US2230492A - Child's crib garment - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 4, 1941. Q R HlLBY 2,230,492

CHILD s Vclans GARMENT Filed May 51, 1959 INVENTOR @eo/*ge E. f77/bg ATTORN EY .SYM/wg@ Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

ment, particularly one enabling the child to be selectively restricted in its movement in a crib or bed so that, while the child is free to move 5 about under the covers and turn over, it cannot move up in the crib and get up from under the covers, or kick of! the covers.

The problem of keeping small children under the covers is one to which the attention of parents has been long directed, and the prior art contains such devices as harnesses for restricting movement of the child. These are generally objectionable inasmuch as the child is not accustomed to the harness and has difllculty sleeping in such a structure. In addition, the harness. unless very confining, may be easily disarranged and incapable of restraining the child under the covers. In addition, such a harness cannot prevent the child generally from kicking the covers off unless the harness is very restrictive in conilning the child.

Other devices suggested-in the prior art include a covering sheet having a T-opening through which the neck and head of the child is inserted. This is objected to by parents and pediatricians because of the danger of choking or suil'ocating the child.

The childs garment oi the present invention is free from all these objections, for the garment, being such that the child is unrestricted except as to the two undesirable movements previously mentioned, that is, kicking oil of the covers, and moving up in the bed to get out from under the covers, provides the desired control over the childs position in a crib, without discomfort or harm to the child.

It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide a novel childs garment for restricting the child so that the child remains o under the cover in the bed.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present preferred form of childs garment of this invention is disclosed.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part hereof Figure l is a plan view of the childs garment (Cl. 12S-134) This invention relates to a childs crib garf The sleeve and neck openings are each adapted to be drawn into an enclosing position by suitable means such as draw and tie strings 9, although these can be omitted and other means employed lf desired. The sleeves I are generally set into the body of the garment with the so-called raglan sleeve indicated at I0. This type of sleeve construction is preferred because it does not bind the shoulders of the child. However, another type of sleeve construction can be employed if desired. The garment can be made of any suitable material such as outing flannel. In its body portion it is generally made full so that the infant has adequate room, although around the arms, shoulders, and neck, the garment should be made to fit fairly well.

In accordance with this invention, the body portion 6 of the garment is made of a length normally longer than the child and along the bottom of the body portion, or at least a portion thereof, I attach a generally triangular end portion II. In he drawing I have shown the triangular end portion as a separate member attached to the body portion by suitable means such as sewing. 'I'his end portion is preferably made of cotton or other smooth material because it facilitates the childs moving about in the bed, the cotton presenting less friction to the covers than the outing flannel of which the b ody is made.

If desired, the entire garment can be made in one piece and of one material. The end portions can be made in a triangular shape and attached only to the bottom of the garment. In this case the child may be able to kick oi the covers if the garment body is made too full.

The generally triangular end portion is attached to the body portion with its apex I2 away from the body portion. To the apex is securely attached means for rotatably securing the apex to a fixed member on the bed or crib and positioned beyond the apex so that, if the child trys to move up in the bed, it cannot do so. Thus, at the apex I attach ring I4 and to the ring is attached a hook I5 having a spring closureA I6. The hooll; carries rotatably attached thereto a suitable base Il, the hook structure described providing a swivel hook construction well known in the art. To the base I'I a strap I8 is secured. This strap is adapted to be extended about the fixed member at the bottom of the childs bed, more or less permanently, the strap being adjusted and secured in position by extending its end I9 through rings 20 and 2l so that the strap l is locked therein in a well known manner. `The rings are carried by a portion of the strap I8 extended through the base I1 and suitably secured thereto.

In place of the ring and swivel hook connection, any other attaching means can be employed which permits ready rotation of the garnot be readily removed and the tie is dimcult to fasten in place.

To facilitate caring for the child, the triangular end portion is preferably left open along the upper face thereof, this opening coinciding with a suitable opening in the body portion of the garment. As appears in Figure 1, inserts 24 are made in the garment, each insert being of a triangular shape, to give the body of the garment fullness. Along adjacent edges of the garment is placed suitable means enabling the edges to -be drawn together and secured, such as the usual zipper construction 25, although tie strings, button and buttonholes, or other fasteners, and the like can be employed.

From the foregoing I believe it will be apparent that I have provided a simple, inexpensive garment enabling an infant to be restrained in its bed to only the extent necessary to keep the child under the bed covering. This includes securing of belt I8 to some member on the bed and fastening of a sheet or blanket over the child at about its chest so that it cannot rise up in the bed. 'I'he securing of a sheet or blanket over the childs bodyby pins or tie strings is well known to those skilled in the art. In use, the baby is readily placed in the garment by spreading the garment out at with zipper 25 in open position. The baby is seated on the body portion and the sleeves and neck opening are then readily worked into position and fastened. Thus, a minimum of handling is necessary. Ihe garment is quickly secured in place by snap hook I; a prior art structure includes as many as eight tie strings.

The triangular end portion is preferably set on about a 45 angle so that the garment is not too long. In fullness, it corresponds to that of the body portion so the infant is free to kick and move its legs. The triangular end enables the baby to turn easily, placing any pull evenly on the babys shoulders and not on its neck.

I claim:

1. A childs garment having a neck opening, sleeves and a body portion extending away from said opening and said sleeves and of a length normally longer than that of a child wearing said garment, and an end garment portion secured along the bottom of said body portion, said end garment portion being generally triangular in shape with its apex away from said portion and cooperating withy said body portion to permit a child wearing said garment to move its feet and legs freely and particularly to turn over even though the child is covered with bed clothes y in a normal manner, said garment portion being adapted to be secured at its apex to a xed member positioned beyond said apex for only rotational movement to restrain a child in said garment from moving out from under said bed clothes or kicking off said bed clothes.

2. A childs garment having a neck opening, sleeves and a body portion having a front and a back and extending away from said opening and said sleeves and of a length normally longer than that of a child wearing said garment, and having an opening in the front thereof extending from the bottom of said body portion upwardly to adjacent said neck opening, means for selectively securing together those portions of said body portion providing said opening, and an end garment portion secured along the bottom of said body portion, and having an opening therein continuing the first mentioned opening in the front of said body portion, said end garment portion being generally triangular in shape with its apex away from said body portion and cooperating with said body portion to permit a child wearing said garment to move its feet and legs freely and particularly to turn over even though the child is vcovered with bed clothes in a normal manner, said garment .portion being adapted to be secured at its apex to a xed member positioned beyond said apex for only rotational movement to restrain a child in said garment from moving out from under said bed clothes or kicking off said bed clothes.

GEORGE R. HILBY.

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