US2451300A - Baby garment - Google Patents

Description

M. L. NEAL BABY GARMENT Oct. 12, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1946 FIG. 7 25b 400 40c 40 FIG. 4

'IIIII INVENTOR MARY LUOILE NEAL ATTORNEY M. L. NEAL BABY GARMENT Filed July 15, I946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. /4

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INVENTOR MARY 'LUG/LE NEAL FIG. /3

ATTORNEY Patented Got. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABY GARMENT Mary Lucile Neal, Baton Rouge, La.

Application July 15, 1946, Serial No. 683,644

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in baby garments, and more particularly to an improved diaper-type garment suitable for use both as a conventional diaper and in a diaper-suspender combination providing a babys summer garment, for example.

In its broad aspects, the invention contemplates and provides an improved diaper-type garment which is designed and constructed for use on babies throughout their normal diaper wearing period. To this end, the improved diaper garment according to the invention is adjustable to babies of varying sizes and also to babies in the various stages of growth, 1. e. from the infant stage, usually considered as up to six months, through the normal diaper wearing stage, usually up to two years of age.

More specifically, the invention contemplates an improved fastening for diaper-type garments which provides for adjustment both in the girth of the garment as well as in the length thereof, 1. e. the distance between the waist-line and crotch. In furtherance of this objective, the corners of the diaper, which are lapped at the sides as usual, are provided with a plurality of fastener pockets effectivel y arranged in a series of horizontal and vertical rows and which are adapted to receive the hook or clip ends of a novel fastener which functions to secure together the lapped ends of the diaper in the desired position of adjustment.

It is a further aim of the invention to provide a diaper-type arment which may be worn as a summer garment, for example, particularly by babies in the latter stages of their diaper wearing period. Accordingly the invention provides a diaper-suspender combination in which a diaper suspender is provided by two suspender straps of novel construction and which are secured at their lower free ends to the diaper proper by the same fasteners which secure the lapped corners of the diaper. To provide for adjustment of the suspender straps to the height of the baby, they are provided at their lower ends with a lurality of stepped-height pockets for receiving a hook or clip of the novel fastener which secures the diaper corners in their lapped relation aforesaid.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a diaper incorporating a novel construction of pocket for receiving a pad of absorbent material, preferably of the readily disposable type. In line with this objective, the pocket for the disposable pad is secured only along its top and bottom edges to the top and bottom edges of the diaper which define the Waist-line thereof,

and is thus of the swing pocket construction,

also be employed for infants up to six months of age for the increased absorbent properties imparted by the absorbent pad.

The above and further objects and features of advantage of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing use of the improved diaper garment on a'baby of the infant class;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the diaper-suspender combination as herein contemplated, for use on babies in the latter stages of their diaper wearing period, and which may provide a summer garment therefor;

Fig, 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the improved diaper-fastening means according to the invention;

Figs. 4 and 5 are under face and edge views, respectively, of one form of improved diaper fastener accordin to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the improved diaper and suspender fastening according to the invention;

Figs. 7 and 8 are under face and edge views of the diaper and suspender fastener as employed in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an inner view of a pocket-type diaper according to the invention, showing the improved pocket construction;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, illustrating the pocket flap swung to a position intermediate the diaper proper and the absorbent pad;

Figs. 11 and 12 are sections taken, respectively, along lines llll and l2-|'2 of Figs. 9 and 10; and

Figs. 13 and 14 are detail views illustrating bib and suspender construction for use in the diapersuspender combination according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10, the basic diaper-type garment according to the invention comprises a generally rectangular diaper In which may be made from folded, sheer cotton material which is bound along all outer edges with a binding edge! I. The diaper is inwardly curved along its side edges I2 and [3 to provide a relatively narrow-width crotch portion and its upper edge I4 is slightly curved in upward direction so as to provide comfortable fit in the abdomen portion of the baby wearing the same.

