US20110126338A1

US20110126338A1 - Non-Hazardous Garment Attachment, A Garment Including one or more Non-Hazardous Garment Attachments and a Method for Producing Such Garment Attachments and Garments.

Info

Publication number: US20110126338A1
Application number: US12/626,904
Authority: US
Inventors: Nancy Steinbeck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-29
Filing date: 2009-11-29
Publication date: 2011-06-02

Abstract

Garment attachments attached to and/or adapted to be attached to any type of garment designed for children and/or infants in one or more locations that are within a child's/infant's reach and/or in locations that are selected so that when a child/infant reaches for something to grasp he/she is likely to encounter the garment attachment. The garment attachment may be of any size and shape that can be grasped by a child or infant while being of insufficient size and shape to cover the child's/infant's airways, i.e. nose and mouth.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of clothing. More specifically, this invention relates to a non-hazardous garment attachment, a garment including one or more non-hazardous garment attachments and a method for producing such garment attachments and garments.

BACKGROUND

On Nov. 1, 2005 the American Academy of pediatrics published a policy statement, which was reaffirmed on Jan. 1, 2009, regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). According to the policy statement: “Infants should be placed for sleep in a supine position (wholly on the back) for every sleep. Side sleeping is not as safe as supine sleeping and is not advised. Use a firm sleep surface: Soft materials or objects such as pillows, quilts, comforters, or sheepskins should not be placed under a sleeping infant. A firm crib mattress, covered by a sheet, is the recommended sleeping surface. Keep soft objects and loose bedding, out of the crib: Soft objects such as pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft objects should be kept out of an infant's sleepily environment. If bumper pads are used in cribs, they should be thin, firm, well secured, and not “pillow-like.” In addition, loose bedding such as BLANKETS and sheets may be hazardous. If blankets are to be used, they should be tucked in around the crib mattress so that the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding. One strategy is to make up the bedding so that the infant's feet are able to reach the foot of the crib (feet to foot), with the blankets tucked in around the crib mattress and reaching only to the level of the infant's chest. Another strategy is to use sleep clothing with no other covering over the infant or infant sleep sacks that are designed to keep the infant warm without the possible hazard of head covering.”.
In fact, it has become generally known amongst mothers of the western world that it is hazardous to cover a baby with a blanket during sleep, as the policy statement claims, due to the danger of suffocation. This has led many parents to dress their baby warmly and put him/her to sleep without a blanket or other covering.
This solution, however, has created a new problem. It appears that children, especially infants, do not fall asleep as easily and do not sleep as well without a blanket. Modern research shows that the blanket not only provides the child, and adults for that matter, with warmth but also with a sense of security. Hence the term “security blanket”—popularized in the Peanuts comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, who gave such a blanket to his character Linus van Pelt, but the terms comfort object and security object are also used by professionals and academics.
Research with children on this subject was performed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee by Richard H. Passman and his associates. Among other findings, they showed that security blankets are appropriately named—they actually do give security to those children attached to them. Along with other positive benefits, having a security blanket available can help children adapt to new situations, aid in their learning, and adjust to physicians' and clinical psychologists' evaluations. Passman's research also points out that there is nothing abnormal about being attached to them. In the United States, about 60% of children have at least some attachment to a security object.
Many children fall asleep more readily when holding a blanket and often times, when a child awakes in the middle of the night, he/she will reach out for comfort. If his/her hands find nothing the child is likely to wake and begin to cry. If, on the other hand, the child's hands find a blanket to hold on to the child will often times fall right back to sleep—a major advantage for the parents.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide parents with an object that can serve as a security blanket while posing no threat of suffocation to the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a garment attachment, a garment including one or more non-hazardous garment attachments, a method for producing such garment attachments and a method for producing garments including one or more non-hazardous garment attachments.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a garment for children or infants may be provided. The garment may be any type of garment designed for children and/or infants, including sleeping garments, footie pajamas, onesies, shirts, dresses, overalls and/or any other garment designed for children or infants. According to further embodiments of the present invention, there may be one or more garment attachments (hereby: “GA”) attached to and/or adapted to be attached to the garment in one or more locations that are within a child's/infant's reach and/or in locations that are selected so that when a child/infant reaches for something to grasp he/she is likely to encounter the GA. The GA may be of any size and shape that can be grasped by a child or infant while being of insufficient size and shape to cover the child's/infant's airways, i.e. nose and mouth. The GA's may be constructed of cloth, plastic or any other appropriate material. According to further embodiments of the present invention the GA's may be made of blanket like material or any other type of material that may provide comfort to the child/infant when held by the child or infant.
According to further embodiments of the present invention a method of producing garment attachments and garments including garment attachments is provided, which method may comprise:

