GB2495926A - A garment for a baby or child - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment 10 for a baby or child comprises a back panel, one or more front panels 11R, 11L, and two sleeves 14R, 14L which extend from the shoulder to beyond the elbow of a wearer. Each sleeve comprises a first end which defines a wrist opening, and a second end which defines an armhole opening, wherein the second end is joined around the circumference of the armhole opening to respective armhole edges 23R, 23L of said back and front panels. Each sleeve further comprises a back facing section, which extends from the respective armhole edge of the back panel to the wrist opening of the sleeve. An elongate opening and closure means 25L for closing said opening are provided in the back facing section of each sleeve, the elongate opening extending from the wrist opening towards the arm hole opening, over at least half of the length of the respective sleeve.

Description

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GARMENT

[001] The present invention relates to a garmenu and, more particularly to a sleeved garment for a baby or young child wearer.

[002] In the following, the term "baby" will be used as a generic term to refer to any child too young to dress itself.

[003] Putting any kind of garment on a baby requires complex movement of the baby's body and limbs. Garments with long sleeves are particularly difficult, as the baby's arms must be bent at the elbow and the shoulder by varying amounts, in order to insert the arms through the arm holes and into the sleeves.

[004] Clearly, very young babies lack the knowledge and understanding required to consciously move their bodies in a way which assists the adult dressing them. This makes it very easy to cause discomfort to the baby, for example by bending a limb slightly too far, by rubbing the baby's skin against the fabric, or pressing the baby's body against a rigid element of the garment such as a popper or a zip.

[005] As babies grow older, they begin to learn how to move their bodies to assist in the dressing process. However, the learning process is slow and is, in any case, dependent on the mood of the baby.

[006] At any age, if the baby is tired, excited, in a bad mood or unwell, dressing can be particularly difficult as, instead of allowing the adult to move their body as required, the baby may actively resist the dressing process.

[007] In view of the above considerations, certain baby garments have been developed, which make the dressing process easier. Fcr example, items of clothing known as "baby grows" can be opened and closed along the shoulders and crotch, generally by means of poppers. With the poppers undone, the garment has wide openings at top and bottom, which pass easily over the baby's head and shoulders. The poppers can subsequently be fastened so as to close off or decrease the size of these openings, so that the garment conforms to the shape of the baby's body, and stays in place.

[008] However, such garments do not address the problem of inserting the babies' arms into long sleeves. Thus, the difficulty of dressing babies remains for a number of different types of garments including jumpers, cardigans, jackets, hooded jackets (hoodies), long sleeved baby grows, and any other garments with mid-length to long sleeves.

[009] It is thus an object of the present invention to address the problem of dressing babies in long sleeved garments.

[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided a garment for a baby or child wearer, the garment comprising:-a back panel, one or more front panels, and two sleeves which, when the garment is worn, extend from the shoulder to beyond the elbow of the wearer; each sleeve comprising a first end which defines a wrist opening, and a second end which defines an arm hole opening, wherein the second end is joined around the circumference of the arm hole opening to respective arm hole edges of said back and front panels; each sleeve further comprising a back facing section, which extends from the respective arm hole edge of the back panel to the wrist opening of the sleeve, bounded by a pair of imaginary lines which respectively start where the arm hole edges of the baok and front panels meet, and take a shortest path along the sleeve to the wrist opening; wherein an elongate opening and closure means for closing said opening are provided in the back facing section of each sleeve, the elongate opening extending from the wrist opening towards the arm hole opening, over at least half of the length of the respective sleeve.

[0011] Since, when the garment is worn, the sleeves extend from the shoulder to beyond the elbow of the wearer, the garment of the present invention may be regarded as a long sleeved garment. Preferably, when the garment is worn, the sleeves extend from the shoulder substantially to the wrists of the wearer.

[0012] It will be appreciated that, traditionally, a garment with short sleeves is easier to put on than a long sleeved garment. This is because shorter sleeves present only a short tubular length of restricted diameter, through which it is relatively easy to insert the wearer's arms. In contrast, with longer sleeves, the length over which the diameter is restricted is longer, making it significantly more difficult to insert the wearer's arms.

[0013] With the present invention, each sleeve has an elongate opening which may be opened and closed to increase and decrease the distance over which the diameter of the sleeve is restricted. In particular, since the opening extends over at least half of the length of the sleeve, when the opening is fully opened, the diameter of the sleeve is restricted over, at most, half of the length of the sleeve.

