BIB PRODUCT

Abstract

A bib product that includes an elongate, curved retainer that is shaped and sized to be movable between a normal position in which the retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread position in which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around the neck of the wearer. A bib sheet is provided for covering the chest and abdomen of the wearer, and includes a tubular neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bib designed to be easily suspended from the neck and removed with one hand, without having to tie or untie fastening strings, and without having to position it around the neck by placing it over the head. Bibs have a wide variety of uses, including in medical and dental offices, feeding infants and geriatrics, and in restaurants. As eating in automobiles becomes more common, bibs would be a useful accessory for adults and children that would enable passengers to consume food and drive without the fear of soiling clothing, particularly if the bib were sufficiently compact and inexpensive so that it could be disposed of when desired.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bib that can be easily suspended from the neck and removed with one hand, without having to tie or untie fastening strings, and without having to position it around the neck by placing it over the head.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bib that is disposable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bib that is easily fabricated out of a wide variety of inexpensive sheet materials.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bib that is usable with a known type of hair band that can be spread to place around the neck of a user and then assume a normal position to maintain the bib in the desired location suspended from the neck.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing a bib product, comprising an elongate, curved retainer that is shaped and sized to be movable between a normal position in which the retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread position in which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around the neck of the wearer, and a bib sheet for covering the chest and abdomen of the wearer, and including a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the retainer comprises a plastic band having sufficient flexibility to permit movement between the normal and spread positions.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the retainer comprises a plastic band having sufficient flexibility to permit movement between the normal and spread positions. The neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion. The bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet is a plastic film.

According to another embodiment of the invention the bib sheet comprises an absorbent material.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet comprises a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a bib comprising an elongate, curved plastic band that is shaped, sized and is provided with sufficient flexibility to be movable between a normal position in which the retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread position in which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around the neck of the wearer. A bib sheet is provided for covering the chest and abdomen of the wearer, and includes a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck. The neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion. The bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet is a thermoplastic, and the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by ultrasonically-welding.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet is fabricated of a sheet material selected from the group consisting of plastic, fabric, an absorbent non-woven material and a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material. According to another embodiment of the invention the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by sewing stitches.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet is fabricated of a sheet material selected from the group consisting of plastic, fabric, an absorbent non-woven material and a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material, and the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by joining areas of the bib sheet with a joining method selected from the group of methods consisting of ultrasonically-welding, gluing, sewing, riveting and applying complementary touch fastener elements.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a bib sheet product is provided for covering the chest and abdomen of a wearer, and includes a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck. The neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and a curved, spreadable retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the invention proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a bib according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the retainer as a separate element and as inserted in the neck portion of the bib;

FIG. 3 is a view of an alternative embodiment with a laminated paper/plastic bib sheet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE

Referring now specifically to the drawings, a bib product according to the present invention is shown generally in FIG. 1 at reference numeral 10. Bib 10 has two components, a retainer 12 and a bib sheet 14.

The retainer 12 is preferably a conventional plastic hair band of the type that fits across the top of the head. Such hair bands typically have sufficient “spring” so that it can be spread sufficiently to place it over the top of the head. When released, the hair band's plastic memory recovers the hair band to a tensioned position across the top of the head. Thus, prior art uses of these head bands rely on the plastic memory of the head band to maintain sufficient tension across the top of the head to hold the band, and the hair beneath it, in the desired position. In contrast, the retainer 12 as used in the invention disclosed in this application is purposely sized to be substantially larger in its normal position than the neck, but with opposite ends that are sufficiently close together in the normal position to retain the bib 10 in its position, as shown in FIG. 3.

One preferred embodiment of the retainer 12 is 2.5 cm wide at the centerpoint between opposing ends and 1 cm at opposite ends; 12 cm between opposing sides at its widest normal position; with a 5 cm opening between the opposing ends. The opposing ends may be spread to approximately 25 cm, or a 500 percent spread between the normal position and the spread position. The retainer 12 needs only be spread sufficiently to allow the ends to pass along opposing lateral aspects of the neck. Upon release, the retainer springs back to its normal position.

