Patent Publication Number: US-2022225689-A1

Title: Garment with configurable shoulder sections and attachment mechanisms

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/159,131, filed Jan. 26, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/745,264, filed Jan. 16, 2020, which is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/392,512, filed Apr. 23, 2019, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The subject matter described herein relates generally to garments, and, more particularly to garments with configurable shoulder sections and attachment mechanisms. The shoulder sections may generally be configured in at least an open configuration and a closed configuration. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Garments such as pull-over shirts may sometimes be difficult to place onto a human body. The garments may first need to be pulled over one&#39;s head, and then the person may need to manipulate his/her arms into and through the sleeves. If the sleeves are somewhat tight or otherwise positioned close to the body of the garment, this may be uncomfortable and sometimes even harmful. 
     In one particular example, garments designed specifically for infants, while very important to keep the baby warm and safe, are often times difficult to place onto the baby&#39;s body without having to bend or otherwise manipulate the baby&#39;s head, shoulders and arms to fit within the collar and the sleeves of the garment. Knowing that a baby&#39;s body may be extremely fragile and delicate, this may cause discomfort to the baby and sometimes even damage to their body. 
     For example, placing a shirt or a onesie onto a baby may require the shirt or onesie to first be pulled over the baby&#39;s head. The neck of a baby may be very delicate and fragile such that this action must be done with great care to avoid hurting the baby. Then, when the garment is generally around the baby&#39;s neck, the baby&#39;s arms must be bent, twisted and manipulated to pull them through the sleeves of the garment. This action may be very unpleasant for the baby and may even cause damage to the baby&#39;s arms, joints and internal ligaments. It can also be seen that this same potentially harmful scenario may also be true for any type of person, not just an infant. 
     In other examples, to secure the garments to the body of a baby, a parent has to use force on the baby&#39;s fragile and delicate body, such as pressing snap buttons together to close a garment. 
     Accordingly, needs exist for a garment that may be placed onto a person&#39;s body in such a way that avoids the need to bend, twist or otherwise manipulate the person&#39;s body, and for attachment mechanisms that provide an easy way to secure the garment without putting force on the person&#39;s body. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein are embodiments of a garment with configurable shoulder sections. The shoulder sections may generally be configured in at least an open configuration and a closed configuration. This may allow the garment to be placed on a person&#39;s body without having to manipulate the person&#39;s arms through the sleeves. The garment also includes configurable attachment mechanisms positioned on the shoulder sections, including a finger-pocket snap attachment mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, a garment may comprise a front side including at least one lower flap positioned below at least one shoulder portion of the garment; a back side including at least one upper flap extending from the back side; at least one attachment mechanism for attaching the at least one upper flap to the at least one lower flap; wherein the at least one attachment mechanism includes at least one finger-pocket loop positioned on the at least one upper flap and sized to receive a tip of a person&#39;s finger. 
     In some embodiments, a onesie may comprise a front side including at least one lower flap positioned below at least one shoulder portion of the onesie; a back side including at least one upper flap extending from the back side; at least one attachment mechanism for attaching the at least one upper flap to the at least one lower flap; wherein the at least one attachment mechanism includes at least one finger-pocket loop positioned on the at least one upper flap and sized to receive a tip of a person&#39;s finger. A lower front flap of the onesie includes at least one attachment mechanism for attaching the lower front flap to a lower back flap; wherein the at least one attachment mechanism includes at least one finger-pocket loop positioned on the lower front flap and sized to receive a tip of a person&#39;s finger. 
     In some embodiments, a garment may comprise a front side including at least one first flap; a back side including at least one second flap; at least one attachment mechanism for attaching the at least one first flap to the at least one second flap; wherein the at least one attachment mechanism includes at least one of a finger-pocket snap, a hook and loop, a magnet, a button and a zipper. 
     The configuration of the garments and attachment mechanisms described herein in detail are only example embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Other configurations, methods, features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional configurations, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the subject matter described herein and be protected by the accompanying claims. In no way should the features of the example embodiments be construed as limiting the appended claims, absent express recitation of those features in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The details of the subject matter set forth herein, both as to its structure and operation, may be apparent by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the subject matter. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an exemplary garment with upper and lower flaps, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates an exemplary garment with finger-pocket snap material, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates an exemplary finger-pocket snap material, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1D  illustrates an exemplary front side of a garment with finger-pocket snap material, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1E  illustrates an exemplary back side of the garment of  FIG. 1D , according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary garment in a closed configuration, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary garment in an opened configuration, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary dressing operation stage, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another exemplary dressing operation stage, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the present subject matter is described in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present disclosure will be limited only by the appended claims. 
