Abstract:
A sleeper with an integral sock foot sewn directly to the sleeper instead of a traditional fabric constructed sock. The sock is made of stretchable material and is sized and shaped to contract into a snug and tight manner around the child&#39;s foot rather than loosely surrounding the foot, as it is the case with conventional footed sleeper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to children&#39;s garments and, more particularly, to so-called infant sleepers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Infant sleepers are well known and typically comprise a garment body having a pair of arm portions and a pair of leg portions for covering the child&#39;s body, arms and legs in a loosely fitting manner. The distal ends of the leg portions of known sleepers are usually provided with integral foot portions. Up to now the foot portion of conventional sleepers have been made from several pieces of fabric sewn together to form the approximate shape of the child&#39;s foot. 
     A major problem with such conventional footed sleepers is that in use, as when a baby is lying down and curled up in the fetal position or even when a baby is learning to crawl, the baby&#39;s feet do not stay within the “foot” area of the sleeper. This leads to discomfort for the baby. Furthermore, the baby&#39;s feet will not stay as warm as when the feet are properly encased inside the foot portions of the sleeper. 
     Another drawback of conventional footed sleepers is that the children cannot wear a shoe or boot comfortably with a sleeper on, thereby limiting the functionality of the garment to “sleepwear”. 
     There is, thus, a need for a new sleeper foot construction which will overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a footed sleeper adapted to prevent the child&#39;s feet from moving out of the foot portion of the sleeper and becoming drawn into or trapped in the leg portions of the sleeper. 
     It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a sleeper with an integral sock foot sewn directly to the sleeper instead of a traditional fabric constructed sock. 
     Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a footed sleeper for a young child, comprising a garment body including a pair of leg portions adapted to loosely surround the child&#39;s legs, and a pair of form fitting knitted, stretchable socks attached by a seam to respective distal ends of said leg portions and being sized and shaped to cover the child&#39;s feet in a snug fit manner so as to prevent the child&#39;s feet from moving out of the socks and becoming drawn into in the leg portions of the footed sleeper. 
     In accordance with a further general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a footed sleeper for a young child, comprising a garment body made of a first fabric material to loosely cover the child&#39;s body, arms and legs, and a pair of socks made of a different material than that of said garment body, said socks being permanently attached to said garment body and being stretchable to provide a snug fit of the socks to the child&#39;s feet, thereby ensuring that said socks stay on the child&#39;s feet. 
     In accordance with a still further general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a footed sleeper for a young child, comprising a garment body having a pair of leg portions adapted to surround the child&#39;s legs in a loose fit manner, and a pair of stretchable socks permanently connected to said leg portions to provide a snug fit of the socks to the feet of the child. 
     This sock foot advantageously replaces the traditional foot, which is constructed out of several pieces of fabric and sewn together to form the approximate shape of the child&#39;s foot. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a footed sleeper; and 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a foot portion of the footed sleeper of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a footed sleeper  10  embodying the elements of the present invention will be described. 
     The footed sleeper  10  generally comprises a garment body  12  provided with a chest portion  13 , a pair of arm portions  14  and a pair of leg portions  16  cooperating together to loosely cover the child&#39;s body, legs and arms. The garment body  12  is provided with a longitudinal opening  18  closable by a series of snap fasteners  20  or the like. The body  12  is preferably made of a relatively soft and porous fabric, which offers heat insulation, as well as breathability for the comfort of the child. The garment body  12  could, for instance, be made of cotton, polyester or acrylic textile material. 
     The leg portions  16  are integral to the chest portion  13  and terminate in tubular distal ends  22  sized to loosely surround the child&#39;s legs. Separately manufactured stretchable socks  24  are permanently connected to the distal ends  22 , such as by stitching or the like. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each sock  24  is provided in the form of a form fitting knitted, stretchy sock and is sewn directly to the distal end  22  of one of the leg portions  16 . Each sock  24  is preferably connected to the associated leg portion  16  by a stretchable seam  23 . It is important that each sock  24  fits exactly to the shape of the child&#39;s foot in a tight fit manner, as shown in FIG.  2 . Indeed, the snug fit of the sock  24  on the child&#39;s foot advantageously keeps the child&#39;s foot within the foot area of the sleeper  10  when the child is lying down as well as when the child is learning to crawl. In this way, the child&#39;s feet are not prone to becoming drawn back or trapped in the loose leg portions  16  of the sleeper  10 . 
     With the footed sleeper  10 , the child&#39;s feet are closely wrapped with the stretchable fabric of the socks  24  and so helps to keep the child&#39;s feet warmer than the foot portions of a conventional footed sleeper, which is constructed out of pieces of fabric, sewn together. 
     Furthermore, with the sleeper  10 , a shoe or boot can be worn comfortably over the sock. 
     The sleeper  10  has also the added benefit of protecting the child&#39;s leg from the cold; there is no space for air to enter into the leg portions  16 , as the socks  24  are sewn directly to the leg portions  16  of the sleeper  10 . 
     As set forth above, the footed sleeper  10  covers the child&#39;s foot with a real sock by attaching it to a real sleeper rather than covering the child&#39;s foot by constructing a foot shape out of fabric pieces sewn together. This is advantageous in that a shoe or boot can easily and comfortably be put over the sock of the sleeper  10 . The footed sleeper  10  therefore has added functionality because it can be worn both as a sleeper (in the house, to sleep in) and as playwear outfit (out of the house) with shoes, booties or boots. The footed sleeper  10 , with its added functionality, preserves the convenience and warmth of a one-piece sleeper. The sleeper  10  also looks different and neater than a traditional one-piece sleeper. The sleeper  10  is also advantageous because it allows the foot to grow in the sleeper as the sock foot stretches both widthwise and lengthwise, thereby allowing the baby to wear the sleeper  10  for longer as the baby grows. As mentioned hereinbefore, to make the foot portions of a sleeper out of a real sock rather than out of fabric ensures that the foot portions or socks of the sleeper  10  stay on the feet of the child while the child is learning to crawl.