Patent Publication Number: US-2022218075-A1

Title: Baby onesie having zipper locking mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to a baby onesie having a zipper locking mechanism, and more particularly, relate to a baby onesie having a zipper locking mechanism that locks a zipper to a neckline fastener of the baby onesie. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A popular item of clothing for babies is a baby “onesie” (also referred to as a baby “jumpsuit” or a baby “bodysuit”), which is a garment made of a single piece of material that includes leg covering portions (pant legs) which cover the baby&#39;s legs, a torso-covering middle section which covers the baby&#39;s torso, and arm covering portions (sleeves) which cover the baby&#39;s arms. The onesie typically includes an opening and closing mechanism, such as a zipper or a series of buttons, that extends from the neckline region to the bottom of one of the leg regions and is used to open and close the onesie to put the baby into and take the baby out of the onesie. The opening and closing mechanism is typically provided along the front of the onesie, although may alternatively be provided along the back or the side of the onesie. 
     Parents may prefer dressing their babies in onesies instead of multiple-piece outfits, such as pants and a separate shirt, for several reasons. First, since the onesie is a single continuous piece of material from the neckline down to the feet, the onesie ensures that the baby&#39;s body is covered at night, thereby keeping the baby warm and safe from external elements (e.g., bugs). In contrast, a multiple-piece outfit may expose parts of the baby&#39;s body, such as the stomach and back region. Second, parents typically find it much easier to change a baby into a onesie, because the parent can simply lay the onesie on a changing table, lay the baby on top of the onesie such that the baby&#39;s legs enter the leg covering portions, pull the baby&#39;s arms through the arm holes, and then close the onesie. In contrast, parents often need to exert significantly more effort to change a baby into a multiple-piece outfit. For example, a parent dressing his or her baby into a shirt and separate pants outfit may need to first sit the baby upright on a changing table, then pull the baby&#39;s head through the top of the shirt, then pull each of the baby&#39;s arms through the shirt arm holes, then lay the baby down on the baby&#39;s back, then pull each of the baby&#39;s legs through the foot holes at the bottom of the pants, and then stand the baby back up or pick the baby up and finish pulling the pants all the way up into place. 
     Nevertheless, although the onesie design has several advantages over the multiple-piece outfit design, a problem with onesies is that a baby may figure out how to unzip his or her onesie, thus leaving the baby vulnerable and cold. 
     US 2013/0298304A1 to Ott et al. discloses an infant garment that includes a protective flap  64  that covers a zipper pull tab  28 . The protective flap  64  has a snap stud  70  that engages with a snap socket  68  to secure the protective flap  64  to the garment  10 . However, the protective flap  64  does not actually lock the zipper pull tab  28  in place, but rather, simply covers the zipper pull tab  28 . Thus, the protective flap  64  disclosed by Ott does not prevent an infant from reaching the zipper pull tab  28  and pulling open the garment  10 . Moreover, the protective flap  64  could easily be unsnapped by an infant. 
     US 2020/0268067 A1 to Curtiss is directed towards a garment for infants, toddlers and children, which includes a locking device for securing a zipper slider  8  in a closed position. The locking device includes a flap  16  that is snapped into place by connecting a snap  18  on the end of the flap  16  with a complimentary snap on the garment, along with a pocket  20  that can receive the zipper slider  8  and flap  16  when the zipper is in its closed position. However, the flap  16  of Curtiss could simply be unsnapped by an infant, and the pocket  20  does not actually lock the zipper into place. Moreover, the design of Curtiss is excessively complicated and impractical, and it would be difficult for a parent to insert the zipper into the pocket  20  of Curtiss, especially when tending to a fussy baby. 
     Thus, there is a significant need for a locking mechanism that can securely lock the zipper of a baby onesie into a closed position. 
     There is a further need for a locking mechanism on a baby onesie that is not overly complicated and can be quickly locked and unlocked by parents. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to a baby onesie having a secure zipper locking mechanism that securely locks a zipper into a closed position by connecting the zipper to a fastener in the neckline of the onesie. 
     Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein further relate to a method of manufacturing the baby onesie. 
     Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented exemplary embodiments. 
     According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a baby onesie to be worn by a baby, the baby onesie including: body covering material configured to cover a body of the body, the body covering material including an opening through which the baby&#39;s head can protrude out from; a neckline provided around a perimeter of the opening, the neckline including a neckline fastener configured to be fastened and unfastened to thereby close and open the neckline, respectively; a zipper configured to open and close the body covering material; and a zipper locking mechanism attached to the zipper, the zipper locking mechanism configured to selectively attach to the neckline fastener and thereby lock the zipper in place according to whether the neckline fastener is fastened or unfastened. 
     When the neckline fastener is fastened, the zipper locking mechanism may lock the zipper in place, and when the neckline fastener is unfastened, the zipper locking mechanism may unlock the zipper. 