- a. Designing a GA, which may be comprised of:
  - i. Determining what type and size of garment the GA is intended to be attached to.
  - ii. Selecting one or more locations on the garment where the GA is intended to be attached.
  - iii. Selecting a configuration of the GA, i.e. size and shape.
  - iv. Selecting a material type and form for the GA.
  - v. Determining whether the GA will be permanently attached to the garment or detachable.
  - vi. Determining the method of attachment to the garment
- b. Cutting, forming, dying (when necessary), stitching and otherwise preparing the GA in accordance with the design.
- c. Designing and manufacturing the designated garment to which the GA is intended to be attached.
- d. Attaching the GA to the Garment or adapting the GA and the garment to be attached at the selected attachment location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A: is a diagram of an exemplary footie pajama (100), including markings of exemplary attachment locations (101) of a GA, and an exemplary garment attachment (102), including exemplary measurements, designed to be attached to the exemplary footie pajama, at the exemplary attachment locations, all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1B: is a diagram of an exemplary footie pajama (100), including two exemplary garment attachments (102), attached at exemplary attachment locations (101), all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2A: is a diagram of an exemplary onesy (200), including markings of an exemplary attachment location (201) of a GA, and an exemplary garment attachment (202), including exemplary measurements, designed to be attached to the exemplary onesy, at the exemplary attachment location, all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2B: is a diagram of an exemplary onesy (200), including two exemplary garment attachments (202), attached at an exemplary attachment location (201), all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3A: is a diagram of an exemplary overall (300), including markings of an exemplary attachment location (301) of a GA, and an exemplary garment attachment (302), including exemplary measurements, designed to be attached to the exemplary overall, at the exemplary attachment location, all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3B: is a diagram of an exemplary overall (300), including an exemplary garment attachment (302), attached at an exemplary attachment location (301), all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4A: is a diagram of an exemplary shirt (400), including markings of exemplary attachment locations (401) of a GA, and an exemplary garment attachment (402), including exemplary measurements, designed to be attached to the exemplary shirt, at the exemplary attachment locations, all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4B: is a diagram of an exemplary shirt (400), including two exemplary garment attachments (402), attached at exemplary attachment locations (401), all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5: is a flowchart including steps of an exemplary method of producing garment attachments and garments including garment attachments, all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are presented solely to elucidate the following detailed description, are therefore, exemplary in nature and do not include all the possible permutations of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
The present invention is a garment attachment, a garment including one or more non-hazardous garment attachments, a method for producing such garment attachments and a method for producing garments including one or more non-hazardous garment attachments. According to some embodiments of the present invention there may be provided a garment for children or infants. The garment may be any type of garment designed for children and/or infants, including sleeping garments, footie pajamas, onesies, overalls, shirts and/or any other garment designed for children or infants.
According to further embodiments of the present invention, there may be one or more garment attachments (hereby: “GA”) attached to and/or adapted to be attached to the garment by any means known today or to be devised in the future. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the GA's may be attached to the garment permanently, such as sown on, glued on, attached with rivets and/or any other non-removable type of attachment known today or to be devised in the future. According to further embodiments of the present invention, the GA's may be adapted to be attached to the garment by detachable means, such as buttons, clasps, velcro, ties, zippers and/or any other type of removable attachment known today or to be devised in the future. According to embodiments of the present invention, in which the GA's are adapted to be attached to the garment by detachable means, the GA's may be attached, detached and/or interchangeable, as desired by the user. These embodiments may allow for use of one GA for more than one garment and/or use of more than one GA for the same location on the same garment. For example, if a specific child/infant grows attached to one particular GA, it may be possible to attach the specific GA to many different garments worn by the specific child/infant and/or to attach the same specific GA to different locations on the garment at different times. On the flip side, it may be possible, for example, to attach a warmer GA to a specific location on a specific garment during cold weather and a lighter one during warm weather.