Body suit with impermeable pectoral guard

Abstract

An item of clothing comprises a pectoral guard comprising an outer layer comprising a polyurethane material and an inner layer comprising a fibrous breathing material wherein the pectoral guard is located between first and second arm apertures.

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.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed broadly relates to the field of clothing and more particularly relates to the field of children's clothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Body suits are well known garments that are particularly useful for clothing infants because they are easy to put on and remove and are well suited for most activities of infants. However, infants being messy eaters often soil these garments while eating and hence require removal of the bodysuit for washing. Individuals and infants produce excessive saliva or other material before swallowing food material, during a regurgitation or at other times. Generally, the intake of milk products induces increased salivation or excessive regurgitations in infants. These phenomena persist until an infant develops the appropriate muscle reflexes for swallowing and closing his lips. During the teething process, saliva can have a higher acid component, having a negative effect on the skin of the infant. The humidity produced by the saliva and the regurgitated material on the chest of the infant exacerbates the infant's discomfort and fosters the development of microorganisms and bacteria.

Therefore, there is a need for bodysuits that do not suffer from the above drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An item of clothing comprises a pectoral guard comprising an outer layer comprising a polyurethane material and an inner layer comprising a fibrous breathing material wherein the pectoral guard is located between first and second arm apertures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a illustration of a bodysuit comprising a pectoral guard according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2, is an illustration of the bodysuit of FIG. 1 wherein the pectoral guard is shown in a partially removed position.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the pectoral guard showing a polyurethane layer and a cotton layer according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a bodysuit with a pectoral guard having a breathable and impermeable membrane that protects the chest of the individual or infant wearing the guard, and maintains the underlying area dry. The membrane acts as a barrier against humidity, cold and bacteria. The present invention is directed to infants, the elderly, individuals having salivary gland deficiencies, and individuals that produce regurgitations or excessive saliva while eating, sleeping or other performing activities.

The bodysuit can be a 100% cotton material that includes a hypoallergenic, breathable and impermeable membrane along the interior of the bodysuit. The membrane can be 100% breathable polyurethane film developed for the medical and sanitary industries. The membrane acts as a barrier against humidity, cold and bacteria in a location where such protection is necessary—an individual's or infant's chest. Due to its physical properties, the membrane permits the underlying skin of the wearer to breath through the membrane while keeping exterior humidity or liquid to permeate the membrane and contact the wearer's chest area.

FIG. 1 is a illustration of an item of clothing such as bodysuit 10 comprising a pectoral guard 12 according to an embodiment of the invention. The pectoral guard is preferably a bib comprising an outer layer made of polyurethane or other suitable material. The membrane can be a hypoallergenic, breathable, impermeable film comprising polyurethane. According to a first embodiment the pectoral guard 12 is an integral part of the item of clothing 10.

FIG. 2, is an illustration of the bodysuit of FIG. 1 wherein the chest area of the pectoral guard is shown in a partially removed position according to a second embodiment. In this embodiment the item 10 includes a detachable connection mechanism or device such a hook and loop (e.g., Velcro fastener), zipper, or one or more buttons so that the pectoral guard can be easily removed and reattached to the body of the wearer so that the item 10 does not have to be removed from the wearer to be washed. FIG. 3 is a cross section of the pectoral guard showing a polyurethane breathable film layer and two cotton layers according to an embodiment of the invention. The polyurethane layer is impermeable to fluids, humidity, cold, bacteria and other negative external factors and prevents the spillage of liquids, foods or other external factors from soiling the item of clothing 10 or harming the skin of the wearer underlying the item. Thus, when the wearer of pectoral guard 12 spills a liquid, an item of food or other negative external factor on the pectoral guard 12, the item of clothing 10 is protected from the spill. The pectoral guard may be easily removed for cleaning and subsequent replacement. This can be accomplished by using an attachment mechanism or device such as a zipper, hook and loop, or one or more buttons.

The item of clothing in the fibrous breathing material optionally comprises cotton but any other suitable material can be used such that the polyurethane material does not adhere to the skin of the wearer of the suit 10.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the pectoral guard 12 showing a polyurethane layer 14 and two cotton layers according to an embodiment of the invention. Other layers may be added so long as the outer layer is impermeable to fluids and the inner layer be made from a material that prevents adhesion to the skin of the wearer and so that the wearer's skin does not become irritated from wearing the suit 10. Either material is preferably hypoallergenic to prevent an allergic reaction to the wearer.

Therefore, while there has been described what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other modifications can be made within the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. An item of clothing comprising first and second arm apertures, a head aperture, and at least first and second leg apertures, the item comprising:

a pectoral guard comprising an outer layer comprising a polyurethane material and an inner layer comprising a fibrous breathing material wherein the pectoral guard is located between the first and second arm apertures.

2. The item of clothing of claim 1 wherein the fibrous breathing material further comprises cotton.

3. The item of clothing of claim 1 further comprising a detachable connection for connecting the pectoral guard to the item of clothing.

4. The item of clothing of claim 3 wherein, the detachable connection comprises a hook and loop attachment device.

5. The item of clothing of claim 3 wherein the detachable connection comprises a zipper.

6. The item of clothing of claim 1 wherein the detachable connection comprises at least one button.

7. The item of clothing of claim 1 further comprising first and second legs respectively attached to the respective first and second leg apertures.

8. The item of clothing of claim 1 further comprising first and second sleeves attached to the respective first and second arm apertures.

9. The item of clothing of claim 1 wherein the inner layer comprises a hypoallergenic material.

10. An attachable and detachable pectoral guard for attaching to and detaching from an item of clothing, wherein the pectoral guard comprises an outer layer comprising a polyurethane material and an inner layer comprising a fibrous breathing material wherein the pectoral guard is located between first and second arm apertures.

11. The pectoral guard of claim 9 further comprising a detachable connection for connecting the pectoral guard to the item of clothing.

12. The pectoral guard of claim 9 wherein, the detachable connection comprises a hook and loop attachment device.

13. The pectoral guard of claim 9 wherein the detachable connection comprises a zipper.

14. The pectoral guard of claim 9 wherein the detachable connection comprises at least one button.

15. The pectoral guard of claim 9 wherein the fibrous breathing material further comprises cotton.