GB2503272A

GB2503272A - Baby garments facilitating nappy inspection

Info

Publication number: GB2503272A
Application number: GB201211024A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Harrold
Original assignee: CHECKERS CLOTHING Ltd
Current assignee: CHECKERS CLOTHING Ltd
Priority date: 2012-06-21
Filing date: 2012-06-21
Publication date: 2013-12-25
Also published as: GB201211024D0

Abstract

A garment for a baby comprises an upper torso part 1 and a lower torso part 2, said upper and lower torso parts having a back 4, 9 characterised in that a self-closing opening 10 is provided in the back to facilitate inspection of a wearers nappy. The opening is preferably provided by a slit that most preferably extends horizontally across the garment. The opening may be formed of an upper portion of fabric 14 that overlaps a lower portion of fabric 13, wherein the lateral edges of the overlapping portions are fastened together permanently, preferably by stitching. The overlapping portions may be temporarily fastened by means 12 selected from a popper, hook and loop fastener, a zipper, a button or a magnet. The garments may further comprise arm stalls 8 or leg stalls or both.

Description

A GARMENT FOR A BABY OR INFANT

Technical Field

[001] The present invention is concerned with the construction of a one piece garment for a baby or infant, especially but not exclusively the garment hereinafter referred to as an infant vest. The invention may also refer to garments known as: a romper, infant body suit or onesie.

Background Art

[002] Conventional one piece infant garments are well known, an examp'e appears in US20090099632. This comprises an upper torso part which is intended to clothe an upper part of a baby's torso and a lower torso part adapted to clothe a lower part of a babies torso. The upper torso part is formed with holes to receive the head and arms. The lower torso part is formed with a crotch flap (pelvic flap) which extends from a back panel of the garment to be fastened by fastenings known variously as snap fasteners or poppers to the front panel. Fastening the crotch part forms the leg holes of the garment. The garment is intended for infants still using nappies/diapers. Unfastening the fastenings facilitates applying the vest to the infant and changing the nappy without removing the upper part of the garment. Importantly. the arrangement prevents the infant from accidentally removing or becoming entangled in the garment.

[003] The vest garment described in US20090099632 is particularly adapted for the use of infants who are subject to medical neatment in hospital and have a region of their body which requires frequent inspection, for example the wound from surgery or a dermal infection. The vest is the only garment the infant will wear in such a temperature controlled environment and is provided with a slit opening located to facilitate inspection of a particular site on the infant's body, especially the umbilicus. The opening is provided with fastenings to secure the edges of the slit together between inspections.

To inspect the site the fastenings are undone, the slit will fall open and the site can be inspected. The opening is then manually urged shut and the fastening manuafly secured to hold the opening shut.

[004] US2OIO/0024092 discloses a single piece garment for an infant intended for everyday use in a relatively cold environment. The garment has full length leg stalls with a foot receiving boot and a torso covering upper part with front and rear panels including an opening for the head and from which extend arm stalls. So that the infant does not need to be completely disrobed during changing, the garment includes an opening extending honzontally at waist height across the front and normally closed by a flap.

The opening is at the front to allow the infant to be laid supine and the infant's legs only removed from the long legs of the garment during changing. The chest and anns remain cththed in the garment.

[005] JP2008231631A discloses a single piece garment for an infant having short leg stalls depending from the front panel of a torso covering upper part. The torso covering upper part also has a back panel, an opening for the head and short arm stalls. The garment includes an opening extending horizontally near the waist and in the back of the garment by means of which the garment can be applied to the infant or via which the garment can be removed from the infant. The opening must ordinarily be kept closed by fastenings. As with US-092 the infant is changed by removing the legs of the infant from the leg stalls.

[006] None of the aforementioned garments provide for easy inspection of a nappy, particularly when the infant is being carried.

Statement of Invention

[007] Accordingly the present invention provides a garment for a baby comprising an uppcr torso part adaptcd to clothc an uppcr part of a baby's torso and a lower torso part adapted to clothe a lower part of the babies torso, said upper and lower torso parts having a back characterised in that a self-closing opening is provided in the back of the garment to facilitate inspection of a nappy.

[008] The garment will preferably include a front portion. Preferably said lower torso part includes a crotch flap which partially defines the leg holes of the garment, said crotch flap having a fastening whereby the crotch part can be secured to extend between the front and back of the garment, and unfastened to separate the crotch flap from one of the front or back of the garment.

[009] The normally closed opening may conveniently be provided by a slit which is preferably disposed horizontally. The slit is preferably provided in the region of the waist. The sfit is preferably formed of an upper portion of fabric and a lower portion of fabric. One of the upper and lower portions of fabric substantially overlaps the other and is urged to the overlapping condition to provide a self-closing opening. The overlap is preferably between 1cm and 15 cm. Preferably, when the opening is closed, one of the overlapping portions lies inside the garment and the other outside. The self-closing effect may be achieved by permanently fastening overlapping lateral edges of the upper and lower portions of fabric together. Permanent fastening can be achieved by stitching but any other fastening means including at least stapling, adhesive, and welding are possible depending on the material from which the garment is fabricated.

