CHILD GARMENT FOR CAR SEAT AND METHOD OF CLOTHING CHILD RESTRAINED IN CAR SEAT

Abstract

An infant garment is provided with an open back for placement on an infant while positioned in a car seat. The garment can include arms and legs, or, alternatively, can have a bunting-style configuration with a closed lower end adapted for receiving both of an infant's legs. The garment is meant to be placed on a child or infant after that child has been secured within the car seat. The primary purpose is to ensure that the child is suitably warm throughout his or her duration in the car seat.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/504,850, filed Jul. 6, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to garments, and in particular, to an infant garment for use with car seats.

2. Description of the Related Art

Car seats are commonly used for transporting infants in vehicles. Many car seats are designed for dual usage, i.e. safely securing infants in vehicles and carrying infants outside the vehicles. For safety purposes car seats securely restrain their occupants, and in turn are securely restrained in the vehicles in which they are mounted. For example, a vehicle's passive restraints, i.e., seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, can often be used for removably mounting a car seat. Moreover, some vehicles are equipped with removable infant seats, which can be locked in place for onboard usage and unlocked for removal and conveniently carrying the infant occupant. The occupants themselves are commonly secured with passive restraints provided on the car seat.

A common problem relates to clothing an infant passenger for protection against the elements, such as cold, wind and precipitation. For example, an infant may be placed in a car seat indoors, and then carried outside to a vehicle. Conversely, an infant in a car seat may be removed from a heated vehicle for transport in cold outside temperatures. Preferably the car seat occupant is provided with a blanket or coat when he or she is exposed to cold temperatures, either outdoors or in a cold vehicle.

Difficulties commonly arise in dressing infants for cold temperatures when they are already strapped in car seats. For purposes of securely restraining an infant, he or she is preferably strapped into the car seat before thick layers of protective clothing or blankets are placed over him or her. Otherwise the extra thickness and padding of coats and blankets can result in compromising the effectiveness of a passive safety restraint system. Most coats, jumpers and coveralls necessitate unstrapping and removing an infant for dressing with these garments. Blankets can be placed over infants in car seats, but they lack the form-fitting benefits of coats, jumpers and coveralls, such as better protection against the elements and freedom of movement while restrained.

The present invention addresses these problems by providing an open-back infant garment adapted for placement on an infant while secured in a car seat.

Heretofore there has not been available an open-back infant garment for car seats with the advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the practice of an aspect of the present invention, an infant garment is provided with an open back for placement on an infant while positioned in a car seat. The garment can include arms and legs, or, alternatively, can have a bunting-style configuration with a closed lower end adapted for receiving both of an infant's legs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an infant garment for car seats embodying an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the infant garment.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an infant in a car seat.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the infant garment partly on the infant.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the infant garment on the infant.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of a bunting configuration infant garment for car seats comprising an alternative aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I. Introduction and Environment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may 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 how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.

II. Preferred Embodiment or Aspect of the Open-Back Infant Garment for Car Seats

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral 2 generally designates an infant garment for use with a car seat 4. The garment 2 includes a torso 6 with a back opening 8 (FIG. 2), arms 10 and legs 12. A two-part hood 14 includes the hook-and-loop hood fastener components 16a,b located on opposite halves of the hood 14. Similar hook-and-loop fastener components 18a,b are located on opposite sides of a throat opening.

FIGS. 3-5 show dressing an infant 20 occupying the car seat 4 with the garment 2. The infant's legs can be inserted in the garment legs 12 with the infant still seated (FIG. 4). The torso 6, the arms 10 and the hood 14 can be placed as shown in FIG. 5. The hood 14 halves are secured with the hook-and-loop fasteners 16a,b.

III. Alternative Embodiments or Aspects of the Open-Back Infant Garment

An open-back bunting-style infant garment 102 is shown in FIG. 6 and includes a closed, lower end 104 which can receive both of an infant's legs. This configuration is generally preferable for babies.

IV. Conclusion

It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. The range of components and configurations which can be utilized in the practice of the present invention is virtually unlimited. For example, various materials can be utilized for constructing the garments 2, 102, including fabrics chosen for their weather-persistent and thermally insulative properties. Insulation and other linings can also be provided. Alternatives to the hook-and-loop fasteners include snaps, zippers, drawstrings and various other closure devices.

Claims

1. A child clothing garment comprising:

a quantity of fabric material adapted to be worn on a child's body having an upper portion including a pair of arm sleeves, a lower portion including a pair of leg sleeves, and a hood including a front opening;

said upper portion including a front face and a rear face, said rear face further including an opening; and

said opening adapted to be placed over a child while said child is in a seated position, wherein said leg sleeves are fit over the child's legs, the arm sleeves are fit over the child's arms, and the hood is placed over the child's head.

2. The article of child clothing of claim 1, wherein said opening is further adapted to be placed over a child while said child is restrained within a child car seat.

3. The article of child clothing of claim 1, further comprising:

each of said leg sleeves terminating into foot coverings capable of entirely enclosing said child's foot.

4. The article of child clothing of claim 1, further comprising:

said hood including a rear opening including a first edge and a second edge;

wherein said first edge includes one-half of a hook-and-loop fastener;

wherein said second edge includes the other half of said hook-and-loop fastener;

wherein said hood rear opening is adapted to be placed directly over a seated child's head; and

wherein said first edge is joined to said second edge using said hook-and-loop fastener.

5. A child clothing garment comprising:

a quantity of fabric material adapted to be worn on a child's body having an upper portion including a pair of arm sleeves, a lower portion including a pair of leg sleeves terminating in foot enclosures, and a hood including a front opening;

said upper portion including a front face and a rear face, said rear face further including an opening; and

said opening adapted to be placed over a child while said child is in a seated position within a car seat, wherein said leg sleeves are fit over the child's legs, the arm sleeves are fit over the child's arms, and the hood is placed over the child's head.

6. The article of child clothing of claim 5, further comprising:

said hood including a rear opening including a first edge and a second edge;

wherein said first edge includes one-half of a hook-and-loop fastener;

wherein said second edge includes the other half of said hook-and-loop fastener;

wherein said hood rear opening is adapted to be placed directly over a seated child's head; and

wherein said first edge is joined to said second edge using said hook-and-loop fastener.

7. A method of clothing a child restrained in a car seat, the method comprising the steps:

restraining a child within a car seat;

providing a quantity of fabric material adapted to be worn on a child's body having an upper portion including a pair of arm sleeves and a rear opening, a lower portion including a pair of leg sleeves, and a hood including a front hood opening and a rear hood opening;

placing said child's legs into said leg sleeves via said rear opening;

placing said child's arms into said arm sleeves, via said rear opening; and

placing said child's head into said hood via said rear hood opening.

8. The method seat of claim 7, further comprising the steps:

providing a hook-and-loop fastener to said rear hood opening; and

securing said rear hood opening in a closed position using said hook-and-loop fastener.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein each of said leg sleeves terminates into foot coverings capable of entirely enclosing said child's foot.