Leg garments for infants
A leg garment includes a stocking and a cushion assembly, the stocking having a leg portion and a foot portion connected thereto, the leg portion having a top and a knee area near the top. The cushion assembly defines a pocket connected to the leg portion and has a cavity and a first pad removably held in the cavity. Additional pads may be readily, slideably interchanged with the first pad to vary the size, shape, cushion, age and/or thematic design of the pad and cushion characteristics contained within the pocket.
The present invention relates to garments, and more particularly, to leg garments with interchangeable padding for infants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONInfants spend a considerable amount of time crawling, during which their knees and toes can either become soiled or can develop abrasions or rug burns. If the infant is wearing a garment, it is often quickly worn through at the knees, which shortens the life of such garment or requires mending. What is needed is a garment or device to protect the infant's knees and toes under a variety of different circumstances.
SUMMARYGenerally speaking, there is provided a leg garment for an infant that provides cushion and wear resistance at least at the knee area and partially at the toe area.
A leg garment includes a stocking and a cushion assembly, the stocking having a leg portion and a foot portion connected thereto, the leg portion having a top and a knee area near the top. The cushion assembly defines a pocket connected to the leg portion and has a cavity and a first pad removably held in the cavity. Additional pads may be readily, slideably interchanged with the first pad to vary the size, shape, cushion, age and/or thematic design of the pad and cushion characteristics contained within the pocket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated herein and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described processes, systems or devices, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein, are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring to
Pad 16 is contemplated to be made of any appropriate material that exhibits a resilient, cushioning characteristic to provide padding at the knee area 21 of the leg garment 10. For example, pad 16 may be made of a foam having a density that provides the desired cushioning characteristic for the particular infant. Thus, a small infant weighing only 20 pounds may warrant a less dense pad 16 than a larger or heavier (e.g. 50 pounds) infant who would require a more dense pad 16. The size of pad 16 is dictated primarily by the size and shape of cavity 17, but is contemplated to be primarily rectangular with somewhat rounded edges.
Pad 16 may also be made with varying thicknesses and densities. Thus, pad 16 may be thicker and/or more dense at its central area 28 (
Pad 16 can be easily inserted and removed from cavity 17, which permits leg garment 10 to be washed without subjecting pad 16 to the often harsh and damaging effects of a washing machine. The useful life and quality of the pad 16 is thus increased. Being able to remove pad 16 also enables variation in the pad characteristics in response to infant comfort and/or growth. Thus, as the infant grows heavier and taller, the pad 16 may be easily exchanged for a more dense one and/or a thicker one and/or a more flexible one and/or a new, fresh smelling one. It is also contemplated that some infants may be crawling predominately on carpet, thus requiring a thinner and/or less dense pad 16, while other infants may be crawling entirely or predominately on hardwood, tile or a similar hard surface, and a thicker and/or more dense pad 16 may be required. A single leg garment 10 is thus also contemplated to be sold with multiple pads 16. Such multiple pads 16 may be identical, thus allowing the user to use, wash and discard each pad 16 as necessary in favor of a new, fresh pad 16. Alternatively, such multiple pads 16 may be of varying sizes and shapes to enable the user (the parent or guardian of the infant) to interchange the pads 16 to suit the size, weight and crawling habits and expected crawling surfaces of the infant.
Referring to
Leg garment 10 is also provided with a wear resistant surface 33 at knee area 21 and wear resistant surface 34 on foot section 12. Surface 33 may be integrally formed with the material at knee area 21 and/or foot section 12 or it may be a coating applied thereto by means known by persons skilled in the art. Such surface or coating 33 is contemplated to be a durable, resilient and/or non-skid material having a rough and/or rubber-like feel to provide infant 11 with increased traction at both the knee area 21 and foot area 32. At the foot section 12, such surface or coating 34 covers the bottom 35 of the foot section 12 and wraps around the toe section 36 thereof to ensure that, as the infant 11 crawls, the primary contact points of foot section 12 are provided with the wear resistant material. Such wear resistant material wraps at least around the front of the toe section 36, and preferably around at least a portion of the top 37 of toe section 36 to provide maximum wear resistance and traction.
