Infant Garment with Snap Fasteners for Skin-to-Skin Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current infant clothing designs are inefficient for quick and easy exposure of the infant's skin for skin-to-skin contact, often causing distress due to temperature changes and discomfort, and lack optimal solutions for convenient and protected exposure of the infant's torso.
Innovation Solution
A garment with two snap fastener assemblies at the top, allowing for easy exposure of the infant's ventral surface without disrobing, and optional four-way stretch fabric for quick diaper changes, reducing the need for snaps in leg coverings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If current infant clothing designs are used, then the infant is protected and warm, but the time required for exposure of the ventral surface for skin-to-skin contact is excessive and causes distress
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into separate panels (front panel, back panel, side panels) that can be independently manipulated. The front panel can be opened or detached to expose the ventral surface quickly without requiring complete disassembly of the garment, thus reducing the time for skin-to-skin contact preparation while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment incorporates dynamic fastening mechanisms such as snaps or magnetic closures that allow rapid opening and closing of the front panel. This dynamic design enables quick adjustment between covered and exposed states, reducing the time required for ventral surface exposure while maintaining ease of operation through simple fastener manipulation.
2Reliability
If multiple snaps or buttons are used for fastening, then the garment can be securely closed, but the process becomes time-consuming and suboptimally placed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fastening function from multiple distributed snaps or buttons and consolidates it into a minimal number of strategically placed fasteners (e.g., one or two snaps or magnetic closures) located at optimal positions. This reduces the time required for fastening while maintaining secure closure through concentrated fastening points that provide adequate hold with minimal manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical snap or button fastening systems with alternative mechanisms such as magnetic closures that provide secure attachment with simpler, faster operation. This substitution maintains the reliability of secure closure while significantly reducing the time required for fastening through reduced manipulation steps.
3Reliability
If zippers or fasteners are used, then the garment can be closed securely, but they can slide under the child during skin-to-skin contact and cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic zipper or fastener elements from areas that would contact the infant's skin during skin-to-skin contact. By positioning fasteners at the back or on portions of the garment that remain away from the ventral surface, the design maintains secure closure while eliminating the harmful effect of sliding fasteners causing discomfort during contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary structure or positioning system that prevents direct contact between fasteners and the infant's skin. This may include placing fasteners on the back panel, using external attachment mechanisms, or designing the front panel opening mechanism to keep fasteners away from the ventral surface, thus maintaining secure closure while preventing discomfort.
Data Source
AI summary
A unified garment and method of use thereof are provided wherein the garment that includes a pair of adjustable panels that alternately enable (1.) covering a selected portion of skin of a wearer of the garment; and (2.) exposing the selected portion of the wearer's skin without requiring the wearer to disrobe from the garment. Each panel extends from a same inferior portion of the garment and are detachably attachable at respective attachment points to cause a tension to be imposed between each attachment point and the inferior portion. The garment may include a first pair of apertures adapted to each separately receive a wearer's arm and/or a second pair of apertures adapted to each separately receive a wearer's leg. The garment allows exposure of a wearer's skin to enable direct contact between the garment wearer and the skin of another person for the practice of skin to skin contact.