Toy-Holding Baby Garment

Abstract

A device for holding a baby item, includes a baby garment, a decorative shape coupled to a surface of the baby garment, a grasper coupled to a lower portion of the decorative shape by a loop and operable to attach objects to the baby garment, where the grasper includes a contiguous length having a first end and a second end and forming a shape, a first locking portion on the first end, and a second locking portion on the second end, the second locking portion couplable to the first locking portion. The grasper is operable to accept an object when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are unlocked and to retain the object when the contiguous length is inserted one of around, in, and through a portion of the object and the first locking portion and the second locking portion are locked.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/989,093 filed Nov. 19, 2007 having Attorney Docket “KS1107PROV,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to baby garments, and more particularly relates to baby garments that are provided with tethering features, capable of coupling baby-related items to the garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One problem that parents of young children constantly face is a child's natural compulsion to throw things. As a result, it is not at all uncommon to see toys and other objects emitted from baby strollers, high chairs, baby seats, and any other place a baby is allowed to hold the toys and objects. This compulsion routinely results in lost or dirty and unsanitary items, such as pacifiers, bottles, toys, and others. Therefore, parents are forced to constantly monitor their children's handling of an object and to regularly take inventory of all objects within reach of the child. Because many times items are simply lost, parents are also forced to purchase replacement items. Even when the items are found, the cannot be immediately returned to the child due to germs that may have attached themselves to the item when it came into contact with the ground.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, disclosed is a device for holding a baby item, the device including a garment, a decorative shape coupled to a surface of the garment, a grasper coupled to a lower portion of the decorative shape and having a non-contiguous position operable to accept at least a portion of an object within an interior of the grasper, and a contiguous position operable to retain the at least a portion of the object within the interior of the grasper.

In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes a loop coupling the grasper to the decorative shape.

In accordance with one more feature of the present invention, the grasper includes a contiguous length having a first end and a second end and forming a shape, a first locking portion on the first end, and a second locking portion on the second end, the second locking portion couplable to the first locking portion, and wherein the grasper is in the non-contiguous position when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are unlocked and in the contiguous position when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are locked.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the decorative shape is made of, for instance, cloth, vinyl, pliable plastic sheeting, a combination thereof, or other materials.

In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the decorative shape includes an outer layer of material and an amount of stuffing provided between the outer layer of the material and the baby garment.

In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the decorative shape is coupled to the surface of the baby garment with, for instance, snaps, VELCRO, a zipper, magnets, a combination thereof, or others.

In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes a device for holding a baby item, the device including a baby garment, a decorative shape coupled to a surface of the baby garment, a loop coupled to a lower portion of the decorative shape, and a grasper coupled to the loop and operable to attach objects to the baby garment. The grasper includes a contiguous length having a first end and a second end and forming a shape, a first locking portion on the first end, and a second locking portion on the second end, the second locking portion couplable to the first locking portion, wherein the grasper is operable to accept an object when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are unlocked and to retain the object when the contiguous length is inserted one of around, in, and through a portion of the object and the first locking portion and the second locking portion are locked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a garment with a decorative shape and a grasper attached to a lower portion of the shape;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a garment with a decorative shape and with a grasper attached to a lower portion of the shape and securing an item to the garment; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the garment, decorative shape, and grasper of FIG. 2 rotated upward toward a neck portion of the garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The present invention provides a novel tethering device attached to a child's garment. The tethering device couples a child's toll and/or other objects to the garment, and thereby, the child, denying the child the ability to throw or drop the objects onto the ground. More specifically, FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, which includes an underlying garment 100, illustrated here as a shirt. However, the invention is not so limited and the garment can be any piece of clothing. A decorative shape 102 with a tethering grasper 104 attached at one edge thereof is affixed to the garment 100. The decorative shape 102 can be any shape and feature any pattern, color, picture, or additional decorations, such as lace or others. In addition, although the grasper 104 is shown in the figures as being round in shape, the invention is in no way limited to any particular shape of the grasper 104. For instance, the grasper 104 can be round, rectangular, ovular, polygonal, and others.

The tethering grasper 104 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a loop with an entry point 106 at a location where two ends 108, 110 of the non-continuous grasper 104 meet. The entry point 106 can be a clasp or other coupling mechanism that allows the two ends 108, 110 to releasably connect to one another. The entry point 106 shown in FIG. 1 is a small gap maintained by a stiffness in the grasper 104 (or portions of the grasper 104) that holds the ends 108, 110 proximate to each other.

When the two ends 108, 110 are spread apart and able to accept objects, the grasper 104 is in a “non-contiguous” position and advantageously able to “capture” objects by accepting the objects or portions of the objects into its interior 112. When the two ends 108, 110 are brought back together, whether locked to each other or simply maintaining a close enough proximity to each other to prevent the object from being easily released from the grasper 104, the grasper 104 is said to be in a “contiguous” position. In other words, “contiguous” does not necessarily mean that the grasper does not have a void along its length. The ability to prevent objects from exiting through the entry point 106 is particularly advantageous for objects associated with a baby, as babies are known to throw or drop objects and then express their displeasure in losing the item as soon as the object is gone. Parents can now rely on the object remaining coupled to and accessible by the baby or other wearer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a loop 114 couples the grasper 104 to the shape 102. The loop 114 can be sewn under a lower portion of the shape 102 and extend downward to provide a structure for securing the grasper 104 to the garment 100. In some embodiments, the loop 114 is not seven under the shape, but is instead a continuous part of the shape 102 that extends down. The loop can be any material, such as elastic, cloth (i.e., a pliable material made usually by weaving, felting, or knitting natural or synthetic fibers and filaments), plastic, or any other, but preferably strong enough not to allow the grasper 104 to be tom away from the shape 102. Some embodiments of the present invention provide multiple loops for supporting multiple graspers simultaneously.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the grasper 104 and shape 102 of FIG. 1. The grasper 104 includes a contiguous length 200 having a first end 202 and a second end 204 and forming a shape. In this example, the shape is round. The grasper 104 has a first locking portion 206 on the first end 202 and a second locking portion 208 on the second end 204, where the second locking portion 208 is couplable to the first locking portion 206. The grasper 104 is operable to accept an object when the first locking portion 206 and the second locking portion 208 are unlocked and to retain the object when the contiguous length 200 is inserted either around, in, or through a portion of the object and then manipulated so that the first locking portion 206 and the second locking portion 208 are locked to each other.

