GB2334200A - Protective cape or bib with sealing collar - Google Patents

Abstract

Protective apparel 1, such as a bib or a haidressing cape, comprising a sheet made of rubber non-woven material with an integrally formed collar portion 5. The collar portion is resiliently biased to provide substantially sealing contact with the wearers neck. A fastener 7a,7b for fastening the sheet around the wearer is provided. A paper or tissue liner may be used to line the inside surface of the collar portion. The non-woven material may be anti-static to repel hair. The apparel may also be used as a baby's food bib (fig 3) with an elasticated collar portion (fig 3, 16) and a trough (fig 3, 17). Materials used may be eg. stamped, corrugated for aesthetic or branding purposes.

Description

PROTECTIVE COLLAR OR BIB This invention relates to protective apparel and more specifically a collar or similar garment adapted to provide a barrier to prevent the ingress or staining of substances on or into a person's clothing.

One application of the invention relates to hairdressing gowns or capes and collars associated with such, while another application of the invention is found in food bibs or the like. The invention however is not limited to these applications.

Hairdressing capes are well known and come in different forms. Typically they comprise of a plasticated or woven sheet fabric of suitable length to be draped over a hairdresser's client's shoulders and upper body. Such capes are generally adequate in preventing falling hair from landing upon and clinging to the client's clothing.

However, a problem arises in how the cape is supported and fastened to a person's neck. In the past it has been difficult to provide a suitable shaped gown that universally fitted people of different neck circumference and adapted to a variety of collar shapes and noncollared clothing.

In the present invention it is recognised that the practice of simply pushing the cape or gown into the neck region and under the shirt or blouse collar of a client's clothing is not adequate in preventing hair from gaining access to the client's skin in that region. Similarly, the use of cotton wool strips or tissues is impractical and does little to improve the effectiveness of the desired seal.

One suggested solution to this problem is taught in British Patent Application Number GB2237181 where there is described a flexible and foldable collar that has a retaining means for enabling a protective gown to be secured thereto. However, while this device might to a limited extent mitigate the problem of cut hair penetrating under the collar region of a client's clothing, it carries a further disadvantage in that it is separate from the protective gown. As such, the described collar requires the use of an additional retaining means, and with that bears associated cost implications.

Other solutions hereinbefore known are not entirely satisfactory for the reason that they do not successfully counter the tendency of such gowns or capes to pull away from the neck under the influence of their own weight.

Moreover, most gowns or capes present only an edge interface to a user's neck rather than a planar contact area and this allows for frequent separation of the gown from the skin at respective points around the top of the gown or cape.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparel offering greater versatility, comfort and sealing qualities to that generally known heretofore.

Having regard to bibs, it is also recognised that they too should prevent undesirable food matter or even saliva from contaminating or otherwise dirtying a wearer's clothes. Most bibs, however, tend to be loose around a wearer's neck, leaving a gap through which food may penetrate. Also many baby bibs are made of a woven fabric which can be soaked from saliva, spilt drink and so on, causing the underlying clothing to be wetted.

Also, ties or laces commonly found on bibs can become caught, work loose or knot.

According to the present invention there is provided protective apparel comprising a sheet made of a non-woven material having an integrally formed collar portion, wherein the collar portion is resiliently biased, when worn, toward the wearer's neck so as to provide a substantially sealing contact therewith.

Preferably the non-woven material is rubber.

Preferably the protective apparel further comprises a fastening means for fastening the sheet material around the wearer. More specifically, the fastening means may be located in the collar region and to the side of the neck, when worn. The fastening means may be a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro (Trade Mark). The fastening means could be sewn or adhered to the sheet material.

A paper liner or tissue may be used to line the inside surface of the collar portion.

Preferably the resilient bias is integral with the construction of the apparel.