     Disclosed herein are embodiments of a garment with configurable shoulder sections. The shoulder sections may generally be configured in at least an open configuration and a closed configuration. This may allow the garment to be placed on a person&#39;s body without having to manipulate the person&#39;s arms through the sleeves. The garment also includes configurable attachment mechanisms positioned on the shoulder sections. The attachment mechanism includes at least one of a finger-pocket snap, a hook and loop, a magnet, a button and a zipper. 
     In some embodiments, the garment may prevent a user, e.g., a parent, having to manipulate a child&#39;s head, arms, legs, fingers into and out of the garment. The garment may go around the child, e.g., an infant, while he/she is lying flat starting from the feet and slid upward around the child to be secured at the shoulders with an attachment mechanism, e.g., a finger-pocket snap. This may allow for dressing and undressing efficiency, less physical and emotional disruption to the infant, less frustration for the infant and the parent, and foster a quicker and easier way to partake in skin-to-skin time when feeding the infant. In some embodiments, additional attachment mechanism may also be located at the crotch area or the garment. 
     In some embodiments, the finger-pocket snap attachment mechanism described herein may prevent the tedious nature of securing snaps on an infant garment for people of all ages, sizes and abilities. It may prevent putting force onto the body of the child to secure the snaps. It may also enable parents or caregivers with limited digital dexterity and large hands and/or fingers to more easily secure the garment on the child. In some embodiments, the finger-pocket snap attachment mechanism may include a finger-pocket loop (or finger-flap) that may foster an easier way to connect snaps on an infant garment at the shoulder and crotch seams. For example, instead of having to bend the seam over and away from the child to secure the snap (e.g., to avoid placing force on the child&#39;s body when connecting the snaps), a parent may simply slide his or her finger into/under the finger-pocket loop (or fold-over flap) under/behind the snap button. When the parent is “snapping” the button, the force is transferred through to the finger under/behind the finger-pocket loop, not on the body of the child. 
     Referring now to the drawings, garment  10 , according to some exemplary embodiments, is described with reference to  FIGS. 1A-5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , garment  10  may include an upper portion  100 , a lower portion  102 , a body  104 , an upper opening  106 , a lower opening  108 , a top left shoulder portion  110 , a top right shoulder portion  112 , a front side  114  and a back side  116 . Garment  10  may also include an inside area  117  that may be formed as the region between the front side  114  and the back side  116 . In addition, garment  10  may also include a collar  118  that may be formed as an upper portion of top opening  106 . The upper left shoulder portion  110  and the upper right shoulder portion  112  may also each include at least one upper flap  120  and at least one lower flap  122 . That is, the upper left shoulder portion  110  may include at least one upper flap  120  and at least one lower flap  122 , and the upper right shoulder portion may also include at least one upper flap  120  and at least one lower flap  122 . It should be noted that in this specification, a single upper flap  120  and a single lower flap  122  on each of the left and right sides of the garment  10  may be used as a main example. However, it should be noted that any number of upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  may be used on either the left or right shoulder portions  110 ,  112  of the garment  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the left and right upper flaps  120  may generally be mirror images of each other, and that the left and right lower flaps  122  may generally be mirror images of each other. In some embodiments, the left and right upper flaps  120  may not generally be mirror images of each other, and that the left and right lower flaps  122  may not generally be mirror images of each other, and that the flaps  120 ,  122  may be formed of any type of different shapes and sizes. 
     In some embodiments, the upper flap  120  may generally be an upper extension of the back  116  of the garment  10 . The flap  120  may be formed of the same material as the back  116  section of the garment  10  such that the upper flap  120  may simply extend up from the back  116  on the left and right upper sides. In some embodiments, the upper flaps  120  may be sewn or otherwise attached to the top of the back section  116  on the upper left and right portions of the garment  10 . In this way, it can be seen that the upper flaps  120  and the back portion of the collar  118  may generally form the top of the back  116  of the garment  10 . Other configurations of the upper flaps  120  with respect to the back  116  of the garment may also be used. 
