GB2529487A

GB2529487A - Protective long outerwear/bib

Info

Publication number: GB2529487A
Application number: GB1415014.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dawn-Elizabeth Howe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-23
Filing date: 2014-08-23
Publication date: 2016-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-23
Also published as: GB2529487B; GB201415014D0

Abstract

An infants bib formed from a water resistant material comprises long sleeves each having an adjustable cuff (1, 2, 3, 4, figure 2), a front section configured to reach at least to a wearers feet to form an apron, a back section configured to extend to the knee area of a wearer, fastening means (5, 6, 7, 8) for fastening the bib around a wearers legs, securing means (2, 3, figure 3) located at a wearers neck and a protruding pouch (9, figure 2) located on the front section. The bib preferably includes an extra piece of soft absorbent material (10) on its inside surface located at the throat of a wearer.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GB1415014.8 RTTVI Date:4 March 2015 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo Protective long outerwear / bib

Introduction

This invention is to cover the user's clothing from spills and in particular offers a new improved baby and toddler bib. This design is primarily designed for babies and toddlers in mind. However, note that this design is scalable so can be worn by a person of any age; from babies, children and adults. The design protects users clothing from various activities including but not exclusive to eating, drinking, walking and play.

Background to the invention

There have been many varied designs aimed at protecting clothing from spills and messy play products, usually incorporating some form of bib design, though until now, none seem to fully protect the user's clothing. Food, juices and paint etc. dribble and run down the arms onto clothing, thereby making it wet and uncomfortable for the user and create a lot of washing for the carer. It seems that current bibs fail to provide adequate protection around the neck so food and juices can be freely transferred from mouth to clothing on chest. The majority of bibs on the market currently finish around the waist or higher so clothing below the waist is still at risk of being marked. Many materials used in current bib designs require protracted periods of time to dry, whilst the bib itself is a separate piece of clothing that stains and therefore requires scrubbing prior to going into the washing machine.

Bibs were originally designed to cover just the chest and attach around the neck with Velcro or a press stud. Since then, bibs have been designed with sleeves and finish around the waist, an example of which can be seen with this granted patent for a long sleeve bib; atents'USD288022-whilst these designs improve the bib concept, they still do not do a sufficient job. Some long sleeve bibs have the added element of elasticated sleeves, but these still allow food and juices to run down the arm as they fail to provide an adequate seal around the wrist. This results in the user's clothing becoming wet and stained and therefore defeating the purpose of the bib.

Food pouch rigidity and placement are an ongoing problem. Many material bib pouches fail to protrude sufficiently and/or are situated so low down the bib that they fail to catch falling foodstuffs and spills. In addition, if the pouch does protrude but positioned too high on the chest, then they hinder the user as it prevents a clear view of the food they are eating.

Statement of invention

It isa purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved bib that protects clothing from not only food and juice spills but also over and above that of current bib designs.

Advantages The purpose of this present improved bib invention allows the user total coverage from neck to foot, but also facilitates safe movement without fear of tripping on the excess material, by means of Velcro at knee/ankle level.

Another purpose of this invention is improved fit around the wrists by using Velcro to secure the sleeve cuffs. The cut of the bib at the neck follows the contours of the neck and with the use of well-fitting Velcro at the nape preventing food and spillages transferring to the user's clothing.

This bib design can be worn by a person of any age to protect during a variety of different activities including, but not exclusive to eating, walking and play.

Introduction to drawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to this drawing which illustrates the bib worn by a user; Fig.1

Summary of invention

It has long sleeves with Velcro at the edge of the cuff enabling a tight secure yet comfortable fit thus preventing both food and liquid transference onto clothing and also preventing the sleeve hanging over the users hands hindering their actions.

The front of the bib is sufficiently long so that it forms an apron. When the user is standing it goes below the user's feet so all clothes are covered. Various proportions of sizes may be made so this design is therefore scalable for babies, children and adults. When the user is seated, the bib completely covers the body and therefore protects clothing.

Velcro is positioned on the front and both sides of the bib which when secured around the leg or ankle (depending on height of user), allow the user to walk safely without tripping up on the front section of the bib. This feature is also effective when seated if the user is likely to try and kick the apron off to the side. Note, in the description of drawings section how the Velcro is attached at the base of the bib as it makes it easy to get on and off.

