COORDINATED GARMENT ACCESSORY

Abstract

The combination of a garment and accessory such as a bib or other clothing accessory is provided wherein the accessory is removable from the garment. In addition, the accessory includes one or more of a predetermined color or design which matches or coordinates with a predetermined color or design of the garment. The accessory is removably attached to the garment by means of a removable attachment device such as magnetic fasteners, snaps or hook and loop fasteners. The accessory is constructed in two layers; the top layer of an absorbent fabric material that is coordinated with the color or pattern of the underlying garment and the bottom layer of a waterproof or water resistant material which prevents or impedes water or moisture captured by the accessory from being transferred to the garment underneath.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to clothing items and garments and more particularly, relates to an accessory for a garment such as the combination of a shirt or other similar upper body garment and an accessory such as a bib that is color/fabric/ornamentation coordinated with the underlying garment and that prevents soiling of the underlying garment.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Babies, infants and other individuals who have some difficulty or impairment with eating often where a bib to prevent the soiling of their shirt, sweater or other garment worn on the upper part of one's body. Prior art bibs are designed to simply prevent liquid or solid food from sustaining the garment under the bib.

Although some of the prior art bibs may include some ornamentation or design, any such ornamentation or design is developed in the abstract without reference to any particular shirt or garment with which the bib might be utilized. Accordingly, this almost always generally results in a case where the prior art bib does not “match” the underlying garment and as such, is very conspicuous. Although such conspicuousness is not a problem with babies and infants, older individuals who may be having a hard time eating as a result of some impairment or medical condition may be self-conscious about the need to use a bib and thus may either not use one or may be very embarrassed about using one.

In addition, some individuals desire to purchase an underlying garment Co. would like to be able to change the locks of the garment by adding a visual accessory at changes the look of the garment without having to purchase a new underlying garment.

Accordingly, there is a need for garment accessory such as, but not limited to a bib which not only serves as a bib but which is overall a garment accessory that is coordinated in terms of color, fabric and/or ornamentation with an underlying garment thus minimizing or eliminating any indication that the bib (or other accessory) is in fact a bib and not simply an intended part of or ornamentation to the underlying garment.

SUMMARY

The present invention features a garment and accessory combination, comprising a garment configured for covering at least a portion of a chest region of a user. The garment is manufactured from a fabric, the fabric including one or more of a predetermined color or a predetermined design. The garment includes an exterior region. A removable garment accessory is provided and is configured for being worn on the chest region portion of the exterior region of the garment by the user and for being removed from the exterior region of the garment. The removable garment accessory includes at least an exterior layer and an interior layer. The exterior layer is removable from the interior layer and manufactured from an absorbent fabric material.

The exterior layer includes one or more of a predetermined color or a predetermined design. The predetermined color or predetermined design of the removable garment accessory matches or coordinates with the one or more of a predetermined color or predetermined design of the garment chest region fabric. The removable interior layer of the removable garment accessory is manufactured from a material that is liquid repellent at least on one surface of the interior layer which confronts an interior surface of the exterior layer. At least one of the exterior layer and interior layer include a first coupling means for releasably coupling the interior removable garment accessory layer to the exterior removable garment accessory layer. The removable garment accessory further includes a second coupling means for releasably coupling the removable garment accessory to the chest region of the garment.

In one embodiment, the removable garment accessory is a bib and the garment is a shirt. The exterior layer of the bib may be manufactured from a cotton or knitted fabric material and the exterior layer of the bib includes a design which matches a design on the garment. In addition, the exterior layer of the removable bib includes a design which coordinates with a design on the garment. For example, the exterior layer of the bib may include a predetermined color which corresponds with said predetermined color of at least the chest region of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a exploded schematic diagram of a garment and bib combination in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 2A-2G are various views and example of the garment and bib combination in accordance with the present invention illustrating how the bib coordinates with the underlying garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention features a garment accessory which is coordinated with the underlying garment such that the accessory does not appear to be an afterthought but rather, appears to be part of the underlying garment. For illustrative purposes only, the garment accessory of the present invention will be explained, without limitation, in the context of a bib 10, FIG. 1, which, as will be explained in greater detail below, is “coordinated” with the underlying shirt or other upper body garment 12 with which the bib is intended to be utilized. By “coordinated”, the present invention means that the bib 10 either identically matches the color/pattern of the underlying garment 12; matches one or more decorative features located on the underlying garment 12 such as, for example, a decorative feature on the arms, back, shoulders or waistband of the garment 12; or is designed in terms of color, shape or pattern to otherwise color coordinate or match with the underlying garment 12.

The bib 10 is constructed of at least 2 layers: the top layer 14 comprising a cotton or knitted fabric a layer that is designed to absorb any food or water that falls onto the bib. The second or bottom layer 16 consists of a waterproof or water blocking fabric or plastic layer that prevents any water that is absorbed by the top layer 14 from being transferred onto the shirt or garment 12 located under the bib.

In the preferred embodiments, the first layer 14 is removably attached to the second layer 16 by means of several small fasteners 18 such as magnets, snaps, Hook/Loop fasteners or the like. In this way, the top layer 14 may be removed from the underlying second layer 16 for washing.