     The body covering material may include: leg covering portions configured to cover legs of the baby; arm covering portions configured to cover arms of the baby; and a torso covering portion configured to cover a torso of the baby, the torso covering portion being connected to the leg covering portions and the arm covering portions, and including the opening. 
     The neckline may include: a first neckline portion configured to wrap around a majority of the baby&#39;s neck, the first neckline portion having a first thickness; and a second neckline portion connected to the first neckline portion, the second neckline having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, wherein the first and second thicknesses are measures of length along a direction which is perpendicular to the perimeter of the opening and extending down along the torso covering portion. 
     The neckline fastener may include: an insertion end connected to the first neckline portion, the insertion end including a protruding portion; and a receiving end at least partially enclosed within the second neckline portion, the receiving end including an opening configured to receive the protruding portion. 
     The neckline fastener may include a side-release buckle strap, the insertion end may include a plurality of hook portions, and the receiving end may include a housing to receive the hook portions, the housing having openings on opposite sides of the housing, wherein when the hook portions are inserted into the housing, the hook portions spring outwards through the openings to catch sidewalls of the housing and lock the insertion end to the receiving end. 
     The neckline fastener may include one of a swivel lobster claw clasp fastener, a button fastener, a Velcro® strap fastener, a plurality of small hook and eye latches, or a single large hook and eye latch. 
     The zipper locking mechanism may include a loop of material connected to the zipper, the loop of material being configured to wrap around the insertion end when the neckline fastener is unfastened, so that, when the neckline fastener is then fastened, the loop of material locks the zipper in place. 
     The baby onesie may further include: a track including two strips of teeth that are configured to interlock together, the track extending from the neckline, down along the torso covering portion and ending at a foot portion of the one of the leg covering portions; and a stop provided at the foot portion, the stop being configured to stop the zipper from sliding off the track, and the zipper may include: a slider connected to the track, the slider comprising wedges that are configured to guide the teeth on one of the strips into corresponding hollows formed between the teeth on the other strip to interlock the strips together when the slider is pulled along the track. 
     The loop of material may be connected to the slider. 
     The loop of material may include rubber and the zipper slider may include rubber to thereby form a rubber zipper. 
     The neckline fastener may include an insertion end and a receiving end, and the neckline may include a first neckline portion configured to wrap around a majority of the baby&#39;s neck, the first neckline portion connected to one of the insertion end or the receiving end, and a second neckline portion including a Velcro® flap configured to cover the other of the insertion end or the receiving end. 
     The zipper locking mechanism may include one of a swivel lobster claw clasp locking mechanism, a button locking mechanism, or a Velcro® strap locking mechanism. 
     The baby onesie may further include grippy feet provided on soles of foot portions of the respective leg covering portions, the grippy feet including high-friction materials, and fold-over hands provided at ends of the respective arm covering portions, the fold-over hands including portions of material that can be folded up to expose the baby&#39;s hands and folded back down to cover the baby&#39;s hands. 
     The baby onesie may further include another zipper connected to the track, wherein the zipper may be configured to open the body covering material from a first end of the track, and the other zipper may be configured to open the body covering material from a second end of the track opposite the first end of the track. 
     According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a zipper locking mechanism for a baby onesie, the zipper locking mechanism including: a neckline fastener configured to be attached to a neckline of the baby onesie, the neckline fastener further configured to be fastened and unfastened to thereby close and open the neckline, respectively; and a zipper locking mechanism configured to be attached to a zipper of the baby onesie, the zipper locking mechanism being further configured to selectively attach to the neckline fastener and thereby lock the zipper in place according to whether the neckline fastener is fastened or unfastened. 
     The neckline fastener may include: an insertion end configured to be connected to the neckline, the insertion end including a protruding portion; and a receiving end configured to be at least partially enclosed within the neckline, the receiving end including an opening configured to receive the protruding portion, and the zipper locking mechanism including a loop of material configured to be connected to the zipper, the loop of material being configured to wrap around the insertion end when the neckline fastener is unfastened, so that, when the neckline fastener is then fastened, the loop of material locks the zipper in place. 
     According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a baby onesie to be worn by a baby, the method including: manufacturing a body covering material configured to cover a body of the body, the body covering material including an opening through which the baby&#39;s head can protrude out from, a neckline provided around a perimeter of the opening, and a zipper configured to open and close the body covering material; attaching a neckline fastener to the neckline, the neckline fastener configured to be fastened and unfastened to thereby close and open the neckline, respectively; and attaching a zipper locking mechanism to the zipper, the zipper locking mechanism configured to selectively attach to the neckline fastener and thereby lock the zipper in place according to whether the neckline fastener is fastened or unfastened. 
     The neckline fastener may include an insertion end including a protruding portion and a receiving end including an opening configured to receive the protruding portion, and the attaching of the neckline fastener to the neckline may include attaching the insertion end to a first part of the neckline and attaching the receiving end to a second part of the neckline. 