In a preferable embodiment of the invention, the nonwoven material would be anti-static, thereby being adapted to repel hair away from itself and the neck and shoulder regions.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of protective apparel in accordance with the invention; o Figure 2 is a pictorial view of an alternative embodiment of protective apparel according to the invention being worn by a hairdresser's client; and Figure 3 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of protective apparel in the form of a baby's food bib in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, protective apparel is illustrated and generally depicted at 1. The apparel is made from a rubber sheet having a front chest portion 2, a back portion 3, shoulder portions 4a and 4b and a collar portion 5. Notably the collar portion 5 is able to stand substantially upright while the other portions 2, 3, 4 lie flat in a resting position.

Furthermore, the collar portion 5 and fillet or radius 11 are formed thicker than the other portions of the sheet material. This has the advantage of creating a desirable weight distribution amongst the apparel 1, while also enabling adequate strength to be imparted to the shaped fillet 11 that serves to resiliently bias the collar portion 5, in use, into sealing contact with the user.

Fastening means 7a and 7b is provided in the form of hook and loop tabs. One mating part of the fastening means is provided in short segments 7a. This has a two-fold advantage in that it enhances the adjustability of the collar size, and also minimises any reduction of the elasticity of the collar portion 5 by reason of the attached fastening means.

Additional fastening or securing means may be provided on the underside of the sheet for the optional fastening of a fabric cape or gown (not shown).

In Figure 2 similar protective apparel 9 is illustrated while in use by a person 10 having a haircut. In this embodiment the apparel 9 is longer such that the nonwoven sheet provides the function of a cape or gown while also providing a sealing contact around the wearer's neck.

The embodiment of Figure 3 is particularly suited for use as a baby's food bib. In this embodiment, generally depicted at 13, the previously described shoulder portions have been substantially reduced. Similarly, the back portion 12 is of shortened length, the need for this area to be protected being mitigated.

It is to be noted that a baby or young child would almost certainly not succeed in removing the bib 13 undesirably or inadvertently.

The bib 13 does not require a fastening means as the elasticated collar portion 16 may be easily slipped over the person's head. However, the bib may alternatively be provided with a fastening means 14 at the rear of the neck, when worn, which also renders removal of the bib 13 by its wearer difficult.

A trough 17 is formed in the front portion 18 of the bib 13 to further catch spillage. Unlike rigid plastic troughs known to the art, the rubber or latex trough 17 does not hurt the baby should he or she fall forward.

A further advantage of the use of a non-woven material for a bib or the like is that it is generally waterproof and easily wiped clean or washed. The bib 13 made in accordance with the invention herein would also be relatively quick drying. Yet further, its non-porous characteristic make it a suitable protective barrier against spilt hot liquids, such as tea or coffee left within a baby's reach.

The non-woven material may be a dipped latex. The embodiments may be formed or shaped with a heated knife, manually or mechanically controlled. Moreover, materials used in accordance with the invention may be readily stamped, corrugated or the like, including for aesthetic or branding purposes.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS: 1. Protective apparel comprising a sheet made of a non woven material having an integrally formed collar portion, wherein the collar portion is resiliently biased, when worn, toward the wearer's neck so as to provide a substantially sealing contact therewith.
2. 2. Protective apparel as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the non-woven material is rubber.
3. 3. Protective apparel as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the protective apparel further comprises a fastening means for fastening the sheet material around the wearer.
4. 4. Protective apparel as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the fastening means is located in the collar region and to the side of the neck, when worn.
5. 5. Protective apparel as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the fastening means is a hook and loop fastener, sewn or adhered to the sheet material.
6. 6. Protective apparel as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising a paper liner or tissue used to line the inside surface of the collar portion.
7. 7. Protective apparel as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the resilient bias is integral with the construction of the apparel.
8. 8. Protective apparel as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the non-woven material is anti-static and thereby adapted to repel hair and or other matter away from itself and the neck and shoulder regions.
9. 9. Protective apparel as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in the form of a hairdresser's apron.
10. 10. Protective apparel as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in the form of a baby or toddler's bib.