HEAT-RESISTANT AND/OR LIQUID-RESISTANT COVERING
A covering worn by a user, the covering including a body portion having a first side, a second side; and a first neck flap attached to and extending from the first side of the body portion, the first neck flap having a first concave portion to receive a neck of the user such that the body portion covers at least a portion of a body of the user; wherein the body portion and the first neck flap include a material that is at least one of a heat-resistant material and a liquid resistant material, the material having an outer surface.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application number 61/703,465, filed Sep. 20, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a heat-resistant shield or covering and, more particularly, to a heat-resistant and/or liquid-resistant cover worn by a caregiver feeding or holding an infant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs the recommended period for nursing an infant is increased, nursing mothers may find themselves in a circumstance where the time during which the infant is nursing is also an optimal time for them to consume food or a beverage. Additionally, an infant may rest or sleep in a caregiver's arms for a period of time during which the caregiver may wish to consume food or a beverage. The caregiver typically attempts to protect the infant from spills, particularly spills of hot beverages like tea or coffee or hot foods like soup. As such, these hot foods or beverages are positioned away from the infant. In order to consume them, the caregiver must attempt to consume them from an uncomfortable position that moves their mouth far from the infant toward the hot food or beverage rather than bringing the hot food or beverage toward the infant. In the alternative, the caregiver may refrain from consuming food or beverages while holding or feeding an infant.
Modesty covers are known for nursing mothers. These generally teach away from a material strong enough to resist heat and liquids. Liquid-resistant bibs may be worn by infants to protect their clothes and/or bodies from spills. These teach away from the present invention because they are designed to resist spills and stains made by the infant and not to protect the infant from accidental harm from a spilled beverage or food.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the invention is directed to a covering worn by a user, the covering comprising: a body portion having a first side, a second side; and a first neck flap attached to and extending from the first side of the body portion, the first neck flap having a first concave portion to receive a neck of the user such that the body portion covers at least a portion of a body of the user; wherein the body portion and the first neck flap comprise a material that is at least one of a heat-resistant material and a liquid resistant material, the material having an outer surface.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a covering worn by a user, the covering comprising: a body portion having a first side and a second side; a first neck flap extending from the first side of the body portion, the first neck flap having a first concave portion to receive a neck; a second neck flap extending from the second side of the body portion the second neck flap having a second concave portion to receive the neck of the user; and a fastener configured to attach the first neck flap to the second neck flap such that the first concave portion and the second concave portion form an opening for the neck of the user, wherein the body portion, the first neck flap and the second neck flap comprise a material that is at least one of a heat-resistant material and a liquid resistant material
As shown generally in
When worn by the user 12 while holding, nursing or feeding an infant 16, the covering 10 is positioned over and covers at least a portion of the body 14 of the user and at least a portion of the infant. The term “infant” is used herein to broadly encompass a child of any age as well as pets, such as, for example, dogs and cats.
The covering 10 includes a body portion 18 having a first side 18a and a second side 18b. In one embodiment, shown best in
In one embodiment, as shown in
Referring back to
The first neck flap 22 has a first concave portion 24 to receive a neck 26 of the user 12. The placement of the first neck flap 22 around the neck 26 of the user 12 allows the body portion 18 to cover at least a portion of the body 14 of the user. It is contemplated that having only the first neck flap 22 allows the user 12 to be able to place the covering 10 around the neck 26 using only one hand. In one embodiment, the first neck flap 22 is formed into a predetermined shape that may be rigidly structured. As shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, the body portion 18 and the first neck flap 22 are made of one material being a heat-resistant and/or a liquid resistant material and having an outer surface 28. In one embodiment, the material having outer surface 28 is a contiguous piece of flexible plastic material without perforations. For example, the material having outer surface 28 is food-grade silicone as described in 21 CFR §177.2600 et seq. that has a working temperature of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and a resistance to both aqueous and oil-based liquids with a moderate pliability and a durometer hardness rating of 40-65. In one embodiment, the material having outer surface 28 is a flexible heat- and liquid-resistant material such as, for example, FDA Grade Silicone which is commercially available from a variety of vendors including Rubber-Cal (Santa Ana, Calif., USA). It is contemplated that the material having outer surface 28 may be stain-resistant.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the second neck flap 30 is made integrally with the body portion 18; however, it is contemplated that the second neck flap can be made separately and then attached to the body portion 18. In one embodiment, the second neck flap 30 is made of the same material as the first neck flap 22 and the body portion 18 and thus includes the outer surface 28 as described in detail above. It is contemplated that the second neck flap may be made separately from the first neck flap 22 and the body portion 18 and be of a different material, for example, the second neck flap 22 may be made of a fabric material so as to lessen the weight of the second neck flap as compared to the first neck flap.