     In some embodiments, the lower flap  122  may generally be an upper extension of the front  114  of the garment  10 . The flap  122  may be formed of the same material as the front  114  section of the garment  10  such that the lower flap  122  may simply extend up from the front  114  on the left and right upper sides. In some embodiments, the lower flaps  122  may be sewn or otherwise attached to the top of the front section  114  on the upper left and right portions of the garment  10 . In this way, it can be seen that the lower flaps  122  and the front portion of the collar  118  may generally form the top of the front  114  of the garment  10 . Other configurations of the lower flaps  122  with respect to the front  114  of the garment may also be used. 
     The top opening  106  of the garment  10  may be generally formed as the in-between space between the upper flaps  120  and the back portion of the collar  118 , and the lower flaps  122  and the front portion of the collar  118 . That is, the left and right upper flaps  120  combined with the back portion of the collar  118  may generally define and form the back side of the opening  116 , and the left and right lower flaps  122  combined with the front portion of the collar  118  may generally define and form the front side of the opening  116 . 
     The upper shoulder portions of the garment  10  may also be referred to as the yoke of the garment  10  and that in this scenario, the yoke may include the upper flaps  120  and the lower flaps  122 , individually or in combination. 
     In some embodiments, the upper flap  120  may generally have two main positions, an upper position T and a lower position L. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the right upper flap  120  may generally be in an upper position T and the left upper flat  120  may generally be in a lower position L. In this way, the top left shoulder portion  110  and the top right shoulder portion  112  may be generally configured in at least an open configuration (e.g., when the upper flaps  120  are in the upper position T) and in a closed configuration (e.g. when the upper flaps  120  are in the lower position L). 
     With the upper flap  120  generally in an upper position T, the upper flap  120  may fold forward in the direction of arrow A to transition from an upper position T to a lower position L. In addition, when generally in a lower position L, the upper flap  120  may fold upward in the direction of arrow B to transition from a lower position L to an upper position T. 
     In some embodiments, when the upper flap  120  is placed in a generally lower position L, a portion of the upper flap  120  may come into physical contact with a portion of the lower flap  122 . This is shown in  FIG. 1A  where the left upper flap  120  is in the lower position L and is generally lying over a portion of the lower flap  122 . In this configuration, a portion of the inner surface  124  of the upper flap  120  may generally overlay a portion of the outer surface  126  of the lower flap  122 . 
     With the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  in physical contact as described above, the upper flap  120  and the bottom flap  122  may generally be attached or joined to one another in the area of their physical contact using one or more attachment mechanisms. 
     In this way, the combined upper flap  120  and lower flap  122  may generally form the upper shoulder portions  110 ,  112 . The left upper flap  120  combined and joined with the left lower flap  122  may generally form the upper left shoulder portion  110 , and the right upper flap  120  combined and joined with the right lower flap  122  may generally form upper right shoulder portion  112 . 
     In some embodiments, the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  combinations (left and right) may include attachment mechanisms  127 , which may include, for example finger-pocket snap material, hook and loop material, snaps, buttons, ties, zippers, magnets or other types or combinations of types of attachment mechanisms  127  that may be used to attach and join the upper flap  120  with the lower flap  122  for each combination. In this way, the upper flap  120  may be attached and joined to the lower flap  122  when it is folded downward into its lower position L. 
     In some embodiments, the right upper flap  120  and right lower flap  122  may each include one or more attachment mechanisms  127  that may include at least one hook and loop section. For example, the upper flap  122  may include a hook and loop section  128  and the lower flap  122  may include hook and loop section  130 . When the hook and loop section  128  is hook material, the hook and loop section  130  is loop material so that the two sections  128 ,  130  may mate and generally attach to one another. When the hook and loop section  128  is loop material, the hook and loop section  130  is hook material so that the two sections  128 ,  130  may mate and generally attach and be joined to one another. When the upper flap  120  is in the lower position L overlaying the lower flap  122 , at least a portion of the hook and loop material section  128  may overlay at least a portion of the hook and loop material section  130  so that the overlapping portions of sections  128  and  130  may attach and adhere to one another. 
