BABY CLOTHING COMPRISING A THERMOCHROMIC MATERIAL

This invention relates to baby clothing and, more especially, this invention relates to baby clothing comprising a thermochromic material.

The crying of babies is well known. A baby may cry because it is irritable or because it is unwell. For example, a baby may cry because it has fever, colic, a wet nappy, teething problems or some kind of illness. The baby is unable to talk and parents or other persons looking after a baby may not realise sufficiently soon that the baby is crying due to an illness which may be serious and possibly life threatening.

Baby clothing is known comprising a thermochromic material which changes colour if a baby wearing the clothing overheats above body temperature, and which thereby provides a visual indication that the baby is too hot. The known thermochromic material is provided as a patch on the baby clothing. The patch occupies only a small area of the baby clothing. There may be circumstances in which the baby becomes too hot but in an area or areas remote from the patch, with the result that the patch does not provide the required visual indication that the baby is too hot. The illness causing the baby to become hot may thus remain undetected, with serious or possible fatal consequences to the baby, or example resulting in cot death by overheating, fever, meningitis or heat rash.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided baby clothing comprising a thermochromic material which changes colour if a baby wearing the clothing get too hot and which thereby provides a visual indication that the baby is too hot, and the baby clothing being such that the thermochromic material extends all over the baby clothing, and the baby clothing fits at least over the baby's body, arms and legs so that illnesses causing localised heating on the baby's body, arms and legs are able to be detected.

Many illnesses cause localised heating on different parts of a baby's body, arms and legs, but with the baby clothing of the present invention, these illnesses are advantageously able to be detected due to the visual indication afforded by the baby clothing. Thus remedial action can be taken sooner rather than later, with the baby being saved unnecessary discomfort and possibly with the baby having its life saved. The baby clothing of the present invention is also advantageous in that it gives parents and other carers peace of mind because, if the baby clothing has not changed colour, then the parents or other carers know that the baby is at a normal temperature and they do not have to worry about the baby being ill even if the baby is crying.

Preferably, the baby clothing also fits over the baby's feet. In this case, localised heating on the baby's feet is also able to be detected. By way of example, it is mentioned that meningitis is an illness which starts with spots

at the bottom of a baby's feet, and these spots are hotter than the baby's surrounding skin. Thus with baby clothing fitting over the baby's feet, an early indication that the baby has meningitis is able to be achieved.

Advantageously, the baby clothing may also fit over the baby's hands. Any localised heating on the baby's hands is then also able to be detected by the visual indication afforded by the baby clothing changing colour in the vicinity of the baby's hands.

If desired, the baby clothing may also fit on the baby's head.

The thermochromic material may be applied to fabric from which the baby clothing is made. For example, the baby clothing may first be made as a garment from the fabric. The fabric may then be treated with the thermochromic material. Alternatively, if desired, the thermochromic material may be applied to the fabric before the fabric is made into a garment. The thermochromic material may be a dye. The thermochromic material may change from any appropriate colour to any other appropriate colour.

The thermochromic material may be applied to the fabric as a thermochromic slurry. The slurry may appear to be like a wax.

Any suitable and appropriate thermochromic material may be employed. The thermochromic material should be one to which babies are not allergic. By way of example, the thermochromic material may comprise:

(i) formaldehyde;

(ii) co-polymerised acrylonitrile butadiene;

(iii) sulfated fatty ester;

(iv) polyethylene polyamide; (v) acetic acid; and (vi) ammonium salt.

The baby clothing may include retainer means on a part of the baby clothing that covers the baby's back, the retainer means comprising one part of a two-part fastener system of the type comprising a matrix of interlocking plastics members which push together for fastening and which pull apart for unfastening.

The use of the retainer means is advantageous in ensuring that the baby does not turn over and suffocate. The use of the retainer means is also advantageous in ensuring that the baby does not wriggle from where it is placed, and possibly get under a cover and suffer breathing problems. The use of the retainer means is also advantageous in that the baby's arms and legs are free so that the baby is still able to move its arms and legs.

The matrix of interlocking plastics members is preferably a matrix of interlocking hook and loop plastics members. Other types of interlocking plastics members may be employed. Preferably, the matrix of interlocking plastics members is that sold under the Registered Trade Mark Velcro.

The baby clothing may be one in which the fastener system is such that one part of the fastener system is softer than the other part, and in which the retainer means comprises the softer part. Such an arrangement ensures that the baby suffers no discomfort due to the presence of the retainer means on the baby clothing.

The retainer means will usually be stitched to the baby clothing. Other ways of securing the retainer means in position may however be employed so that, for example, the retainer means may be stuck in position on the baby clothing.