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the GA's may be attached and/or may be adapted to be attached to the garment in locations that are easy and/or natural for a child's/infant's hands to reach and/or in locations that are selected so that when the child/infant reaches for something to grasp he/she is likely to encounter the GA. Therefore, the GA's may be attached to and/or adapted to be attached to the front, top, and sides of the upper body part of the garment, any other location that is easy and/or natural for a child's/infant's hands to reach to and/or any other location that is selected so that when the child/infant reaches for something to grasp he/she is likely to encounter the GA. According to yet further embodiments of the present invention the GA's may be attached to and/or adapted to be attached to the garment in locations that a child/infant tends to reach to during sleep and/or while falling asleep. According to yet further embodiments of the present invention, the selection of locations to attach the GA's may be based on empirical study of what locations tend to bring the most comfort and/or security to the child/infant.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the GA's may be of a size and shape that is sufficient for a child/infant to grasp and/or receive comfort/security from yet insufficient to cover the child's/infant's airways. Furthermore, different sizes and shapes of GA's may be used for different locations on the garment. For example, a GA that is to be attached to the shoulder of the garment may be smaller than a GA that is to be attached on the sides of the garment, as the distance from the shoulder of the garment to the child's/infant's airways is smaller than the distance from the side of the garment. According to further embodiments of the present invention, GA's may be sized and shaped so as to allow a child/infant to pull the GA over him/her, imitating a blanket, while still being insufficient to cover the child's/infant's airways. Aesthetic considerations may also affect the size and shape of the GA.
Examples of sizes, shapes and locations of GA's may include:
(A) GA's attached to the sides of a garment starting below the child's/infant's underarm and extending to the child's/infant's waist area and being of a size and shape that does not reach to cover the child's/infant's airways, yet sufficient for the child/infant to feel, grasp, tug and/or pull on (exemplified in FIGS. 1A & 1B). For example, a GA (102) may be attached to the side of a footie pajama, which footie pajama (100) is designed for a 3-6 month old infant. In this example, this GA may be attached to the footie pajama (100) along a line starting at the armpit and extending downward 6″ (101). This GA (102) may be shaped like a wing, be 5″ long and fabricated from bunched chenille, for example;
(B) GA's attached to the center of the front of a garment starting at chest level and extending to the waist area and being of a size and shape that does not reach to cover the child's/infant's airways, yet sufficient for the child/infant to feel, grasp, tug and/or pull on (exemplified in FIGS. 1A & 1B). For example, a GA (202) may be attached to the center of the front of a onesy, which onesy (200) is designed for a 3-6 month old infant. In this example, this GA may be attached to the onesy (200) along a line starting 4″ below the neck and extending downward 6″ towards the belly button (201). This GA (202) may be rectangular, 4″ long and fabricated from piled wool, for example;
(C) GA's attached horizontally to the center of a garment at chest level and being of a size and shape that does not reach to cover the child's/infant's airways, yet sufficient for the child/infant to feel, grasp, tug and/or pull on (exemplified in FIGS. 3A & 3B). For example, a GA (302) may be attached horizontally, along the chest of a shirt, which shirt (300) is designed for a 3-6 month old infant. In this example, this GA (302) may be attached to the shirt (300) along a 4″ line running from one nipple to the other (301). This GA (302) may be shaped like a curtain, be 4″ long and fabricated from double layered cloth, for example; and
(D) GA's attached to the right and left shoulder area of a garment and being of a size and shape that does not reach to cover the child's/infant's airways, yet sufficient for the child/infant to feel, grasp, tug and/or pull on (exemplified in FIGS. 4A & 4B). For example, a GA (402) may be attached to the shoulder of an overall, which overall (400) is designed for a 3-6 month old infant. In this example, this GA (402) may be attached to the overall (400) along the shoulder seam, starting at the neckline and extending to the edge of the sleeve (401). This GA (402) may be rectangular, 1.5″ long and fabricated from flannel, for example.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the GA's may be constructed of cloth, plastic, any other appropriate material or any combination thereof. According to further embodiments of the present invention the GA's may be made of a soft material that may provide comfort to the child/infant when grasped by the child or infant. According to yet further embodiments of the present invention, the material from which the GA is constructed may be fabricated to be more appropriate for children/infants to grasp and/or receive comfort from. For example, the material may be “piled”, “bunched”, “double layered”, etc. Furthermore, the material from which the GA is constructed may be fabricated to be safer for children/infants, for example, the material may be fire resistant/proof.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the GA may be “blanket like”, i.e. may be made of a soft pliable material (such as chenille) and/or may be otherwise fabricated to imitate the feel of a blanket.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method for producing GA's and garments including GA's may be comprised of the following steps (exemplified in FIG. 5)

