Child clothing device with reinforced zipper access, method of use, and method of manufacture

Abstract

A child's romper or other one-piece clothing outfit which has a reinforced zipper between the legs of the garment to allow for quick and easy access for changing the child's diaper. There is no need to completely undress the child. The zipper element runs from one ankle to the other and allows the child's legs to easily be taken out of the garment for quick and easy diaper changes. The zipper element is reinforced to the inseam of the garment and includes a top stitch around the edges of the zipper to hold it down Ankle cuffs are used at each ankle end point and stitches are placed over the portion of the zipper tape attached to the ankle cuff. An embodiment may not use ankle cuffs and allows complete opening of the garment from ankle to ankle.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A child garment system comprising:
 a garment with a first leg having a first ankle and a second leg having a second ankle;   an opening from said first ankle to said second ankle, said ankle selectively openable and closable by a zipper affixed to said first leg and said second leg;   said zipper comprising a first position wherein said opening is closed and a second position wherein said opening is open;   said zipper comprising a zipper tape, said zipper tape secured to an interior of said first leg and said second leg; and   wherein when said zipper is in said second position, said opening provides access to a diaper within said garment and is configured to allow removal of said diaper without further removal of said garment.   
     
     
         2 . The child garment system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said first leg ending in a first cuff and said second leg ending in a second cuff;   said second cuff configured to prevent said zipper from separating at said second position; and   said first cuff and said second cuff reinforced with stitching to secure said zipper.   
     
     
         3 . The child garment system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said zipper comprising a retainer box and an insertion pin in proximity with an end of said second leg; and   whereby said retainer box and said insertion pin allow said zipper to completely separate at said end of said second leg, such that said opening is formed by a first flap comprising a top portion of said first leg and said second leg and a second flap comprising a bottom portion of said first leg and said second leg.   
     
     
         4 . The child garment system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gastrostomy tube (g-tube) access opening secured by a g-tube zipper having a first orientation and a second orientation;   wherein said first orientation comprises said zipper being closed, thereby closing said access opening;   wherein said second orientation comprises said zipper being unzipped and opened, thereby opening said access opening; and   said access opening configured to provide access to a g-tube within said garment.   
     
     
         5 . A method of accessing and changing a diaper within a child garment, the method comprising the steps:
 applying said child garment, said child garment comprising a one-piece clothing item having a first leg having a first ankle and a second leg having a second ankle, and a closure zipper securing an opening from said first ankle to said second ankle;   accessing said opening by unzipping said closure zipper from said first ankle to said second ankle;   changing a diaper through said opening; and   closing said opening by zipping said closure zipper from said second ankle to said first ankle.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 wherein said first leg ending in a first cuff and said second leg ending in a second cuff;   wherein said second cuff configured to prevent said zipper from separating at said second position; and   wherein said first cuff and said second cuff reinforced with stitching to secure said zipper.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the steps:
 unzipping a second zipper securing a g-tube opening;   accessing a g-tube within said g-tube opening; and   zipping closed said second zipper, thereby closing said g-tube opening.   
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a garment, the method comprising the steps:
 providing a garment having a first leg ending in a first cuff and a second leg ending in a second cuff;   said first leg and said second leg forming an inseam;   securing an opening from said first cuff to said second cuff about said inseam with a zipper closure comprising zipper tape sewn to an inside surface of said inseam; and   securing said zipper tape about said first cuff and said second cuff with reinforced stitching.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said second cuff is configured to function as a stopper to prevent said zipper from completely unzipping.