Improvements in Undershirts for Infants.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Undershirts for Infants.
I, LEE RUBENS of 4346 Saint Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, United
States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a novel construction in undershirts for infants, the
objects being to provide a garment of this kind that can be readily put ou aud
fastened, or removed from, an infant; which when in place and fastened will fit
nicely and is smooth, and which provides an extra covering or protector for the
chest and abdomen.
The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully described
and specifically claimed.
In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention,—
Figure is a front view of the garment. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same
at about the waist line, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view, at about the waist line, of a
modified construction embodying my invention.
Referring now to said drawings, I indicates the main body portion of the garment
provided in the usual manner with the neck 2 and arms 3. The open portion of
the garment is not provided with fastening devices in the usual manner, but each
side or edge of the open portion is provided with a strap or band 4 of sufficient
length to extend from the open edge around the body to about the middle of the
back. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 one of these straps or bands 4
is provided with a button 5 and the other with a hole 6, said button and hole being
located near the outer ends of the straps or bands and also in said Figs. 1 and 2 au
opening 7 is made in the body of the garment at about the waist line, to permit
one of the straps or bands 4 to pass therethrough. Therefore, when putting on a
garment of this construction it is placed on the body in the usual manner and then
one of the straps or bands 4 is passed through the opening 7, while the other strap
or band 4 laps over the side of the garment to which is attached this strap or band
which passes through the opening 7. In Fig. 1 the garment is shown in this
position. The said straps or bands 4 are then carried around the body and fastened
together. It will thus be seen that the garment is secured to the body by making
one fastening only and is especially useful as an infa it's under-garment, because it
avoids the trouble that is experienced in putting an undershirt provided with
several buttons on a very small child, because the buttons are usually very difficult
to button up upon small and active childreu, as will be obvious. It also avoids
the "gaping" of the garment between the buttons, which usually occurs with the
undershirt of a small child.
It is obvious that other means of fastening the bands 4 can be employed, and in
dotted lines in Fig. 1 I have shown a buttonhole in place of the button 5 and a
button on the back of the garment. It is further obvious that I can employ
various other means for this purpose, without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
The open edges of the garment are provided with extensions 8 to which the
straps or bands 4 are attached, as shown in Fig. 1. In this way it will be seen
that when the garment is worn these extensions overlapping each other and the
body of the garment provide a double thickness at such portion, and forms a chest
and stomach protector.
The overlapping extensions 8 of the undershirt forms a special feature of my
invention in connection with the meaus for fastening the garment, for instance, the

page_text: extensions meet and overlap at about the neck band and extend approximately to
the bottom of the garment. It thus forms a covering of extra thickness for the
chest and abdomen of an infant, which are the most vital parts. Another
important advantage is that the garment can be easily and quickly placed upon,
or removed from an infant and obviates the necessity of drawing it on over the
child's head as is usual. And again, the smoothness with which it fits and is held
in position is a marked feature of improvement.
am aware of United States Letters Patent 326,553 for children's underwaists
and of French Patent to Pilte et al 188,977 of February 25, 1888, for corsets
and which are distinguished from my invention by the fact that they are for a
different kind of garment which has no arms, neck nor chest or abdominal protector.
I am also aware of garments having chest protectors of various shapes and
arrangements but none that is similar to that forming the subject of this
invention.
It is obvious that my invention can be variously modified, and I have shown in
Fig. 3 one of the various modifications that can be made. In said Fig. 3 I obviate
the necessity of making an opening 7 in the body of the garment and place a
button 5 on the end of one of the straps or bands, which strap or band is passed
around the body inside the garment, a buttonhole 9 is made in the back of the
garment and this button 5 which is on the outside of said strap or band is passed
through said buttonhole 9. Then the other strap or band is passed around the
body and buttoned to the button 5, as will be obvious.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
As a new article of manufacture, an undershirt for infauts, comprising a body
portion open in front and having a neck and shoulder portion and arms, extensions 8
at the open front portion of the garment extending from the neck portion and the
lower end portion of the garment laterally to overlap the front portions of the
garment, and straps or bands connected to the ends thereof and of length to reach
the rear portion of the garment and to be there fastened, the body of the garment
having an aperture to permit the fastening of the straps or bands, substantially as
described.
ונ..
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.