The first neck flap 22 and the second neck flap 30 may be attached to one another by using at least one fastener 34. The fastener 34 could be any type of device that allows the first neck flap 22 and the second neck flap 30 to be attached to one another. For example, the fastener 34 could be any one of a hook and loop fastening system (for example, Velcro™ hook and loop fastener, a product of Velcro Industries B.V. LLC, Amsterdam, Netherlands), a snap, a button, a hook and eye, and the like. When the first neck flap 22 and the second neck flap 30 are attached using the fastener 34, the first concave portion 24 and the second concave portion 32 form an opening 36 for the neck 26 of the user 12.
It is understood that a variety of sizes of openings 36 may be required for users 12 of different sizes and that having a fastener 34 that can accommodate different sized users is desirable. Accordingly, in one embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
The adjustability of the size of the opening 36 can also be accomplished by having one or more snaps or rivets as the fastener 34. In another embodiment, the fastener may be strings or pieces of fabric or other material that can be tied around the neck 26 of the user 12 to obtain an appropriately sized opening 36.
A cross-section of a portion of the covering 10 is shown in
In one embodiment, the liner 44 is contiguous with the entirety of the inner surface 42. In another embodiment, the liner 44 is contiguous with only a portion of the inner surface 42. The liner 44 may be fixedly attached to the inner surface 28, or alternatively, the liner may be detachable to permit cleaning, replacement, and the like.
As shown in
In another embodiment, as shown most clearly in
Referring to
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A covering worn by a user, the covering comprising:
- a body portion having a first side, a second side; and
- a first neck flap attached to and extending from the first side of the body portion, the first neck flap having a first concave portion to receive a neck of the user such that the body portion covers at least a portion of a body of the user;
- wherein the body portion and the first neck flap comprise a material that is at least one of a heat-resistant material and a liquid resistant material, the material having an outer surface.
2. The covering of claim 1, wherein the body portion at least partially covers an infant held at the body of the user.
3. The covering of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second neck flap attached to and extending from the second side of the body portion, the second neck flap having a second concave portion to receive the neck of the user.
4. The covering of claim 3, further comprising a fastener configured to attach the first neck flap with the second neck flap, wherein when the first neck flap and the second neck flap are attached, the first concave portion and the second concave portion form an opening for the neck of the user.
5. The covering of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a transparent panel extending a width between the first side and the second side of the body portion.
6. The covering of claim 1, wherein the material is food grade silicone in compliance with 21 CFR §17.2600 et seq.
7. The covering of claim 1, the material further comprising an inner surface opposite the outer surface.
8. The covering of claim 7, further comprising:
- a liner disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface.
9. The covering of claim 8, wherein the liner is detachable.
10. The covering according to claim 8, wherein the liner comprises a heat-resistant material.
11. The covering according to claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a lip positioned to catch food and liquid.
12. A covering worn by a user, the covering comprising:
- a body portion having a first side and a second side;
- a first neck flap extending from the first side of the body portion, the first neck flap having a first concave portion to receive a neck;
- a second neck flap extending from the second side of the body portion the second neck flap having a second concave portion to receive the neck of the user; and
- a fastener configured to attach the first neck flap to the second neck flap such that the first concave portion and the second concave portion form an opening for the neck of the user,
- wherein the body portion, the first neck flap and the second neck flap comprise a material that is at least one of a heat-resistant material and a liquid resistant material.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 20, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2014
Inventor: Maiysha Campbell (Bronx, NY)
Application Number: 14/032,927