Apparel – Body garments – Bag type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-14
2001-06-05
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Body garments
Bag type
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240561
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to disposable infant wear for newborn babies, and infants weighing up to 2 to 12 pounds. More specifically, this invention relates to infant wear made of a soft and pliable non-woven disposable fabric. The infant wear is intended to be used during the first weeks of life so that new parents can make better use their time and energy. Garments may be thrown away after each use in the same fashion as disposable diapers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional infant clothing can become costly since newborn babies grow rapidly and garments are outgrown in only a couple of weeks. Clothing can be reused. However, stains from newborns are a common problem, resulting in garments which are unsightly.
Laundering traditional infant clothing may be costly and time consuming. Special soaps and fabric softeners must be used as well as extra rinse cycles to thoroughly clean infant clothing. Quite often, these products can irritate a baby's delicate skin. Disposable infant hospital gowns are a smaller version of adult type hospital gowns and are made with rough fabric with questionable means to secure them to infants. As such, they do not is allow for proper fit, any amount of extended use, protection, warmth or attractiveness. Hence, they are not serviceable for daily use.
A number of prior art references disclose disposable type garments. However, all have not been successfully adapted for use with infant wear, or have been applied only in specialized (e.g., neonatal) applications.
Howsden U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,917, issued Apr. 22, 1997, discloses an infant care garment. The garment is formed essentially as a sack with arm openings for the infant. Velcro® closures close the garment in the back, up the middle, and along he arms. The garment is designed particularly for neonatal intensive care use.
Schneider U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,095, issued Mar. 18, 1997, discloses a multi-function baby wrap. This reference is relevant to the extent that it appears to show a technique for making an infant garment from a single sheet with a minimum of labor. The wrap is designed to be used with a car seat or a baby stroller to warm the child. The wrap can be wrapped around the child without having to disturb or remove the child from a baby seat or stroller.
Mathis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,653, issued Oct. 28, 1997, discloses a surgical gown cuff and method of making the same. This reference is relevant to the extent that it teaches making disposable surgical gowns.
Magnusen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,406, issued Jul. 14, 1992, discloses an infant garment with crossed over arm position sleeves. This appears to be a straight jacket designed for infants (see FIGS.
1
-
5
). The garment as disclosed is made of a soft polyester material and secured with Velcro®.
Pajunen U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,115, issued Jun. 5, 1990, discloses plastic clothing and a method of fabrication. The plastic clothing in Pajunen is made on a roll much like a roll of plastic film. Individual garments, gloves, and the like may be torn off at perforations. This reference is relevant to the extent that it shows the use of plastic welding techniques to form seams in clothing and also because the overall concept of disposable clothing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disposable infant wear will save time and money in shopping for newborn clothing that will be outgrown in a few short weeks. Disposable infant wear eliminates the need for laundry, thus there is no need to worry about special soaps, extra rinse cycles and extended laundry time. Disposable infant wear can be utilized to give infants attractive, comfortable, clean clothing at all times, in comparison to traditional clothing that requires laundering, and which stains easily due to the delicate stomachs of newborns.
Disposable infant wear is designed to be used for the first weeks after birth until newborns weigh about 2 to 12 pounds. The garments are available in three different sizes: One for premature infants weighing 2 to 4 pounds, one for infants weighing 5 to 7 pounds, and the third for infants weighing 7 to 12 pounds. The garments may be made of Dupont Sontara® non-woven polyester type fabric with various options for closures.
Each garment is designed to allow for natural unconfined movements of the infant. In manufacturing, the body of each garment is cut out in one piece, by any means such as die cutting, laser, or traditional scissors method. The preferred method is to use die cut templates since many garments can be cut at one time, thus more cost effective. Pieces are then folded for assembly to minimize seams. Most have only two (2) seams. Any joining method such as sonic welding, heat welding or sewn methods may seam the garments. However, the preferred method is sonic welding since it reduces the cost of manufacturing, eliminates burning or scorching, eliminates heat variation problems, hence no fumes for assemblies.
Garments are available with hand and foot coverings that protect the delicate skin of the infant from fingernail scratches and provide added warmth. However, the parent or care-giver can easily remove these coverings if they are not needed.
These products provide clean, attractive, warm, disposable infant wear at a time when new parents may be stressed, fatigued, not feeling well, or busy with other children and their demands. Such time constraints may leave them unprepared, unable or simply unwilling to routinely provide soft, warm, comfortable and clean apparel for the newborn when required.
The use of disposable garments save time, storage space, and the cost of purchasing permanent garments that infants otherwise rapidly outgrow. Also, disposable garments are easily stored flat.
Disposable garments are more sanitary than conventional clothing and are intended to be thrown away after soiling. This curtails unsanitary conditions and, therefore, bacterial growth and odor. The garments are designed with neck closures in the front or back. The preferred method is with the opening in the back to help eliminate the possibility of anything reaching the infant's mouth. These garments are soft, comfortable, and warm. They require no laundering, no folding, and they are disposable.
The garments appeal to the senses because they are attractive. Most parents will be proud to show off their infants in these unique garments which are warm, clean, and comfortable.
The garments are a great time saver for the parents or care-giver because the time that would be spent in purchasing, laundering, and folding conventional garments could be better spent on more worthwhile endeavors.
There are various versions of the disposable infant wear garments such as gowns, pants, pull over type shirts, open style shirts, one piece shirt/pants with short sleeves and legs, and one piece shirt/pants. They are available with long sleeves with hand coverings and foot coverings.
Although the focus is on disposable infant wear used in the first weeks of life in the home setting, the inventive matter would apply to any size of disposable garment with many variations made in this same manner. This include use in a hospital setting, use by older and larger children, adults, or seniors that may have physical limitations.
Disposable infant sheet made of the same non-woven polyester fabric with inserts saturated in mother's scent to comfort infant during sleep periods. This infant sheet can facilitate the infant/mother bonding process.
The mother would wear the inserts against her skin (inside of bra) for a period of time to pick up her scent. The insert would then be placed in the pocket of the sheet so that the infant can smell his/her mother and be comforted by her scent while sleeping.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1365526 (1921-01-01), Milkes
patent: 1556747 (1925-10-01), Bates, Jr.
patent: 2130771 (1938-09-01), Mann
patent: 2234546 (1941-03-01), Basch
patent: 2469556 (1949-05-01), Jacobson
patent: 2521609 (1950-09-01), Segerman
patent: 2578323 (1951-12-01), Sillaway
patent: 2677130 (1954-05-01), O'Hayer
patent: 2680849 (1954-06-01), Munro
patent: 2
Bell Robert Platt
Calvert John J.
Hoey Alissa L.
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