AU614974B2 - Disposable bib - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 3952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATIO: 614974 Form

(ORIGINAL

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Kathleen Patricia EAREA 3/201 AVONDALE ROAD

NAPIER

NEW ZEALAND Cecelia Mary MARTIN 50 DOWNING AVENUE

NAPIER

NEW ZEALAND Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: GRIFFITH HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: DISPOSABLE BIB.

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of per'.orming it known tc me:- 1-- The present invention comprises an improved form of a disposable bib or feeder.

The use of bibs or feeders to protect infants or babies clothing during feeding is well known. Typically a bib comprises a generally square, rectangular or otherwise suitably shaped section of material provided with securing °o tapes or the like which in use is placed on the front Lu the 0a, infant and fast.oned about the infant's neck by way of the tapes. After use the bib is removed and washed. Similarly bibs are used in hospitals in the feeding of elderly and handicapped people.

'i S Disposable bibs formed of a suitable disposable S material such as paper or the like are known. Known forms of disposable bibs suffer from problems or limitations however.

In one known form of disposable bib the means for securing the I. bib in position in use comprises paper tapes which are j integrally formed with the paper body part of the bib: and these paper tape securing means have been found not to be par'cicularly robust or effective in use. In a further form of disposable bib the bib does not comprise a means for securing the bib in position in the form of paper tapes but, instead, the bib comprises adhesive means whereby the bib is secur al in position by adhering the bib to the infants clothing, and this form of bib is not always suitable for use in summer time when ii i- To: The Commissioner cf Patents, MA M ture(s) of declarant(s) Australia The invention may be said in broad terms to compre a infants may not be wearing anyapertu through said body part throughequivalent durhich a subjects head may be passed whereby adhesive means isday.

rovided on .t least one side of two opposed parts of said bib, Thaid opposed parts being provided on either side or a t leasth alternative form of extending from sad aperture and defnng sabib.

opposed parts, whereby after passing said bib over the subjects head the bib is secured in position on said subject for use solely by bringing and securing together by way of said adhesive meansThe invention may be said into clse the bib, said disposable materdisposable bib formed of a disposable material comprising a body layer of an abmpriin a neck aptertual through said beneathody part throughayer of polyethylene or other plastics material and the top or bottom layer of which material is impreganted with a wipe aidinq agent for wiping the subjsubects head may be passed whereby hesive means isbib.

roPrefer at least one side of two opposed parts of said bib adjacent said said opposed parts being provided on either side of a slit or slot in the b..ib material extending from said aperture and defining said opposed parts', w hereby slit or bib over the subjectsfrom t Head the bib is secured in position on said subject for use r"solely by bringing and securing together by way of said adhesive means said opposed parts to close the bib, said disposable material being of a multi-layer construction comprising a top layer of an abosrbent material and a layer beneath the top layer I-,R of polyethylene or other plastics material and the top or bottom layer of which material is impreganted with a wipe aiding agent I for wiping the subjects skin after removing the bib.

Preferably said "opposed parts' of said bib adjacent said aperture are provided on either side of a slit or slot in the bib material, extending rom said aperture and defining said 'opposed parts'. The slit or fZhe like may extend from T- L I .b -3 the aperture across the bib to the external edge of the bib to j divide the bib in the rear part of the bib behind the neck aperture for example, or only partially towards said external edge to define two opposed parts adjacent said aperture which may be drawn together to an extent sufficient to close the bib.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two preferred ie t Sfo mns of disposable bib of the invention. Various forms and D* ,.Dodiments of disposable bib in accordance with the invention are possible and the two forms shown in the drawings are S described by way of example only. In the drawings: o Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first preferred form of disposable bib of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a second preferred form of o 0 -1 disposable bib of the invention.

4 S Reference numerals 1 in the drawings generally indicate the two preferred forms of bib. Each bib comprises a front or body part la, which in use of the bib will lie over the front of the infant generally below the infant's neck, and a rear part lb which in use will lie generally over the infant's shoulders and behind the infant's neck. A suitably positioned aperture 2 of a suitable size for encircling the infant's neck is provided in the bibs as shown.

In the first preferred form of bib of Fig. 1 the bib R/ q RT -is of a generally rectangular shape while in the second preferred form the bib is of a general shape as shown.

4 'r v" 1 s u~rru- 4 Other shapes of bib are possible within th- scope of the invention.