     The zipper locking mechanism may include a loop of material, and the attaching of the zipper locking mechanism to the zipper may include attaching the loop of material to a slider of the zipper. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a baby onesie having a zipper locking mechanism, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are close-up views of the neckline fastener of  FIG. 1  in a fastened and unfastened state, respectively; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the zipper locking mechanism of  FIG. 1  in a state where the neckline fastener is unfastened and the zipper locking mechanism is unlocked; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the zipper locking mechanism of  FIG. 1  in a state where the neckline fastener is fastened and the zipper locking mechanism is locked; 
         FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E  are views of neckline fasteners according to other exemplary embodiments; 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  are views of zipper locking mechanisms according to other exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a baby onesie having a double zipper option according to another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a neckline fastener arrangement including a Velcro® flap according to another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a method of manufacturing a baby onesie having a zipper locking mechanism, according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a view of a zipper locking mechanism according to another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a baby onesie having a zipper locking mechanism according to exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     According to an aspect of exemplary embodiments, a zipper locking mechanism is a device that is connected to or integrally formed with a zipper, and is selectively connectable to a neckline fastener used to open and close a neckline of a baby onesie. The zipper locking mechanism according to exemplary embodiments achieves several technical benefits as compared to the related art. First, the zipper locking mechanism according to exemplary embodiments very securely locks the zipper in place, thus protecting the baby from the external elements. Second, the zipper locking mechanism according to exemplary embodiments is configured such that the zipper stays locked so long as the neckline stays closed, and conversely, the zipper is automatically unlocked in response to opening the neckline. Thus, the zipper locking mechanism is extremely efficient and practical for parents to use, because whenever a parent wants to change the baby out of the onesie, the parent can simply open the neckline to thereby unlock the zipper. As a result, the baby onesie having the zipper locking mechanism according to exemplary embodiments is more secure, more efficient, and more practical than the baby onesies of the related art. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a baby onesie having a zipper locking mechanism, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the baby onesie  100  includes a baby covering material  102  including a first leg covering portion  102 A, a second leg covering portion  102 B, a first arm covering portion  102 C, a second arm covering portion  102 D, a torso covering portion  102 E, and a neckline  108  defining an opening  103 , a zipper  104 , a track  105 , a zipper locking mechanism  106 , a stop  107 , a neckline fastener  110 , grippy feet  112 , and fold over hands  114 . 
     The baby covering material  102  is a single, unitary piece of material that is configured to wrap around and cover the baby to keep the baby warm and provide some protection for the baby from external elements, such as cold weather, hot liquids, sharp objects, pets, bugs, and other potentially dangerous elements. Hereinafter, the baby covering material  102  is referred to as a material for “babies”, but it is understood that the term “babies” is exemplary only, and the onesie according to exemplary embodiments can be used with toddlers, kindergarteners, or other age groups as well, up to and including adults. The baby covering material  102  is a garment that can be made out of many different types of material, such as cotton, polyester, twill, poplin, linen, flannel, pinpoint fabrics, wool, silk, or any other type of material or combination of materials that can be used to make garments. The baby covering material  102  can be manufactured in many different sizes and shapes. 
     The first leg covering portion  102 A is the portion of the baby covering material  102  that is configured to wrap around and cover one of the baby&#39;s legs and is shaped like a pant leg. In  FIG. 1 , the first leg covering portion  102 A covers the baby&#39;s left leg. To insert the baby&#39;s left leg into the first leg covering portion  102 A, a parent opens the baby covering material  102  using the zipper  104  and positions the baby&#39;s left leg into the first leg covering portion  102 A so that the baby&#39;s left foot is snugly fixed in the foot portion  102 F. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the first leg covering portion  102 A includes the foot portion  102 F that wraps around and cover&#39;s the baby&#39;s foot. However, the onesie  100  is not limited to this design, and the first leg covering portion  102 A can instead omit the foot portion  102 F so that an opening is formed at the end thereof, in which case the baby&#39;s foot sticks out from the first leg covering portion  102 A. 
     The second leg covering portion  102 B is the portion of the baby covering material  102  that is configured to wrap around and cover the other of the baby&#39;s legs and is shaped like a pant leg. In  FIG. 1 , the second leg covering portion  1028  covers the baby&#39;s right leg. To insert the baby&#39;s right leg into the second leg covering portion  102 A, the parent positions the baby&#39;s right leg into the second leg covering portion  102 A so that the baby&#39;s right foot is snugly fixed in the foot portion  102 G. Similar to the first leg covering portion  102 A, the second leg covering portion  102 B can also omit the foot portion  102 G. 
     The first arm covering portion  102 C is the portion of the baby covering material  102  that is configured to wrap around and cover one of the baby&#39;s arms and is shaped like a sleeve. In  FIG. 1 , the first arm covering portion  102 C covers the baby&#39;s left arm. To insert the baby&#39;s left arm into the first arm covering portion  102 C, the parent typically pushes the baby&#39;s left hand into the first arm covering portion  102 C and then pulls and wiggles the left hand out through the opening at the end of the first arm covering portion  102 C. 