     In some embodiments, the upper flap  120  may fold forward along an axis that may be generally represented by line C in  FIG. 1A . In some embodiments, the top edge of the lower flap  122  may generally follow line C as well so that the upper flap  120  may generally fold forward and down across the top edge of the flap  122 . The top edge of the lower flap  122  may be generally linear so that as the upper flap  120  folds across it, the fold in the upper flap  120  may also be generally linear such that the upper flap  120  may fold uniformly downward over the lower flap  122 . 
     The hook and loop section  128  and the hook and loop section  130  may generally be positioned in locations that may be mirrored with each other about line C. In this way, when the upper flap  120  folds forward along line C, its hook and loop section  128  may rotate downward into a position that may generally coincide with the position of the hook and loop section  130  that may be configured with the lower flap  122 . This is depicted as dashed lines in the upper left shoulder section of  110  of the garment  10  in  FIG. 1A . In this configuration, the majority of the top section  128  may overlap with the majority of the lower section  130 , and that the respective sections  128 ,  130  may then be pressed together in order for the hook and loop material of each section to mate and adhere to one another. In this way, the upper flap  120  may be securely attached to the lower flap  122  when in its lower position L. It should be noted that the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  may each include more than one hook and loop section  128 ,  130 , and that the sections  128 ,  130  may be configured in different positions, locations and configurations. 
     It should be noted and appreciated that, although  FIG. 1A  illustrates an example of attachment mechanism  127  as hook and loop material, other types and numbers of attachment mechanisms  127  may also be used to attach the upper flap  120  to the lower flap  122  in a similar manner as described above. For example, the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  may be attached to one another using one or more snaps, with at least one side of the snap (e.g., the male side and/or female side) configured with the inner surface of the upper flap  120 , and at least one of the other side of the snap (e.g., the female and/or male side) configured with the outer surface of the lower flap  122 . As with the example above regarding using hook and loop material sections  128 ,  130  as the attachment mechanism, each side of the snap on the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  respectively may be configured to generally come into physical contact and mate with one another when the upper flap  120  is folded forward into lower position L and the snap sections are pressed together. 
     In some embodiments, as depicted in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , attachment mechanism  127  may include finger-pocket snap material. In some embodiments, the finger-pocket snap material may include a finger-pocket loop  150  with a snap button first side  152  (e.g., a male side) positioned on the outer surface  154  of the finger pocket loop  150 , and a snap button second side  153  (e.g., a female side). In some embodiments, at least one finger-pocket loop  150  with a snap button first side  152  may be positioned on the outside surface  126  of the lower flap  122 , and at least one corresponding snap button second side  153  may be positioned on the inner surface  124  of the upper flap  120  to attach the lower flap  122  to the upper flap  120 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1C , the loop  150  may be sewn onto the outside surface  126  of the lower flap  122  in such a way to form an opening (or loop)  155 . The loop  155  may be sized to receive a tip of a person&#39;s finger  160 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the top edge proximity of the lower flap  122  (left and/or right) may include two or more finger-pocket loops  150  positioned side-by-side, each may be sized to receive a tip of a person&#39;s finger. In this way, the left and right lower flap  122  may each include at least one snap button first side  152  positioned on the outer surface  154  of each finger pocket loop  150 . In this configuration, a portion of the inner surface  124  of the upper flap  120  (left and right) may be configured with at least one snap button second side  153  positioned on the inner surface  124 . Snap button first side  152  and snap button second side  153  may be configured to generally come into physical contact and mate with one another, for example when the upper flap  120  is brought, e.g., folded downward, towards the lower flap  122  (as shown in  FIG. 1B ) and the snap buttons are pressed together. In some embodiments, the snap button first side may be a male side, and the snap button second side may be a female side. 
       FIG. 1C  illustrates an exemplary operation where a user (e.g., a parent) may insert a fingertip into a finger-pocket loop  150  so that when the snap button is pressed together, the pressure is on the fingertip, not on the body of the infant. It should be appreciated that the examples described above should not limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner and that other configurations, and combinations of configuration are also within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Advantages of the finger-pocket snap material may include, for example, preventing the tedious nature of securing snaps on an infant garment for people of all ages, sizes, and abilities. It may prevent putting force onto the body of the child to secure the snaps. It may also enable caregivers with limited digital dexterity and large hands/fingers to more easily secure the garment on the child. 
