GB2446363A

GB2446363A - Disposable bib

Info

Publication number: GB2446363A
Application number: GB0702277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jenny Pauline Dudley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-07
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2008-08-13
Also published as: GB0702277D0

Abstract

A disposable bib comprises a sheet of biodegradable absorbent tissue 12, having biodegradable contact adhesive 14 provided across the in-use underside of the bib member 12. A removable backing member 16 in the form of a sheet of biodegradable low adhesion surface is provided to protect the contact adhesive prior to use. A peel-back tag 18 is provided at the edge of the backing member 16 generally in one corner by which a user may peel the backing member 16 away from the bib member 12, to expose the contact adhesive 14 for use.

Description

I

Disoosable bib The invention relates to a disposable bib.

Many healthcare professionals, such as dental surgeons and dental hygienists, are exposed to splash-back of fluids, including water and bodily fluids, when carrying out procedures on patients. It is undesirable for the splash-back fluids to contaminate the professionars uniform or tunic, since this can result in cross-contamination between patients and patient distress. This problem is currently alleviated by the wearing of wipe-clean plastic aprons or, in the case of dentists and hygienists, by tucking a paper napkin or sheet of tissue into their collar. Both of these arrangements are time consuming to apply. In addition, splash-back fluids often drip down the plastic aprons as a procedure progresses creating further mess, and the tissues/napkins often fall off during the procedure so losing any protection for the tunic underneath.

Similarly, children often spill drinks and food when eating and drinking, and it is desirable to protect their clothes from contamination with the food and drink. This is traditionally achieved by using a washable cotton/towelling bib which is held in position using neck ties. These bibs have the disadvantage that they must be washed after use, and if they are used away from home the dirty bib must be carried around by the parent until they return home. Disposable plastic wipe-clean bibs are also known, being either disposable and attached using neck ties, or being re-usable hard plastic bibs with a flexible collar, and often having a catch-tray at the bottom, which are uncomfortable for the child to wear. Plastic bibs suffer from the problem that food and drink spilled on them simply runs down the bib, and can end up on the child's clothing.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a disposable bib comprising: an absorbent bib member having contact adhesive provided across at least part of one side of the bib member; and a removable backing member provided over the contact adhesive, the backing member to be removed prior to use to expose the contact adhesive.

The bib member is preferably fabricated from a biodegradable material. The bib member may comprise a sheet of a biodegradable material, most preferably a sheet of biodegradable tissue. The bib member may alternatively compnse a pad of biodegradable material.

The contact adhesive is preferably provided across the major area of one side of the bib member, most preferably across substantially the full area of the said one side of the bib member except for a thin border region around the edges of the bib member. The contact adhesive may alternatively be provided across a plurality of sub-areas of the said one side of the bib member.

The contact adhesive is preferably a biodegradable contact adhesive.

The or each backing member preferably compnses a sheet of biodegradable material, most preferably biodegradable plastic.

Preferably, the or each backing member is provided with a tag member located at the edge of the bib member, which a user may grip in order to pull a backing member away from the contact adhesive.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top view of a disposable bib according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the bib of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the in- use underside of the bib of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the in-use underside of the bib of Figure 1 following removal of the backing member.

Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention provides a disposable bib 10 comprising an absorbent bib member 12, contact adhesive 14, a removable backing member 16 and a peel-back tag 18.

In this example the absorbent bib member 12 comprises a sheet of biodegradable absorbent tissue having a width of 21cm, a minimum height (at the ends) of 11cm and a maximum height (in the centre) of 18cm. The bib member 12 is generally oval in shape with squared off ends.

Biodegradable contact adhesive 14 is provided across substantially the full area of the in-use underside of the bib member 12, apart from a narrow border region around the edges of the bib member 12, as seen best in Figure 4.

The backing member 16 comprises a sheet of biodegradable plastic having a low adhesion surface which is provided in contact with the contact adhesive 14. The peel-back tag 18 is provided at the edge of the backing member 16 generally in one corner.

