Garments for babies

Abstract

The invention is a garment to prevent fluid from soaking on the skin of a baby. The garment is a clothing outfit with an integral bib section. The integral section comprises a fluid repellent layer over the clothing outfit and a fluid absorbent layer over the fluid repellent layer. The garment is characterized by an absorbent rim circumferentially bordering the integral bib section and extending across the outermost peripheral boundary of the integral bib section, said rim configured to prevent the lateral leakage of fluid run-off.

Description

GARMENTS FOR BABIESTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the clothing industry and, more particularly to garments for babies.BACKGROUND

[0002] Babies typically start teething by about 4 to 7-months-old. Whilst teething they often dribble a lot. As a result, their garments are often wet with dribble. Wet garments are uncomfortable to wear and can also lead to various sicknesses in children.

[0003] People often use traditional bibs to absorb the dribble. However, bibs may inadvertently cover the mouth and nose of babies. This can occur whilst the babies are asleep, or in a basinet unsupervised, or whilst travelling in the back seat of a car where they are not easily accessible by the parent in the front seat of the car, or whilst the baby is in a pram whilst the hood over the pram is obscuring them. This presents a risk of suffocation for the baby.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide the means of protecting the baby from dribble and other fluid spillage without presenting a risk of suffocation. Another object of the invention is to provide a solution for parents and carers who must regularly change the garment of dribbling babies who have soaked through the chest area of their garments. Yet another object of the invention is to provide parents with comfort that their child's chest remains dry which reduces the risk of their child becoming ill.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a garment for a baby, the garment comprising:(a) a clothing outfit; and(b) an integral bib section in the clothing outfit; wherein the integral bib section comprises:(i) a fluid repellent layer;(ii) a fluid absorbent layer; and(iii) an absorbent rim circumferentially bordering the integral bib section and extending across the outermost peripheral boundary of the integral bib section, said rim configured to prevent the lateral leakage of fluid run-off.

[0006] Preferably, the clothing outfit may have a joining section on the front of the garment, wherein the joining section is covered by a flap which has a fluid repellent layer and a fluid absorbent layer.

[0007] The integral bib section may be detachable from the garment. The integral bib section may have a component capable of being detached from the garment. In some forms of the invention, the integral bib section may be detachable from one side of the garment. The integral bib section may be detachable using press button fasteners or hook and loop fasteners, for example.

[0008] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 is an illustration of a baby wearing a short sleeved legless garment with a triangular shaped integral bib according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 is an illustration of a long-sleeved jumpsuit garment with a crescent shaped integral bib according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3 is an illustration of a long-sleeved upper garment with a square shaped integral bib according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 4 is an illustration of a long-sleeved button up jumpsuit garment with a square shaped integral bib having a fluid repellent and a fluid absorbent flap over its joining section, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 5 is an illustration of a jumpsuit garment having a zip and an integral bib that is detachable from one side of the garment, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 6 is an illustration of a dress garment having an integral bib in the form of afashionable lapel, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 7 is an illustration of a dress garment having an integral bib with a triangular tip, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 8 is front view of a t-shirt having an integral bib surrounded by an absorbent rim, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 9 is rear view of a t-shirt of figure 8.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Figure 1 shows a baby 10 wearing a first embodiment of a garment 12 according to the present invention. The garment 12 is adapted to prevent fluid 14 (namely, dribble / drool) from the mouth of the baby 10 from leaking onto the skin of the baby 10. Other fluids may include milk, water or other drinks given to the baby 10.

[0020] The garment 12 comprises a clothing outfit 16 with an integral bib section 18 in the clothing outfit 16. The bib section 18 has a fluid repellent layer 20 over the clothing outfit 16 and a fluid absorbent layer 22 over the fluid repellent layer 20, surrounded by an absorbent rim 24.

[0021] Preferably, the clothing outfit 16 is made of organic cotton, the fluid repellent layer 20 is made of Polyurethane (PU) coated fabric, and the fluid absorbent layer 22 is made of merino wool, and the absorbent rim 24 is made of a thicker layer of merino wool.