[0014] Thus, with the present invention, a long sleeved garment may be made as easy to put on as a shorter sleeved garment, by opening the elongate openings in the sleeves.

At the same time, the warmth and protection afforded by a longer sleeved garment is retained, because the openings may be closed once the wearer's arms are inserted.

[0015] A further advantage associated with locating these elongate openings and their closure means in the sleeves, is that the openings can be opened whilst the garment is being worn, to allow access to the wearer's arms, for example for the purpose of administering vaccination, without removing the whole garment. It may also be useful to open the openings if the wearer becomes too hot, but not enough to warrant removal of the whole garment.

[0016] The present inventor has found that by locating the elongate openings on the back facing sections of the sleeves, the openings and their closure means are less accessible to a baby wearer. Thus, it is less likely that the openings will be inadvertently opened by the wearer while the garment is being worn. The inventor has also found that by locating the elongate openings in this way, it is less likely that the baby will harm themselves through contact with the closure means, for example when waving their arms about.

[0017] Preferably, each elongate opening extends over at least two thirds of the length of the respective sleeve, more preferably at least three guarters of the length of the respective sleeve. In certain embodiments, each elongate opening may extend over substantially the full length of the respective sleeve. Each elongate openings preferably starts and ends on the respective sleeve. That is to say, the elongate opening, does not extend into the front and/or back panels, or a join therebetween.

[0018] In general, the longer the opening, the shorter the length over which the diameter of the sleeve is restricted, and thus the easier it is to insert the wearer's arms.

Nevertheless for design and/or manufacturing reasons, it may be desirable to limit the length of the elongate opening.

[0019] Each elongate opening is preferably substantially centrally located in the back facing section of the respective sleeve.

[0020] Each elongate opening preferably substantially coincides with a longitudinal centre line of the back facing section of the respective sleeve.

[0021] More generally, each elongate opening may lie within a central region of the back facing section of the respective sleeve, wherein said central region is centred on a longitudinal centre line of the back facing section of said sleeve.

[0022] Said central region may comprise up to three guarters of the width of the sleeve, as measured in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal centre line. More preferably, said central region may comprise up to two thirds of the width of the sleeve, more preferably up to one half of the width of the sleeve, more preferably up to one third of the width of the sleeve, more preferably up to one guarter of the width of the sleeve.

[0023] The present inventor has found that, in general, the closer to the centre of the back facing sections the openings are located, the less likely it is that they will be inadvertently opened by the wearer while the garment is being worn, and the less likely it is that the wearer will harm themselves through contact with the closure means.

[0024] Preferably, the closure means for each elongate opening comprises a zip. More preferably a concealed zip.

[0025] A zip comprises a readily available and cost effective closure means, which gives a continuous yet flexible closure along the length of the elongate opening.

Zips are particularly desirable for outer garments such as coats and jackets, due to the continuous nature of the closure. In particular, as compared with buttons or poppers the zip provides a wind-proof closure.

[0026] Preferably, the zip is configured such that, when closed, the zip slider is located at the first end of the respective sleeve.

[0027] That is to say, when closed, the zip slider is located at the wrist opening end of the respective sleeve.

[0028] Preferably, the garment further comprises guard means located at the first end of each sleeve, for retaining the zip slider when the zip is fully closed.

[0029] The guard means may comprise a pocket or a flap of material.

[0030] The pocket reduces the likelihood of the zip being inadvertently opened, by retaining the zip slider when the zip is closed. lit also reduces the risk of harm to the wearer by the zip slider, by enclosing this element of the zip.

[0031] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- [0032] Figure 1 shows a front view of a hooded jacket which embodies the present invention; [0033] Figure 2 shows a rear view of the hooded jacket shown in figure 1; [0034] Figure 3 shows a rear view of the right sleeve of the hooded jacket shown in figure 1; and [0035] Figure 4 shows a rear view of the hooded jacket shown in figure 1, with the zip closures on the sleeves open.

[0036] In the following, the terms right and left are used to refer to portions of the garment from the perspective of & person wearing the garment.

[0037] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a hooded jacket 10 which embodies the present invention.

[0038] The jacket 10 comprise right and left front panels IIR, 11L, a back panel 12, a hood 13, and right and left sleeves 14R, l4L.