     In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism  127  may include one or more magnets used to attach the upper flap  120  to the lower flap  122  in a similar manner as described above. For example, the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  may be attached to one another using one or more magnets, with at least one magnet configured with the inner surface of the upper flap  120  (e.g., sewn into a fold of the material), and at least one magnet configured with the outer surface of the lower flap  122  (e.g., sewn into a fold of the material). As with the example above regarding using hook and loop material sections  128 ,  130 , or finger-pocket snap material as the attachment mechanisms  127 , each magnet on the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  respectively may be configured to generally come into physical contact and mate with one another when the upper flap  120  is folded forward into lower position L and the flap sections are pressed or gently put together at the magnets. The magnetic poles of each magnet may be arranged such that the magnets may attract one another when in physical contact with one another as described. In this way, the magnets may adhere to or otherwise hold one another thus attaching the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  together as desired. 
     Note that the descriptions above and the examples provided are meant for demonstration purposes to benefit this description, and do not limit the present disclosure in any way. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will realize and appreciate, upon reading this description, that other configurations of the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  may also be used and configured with other numbers and types of attachment members  127 . For example, other attachment mechanisms  127  may include one or more latches, hooks, zippers, buttons, and other types or combinations of types of attachment mechanisms  127 . In addition, the attachment mechanisms  127  may be configured in different positions and/or in other combinations of positions as compared to the positions described in the examples above or below. It is understood that the scope of the garment  10  is not limited in any way by the type, types or combinations of types of attachment mechanisms  127  that may be used. 
     It should also be noted that the upper flap  120  may be folded downward along other fold lines that may be different than fold line C in  FIG. 1A . For example, the upper flap  120  may be folded downward along a fold line that may be generally parallel to the x-axis as depicted in  FIG. 1A , and as depicted in the exemplary garment of  FIG. 1C . In general, it should be appreciated that the upper flap  120  may be folded downward along any position or fold line that may be in any direction with respect to the x-axis and y-axis of the figure. Similarly, in the embodiments where the lower flap  122  may be folded upward, it should be appreciated that the lower flap  122  may be folded upward along any position or fold line that may be in any direction with respect to the x-axis and y-axis of the figure. 
     In some embodiments, the left and right upper flaps  120  may be formed as upper extensions of the front  114  of the garment  10  instead of the back  116 , and that the left and right lower flaps  122  may be formed as upper extensions of the back  116  of the garment instead of the front  114 . In this example, the upper flaps  120 , being formed in the front  114  of the garment  10  may fold backwards and downwards instead of forward and downwards as described in the examples above. The lower flaps  122  may reside on the back  116  of the garments and may receive the upper flaps  120  as they are folded backwards and downwards. In the example of the finger-loop snap material, when the lower flaps  122  reside on the back  116 , the finger-pocket loop  150  may also reside on the back  116 . In addition, all or at least some of the characteristics of upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  described with respect to the other examples in this specification also apply to this example. 
     In yet another example, the lower flaps  122  may extend upward such that the flaps  122  may be joined and attached to upper flaps  120  towards the top of left and right upper shoulder portions  110 ,  112  without the need for upper flaps  120  to be folded downward. In this example, upper flaps  120  and lower flaps  122  may generally extend to substantially the same height and attach to one another at the top area. 
     It should be noted that none of the examples described above or in any other sections of this specification limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner and that other configurations, and combinations of configurations, of the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  with respect to the front  114  and back  116  are also within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , with the left upper flap  120  configured and the left lower flap  122  as described, the left side opening  132  may be formed. The left side opening  132  may be generally formed by the upper flap  120  and the lower flap  122  combination and may extend from outside the garment on the left side of the upper left shoulder portion  110  to the inside  117  of the garment  10 . In this way, the left side opening  132  may form the opening of the left sleeve  134 . It may be preferable that left side opening  132  be large enough to easily and comfortably accommodate the arm of the child or infant that may be placed into the garment  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1D and 1E , exemplary embodiments of garment  20  as a onesie are illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 1D , garment  20  may include an upper portion  200 , a lower portion  202 , a body  204 , an upper opening  206 , a lower opening  208 , a top left shoulder portion  210 , a top right shoulder portion  212 , a front side  214  and a back side  216 . In addition, garment  20  may also include a collar  218  that may be formed as an upper portion of top opening  206 . The upper left shoulder portion  210  and the upper right shoulder portion  212  may also each include at least one upper flap  220  and at least one lower flap  222 . That is, the upper left shoulder portion  210  may include at least one upper flap  220  and at least one lower flap  222 , and the upper right shoulder portion  212  may also include at least one upper flap  220  and at least one lower flap  222 . It should be noted that in this specification, a single upper flap  220  and a single lower flap  222  on each of the left and right sides of the garment  20  may be used as a main example. However, it should be noted that any number of upper and lower flaps  220 ,  222  may be used on either the left or right shoulder portions  210 ,  212  of the garment  20 . 