     The second arm covering portion  102 D is the portion of the baby covering material  102  that is configured to wrap around and cover the other of the baby&#39;s arms and is shaped like a sleeve. In  FIG. 1 , the second arm covering portion  102 D covers the baby&#39;s right arm. To insert the baby&#39;s right arm into the first arm covering portion  102 D, the parent typically pushes the baby&#39;s right hand into the first arm covering portion  102 D and then pulls and wiggles the right hand out through the opening at the end of the first arm covering portion  102 D. 
     The torso covering portion  102 E is the portion of the baby covering material  102  that covers the baby&#39;s torso, i.e., the midsection including the stomach, chest, and back. The torso covering portion  102 E is the central part of the baby covering material  102  that connects the first leg covering portion  102 A, the second leg covering portion  1028 , the first sleeve  102 C, and the second sleeve  102 D together. To cover the baby&#39;s torso, the parent first inserts the baby&#39;s arms and legs into the first leg covering portion  102 A, second leg covering portion  1028 , first arm covering portion  102 C, and second arm covering portion  102 D as described above, and then zips up the zipper  104  so that the zipper  104  moves all the way up to the neckline  108 , thereby zipping closed the baby covering material  102 . The torso covering portion  102 E includes an opening  103  at a top area thereof, so that the baby can stick his or her head out of the torso covering portion  102 E through the opening  103 . 
     The zipper  104  is used to close and open the baby covering material  102 , to thereby dress and undress the baby in the onesie  100 . According to an exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the zipper  104  may be a rubber zipper, such as a zipper completely made of rubber or a metal zipper core covered with an outer layer of rubber. The track  105  includes two strips of teeth that are configured to interlock together. To interlock, each strip of teeth includes a series of protruding portions (the “teeth”) and recessed portions (also referred to as “hollows”) that are arranged in between the teeth. One strip of teeth is slightly offset from the other strip of teeth such that the teeth in the one strip will fit into the hollows on the other strip, and the teeth in the other strip with fit into the hollows of the one strip. The zipper  104  includes a slider  104 A that slides along the track  105 . The zipper  104  is connected to or integrally formed with a zipper locking mechanism  106  that functions as both a zipper pull and a zipper lock to lock the zipper  104  to the neckline fastener  110 . The slider  104 A includes wedges that are configured to guide the teeth on one of the strips into corresponding hollows on the other strip, and guide the teeth on the other strip into corresponding hollows on the one strip, to interlock the strips together. The stop  107  is located at the end of track  105  at the foot portion  102 F and stops the zipper  104  from sliding off the track  105 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the track  105  starts at the neckline  108 , runs down the torso covering portion  102 E, continues down the side of the first leg covering portion  102 A, and ends at the stop  107  located near the foot portion  102 F of the first leg covering portion  102 A. Thus, to zip the baby onesie  100  closed, a parent will pull the zipper  104  from the foot portion  102 F up along the first leg covering portion  102 A, continue up the torso covering portion  102 E, and finish zipping the zipper  104  up to the neckline  108 . Conversely, to open the baby onesie  100 , the parent will pull the zipper  104  down in the opposite direction along the track  105 . 
     The neckline  108  is the portion of the baby onesie  100  that wraps around and covers the bottom part of the baby&#39;s neck. The neckline  108  is located at the perimeter of the opening  103 . The neckline  108  can be integrally formed with the baby covering material  102  (e.g., manufactured from the same piece of material), or can be a separate material that is sewn onto the baby covering material  102 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 3 , the neckline  108  includes a first neckline portion  108 A and a second neckline portion  108 B. 
     The first neckline portion  108 A is configured to wrap around the majority of the baby&#39;s neck. An insertion end  110 A or a receiving end  1108  of a neckline fastener  110  is connected to or enclosed within the first neckline portion  108 A. The first neckline portion  108 A has a first thickness, which is a measure of length along the direction which is perpendicular to a perimeter of the opening  103 . In  FIGS. 2A and 3 , thickness can be measured in downward and upward directions (i.e., the downward direction which extends away from the opening  103  and down the torso covering portion  102 E and the upward direction which extends upwards). Also, the thickness is not limited to only the downward and upward directions, and can include any or all of the directions extending out from a center part of the neckline portions, e.g., all radial directions extending out from the center of the neckline portions. 
     The second neckline portion  108 B contacts the first neckline portion  108 A when the neckline fastener  110  is fastened closed, to thereby close the neckline  108  (see  FIG. 4 ). The second neckline portion  108 B is thicker than the first neckline portion  108 A, so that the second neckline portion  108 B can at least partially enclose the receiving end  110 B or the insertion end  110 A of the neckline fastener  110  therein. Since the second neckline portion  108 B is relatively thick and padded, this feature prevents the part of the neckline fastener  110  enclosed within the second neckline portion  108 B from rubbing against the baby&#39;s neck, and further prevents the baby from accessing the neckline fastener  110  when the neckline fastener  110  is fastened. 
