Infant Garment

Abstract

The present invention discloses a one-piece bodysuit for infants and toddlers having a torso portion and a crotch or leg portion. In one embodiment, a portion of the bodysuit may be formed of unidirectional expansion fabric. In another embodiment, the crotch portion includes a first coupling member including textured material that engages a fastener disposed on a second coupling member. In still another embodiment, a portion of the garment is formed of a first unidirectional expansion fabric configured to expand in a first direction, and a second portion of the garment is formed of a second unidirectional expansion material configured to expand in a second direction. The bodysuit can accommodate children of various heights and girths, accommodating a growing child.

1 . An infant garment comprising:
 a torso portion defining a neck opening, a first arm opening, and a second arm opening, the torso portion including
 a front torso panel having an interior, child-facing surface and an exterior surface, and 
 a rear torso panel having an interior, child-facing surface and an exterior surface; and 
   a crotch portion defining a first leg opening and a second leg opening, the crotch portion including:
 a first coupling member extending distally from one of the front torso panel and the rear torso panel, the first coupling member tapering toward its distal end, wherein material forming the first coupling member is connection material having a textured surface and a non-textured surface, and 
 a second coupling member extending distally from the other of the front torso panel and the rear torso panel, the second coupling member tapering toward its distal end, wherein the second coupling member comprises a fastener operable to mechanically engage the textured surface of the connection material, 
   wherein the fastener cooperates with the connection material to releasably secure the first coupling member to the second coupling member.   
     
     
         2 . The infant garment of  claim 1 , wherein the torso portion further comprises a first shoulder panel and a second shoulder panel coupled to the torso portion and disposed proximate the neck opening, each shoulder panel being configured to translate with respect to the torso portion. 
     
     
         3 . The infant garment of  claim 1 , wherein the torso portion is formed of material adapted to expand from a first, contracted configuration to a second, expanded configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The infant garment of  claim 3 , wherein the torso portion comprises fabric including a plurality of ribs, the plurality of ribs including a first rib and a second rib adjacent the first rib, wherein the first rib moves with respect to the second rib. 
     
     
         5 . The infant garment of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the torso portion includes a length and a width; and   the plurality of ribs is oriented generally vertically such that each rib extends along the length of the torso portion.   
     
     
         6 . The infant garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first coupling member is a front coupling member;   the second coupling member is a rear coupling member;   the front coupling member is formed of the connection material; and   the rear coupling member includes the fastener, the fastener being disposed proximate rear coupling member distal end.   
     
     
         7 . The infant garment of  claim 6 , wherein the rear coupling member is formed of expansion material adapted to expand from a first, contracted configuration to a second, expanded configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The infant garment of  claim 7 , wherein the rear coupling member expands in a coupling member longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         9 . The infant garment of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the rear coupling member defines dimensions including a length and a width;   the expansion material comprises a plurality of ribs oriented generally horizontal such that each rib extends along the width of the rear coupling member.   
     
     
         10 . An infant garment comprising:
 a torso portion configured to cover the torso of an infant, the torso portion including a neck opening, a first arm opening and a second arm opening, wherein the torso portion comprises a first expansion material adapted to expand substantially in a first direction; and   a coupling portion configured to be drawn between the legs of the infant, the coupling portion including a first coupling member and a second coupling member, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling members comprises a second expansion material, the second material being adapted to expand substantially in a second direction,   wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.   
     
     
         11 . The infant garment of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the infant garment defines a transverse dimension and a longitudinal dimension, the longitudinal dimension being measured from the neck opening to the crotch portion;   the first material expands along the transverse dimension; and   the second expansion material expands along the longitudinal dimension.   
     
     
         12 . The infant garment of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first expansion material is adapted to expand in a lateral direction; and   the second expansion material is adapted to expand in a vertical direction.   
     
     
         13 . The infant garment of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second expansion material comprises fabric including a plurality of ribs connected via resilient webbing. 
     
     
         14 . The infant garment of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first expansion material is a first unidirectional expansion fabric comprising plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along the torso portion, the first unidirectional expansion fabric being effective to increase the girth of the torso portion; and   the second expansion material is a second unidirectional expansion fabric comprising a plurality of ribs oriented generally orthogonal to the ribs of the torso portion, the second unidirectional expansion fabric being effective to increase the length of the coupling portion.   
     
     
         15 . The infant garment of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the torso portion is formed of the first expansion material and the coupling portion comprises a first coupling member and a second coupling member adapted to connect to the second coupling member; and   at least one coupling member is formed of the second expansion material.   
     
     
         16 . An infant garment to be worn by an infant, the garment including a normal length value and a normal girth value when the garment is in its normal, contracted configuration, the garment comprising a first unidirectional expansion fabric that expands in a first direction to alter the girth value of the garment, and a second unidirectional expansion fabric that expands in a second direction to alter the length value of the garment. 
     
     
         17 . The infant garment of  claim 16 , wherein the length of the garment increases as the garment expands in the first expansion direction. 
     
     
         18 . The infant garment of  claim 16  further comprising a torso portion including tubular body, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a chest section adapted to cover a chest of an infant, and a stomach section disposed below the chest section and adapted to cover a stomach of the infant, wherein the chest section is formed of the first unidirectional expansion fabric and the stomach section panel is formed of the second unidirectional expansion fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The infant garment of  claim 16  further comprising a leg portion adapted to receive the legs of an infant, the leg portion including a first leg enclosure terminating in a first foot enclosure and a second leg enclosure terminating in a second foot enclosure, wherein a first section of the leg enclosures is formed of the first unidirectional expansion fabric and a second section of the leg enclosures is formed of the second unidirectional expansion fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The infant garment of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the infant garment is configured as a kimono, the kimono configuration comprising:
 a torso portion including a back panel to cover a back of an infant, a first lateral panel coupled to a first lateral side of the back panel and adapted to be folded over the infant, and a second lateral panel coupled to a second lateral side of the back panel and adapted to be folded over the infant, the back panel, first lateral panel, and second lateral panel each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, 
 a first fastener disposed on the interior surface of the first lateral panel, the first fastener mating with a first complementary fastener coupled to the interior surface of the back panel, 
 a second fastener disposed on the interior surface of the second lateral panel, the second fastener mating with a second complementary fastener coupled to the exterior surface of the first lateral panel, and 
 a crotch portion adapted to cover a crotch of the infant; and 
   at least one panel of the torso portion is formed of the first unidirectional expansion fabric and the crotch portion is formed of the second unidirectional expansion fabric.   
     
     
         21 . The infant garment of  16  further comprising a third unidirectional expansion fabric that expands in a third direction generally orthogonal to the first expansion direction. 
     
     
         22 . The infant garment of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the garment possesses a length defining a longitudinal garment axis;   the first unidirectional expansion fabric comprises a plurality of ribs connected via resilient webbing that permits separation of adjacent ribs;   the plurality of ribs forming the first unidirectional expansion fabric are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal garment axis;   the second unidirectional expansion fabric comprises a plurality of ribs connected via resilient webbing that permits separation of adjacent ribs; and   the plurality of ribs forming the second unidirectional expansion fabric are oriented generally orthogonal to the longitudinal garment axis.