The backing member 16 protects the contact adhesive 14 prior to use of the disposable bib 10, and is easily removed from the contact adhesive 14 by a user holding the peel-back tag 18 and peeling the backing member 16 away from the bib member 12. The contact adhesive 14 is thereby exposed for use.

In use, the backing member 16 is removed as described above and the bib member 12 is applied onto the users outer garment, generally across the chest area. The disposable bib 10 of this example is intended for use by dental surgeons and dental hygienists, for wear over the upper area of the dentist or hygienist's tunic. The size and shape of the bib member 12 has been selected to cover the maximum area of the tunic which is typically exposed to splash-back fluids, such as water, saliva, blood and polish, during dental procedures. Any splash-back fluids will be absorbed by the bib member 12, thereby protecting the dentist or hygienist's tunic. Following a dental procedure the dentist or hygienist will remove the bib 10 by peeling it off their tunic. The bib 10 can then be disposed off, which would generally be by incineration since bodily fluids may be present on the bib member 12. A new bib 10 can then be applied onto the tunic ready for the next patient or procedure.

The disposable bib provides various advantages, as follows. The bib member absorbs splash-back fluids which are thereby contained within the disposable bib. The use of the disposable bib will help to reduce cross-infection and cross-contamination between patients, since a fresh bib can be used for each patient, thus presenting a clean surface to the patient rather than a tunic which may have been worn to treat many previous patients that day. The disposable bib is easy to apply to the front of the wearer's clothing/tunic and the large area of contact adhesive ensures that the bib will not fall off during wear, so the dentist or hygienist does not have to worry about losing protection for their tunic and can fully concentrate on the patient. Because the bib is disposable no cleaning of the bib is required and so there is no need to store soiled bibs in the surgery.

In an alternative application of the disposable bib 10, the bib member 12 is rotated through 900 relative to the orientation shown in Figure 1. In this orientation the disposable bib 10 may be used on a small child by applying the bib member 12 onto the child's clothing across their front. Protection is thereby provided for the child's clothing when the child is eating and/or drinking. Once the meal or drink is finished the disposable bib 10 is removed from the child's clothing by peeling the bib member 12 away from the clothing. The bib 10 can then be disposed of as general domestic waste and will biodegrade if the waste is sent to land fill.

The disposable bib provides various advantages over known child's bibs, as follows.

The disposable bib is quick and easy to adhere to the child's clothing and is therefore less likely to result in the refusal to wear the bib that often arises when a parent tries to tie a traditional bib in place. Since there is no contact with the child's skin the disposable bib is more comfortable for the child to wear than traditional bibs which require attachment around the child's neck. The bib is disposable and is therefore convenient to use, especially away from home since it can be put in the local waste rather than be carried around dirty until returned home to be washed as is the case with traditional bibs. Since the bib is disposable Its use will also reduce the washing load on the household and since it is biodegradable its use will not result in long term pollution of the planet.

Claims

Claims 1. A disposable bib comprising: an absorbent bib member having

contact adhesive provided across at least part of one side of the bib member; and a removable backing member provided over the contact adhesive, the backing member to be removed prior to use to expose the contact adhesive.
2. A disposable bib as claimed in claim 1, in which the bib member is fabricated from a biodegradable material.
3. A disposable bib as claimed in claim 2, in which the bib member comprises a sheet of a biodegradable material.
4. A disposable bib as claimed in claim 3, in which the bib member comprises a sheet of biodegradable tissue.
5. A disposable bib as claimed in claim 2, in which the bib member comprises a pad of biodegradable material.
6. A disposable bib as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the contact adhesive is provided across the major area of one side of the bib member.
7. A disposable bib as claimed in any of claims I to 5, in which the contact adhesive is provided across a plurality of sub-areas of the said one side of the bib member.
8. A disposable bib as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the contact adhesive is a biodegradable contact adhesive.
9. A disposable bib as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each backing member comprises a sheet of biodegradable material.
10. A disposable bib as claimed in claim 9, in which the biodegradable material comprises biodegradable plastic.
11. A disposable bib as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each backing member is provided with a tag member located at the edge of the bib member, which a user may grip in order to PU!! a backing member away from the contact adhesive.
12.A disposable bib substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.