CONVERTIBLE WEARING APPAREL
A garment comprises a body having a front side and a back side, and sleeves attached to the body. The garment further comprises a bottom flap movably attached to the back side of the body, the bottom flap convertible between a first position and a second position. The sleeves of the garment may each further comprise a front side and a back side, a first flap movably attached to the back side of each sleeve and convertible between a first position and a second position. The back side of each sleeve may be longer than the front side of each sleeve. The flaps movably attached to each sleeve may each have a first and a second side, the first and the second sides each formed from fabric having a different pattern, color, texture, or other perceivable distinction than a fabric used to form the rest of the garment.
This invention relates generally to infant wearing apparel, and more particularly to convertible infant wearing apparel.
2. Description of BackgroundInfant sleeping “sacks” generally include a “sack”-like bottom in which the infant's legs and feet are enclosed. To access the infant for activities such as diaper changes, a zipper running the length of the garment must be unzipped, exposing the infant's body, making the infant uncomfortable and the diaper change more difficult. These sleep sacks also do not enclose the infant's hands, leaving the infant exposed to germs and bacteria, and susceptible to scratches from the infant's fingernails. While some infant sleep sacks include swaddling flaps that constrain the infant's arms, the flaps limit the infant's mobility and comfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one aspect of the invention, a garment comprises a body having a front side, a back side, a top opening, and a bottom opening. A first sleeve is attached to the body near the top opening, and a second sleeve is also attached to the body near the top opening. The garment further comprises a bottom flap movably attached to the back side of the body. The bottom flap is convertible between a first position wherein the bottom opening of the body is in an open position, and a second position wherein the bottom opening of the body is in a closed position. When the bottom flap is in the first position, such that the bottom opening is open, the infant's legs and feet are exposed and accessible.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first sleeve and the second sleeve of the garment each have a front side and a back side. The garment may further comprise a first sleeve flap movably attached to the back side of the first sleeve, and a second sleeve flap movably attached to the back side of the second sleeve. The sleeve flaps are convertible between a first position wherein the sleeves are open, allowing the infant's hand to project from the distal end of the sleeve, and a second position wherein the sleeves are closed, thereby enclosing the infant's hands within the garment. The back side of the sleeve may be longer than the front side of the sleeve so that when the sleeve flap is inverted, bunching of the fabric of the front side is minimized, and the closed sleeve is still long enough to accommodate the infant's arm and hand.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the sleeve flaps may each be formed from a fabric that is different than the fabric used to form the rest of the garment, either as to pattern, color, texture, or some other perceivable distinction. The sleeve flaps may each have a first side and a second side, the first side formed from a first fabric that is different in pattern, color, texture, or some other perceivable distinction, and the second side formed form a second fabric that is different in pattern, color, texture, or some other perceivable distinction. In this manner, when the sleeve flaps are in the first, non-converted position, the first fabric is exposed, and when the sleeve flaps are in the second, converted position, the second fabric is exposed. The sleeve flap fabrics and, particularly, the second fabric used for the second side of the sleeve flap may be selected on the basis of the fabric's ability to stimulate infant brain and eye development, such as a fabric featuring a high contrast, bold pattern.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
With reference initially to
The garment 10 shown in
In an embodiment, bottom flap 18 is of a length less than the length of the body 11 of the garment, as can be seen in
In
As shown in
In an embodiment, the back side 13 of body 11 is longer than the front side 12 of body 11, as can be seen in
As shown in
As shown in
Sleeve flaps 19, 20 may be movably attached to the back side 16b, 17b of the sleeve 16, 17 by any conventional means. For example, sleeve flaps 19, 20 may be movably attached to the back side 16b, 17b of the sleeve 16, 17 by sewing the side edges of the sleeve flap 19, 20 in-between the piece or pieces of fabric forming front side 16b, 17b and the piece or pieces of fabric forming back side 16b, 17b , with the bottom edge of sleeve flap 19, 20 sewn to the piece of fabric forming back side 16b, 17b . Alternatively, both the side edges and the bottom edge of sleeve flap 19, 20 may be sewn to the piece of fabric forming back side 16b, 17b of the sleeve 16, 17. If one piece of fabric is used to form each sleeve 16, 17, with the edges joined on one side seam, one side edge of the sleeve flap 19, 20 may be sewn into the side seam, while a slit may be cut in the fabric forming the sleeve opposite the side seam, the other side edge of sleeve flap 19, 20 sewn between the two pieces of fabric formed by the slit; the bottom edge of sleeve flap 19, 20 may be sewn to the portion of the fabric that makes up the back side 16b, 17b of the sleeve 16, 17. If one continuous loop of fabric is used to form sleeve 16, 17, the side edges and bottom edge of sleeve flap 19, 20 may be sewn to the portion of the fabric that makes up the back side 16b, 17b of the sleeve 16, 17. Regardless of how sleeve flap 19, 20 is attached to sleeve 16, 17, the top edge of sleeve flap 19, 20 is not attached to sleeve 16, 17, but is left free, so that an invertible pouch is formed between sleeve flap 19, 20 and the back side 16b, 17b of sleeve 16, 17.