According to the invention, a diaper-type garment as aforesaid is provided in its corner portions with means for receiving side fasteners each serving to secure the two corners at one side of the diaper in the usual lapped-over wearing position, and which further permits substantial adjustment in the garment, both as to its girth and length dimensions. To this end, the diaper is provided at each of its four corners with a plurality of rows of pockets which open inwardly or away from the corners and whose mouth-lines extend diagonally across said corners. Preferably, the rows of pockets aforesaid are fashioned from two diagonally extending folds of the diaper material which are edge-cut to fit the pattern of the, diaper corners, being secured along their outer edges by the binding ll. The aforesaid folds are then sewed to the diaper proper by spaced lines of stitching I8 and H! which extend crosswise of the folds, so as to form at least two pockets (a, b and c, d) in each pocket row. In the illustrated construction, two diagonal rows of pockets are shown, as results from two folds of the diaper material at the corners thereof, of

. which one row (a, b) is close to the diaper corner and the second row (0, d) is spaced a greater distance from the diaper corner. Moreover, the lines of fold of the material forming the pocket have been shown to be stitched to the diaper proper by two rows of stitching 20, 2i extending from one side edge of the diaper corner inwardly to one line of crosswise stitching IS, with the result that only two pockets are provided in each row thereof. However, it will be understood that the lines of stitching 20, 21 may be omitted to provide a third pocket to the rows thereof, and generallythat the illustrated arrangement may be varied both asto the number of diagonal rows of pockets and as to the number of pockets provided in each of the rows thereof as well. Preferably, the open mouths of the pockets are button-hole stitched as at 23 to provide the necessary edge reinforcement of the pockets.

In use, the diaper is applied in the convent'iohal manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pocketed corners thereof being lapped over at the sides as usual. Due to the initial diagonal disposition of the rows of corner pockets, the pocket rows are now vertically disposed (Figs. 3 and 6), and the pockets of the lapped corners are in effect arranged in vertical and horizontal series as well as being oppositely disposed. To secure the overlapped ends of the diaper, the invention provides a clip or hook-type fastener, one form of which is shown in Figs/4 and 5. Such a fastener. comprises an elongate body portion 25 having its ends bent under so as to provideintegral, inwardly directed hooks orclips 25a, 25b, the ends of which extend beneath the fastenerbody portion and are somewhat spaced therefrom as shown in Fig. 5. To facilitate insertion of the fastener hooks intothe corner pockets, their corners may be and are preferably gently rounded as shown. A fastener as described may be fashioned from lightweight metal coated with a white plastic to insure non-irritation and proof against rusting, or the fasteners may be made, complete from a suitable plastic material.

Upon the diaper being applied as in Fig; 1,

v for exam le, the same may be secured at the sides of the infant by applying the fastener 25 v in such manner that the hook or clip ends 25a,

b, thereof hook over the edges of the mouths of two selected oppositely opening pockets of the vertical and horizontal series thereof, depending upon the size of the baby. For example, the hook ends of the fastener are shown in Fig. 3 to be hooked over the adges of the oppositely disposed pockets a and a. However for a baby of lesser girth, the fastener could be engaged in pockets 0 and c, and for shorter babies, whose length between waist-line and crotch is relatively short, the fastener could be engaged with pockets b, b or d, (2, depending upon the'babys girth. From the above, it will be observed that a diaper provided with the improved fastening means according to the invention may be used on infants of varying sizes, and through proper adjustment can also be used on older babies for their normal diaper wearing period.

A diaper as aforesaid may also be incorporated into the diaper-suspender combination as illustrated in Fig. 2, which'employs the same basic diaper garment as described. Associated with the diaper is a suspender designed to hold the diaper comfortably and safely in place, and able to secure a bib in place buttoned to the shoulder portions of the suspender.

As best seen in Fig. '14, the suspender attachment is provided by two suspender, straps 35, 3| secured together at the front by a transverse chest strap 32, and at the rear by a back strap 33. Preferably, the back strap is secured at one end to suspender strap 38, its other end being left free and being detachably secured .to the suspender strap 3! as by a button 34 adapted to be engaged in a button-hole 35 provided in the suspender strap 3!, generally as shown.

