AU2016201057B2

AU2016201057B2 - Baby crossover garment

Info

Publication number: AU2016201057B2
Application number: AU2016201057A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kasey Cranney; Alice Kruszelnicki; Rebecca Watson
Original assignee: Hanes Innerwear Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Hanes Innerwear Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-19
Filing date: 2016-02-19
Publication date: 2020-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-19
Also published as: AU2016201057A1

Abstract

A baby garment comprising: a garment body including a torso portion with a neck opening, and further including arms and legs, which body is made in a two-way stretch fabric; and a releasably closable crotch opening between and extending along the insides of the legs; wherein the front of the torso portion of the garment body comprises respective outer and inner overlapping crossover segments that are non releasably secured at or adjacent their end peripheries to the torso portion of the garment body.

Description

P/00/011I Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

Invention Title: Baby Crossover Garment

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:

Baby Crossover Garment

Field of the invention

This invention relates to baby garments and more particularly to baby garments of the kind having a crossover front layer structure.

Background of the invention

One piece coverall garments have long been a popular clothing item for babies from newborns to early toddlers. These garments are typically made in a stretch fabric, for example a two-way stretch cotton blend terry fabric. They have a body with a neck opening, arms (short or long) and legs, the latter enclosed at their ends by foot pieces, and a front opening most commonly defined by spaced stud fasteners extending from the neck opening to the crotch area, often continuing part way down the inside of one or both legs. The purpose of the garment is to provide a warm, snug, full cover fit, especially useful when the baby begins to roll, crawl, and move about, yet easily opened up and refastened to facilitate nappy changing.

In a variation of the standard coverall baby garment, the front opening is closed by folding a crossover segment or layer across the baby's body to a line of fastenings, typically again stud fasteners, somewhat to the left or right of the centre of the baby's chest. The top edge of this segment is usually diagonal, and there may be a further layer with a similar diagonal top edge under the crossover segment. This underlying layer is usually similarly fastened inside by stud fasteners. In an alternative, faux crossover arrangement, the other side of the garment may end adjacent the diagonal of the front crossover segment and along the line of fasteners. In the true crossover design, there is a two layer coverage of the baby's chest and midriff, which is seen as a significant benefit by many parents.

Coverall baby garments of these kinds are widely used and have changed little over several decades carers are well aware of the significant disadvantage, i.e. the fiddly and time consuming process of undoing and reengaging the substantial number of stud fasteners along the front and crotch openings. The disadvantage of this process increases as the baby becomes more mobile and less enamoured with lying comparatively still while the carer undoes the stud fasteners and reengages them. The problem especially arises at the completion of the nappy changing or dressing task when each stud must be individually aligned and engaged.

It is an object of the invention to at least in part alleviate the disadvantages arising from the multiple stud fasteners typical of coverall baby garments made in a two-way stretch fabric.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and/or combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the invention

It has been realised by the present inventors that the aforementioned object can be met by adapting and modifying the crossover style of coverall baby garment. The concept of the invention is somewhat counter intuitive, viz to maintain a crotch opening but eliminate the front opening by permanently attaching the outer longitudinal edges of the outer and inner crossover segments to respective sides of the garment body. With an adequate crotch opening, the baby can be dressed or undressed as with other garments by pulling the garment over the baby's head, but unlike other garments, the result is a two-layer coverage of the baby's chest and midriff.

The invention accordingly provides a baby garment comprising:

a garment body including a torso portion with a neck opening, and further including arms and legs, which body is made in a two-way stretch fabric; and

a releasably closable crotch opening between and extending along the insides of the legs;

wherein the front of the torso portion of the garment body comprises respective outer and inner overlapping crossover segments that are non releasably secured at or adjacent their end peripheries to the torso portion of the garment body.

Conveniently, the non-releasable securement is by a seam, preferably extending longitudinally with respect to the baby's body. Typically, this seam may lie at the sides of the garment below the respective arms with a longitudinally extending substantially straight end edge of the respective crossover segments being disposed at or adjacent the respective seam.

The top edges of the respective crossover segments are preferably diagonal, for example with a shallow concave curvature.

Preferably, the lower edge of the outer crossover segment is also somewhat diagonal and merges into at least part of a hem defining the crotch opening.

Preferably the crotch opening is releasably closable by an array of stud fasteners. The crotch opening is preferably sufficiently large for the garment to be pulled over a baby's head and drawn down into its correct position.

The two-way stretch fabric is advantageously a cotton blend terry fabric.