[0039] The right front panel ilk is joined by a seam along its shoulder edge l5R to a right shoulder edge 17k of the back panel 12, and by a seam along its right side edge 16R to a right side edge 18k of the back panel 12. Similarly the left front panel ilL is joined by a seam along its shoulder edge 15L to a left shoulder edge 17L of the back panel 12, and by a seam along its left side edge 16L to a left side edge 18L of the back panel 12.

[0040] A zip closure means 20 is joined by seams along its right and left sides to the respective right and left side edges 19R, 19L of the right and left front panels.

[0041] The front and back panels ilk, ilL, 12 are not joined together along their neck edges 21k, 2lL, 22. The neck edge 22 of the back panel is located between the right and left shoulder edges 17k, l7L thereof. The neck edges 21R, 2lL of the right and left front panels are respectively located to the left and right of the shoulder edges 15k, l5L thereof.

The neck edges of the panels thus form a neck opening of the garment between the right and left shoulder seams of the garment. The hood 13 is joined to the front and back panels by seams along the neck edges thereof.

[0042] The front and back panels ilk, ilL, 12 are also not joined together along their arm hole edges 23R, 23L, 24R, 24L. The right and left arm hole edges 24k, 24L of the back panel are respectively located between the right and left shoulder edges 17k, 17L and the right and left side edges 18k, 18L thereof. The arm hole edge 23R of the right front panel is located between its shoulder edge 15k and right side edge 16k. Similarly, the arm hole edge 23L of the left side panel is located between its shoulder edge 15L and left side edge 16L. The arm hole edges of the panels thus form right and left arm hole openings between the shoulder and side seams of the garment.

[0043] The right and left sleeves 14k, 14L each comprise an elongate tube of material. A first end of each sleeve defines a wrist opening, whilst a second end of each sleeve defines an arm hole opening. The second end of each sleeve is joined to the front and back panels by seams around the arm hole edges thereof.

[0044] Figure 3 shows a more detailed rear view of the right sleeve 14k. The following description also applies to the left sleeve 14L, with references to right or R replaced by references to left or L and vice versa.

[0045] An elongate opening 26R is formed substantially centrally on a back facing section of the sleeve, and extends in a substantially straight line from a location on the wrist opening towards the arm hole opening, for approximately three quarters of the length of the sleeve.

[0046] A zip closure 25R, which is joined by seams along each side to the respective edges of the elongate opening, and extends along substantially the full length of the opening.

[0047] The zip closure 25R is oriented in the elongate opening such that, when closed, the zip slider (not shown in figure 3) is located at the first (wrist opening) end of the sleeve. Thus, the zip can be opened and closed to effectively adjust the size of the wrist opening, and thereby to reduce the length over which the diameter of the sleeve is restricted.

[00481 At the first (wrist opening) end of the sleeve, a triangular fold of material 27R projects from one edge of the elongate opening 26, to form a pocket for retaining the zip slider when the zip is closed.

[0049] The back facing section of the sleeve is defined as the part which extends from the arm hole edge 24R of the back panel 12, to the first (wrist opening) end of the sleeve, bounded by imaginary lines which respectively extend from each end of the arm hole edge of the back panel, and follow the shortest path along the sleeve to the first (wrist opening) end thereof.

[0050] As mentioned above, The elongate opening is located -10 -substantially centrally on said back facing section. That is to say, it substantially coincides with a longitudinal centre line of the back facing section of the sleeve.

[0051] Equivalently, the zip closure may be considered to extend along part of an imaginary line which extends from a point substantially centrally located on the arm hole edge 24?. of the back panel 12, and follows the shortest path along the sleeve to the first (wrist opening) end thereof.

[0052] In use, the zip closures 25?., 25L (and optionally the zip closure 20 which joins the two front panels) are opened as shown in figure 4. The garment can then be wrapped around the wearer's upper body, and the wearer's arms inserted through the arm holes into the sleeves. With the zip closures in the sleeves opened, the diameter of the sleeve is only restricted over approximately the first quarter of the length of the sleeve. This makes it easier to insert the wearer's arms into the sleeve, as compared with traditional long sleeved garments.

[0053] Once the garment is in place, at least the zip closures in the two sleeves can be closed, and the zip sliders tucked into the pockets formed by the folds of material 27?., 27L. In this way, the sleeves fit snugly over the wearer's arms, to provide the warmth and protection of a traditional long sleeved garment.

[0054] The zip closures 25?., 25L may subsequently be undone, either to facilitate removing the garment from the wearer, or for the purposes of allowing access to the wearer's arms, or for cooling the wearer.