[0022] Polyurethane (PU) coated fabric can be applied to various fabrics, like nylon or polyester, to make them fluid repellent. It is lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective, making it a good option for a fluid repellent layer.

[0023] PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) is another option. This is a popular fluid repellent material often used in cloth diapers and reusable sanitary pads. It is breathable and flexible but durable enough to be machine-washed.

[0024] Alternatively, the fluid repellent layer 20 may be made of Gore-Tex™, which is a fluid repellent, windproof, and breathable fabric. It has a microporous structure that allows sweat to escape while preventing water from penetrating. It is used for outdoor jackets and sports gear. Gore-Tex is made from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), which is a highly porous form of PTFE, more commonly known as Teflon. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer, known for being water-repellent, chemically stable, and resistant to extremetemperatures. PTFE is what gives Gore-Tex its fluid repellent properties. During the manufacturing process, PTFE is stretched to create a membrane with billions of microscopic pores. These pores are about twenty thousand times smaller than a water droplet, preventing water from penetrating, but seven hundred times larger than a water vapor molecule, allowing sweat to escape. Gore-Tex products often consist of a laminate where the ePTFE membrane is sandwiched between or bonded to outer fabrics like nylon or polyester. These layers protect the membrane and provide durability while keeping the garment lightweight. This combination of ePTFE and the fabric layers creates a fluid repellent, windproof, and breathable material that is widely used in outdoor gear.

[0025] Neoprene is yet another option for the fluid repellent layer. It is a synthetic rubber often used in wetsuits. It is naturally fluid repellent, insulating, and durable, making it a good choice for cold-weather fluid repellent garments.

[0026] Nylon or Polyester with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish is another option for the fluid repellent layer. This material in rain jackets. DWR-treated fabrics cause water to bead on the surface and roll off, but over time, the coating may need reapplication.

[0027] TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is a more environmentally friendly alternative to PVC that can be used for the fluid repellent layer. It is flexible, fluid repellent, and often used in backpacks, outdoor gear, and garments where durability and waterproofing are essential.

[0028] Waxed Cotton is another option for the fluid repellent layer 20. It is cotton-fabric treated with wax to make it water-resistant. Silicone may also be used as the fluid repellent layer 20.

[0029] A problem identified by the inventors during the initial manufacture and testing of prototypes of the invention is that fluid 14 from the mouth baby 10 runs across the fluid repellent layer 20 and leaks onto the clothing outfit 16. This problem was not identified in the prior art. A solution was not identified by the manufacturer employed by the inventors. This problem can defeat the object of the garment 12 to stop the leakage of the dribble 14 onto the skin of the baby 10. To overcome this technical problem, the inventors conceived an absorbent rim 24 for the integral bib section 18 of the garment 12. The absorbent rim 24 absorbs and disperses the dribble, acting as a final fluid barrier. In effect, the absorbent rim 24 acts as a dam for a river of dribble 14. The absorbent rim 24 comprises a layer of high-absorbency material, which may be thicker than the absorbent layer (22) and has a density or structure selected to create a capillary barrier against the lateral flow of liquid. The absorbent rim 24 is made of a section of material which is sewn into the clothing outfit 16. The absorbent rim 24 provides a final barrier for thedribble 14 and thereby achieves the object of the invention.

[0030] The prior art generally discloses garments with integral or detachable bibs having absorbent and fluid repellent layers, focusing on preventing fluid penetration through the bib fabric itself. However, the prior art does not disclose or suggest an absorbent rim positioned and configured specifically to act as a dam to prevent lateral run-off leakage at the edges of the fluid repellent area.

[0031] For example, US 2005 / 0235394 Al discloses a unitary garment with a removable, multilayer chest panel, where the laminate includes a fluid resistant layer. The focus of US 2005 / 0235394 Al is on the replaceability of the soiled panel. US 2005 / 0235394 Al does not mention or illustrate any structural feature designed to wick or block fluid that has run off the absorbent layer laterally and is leaking onto the main garment body.

