BIB WITH CHILD RESISTANT CLOSURE

Abstract

A child's bib, for securement around the neck of a child, including a main, substantially planar front piece, a pair of adjustable neck straps, and a two-piece, releasable buckle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a child's or infant's bib.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Infants and very young children of three years of age or more (hereinafter collectively referred to as “child” or “children”) are generally fed by their parents or care-givers. During this feeding, the child is often sitting in a high chair. To protect the child's clothing from food stains during feeding, a bib is secured around the child's neck.

Many times, a child will show signs of impatience with the feeding process, or become annoyed by the placement of the bib around the child's neck. As a result, the child may attempt to remove the bib.

Conventional bibs are fastened around the neck of a child with either two tie strings, or with other different types of fasteners.

The two string-type fasteners are secured by making a bow with the ends of those strings, in the same manner as the tying of a bow on shoe laces. These bows, however, are easily undone by many children.

Similarly, conventional fasteners, including Velcro, buttons, and others, can be relatively easily defeated by children. For example, children are generally able to determine how to unhook Velcro fasteners in the conventional manner. Alternatively, children can give a strong tug to the bib straps to which the Velcro loops are secured, and cause the separation of the bib straps.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new, relatively safe and secure means of fastening a bib around the neck of a child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a child's bib, for securement around the neck of a child.

The bib includes a main, substantially planar front piece. Optionally, the bib may include a collecting tray adjacent the bottom of the substantially planar front piece. The collecting tray prevents some food from falling onto the high chair, or onto the floor.

The bib is configured to be worn over the chest, and around the neck, of a child.

In one embodiment of the invention, the bib includes a pair of neck straps. Each of these neck straps may be approximately equal in length. One end of each neck strap is connected to the main planar front piece. As noted above, the neck straps are configured and designed for placement around the neck of the child.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a two-piece, releasable buckle. The most preferred buckle is a so-called parachute buckle.

Preferably, the first of the two pieces of the releasable buckle has a female end, and the second of the two pieces has a male end. The first of the two pieces is secured to the first of the two neck straps. The second of the two pieces is secured to the second of the two neck straps.

The buckle secures the neck straps of the bib to the child, and is relatively difficult for the typical child to defeat. The buckle is best positioned at the back of the neck of the child. In this way, the child has difficulty seeing or accessing the buckle.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, one or both of the straps is of an adjustable length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first embodiment of the bib of the invention, positioned as it would be worn by a child.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, frontal view of the bib of the invention, removed from the child.

FIG. 3 is an upper, rear view of the bib and child of FIG. 1, showing the buckle in its fully fastened, secured position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bib of FIG. 1, but further including an optional collecting tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the invention is a child's bib 10. The bib 10 is specifically made for securement around the neck of a child.

The bib 10 includes a main, substantially planar front piece 12. The substantially planar or flat nature of the front piece 12 enables the bib 10 to fit closely to the contours of the child's upper body. In this way, the bib 10 sits comfortably on the child's upper body, and provides excellent protection against accidental soiling of the child's clothing during feeding.

The substantially planar front piece 12 may be made of any suitable fabric or substance. If softness or the ability to remove stains through laundering is of paramount concern, then the bib 10 may be made of a cotton, linen, polyester, or other similar fabric.

In contrast, if water-resistance or the immediate ability to wipe away food particles or food stains from the bib is of greater concern, then the bib 10 may be made of a soft, flexible silicone, polymer or other similar material.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the substantially planar front piece 12 is of a generally flat construction along its entire length. However, as will be discussed in more detail below, a second embodiment of the invention may include means for collecting food that falls from the child's mouth, or otherwise falls onto the bib 10.

Returning again to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the bib 10 is configured to be worn over the chest and upper body, and to be secured around the neck, of a child.

To facilitate this, the bib 10 includes a pair of one-inch wide neck straps 14 and 16. The neck straps 14 and 16 of FIG. 1 are preferably made of a braided fabric, such as one-inch or 1½″ flat nylon webbing. Such webbing is commonly available at retail fabric stores, or from on-line merchandisers, including from Strapworks.com, 3900 West 1^st Avenue, Eugene, Oreg.

As may best be seen in FIG. 2, one end 18 of strap 14 is secured to the top, left portion of the substantially planar front piece 12. As may also be seen in this FIG. 2, one end 20 of strap 16 is secured to the top, right portion of the substantially planar front piece 12. Both straps 14 and 16 may be secured to the substantially planar front piece 12 by any suitable means, including by sewing, with stitching 22 and 24, the respective ends 18 and 20 to the planar front piece 12.

Each of these neck straps 14 and 16 may be approximately equal in length. As will be explained in more detail below, when these neck straps 14 and 16 are approximately equal in length, and the bib is fastened in place on the child's torso, a fastener holding straps 14 and 16 together will be positioned approximately at the back center of the child's neck. In this back center position, the child will have greater difficulty accessing that fastener, and much greater difficulty unfastening the bib 10 from around the child's neck.

As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, in a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a two-piece, releasable buckle. The most preferred buckle is a two-piece, releasable parachute-type buckle 26. An example of one such buckle 26 is available from Dritz as part number 480. This buckle 26 is suitable for one-inch wide straps, such as straps 14 and 16. However, straps and buckles of any suitable width may be used.

