GB2230689A - Apron - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable apron B, typically of plastics material comprises a body portion 11 and two ties 14. Each tie has a first portion 16 extending from the body portion generally lengthwise of the apron and a second portion 18 extending generally transversely of the apron, when the apron is laid out flat. Rows of perforations 20 in the neck portion 12 create lines of weakness so that the apron can be removed by breaking the neck portion along either (or both) of those lines. The initial part of the portion 16 extends away from the body portion by a substantial acute angle of at least 20 degrees and preferably about 45 degrees. <IMAGE>

Description

APRON This invention relates to disposable aprons. Such aprons, typically made of plastics material, are worn in hospitals by nurses and surgeons during operations and are also used in other situations where the apron is disposed of after a single use.

Disposable aprons as such are known and an example is shown laid out flat in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. The apron A, formed from a single sheet of plastics material, comprises a body portion 1, an integral neck portion 2, in which is formed a hole 3 which is placed over the head of the wearer for use, and two integral tie portions which extend from the body portion 1 generally parallel to the lengthwise direction of the apron. This prior known apron has several disadvantages.

Firstly, the relatively short length of the ties 4 means that they have to be tied at the back of the wearer.

Secondly, the fact that the ties 4 extend from the body portion generally parallel to the lengthwise direction means that when the ties 4 are drawn down and horizontally around the waist of the wearer, high stress arises in the plastics material at the points P which can result in splitting of the plastics material and even detachment of the ties making the apron unusable; furthermore, this orientation of the ties in the flat state tends to result in a small radius in the shape of the edge of the plastics material around the points P which makes splitting even more likely. Another result of this orientation of the ties is that when tied they tend to form a fold in the apron across the front of the body portion between the junctions of the ties with the body portion. This fold can trap contaminants.Thirdly, the hole 3 has to be made large enough to pass over the head of the wearer which means that, when it is in use around the neck of the wearer, the apron leaves a substantial area of the wearer's neck and chest unprotected.

The invention provides a disposable apron formed from a single sheet of material, comprising a body portion and two integral elongate ties, each tie having a first portion extending from the body portion generally lengthwise of the apron and a second portion extending generally transversely of the apron, when the apron is laid out flat.

This allows for the ties to be considerably longer than in the prior art and consequently they can be brought around the back of the wearer and tied in front which is considerably easier than tying them behind one's back.

Preferably, the first and second portions are connected by a generally arcuate intermediate portion which may trace out generally a quarter of a circle when the apron is laid out flat.

Each first portion preferably extends away from the body portion at a substantial acute angle to the lengthwise direction of the apron, when the apron is laid out flat.

By "substantial" is meant at least about 20 and the angle is preferably of the order of 45 .

It is also preferred that the apron further comprises an integral extension portion on each side of the body portion and extending laterally away therefrom below the junction of the corresponding tie with the body portion.

Typically, the apron comprises an integral neck portion for location around the neck of the wearer. Conveniently, the neck portion has at least one line or area of weakness so that the wearer may quickly remove the apron by breaking the neck portion at the line or area of weakness. Preferably, the neck portion includes at least one vent or portion breakable to form a vent, to facilitate movement of the neck portion over the head of the wearer.

The invention further provides a disposable apron formed from a single sheet of material, comprising a body portion and two integral elongate ties, each tie extending away from the body portion at a substantial acute angle to the lengthwise direction of the apron, when the apron is laid out flat.

This arrangement means that when the ties are brought down and around the wearer for use, each tie is not bent so much in the region around its junction with the body portion and consequently the material is not stressed so much as in the prior art resulting in a smaller risk of splitting than in the prior known apron.

The invention further provides a disposable apron formed from a single sheet of material, comprising a body portion and, extending from each side of the body portion, an integral elongate tie and an integral extension portion, the latter extending laterally away from the body portion below the junction of the tie with the body portion.

In use, the extension portions hang down on either side without deformation caused by the ties, giving side protection for the wearer and his or her clothing.

The invention yet further provides a disposable apron formed from a single sheet of material, comprising a body portion and an integral neck portion for location around the neck of the wearer, the neck portion having at least one line or area of weakness so that the wearer may quickly remove the apron by breaking the neck portion at the line or area of weakness.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the remaining figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 2 is a plan view of an apron embodying the invention laid out horizontally flat, this view corresponding to the view of the prior known apron of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic front view of a-woman wearing the apron of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the woman wearing the apron while seated; and Figure 5 is an enlarged front view of the neck portion of the apron of Figure 2 shown in use around the neck of the wearer.