     The neckline fastener  110  is a device that can be fastened and unfastened to thereby close and open the neckline  108 , respectively. The neckline fastener  110  includes the insertion end  110 A and the receiving end  110 B, the insertion end  110 A being insertable into the receiving end  110 B to thereby fasten the neckline fastener  110 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3, and 4 , according to an exemplary embodiment, the neckline fastener  110  is implemented as a side-release buckle strap fastener. The side-release buckle strap fastener includes an insertion end  110 A that has one or several hook portions  116  that stick out, and further includes a receiving end  110 B formed as a housing to receive the insertion end, the housing having openings  118  on opposite sides to catch the hook portions  116 . The hook portions  116  have a certain degree of elasticity so that, when the hook portions  116  are initially inserted into the receiving end  110 B, the sidewalls of the receiving end  110 B press the protruding hook portions inward, and when the hook portions  116  are pressed farther inside of the receiving end  110 B, the hook portions  116  encounter the openings  118  on the sidewalls and spring outwards through the openings  118  to catch the sidewalls and lock into place. The side-release buckle strap has several technical benefits, including being very easy for parents to lock and unlock, very difficult for babies to lock and unlock, and generally being a very safe design with no sharp edges. 
     Either one of the insertion end  110 A or the receiving end  110 B can be located in the second neckline portion  108 B. In the example shown in  FIG. 2B , the insertion end  110 A of the side-release buckle strap is enclosed inside of the second neckline portion  108 B, and the receiving end  110 B is connected to and freely hanging from the first neckline portion  108 A. In contrast, in the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the receiving end  110 B is enclosed inside of the second neckline portion  108 B, and the insertion end  110 A is connected to and freely hanging from the first neckline portion  108 A. The insertion end  110 A and the receiving end  110 B can be attached to the neckline  108  in various ways. For example, the insertion end  110 A and the receiving end  110 B can be sewn onto the first neckline portion  108 A and second neckline portion  108 B, can be buttoned into the neckline  108 , etc. Also, the neckline fastener  110  may be manufactured as an elastic strap or other material that has the insertion end  110  and receiving end  110 B located at opposite ends thereof, in which case the neckline fastener  110  can be sewn inside of the neckline  108  so that only the insertion end  110 A and receiving end  110 B are exposed. Many different configurations of the neckline fastener  110  are possible. 
     The zipper locking mechanism  106  locks the zipper  104  to the neckline fastener  110 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the zipper locking mechanism  106  is implemented as a loop of material (also referred to as a “loop”) that is connected to the zipper  104  and that loops around one end of the neckline fastener  110  when the neckline fastener  110  is unfastened and then is locked into place when the neckline fastener  110  is fastened. The loop can be made out of many different types of materials, such as string, rubber, or other materials. In certain exemplary embodiments, the loop is made out of rubber and functions as both a zipper pull and a zipper locking mechanism. The loop can be a fixed size or can be adjustable, and can have additional smaller loops or other shapes formed therein to help a user grip the loop. In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the loop connects to the slider  104 A of the zipper  104 . Also, the slider  104 A and the loop can both be formed out of rubber, so that the rubber loop and rubber slider  104 A collectively form a rubber zipper. In this case, the rubber slider  104 A and the rubber loop can be separately formed and connected together, or can be integrally formed from a single piece of rubber as one unit. 
     The zipper locking mechanism  106  achieves several technical benefits not achieved by the related art. First, the zipper locking mechanism  106  very securely locks the zipper  104  into place. Specifically, when the loop is wrapped around the neckline fastener  110  and the neckline fastener  110  is fastened closed, it is nearly impossible for a baby to unlock the zipper  104  in such a state. In contrast, many of the related art configurations simply disclose using snaps, which can easily be pulled open by babies. Second, the zipper locking mechanism  106  has a simple and effective design that can easily be locked and unlocked by parents. In contrast, the conventional baby onesies have multiple flaps, snaps, and/or pockets that may be quite difficult for parents to operate, especially with a fidgety baby. Third, the zipper  104  is automatically unlocked in response to opening the neckline fastener  110 , which improves convenience. Fourth, if the baby tries to pull the zipper  104  open when the loop is secured to the neckline fastener  110 , the baby will end up pulling the back of the baby&#39;s own neckline  108 , which may be uncomfortable. Thus, the zipper locking mechanism  106  also functions as a deterrence mechanism, which deters the baby from trying to unlock the zipper  104 . Fifth, since the second neckline portion  1086  is a relatively thick and soft piece of material, the neckline fastener  110  and zipper locking mechanism  106  do not irritate the baby when in a fastened position. 
     The grippy feet  112  are high-friction materials (e.g., rubber, etc.) that are formed on the soles of the foot portions  102 F and  102 G of the respective leg covering portions  102 A and  102 B. The grippy feet  112  help babies grip their feet against the ground to assist in learning to walk. The grippy feet  112  can be designed in many different patterns, shapes, and sizes, and exemplary embodiments are not limited to any particular arrangement. 