     In some embodiments, the left and right upper flaps  220  may generally be mirror images of each other, and that the left and right lower flaps  222  may generally be mirror images of each other. In some embodiments, the flaps  220 ,  222  may be formed of any type of different shapes and sizes. 
     In some embodiments, the upper flap  220  may generally be an upper extension of the back  216  of the garment  20  on the left and right upper sides. In this way, it can be seen that the upper flaps  220  and the back portion of the collar  218  may generally form the top of the back  216  of the garment  20 . Other configurations of the upper flaps  220  with respect to the back  216  of the garment may also be used. 
     In some embodiments, the lower flap  222  may generally be an upper extension of the front  214  of the garment  20  on the left and right upper sides. In this way, it can be seen that the lower flaps  222  and the front portion of the collar  218  may generally form the top of the front  214  of the garment  20 . Other configurations of the lower flaps  222  with respect to the front  214  of the garment may also be used. 
     In some embodiments, the garment  20  may include lower center front flap  240  and lower center rear flap  242 . 
     In some embodiments, garment  20  may include attachment mechanism  227  using finger-pocket snap material as described above, having a finger-pocket loop  150  with a snap button first side  152  (e.g., a male side) and a snap button second side  153  (e.g., a female side). In some embodiments, as depicted in  FIG. 1E , at least one finger-pocket loop  150  with a snap button first side  152  may be positioned on the outside surface  226  of the upper flap  220 , and (as depicted in  FIG. 1D ) at least one corresponding snap button second side  153  may be positioned on the inner surface  224  of the lower flap  222  to attach the lower flap  222  to the upper flap  220 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1E , the loop  150  may be sewn onto the outside surface  226  of the upper flap  220  in such a way to form an opening (or loop)  155 . The loop  155  may be sized to receive a tip of a person&#39;s finger (see also example in  FIG. 1C ). In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1E , the top edge proximity of the upper flap  220  (left and/or right) may include two or more finger-pocket loops  150  positioned side-by-side, each may be sized to receive a tip of a person&#39;s finger. In this way, the left and right upper flap  220  may each include at least one snap button first side  152  positioned on the outer surface  154  of each finger pocket loop  150 . In this configuration, a portion of the inner surface  224  of the lower flap  222  (left and right) may be configured with at least one snap button second side  153  positioned on the inner surface  224 . Snap button first side  152  and snap button second side  153  may be configured to generally come into physical contact and mate with one another, for example when the lower flap  222  is folded upwards, towards upper flap  220  and the snap buttons are pressed together. In some embodiments, the snap button first side may be a male side, and the snap button second side may be a female side. 
     In some embodiments, garment  20  may include, as depicted in  FIG. 1D , at least one finger-pocket loop  150  with a snap button first side  152  may be positioned on the outside surface  244  of the lower center front flap  240 , and at least one corresponding snap button second side  153  may be positioned on the inner surface  246  of the lower center rear flap  242  to attach the lower center rear flap  242  to the lower center front flap  240 . In some embodiments, the loop  150  may be sewn onto the outside surface  244  of the lower center front flap  240  in such a way to form an opening (or loop)  155 . The loop  155  may be sized to receive a tip of a person&#39;s finger (see also example in  FIG. 1C ). 
     It should be appreciated that various configurations described for garment  10  herein may also apply to garment  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the garment  10  with both the left and right upper flaps  120  configured with their respective lower flaps  122  is shown. As shown, the left combination of the left upper flap  120  and the left lower flap  122  may form the left opening  132  and the left sleeve  134 , and the right combination of the right upper flap  120  and the right lower flap  122  may form the right opening  136  and right sleeve  138 . While the left and right sleeves  134 ,  138  may be short such that they may not extend out far past the left and right sides of the garment  10 , the sleeves  134 ,  138  may be longer and may extend any length (e.g., from somewhat past to well past) past the left and right sides of the garment respectively. In this way, the sleeves  134 ,  138  may be formed into what may referred to as “short sleeves”  134 ,  138  (i.e., sleeves that may extend a few inches past the left and right sides of the garment  10 ), “three quarter sleeves”  134 ,  138  (i.e., sleeves that may extend to just past the elbow region of a person&#39;s arm who may be wearing the garment  10 , “long sleeves”  134 ,  138  (i.e. sleeves that may generally extend to the wrist region of the person&#39;s arm who may be wearing the garment), as well as other types of sleeves  134 ,  138 . 