- a. Designing a GA, which may be comprised of:
  - i. Determining what type and size of garment the GA is intended to be attached to (501). Any type and size of garment intended for children and/or infants may be selected.
  - ii. Selecting one or more locations on the garment where the GA is intended to be attached (502). This selection may be based on a determination of what locations are easy and/or natural for a child's/infant's hands to reach to, what locations a child/infant reaches for when he/she reaches for something to grasp, and/or what locations a child/infant tends to reach to during sleep and/or while falling asleep. The selection of locations may also be based on empirical study of what locations tend to bring the most comfort/security to the child/infant.
  - iii. Selecting a configuration of the GA, i.e. size and shape (503). This selection may depend on the type and size of the garment and the location on the garment the GA is intended to be attached to. A size and shape may be selected that is sufficient for a child/infant to grasp and/or receive comfort/security from, yet insufficient to cover the child's/infant's airways. Aesthetic considerations may also be considered when determining the size and shape of the GA's. Furthermore, different sizes and shapes of GA's may be used for different locations on the garment. For example, a GA that is to be attached to the shoulder of the garment may be smaller than a GA that is to be attached on the sides of the garment, as the distance from the shoulder of the garment to the child's/infant's airways is smaller than the distance from the side of the garment. According to further embodiments of the present invention, GA's may be sized and shaped so as to allow a child/infant to pull the GA over him/her, imitating a blanket, while still being insufficient to cover the child's/infant's airways.
  - iv. Selecting a material type (e.g. cotton, wool, plastic, cashmere, etc.) and form (e.g. bunched, double layered, etc.) for the GA (504). This selection may be based on the texture/feel of the material, the weight of the material, the cost of the material, the durability of the material, the type of garment the GA is intended to be attached to (sleeping garment, daytime garment, etc.), the location on the garment the GA is intended to be attached, the intended size of the GA, the expected environs the GA will be used in (warm/cold, humid/dry, outdoor/indoor, etc) and/or any other relevant factor.
  - v. Determining whether the GA will be permanently attached to the garment or detachable (505).
  - vi. Determining the method of attachment to the garment (506), i.e. sewn, glued, buttoned, zippered, etc.
- b. Cutting, forming, dying (when necessary), stitching and otherwise preparing the GA in accordance with the design (507).
- c. Designing and manufacturing the designated garment to which the GA is intended to be attached (508).
- d. Attaching the GA to the Garment at the selected attachment location (511). Alternatively, in those embodiments of the present invention, in which the GA is to be detachable, attaching the detachable means of attachment (such as a button, zipper or clasp) to the garment and to the GA and/or otherwise preparing the garment and GA for attachment (such as cutting button slits) (512).