The apron B embodying the invention is cut from a single sheet of plastics material and comprises a body portion 11, an integral neck portion 12 formed with a hole 13 for location around the neck of the wearer and two integral ties 14. Each tie 14 has a first portion 16 which extends away from the body portion 11 at an angle a to the lengthwise direction of the apron, a being approximately 45 , and thereafter curves round and follows the lengthwise direction of the apron. The first portion 16 then merges into an intermediate arcuate portion 17 which traces out a quarter of a circle in the flat state shown in Figure 2. The intermediate portion 17 then merges into a second portion 18 which extends transversely of the apron in its flat state. As will be appreciated from Figures 3 and 4, the ties 14 are thus long enough that they can be taken right around the back of the wearer and tied in front. Furthermore, the substantial angle a means that in use the plastics material is much less highly stressed around point P than in the prior known apron A and thus the risk of splitting at that point is considerably less. Furthermore, the substantial angle a means that the edge of the material around point P can be given a much larger radius which further mitigates the risk of splitting. Another unexpected effect of the substantial angle a is that in use there is much less tendency of the ties to form a fold across the body portion as described above in relation to the prior known apron A.

Below the junction of each tie 14 with the body portion 11, an integral extension portion 15 extends away from the body portion 11. As will be seen from Figure 4, each extension portion 15 hangs down undeformed to the side of the wearer. The lack of these extension portions in the prior known apron A means that the edges of the body portion 1 do not hang down straight but are deformed by the direct attachment of the ties 4 which, when they are tied together, pull those edges towards the back.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 5, the neck portion 12 is formed on each side with a row of perforations 12 thus creating a line of weakness on each side.

Instead of going to the trouble of lifting the neck portion over the wearer's head after use which can disarrange the hair and transfer contaminants to the head of the wearer, the apron can simply be broken at either (or both) of the lines of weakness merely by pulling and thus the apron can be quickly removed. The neck portion 12 is also formed on each side with a vent 21 and further perforation 22. The vents 21 allow the hole 13 to be smaller than the hole 3 in the prior art, and therefore the apron can protect more of the neck area of the wearer, because the vents provide for an expansion of the hole when the neck portion 12 is drawn over the head of the wearer. The perforations 22, which are in line with the vents 21 provide for an optional further expansion of the hole for passing over the head of the wearer by breaking the material between each perforation 22 and its corresponding vent 21.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. A disposable apron formed from a single sheet of material, comprising a body portion and two integral elongate ties, each tie having a first portion extending from the body portion generally lengthwise of the apron and a second portion extending generally transversely of the apron, when the apron is laid out flat.

2. An apron as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first and second portions are connected by a generally arcuate intermediate portion.

3. An apron as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the intermediate portion traces out generally a quarter of a circle, when the apron is laid out flat.

4. An apron as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each first portion extends away from the body portion at a substantial acute angle to the lengthwise direction of the apron, when the apron is laid out flat.

5. An apron as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising an integral extension portion on each side of the body portion and extending laterally away therefrom below the junction of the corresponding tie with the body portion.

6. An apron as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising an integral neck portion for location around the neck of the wearer.

7. An apron as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the neck portion has at least one line or area of weakness so that the wearer may quickly remove the apron by breaking the neck portion at the line or area of weakness.

8. An apron as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the neck portion includes at least one vent or portion breakable to form a vent, to facilitate movement of the neck portion over the head of the wearer.

9. A disposable apron formed from a single sheet of material, comprising a body portion and two integral elongate ties, each tie extending away from the body portion at a substantial acute angle to the lengthwise direction of the apron, when the apron is laid out flat.

10. A disposable apron formed from a single sheet of material, comprising a body portion and, extending from each side of the body portion, an integral elongate tie and an integral extension portion, the latter extending laterally away from the body portion below the junction of the tie with the body portion.

11. A disposable apron formed from a single sheet of material, comprising a body portion and an integral neck portion for location around the neck of the wearer, the neck portion having at least one line or area of weakness so that the wearer may quickly remove the apron by breaking the neck portion at the line or area of weakness.

12. A disposable apron substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.