Clothing article with one or more fasteners or connectors

Abstract

An article of clothing having a fastener or connector thereon that may allow the article to be fastened to an associated article of clothing to prevent accidental or unwanted removal thereof. The article of clothing may be further adapted to prevent a child from removing the clothing without first separating the fastener/connector thus preventing the child from removing the article of clothing by slipping a portion of their body out of the article of clothing without a parent's intervention.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An article of clothing comprising:
 fabric material defining a body;   an upper portion opposite a lower portion;   a front end opposite a rear end defining an anterior-posterior midline therebetween;   wherein the body defines an opening near the rear end and near the upper portion;   an anterior-posterior midline extending centrally through the opening;   a first fastener affixed to a rear portion of the body adjacent the opening within 45° of either side of the anterior-posterior midline; and   wherein the first fastener on the article of clothing is adapted to releasably couple with a complementary fastener on a second article of clothing.   
     
     
         2 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the first article of clothing is a sock and wherein the sock comprises:
 a heel of the sock;   a cuff defining the opening to the sock located above the heel;   wherein the anterior-posterior midline divides, equally and centrally, the opening into left and right halves;   a lateral midline that divides the opening into front and rear portions;   wherein the anterior-posterior midline and the lateral midline perpendicularly intersect to divide the opening into four quadrants, wherein the four quadrants include a rear left first quadrant, a rear-right second quadrant, a front-right third quadrant, and a front-left fourth quadrant;   a first diagonal axis extending through the first quadrant and the third quadrant at a 45° angle from the anterior-posterior midline and the lateral midline;   a second diagonal axis extending through the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant at a 45° angle from the anterior-posterior midline and the lateral midline; and   wherein the first fastener is disposed between the first diagonal axis and the second diagonal axis.   
     
     
         3 . The article of clothing of  claim 2 , wherein the first fastener is adjacent the cuff between the first diagonal axis and the second diagonal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The article of clothing of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an edge of the first fastener, wherein the edge of the first fastener intersects the anterior-posterior midline.   
     
     
         5 . The article of clothing of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a circular configuration of the edge of the first fastener, and wherein the first fastener is a snap-type fastener.   
     
     
         6 . The article of clothing of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second fastener affixed to one side of the body of the sock adjacent the cuff and the opening within 45° of either side of the lateral midline between the first diagonal axis and the second diagonal axis.   
     
     
         7 . The article of clothing of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a third fastener affixed to another side of the body of the sock adjacent the cuff and the opening within 45° of either side of the lateral midline between the first diagonal axis and the second diagonal axis.   
     
     
         8 . The article of clothing of  claim 7 , wherein the second fastener is diametrically opposite the third fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The article of clothing of  claim 8 , wherein the second fastener is diametrically opposite the third fastener along the lateral midline. 
     
     
         10 . The article of clothing of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a circular configuration of an edge of the second fastener, and wherein the second fastener is a snap-type fastener; and   a circular configuration of an edge of the third fastener, and wherein the third fastener is a snap-type fastener.   
     
     
         11 . An system comprising:
 a first article of clothing having a first fastener affixed to a rear portion thereof within 45° to either side of an anterior-posterior midline of the first article of clothing; and   a second article of clothing having a second fastener affixed to a rear portion thereof within 45° to either side of the anterior-posterior midline of the second article of clothing and aligned with the first fastener when the first and second articles of clothing are worn, and the second fastener operable to engage the first fastener to releasably attach the first article of clothing to the second article of clothing.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first article of clothing is a sock and the second article of clothing includes a pant leg, and wherein the sock comprises:
 a cuff defining an opening to the sock;   wherein the anterior-posterior midline divides, equally and centrally, the opening into left and right halves;   a lateral midline that divides the opening into front and rear portions;   wherein the anterior-posterior midline and the lateral midline perpendicularly intersect to divide the opening into four quadrants, wherein the four quadrants include a rear left first quadrant, a rear-right second quadrant, a front-right third quadrant, and a front-left fourth quadrant;   a first diagonal axis extending through the first quadrant and the third quadrant at a 45° angle from the anterior-posterior midline and the lateral midline;   a second diagonal axis extending through the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant at a 45° angle from the anterior-posterior midline and the lateral midline; and   wherein the first fastener is disposed between the first diagonal axis and the second diagonal axis.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 wherein the first fastener is adjacent the cuff between the first diagonal axis and the second diagonal axis.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an edge of the first fastener, wherein the edge of the first fastener intersects the anterior-posterior midline.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a circular configuration of the edge of the first fastener, and wherein the first fastener is a snap-type fastener.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 two additional fasteners affixed to respective sides of the sock adjacent the cuff and the opening within 45° of either side of the lateral midline between the first diagonal axis and the second diagonal axis.   
     
     
         17 . A method of connecting two articles of clothing comprising:
 donning a first article of clothing having a first fastener affixed to a rear portion thereof within 45° to either side of an anterior-posterior midline of the first article of clothing;   donning a second article of clothing having a second fastener affixed to a rear portion thereof within 45° to either side of the anterior-posterior midline of the second article of clothing;   aligning the first fastener with the second fastener when the first and second articles of clothing are donned; and   coupling the first fastener to the second fastener, wherein the coupling of the first and second fasteners within 45° of the anterior-posterior midline is adapted to frustrate the ability to remove the first article of clothing.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 aligning the first fastener along the anterior-posterior midline of the first article of clothing; and   coupling the first fastener to the second fastener along the anterior-posterior midline of the first article of clothing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first article of clothing is a sock and the second article of clothing includes a pant leg, further comprising:
 de-coupling the first fastener from the second fastener; and   selectively coupling the sock to another sock having a third fastener affixed to a rear portion thereof within 45° to either side of an anterior-posterior midline of the another sock, thereby defining a mated pair of socks.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 washing the mated pair of socks; and   drying the mated pair of socks, wherein the selectively coupled first and third fasteners remain coupled while washing and drying the mated pair of socks.