The back of the bib finishes around the knees and is secured by two sections of Velcro; one at the nape of the neck and one mid-way down the back. This ensures a tight fit to hold the bib in place over clothing and can be tucked under the user's bottom so that the user's clothing is covered and protected. Also, the cut of the bib at the neck follows the contours of the neck and so with the use of well-fitting Velcro at the nape preventing food and spillages transferring to the user's clothing.

The bib includes a pouch to limit food wastage. It is positioned so that it sits level with the hips so when seated, the pouch rests on the user's lap, thus not obscuring view of food in front of the user by being too high, yet still catching dropped / discarded food. This position also means the user can easily see into the pouch and pick up dropped food. The base of the pouch is attached to the front of the bib and the pouch has one dart stitched into both 5 and 7 o'clock position ensuring pouch protrusion.

The material is water resistant which limits absorbency of the bib and also means it can be quickly wiped down rather than washed after every use. However, at such time that a thorough machine or hand wash is necessary, the bib's lightweight fabric construction means that it dries rapidly. The bib may have a piece of half-moon crescent shaped terry cloth at the throat, inside the bib, increasing comfort for the user whilst providing additional absorbency for severe spillages.

Drawings: A fuller understanding of the present invention will be obtained upon consideration of detailed description when taking into account the illustrative embodiment of the bib drawings; Fig. 1 -Illustrates the front and back of the bib when worn by the user and fastened Fig. 2-Is a flat drawing of the front of the bib Fig. 3-Is a flat drawing of the back of the bib Fig. 4-Illustrates a side view of the Velcro secured around the back of the user's leg Fig. 1 -Illustrates the front and back of the bib when worn by the user and fastened Fig. 1 illustrates the bib on a user from the front and rear view point. Fig.1 shows the Velcro fastened so that it fits tightly and securely around the users wrists and the material does not hang down on to hands. Velcro also secures the bib around the user's legs to enable the user to walk freely around without concern of tripping up on the material.

Fig. 2-Shows the bib in a flat position: The pre-determined-sized panels of the front, rear, arm and pouch sections are attached by sewing. Fig. 2 also shows the bib in a flat position and all Velcro is unfastened. The bib has long sleeves and at the end of each cuff, and (1) a section of Velcro is attached and (2) a secondary, opposing and longer piece of Velcro is sewn into the seam of the sleeve. (2) then wraps around the right wrist, joining both parts of the Velcro, ensuring a tight seal. In addition, (4) wraps around (3) to secure the left sleeve. Refer to Fig. 2 which shows the Velcro tabs open and to Fig. 1 showing how the bib looks from the front and back view when fastened on a user.

Fig. 2 also shows the bib has means for securing front panels around legs with the use of Velcro: 5 and 6 attach to each other securing the left leg and Velcro sections 7 and 8 attach to each other securing the right leg. See Figs. land 4 to see how these look when fastened on a user.

Fig. 2 also shows the bib has (9) a pouch secured on the front side to catch food spills. The base of the pouch is attached to the front of the bib and the pouch has a dart stitched into the 5 and 7 o'clock position making the pouch protrude sufficiently to catch foodstuff and spills.

Fig. 2 also shows the bib may have a (10) piece of terry cloth attached inside at the throat for extra absorbency.

Fig. 3-Is a flat drawing of the back of the bib Two separate pieces of Velcro (3) and (5) are stitched to (1) the back of the bib; one at the nape and one mid-way down the back. (2) Velcro at the nape attaches to a corresponding piece (3) attached to panel (1) as a second piece of Velcro (4) attaches to a corresponding piece (5) attached to panel (1) to secure the bib in place in the middle of the user's back.

Fig. 3 also shows the Velcro (6) which fastens around the sleeve cuff will fasten around the wrist on the inside of the arm so that in most cases, the Velcro piece finishes at a place on the wrist so that the user doesn't try to undo it as it ends on the outside edge of the wrist.

Fig. 4-Shows a side view of the Velcro secured around the back of the user's leg Note the Velcro protrudes outwards rather than overlapping and lying flat against the leg -this is a practical rather than aesthetic motivation as it makes the action of securing the bib around legs of the user swift whilst at the same time not limiting comfort for the user.

Fig. 4 shows the bib has means of securing front panels around legs with the use of Velcro: 1 and 2 attach to each other securing the bib around the leg. Refer to Fig. 1 as well as Fig. 4 to understand how these look when fastened on a user. Refer to Fig. 2 which has the flat drawing of the front of the bib to appreciate where the Velcro is attached on the bib in order to tie the bib around the user's legs.