It should be understood by one of skill in the art, that the steps described may be performed in other sequences and using any method of textile processing known today or to be devised in the future.
It should also be understood by one of skill in the art that some of the functions described as being performed by a specific component of the system may be performed by a different component of the system in other embodiments of this invention.
The present invention can be practiced by employing conventional tools, methodology and components. Accordingly, the details of any such tool, component and methodology are not set forth herein in detail. In the previous descriptions, numerous specific details are set forth, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it should be recognized that the present invention may be practiced without resorting to the details specifically set forth.
In the description and claims of embodiments of the present invention, each of the words, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and forms thereof, are not necessarily limited to members in a list with which the words may be associated.
Only exemplary embodiments of the present invention and but a few examples of its versatility are shown and described in the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.
While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A garment comprising:

a torso portion adapted to cover a torso of a wearer; and

at least one garment attachment attached to a given location of said torso portion, wherein said garment attachment is of a configuration such that when attached to said given location of said torso portion: (a) at least a portion of said garment attachment is graspable by a hand of the wearer, and (b) said garment attachment cannot cover an airway of the wearer.

2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said given location is a location selected from the group of locations consisting of:

i. along the side of the garment, between the armpit and the waist;

ii. the shoulder of the garment;

iii. horizontally across the chest of the garment; and

iv. along the center of the front of the garment.

3. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment is a garment designed for children or infants.

4. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment attachment is “blanket like”.

5. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment attachment is attached to said garment permanently.

6. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment attachment is attached to said garment by a detachable means.

7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment attachment is made of chenille.

8. A garment attachment adapted to be attached to a given location of a torso portion of a garment, wherein said garment attachment is of a configuration such that when attached to said given location of said torso portion: (a) at least a portion of said garment attachment is graspable by a hand of a wearer of said garment and (b) said garment attachment cannot cover an airway of said wearer.

9. The garment attachment according to claim 8, wherein said given location is a location selected from the group of locations consisting of:

v. along the side of the garment, between the armpit and the waist;

vi. the shoulder of the garment;

vii. horizontally across the chest of the garment; and

viii. along the center of the front of the garment.

10. The garment attachment according to claim 8, wherein said garment is a garment designed for children or infants.

11. The garment attachment according to claim 8, wherein said garment attachment is “blanket like”.

12. The garment attachment according to claim 8, wherein said garment attachment is adapted to be attached to said garment by a detachable means.

13. The garment attachment according to claim 8, wherein said garment attachment is made of chenille.

14. A method of producing a garment comprising:

selecting a location on a torso portion of said garment onto which location to attach a garment attachment; and

selecting a configuration for said garment attachment such that when said garment attachment is attached to said garment at said location: (a) at least a portion of said garment attachment is graspable by a hand of a wearer of said garment; and (b) said garment attachment cannot cover the airways of said wearer.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising fabricating said garment attachment according to said selected configuration and permanently attaching said garment attachment to said selected location.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising fabricating said garment attachment according to said selected configuration and attaching said garment attachment to said selected location by detachable means.

17. The method according to claim 14 further comprising selecting a material from which to fabricate said garment attachment such that said garment attachment will be “blanket like”.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said location selected is a location selected from the group of locations consisting of:

ix. along the side of the garment, between the armpit and the waist;

x. the shoulder of the garment;

xi. horizontally across the chest of the garment; and

xii. along the center of the front of the garment.

19. The method according to claim 14 wherein said garment is a garment designed for children or infants.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising fabricating said garment attachment from chenille.