     It should be noted that the sleeves  134 ,  138  may be of any length, shape, size or style, and may utilize the left and right upper flap  120  / lower flap  122  combinations accordingly. Versions of longer sleeved garment  10  may include the upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  in the top left shoulder portion  110  and the top right shoulder portion  112  of the garment  10 . That is, the upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  may not necessarily extend the full length of the longer sleeves  134 ,  138  but may instead be generally located in the shoulder regions  110 ,  112  where the arms of the person wearing the garment  10  may be most difficult to manipulate into the sleeves  134 ,  138 . 
     In this case, the portion of the sleeves  134 ,  138  in the areas that may extend out beyond the upper shoulder regions  110 ,  112  may generally include what may be viewed as typical sleeves (with an opening into the top of sleeve  134 ,  138  just beyond the upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  and a lower opening that may coincide with the wrist region of the person&#39;s arm who may be wearing the garment  10 ). In this way, the upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  may perform as described in this specification in the areas that may be most difficult to manipulate the person&#39;s arm/shoulders into the garment  10 , and in the areas beyond this area, the person&#39;s arm may be more easily inserted into the outer areas of the sleeve through the top opening and out the lower opening. Note however that upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  may indeed extend a portion or the entire length of the sleeves  134 ,  138  (of any length) as necessary. 
     Operation Example 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3-5 , the use and general operation of the garment  10  will now be described by means of example. In this particular example, the garment  10  may include a onesie garment generally used for babies or infants. However, it will be appreciated that this example is only meant for demonstration purposes and does not limit the scope of the garment  10  in any way. It will also be appreciated that the garment  10  may include other types of garments such as shirts, jumpers, one-piece suits, shirts attached to leggings, and other types of garments. It is also noted that the garment  10  may be used with any type of person including infants, toddlers, children, teenagers, young adults, adults, middle aged persons, senior citizens as well as any other type of person. Although garment  10  as shown as an example, garment  20  may be operable in equivalent manner with its own configurations as described herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , garment  10  may have a front  114 , a back  116 , an upper opening  106 , a lower opening  108 , an inside  117 , upper flaps  120  and lower flaps  122 . Note that the lower flaps  122  may be folded downwards in this drawing but this may not be required. It should be appreciated that the upper opening  106  and the lower opening  108  may pass into the inside  117  such that the inner cavity  117  of the garment  10  may pass continuously from the upper opening  106  to the lower opening  108 . In this way, the garment  10  may be placed on the body of a person (e.g., an infant  400  or any other type of person) and the portion of the infant&#39;s body that is meant to be covered by the garment  10  (e.g., the torso of the infant  400 ) may generally be inserted (or positioned) within the inside  117  of the garment  10 . This is depicted in  FIG. 4 . The infant&#39;s left and right arms may be positioned generally above the lower flaps  122  and generally below the upper flaps  120 . In this way, the left and right arms may be generally positioned in the area of the left side opening  132  and the right side opening  136  respectively. 
     In some operations, the garment  10  may be placed on the infant  400  (or other person) by placing the feet of the infant  400  through the top opening  106  of the garment  10  and then pulling the garment  10  up and around the infant&#39;s torso area as desired (for this particular type of garment). This may avoid having to place the garment  10  over the infant&#39;s head area which may be preferable in order to avoid handling the infant&#39;s fragile neck, shoulders and head. However, given that the top and bottom openings  106 ,  108  may be large enough to easily accommodate the infant&#39;s head and shoulders, in some operations, it may be safe to place the lower opening  108  over the infant&#39;s head and pull the garment  10  downward over the torso of the infant  400  as desired. Once the infant  400  is placed within garment  10  as depicted in  FIG. 4 , the lower flaps  122  may be folded upward in the direction of arrow D, and the upper flaps  120  may be folded forward and downward in the direction of arrow A. In this way, the upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  may overlay the infant&#39;s left and right shoulder and upper arm region as depicted in  FIG. 5 . The upper flaps  120  and the lower flaps  122  may be secured together utilizing attachment mechanisms (e.g., finger-pocket loop  150  with snaps  152 ,  153 , hook and loop material sections or other attachment mechanisms) such that the left and right upper flap  120  and lower flap  122  combinations may form the left and right sleeves  134 ,  138  respectively. Note also that the left and right upper flap  120  and lower flap  122  combinations may form the left and right openings  132 ,  136  respectively that may form the inner openings of the sleeves  134 ,  138 . It may be preferable that the upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  be configured in such a way that left and right openings  132 ,  136  and left and right sleeves  134 ,  138  be of a size and shape that may easily and comfortably receive and cover the infant&#39;s left and right shoulder and upper arm regions. 