The bib sheet 14 is preferably a thin plastic film 16 of any desired thickness, with a preferable thickness being between 4 and 10 mils. Because the film 16 is non-load bearing, the film is preferably only sufficiently thick and imperforate to perform the desired function of protecting the clothing beneath the bib sheet 14. The bib sheet 14 is therefore inexpensive and disposable.

As is also shown in FIG. 1, the bib sheet 14 is provided with a tubular collar 18 to receive the retainer 12, as shown. The tubular collar 18 is formed by folding over the top of the bib sheet 14 and inserting sewing stitches to retain the fold in a tubular configuration, as shown. Similarly, the perimeter of the bib sheet 14 may be secured or reinforced by, for example, piping 19 secured by sewing stitches.

Preferably, an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket 20 is formed on the bottom of the bib sheet 14, and extends along a bottom edge of the bib sheet 14 to catch falling material food or liquid and prevent it from soiling clothing below the length of the bib 10.

One suitable overall set of dimensions of a bib sheet 14 intended for an adult are 20 cm wide at the tubular collar 18, 40 cm wide at the pocket 20; 20 cm at the midpoint between the collar 18 and pocket 20, and 48 cm long from the collar 18 to the bottom edge of the pocket 20. Of course, these dimensions are only one example of a wide range of dimensions that are possible, depending on the intended use. A bib according to the invention and intended for an infant, for example, would be correspondingly smaller.

In addition to plastic film, a suitable fabric, an absorbent non-woven material, and a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent paper are other examples of materials that can be used for the bib sheet. In particular, as is shown in FIG. 3, a bib 30 includes the retainer 12 as described above and a laminated bib sheet 32 of plastic film and absorbent, quilted paper 34, and is particularly suited for use in a dental or other medical office. Disposable laminated bib sheets are presently used, but are held in place with a short length of chain or cord with alligator clips on opposite ends that must be attached to each sheet before placing on the patient, and then removed after treatment is completed before disposing of the sheet. The bib sheet 32 is provided with a tubular collar 36 to receive the retainer 12, as shown. The tubular collar 36 is formed by folding over the top of the bib sheet 34 and inserting sewing stitches to retain the fold in a tubular configuration, as shown. Similarly, the perimeter of the bib sheet 32 may be secured or reinforced by, for example, piping 38 secured by sewing stitches.

Preferably, an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket 40 is formed on the bottom of the bib sheet 32, and extends along a bottom edge of the bib sheet 32 to catch falling material food or liquid and prevent it from soiling clothing below the length of the bib 30.

An improved bib product is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A bib product, comprising:

(a) an elongate, curved retainer that is shaped and sized to be movable between a normal position in which the retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread position in which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around the neck of the wearer; and

(b) a bib sheet for covering the chest and abdomen of the wearer, and including a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck.

2. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a plastic band having sufficient flexibility to permit movement between the normal and spread positions.

3. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion.

4. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

5. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a plastic band having sufficient flexibility to permit movement between the normal and spread positions, the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion, and further wherein the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

6. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the bib sheet is a plastic film.

7. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the bib sheet comprises an absorbent material.

8. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the bib sheet comprises a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material.

9. A bib, comprising:

(a) an elongate, curved plastic band that is shaped, sized and is provided with sufficient flexibility to be movable between a normal position in which the retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread position in which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around the neck of the wearer; and

(b) a bib sheet for covering the chest and abdomen of the wearer, and including a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck, wherein the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion, and further wherein the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

10. A bib product according to claim 9, wherein the bib sheet is a thermoplastic, and the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by ultrasonically-welding.

11. A bib product according to claim 9, wherein the bib sheet is fabricated of a sheet material selected from the group consisting of plastic, fabric, an absorbent non-woven material and a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material.

12. A bib product according to claim 11, wherein the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by sewing stitches.

13. A bib product according to claim 9, wherein the bib sheet is fabricated of a sheet material selected from the group consisting of plastic, fabric, an absorbent non-woven material and a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material, and the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by joining areas of the bib sheet with a joining method selected from the group of methods consisting of ultrasonically-welding, gluing, sewing, riveting and applying complementary touch fastener elements.

14. A bib sheet product for covering the chest and abdomen of a wearer, and including a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck, wherein the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and a curved, spreadable retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion.

15. A bib sheet product according to claim 14, wherein the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.