Infant garment and removable bib

Abstract

In combination, an infant garment and a removable bib. The infant garment is formed of washable fabric material and shaped to fit over a torso of an infant. A front panel of the infant garment bears a first decorative design permanently applied thereon which defines a first decorative perimeter border. The bib is also formed of washable fabric material and bears a second decorative design permanently applied thereon which defined a second perimeter border substantially identical to that of the first decorative design. The first and second decorative designs being substantially identical one to another. A releasable attachment between the bib and the first perimeter of the first decorative design preferably facilitates self-alignment whereby a decorative appearance of the infant garment is substantially similar when said bib is either attached atop the first decorative design to prevent soiling of said first decorative design or detached therefrom.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to infants' clothing and more particularly to an infant torso garment in combination with a decoratively designed separate removable bib which is releasably attachable onto an identically mating design permanently applied to the front surface of the infant garment.

2. Description of Related Art

The concept of a removable and separately launderable bib for infant garments is generally well known. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,092, Taranto teaches an infant bib which is permanently attachable to an upper torso infant garment, the bib being composed of a unique multi-layer arrangement of materials to achieve bib protection without annoying the infant.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,382, Bernard teaches a place-on bib which is adapted for releasable attachment atop the upper body infant garment. Smith, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,269 teaches another combination garment and bib system which includes a garment having an absorbent layer backed by a fluid impermeable layer positioned in front of the neck opening and a bib also having an absorbent layer backed by a fluid impermeable layer. This bib is releasably attachable to the front of the garment to provide a primary protection mode while the garment provides a secondary protection element.

An apparel stain protector is taught by Chester-Salter in U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,402 for protecting the front of a user's garment from being soiled or stained by food or beverage. This protector appears to be disposable and is intended to provide a scarf cover for a necktie having releasable attachment means on one surface of each such apparel stain protector segment.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,879, Hibler teaches a reusable protective unornamental overlay with a pressure adhesive back onto the unornamental front surface of a torso garment. This device appears to be either disposable or reusable. Koenig teaches a restraining garment with detachable bib in U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,946. This arrangement provides an upper torso garment which may be utilized to safely restrain a child in a high chair while also providing a releasably attachable garment covering the front area of the garment.

A special garment for the disabled is taught by Brucato in U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,500 which provides a front and back portion of the garment and a removable outer front portion which protectively covers the front portion of the garment during meals and beverage consumption and Odell, in U.S. Pat. No. 540,756, teaches a two-part bib arrangement wherein an under bib is attached around and is supported by the neck of an infant while a second outer bib portion is releasably attachable thereatop for removal and laundering.

The present invention teaches, in combination, an infant's torso garment having a first decorative design permanently attached thereto by conventional means and a bib which is decoratively configured to match all, or the main portion of, the first decorative design applied to the infant garment. This unique feature of the present invention allows the infant garment to maintain the same appearance for decoration purposes whether the bib is in place or removed for laundering or when not needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to, in combination, an infant garment and a removable bib. The infant garment is formed of washable fabric material and shaped to fit over a torso of an infant. A front panel of the infant garment bears a first decorative design permanently applied thereon which defines a first decorative perimeter border. The bib is also formed of washable fabric material and bears a second decorative design permanently applied thereon which defined a second perimeter border substantially identical to that of the first decorative design. The first and second decorative designs being substantially identical one to another. A releasable attachment between the bib and the first perimeter of the first decorative design preferably facilitates self-alignment whereby a decorative appearance of the infant garment is substantially similar when said bib is either attached atop the first decorative design to prevent soiling of said first decorative design or detached therefrom.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide, in combination, an infant garment and a removable launderable bib which facilitates maintaining the identical decorative appearance of the infant garment whether the bib is in place or has been removed for laundering and storage.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral 10. This embodiment 10 includes a torso garment 12 having a body 14 formed of flexible fabric material which is preferably launderable and covers at least the upper torso of an infant. Fabric body 14 includes a front surface 16 having a decorative design 22 having the appearance of a teddy bear permanently applied thereto in any conventional fashion such as by silk screening, embroidery, heat transfer, and the like. Within a perimeter 18 of the decorative design 22 will be found two buttons 20 which are conveniently placed within the profile of the ears of the decorative design 22.

A bib 24 is also provided formed of flexible fabric material which is washable as needed. The bib 24 has a decorative design 26 which substantially identically matches the decorative design 22 permanency applied to the front torso area 16 of the infant garment 12. Additionally, the perimeter 29 of bib 24 identically matches the perimeter 18 of the decorative design 22.

The bib 24 is releasably attachable by providing button holes 28 positioned in the ears of the teddy bear design 26 which are carefully spaced and aligned with the buttons 20 permanently attached to the front surface 16 of the infant garment 12. By careful alignment of the button holes 28 with the buttons 20, the bib 24 is made releasably attachable directly onto, and maintained in full alignment and registry with the decorative design 22 such that the overall decorative appearance of the infant garment 12 of this embodiment 10 remains unchanged whether the bib 24 is in place during feeding or has been removed for laundering purposes.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the invention is there shown at numeral 30 and also includes an infant garment 32 having a body 34 formed of flexible fabric material which is preferably launderable. Permanently applied to the front surface 36 of the infant garment 32 is another decorative design 40 in the form of a sunflower having a uniquely configured perimeter 38 permanently applied thereto.

