ONE-PIECE GARMENT

Abstract

A one piece garment, comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are integrally connected; a neck opening formed in the upper body portion; a pair of openings formed in the upper body portion and configured for receiving the arms of an intended user; a pair of openings formed in the lower body portion and configured for receiving the legs of an intended user's; a port formed in the garment and oriented transverse to the intended user's longitudinal axis, the port allowing for the passage of the intended user's upper body to pass into the upper body portion of the garment and for the intended user's lower body to pass into the lower body portion of the garment. In the foregoing garment, the port may be located approximately along a back waistline area of the garment. In the foregoing garment, a flap may extend over (in front of or behind) a gap of the port and thereby cover the gap.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/783,498, filed Mar. 14, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The inventive subject matter in its various possible embodiments generally relates to items of apparel. It is particularly related to an easy to don and doff one-piece garment that does not require mechanical closure systems, such as buttons, snaps and zippers. More particularly, the inventive subject matter is directed to a one-piece pajama or other outfit for infants and toddlers.

One-piece garments, which are single items of apparel that cover both upper and lower body areas, are popular in a number of settings and can be used by persons across a great range of ages. For example, jumpsuits are used in a number of vocations, e.g., by pilots and farmers. One-piece outfits are also popular sleepwear used by infants and adults alike. One-piece outfits, sometimes referred to as “onesies”, are especially popular among parents for covering infants and toddlers. They have the advantage of being a single garment that will keep the infant or toddler well covered through the night. A one-piece item of sleepwear, particularly one for infants and toddlers, will hereinafter be used to illustrate the principles and advantages of the inventive subject matter.

Unfortunately, conventional one-piece outfits have various disadvantages. They typically have elongate front or back openings that run from the neck area to the waist area of the garment. The large openings are necessary to allow the user to fit both lower and upper body portions into the garment. The large openings need to be secured by long zippers or an array of buttons, snaps, or hook-and-loop fasteners. Accordingly, there is effort and inconvenience in opening and closing one-piece garments. Further zippers, buttons, snaps, and hook-and-loop fasteners are all prone to failure or getting stuck. They also add expense to the cost of manufacturing. Such items can also cause pressure points and discomfort on the wearer. They may also not seal the garment well, making it drafty and cold.

In the case of one-piece outfits for infants and toddlers, ease of use, comfort, and warmth are especially important. Parents particularly wish to avoid any delay and inconvenience in dressing and undressing an infant or toddler for a diaper change.

In view of the foregoing disadvantages in the conventional art, there is a strong need for one-piece garments that allow for quick dressing and undressing of the wearer. There is also a need for one-piece garments that are comfortable and warm. There is also a need for such garments to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY

The inventive subject matter provides a one-piece garment that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages in the prior art and addresses the aforementioned and other needs.

In certain embodiments, the inventive subject matter is directed to a one-piece garment, comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are integrally connected; a neck opening formed in the upper body portion; a pair of openings formed in the upper body portion and configured for receiving the arms of an intended user; a pair of openings formed in the lower body portion and configured for receiving the feet and lower legs of an intended user; and a port (an opening for donning/doffing) formed in the garment and oriented transverse to the intended user's longitudinal axis, the port allowing for the passage of the intended wearer upper body portion to pass into the upper body portion of the garment and for the intended wearer's lower body portion to pass into the lower body portion of the garment. In the foregoing embodiment, the port may be located approximately along a back waistline area of the garment. In the foregoing embodiment, a flap may extend over (in front of or behind) the port and thereby seal the port, that is cover the wearer against any gap or opening at the port.

These and other embodiments are described in more detail in the following detailed descriptions and the figures.

The foregoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list of embodiments and features of the inventive subject matter. Persons skilled in the art are capable of appreciating other embodiments and features from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures show embodiments according to the inventive subject matter, unless noted as showing prior art.

FIG. 1 shows a representative embodiment of a front of a unitary garment.

FIG. 2 shows a representative embodiment of a back of a unitary garment wherein an extension flap of the upper back is shown lifted exposing a port (or opening) in the back of the garment near a waistline.

FIG. 3. shows a representative embodiment of a back of a unitary garment wherein an extension flap of the upper back is shown outside the garment and covering a portion of the lower back of the garment.

FIG. 4 shows a representative embodiment of a unitary garment wherein an extension flap of the upper back is shown tucked into the garment (through a port in the garment).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representative embodiments according to the inventive subject matter are shown in FIGS. 1-4, wherein the same or generally similar features share common reference numerals.

FIGS. 1-4 show a one-piece, or unitary, garment 100 intended for an infant or toddler. However, the inventive features and principles are usable in a range of other possible garments for all ages, infants to adults. In this context the term “one-piece” refers to a garment wherein all the fabrication pieces are integrally connected such as by sewing together. A garment that covers an upper and lower torso of a wearer is referred to as “one-piece.”

