Bib with replaceable or disposable absorbent layer

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a bib includes at least one removable top layer of absorbent material and a base layer of durable material. The base layer has a fastening mechanism for placing the bib around the neck of a user. The base layer further has a mounting mechanism, which is different from the fastening mechanism, for attaching the removable top layer to the base layer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of child products, and in particular to baby bibs.

BACKGROUND

Bibs have long been used to protect a young child from becoming soiled. Bibs are most often used when a child is eating, although they may be used for other applications as well. Bibs are typically constructed of a piece of material that is coupled about the child's neck using a pair of strings or other fasteners, such as snaps of a hook and loop fastener material. The material from which baby bibs are made of is typically cloth (such as cotton cloth), plastic, or paper. Paper bibs are used as disposable bibs in that after each use a used paper bib can be disposed and replaced by a new paper bib. Non-paper bibs, such as a cloth bib, are intended to be reusable and hence washable.

However, with conventional paper and non-paper bibs there are several issues. One issue with paper bibs is that sometimes the paper bib cannot well protect the portion of the user or the user's cloths that is covered by the bib from liquid spilled on the bib itself, since liquid (e.g. water, juice, soup, etc.) can easily permeate through the paper and wet the user's cloths underneath. Another issue with paper bibs is related to the costs associated with having to constantly purchase new paper bibs when the previous batch of paper bibs have been used up.

With non-paper bibs, such as cotton cloth bibs, an issue of concern is that the bib may start to contain bacteria after prolonged use, even after washing especially if the temperature of the water used to wash the bib is not high enough. Another issue is that one would need to have multiple bibs available so that when one or more bibs are being washed or unavailable, the user still has at least one bib for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a bib includes at least one removable top layer of absorbent material and a base layer of durable material. The base layer has a fastening mechanism for placing the bib around the neck of a user. The base layer further has a mounting mechanism, which is different from the fastening mechanism, for attaching the removable top layer to the base layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates various aspects of various embodiments of a multi-layer bib.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a dispensing system for the top layers.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a multi-layer bib.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain details are set forth below to provide a sufficient understanding of embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be clear to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these particular details. Moreover, the particular embodiments of the present invention described herein are provided by way of example and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments. In other instances, well-known, well-known components are not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely for illustration purposes. Particular implementations may vary from these details and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates various aspects of various embodiments of a multi-layer bib 100, which has a replaceable or disposable absorbent top layer and a resistive bottom layer. A bib such as the bib 100 could be used with an infant or a young child. The bib 100 has a base layer 110 that is preferably made of durable material. The material might have one or more of the following qualities: water resistant, stain resistant, anti-bacteria, tear proof, machine washable, and foldable. Potential materials for the base layer 110 could be, but not limited to, the following: silicone, nylon, Teflon® coated fabric, GORE-TEX®, rubber, and ballistic nylon/canvas.

The base layer 110 also preferably has a pocket 150. Depending on the material of the base layer 110, the pocket 150 could be a built-in or a sewn-in pocket. A cross-section view 155 of the pocket 150 on the base layer 110 is illustrated about the line aa′. With the optional pocket 150, the bib 100 would be able to capture some of the matters, e.g., liquid or food, from the user.

The base layer 110 has a fastening mechanism 130 for placing the bib 110 around a user's neck. The fastening mechanism 130 could be one of any number of fastening mechanisms, such as Velcro®, friction-fit post and holes, buttons, etc. The base layer 110 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a friction-fit pole-and-hole mechanism, shown in Detail A, that provides an attachment mechanism having a post 132 and holes 134a-n that allow the bib 100 to be adjustable when placed around a user's neck.

The base layer 110 also has a mounting mechanism 140 for attaching one or more top layer 120 to the base layer 110. A variety of mounting mechanisms may be employed, such as slots 142 and 144 made in the base layer 110, post/buttons like buttons on shirts, clasps, or small clips. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, slots are provided in the face of the base layer 110 to provide the attachment mechanism for attachment of the top layer 120. The fully assembled view 160 illustrates the multi-layer bib 100 with the top layer 120 attached to the base layer 110.

The top layer 120 is preferably an absorbent layer that may be formed from a liquid absorbent material such as paper fiber, rayon fiber, etc. The top layer 120 may be disposable or reusable. For example, if the top layer 120 is formed of a disposable material then a suitable disposable material would be selected, e.g., paper. If the top layer 120 is reusable then a washable material, such as rayon or cotton, could be used. The top, absorbent layer 120 can be easily attached to and detached from the base layer 110 for each cleanup, disinfecting, etc. The top layer 120 could be dry for situations where absorbency is most important. Alternatively, the top layer 120 could be semi-moist for absorbency during usage, and could be used as cleaning medium to wipe down user or surface.