The suspender straps are fashioned from a suitable fabric material such as sheer cotton, which is formed as double folds with the raw edges inverted and stitched for finishing. At their lower'ends, the suspender straps are provided with pockets of stepped height, of which three such pockets e, f and 9 have been illustrated. The pockets are preferably formed by bringing the free ends of the suspender straps together in partially overlapped relation as shown and thereupon forming three spaced folds in the overlapped ends. The'folds are stitched down from the edges inwardly by three lines of stitching 31, 38, which are interrupted in the mid portion of each fold so as to provide the upwardly opening pockets as shown. As with the pockets formed in the cortiers of the diaper, the pockets along their open or mouth edges are button-hole stitched as at 39 for reinforcement. 7

The provision of the suspender pockets as afore-' said permits the suspender straps to be secured to the diaper proper by the same fasteners which secure the diaper corners, and which is preferably a three-hook fastener of the type shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Such afastener comprises a body portion 49 formed by a generally horizontal leg and an intermediate upright leg, the free ends of which are bent under to provide hooks Ma, 4917, 480, similar to the above described hooks 25a, 25b. The oppositely disposed hooks 45a, .481) function position,as described, the third hook 450, which is vertically disposed, being adapted tobe slipped into one of the suspender pockets e, f aud 9!,

depending on the height of the baby,. in the manner indicated in' Figs. 2 and 6. It will be observed that the invention provides a simple, unitary and easily applied means both for fastening diaper corners and the free ends of a suspender, and there results a diaper-suspender combination which may be used as a childs summer garment, for example, in place of the conventional rompers or sun-suit.

According to the invention, the diaper suspendor described may also be employed to secure a bib in place. Referring to Fig. 13, a bib 44 of more or less conventional construction and shape is shown to be provided in its two shoulder portions with button holes 45a, 45b. As shown in Fig. 14, the suspender strap in their shoulder portions are each provided with buttons 46a, 4%, providing for attachment of the bib, as shown in Fig. 2.

According to a further feature of the invention, the basic diaper-type garment as described may be provided with an inside pocket for receiving and mounting a pad of absorbent material,

preferably of a disposable nature. Such a pocketed diaper is shown in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein an inside pocket 58 extends lengthwise of the diaper and is fashioned from a single piece of material of the full length of the diaper and which is fold" ed along two lengthwise lines of fold to provide three plies 50a, 50b, 500, of which the ply 590 may constitute a fly or flap. The pocket is secured to the diaper only along its upper and lower edges as by securing the pocket plies 50a, 502) the top and bottom by the edge binding I3. This arrangement results in a swing-pocket construction and moreover leaves the flap 500 free so that it may be swung either to a pocket-closing position as illustrated in Fig. 11 or to a position intermediate the pocket and diaper as indicated in Fig. 12. Into the pocket as aforesaid is inserted a disposable pad 52 which may have its outer face lined with latex or other moisture-proof material for extra moisture-repellence. Due to the swing mounting of pocket, i. e. its top and bottom edge connection only to the diaper proper, the pad is enabled to conform itself to the body of the baby. Moreover, the swing construction of the flap 5th permits the same to be disposed either inwardly of the pad, as shown in Fig. 9, or relatively outwardly thereof, in which case it provides an extra layer of material and hence extra thickness of the diaper outwardly of the disposable pad.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the diaper-type of garment as herein contemplated achieves the desirable objectives of a diaper which can be adjusted to the size of the baby wearing the same, and hence may be worn throughout its normal diaper wearing period. The novel type of diaper fastener as described in conjunction with the adjustable features of the garment is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction, which lends itself to easy application and removal.