In general a one-piece garment includes an upper body portion 1 and a lower body portion 2, which are generally divided by an area in the garment representing the waistline 4 of an intended wearer. The upper body portion 1 includes a neck opening 10 and openings for the arms of the wearer (indicated by seams 11a and 11b). Sleeves 12a, 12b, which may be long or short, extend from the openings at 11a and 11b. In some embodiments, the garment may be sleeveless. The upper body portion includes a front panel 16 for covering a chest area of the wearer and a back panel 18 for covering a back area of a wearer. The garment defines a longitudinal axis 14 (FIG. 2).

The lower body portion 2 includes a seat portion 20 that wraps from the front waist, across the crotch to the rear waist. A pair of openings for the legs of a wearer is included in the seat portion 20. Pant legs 22a, 22b, which may be long or short, may extend from the openings. In some embodiments, the garment may be legless. Legs 22a and 22b may also include foot coverings 24a, 24b, which extend under the soles of a wearer's feet. For example, the foot coverings could be sock-like, slipper-like, shoe-like, or boot-like coverings. The foot coverings may be fixedly integrated into the garment or removably attached.

The garment includes an access port 26 (see FIG. 2), which is what the wearer's upper and lower body are placed through to don the garment. The port may be in the nature of an elongate slit with longitudinal axis 16 and upper and lower edges that define the opening. Alternatively, the port could be in the nature of an arc or broader geometric opening such as an oval or rectangle, etc. In the embodiment shown, the port is an elongate opening located proximate the waist area at the backside of the garment. It spans approximately the width of the backside of the waist but can be larger or smaller so long as it accommodates the passage of the upper and lower torso, respectively, of the intended wearer. While the waist area provides an efficient entry point for a wearer, the port can be arranged higher or lower on the garment so long as it permits passage of body parts.

In the embodiment shown, port 26 is oriented with its longitudinal axis 16 arranged transversely to the long axis 14 of the intended wearer's body and is generally disposed along the backside of the waist of the intended wearer and extends from one side of the garment to the other (a side being where the garment front meets the garment back). Because the port does not extend around the full circumference of the garment, the upper and lower body portions stay integrally connected at the front side of the garment, and there is no need for zippers or other closure means. In the case of a port that has a slit-like gap 29, the transverse location of the port allows the opposing edges of the opening on the upper and lower body portions to stay closely adjacent without the need for closure means. However, body movements may cause the upper and lower edges of an opening to separate. Similarly, ports of different geometric configurations may have more broadly open gaps 29 that remain open under any condition.

Therefore, on one side of the port, the garment may include an overlapping or sealing flap 28 that extends across the gap 29 and thereby seals a wearer in the garment against exposure to the outside air.

In the embodiment shown, the sealing flap 28 is fixedly or removably associated with a body portion of the garment and allows for selectable opening and closing of port 26. The flap 28 may be an extension of the garment material, or it may be connected to the garment material at an edge of the port or it may be connected to the garment above or below the edge of the port and extend over the gap. The flap 28 may be a continuation of the material forming the back panel 18 or seat panel 20. Consistent with the example shown, the sealing flap 28 extends from the upper body portion, across the gap 29 of port 26, and well below the waistline, and over the mid-buttocks region of a wearer. As shown, the flap 28 has free edges on three sides (the left, right, and bottom), alternatively, the left and right sides, or the left or right side, may be sewn down onto the garment so that the flap is biased into position covering the port gap 29.

The flap may be tucked into the port on the inner side of the garment and extend downwardly over the buttocks area. Alternatively, it can be left loose and hanging over the buttocks area, as shown in FIG. 5. To facilitate the closure of the port and a good fit on the wearer, the garment material or construction may be expandable or stretchable. For example, an elastic material may be stitched into some or all the perimeter of the port forming an elastic band 30. In the embodiment shown, the elastic band 30 is shown located along the lower edge of the port at the rear waist area. The stretchable construction or material starts from lower edge 32 of port 26 and extends downward to create a relatively thin elastic band 30. Band 30 may be spaced below a waistband or integrally formed with a waistband.

In some embodiments, the neck opening 10 is defined by a construction or materials in the upper body portion 1 that are expandable or stretchable so that the opening can expand to accommodate the head of a wearer and return to a better-fitting, smaller opening once the garment is donned. In the embodiment shown, the neck area includes an expandable construction wherein the front and back panels of the upper body portion overlap at the sides of the neck opening. The overlapping sections of the panels are oriented so that they move away from each other, expanding the opening, as need be, when the wearer's head is passed through the opening 10.

The garment according to the inventive subject matter can be made of any known or to-be-discovered flexible textiles and fabrics.