As can be seen in this view, an exemplary object 210 is secured to the garment 100 by the grasper 104, the loop 114, and the decorative shape 102. The object 210, in this particular example, is a baby rattle, but a virtually unlimited number of items can be secured to the garment 100 by the grasper 104 and shape 102. The rattle 210 is secured to the grasper 104 by its base 212, which has a void 218 through which the grasper 104 has been inserted. The clasp 106 of the grasper 104 creates a continuous loop 200 that prevents the grasper 104 from releasing the rattle 210.

Because the grasper 104 is secured to the shape 102 by the loop 114, attached at the lower portion 214 of the shape 102, the grasper 104, as shown in FIG. 3, can rotate toward an upper portion of the garment 100. The term “lower portion,” as used herein, indicates any location below a midpoint of the shape 102. The head of the rattle 210 extends up to the face area of a wearer of the garment 100, thereby allowing the wearer great flexibility in playing with and viewing the rattle 210 or any other object similarly attached.

Advantageously, the grasper 104 is able to hold multiple items. For instance, the grasper can hold several toys so that the child wearing the garment 100 can have a selection of items to play with.

In some embodiments, the shape 102 and attached grasper 104 can be removed from the garment 100. This removal is advantageous for washing purposes, for sharing a single grasper 104 from garment to garment, and for providing an easy way of exchanging shapes 102. The shapes 102 can be selected for an occasion or to coordinate with other clothing items. A few examples of occasion-guided changes of the shape 102 are the attachment of a clover-shaped shape 102 on St. Patrick's Day, a rabbit-shaped shape 102 on Easter, a pumpkin-shaped shape 102 on Halloween, and many others. The shapes 102 can be attached with snaps, Velcro®, magnets, and other known ways of attaching objects to a garment.

In one embodiment, the shape 102 is stuffed with a soft material, such as cotton, so that the shape becomes more pleasant for a baby to touch and squeeze. The shape 102 can have other items inside as well. For instance, the shape 102 can house a squeak toys, a squishy gel pack, or other tactile or audibly pleasing items. Because some of these items may be damaged in a washing machine, the can advantageously be combined with the removable embodiment of the shape 102 and grasper 104. The shape 102 can be made of any material, such as cloth, vinyl, pliable plastic sheeting, or any others.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to use with babies, but can be used for other categories of people as well. One example of a suitable use of the present invention, is for persons With disabilities.

A baby-toy securing garment been disclosed that provides flexibility in holding a number of items simultaneously, allows a wearer of the garment to enjoy or use the items, and prevents the items from being separated from the garment and, thereby, the wearer.

Claims

1. A device for holding a baby item, the device comprising:

a garment;

a decorative shape coupled to a surface of the garment;

a grasper coupled to a lower portion of the decorative shape and having: a noncontiguous position operable to accept at least a portion of an object within an interior of the grasper; and a contiguous position operable to retain the at least a portion of the object within the interior of the grasper.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a loop coupling the grasper to the decorative shape.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative shape is of at least one of cloth, vinyl, and pliable plastic sheeting.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative shape comprises:

an outer layer of material; and

an amount of stuffing provided between the outer layer of the material and the baby garment.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative shape is of cloth and has a decorative pattern thereon.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative shape is coupled to the surface of the baby garment with stitches.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative shape is coupled to the surface of the baby garment with at least one of:

snaps;

VELCRO;

a zipper; and

magnets.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a baby garment.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the decorative shape is removably attached to the garment.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the grasper comprises: wherein the grasper is in the non-contiguous position when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are unlocked and in the contiguous position when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are locked.

a contiguous length having a first end and a second end and forming a shape;

a first locking portion on the first end; and

a second locking portion on the second end the second locking portion couplable to the first locking portion,

11. A device for holding a baby item, the device comprising: wherein the grasper is operable to accept an object when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are unlocked and to retain the object when the contiguous length is inserted one of around, in, and through a portion of the object and the first locking portion and the second locking portion are locked.

a baby garment;

a decorative shape coupled to a surface of the baby garment;

a loop coupled to a lower portion of the decorative shape;

a grasper coupled to the loop and operable to attach objects to the baby garment, the grasper including: a contiguous length having a first end and a second end and forming a shape; a first locking portion on the first end; and a second locking portion on the second end, the second locking portion couplable to the first locking portion,

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the decorative shape is of at least one of cloth, vinyl, and pliable plastic sheeting.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the decorative shape comprises:

an outer layer of material; and

an amount of stuffing provided between the outer layer of the material and the baby garment.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the decorative shape is of cloth and has a decorative pattern thereon.

15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the decorative shape is coupled to the surface of the baby garment with stitches.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the decorative shape is coupled to the surface of the baby garment with at least one of:

snaps;

VELCRO;

a zipper; and

magnets.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein the garment is a baby garment.

18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the decorative shape is removably attached to the garment.