Adjustable Infant Garment with Elastic Strap Fit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Infant and small children's garments often outgrow quickly due to rapid growth, necessitating frequent replacements and inefficient sizing adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable garment design featuring dual adjustable fit mechanisms with elastic straps and fastening members that allow for length adjustments by threading straps through channels and securing them with various types of fastening members, such as hooks, loops, or snaps, enabling easy lengthening or shortening without altering the garment's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length garment is used, then the garment structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the garment cannot accommodate child growth and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the garment length adjustable through elastic straps that can be extended or retracted within strap channels, allowing the garment to adapt to the child's growth while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the garment into adjustable sections with separate fastening mechanisms at different locations, enabling independent length adjustment of specific portions without redesigning the entire garment structure
2Duration of action of stationary object
If an adjustable fit mechanism is added, then the garment can accommodate growth, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses universal fastening members (such as hooks, loops, or snaps) that can be configured in multiple positions along the straps, allowing the same mechanism to provide both length adjustment and secure fastening functions, thereby extending garment usability without proportionally increasing complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple fastening members are used for adjustment, then the garment can be precisely fitted, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-positions multiple fastening members at predetermined intervals along the straps during manufacturing, so that when adjustment is needed, the user simply needs to select the appropriate fastening pair for the desired length and secure it, eliminating the need for complex measurement or calculation during operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable garment accommodates growth by allowing parents to extend or shorten the garment as needed, reducing the frequency of purchases and ensuring a comfortable fit throughout the child's growth phase.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic first strap at least partially received within the first strap channel
Data Source
AI summary
A one-piece garment (e.g. infant/toddler Onesie or body suit) includes independent elastic bands threaded alongside the body of the garment, from the underarms down to the hip, that when pulled allow for custom fitting of the garment. Once pulled to the desired length, the bands are securable with a snap fastener post, located at the end of the strap, to snap fastener studs, located at varying points on the inside of the garment. The contraction of the elastic bands preferably creates a drawstring effect and provides a gathering force upon the garment, which is held securely in place with the snap fastener so that the one-piece garment thereby shortens in length around a wearer's torso creating a custom fit. The one-piece garment can be expanded as needed by releasing the snap fastener post and positioning it on a lower positioned snap fastener stud.