As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a front view of a baby crossover garment according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the garment shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlargement of the crotch area of the garment.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

The coverall baby garment, or baby suit, 10 illustrated in the drawings includes a garment body 11 formed in a two-way stretch cotton blend terry fabric. Body 11 has a torso portion 18 with a neck opening 12 having a narrow collar piece 13, and respective arms 14 and legs 16. The body may be integrally knitted in one piece or the arms may be raglan style sleeves joined to the torso portion 18 at seams 15 that extend under the armpits.

Instead of a central vertically extending front opening with a line of stud fasteners or a zip fastener, the front of torso portion 18 is defined by a pair of outer and inner overlapping crossover segments 20, 30. The arrangement is symmetrical, with each crossover segment having an upper diagonal shallow concave edge 22, 32. These edges comprise a 10 mm bind 23,33 finished with narrow 2 needle cover stitch, and moreover comprise respective end portions of a continuous edge bind that integrally incorporates collar 13.

The end perphery 24, 34 of the respective crossover segments 20, 30 is a substantially straight margin that is non-releasably secured by a longitudinally extending seam 26, 36 to the torso portion 18 of the garment body 11 directly under the arms 14. The margin of outer crossover segment 20 is visible on the outside whereas the margin of inner crossover segment 30 is hidden from view on the inside. The arrangement may be such that the uppermost end of the seam 26, 36 is, say, 1 centimetre below the centre of the sleeve armpit. The seams are reinforced at overlap points with binds 23, 33 by additional stitching.

?0 The lower edges 28, 38 of the crossover segments are also symmetrical. Each is hemmed and extends from an approximate midpoint 27, 37 on the inside of a respective leg 16, up the leg and across the crotch area then diagonally until it reaches the outer longitudinal edge periphery 24, 34. The aforesaid midpoints 27, 37 define the respective extremities of a crotch opening 40 that is closed by a ring of stud fasteners 42 along respective edge hems of the crossover segments. The complementary elements of the stud fasteners are mounted in matching 13 mm single turn binds finished with narrow 2 needle cover stitch. At points 27, 37 the binds are mitred for a flat finish with a topstitch.

At the centre of the crotch opening, three of the stud fasteners 42a (Figure 3) are arranged in a 2 cm triangle and a strengthening gusset 44 is additionally provided.

Legs 16 end in suitable foot portions selected according to desired style but in this case are illustrated with a front hem finish 47 with narrow 2 needle coverstitch and a fold back cuff 45 of conventional construction. A similar arrangement of front hem 49 and fold back cuff 48 is provided for the arms 14.

More particularly, each cuff 45 is an additional outer half-cylindrical layer of the fabric folded back and sewn to the main tube 46 of the foot portion along two seams at opposite sides of tube 46. In one position cuff 45 simply overlies tube 46, which is open at its end so that the baby's foot may protrude through. Alternatively, cuff 45 can be folded over the open end to close it so that the baby's foot is enfolded by the foot portion.

A similar arrangement is provided by way of a roll over cuff mitten 48 in a cotton elastane jersey-style fabric at the end of each arm 14.

The ends of lower edges 26, 27 of crossover segments 20, 30 are of sufficient length that, when the crotch studs are disengaged, the resultant crotch opening is large enough for the garment to be placed on a baby by pulling it over the baby's head while guiding the arms and legs into place. The reverse process can be employed to remove the garment. In one sense this process is akin to other similar dressing and undressing procedures but in this case the end result is an advantageous double layer of warmth over the baby's chest and midriff without the inconvenience of engaging or disengaging ?0 multiple studs in addition to those at the crotch opening.

It will be appreciated that other means of closure may be employed at the crotch opening, eg. one or more zip fasteners.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A baby garment comprising:

2. A baby garment according to claim 1 wherein said non-releasable securement is by a seam.

3. A baby garment according to claim 2 wherein the seam extends longitudinally with respect to the garment body.

4. A baby garment according to claim 3 wherein the seam lies at the sides of the garment below the respective arms, with a longitudinally extending substantially straight end edge of the respective crossover segments being disposed at or adjacent the respective seam.

5. A baby garment according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the top edges of the respective crossover segments are diagonal.

6. A baby garment according to claim 5 wherein the diagonal top edges each exhibit shallow concave curvature.

7. A baby garment according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the lower edge of the outer crossover segment is also somewhat diagonal and merges into at least part of a hem defining the crotch opening.

8. A baby garment according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the crotch opening is releasably closable by an array of stud fasteners.

9. A baby garment according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the crotch opening is sufficiently large for the garment to be pulled over a baby's head and drawn down into its correct position.

10. A baby garment according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the two-way stretch fabric is a cotton blend terry fabric.