According to another aspect of the bib system, the top layer 120 can be packaged in given quantities in a convenient pouch that is self-dispensing. It could be much like travel pack facial tissue packaging. Alternatively, it could be packed in much larger quantities for home or commercial usage, like regular size tissue box. FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a dispensing system 200 for the top layers. In this embodiment, a given number of top layers 220 are packaged in a container 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the multi-layer bib 300. In this embodiment, the base layer 310 has a sewn-in pocket 350, a Velcro® fastening mechanism 330, and post/button top layer mounting mechanism 340 that includes posts 342, 344. The fully assembled view 360 illustrates the multi-layer bib 300 with the top layer 320 attached to the base layer 310.

The different embodiments in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 illustrate that many variations are contemplated. Various ones of the previously discussed mechanisms could be combined in various other embodiments with various materials for the base layer and the top layer as alluded to above. For example, a slot attachment mechanism could be used with a sewn-in optional pocket on a base layer that has buttons for fastening mechanism.

Thus, a bib having at least one removable top layer and a base layer with fastening mechanism and a different mounting mechanism for attaching the top layer to the base layer has been described. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

1. A bib, comprising:

at least one removable top layer of absorbent material; and

a base layer of durable material, the base layer having a fastening mechanism for placing the bib around the neck of a user and further having a mounting mechanism that is different than the fastening mechanism for attaching the at least one removable top layer to the base layer.

2. The bib of claim 1 wherein the base layer further having a built-in pocket that is located in the bottom portion of one side of the base layer when the bib is worn by the user.

3. The bib of claim 1 wherein the base layer further having a sewn-in pocket that is located in the bottom portion of one side of the base layer when the bib is worn by the user.

4. The bib of claim 1 wherein the at least one removable top layer comprises a plurality of removable top layers of absorbent material, the plurality of removable top layers packaged in a container.

5. The bib of claim 1 wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a friction-fit post-and-hole mechanism employing a post that can be mated with one of a plurality of holes to fasten the base layer around the neck of the user.

6. The bib of claim 1 wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a hook-and-loop mechanism employing a plurality of loops and a plurality of hooks for hooking the loops to fasten the base layer around the neck of the user.

7. The bib of claim 1 wherein the mounting mechanism comprises one of a number of mechanisms including slots in the base layer, post-and-hole mechanism, button-and-hole mechanism, clasps, and clips.

8. The bib of claim 1 wherein the material of the base layer having at least one of a plurality of qualities, the plurality of qualities including water-resistant, stain-resistant, anti-bacteria, tear-proof, machine-washable, and foldable qualities.

9. The bib of claim 1 wherein the at least one removable top layer comprises at least one disposable layer of absorbent material.

10. The bib of claim 1 wherein the at least one removable top layer comprises at least one reusable layer that is washable.

11. The bib of claim 1 wherein the at least one removable top layer comprises at least one dry layer.

12. The bib of claim 1 wherein the at least one removable top layer comprises at least one semi-moist layer.

13. A bib, comprising:

at least one removable top layer of absorbent material; and

a base layer of silicone material, the base layer having a fastening mechanism for placing the bib around the neck of a user and further having a mounting mechanism for attaching the at least one removable top layer to the base layer.

14. The bib of claim 13 wherein the base layer further having a pocket that is located in the bottom portion of one side of the base layer when the bib is worn by the user.

15. A bib, comprising:

at least one removable top layer of absorbent material; and

a layer of nylon-based material, the base layer having a fastening mechanism for placing the bib around the neck of a user and further having a mounting mechanism for attaching the at least one removable top layer to the base layer.

16. The bib of claim 15 wherein the base layer further having a pocket that is located in the bottom portion of one side of the base layer when the bib is worn by the user.

17. A bib, comprising:

at least one removable top layer of absorbent material; and

a base layer of Teflon®-coated fabric, the base layer having a fastening mechanism for placing the bib around the neck of a user and further having a mounting mechanism for attaching the at least one removable top layer to the base layer.

18. The bib of claim 19 wherein the base layer further having a pocket that is located in the bottom portion of one side of the base layer when the bib is worn by the user.

19. A bib, comprising:

at least one removable top layer of absorbent material; and

a base layer of GORE-TEX® material, the base layer having a fastening mechanism for placing the bib around the neck of a user and further having a mounting mechanism for attaching the at least one removable top layer to the base layer.

20. The bib of claim 19 wherein the base layer further having a pocket that is located in the bottom portion of one side of the base layer when the bib is worn by the user.