     It is important to note that at no time during the placement of the garment  10  onto the infant&#39;s body was there a need to bend, twist, handle or otherwise manipulate the infant&#39;s left and right arms into the left and right sleeves  134 ,  138  since the upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  were configured around the infant&#39;s left and right arms to form the sleeves  134 ,  138  without any movement required of the infant&#39;s arms. In this way, the delicate and fragile arms of the infant are safe from uncomfortable and potentially damaging manipulations into the sleeves  134 ,  138 . 
     To remove the garment  10  from the person&#39;s body, the reverse procedure may be followed. The upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  may be disconnected from one another in order to open up the top of the garment  10 . The garment may then be easily removed, again, without having to bend, twist or otherwise manipulate the person&#39;s arms, shoulders or neck. 
     Note that in this example of a onesie that may be used with a baby or infant, the garment  10  may also include a lower center front flap  140  and a lower center rear flap  146  that may be configured to generally close the lower opening  108  of the garment  10  around the infant&#39;s leg and groin areas. The lower center front flap  140  and the lower center rear flap  142  may each include attachment mechanisms  144   146  similar to the attachment mechanisms used in relation to upper and lower flaps  120 ,  122  (e.g., finger-pocket loop  150  and snaps  152 ,  153 ) to be secured to one another. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the lower center front flap  140  may be folded downward and the lower center rear flap  142  may be folded forward to be joined together in the area between the infant&#39;s left and right legs. In this way, the lower portion of the garment  10  may be generally closed such that the garment is secured to the infant&#39;s body. To open the bottom portion of the garment  10  in order to remove it from the infant&#39;s body, the lower center front flap  142  may be disconnected from the lower center rear flap  142  and the bottom opening  108  may be opened wide for the removal of the infant. 
     It should be appreciated that the exemplary operations described for garment  10  herein may also apply to garment  20 , with the lower flap  222  folded upward and overlaid the upper flap  220 . 
     As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present disclosure is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior disclosure. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed. 
     It should be noted that all features, elements, components, functions, and steps described with respect to any embodiment provided herein are intended to be freely combinable and substitutable with those from any other embodiment. If a certain feature, element, component, function, or step is described with respect to only one embodiment, then it should be understood that that feature, element, component, function, or step can be used with every other embodiment described herein unless explicitly stated otherwise. This paragraph therefore serves as antecedent basis and written support for the introduction of claims, at any time, that combine features, elements, components, functions, and steps from different embodiments, or that substitute features, elements, components, functions, and steps from one embodiment with those of another, even if the following description does not explicitly state, in a particular instance, that such combinations or substitutions are possible. It is explicitly acknowledged that express recitation of every possible combination and substitution is overly burdensome, especially given that the permissibility of each and every such combination and substitution will be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In many instances, entities are described herein as being coupled to other entities. It should be understood that the terms “coupled” and “connected” (or any of their forms) are used interchangeably herein and, in both cases, are generic to the direct coupling of two entities (without any non-negligible (e.g., parasitic) intervening entities) and the indirect coupling of two entities (with one or more non-negligible intervening entities). Where entities are shown as being directly coupled together or described as coupled together without description of any intervening entity, it should be understood that those entities can be indirectly coupled together as well unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     While the embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that these embodiments are not to be limited to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, these embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit of the disclosure. Furthermore, any features, functions, steps, or elements of the embodiments may be recited in or added to the claims, as well as negative limitations that define the inventive scope of the claims by features, functions, steps, or elements that are not within that scope.