Abstract:
An improved infant bunting combines three portions, one side being sewn to the center at their bottom, and also having a lower part fastenable to the center, as by a zipper, to define an infant receiving pocket, permanently joined at the bottom, with the third portion foldable over the other two for added security and warmth, and having buttons or fasteners to define a three part, permanently securable, effectively thermally insulated bunting.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     Priority is claimed based on U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/159,969, filed Oct. 18, 1999, entitled “Improved Infant Bunting.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to improved, purpose designed, infant bunting apparel combining features of traditional bunting with apparel features such that security, efficiency, and ease of operation are enhanced. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A number of prior art items show a variety of complex, inefficient approaches to solving certain of the problems that this invention solves simply and easily. Lent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,885, for a one-piece bunting, and Mahler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,204, use a plurality of fold over flaps, each of which provides for a partial cover, but which are also complicated by hood elements, and complicated overlapping foot elements. 
     Coates, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 296,378, shows basically a closed dress-type arrangement having a center zipper and being closed at the top thereby requiring arm and neck holes. 
     Barnes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,724, uses an extreme number of straps, fasteners, slots, and the like, so as to approach universality, but thereby compromising all individual features and departing from the ease of use, construction, and security of the invention. 
     Orlon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,096, similarly uses an extremely large number of various fasteners and parts, including arms, sleeves, pacifier, pockets, and snaps in various portions to provide a confusing array of different options without enhancing the security and ease of operation of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An improved infant bunting apparel item uses three main interconnected panel portions, one being a center panel, one being a permanently but partially overlapped flap, and the other being a completely overlapping but completely openable flap. Devising the panels in a rectangular shape provides ease of folding and ease of use in a flattened condition while also providing for enhanced security in that a simple permanently closed foot portion is in place with the partially opening flap opening to the largest possible extend without compromising the security of the closed foot portion. The partially closing flap then can be affixed to the closing and fully opening flap using a zipper or other equivalent fastener, and then the fully opening flap can be fully closed thereby providing a doubled layer for the added protection and security of the infant. In this manner, the security over a traditional blanket type bunting is greatly increased while the security over a straight zipper or snap affixed bunting is also enhanced through the combination and interaction of the full foldover and zipper. The foldover portion is also affixed by a comer located button or other equivalent fastener. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the individual portions of the improved bunting in a plan view. 
     FIG. 2 shows the complete infant bunting in its open configuration in plan view. 
     FIG. 3 shows the closed infant bunting. 
     FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment with a large bottom hem. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows an improved infant bunting  10  formed of a main blanket fabric  12  shown here in its unassembled condition. It will be seen there is a center portion  14 , a left side portion  16 , and an overlapping right side portion  18 . 
     It will be seen that right portion  18  has a lower edge  20 , and center portion  14  has a lower edge  22  in sheet  14  being a continuation of the same edge; however, as will be described below, an important feature of this invention is the joining of edges  20 ,  22  attached at seam  24  (FIG.  3 ). 
     The folds  30 ,  32  in blanket or fabric  12  define sections  14 ,  16  with the outward sections  16  and  18  having outside edges  34 ,  36  respectively. To form the main open configuration of the improved bunting  10 , edge  36  and section or panel  18  is folded at  32  so that seam  24  may be formed such that the lower outside comer  38  of section  18  is brought in contact with the opposite comer  40  of section  14 , such that seam  24  completely and permanently joins edges  20 ,  22 . In this manner, the bunting  10  can be opened by folding section  18  over itself along the line from comer  40  to top inside comer  44  at the top of fold  32 . This first fold enables easy ingress and egress of an infant by a parent or caregiver while maintaining the secure bottom seam  24  for thermal insulation, lifting strength, and otherwise limiting the downward movement of the infant. A flap  50  joins a first zipper side  52  to section  18 . Zipper side  52  is engageable with zipper side  54  to close flap  18  upwardly. The length of zipper  56  comprising the joined halves  52 ,  54  is preferably from about 9 to 12 inches long. This will extend approximately 50% of the distance along fold  30 , which would then be preferably about 19″ to 25″. The closure zipper  56  thereby provides a secure pocket in which the infant can be retained without significant sideward movement in either direction, being retained by zipper  56  on one side and fold  32  on the opposite side. The upper portion  60  of section  18  can be manually adjusted for maximum comfort and thermal insulation while maintaining adequate clearance for facial access. The full securement is obtained by then overlapping section  16  so that edge  34  lies adjacent fold  32 . As primary security is provided by fold  32  working in concert with zipper  56  and the added security to zipper  56  being provided by fold  36  overlapping zipper  56 , a plurality of fasteners  62 ,  64  coacting with fastener receptors  66 ,  68  is sufficient to retain flap or section  16  in position. Fasteners  62 ,  64  can be buttons or other appropriate fasteners with appropriate receptors  66 ,  68 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, as in FIG. 4, the main fabric  14  can be formed in a length greater than the desired finished length of the bunting  10  such that an extra deep hem  80  can be formed. This provides additional benefits by doubling the thickness of the fabric at the foot for added strength and insulation, and enabling the exterior finish to be carried to an interior portion for ease of fastening, ease of cleaning and aesthetic reasons. In this manner, for example, the interior surface  82  can be formed with a long nap finish with the exterior  84  and bottom interior surfaces  86  in a smooth finish. 
     In summary, it can therefore be seen that this improved infant bunting  10  uses a main blanket fabric  12  subdivided into a center portion  14  and left  18  and right  16  side portions. The division between portions  14 ,  16  and  18  is provided by first fold  30  and a second fold  32  and having a top edge and a bottom edge. In operation, the right side portion  18  will be the first portion and the left side portion  16 , the second portion. The first side  18  has bottom edge  20 , and side edge  36  being joined to the center portion  14  at the fold  32 . Its length extends from bottom edge  20  to top  90 . It will be understood that while a fold is preferable, joinder is the key, and a sewn seam could be used at  32  or  34 , where desired for functional or aesthetic reasons, such as using contrasting colors or using different materials such as a waterproof or windproof portion in one portion and a nonwaterproof or windproof portion elsewhere. 
     The left, or second side portion  16  also has a top  92 , a bottom edge  94  and a side edge  34  being joined to the center portion at fold  30 . 
     While a zipper  56  is preferred, it will be understood that other arrangements for fastening, using a first fastenable portion  52  and second fastenable portion  54  such as Velcro® may be suitable or desirable. 
     When the bottoms  20 ,  22  are joined, along with zipper  56  and fold  32  these three are perimetrical edges that define a pocket therebetween, 
     Added security is provided by the feature of second portion  16  being foldable over the pocket, also covering, but being foldable partially away from the center portion  14  and first portion  16 . Fastening portion  16  further enhances security, warmth, and the like. 
     In combination, these features enable easy ingress and egress of an infant by a parent or caregiver while maintaining the secure bottom seam for thermal insulation, lifting strength, and limiting the downward movement of an infant and defining secure pocket in which the infant can be retained without significant sideward movement in either direction, being retained by the joined fastening portions on one side and the first fold on the opposite side.