Highchair lap bib

Abstract

The Highchair Lap Bib is an accessory to the highchair. The top layer is vinyl, the bottom layer is felt. The bottom layer attaches to the tray and/or arms of the highchair using Velcro hook adhesive pieces. It then wraps around the child's waist and closes behind the lower back with a Velcro hook closure. When attached to the highchair properly, the Highchair Lap Bib will prevent foods, liquids and crumbs from dropping onto the lap of the child, getting into the creases and under the highchair padding and on the lap straps of the highchair.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES

• • a) A preliminary patent for the Highchair Lap Bib was filed on Jul. 9, 2010. application Ser. No. 61/399,255. Filed as “Highchair Lap Bid for Toddlers” (filed with typo; application filed as: Highchair Lap Bib for Toddlers).
  • b) Related Applications include:
    • “Bib with Crumb Catcher”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,065, Jul. 22, 1986
    • “Baby Bib”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,289, May 25, 1994
    • “Baby Bib with Pocket”, No. D473364, Apr. 22, 2003

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT:

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Highchair Lap Bib pertains to the baby and toddler industry, it is an accessory for the highchair. When used correctly, the Highchair Lap Bib will prevent food, liquid and crumbs from dropping into the lap of the child, while keeping the highchair clean.

Other accessories, such as “Bib with Crumb Catcher” and “Baby Bib with Pocket” help to keep food and crumbs from falling into the lap of the child. However, in many occurrences food misses the catcher/pocket and still ends up in the child's lap. As a result, the clothes are ruined and the child needs to be changed. Furthermore, when food, liquid and crumbs drop, they most times get on the lap straps of the highchair, in the creases of the highchair padding and even under the pad of the highchair. It is very difficult and time consuming to clean most highchairs. The straps have to be taken off to be washed and the padding needs to come off as well to be scrubbed after food and liquids dry on.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Highchair Lap Bib attaches to the tray of the highchair using Velcro. When attached properly, the Highchair Lap Bib covers the entire area that is exposed to foods and liquid dropping onto the lap of the child. It also prevents foods, liquids and crumbs from getting into the creases and under the padding of the highchair and on the lap straps of the highchair.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Front view of Highchair Lap Bib, shown in open position.

FIG. 2A: Illustration of Velcro hook adhesive pieces needed to attach the Highchair Lap Bib to the highchair tray and/or arms, labeled “A”, “B”, “C” and “D”.

FIG. 2B: Illustrates the placement of the Velcro hook pieces onto the highchair tray.

FIG. 2C: Illustrated the placement of the Velcro hook pieces onto the highchair tray and the highchair arms.

FIG. 3: Diagram of the Highchair Lap Bib attached to a highchair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Highchair Lap Bib is an accessory to the highchair. It attaches to the tray of the highchair (14, 15) and/or arms of the highchair (16), depending on the type of the highchair. When the Highchair Lap Bib is properly attached, it will cover the entire area that is exposed to foods and liquids dropping onto the lap of the child. It also prevents crumbs from getting in to the creases of the highchair and liquids from soiling highchair straps and seeping underneath the highchair pad.

The top layer of the Highchair Lap Bib is marine vinyl. The bottom layer is felt. The pattern is cut out as one panel of vinyl and one panel of felt. The front side (1) measures 20″ L. The sides (2) measure 6″ L. The side straps (4) measure 6″ L×4′ W. There is a 3″ between the side straps and the front sides (3). The back straps (6), (7) measure 8″ L×2½″ W. A Velcro hook (8) 1″ L×¾″ W is sewn onto the top layer of the left back strap (6), ¼″ from the opening (9). The two panels are then stitched together around the entire edge using a serger.

Each Highchair Lap Bib has four pieces of Velcro hook adhesive strips (FIG. 2A) that stick onto the highchair. Pieces “A” and “B” measure 3″ L×¾″ W; Pieces “C” and “D” measure 2″ L×¾″ W. Pieces “A” and “B” are to be peeled and stuck to the inner, front rim of the highchair tray (14), spaced about 2″ apart (FIG. 2B, 2C). Pieces “C” and “D” are to be peeled and stuck to the outer rim of the highchair tray (15), (FIG. 2B). If the highchair tray does not cover the highchair arms (16) when in place, pieces “C” and “D” are to be stuck onto the highchair arms (16), (FIG. 2C). The felt on the bottom layer of the Highchair Lap Bib sticks to the Velcro hooks “A”, “B”, “C” and “D”, eliminating the need for the Velcro loops to be sewn onto the article.

After the child is properly strapped into the highchair, the Highchair Lap Bib is to be attached to the highchair (FIG. 3). The felt on the bottom, front (1) of the Highchair Lap Bib attaches to the Velcro hooks (“A” and “B”) on the inner, front rim of the highchair tray (14). The felt on the bottom sides (2) of the Highchair Lap Bib attaches to the Velcro hooks (“C” and “D”) on the outer rim of the highchair tray (15) OR to the arms of the highchair (16), depending on the highchair model. The side straps (4) of the Highchair Lap Bib wrap around the child's waist, vinyl side up. The back straps (6, 7) wrap behind the child's lower back and attaches together with the Velcro hook closure (8).

To remove the Highchair Lap Bib, open the back straps (6, 7) first. Then remove the sides (2) from Velcro pieces (“C” and “D”) and then remove the front (1) from Velcro pieces (“A” and “B”), folding the sides (2) upward, closing all the food, crumbs and liquid into the center (17) of the Highchair Lap Bib. The waste can be emptied onto the highchair tray or into a sink or garbage pail. The Highchair Lap Bib can be wiped clean and used over and over.

Claims

1. A highchair accessory that attaches to the highchair tray and/or highchair arms using Velcro adhesive strips.

2. The highchair accessory of claim 1, further including has a top layer of vinyl and a bottom layer of felt, stitched together with a serger.

3. The highchair accessory of claim 1, further including wraps around the child's waist and closes behind the lower back with a Velcro closure.

4. The highchair accessory of claim 1, further including that when properly attached onto the highchair, will cover the entire area that is exposed to foods, liquid sand crumbs from dropping onto the lap of the child.

5. The highchair accessory of claim 4, further including when properly attached onto the highchair, will prevent foods, liquids and crumbs from getting into the creases of and under the highchair pad/seat cover.

6. The highchair accessory of claim 4, further including when properly attached onto the highchair, will prevent foods and liquids from soiling highchair lap straps.