In
In
In an embodiment, in the non-converted form, sleeve flaps 19, 20 are also in a first position wherein the sleeve flaps 19, 20 are not inverted from the back side 16b, 17b to the front side 16b, 17b of each sleeve 16, 17. When sleeve flaps 19, 20 are in this position, sleeve openings 23, 24 are open. In this position, the hands of an infant wearing the garment may project through the sleeve openings 23, 24, allowing the infant's hands to be exposed.
In particular,
Garment 10 may further include a body opening 21 (see
Turning to
In
Sleeve flaps 19 and 20 are also shown in their converted form in
In
In
In
In an embodiment, sleeve flap 20 includes a first side 20a (visible in
In an embodiment, first side 20a and second side 20b are each formed from fabric that is different than the fabric used to form the rest of garment 10, either as to pattern, color, texture, or some other perceivable distinction. For example, while the rest of garment 10 may be formed from one or more solid-color fabrics, first side 20a may be formed from a patterned fabric, and second side 20b may be formed from a different patterned fabric. In the embodiment shown in
By being formed of fabric that is different than the fabric used to form the rest of garment 10, different patterns, colors, or textures are exposed depending on whether the sleeve 17 is converted or not. For instance, in
In an embodiment, the fabric or fabrics selected for the first and second sides 20a, 20b are selected on the basis of the fabric's ability to stimulate infant brain and eye development. For instance, a patterned fabric featuring a high contrast, bold pattern, such as the dotted pattern shown in
Turning to
Blocks 1201-1203 of
Blocks 1204-1206 of
While the garment 10 depicted in
While the garment 10 described herein is described with reference to a particular application, namely, a garment for infants, it will be understood that the garment 10 may alternatively have other applications. For instance, the garment 10 may be sized larger so that it may be worn by older children, or even larger yet so that it may be worn by adults.
Further, while the garment 10 described herein is described with reference to a garment wherein bottom flap 18 and/or sleeve flaps 19, 20 are disposed on the back side of the garment 10 when in their non-converted position, it will be understood that bottom flap 18 and/or sleeve flaps 19, 20 may alternatively be disposed on the front side of the garment 10 when in their non-converted position. In such an embodiment, bottom flap 18 and/or sleeve flaps 19, 20 are invertible from a first, non-converted position, wherein the flaps are disposed on the front side of the garment leaving bottom opening 15 and/or sleeve openings 23, 24 open, to a second, converted position, wherein the flaps are inverted to the back side of the garment, thereby closing off bottom opening 15 and/or sleeve openings 23, 24.
It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Claims
1. A garment comprising:
- a body having a front side, a back side, a top opening, and a bottom opening;
- a first sleeve attached to the body near the top opening;
- a second sleeve attached to the body near the top opening; and
- a bottom flap movably attached to the back side of the body, the bottom flap convertible between a first position wherein the bottom opening of the body is in an open position, and a second position wherein the bottom opening of the body is in a closed position.
2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve each further comprise a front side and a back side, the garment further comprising:
- a first sleeve flap movably attached to the back side of the first sleeve, the first sleeve flap convertible between a first position wherein an opening in the first sleeve is in an open position, and a second position wherein the opening in the first sleeve is in a closed position; and
- a second sleeve flap movably attached to the back side of the second sleeve, the second sleeve flap convertible between a first position wherein an opening in the second sleeve is in an open position, and a second position wherein the opening in the second sleeve is in a closed position.
3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the back side of the first sleeve is longer than the front side of the first sleeve, and the back side of the second sleeve is longer than the front side of the second sleeve.
4. The garment of claim 2, wherein the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap each have a first side and a second side, the first sides of the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap are each formed from a first fabric different than a fabric used to form the rest of the garment, and the second sides of the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap are each formed from a second fabric different than the fabric used to form the rest of the garment.
5. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a closure for removably attaching the bottom flap to the front side of the body when the bottom flap is in the second position.
6. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a front opening in approximately the middle of the front side of the body, the front opening including a closure for detachably closing the front opening.
7. The garment of claim 1 wherein a length of the front side of the body is less than a length of the back side of the body.