The foregoing embodiments have the advantage that no zipper, buttons, or other closure systems are needed for donning the garment and then maintaining a seal against exposure of the wearer at the port 26 when worn and likewise no mechanical fasteners need be unfastened to remove the garment. The arrangement of port 26 takes advantage of a person's natural bend at the waist and allows a wearer's upper body parts to pass into the upper body portion 1 of the garment and to be fitted over the wearer's upper body just like a shirt. The lower body can thereafter be placed into lower body portion 2, just like fitting into a pair of pants. When donned in this fashion, the garment is folded upper toward the legs along a transverse axis near the waist thereby opening the port 26 for placing over the head of the wearer and thereafter placing the legs through the gap into the garments' legs.

The garment may be donned in a reverse manner with the lower body fitting into the garment first and then the upper body. By eliminating traditional mechanical closures, the inventive subject matter allows for efficient and easy dressing and undressing from the garment and the elimination of pressure points. The use of a flap 28 seals the garment for warmth and comfort.

As used herein, “and/or” means “and” or “or”, as well as “and” and “or.” Moreover, any and all patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes.

The principles described above in connection with any particular example can be combined with the principles described in connection with any one or more of the other examples. Accordingly, this detailed description shall not be construed in a limiting sense, and following a review of this disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the wide variety of systems that can be devised using the various concepts described herein. Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein can be adapted to various configurations without departing from the disclosed principles.

The previous description of embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed innovations. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claimed inventions are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims. In the claims reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more”.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the features described and claimed herein. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed as “a means plus function” claim under US patent law, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or “step for”.

The inventor reserves all rights to the subject matter disclosed herein, including the right to claim all that comes within the scope and spirit of the following claims:

Claims

1. A garment, comprising:

an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are integrally connected;

a neck opening formed in the upper body portion;

a pair of openings formed in the upper body portion and configured for receiving the arms of an intended user;

a pair of openings formed in the lower body portion and configured for receiving the legs of an intended user; and

an elongate port formed in the garment and having a longitudinal axis oriented transverse to an intended user's longitudinal axis, the port allowing for the passage of the intended user's upper body portion to pass into the upper body portion of the garment and for the intended user's lower body portion to pass into the lower body portion of the garment.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the port is located approximately along a back waistline area of the garment.

3. The garment of claim 1 further comprising a flap that extends over a gap of the port thereby closing the port.

4. The garment of claim 3 wherein the flap is configured so that it can be tucked between the intended user and an opposing edge of the port to close the port.

5. The garment of claim 4 wherein the flap extends downwardly at least about 50% of the way into the buttocks area.

6. The garment of claim 3 wherein the port includes a stretchable section to apply tension and maintain the flap inside the garment.

7. The garment of claim 1 wherein the neck opening is defined by overlapping folds of material that expand the neck opening during donning and then return to a smaller size opening.

8. The garment of claim 3 wherein the port for donning the garment is free of mechanical closure for use in closing the port, except the flap.

9. A garment for covering a person and having openings for receiving a head, arms, and legs of the person, the garment comprising:

a unitary body having an upper portion and a lower portion for covering an upper body and lower body respectively of a person;

the unitary body further having a front portion and a back portion; and

wherein the back portion includes an elongate opening sized to receive the upper body of a person and the lower body of a person and a longitudinal axis of the elongate opening is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the unitary body.

10. The garment of claim 9 wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongate opening is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the unitary body.

11. The garment of claim 9 wherein the elongate opening is accessed by folding the front upper portion toward to the front lower portion.

12. The garment of claim 9 wherein the back portion of the upper portion includes an extension that extends beyond the elongate opening and thereby prevents exposure of an inside of the garment from the outside of the garment along the elongate opening.

13. The garment of claim 9 wherein the back portion of the lower portion includes an extension that extends beyond the elongate opening and thereby prevents exposure of an inside of the garment along the elongate opening.

14. The garment of claim 9 wherein the junction of the front portion and the back portion define sides of the garment and wherein the elongate opening extends substantially from one side to the other.

15. The garment of claim 12 wherein the elongate opening is proximate a transverse elastic band and the extension is urged to remain in a position by the elastic band that prevents exposure of an inside of the garment at the elongate opening when the garment is worn by a person.

16. The garment of claim 13 wherein the elongate opening is proximate a transverse elastic band and the extension is urged to remain in a position by the elastic band that prevents exposure of a wearer when the garment is worn.

17. A unitary garment having openings for a head, arms, and legs of a wearer and defining a front, back, upper, and bottom, and having a waist defined between the upper and bottom, the garment comprising:

an elongate opening along the back and transverse to a longitudinal access of the garment, wherein the elongate opening receives a head, arms, and upper torso of the wearer and receives feet, legs, and lower torso of the wearer when the garment is folded along the front, proximate the waist, upper toward bottom.

18. The garment of claim 17 wherein a longitudinal axis of the elongate opening is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the garment.

19. The garment of claim 17 further comprising a flap depending from the upper back and extending across the elongate opening so as to close the elongate opening when the garment is worn by a person.

20. The garment of claim 19 further comprising an elastic band proximate a lower edge of the elongate opening that applies pressure against the flap when the flap is located into the elongate opening and against a wearer thereby holding the flap in place closing off the elongate opening.