Abstract:
The present invention describes a system and method for reducing the risk of infant suffocation. The system generally comprises pants, shirt, and at least two straps that secure the top side of the pants and the bottom side of the shirt either on the front, back, interior, or exterior sides of the pants and shirt. Those straps may also be adjustable for tautness. A further embodiment includes foot coverings that extend from the pants to cover the infant&#39;s feet. Such foot coverings may be made from a breathable material. The invention may also include cushioning to protect the infant from falls. The invention also includes a method for reducing the risk of infant suffocation. The method may include steps of dressing an infant in a pair of pants and shirt while using fabric straps to secure the shirt to the pants so the shirt does not ride up.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to field of clothing and more particularly concerns infant sleepwear that minimizes the risk of infant smothering, suffocation, and strangulation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Smothering is an unfortunate cause of death of newborns and infants in the United States. Some causes of infant smothering include infant overlay and positional asphyxia. Infant overlay occurs when an infant is sleeping with an adult and the adult smothers the infant. Positional asphyxia occurs when an infant&#39;s face is trapped in soft bedding or is wedged in small spaces with cushions or mattresses. Often times, parents of infants are concerned about suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Even though parents have utilized infant safety educational courses and utilized safety equipment on furniture in their homes to reduce the risk of infant smothering and injury, infant smothering remains a persistent concern of parents for their infant&#39;s well being. Furthermore, safety equipment on furniture and safety courses may not offer meaningful solutions to address the risks of infant suffocation due to the infant&#39;s own clothing. 
         [0004]    Different types of infant sleepwear offer parents benefits and detriments when dressing their infants for bed. Parents may be concerned about whether to dress their infant in a one-piece or two-piece garment when the infant sleeps. Garments made as one piece covering the infant&#39;s entire body or two-piece garments (i.e. pants and shirt) are a safety issue for parents concerned about infant suffocation. Dressing infants in a one-piece garment may be inconvenient for parents since the one-piece garments are more difficult to remove and there is less variety in dressing the infant. On the other hand, dressing infants in two-piece garments may offer parents more variety when dressing their infant, but bears the risk of a separate shirt riding up and interfering with the infant&#39;s breathing. Both types of clothing have benefits and detriments more particularly described below. 
         [0005]    Infants may wear one-piece pajama garments where the shirt and pants are comprised of one continuous garment. However, one-piece garments may cover an infant&#39;s entire body. For example, an “onesie” covers the arms, legs, and torso of an infant. 
         [0006]    Alternatively, one-piece garments may leave parts of the infant&#39;s legs exposed to allow the parents to easily access the infant&#39;s diaper or to change the infant. One-piece garments are often cumbersome for parents to remove or to dress the infant. Additionally, one-piece garments may not regulate an infant&#39;s temperature properly. If the garment covers the infant&#39;s entire body, the infant may be very warm. Some one piece garments expose the infant&#39;s legs so the infant may get cold. To address the issue of temperature regulation of the infant, a parent may dress an infant in a two-piece garment with separated pants and a shirt. However, the risk of suffocation or strangulation for an infant dressed in a two-piece garment is a concern to parents. Thus, there is a need for two-piece sleepwear for infants that address these risks. 
         [0007]    With the foregoing in mind, a system of infant clothing is required that has the convenience of dressing an infant in a two-piece outfit, but without the concerns of infant suffocation. With the need for that system in mind, the inventor has created a two-piece anti-smother baby sleepwear system that minimizes the risk of infant suffocation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In accordance with the invention, the infant suffocation problem is eliminated by securing the infant shirt to the infant pants thereby preventing the infant shirt from riding up and interfering with the infant&#39;s ability to breath. A system where the infant pajama top is secured to the infant sleepwear bottom allows infants to wear two-piece sleepwear, but reduces the risk of smothering, suffocation, or strangulation from the infant pajama top. 
         [0009]    The system includes a pair of pants and a shirt. The pants and the shirt are connected by at least two straps that connect the front side, the back side, or both sides of the shirt to the pants. The straps connect the top portion of the pants to the bottom portion of the shirt in a spaced apart relationship from each other. One end of each strap connects to the bottom portion shirt and one end of each strap connects to the top portion of the pants. The straps may fasten to the shirt and the pants on the interior, exterior, or any combination thereof 
         [0010]    The system can also include extended foot coverings that are continuous from the pants. Such foot coverings may be made from a breathable material that readily exchanges air and moisture from the outside of the foot coverings to the inside of the foot coverings. The breathable nature of the material will allow an infant&#39;s feet to stay cool during the hotter seasons of the year by promoting air and moisture exchange. 
         [0011]    The system can also include cushioning on the pants. The cushioning may be placed back side, front side, or both sides of the pants to prevent injuries to the infant if the infant should fall. Another embodiment of the invention can be comprised of pants that are slightly longer than knee length and forego the foot coverings for a more active lifestyle. 