Moreover, the invention provides a basic diaper-type garment lending itself to use on babies in their early walking stages, i, e. in a diaper-suspender combination for use as a summer garment in place of the conventional rompers or sun-suit, in which case the improved fastening means according to the invention for securing the diaper corners is employed also to secure the suspender to the diaper proper.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a baby garment, the combination of a diaper and fasteners for securing the diaper in the wearing position, each including oppositely disposed fastening hooks, the diaper having provisions extending diagonally across its related corner portions for receiving the fastening hooks.

2. In a baby garment, the combination of a diaper provided in each of its corner portions with a fastening pocket, and side fasteners each operative to secure the two corner portions at each side of the diaper and including oppositely disposed fastening hooks which are adapted to hook on to the edges of the fastening pockets.

3. In a baby garment, the combination of a diaper provided in each of its corner portions With a fastening pocket which opens through the outer face of the diaper and away from the corner whereby the pockets are oppositely disposed in the wearing position of the diaper, and side fasteners each operative to secure the two corner portions at each side of the diaper, including oppositely disposed hooks which are adapted to hook on to the edges of the oppositely disposed fastening pockets.

4. In a baby garment, the combination of a diaper having substantially rectangular shape and being provided in each of its corners with a fastening pocket, said pockets opening through the outer face of the diaper in a direction away from said corners, whereby said pockets are oppositely disposed in the wearing position of the diaper, and having their mouths disposed on a line extending diagonally across said corners, and fasteners each adapted to secure the two corners at one side of the diaper in the wearing position thereof, and comprising a body member and oppositely disposed end hooks which are adapted to hook over the edges of the mouths of said two oppositely disposed corner pockets.

5. In an adjustable baby garment, the combination of a diaper having substantially rectangular shape and being provided in each of its corners with a plurality of fastening pockets arranged in rows which extend diagonally across the corners, and which open outwardly and away from said corners whereby said'pockets are oppositely disposed in the wearing position of the diaper, and fasteners each adapted to secure the two corners at one side of the diaper comprising a body member and two oppositely disposed end hooks which are adapted to hook over the edges of the mouths of any two oppositely disposed corner pockets of the rows thereof.

6. A diaper-suspender combination comprising a diaper, a pair of suspender straps, and fastening means each having angularly related hooks, two of which are operative to secure together the two corners at one side of the diaper in the wearing position thereof and the third being operative to secure the free end of a suspender strap to the diaper, the diaper corners and the free ends of the suspender straps each having provision for receiving a fastener hook.

7. A diaper-suspender combination comprising a diaper, a pair of suspender straps, and fastening means each having hooks operative to secure together the two corners at one side of the diaper in the wearing position thereof and to secure the free end of a suspender strap to the diaper, the diaper corner portions and the free ends of the suspender straps being provided with hook-receiving pockets. I

8' A diape'nsuspender combination comprising a diaper, a pair of Suspender straps, and fastening means each having hooks operative to secure together the two corners at one side of the diaper in the wearing position thereof and to securerthe free end of a Suspender strap to the diaper, the diaper corner portions and the free ends of the suspender straps being each provided with spaced rows of hook-receiving pockets, whereby the diaper and suspender straps are adjustable to the size of the baby wearing the same.

9. A diaper-type garment comprising a substantially rectangular fabric body, a pocket provided in each of the corners thereof, said pockets opening through the front face of the diaper and away from the corners and being arranged so that their mouths extend diagonally across said corners, whereby the pockets in the corners on the same sides of the diaper are oppositely disposed in the wearing position thereof.

10. A diaper-type garment comprising a substantially rectangular fabric body provided in each of its corner portions with a plurality of pockets arranged in rows extending diagonally across the corners and which open through the front face of the diaper and away from the corners.

11. A diaper-type garment comprising a substantially rectangular fabric body provided in each of its corner portions with a plurality of pockets arranged in rows extending diagonally across the corners and which open through the front face of the diaper and away from the cornels, said pockets being provided by folds in the fabric body which are edge-cut to the pattern-of the diaper and sewed to said body along'its edges and along at least one line of stitching extending across the folds. V

MARY LUCILE NEAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Streit July 9, 1946

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