The durable, resilient and non-skid material or coating 33 at knee area 21 provides infant 11 with improved traction and durability thereat. The shape, size and positionment of such surface or coating 33—that is, the extent of area that the coating covers—may vary with the size of leg garment 10, which will depend on the size of the infant 11 for whom the leg garment 10 is made. It is preferable that the extent of coverage of coating 33 extends to a greater area than is normally expected for contact with the floor to account for movement of garment 10 on the infant's leg, that is, twisting and pulling. Thus, as the infant 11 crawls around the floor, if leg garment 10 twists 5, 10 or 15 degrees either way, a portion of coating 33 should still remain in contact with the floor.
Garment 10 is further provided with an element to bias garment 10 to stay in the up position. For example, leg garment 10 is provided with an elastic band 38 or similar structure proximal its top 22 and in a position to hold top 22 of garment 10 above the knee. Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein the elastic band 38 is replaced with any suitable device for keeping garment 10 in place, such as and without limitation, a tieable cord (not shown) or an adhesive such as tape (not shown).
Referring to
Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherin a design is provide directly on the wear resistant surface 33.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
Claims
1. A leg garment, comprising:
- a stocking having a leg portion and a foot portion connected thereto, the leg portion having a top and a knee area near the top; and,
- a cushion assembly defining a pocket connected to the leg portion and having a cavity and a first pad removably held in the cavity.
2. The leg garment assembly of claim 1 wherein said cushion assembly defines an opening to the cavity and includes a flap removably closing off the opening.
3. The leg garment assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion assembly includes a piece of material connected to the leg portion, the piece of material and leg portion together defining the cavity and an opening to the cavity, the opening sized to receive the pad therethrough.
4. The leg garment assembly of claim 1 wherein the cushion assembly includes the leg section defining a slit proximal the top of the leg section and having a pocket connected to the leg section at the slit, the pocket and slit sized and aligned to receive the pad through the slit and into the pocket.
5. The leg garment assembly of claim 1 wherein the said cushion assembly defines and opening and wherein the leg garment assembly further includes at least a second pad sized and shaped to replace the first pad through the opening.
6. The leg garment assembly of claim 5 wherein the cushion assembly includes a piece of material that is at least partially see-through enabling the pad to be seen through the piece of material.
7. The leg garment assembly of claim 6 wherein the piece of material is at least partially made of mesh.
8. The leg garment assembly of claim 6 wherein the pad includes at least one design visible through the at least partially see-through piece of material.
9. The leg garment assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least a second pad is substantially identical to the first pad.
10. The leg garment assembly of claim 6 wherein the at least a second pad differs from the first pad in at least one of size, shape, density, thickness and design.
11. The leg garment assembly of claim 1 wherein the first pad bears a design.
12. The leg garment assembly of claim 11 wherein the design includes a reference thematic image.
13. The leg garment assembly of claim 11 wherein the design include an original thematic image.
14. The leg garment assembly of claim 1 further including a wear resistant surface at the knee area.
15. The leg garment assembly of claim 14 wherein the foot portion has a bottom and a toe section, the toe section having a front and a top, and wherein the leg garment further includes a wear resistant surface at the toe section.
16. The leg garment assembly of claim 15 wherein the wear resistant surface at the toe section extends over at least a portion of the top of the toe section.
17. A leg garment, comprising:
- a stocking having a leg portion and a foot portion connected thereto, the leg portion having a knee area; and,
- a cushion assembly defining a pocket with a front that is at least partially see-through, the pocket being connected to the leg portion and having a cavity and a pad removably inserted in the cavity.
18. The leg garment assembly of claim 17 wherein the pad includes a thematic design visible through the at least partially see-through front.
19. The leg garment assembly of claim 1 wherein the leg portion defines a slit and wherein the cushion assembly includes a pocket positioned inside the leg portion and connected to the leg portion at and in alignment with the slit and having a cavity and a first pad removably insertable through the slit and held in the cavity.
20. A leg garment, comprising:
- a stocking having a leg portion and a foot portion connected thereto, the leg portion having an inside, a top and a knee area near the top and a defining a slit near the top; and,
- a cushion assembly defining a pocket positioned inside the leg portion and connected to the leg portion at and in alignment with the slit and having a cavity and wherein the cushion assembly further includes a first pad removably insertable through the slit and held in the cavity.
21. The leg garment assembly of claim 20 wherein said cushion assembly includes at least a second pad sized and configured to replace the first pad in the pocket.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 26, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 1, 2007
Inventor: Dawn South (Scottsdale, AZ)
Application Number: 11/189,215
International Classification: A41B 11/00 (20060101);