Patent Publication Number: US-5153940-A

Title: Children&#39;s garment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a children&#39;s garment. More particularly, this invention relates to a children&#39;s garment which includes an attached bib. 
     The purpose and the function of bibs are well known. Bibs protect children&#39;s clothing from saliva which dribbles incessantly from infants&#39; mouths. Bibs are particularly useful in shielding clothing from baby food during the feeding process. 
     Generally, bibs are separate napkin-like accessories which are provided with tie strings for releasably attaching the bibs around infants&#39; necks. However, children&#39;s garments are known wherein the bib is integrally attached to the main body of the garment. For example, Head U.S. Pat. No. 2,568,544 discloses a shirt with a superposed ply overlying the breast portion of the shirt and stitched thereto along the bottom and side edges of the ply. The ply thus forms a pocket for receiving a flat sheet of flexible water-proof plastic. 
     Taranto U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,092 similarly discloses a bib portion in the form of multiple foam layers attached to a shirt in the chest region thereof. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a children&#39;s garment with an attached bib. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide such a children&#39;s garment which is particularly useful and convenient. 
     Another, more particular, object of the present invention is to provide such a garment which provides convenient protection during evening and morning feeding periods. 
     A further particular object of the present invention is to provide such a garment which is easy to clean. 
     Yet another particular object of the present invention is to provide such a garment which is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A children&#39;s garment comprises, in accordance with the present invention, a garment body including a chest portion, a moisture impervious layer overlying at least part of the chest portion, and a moisture absorbent layer overlying the impervious layer. The absorbent layer is substantially coextensive with the impervious layer and has a periphery attached to the garment body so that the impervious layer and the absorbent layer are essentially permanently integral with the garment body. A zipper member is attached to the garment body and divides each of the chest portion, the impervious layer and the absorbent layer into two sections, the absorbent layer being attached to the chest portion along opposite sides of the zipper member. 
     Preferably, the garment body takes the form of a sleeper, preferably made of a soft nonwoven material and preferably having integral soft shoe or sock portions. 
     Pursuant to another feature of the present invention, the moisture impervious layer and the absorbent layer have edge portions which overlap the zipper member and thus effectively shield that element from food and saliva. 
     Pursuant to an alternative conceptualization of the present invention, a children&#39;s garment comprises a garment body including a chest portion divided into two sections, a zipper member attached to each of the sections to releasably fasten them to one another, and a pair of bib members each overlying and permanently attached to a respective one of the chest sections to effectively cover the chest portion of the sleeper. Each of the bib members is fastened along its periphery to the respective sleeper chest section and includes a moisture impervious layer and a moisture absorbent layer. Each moisture impervious layer is disposed between the respective sleeper chest section and the respective absorbent layer. The bib members have edge portions overlapping the zipper member to provide a shield therefor. 
     Pursuant to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the garment body takes the form of a sleeper and the zipper member extends from a neck region of the sleeper to a foot region thereof. 
     Pursuant to another feature of the present invention, the bib members are fastened by sewn seams or stitches to the sleeper chest sections. 
     A children&#39;s garment in accordance with the present invention is particularly useful and convenient. The zipper closure element facilitates the disposition and removal of the garment. Where the garment takes the specific form of a sleeper (made of a soft nonwoven material, having integral shoe or sock portions), the garment is especially convenient in providing an infant with a bib which remains in place despite the infant&#39;s motions during the night and which is in place for evening and morning feeding periods. 
     The attached bib means that the bib and the attached garment, e.g., sleeper, are easy to clean. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a children&#39;s garment in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line II--II in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view, also on an enlarged scale, taken along line III--III in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a modified children&#39;s garment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, a children&#39;s garment includes a body 10 in the form of a sleeper. Sleeper 10 is made of a soft nonwoven material and has integral nonwoven shoe or sock portions 12a and 12b, knitted sleeve ends 14a and 14b, and a knitted collar 16. Sleeper 10 includes a chest portion 18 divided into two sections 18a and 18b by a zipper member 22 which extends from collar 16 down one leg 23 to shoe 12b. 
     Attached to chest portion 18 is a bib 24 including two sections 24a and 24b which overlie respective chest sections 18a and 18b. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each bib section 24a and 24b comprises a moisture impervious or resistant layer 26a and 26b overlying at least part of the respective chest section 18a and 18b, and a moisture absorbent layer 28a and 28b overlying the respective impervious layer 26a and 26b. Preferably, moisture impervious layers 26a and 26b take the form of films or coatings applied to the backsides of absorbent layers 28a and 28b. Accordingly, absorbent layers 28a and 28b are substantially coextensive with respective impervious layers 26a and 26b. Absorbent layers 28a and 28b may be made of a material like terry cloth. 
     Bib sections 24a and 24b are stitched along their perimeters to chest sections 18a and 18b of sleeper 10 so that moisture impervious layers 26 a and 26 b and absorbent layers 28a and 28b are essentially permanently integral with chest portion 18. Piping or edging strips 30a and 30b, serving reinforcement and decorative purposes, are stitched to chest portions 18a and 18b, through bib sections 24a and 24b, respectively. 
     As depicted in FIG. 3, zipper member 22 comprises a pair of woven strips 32a and 32b sewn to chest portions 18a and 18b, respectively. Zipper strips 32a and 32b carry intermeshing zipper teeth 34a and 34b. Bib sections 24a and 24b have edge portions 36a and 36b extending alongside zipper member 22. Edge portions 36a and 36b, together with a folded lips 38a and 38b of chest portions 18a and 18b, overlap zipper strips 32a and 32b so as to effectively shield zipper member 22 from food, such as milk from bottle or breast, and an infant wearer&#39;s oral excretions. 
     Zipper member 22 is attached to sleeper 10 and divides chest portion 24, an impervious layer formed of layers 26 a and 26b, and an absorbent layer composed of layers 28a and 28b into two sections each. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, another children&#39;s garment includes a body 110 in the form of a sleeper. Sleeper 110 is made of a soft nonwoven material and has integral nonwoven shoe or sock portions 112a and 112b, knitted sleeve ends 114a and 114b, and a knitted collar 116. Sleeper 110 includes a chest portion 118 which is divided or separated from a sleeve 120 by a zipper member 122 which extends from collar 116 down one leg 123 to shoe 112b. 
     Attached to chest portion 118 is a bib 124. As described hereinabove with reference to bib 24, bib 124 comprises a moisture impervious or resistant layer (not shown) overlying at least part of chest portion 118 and a moisture absorbent layer 128 overlying the respective impervious layer. Preferably, the moisture impervious layer takes the form of a film or coating applied to the backside of the absorbent layer. Accordingly, the absorbent layer is substantially coextensive with the moisture impervious layer. The absorbent layer may be made of a material like terry cloth. 
     Bib 124 is stitched along its perimeter to chest portion 118 so that the moisture impervious layer and absorbent layer 128 are essentially permanently integral with chest portion 118. A piping or edging strip 130, serving reinforcement and decorative purposes, is stitched to chest portion 118 through bib 124. 
     Zipper member 122 is overlapped by a edge portion 136 of moisture absorbent layer 128. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. For example, zipper member 122 may extend up the same side of sleeper 110, as indicated at 140. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proferred by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.