Garment having novel attachment device

Abstract

The present invention provides a partially-detachable garment having a bottom portion that includes an attachment device that provides tension and support between a fixed back surface and an unfixed front surface of the bottom portion. A first aspect of the invention provides a garment, comprising a top portion, a bottom portion including a front and a back, and at least one tab extending from the back of the bottom portion, wherein the at least one tab is secured at the front of the bottom portion adjacent a wearer's hip.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The current application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 599,323, filed Aug. 6, 2004, and co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29 / 209,391, filed Jul. 15, 2004, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] (1) Technical Field [0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of wearable garments and more particularly to garments having an easily detachable bottom portion to facilitate diaper changes or toileting. [0004] (2) Related Art [0005] Apparel worn while engaging in a number of activities take the form of a one-piece body suit or a multi-piece suit with interconnecting components. For example, women's and girls' swimsuits, leotards worn during dance or gymnastics, and various women's and girls' undergarments take such forms. Frequently, the wearers of such garments must completely or substantially remove the garments in order...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] A second aspect of the invention provides a garment, comprising a top portion, a bottom portion including a front and a back, and at least one tab extending from a back surface of at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the at least one tab is secured at the front of the bottom portion adjacent a front surface of a wearer's hip and provides a back-to-front tension.

[0011] A third aspect of the invention provides a garment, comprising a top portion, a bottom portion including a front, a back, and a crotch portion disposed between the front and the back such that the front passes between a wearer's legs, and at least one tab extending from a back surface of at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the at least one tab substantially covers a wearer's hip area and is secured at the front of the bottom portion adjacent a front surface of a wearer's hip and provides a back-to-front tension.

Problems solved by technology

The removal of the top portions of such garments is both unnecessary and often undesirable.

When a diaper change is needed, such garments must similarly be completely or substantially removed, unnecessarily exposing more of the infant's or child's body, particularly the torso, than is required to facilitate a diaper change.

Such garments also make redressing the infant or child after diapering more difficult.

Such garments suffer from a number of deficiencies, however, including improper hip coverage and improper tension between their fixed and attachable portions, resulting in a less supportive garment than is provided by one-piece, non-detachable garments.

In addition, the attachment locations of the garments above are inconvenient and result in a bulging of the garment at the attachment points.

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