     The fold-over hands  114  are portions of material located at the end of the arm covering portions  102 C and  102 D, respectively, that can be folded up to expose the baby&#39;s hands and folded back down to cover the baby&#39;s hands. At certain early developmental stages, such as the newborn stage, parents may prefer to cover the baby&#39;s hands at night, and then expose the baby&#39;s hands during the day. The fold-over hands  114  can be used to achieve this objective. The fold-over hands  114  can be many different types and styles, and can have various optional features, e.g., buttons, etc., to keep the fold-over hands  114  folded up. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the locking mechanism operates as follows.  FIG. 3  illustrates the locking mechanism in an unlocked state and  FIG. 4  illustrates the locking mechanism in a locked state. First, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the onesie  100  is fully or partially open (i.e., unzipped) such that the zipper  104  is pulled down the track  105  and the teeth in the track  105  are separated from each other. The insertion end  110 A of the neckline fastener  110  is detached from the receiving end  110 B of the neckline fastener  110 . 
     Once the parent puts the baby into the onesie  100 , the parent pulls the zipper  104  up the track  105  using the zipper locking mechanism  106  as the zipper pull. As the zipper  104  is pulled up the track  105 , the teeth of the track  105  interlock with each other to close the onesie  100 . Then, the parent wraps the zipper locking mechanism  106  (which is a loop in  FIG. 4 ) around the insertion end  110 A of the neckline fastener  110 . Then, the parent inserts the insertion end  110 A into the receiving end  110 B. At this point, the zipper locking mechanism  106  is locked into place around the neckline fastener  110 , thus locking the zipper  104  into place. 
       5 A,  5 B,  5 C,  5 D, and  5 E illustrate neckline fasteners according to other exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 5A  illustrates a neckline fastener that is implemented as a swivel lobster claw clasp fastener  510 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates a neckline fastener that is implemented as a button fastener  520 .  FIG. 5C  illustrates a neckline fastener that is implemented as a Velcro® strap fastener  530 .  FIG. 5D  illustrates a neckline fastener that is implemented as a plurality of small hook and eye latches  540 .  FIG. 5E  illustrates a neckline fastener that is implemented as a single large hook and eye latch  550 . In  FIGS. 5A-5E , certain components are illustrated with dotted lines to show that they are embedded inside of the second neckline portion  108 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the neckline fastener that is implemented as a swivel lobster claw clasp fastener  510  includes an insertion end that is the swivel lobster claw clasp  510 A, and further includes a receiving end that is a loop  510 B enclosed within the second neckline portion  108 B. The swivel lobster claw clasp  510 A is clasped around the loop  510 B to fasten the neckline fastener  510 . The swivel lobster claw clasp  510 A can swivel about an axis (the axis being the horizontal direction in  FIG. 5A ), which achieves the technical benefit that it may be very easy for parents to fasten and unfasten the swivel lobster claw clasp, especially when dealing with a fidgety baby. Moreover, since the swivel lobster claw clasp  510 A is hidden in the thicker second neckline portion  108 B when fastened, it is difficult for the baby to unlock the swivel lobster claw clasp  510 A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the neckline fastener that is implemented as a button fastener  520  includes an insertion end that is a button  520 A and a receiving end that is a slot  520 B into which the button  520 A can be inserted. The button fastener  520  achieves the technical benefit that the button is relatively small and unobtrusive, and thus, may be preferable for babies that are bothered by bigger neckline fasteners. Moreover, it would be extremely difficult or impossible for a baby to unbutton the button fastener  520 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5C , the neckline fastener that is implemented as a Velcro® strap fastener  530  includes an insertion end that is a Velcro® strap  530 A and a receiving end that is a bracket  530 B. The Velcro® strap  530 A is a long thin strip of material including Velcro® or some other similar material having tiny hooks  532  on at least one part thereof and tiny loops  534  on at least one other part thereof, the hooks  532  catching onto and locking onto the loops  534 . In the example shown in  FIG. 5C , the hooks  532  are located on an end part of the Velcro® strap  530 A and the loops  534  are located on a part of the strap  530 A that is closest to the first neckline portion  510 A, although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. To fasten the Velcro® strap fastener  520 , the parent passes the part of the strap  530 A having the hooks  532  through the bracket  530 B and then folds the same portion of the strap  530 A back over the bracket  530 B and presses the hooks  532  onto the loops  534 . The Velcro® strap fastener  520  achieves the technical benefit that it is extremely easy to adjust the tightness of the fastener  520 , by adjusting the length of the strap  530 A that is pressed through the bracket  530 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5D , the neckline fastener that is implemented as a plurality of small hook and eye latches  540  includes an insertion end that is a plurality of small hooks  540 A and a receiving end that is a corresponding plurality of small eyes  540 B. Each of the small hooks  540 A can be hooked into a respective one of the small eyes  540 B, to thereby close the neckline  108 . The neckline fastener including the plurality of small hook and eye latches  540  achieves the technical benefit that it is extremely simple and easy to open and close the neckline  108 . Although  FIG. 5D  illustrates two hooks  540 A, it is understood that more than two hooks  540 A may be used. Moreover, the hooks  540 A are shown relatively large for illustrative purposes, but the sizes of the hooks  540 A may be smaller than those shown in  FIG. 5D . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5E , the neckline fastener that is implemented as a single large hook and eye latch  550  includes an insertion end that is a single large hook  550 A and a receiving end that is a large eye  5506 . The large hook  550 A can be hooked into the large eye  5506 , to thereby close the neckline  108 . The neckline fastener including the large hook and eye latch  550  shown in  FIG. 5E  achieves similar technical benefits as those achieved by the neckline fastener including the plurality of small hook and eye latches  540  shown in  FIG. 5D . 
       FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  are zipper locking mechanisms according to other exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 6A  illustrates a zipper locking mechanism that is implemented as a swivel lobster claw clasp locking mechanism  606 .  FIG. 6B  illustrates a zipper locking mechanism that is implemented as a button locking mechanism  616 .  FIG. 6C  illustrates a zipper locking mechanism that is implemented as a Velcro® strap locking mechanism  626 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , the swivel lobster claw clasp locking mechanism  606  is a swivel lobster claw clasp connected to the zipper  104 . The swivel lobster claw clasp locking mechanism  606  clasps around the neckline fastener  110  to thereby lock the zipper  104  in place. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6B , the button locking mechanism  616  is a button attached to a thin strip of material that is in turn connected to the zipper  104 . The thin strap of material can have a slot formed therein, and the button can be passed through the slot to thereby button the thin strip of material around the neckline fastener  110  to thereby lock the zipper  104  in place. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6C , the Velcro® strap locking mechanism  626  is a Velcro® strap that is connected to the zipper  104 . The Velcro® strap can be wrapped around the neckline fastener  110  to thereby lock the zipper  104  in place. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of a baby onesie having a double zipper option according to another exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the baby onesie  700  having the double zipper option includes each of the components of the baby onesie  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , and further includes a second zipper  704  that can be used to zip open the baby onesie  100  from the bottom part of the baby onesie  700 . In  FIG. 7 , the second zipper  704  is configured to open the baby onesie  700  from the bottom of first leg covering portion  102 A, although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. The second zipper  704  and the first zipper  104  are both fixed on and share the same track  105 . The second zipper  704  may have the same constituent parts as the first zipper  104 , including a slider. The second zipper  704  may be a rubber zipper. Also, the baby onesie  700  includes a protective Velcro® flap including a first part  704 A that can be folded over and attached to a second part  704 B using Velcro® fastening material (or something similar) provided on the surfaces thereof. The protective Velcro® flap covers the second zipper  704  to prevent a baby from accessing the second zipper  704 . The baby onesie  700  with the double zipper option shown in  FIG. 7  achieves the technical benefit that, by providing the second zipper  704 , parents can easily access the legs and torso of a baby without needing to fully undress the baby, which can be especially useful in certain situations, such as changing diapers in the middle of the night. 
       FIG. 8  is a close-up view of a neckline fastener arrangement including a Velcro® flap according to another exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the neckline fastener arrangement  800  includes the Velcro® flap  802  which includes a first part  802 A that can be folded over and connected to a second part  802 B using Velcro® (or similar material) that is provided on surfaces of the first part  802 A and  802 B. In contrast to the second neckline portion  108 B shown in  FIG. 3  which includes a pocket to enclose part of the neckline fastener, the neckline fastener arrangement  800  includes the Velcro® flap which can be wrapped and unwrapped around part of the neckline fastener. In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , the neckline fastener is implemented as the side-release buckle strap  110  (see  FIG. 3 ) and includes the insertion end  110 A having hook portions  116  and the receiving end  110 B having openings  118  on opposite sides thereof to catch the hook portions  116 . However, the neckline fastener arrangement  800  is not limited to using the side-release buckle strap  110  as the neckline fastener, and instead, the neckline fastener arrangement  800  may be used in combination with any of the other neckline fasteners shown and described above, including the swivel lobster claw clasp fastener  510  ( FIG. 5A ), the button fastener  520  ( FIG. 5B ), the Velcro® strap fastener  530  ( FIG. 5C ), the plurality of small hook and eye latches  540  ( FIG. 5D ), or the single large hook and eye latch  550  ( FIG. 5E ). 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a method of manufacturing a baby onesie having a zipper locking mechanism, according to an exemplary embodiment. The method  900  shown in  FIG. 9  is exemplarily described as a method to manufacture the baby onesie  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . However, it is understood that the method  900  can also be used to manufacture baby onesies according to other exemplary embodiments (e.g., baby onesies having various combinations of zipper locking mechanisms and neckline fasteners). 