         [0012]    The system may also include straps that have a plurality of fasteners to adjust the tautness of the straps to fit the size of the infant. 
         [0013]    The invention also consists of a method to prevent infant suffocation from the infant&#39;s clothing that may cover the infant&#39;s face. The method comprises the following steps: providing the infant with a shirt and pants. Next, the parent can connect the pants and shirt with at least two straps that connect on the front side, the back side, or both sides of the shirt to the pants. One end of each strap connects to the bottom portion of shirt and one end of each strap connects to the top portion of the pants. The parent may connect the shirt and the pants by fastening the straps on the interior, exterior, or any combination thereof. Thus, a parent may dress their infant in a manner that is suitable for the weather, in a manner that is convenient for changing the infant&#39;s clothes and diaper, and also reducing the risk of infant suffocation where an infant&#39;s shirt may cover the infant&#39;s face. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention with foot coverings extending from the pants where the foot coverings are made of a breathable material. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is front view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention with foot coverings that are continuous from the pants. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is the rear view of an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is front view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention with pants with cushioning on the front side of the pants 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is the rear view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  depicting the invention with cushioning on the back side of the pants. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is front view of an embodiment of the system in accordance with the present invention with straps that can be adjustable in tautness. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is the rear view of an embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an axial view of an embodiment with straps fastened to the front, exterior of the shirt. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an axial view of an embodiment with straps fastened to the front, interior of the shirt. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an axial view of an embodiment with straps fastened to the back, exterior of the shirt. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is an axial view of an embodiment with straps fastened to the back, interior of the shirt. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is an axial view of an embodiment with straps fastened to the front, exterior of the pants. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is an axial view of an embodiment with straps fastened to the front, interior of the pants. 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is an axial view of an embodiment with straps fastened to the back, exterior of the pants 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is an axial view of an embodiment with straps fastened to the back, interior of the pants. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended to provide example embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the function and the sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and the scope of the invention. 
         [0031]    Some embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1-16 . Additional embodiments, features, and/or advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description or may be learned by practicing the invention. The drawings in the figures are not to scale and have like numerals referring to like features through both the drawings and the description. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  5 , and  7  illustrates the front view of a system of smother resistant clothing  1  for an infant. The clothing  1  may be made from a soft-fabric material such as cotton, polyester, cotton-polyester blend, or an equivalent material appropriate for sleepwear. Furthermore, the clothing  1  can be comprised of a pair of pants  5  having a front side  6  an exterior side  13 , an interior side  12 , and a top edge  7 . The system may also be comprised of a shirt  2  having a front side  3 , an exterior side  11 , an interior side  10 , and a bottom edge  4 . The system further comprises, at least two straps  20 , each having a first end  21  and a second end  22  wherein the first end  21  of each strap may be secured to the pair of pants  5  in proximity to the top edge  7  of the pants  5  in spaced apart relationship to each other. The second end  22  of each strap is secured to the shirt  2  in proximity to the bottom edge  4  of the shirt  2 . 
         [0033]    The at least two straps  20  are secured to the pants and shirt by means of fasteners  23  and  24 . The straps  20  may be made from the same material as the clothing  1  or a different blend of material for greater rigidity or softness of the straps. Near the first end  21  of the strap  20  is a fastener  23  which may be secured to the interior  12  of the pants  5  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Near the second end  22  of the strap  20  is a fastener  24  which may be secured to the interior  10  of the shirt  2 . 
         [0034]    To illustrate the positioning of the clothing  1  and the strap  20 ,  FIG. 9  shows the an axial view of the above embodiment with strap  20  fastened to the front  3  of the shirt  2  on the exterior  11  side.  FIG. 10  shows the an axial view of the above embodiment with strap  20  fastened to the front  3  of the shirt  2  on the interior  10  side.  FIG. 13  shows the an axial view of the above embodiment with strap  20  fastened to the front  6  of the pants  5  on the exterior  13  side.  FIG. 11  shows the an axial view of the above embodiment with strap  20  fastened to the front  6  of the pants  5  on the interior  12  side. 
         [0035]    As illustrated in the figures above, one who practices the invention may also secure the strap  20  as described above to the exterior  13  of the pants  5 , the exterior  11  of the shirt  2 , or any combination thereof. Securing the strap  20  to the interior  10  of the shirt  2  (or the interior  12  of the pants  5 ) may prevent the infant from undoing the straps. Securing the straps  20  to the exterior  11  of the shirt  2  (of the exterior  13  pants  5 ) may be more convenient for the parent who wishes to change the infant&#39;s clothing or diaper with easier access to the strap  20 . 