Two opposed parts 3 of bib material adjacent the neck aperture 2 are formed in each bib, in the preferred form by a slit 4 formed in the rear part Ib of the bibs, which slit extends from the aperture 2 'zwards the external edge of the bib as shown. Adhesive means 5 in the form of a spot or 9 a section of a suitable adhesive or adhesive material i.c o provided on at least one of the opposed parts 3. The arrangement is such that in use the bib may be fitted to an o infant by passing the bib over the infant's head; the slit 4 enables the opposed parts 3 to separate effectively enlarging the neck aperture 2 so that the bib may pass ovetr the infant's head without difficulty. When the bib is in position on the infant the bib is closed by bringing the opposed parts 3 together and securing them to one another by way of the adhesive 5. If desired vdhesive means may be provided on both of the opposed parts 3 (on the top surface of one part and the undersurface of the other). After use of the bib the opposed parts 3 are separated and the bib removed. The adhesive means 4 may be resealable adhesive whereby the bib may be used a number of times before disposal.

In an alternative arrangement to the preferred form shown the slit 4 could extend from the neck aperture to the 5~ F external edge of the bib so that the rear part lb of the bib is divided into two left and right parts and adhesive means could be suitably provided such that the two left and right parts may be brought together and adhered once the bib has been fitted in position. Instead of the slit 4 a slot or other suitably shaped gap in the bib material may be employed.

The arrangement of the invention does not suffer It t from the disadvantage of fragile paper tapes and there is no rle .0o requirement for the bib to be adhered directly to the infant's clothing. Bibs formed in accordance with the invention are less prone to damage and are more robust in use.

9 *:too* In accordance with the invention the material from which the bibs are formed is of a multi-layer construction, comprising a top sheet 8 which is formed of a suitable absorbent tissue or wadding or other material to provide absorbency to the bib, a middle sheet 7 which is formed of a material to provide strength to the bib, such as polythene or some other suitable plastics material for example, and optionally an under tissue 6. It is preferred that notwithstanding the provision of the layer 7 the top tissue 8 itself nonetheless have a degree of inherent strength to prevent disintegration when the top tissue becomes moistened or damp in use. The under tissue 6 may be impregnated with a suitable wipe aiding agent whereby after the bib has been i removed from the infant after use it may also act as a wipe KMA/t1S for the infant's skin/face, the bib being held such that the I- i T 1 4- -6 tissue 6 contacts the baby's skin. Any suitable "wipe aiding agent" may be employed, such as a lanoline astringent, a cleaning agent or the like, for example.

The bibs of the invention are so constructed that they may be formed not only for infant's but also of a size suitable for adults, such as handicapped persons and in old persons homes for example.

t The foregoing describes our invention including two S preferred forms thereof. Various other forms of the invention r~et are possible employing the principle disclosed. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the S art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof, as defined in the following claims.

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Claims (6)

1- i THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A disposable bib formed of a disposable material comprising a body part comprising a neck aperture through said body part through which a subjects head may be passed whereby adhesive means is provided on at least one side of two opposed parts of said bib, said opposed parts being provided on either side of a gap in the bib material, extending from said aperture and defining said opposed parts, whereby after passing said bib over the subjects head the bib is secured in position on said :ubject for use solely by bringing and securing together by way said adhesive means said opposed parts to close the bib, said :'°disposable material being of a multi-layer construction .,.comprising a top layer of an absorbent material and a layer o Sbeneath the top layer of polyethylene or other plastics material and the top or bottom layer of which material is impregnated with a wipe aiding agent for wiping the subjects sk after removing the bib.

2. A disposable bib according to claim 1 wherein said gap is provided by a slit or slot.

3. A disposable bib according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein said gap extends from the aperture across the bib to the external edge of the bib behind the neck aperture. 9) i .J I 8

4. A disposable bib according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein said gap extends only partially towards said external edge to define two opposed parts adjacent said aperture which may be drawn together to an extent sufficient to close thu bib.

5. A disposable bib accrding to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wipe aiding agent is a lanolin astringent.

6. A disposable bib substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 23rd day of April 1991. KATHLEEN PATRICIA EAREA and CECELIA MARY MARTIN tfttt 4t I I 4) 4, 4, 4 0 9 0 0 0 4+ 1 4 4t+ 4 By Their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. yellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. I~aY~~ i F" rc~za. rR i I .I