclose the wearers arms which are joined together by a strip of fabric that fits across the back of the wearer.
2. 2. A garment according to claim 1, in which the mittens have only one enclosure each into which all the fingers and thumb for each hand fit.
3. 3. A garment according to claim 1, in which the mittens are made from multiple layers of fabric.
4. 4. A garment according to claim 1, in which the joining fabric between the two sleeves consists of multiple layers of fabric.
5. 5. A garment according to claim 1, in which the arm holes and joining fabric are edged with binding or a hem.
6. 6. A garment according to claim 1, in which the sleeves are extended over the shoulders of the wearer.
7. 7. A garment according to claim 1, in which front panels are joined to the sleeves that fasten at the front of the garment.