         [0036]    When the shirt  2  and pants  5  are secured through the use of the straps  20 , the shirt  2  is resistant to riding up to smother the baby&#39;s face. Thus, babies are able to wear clothing  1  with less risk of suffocation, better temperature regulation, and offer parents greater ease in changing their infants. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  6 , and  8  illustrates the rear view of a system of smother resistant clothing  1  for an infant that can be comprised of a pair of pants  5  having a back side  33 , an exterior side  13 , an interior side  12 , and a top edge  34 . The system can also comprise of a shirt  2  having a back side  30 , an exterior side  11 , an interior side  10  and a bottom edge  31 . The system may be further comprised of at least two straps  40 , each having a first end  41  and a second end  42 . The first end  41  of each strap  40  may be secured to the pair of pants  5  in proximity to the top edge  34  of the pants  5  in spaced apart relationship to each other with fastener  43 . The second end  43  of each strap  40  may be secured to the shirt  2  in proximity to the bottom edge  31  of the shirt  2  with fastener  44 . 
         [0038]    To illustrate the positioning of the clothing  1  and the strap  40 ,  FIG. 11  shows the an axial view of the above embodiment with strap  20  fastened to the back  30  of the shirt  2  on the exterior  11  side.  FIG. 12  shows the an axial view of the above embodiment with strap  40  fastened to the back  30  of the shirt  2  on the interior  10  side.  FIG. 15  shows the an axial view of the above embodiment with strap  40  fastened to the back  33  of the pants  5  on the exterior  13  side.  FIG. 16  shows the an axial view of the above embodiment with strap  40  fastened to the back  33  of the pants  5  on the interior  12  side. 
         [0039]    As illustrated in the figures above, one who practices the invention may secure the strap  40  as described above to the exterior  13  of the pants  5 , the exterior  11  of the shirt  2 , or any combination thereof 
         [0040]    Also shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  7  and  8 , the system may be comprised of a pair of foot coverings  8  that are continuous from the pants  5 . Those foot coverings  8  may be made from a breathable material that readily exchanges air and moisture from the interior  12  of the pants  5  to the exterior  13  of the pants  5 . As shown by  FIG. 1 , the foot coverings  8  may be comprised of a net-like fabric material, such as mesh or an equivalent material. The advantage of using a breathable material is to aid in temperature regulation for the infant, who may get warm wearing foot coverings  8  in the hotter seasons.  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7  and  8  also illustrate foot coverings  8 , but those foot coverings may be comprised of the same material of the pants  5  when the advantage of breathable material is not required, such as in the colder seasons. 
         [0041]    Furthermore,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  also show an embodiment of the system where there are no foot coverings  8  and the pants  5  are cropped  9  in length. The pants  5  that are cropped  9  in length may extend to any length over the infant&#39;s knee. Such cropped  9  length of the pants  5  may allow the infant ease of movement when participating in physical activities. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  further illustrates cushioning  51  and  52 , which may be made from a soft fabric filler material such as polyester fiber or an equivalent material. On  FIG. 5 , cushioning  51  serves to protect the infant from injury in areas where an infant is prone to fall. The embodiment of  FIG. 5  illustrates cushioning  51  on the front side  6  side of the pants  5  near the infant&#39;s knees when an infant may fall while learning to walk. The cushioning  51  could be placed anywhere on the front side  6  of the pants  5  where an infant is prone to falling. 
         [0043]    Additionally,  FIG. 6  illustrates cushioning  52  on the back side  33  of the pants  5  near the infant&#39;s buttocks when an infant may also fall while learning to walk. The cushioning  52  could be placed anywhere on the back side  33  of the pants  5  where an infant is prone to falling. 
         [0044]    One who practices the invention may also provide cushioning  51  and  52  on exterior  13  of the pants  5 , interior  12  of the pants  5 , any position on the pants  5  where an infant may likely fall on, or any combination thereof.  FIG. 13             
         [0045]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the straps  20 , which are secured to the shirt  2  and pants  5  by means of a plurality of fasteners  23 - 26 . Near the first end  21  of the strap  20  are at least two fasteners  23  and  25 , where at least one said fastener  23  or  25  may be secured to the interior  12  of the pants  5 . Near the second end  22  of the strap  20  are at least two fasteners  24  and  26 , where at least one said fastener  24  or  26  may be secured to the interior  10  of the shirt  2 . One who practices the invention may also secure the strap  20  as described above to the exterior  13  of the pants  5 , the exterior  11  of the shirt  2 , or any combination thereof. 
         [0046]    When the straps  20  have additional fasteners  23 - 26 , the strap  20  is adjustable for tautness to promote a better fit for a growing infant. The fasteners  23 - 26  may be comprised of buttons, rivets, any equivalent means or combinations that may be practiced. Thus, infants are able to wear clothing  1  with less risk of suffocation, better temperature regulation, and offer parents greater ease in changing their infants. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  illustrates the rear view of a system of  FIG. 7 , which also has a plurality of fasteners  43 - 46  on strap  40 .