In this embodiment 32, additional decorative material 42 has been permanently applied outside of the perimeter 38 of the decorative design 40 and which complements and is decoratively compatible with the decorative design 40. This embodiment 32 therefore provides the design opportunity for decoratively enhancing the front panel 36 of the infant garment 32 into areas of the front panel 36 which are typically not soiled or affected by baby feeding.

As a result, the bib 46, bearing a decorative design 48 and a perimeter 52 which identically matches the decorative design 40 and perimeter 38 permanently applied to the front panel 36 does not need to be exaggerated in size beyond the normal configuration of a removable bib for protecting this critical area of the infant garment 32.

In this embodiment 30, releasable attachment of the bib 46 is accomplished by mating VELCRO strips 44 and 50 which are again positioned in spaced alignment fashion so as to facilitate the attachment of the bib 46 in precise alignment and registry with the permanently attached decorative design 40 of the infant garment 32.

Another embodiment of the invention shown generally at numeral 60 in FIG. 3 also provides a decorative design 70 having a circular perimeter 68 depicting a baseball which is compatible with additional decorative design portions 72 implying a batter striking the baseball 70 and sending it into flight. However, the critical soilage area is defined by perimeter 68 which identically mates with a perimeter 82 of a separate bib 76. The decorative design 78 identically matches that of the decorative design 70 which has been permanently applied to the front panel 66 of the infant garment 62. Likewise, the perimeter 82 of bib 76 identically matches the perimeter 68 of the decorative design 70. Proper alignment between the decorative designs 70 and 78 when the bib 76 is in use is facilitated by the careful placement of snaps 74 and 80 which are permanently attached to the respective surfaces 66 of garment 62 and the reverse surface of the bib 76.

Lastly in FIG. 4, another embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral 90 and also includes an upper torso garment 92 which primarily covers the upper torso area of an infant only in the form of either a shirt or dress. This embodiment 92 also includes a decorative design 100 in the form of a fish having a perimeter 98 permanently applied to the front panel 96 of the infant garment 92.

The removable, launderable bib 104, also formed of flexible fabric material, includes a decorative design 106 which identically mates with and matches the decorative design 100 applied to the front panel 96. Again, the perimeter 110 also identically matches the perimeter 98.

Releasable attachment of this embodiment 104 is achieved by buttons at 102 and wherein the buttons 102 conveniently match a physical feature of the decorative design 100. By careful placement and spacing of the button holes 108 formed through the bib 104, careful alignment and registry of the decorative design 106 atop the decorative design 100 will be established and maintained so that, when the bib 104 is in use, the overall decorative appearance of the torso garment 92 is maintained as being identical to the infant garment 92 alone.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

Claims

1. In combination, an infant garment and removable bib, comprising:

said infant garment formed of fabric material and shaped to fit over a torso of an infant;

a front panel of said infant garment bearing a first decorative design permanently applied thereon and having a first decorative perimeter border;

said bib formed of fabric material bearing a second decorative design permanently applied thereon and having a second perimeter border which is substantially identical to said first perimeter border of said first decorative design;

said first and second decorative designs being substantially identical one to another;

a releasable attachment between said first decorative design and said bib for self-aligning releasable attachment of said second perimeter of said bib atop aligned with said first perimeter of said first decorative design whereby a decorative appearance of said infant garment is substantially similar when said bib is either attached atop said first decorative design to prevent soiling of said first decorative design or detached therefrom.

2. An infant torso garment with separate removable bib, comprising:

said infant garment formed of washable fabric material and shaped to fit over a torso of an infant;

a front panel of said infant garment bearing a first decorative design permanently applied thereon and having a first decorative perimeter border;

said bib formed of washable fabric material bearing a second decorative design permanently applied thereon and having a second perimeter border which is substantially identical to said first perimeter border of said first decorative design;

said first and second decorative designs being substantially identical one to another;

said bib being releasably attachable in self-aligning fashion atop said first decorative design whereby a decorative appearance of said infant garment is substantially similar when said bib is either attached atop said first decorative design to prevent soiling of said first decorative design or detached therefrom.

3. In combination, an infant torso garment and separate removable bib, comprising:

said infant garment formed of washable fabric material and shaped to fit over a torso of an infant;

a front panel of said infant garment bearing a first decorative design permanently applied thereon and having a first decorative perimeter border defined around a portion of said first decorative design;

said bib formed of washable fabric material bearing a second decorative design permanently applied thereon and having a second perimeter border which is substantially identical to said first perimeter border of said first decorative design;

said first and second perimeter borders being substantially identical one to another;

a releasable attachment between said first decorative design and said bib for self-aligning releasable attachment of said second perimeter of said bib atop aligned with said first perimeter of said first decorative design whereby a decorative appearance of said infant garment is substantially similar when said bib is either attached atop said first decorative design to prevent soiling of said first decorative design or detached therefrom.