GB2507035A

GB2507035A - Protective garment for child

Info

Publication number: GB2507035A
Application number: GB201216971A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Monica Georgina Byrne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-21
Filing date: 2012-09-21
Publication date: 2014-04-23
Also published as: GB201216971D0

Abstract

A protective garment, suitable for child, comprises a body formed entirely in transparent material, and with a temporary means of attachment to the child. The body of the garment is adapted to be positioned and attached so as to correspond to the child's clothing and cover the clothing. The garment may be in a form to cover the clothing over two arms and the torso; two legs and the crotch; two legs, the crotch and a torso; even two arms, two legs, the crotch and the torso. The temporary means of attachment may be in the form of adhesive pads with a removable backing. The fabric used to manufacture the garment may be a light weight durable breathable synthetic plastic such as polyethylene. The garment may be printed, patterned or textured.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

MONICA BYRNE

FOR

A PROTECTIVE GARMENT FOR A CHILD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a protective garment for a child, more particularly but not especially a garment to protect clothing without disrupting the clothing's visual appearance.

Background and Prior Art

Young children typically often get dirty whilst crawling, playing and eating and steps are taken by parents and carers to prevent this, such as wearing a bib or changing clothing regularly and frequently However this may not always be possible or practical especially if a particular outfit must be worn for example at a wedding.

constant washing and wear associated with children's clothing also means that the clothing may not last long and must be regularly replaced or disposed of if damaged or if stains cannot be removed.

Learning to crawl and progressing to walking and playing are important stages of growing up and must not be discouraged in any way. However if the child isrequired to stay clean for an occasion their activities may be limited so as to avoid soiling their cloths.

The present invention arose to overcome the problems associated with children soiling their clothes by providing a discrete protectivegarment.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a child's protective garment comprising: a body formed entirely in transparent material, and a temporary means of attachment to the child, wherein the body is adapted to be positioned and attached so as to correspond to the child's clothing and cover the clothing.

In preferred embodiments the transparent body is formed from a lightweight, durable, breathable synthetic plastic such as polyethylene (PE) or thermo plastic elastomer (TPE).

Preferably the garment is attached over and above a child's clothing, typically by straps or strings and overlapped portions, whereby for example in preferred embodiments a body may be divided into more than one part, or a divided part, each part able to cover a limb at least in part.

The transparent body enables standard clothing to be worn and enjoyed under the protective garment, and to remain visible, it therefore being less obvious that the protective garment in use and allowing parents, carers or children to express personality and/or style.

In some embodiments the body may be formed at least in part from a translucent or solid coloured synthetic plastic, for example different colours which may represent different sizes or may be designed for use at schools such as to match a uniform or colour grouping. It may be envisaged that the garment may be disposable or single- use. -In some embodiments the transparent body may be printed, patterned or textured for example to include colours or characters so as to provide variety, to suit different outfits or to encourage the child to wear them.

Some embodiments may also include text such as the name of the child or their age.

Yet further embodiments include designated areas or panels or further attachments or portions which allow personalisation. For example these may include tags, tabs, or closure ribbons that may be incidental or used to aid in closure of the garment or attachment of the garment to is child.

The protective garment serves to protect the child's clothing from damage and wear, in particular and for example if and where the child is attending a special occasion where clothing may be hired or special, but periods of unrestrained play may be desirable.

The protective garment may be worn to protect the clothing until the child arrives at the event, or during it, for example to allow the child to play outside without soiling the child's clothing.

Preferably the transparent body is no greater than 1mm thick, more preferably no greater than 0.5mm and most preferably less than 0.2mm so as to have maximum flexibility and minimal mass.

Ideally the transparent body may be available in more than one form so as to provide different amounts of coverage over the child's clothing or torso and limbs. Typically the protective garment may have an appearance and familiarity of standard childhood garments such as trousers, suits or dungarees.

In some embodiments where the transparent body is in the form of trousers or a suit, the trouser waist and ankles may be elasticated so as to secure the protective garment in place. It is envisaged that in all embodiments the garment may be easily pulled on over existing clothing, or split and closed around existing clothing.

In other embodiments where the transparent body takes the form of dungarees so as to provide protection for lower and upper body clothing ideally the dungaree ankle portions may be elasticated so as to secure the ankle portions in position, reducing movement in use.

The dungaree straps may include adhesive tabs so that they may be passed overthe child's shoulders and secured to the dungarees front at an appropriate position depending upon the child's size and shape. Preferably the adhesive tabs include a backing that is removed to reveal the adhesive surface when in use.

In yet further embodiments the transparent body may take the form of a body suit so as to cover all upper and lower body clothing. Ideally the waist, ankle and wrist portions may be elasticated. Preferably the body suit may have an opening so as to allow entry or use, wherein in preferred embodiments the opening is in the body back or rear so that the child is not enabled to tamper or fiddle.

Typically the opening is a split in the transparent body so as to allow the protective garment to be pulled on or over the child.

Preferably the split may have peripheral adhesive panels in order that at least part of the protective garment may be temporarily stuck to the child's clothing so as to hold it in position when worn. Preferably the adhesive panels include a backing that is -removed to reveal the adhesive surface when in use.

It is envisaged that the protective garment may also be adapted to be available, disposed, dimensioned or embodied as other types of clothing not afore mentioned such as skirts or dresses. In such and other embodiments elasticated portions may be necessary and desirable, for example wherein the elasticated portion or portions pull the garment in to ensure din does not enter below edges of the garment.

Alternatively or in addition there may be included internal or external drawstrings, which allow the garment to ruche and may be tied off to secure the garment tighter.

All embodiments of attachment means are disposed and placed so that the child is less able to tamper with the attachment means, and where accidental or otherwise unauthorised detachment is not possible.

Advantageously the protective garments are provided flatpacked so as to be easily stored. It is envisaged that the protective garment is disposable, but may be used more than once if not dirtied.

In order to minimise deletorious damage in use, in some embodiments portions of the transparent body may include reinforcements, for example to include more than one layer so as to reinforce the body. For example the protective garment knee and/or elbow region may be reinforced for children who are crawling.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the garment in use; Figure 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the garment in use; Figure 4 showsa rear view of the embodiment of Figure 3; And Figure 5 shows a side view of a third embodiment of the garment in use.