The retainer means may be positioned anywhere on the back of the body part of the baby clothing. Thus, for example, the retainer means may be positioned in a shoulder area, a bottom area, or all over the back of the body part of the baby clothing.

The baby clothing may advantageously include a pair of ties.

The ties may be for securing to a strap across a cot or bed. Alternatively the ties may be for tying to other anchor points. The ties provide additional safety means for ensuring that the baby remains in a desired position, whilst at the same time being able to move as appropriate.

The ties are preferably positioned on a body portion of the baby clothing. Thus, for example, the ties may be positioned one on either side of the body portion adjacent hips parts of the baby clothing.

The baby clothing may be in the form of a sleep suit or pyjamas. The baby clothing may be in other forms if desired.

The baby clothing may be made of usually used fabrics, including cotton, nylon, towelling, and mixtures of synthetic and natural fibres.

The present invention also extends to the combination of the baby clothing with the retainer means, and a sheet for a cot or a bed, the sheet being provided with the other part of the two-part fastener system.

The other part of the two-part fastener system is preferably provided on the sheet at a position which in use of the sheet is at a foot of the cot or bed. Other positions for the second part of the fastener system on the sheet may however be employed.

The present invention also extends to the combination of the baby clothing and a separate item of headwear, the separate item of headwear being such that it comprises the thermochromic material, and the thermochromic material extends all over the separate item of headwear. Thus any localised heating on any covered part of the baby's head will be able to be detected.

The baby clothing of the present invention may include an indicator to indicate that it is an original and genuine article. The indicator may be any suitable and appropriate indicator. The indicator may be a colour change indicator. The indicator may be placed in any suitable and appropriate part of the baby clothing, for example in a collar of the baby clothing.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the baby clothing of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the baby clothing shown in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a sheet for a cot or a bed.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown baby clothing 2 comprising a thermochromic material which changes colour if a baby wearing the clothing gets too hot and which thereby provides a visual indication that the baby is too hot. The baby clothing 2 is such that the thermochromic

material extends all over the baby clothing 2. The baby clothing 2 fits over the baby's body, arms, legs and feet so that illnesses causing localised heating on the baby's body, arms, legs and feet are able to be detected. The baby clothing 2 comprises a body portion 4, arm portions 6, leg portions 8 and feet portions 10.

As shown in Figure 2, the baby clothing 2 also comprises retainer means 12. The retainer means 12 is on a part of the baby clothing 2 that covers the baby's back. The retainer means 12 comprises one part of a two- part fastener system of the type comprising a matrix of interlocking plastics members which push together for fastening and which pull apart for unfastening. The matrix of interlocking plastics members is a matrix of interlocking hook and loop plastics members. Preferably, the matrix of interlocking plastics members is that sold under the Registered Trade Mark Velcro.

The fastener system is such that one part of the fastener system is softer than the other part. The retainer means 12 comprises the softer part of the fastener system. The retainer means 12 is stitched in position.

As will be appreciated from Figure 2, the retainer means 12 ensures that a baby in the baby clothing 2 stays in a safe and secure position on its back on a bed or a cot. The baby is able to move its arms and legs as desired, but the baby's parents or other carers will be secure in the knowledge that the baby will not inadvertently turn over and possibly suffocate.

The baby clothing 2 further comprises a pair of ties 14. The pair of ties 14 form additional safety means for retaining in position the baby in the baby clothing 2. The ties 14 may be clipped, tied or otherwise secured to a strap extending across the cot or bed. Alternatively, the ties 14 may be secured to other appropriate retainer means. The ties 14 are positioned on the body portion 4 of the baby clothing 2.

The baby clothing 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is in the form of a sleep suit. The baby clothing 2 may be in other forms, for example pyjamas.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a sheet 16 for a cot or a bed. The sheet 16 is provided with the other part 18 of the two-part fastener system. The other part 18 is provided on the sheet 16 at a position 20 which in use of the sheet 16 is at a foot of the cot or the bed.

The sheet 16 is also provided with an adjustable strap 22 for securing to the ties 14 on the baby clothing 2.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the baby clothing 2 may be such that it does not have the retainer means 12. In this case, the baby clothing 2 simply gives an indication of illnesses causing localised or overall heating on the baby's body, arms, legs and feet. If the baby clothing 2 is to have the retainer means 12, then the retainer means 12 may be of a different shape to that shown in Figure 2. For example, the retainer means 12 could be simply at a shoulder part of the body portion 4, or at a bottom part of the body portion 4. If desired, the

retainer means may be in two or more separate parts so that, for example, there may be a separate part of the retainer means 12 at a shoulder portion of the body portion 4, and a separate part of the retainer means 12 at the bottom portion of the body portion 4.