8. A garment comprising:
- a body having a front side, a back side, a top opening, and a bottom opening;
- a first sleeve attached to the body near the top opening, the first sleeve having a front side and a back side;
- a second sleeve attached to the body near the top opening, the second sleeve having a front side and a back side;
- a bottom flap movably attached to the back side of the body, the bottom flap convertible between a first position wherein the bottom opening of the body is in an open position, and a second position wherein the bottom opening of the body is in a closed position;
- a first sleeve flap movably attached to the back side of the first sleeve, the first sleeve flap convertible between a first position wherein an opening in the first sleeve is in an open position, and a second position wherein the opening in the first sleeve is in a closed position; and
- a second sleeve flap movably attached to the back side of the second sleeve, the second sleeve flap convertible between a first position wherein an opening in the second sleeve is in an open position, and a second position wherein the opening in the second sleeve is in a closed position.
9. The garment of claim 8, wherein the back side of the first sleeve is longer than the front side of the first sleeve, and the back side of the second sleeve is longer than the front side of the second sleeve.
10. The garment of claim 8, wherein the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap each have a first side and a second side, the first sides of the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap are each formed from a first fabric different than a fabric used to form the rest of the garment, and the second sides of the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap are each formed from a second fabric different than the fabric used to form the rest of the garment.
11. The garment of claim 8, further comprising a closure for removably attaching the bottom flap to the front side of the body when the bottom flap is in the second position.
12. The garment of claim 8, further comprising a front opening in approximately the middle of the front side of the body, the front opening including a closure for detachably closing the front opening.
13. A garment comprising:
- a body having a front side, a back side, and a top opening;
- a first sleeve attached to the body near the top opening, the first sleeve having a front side and a back side;
- a second sleeve attached to the body near the top opening, the second sleeve having a front side and a back side;
- a first sleeve flap movably attached to the back side of the first sleeve, the first sleeve flap convertible between a first position wherein an opening in the first sleeve is in an open position, and a second position wherein the opening in the first sleeve is in a closed position; and
- a second sleeve flap movably attached to the back side of the second sleeve, the second sleeve flap convertible between a first position wherein an opening in the second sleeve is in an open position, and a second position wherein the opening in the second sleeve is in a closed position.
14. The garment of claim 13 further comprising:
- a bottom opening; and
- a bottom flap movably attached to the back side of the body, the bottom flap convertible between a first position wherein the bottom opening of the body is in an open position, and a second position wherein the bottom opening of the body is in a closed position.
15. The garment of claim 13 further comprising two legs attached to a distal portion of the body.
16. The garment of claim 13, wherein the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap each have a first side and a second side, the first sides of the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap are each formed from a first fabric different than a fabric used to form the rest of the garment, and the second sides of the first sleeve flap and the second sleeve flap are each formed from a second fabric different than the fabric used to form the rest of the garment.
17. An apparel item comprising:
- a trunk having a front side, a back side, a head slit, and a foot slit;
- a first arm attached to the trunk near the head slit;
- a second arm attached to the trunk near the head slit; and
- a bottom overlay movably attached to the back side of the trunk, the bottom overlay convertible between a first position wherein the foot slit of the trunk is in an open position, and a second position wherein the foot slit of the trunk is in a closed position.
18. The apparel item of claim 17, wherein the first arm and the second arm each further comprise a front side and a back side, the apparel item further comprising:
- a first arm overlay movably attached to the back side of the first arm, the first arm overlay convertible between a first position wherein an opening in the first arm is in an open position, and a second position wherein the opening in the first arm is in a closed position; and
- a second arm overlay movably attached to the back side of the second arm, the second arm overlay convertible between a first position wherein an opening in the second arm is in an open position, and a second position wherein the opening in the second arm is in a closed position.
19. The apparel item of claim 18, wherein the first arm overlay and the second arm overlay each have a first side and a second side, the first sides of the first arm overlay and the second arm overlay are each formed from a first textile different than a textile used to form the rest of the apparel item, and the second sides of the first arm overlay and the second arm overlay are each formed from a second textile different than the textile used to form the rest of the apparel item.
20. The apparel item of claim 18, further comprising means for removably attaching the bottom overlay to the front side of the trunk when the bottom overlay is in the second position.
21. The apparel item of claim 18, further comprising a placket in approximately the middle of the front side of the trunk, the placket including means for detachably closing the placket.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2016
Publication Date: Nov 2, 2017
Inventors: Jo Wollschlaeger (Portland, OR), Linsey Ebuen (Portland, OR), Sara McMahon (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 15/141,699