     In operation  902 , the body covering material  102  is manufactured and the zipper, track, and stop are added. There are many different ways to manufacture the body covering material  102 . If the body covering material  102  is manufactured from raw materials such as cotton in a textile factory, then the body covering material  102  will typically be manufactured using a spinning process which converts the raw materials into thread and a weaving process which weaves the thread into fabric. Alternatively, operation  902  may include cutting the final onesie shape from a large pre-formed sheet of material using machinery. As another alternative, the operation  902  may include hand-sewing the body covering material. Operation  902  includes assembling together each of the parts of the body covering material  102 , including leg covering portions  102 A,  102 B, arm covering portions  102 C,  102 D, a torso covering portion  102 E, a neckline  108 , a zipper  104 , a track  105 , and a stop  107 . Also, optional features such as the grippy feet  112  and fold over hands  114  can be added to the body covering material  102  during operation  702 . 
     In operation  904 , the neckline fastener  110  is attached to the neckline. For example, when the neckline fastener  110  is the side-release buckle strap fastener, operation  904  includes attaching the insertion end  110 A to the first neckline portion  108 A, and attaching the receiving end  1106  inside of the thicker second neckline portion  1086 . The insertion end  110 A and receiving end  1106  can be attached to the respective neckline portions  108 A and  108 B using various techniques, such as sewing, fastening with fasteners, etc. 
     In operation  906 , the zipper locking mechanism  106  (e.g., a loop of material) is attached to the zipper (e.g., zipper  104 ). The zipper locking mechanism  106  can be attached to the zipper  104  in various ways. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the zipper locking mechanism  106  can be attached to the slider  104 A using fasteners, such as pins, screws, etc. For example, if the zipper  104  is rubber, the rubber loop can be attached to the slider. Once the zipper locking mechanism  106  is attached to the zipper  104 , the baby onesie with the zipper locking mechanism is fully manufactured and ready for use. 
     It is further noted that the order of operations for method  900  is not limited to the order shown in  FIG. 9 . For example, operations  904  and  906  can be switched, so that the zipper locking mechanism is attached to the zipper first, and the neckline fastener is then attached to the neckline afterwards. 
     Also, it is noted that the locking mechanism and neckline fastener may be sold separately from the baby onesie. For example, the locking mechanism and neckline fastener may be sold as a combination item that can be purchased by parents and attached to a baby onesie that the parents previously purchased. In this case, operation  902  may be omitted from the method  900 . 
       FIG. 10  is a view of a zipper locking mechanism according to another exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the zipper locking mechanism  1000  is similar to the zipper locking mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 , except that the zipper locking mechanism  1000  includes a pull  1046  that is separate from the zipper locking mechanism  106 . The pull  104 B has a wider shape with a curved edge towards an outer section thereof and sides that taper inwards towards the slider  104 A. The pull  1046  is connected to the slider  104 A at one end thereof and is further connected to the zipper locking mechanism  106  at the other end thereof. The pull  1046  may be made of metal, plastic, rubber, or any other material of combination of materials. In the example shown in  FIG. 10 , the pull  1046  has an opening formed in the wider part thereof, and ends of the zipper locking mechanism  106  (which is a loop of rubber in this case) are pulled through the opening and connected together to fix the zipper locking mechanism  106  to the pull  1046 . It is understood that the pull  104 B is not limited to the specific shape and configuration shown in  FIG. 10 , and can instead be designed to have many other shapes and configurations. Moreover, it is understood that the zipper locking mechanism  1000  can be combined with any of the other exemplary embodiments previously described. 
     It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplary embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other exemplary embodiments. Any of the different combinations of neckline fasteners and zipper locking mechanisms can be combined with each other. For example, the baby onesie can be manufactured to have the combination of the loop zipper locking mechanism  106  and the Velcro® strap fastener  530 , the combination of the button locking mechanism  616  and the side-release buckle strap fastener  110 , or any other combinations. 
     Moreover, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to the neckline fasteners described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-5E . Instead, the neckline fastener according to exemplary embodiments can be any type of fastening device that is capable of fastening the neckline of the baby onesie. For example, the neckline fastener can include a drawstring, a zipper, pins, various types of clasps and buckles, or any other fastening device that can safely and securely fasten the neckline of the baby onesie. Depending on the type of neckline fastener being used, the neckline fastener can be made of many different types of materials. For example, when the neckline fastener is implemented as the side-release buckle strap fastener or some other kind of buckle or clasp, the neckline fastener can be made of plastic, metal, some combination thereof, or some other material altogether. Moreover, when the neckline fastener includes a drawstring, the neckline fastener can be made of various types of fabrics, e.g., cotton, polyester, nylon, etc. 
     Also, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to the types of zipper locking mechanisms described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-4 and 6A-6C . Instead, the zipper locking mechanisms according to exemplary embodiments can be any type of locking mechanism that is capable of locking the zipper  104  to the neckline  108 . For example, the zipper locking mechanism can include various types of clasps and buckles, hooks, or any other device that can lock the zipper to the neckline (or other part of the baby onesie  100 ) to thereby prevent the zipper from moving when the baby onesie is closed. The locking mechanism can be made of many different types of materials, such as fabrics, plastic, metal, some combination thereof, or some other material altogether. 
     While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.