Convertible wearing apparel

• US 5,533,209 A
• Filed: 06/24/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snugabye Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snugabye Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E.
• Application Number:
  US08/265,358
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 2/59, 2/60, 2/75, 2/80, 2/83, 2/239, 2/79, 2/227, 2/240, 2/409, 2/158, 2/159, 2/160, 2/162, 2/269, 2/247, 2/69, 2/69.5, 66/178 R, 66/178 A, 66/182, 66/183, 66/184, 66/189, 66/185, 66/188, 66/186, 66/187, 66/171, 66/170, 66/174, 66/175, 66/177
• US Class Current: 2/60
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 10/00 Pyjamas; Nightdresses
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 15/00 Convertible garments
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/10 Sleeves; Armholes

Abstract

A garment suited for a young child comprises cuffs which are devoid of any hem at their distal end and which have hidden side seams. A pouch overlays the cuff at the distal end; the pouch is invertible over the cuff end to enclose an appendage such as a hand or foot of the wearer within the cuff. When the pouch is not inverted, the cuff may be turned back to expose the appendage.

Claims

1. An item of wearing apparel comprising a tubular cuff having a first end and a second end opposed thereto;

said cuff having a length extending between said ends and a circumference therearound;

a pouch formed on the exterior of said cuff extending from said second end towards said first end over a first half of the circumference of said cuff;

said pouch and said first half of the circumference each comprising two layers of a first unitary piece of material folded at said second end;

said pouch being invertible over said second end to close said second end;

and wherein second half of said circumference comprises two layers of a second unitary piece of material folded at said second end.

2. An item of wearing apparel as defined in claim 1 wherein said pouch extends to about mid-distance between said first and second ends.

3. An item of wearing apparel as defined in claim 1, wherein said cuff is more stretchable in the circumferential direction than in the length.

4. An item of wearing apparel as defined in claim 1, wherein said cuff is formed from a jersey knit material oriented so as to be more stretchable in the circumferential direction than in the length.

5. An item of wearing apparel as defined in claim 1 wherein said first unitary piece of material and said second unitary piece of material is each a strip of fabric material.

6. An item of wearing apparel as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said strips of fabric material has a pair of free ends interconnected by sides and wherein said free ends are each disposed at said first end of said cuff, and wherein said first half of said circumference, said second half of said circumference and said pouch are joined together by hidden seams.

7. An infant'"'"'s garment with at least one opening for a body appendage;

a cuff having a proximal end secured to said opening in surrounding relationship therewith and a distal end spaced apart therefrom by a length and having a circumference therearound;

said cuff comprising two portions joined together along the length of said cuff by a pair of seams respectively disposed at opposed sides of said circumference;

a pouch disposed on the exterior of said cuff extending from said distal end towards said proximal end in overlaying relationship with one of said portions of said cuff;

said one portion of said cuff comprising two layers of material folded over at said distal end to form said pouch;

the other of said two portions of said cuff comprising two layers of material folded over at said distal end;

said seams serving to secure said pouch to said cuff and being blind seams;

said pouch being invertible over said distal end to close said cuff.

8. An infant'"'"'s garment as defined in claim 7, wherein said garment has two such openings for the limbs of an infant, wherein each said opening has a said cuff secured thereto.

9. An infant'"'"'s garment as defined in claim 7 wherein said circumference is constant along the length of said cuffs.

10. The garment of claim 8 wherein said limb openings are leg openings.

11. An infant'"'"'s garment as defined in claim 10 wherein said pouch has a length approximately equal to the length of an average infant'"'"'s foot.

12. An infant'"'"'s garment as defined in claim 10 wherein the surface of said pouch that is outwardly facing when said pouch is inverted is provided with a non-slip finish.

13. A method of forming a closeable cuff for a garment wherein said cuff has a length equal to approximately L;

said method comprising the steps of providing first and second strips of material each having a pair of free ends and a pair of longitudinal sides interconnecting said free ends;

folding said first strip of material so that said free ends thereof are superimposed to thereby create a folded end, then folding said folded end whereby said strip when so folded has a length equal to L;

then

folding said second strip of material about said folded first strip of material so that said free ends of each said strip are superimposed and the longitudinal edges of each said strip are superimposed, then

joining said strips together with a seam extending along each longitudinal edge;

then

inverting said joined strips to form said cuff and enclose said seams.

14. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein said second strip of material has an inside surface and an outside surface differing in texture from said inside surface, and wherein when said second strip of material is folded about said first strip of material, said inside surface is outwardly facing.

15. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein said first and second strips are rectangular and of equal width.

16. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein said each said strip of material is a jersey knit oriented to be more stretchable along the width of the strip than along its length.

17. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein said first strip of material has a length of approximately 3 L.

18. An item of wearing apparel comprising a tubular cuff having a first end opposed to a second end and spaced therefrom by a length;

said cuff having a circumference therearound and being open at each said end;

a pouch formed on the exterior of said cuff extending to intermediate said ends over one half of the circumference of said cuff;

said pouch defining an opening facing said first end and a bottom at said second end with a passage therethrough which connects to the interior of said cuff;

said pouch being invertible over said second end of said cuff so as to close said second end;

wherein said cuff is formed from two strips of material folded end to end, one of which is folded back upon itself to form said pouch, the said second end of said cuff being defined by folded portions of said strips.

19. An item of wearing apparel as defined in claim 18 wherein said folded strips are joined together along each longitudinal side thereof in an enclosed seam.

20. An item of wearing apparel as defined in claim 18 wherein said pouch extends to about mid-distance between said first and second ends.

21. An item of wearing apparel as defined in claim 18, wherein said cuff is more stretchable in the circumferential direction than in the length.