[0055] The invention has been described above in terms of a hooded jacket. however, it will be appreciated that the -11 -principles of the present invention will apply equally to other garments with long sleeves. In this respect, the term "long sleeve" is used herein to refer to garments whose sleeves extend from the shoulder, beyond the elbow of the wearer, and preferably to the wrist of the wearer.

[0056] For example, the principles of the invention could apply to any or all of a non-hooded jacket, a hooded or non hooded-jumper or cardigan, and an all-in-one suit (with or without hood) which comprises trouser legs for clothing the wearer's legs.

[0057] In the embodiment described above, the hooded jacket comprises a single back panel and two front panels. It will be appreciated that the two front panels may be replaced by a single front panel. Moreover, it will be appreciated that each panel may be made up of a plurality of parts joined together by, for example, seams.

[0058] In the embodiment described above, the elongate openings 26k, 26L and their zip closures 25k, 25L extend along substantially three quarters of the length of the sleeve. However, in other embodiments, the openings and their closures may extend along as little as half of the length of the sleeve or as much as the full length of the sleeve.

[0059] It will be appreciated that the length of the sleeve as measured from end to end may vary depending on the position around the circumference of the sleeve that the measurement is taken. For example the sleeve length as measured from the point at which the front and back panels meet at the shoulder of the garment, is likely to be longer than the sleeve length as measured from the point at which the front and back panels meet at the under arm of the -12 -garment. For this reason, references to the length of the sleeve as used herein should be interpreted as the average or mean sleeve length, as measured over a plurality of points regularly spaced around the circumference of the sleeve.

[00601 In the embodiment described above, the elongate opening substantially coincides with a longitudinal centre line of the back facing section of the sleeve. More generally, the elongate opening may lie within a central region of the back facing section of the sleeve, wherein said central region is centred on a longitudinal centre line of the back facing section of the sleeve. For example, said central region may comprise up to three quarters of the width of the sleeve, as measured in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal centre line.

[0061] The term zip closure used herein refers to the type of closure means commonly referred to as a zip, zipper or zip fastener.

[0062] The embodiment described above uses zip closures for opening and closing the elongate openings in the sleeve.

However, it will be appreciated that different types of closures are possible. For example, velcro, poppers or buttons.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>-13 -CLAIMS1. A garment for a baby or child wearer, the garment comprising: -a back panel, one or more front panels, and two sleeves which, when the garment is worn, extend from the shoulder to beyond the elbow of the wearer; each sleeve comprising a first end which defines a wrist opening, and a second end which defines an arm hole opening, wherein the second end is joined around the circumference of the arm hole opening to respective arm hole edges of said back and front panels; each sleeve further comprising a back facing section, which extends from the respective arm hole edge of the back panel to the wrist opening of the sleeve, bounded by a pair of imaginary lines which respectively start where the arm hole edges of the back and front panels meet, and take a shortest path along the sleeve to the wrist opening; wherein an elongate opening and closure means for closing said opening are provided in the back facing section of each sleeve, the elongate opening extending from the wrist opening towards the arm hole opening, over at least half of the length of the respective sleeve.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein each elongate opening extends over at least two thirds of the length of the respective sleeve.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A garment as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each elongate opening extends over at least three quarters of the length of the respective sleeve.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each elongate opening extends over substantially the full length of the respective sleeve.</claim-text> <claim-text>-14 - 5. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each elongate opening is substantially centrally located in the back facing section of the respective sleeve.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each elongate opening substantially coincides with a longitudinal centre line of the back facing section of the respective sleeve.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A garment as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein each elongate opening lies within a central region of the back facing section of the respective sleeve, wherein said central region is centred on a longitudinal centre line of the back facing section of said sleeve.9. A garment as claimed in claim 7 wherein said central region comprises up to one quarter of the width of the sleeve, as measured in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal centre line.10. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the closure means for each elongate opening comprises a zip.11. A garment as claimed in claim 10 wherein the zip is configured such that, when closed, the zip slider is located at the first end of the respective sleeve.12. A garment as claimed in claim 10 or 11 further comprising guard means located at the first end of each sleeve, for receiving the zip slider when the zip is fully closed.13. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, when worn, the sleeves extend from the shoulder substantially to the wrists of the wearer.-15 - 14. A garment for a baby or child wearer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings -</claim-text>