[0032] CN 205757256 U discloses a detachable bib unit with a fluid absorbent layer (212) and a fluid repellent layer (211). The primary purpose is to prevent internal clothes contamination and provide easy replacement. CN 205757256 U is silent on the problem of fluid leakage flowing over the outer edges of the bib system, and lacks any feature corresponding to the absorbent damming rim.

[0033] US 6,216,269 Bl discloses a combination garment and bib system, where the garment portion itself has an internal impermeable layer (16) and the bib (24) has an absorbent layer (28) backed by a fluid impermeable layer (30). The bib is attachable at the neck opening. The solution of US 6,216,269 Bl is doubling the protection. However, it does not address or solve the technical problem of preventing lateral leakage with a dedicated absorbent rim.

[0034] CN 104323488 A discloses a baby garment with a foldable bib (2). The bib has an inner waterproof layer (2a) and outer cotton layers (2b). The novelty of the invention disclosed in CN 104323488 A centers on the foldable / storable nature and detachable pull cord. CN 104323488 A discloses a residual pouch (23) to catch falling food, a feature that addresses vertical dropping, not the unrecognised problem of lateral run-off and capillary action leaking over the edges of the waterproof layer.

[0035] Therefore, the inclusion of the absorbent rim (24) to solve the technical problem of lateral fluid run-off leakage is an inventive feature absent from the cited prior art.

[0036] Variations in the shape of the integral bib 18 and the shape of the garment 12 are within the scope and ambit of the invention. For example, figure 1 shows a short sleeved leglessgarment 12 with a triangular shaped integral bib 18. Figure 2 shows a long-sleeved jumpsuit garment 26 with a crescent shaped integral bib 28. Figure 3 shows a long-sleeved upper garment 30 (representative of a long-sleeved t-shirt or a jumper) with an integral bib 32 having a square shape with rounded edges.

[0037] Figure 4 shows a long-sleeved button up jumpsuit garment 34 with a joining section 36 and button up press studs 38. The garment 34 has a square shaped integral bib 40 having a waterproof and absorbent flap 42 over its joining section 36.

[0038] Figure 5 is an illustration of a jumpsuit garment 44 having a joining section 46 with a zip 48 and an integral bib 50 that is detachable from one side 52 of the garment 44 using a press studs 54. The integral bib 50 is sewn into the other side 56 of the garment 44.

[0039] Figure 6 shows a dress garment 58 having an integral bib 60 in the form of a fashionable lapel over the clothing section 62 of the garment 58.

[0040] Figure 7 shows a dress garment 64 having an integral bib 66 with a triangular tip 68. The integral bib 66 is detachable from the dress garment 64 using hook and loop fasteners. The integral bib 68 has a fluid repellent layer and a fluid absorbent overlay (which are not visible in the drawing) surrounded by an absorbent rim 70.

[0041] Figures 8 and 9 show the front and back of a t-shirt 72 embodying the invention, which has an integral bib 74 surrounded by an absorbent rim 76.

[0042] The garments of the present invention with an integral bib thereby provide the means of protecting the baby from dribble and lateral spillage without presenting a risk of suffocation to the baby wearing the garments.

[0043] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word 'comprising' and its derivatives including 'comprises' and 'comprise' include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0044] Reference throughout this specification to 'one embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or 'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or morecombinations.

[0045] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A garment for a baby, the garment comprising:(a) a clothing outfit; and(b) an integral bib section in the clothing outfit; wherein the integral bib section comprises:(i) a fluid repellent layer;(ii) a fluid absorbent layer; and(iii) an absorbent rim circumferentially bordering the integral bib section and extending across the outermost peripheral boundary of the integral bib section, said rim configured to prevent the lateral leakage of fluid run-off.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the clothing outfit has a joining section on the front of the garment and the joining section is covered by a flap which has a fluid repellent layer and a fluid absorbent layer.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the integral bib section is detachable from one side of the garment.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the integral bib section is detachable using press button fasteners.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the integral bib section is detachable from the garment via hook and loop fasteners.

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