[010] It may be desirable to provide the overlapping portions of fabric with temporaiy fastening means to prevent the infant reaching into the opening.

Such temporary fastening means may be any of: poppers, snaps, hook and loop fabric fastening, zipper, buttons or magnetic.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

[011] A garment for a baby or infant embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example only. with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a garment showing the first embodiment, and Figure 2 is a rear view of the garment of figure 1 shown partially cutaway.

Detailed Description of Drawings

[012] With reference to figures 1 and 2 the garment for a baby has an upper torso part 1 adapted to clothe an upper part of a baby's torso and a lower torso part 2, notionally divided from the upper part in the region of the waist and adapted to clothe a lower part of a baby's torso. The lower torso part I includes a depending lower front portion 3 and a lower back panel 4. The lower back panel 4 extends downwards to form a crotch flap S which is provided with fasteners 6 arranged to couple with cooperating fastener parts secured to the lower front portion 3. Securing the flap S to the lower front portion 3 forms leg holes 7 to acconmiodate the legs of a baby.

[013] Fasteners 6 may be provided by one or more snaps, poppers, buttons, zippers or hook and loop fastening, in order to be readily fastened and unfastened. Unfastening the fastening frees the flap S to create an opening via which the garment can be applied to or removed from a baby and will expose a nappy to be changed without removing the garment completely.

[014] The front of the upper and lower torso parts is formed from a single panel of fabric. In the top of the garment is formed a hole 7 for the baby's head and respective left and right arm stalls 8.

[015] The back of the garment is formed from an upper back panel 9 and the lower back panel 4 which provides the flap 5. The upper panel 9 and the lower back panel 4 are separated by an opening 10. The opening 10 may extend horizontally (substantially parallel to the waist) from the left lateral edge of the upper panel 9 and lower back panel 4 to the right lateral edge of the upper back panel 9 and lower back panel 4.

[016] The opening 10 is formed by lapping a lapping portion of the upper panel 9 over a lapping portion of the lower back panel 4. However, the lateral edges of the lapping portion of the upper back panel 9 are stitched or otherwise secured to the lateral edges of the lapping portion of the lower back panel 4, as illustrated by the dotted lines II, so that there are no loose edges. The upper edge 13 of lower back panel 4 is unsecured as is the lower edgel4 of upper back panel 9. This arrangement creates an opening 10 which when worn is under some tension such that the overlapping portions are urged to close together and the opening is therefore self-closing. However, the lapping poitions can be easily drawn apart by inserting a single hand to inspect the nappy without disrobing the baby.

[017] An optional feature illustrated iii this embodiment is the provision of fastening means 12. The fastening means may be provided by snaps, poppers, buttons, hook and loop fabnc, a zipper or magnets. The fasteners may be necessary not to close the opening but to prevent the baby entangling its hands in the opening.

[018] While the embodiment described is a vest like garment having short arms and no leg stalls the invention may be adapted to a garment provided with leg stalls and/or arm stalls. Each arm stall may be sufficiently long to reach the wrist of the wearer and each leg stall may be sufficiently long to reach the ankle of the wearer. The garment may be fabricated from any suitable material including, but not limited to woven cotton, wool or synthetics such as nylon, or from non-woven fabrics such as felt and paper. The garment can be formed conventionally from a pattern of several panels seamed together. The seams may be formed by stitching, welding, adhesives or any other means appropriate to the material and application.

Claims

Claims 1. A garment for a baby comprising: an upper torso part adapted to clothe an upper part of a baby's torso and a lower torso part adapted to clothe a lower part of the baby's torso, said upper and lower torso parts having a back characterised in that a self-closing opening is provided in the back of the garment to facilitate inspection of a nappy.
2. A garment according to claim I wherein the self-closing opening is provided by a slit.
3. A garment according to claim 2 wherein the slit is horizontal.
4. A garment according to claim I wherein the opening is formed of an upper portion of fabnc which overlaps a lower portion of fabnc, only the lateral edges of the lapping portions of fabric being secured together to create a force, at least when worn in use, to urge the overlapping portions together.
5. A garment according to claim 4 wherein the lateral edges of the overlapping portions are fastened together permanently.
6. A garment according to claim 5 wherein the lateral edges are permanently fastened by stitching.
7. A garment according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the overlapping portions of fabric can be temporarily fastened together by temporary fastening means.
8. A garment according to claim 7 wherein the temporary fastening means may be any of a: popper, hook and loop fabric, a zipper, a button or a magnet.
9. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims: said lower torso part including a front portion and said lower torso part including a crotch part which partially defines the leg holes of the garment, said crotch part having a fastening whereby the crotch part can be secured to extend between the front and back of the garment, and unfastened to completely separate the crotch part from one of the front or back of the garment.
10. A garment according to any one of claims 1-8 wherein the garment has at east one of a pair of eg stafls or arm stalls.
11. A garment according to claim 10 wherein each leg stall is of sufficient length to reach the ankle of the wearer.
12. A garment according to claim 10 wherein each arm stall is of sufficient length to reach the wrist of the wearer.
13. A garment as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.