The bib 10 is in turn held removably in place against the garment 12 utilizing one or more removable fasteners 20 such as magnetic fasteners, snaps fasteners or Hook and Loop fasteners. In this manner, the bib the 10 may be removed from the garment 12 and after doing so, the bib 10 may be separated into first and second layers 14, 16 allowing the user to wash the first layer 14, prior to the bib 10 being reassembled and reattached to the garment.

As shown in the first embodiment in FIG. 2A, the bib 10a may be of the same color as the underlying garment and in addition, may include a design element 22 which adds a pleasing visual addition to the bib/garment combination. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, the bib 10b may be in a color and shape that does not match the area immediately under the shirt but rather, is color and design coordinated with another part of the garment such as, for example, sleeves 24. In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 2C, the bib 10c may be coordinated with the images 26 on the arms of the garment 12 as well as with a design element 28 on the waistband of the garment.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 2D, the bib 10d may have the same color and striped pattern as the underlying garment 12 while at the same time including a decorative portion 30 at the lower edge of the bib 10. The color, pattern and decorative features of the bib 10d are all intended to make the bib less conspicuous to the wearer. This is particularly important for individuals who are aware of the fact that they may drool or drop food, water or other liquids on their shirt but are embarrassed or self-conscious about wearing a generic bib that stands out for all to immediately notice and observe.

As shown in yet another embodiment in FIG. 2E, the bib 10e is in for of a partial butterfly with the remainder of the design 32 being permanently formed on the garment 12, and which design and ornamentation matches or coordinates with that of the design 34 on each of the sleeves.

In the next embodiment shown in FIG. 2F, bib 10f includes the same color/striped pattern as the underlying garment 12 and in addition, includes a design feature 36 which makes the garment look like a “V” neck shirt. Instead of the design being on the shirt or garment 12 itself, it is on the bib 10f. In the last embodiment shown in FIG. 2G, the bib 10g is in the shape of a Horsehead while the underlying garment 12 includes a simulated grass or hay pattern which coordinates with the courses had of the bib. Other animal designs and bib designs may be developed and are contemplated in the same “animal” theme.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an absorbent, waterproof bib which matches or is color/pattern/design coordinated with all or part of the underlying garment with which the bib is to be utilized. In this manner, a user may have assured with the bib that is inconspicuous and does not raise the level of self-consciousness of the wearer above that of a normal shirt.

The Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A garment and accessory combination, comprising:

a garment configured for covering at least a portion of a chest region of a user, said garment manufactured from a fabric, said fabric including one or more of a predetermined color or a predetermined design, said garment including an exterior region; and

a removable garment accessory, configured for being worn on said chest region portion of said exterior region of said garment by said user and for being removed from said exterior region of said garment, said removable garment accessory including at least an exterior layer and an interior layer, said exterior layer removable from said interior layer and manufactured from an absorbent fabric material, said exterior layer including one or more of a predetermined color or a predetermined design, said predetermined color or predetermined design of said removable garment accessory matching or coordinating with said one or more of a predetermined color or predetermined design of said garment chest region fabric, said removable interior layer of said removable garment accessory manufactured from a material that is liquid repellent at least on one surface of said interior layer which confronts an interior surface of said exterior layer, at least one of said exterior layer and interior layer including first coupling means for releasably coupling said interior removable garment accessory layer to said exterior removable garment accessory layer, said removable garment accessory further including second coupling means for releasably coupling said removable garment accessory to said chest region of said garment.

2. The garment and accessory combination of claim 1, wherein said removable garment accessory is a bib.

3. The garment and accessory combination of claim 1, wherein said garment is a shirt.

4. The garment and accessory combination of claim 2, wherein said exterior layer of said bib is manufactured from a cotton or knitted fabric material.

5. The garment and accessory combination of claim 2, wherein said exterior layer of said bib includes a design which matches a design on said garment.

6. The garment and accessory combination of claim 2, wherein said exterior layer of said removable bib includes a design which coordinates with a design on said garment.

7. The garment and accessory combination of claim 2, wherein said exterior layer of said bib includes a predetermined color which corresponds with said predetermined color of at least said chest region of said garment.

8. A garment and bib combination, comprising:

a garment configured for covering at least a portion of a chest region of a user, said garment manufactured from a fabric, said fabric including one or more of a predetermined color or a predetermined design, said garment including an exterior region; and

a removable garment bib, configured for being worn on said chest region portion of said exterior region of said garment by said user and for being removed from said exterior region of said garment, said removable garment bib including at least an exterior layer and an interior layer, said exterior layer removable from said interior layer and manufactured from an absorbent fabric material, said exterior layer including one or more of a predetermined color or a predetermined design, said predetermined color or predetermined design of said removable garment bib matching or coordinating with said one or more of a predetermined color or predetermined design of said garment chest region fabric, said removable interior layer of said removable garment bib manufactured from a material that is liquid repellent at least on one surface of said interior layer which confronts an interior surface of said exterior layer, at least one of said exterior layer and interior layer including first coupling means for releasably coupling said interior removable garment bib layer to said exterior removable garment bib layer, said removable garment bib further including second coupling means for releasably coupling said removable garment bib to said chest region of said garment.