Preferably, as may best be seen in FIG. 2, the two pieces of the parachute buckle 26 are comprised of a first piece 28 having a female end, and a second piece 30 having a male end. The first female piece 28 is secured to first strap 14, and the second male piece 30 is secured to second strap 16. Of course, the first 28 and second 30 pieces may be secured on either of the two straps 14 and 16, according to the preference of the user.

When the two pieces 28 and 30 are brought together, an audible click is heard. This click provides assurance that the buckle 26 is securely fastened.

This click results from the compression, and then the expansion mating, of the tines 32 and 34 of the second piece 30 into a complementary slot in the first piece 28. Together, these two pieces 28 and 30 form the completed buckle 26 shown in FIG. 3.

To release the completed buckle 26 of FIG. 3, the user places his fingers on each of the tines 32 and 34, and pushes inwardly on the tines 32 and 34. This releases the locking effect of the two tines 32 and 34 on the first piece 28. Once the tines 32 and 34 are released, the user may separate the two pieces 28 and 30.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the buckle 26 secures the neck straps 14 and 16 of the bib 10 to the child. The particular construction of the buckle, and its position on the back of the child's neck, makes it very difficult for the typical child to defeat. First, because the buckle 26 is positioned at the back of the neck of the child, the child has much difficulty seeing or accessing the buckle 26.

Second, for a typical child with the buckle 26 in the back of its neck, the fine motor skills required for the separate pushing and pulling motions necessary to separate the buckle 26 will prove difficult or impossible. The typical child will be unable to simultaneously execute (i) the pushing necessary to release the tines 32 and 34; and (ii) the pulling necessary to separate the two pieces 28 and 30 of the buckle 26. As a result, this combination of features of this invention will defeat most attempts of a child to remove the bib 10.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, in yet another embodiment of the invention, one or both of the straps 14 and 16 is of an adjustable length. The adjustability of straps 14 and 16 is attributable to the insertion of the straps 14 and 16 into slots 36 and 38 at the respective ends of first piece 28 and second piece 30 of the preferred buckle 26 of the invention.

The buckle 26 need not be centered in the back of the child's neck, in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Rather, due to both the adjustability of the straps 14 and 16, and the ability to move the completed buckle 26 anywhere along the length of the combined straps 14 and 16, the completed buckle 26 may be positioned anywhere along the combined length of the straps 14 and 16. Particularly, referring to FIG. 2, the completed buckle 26 may be positioned on strap 14 just above the top, left portion 44 of the substantially planar front piece 12. In addition, the completed buckle 26 may be placed on strap 16 just above the top, right portion 46 of the substantially planar front piece 12. Finally, the completed buckle 26 may be positioned on straps 14 and 16 anywhere in between these two extremes.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the effective length of strap 16 is changed by manipulation of the tail end 40 of that strap 16 by the user. If the strap 16 is moved through slot 38 such that more of the tail end 40 is exposed, the strap 16 will be shorter in length. If the strap 16 is moved through the slot 38 such that less of the tail end 40 is exposed, the strap 16 will be longer.

FIG. 4 shows a feature of another embodiment of the invention. Particularly, the bib 10 may include a collecting tray 42 adjacent the bottom of the substantially planar front piece 12. The collecting tray 42 prevents some food from falling onto the high chair, or onto the floor.

Claims

1. A child's bib, for securement around the neck of a child, the bib comprising:

(a) a main, substantially planar front piece, configured to be worn over the chest of a child;

(b) a pair of neck straps, connected to the main planar front piece, for placement around the neck of the child; and

(c) a releasable buckle, attached to the pair of straps, for securing the bib to the child.

2. The child's bib of claim 1, wherein the straps are approximately equal in length.

3. The child's bib of claim 1, wherein the parachute-type buckle is comprised of a male end and a female end.

4. The child's bib of claim 1, further comprising a collecting tray adjacent the bottom of the substantially planar front piece.

5. A child's bib, for securement around the neck of a child, the bib comprising:

(a) a main, substantially planar front piece, and a collecting tray adjacent the bottom of the substantially planar front piece, all being configured to be worn over the chest of a child;

(b) a pair of neck straps, approximately equal in length, and connected to the main planar front piece, for placement around the neck of the child; and

(c) a two-piece, releasable parachute-type buckle, with the first of the two pieces having a female end, and the second of the two pieces having a male end, wherein the first of the two pieces is attached to the first strap of the pair of straps, and the second of the two pieces is attached to the second strap of the pair of straps, the buckle for securing the bib to the child.

6. The child's bib of claim 5, wherein one of the straps has an adjustable length.

7. The child's bib of claim 5, wherein both of the straps has an adjustable length

8. A child's bib, for securement around the neck of a child, the bib comprising:

(a) a main, substantially planar front piece, configured to be worn over the chest of a child;

(b) a pair of neck straps, each of the neck straps separately connected to the main planar front piece, the neck straps being for placement around the neck of the child; and

(c) a two-piece, releasable buckle, with each of the two pieces of the buckle connected to one of the neck straps;

wherein the buckle is positioned near the back of the child's neck when the bib is worn by the child.