NZ298468A

NZ298468A - Apron having a towel portion detachably connectable to the skirt portion

Info

Publication number: NZ298468A
Application number: NZ298468A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Arabella Caroline Michell
Original assignee: Arabella Caroline Michell
Priority date: 1995-01-18
Filing date: 1996-01-17
Publication date: 1998-05-27
Also published as: GB9500908D0; GB2297022A; EP0809449A1; WO1996022032A1; AU693308B2; AU4396396A; CA2210456A1; JPH10512628A

Description

New Zealand No. International No. 298468 TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 18.01.1995; Complete Specification Filed: 17.01.1996 Classification: (6) A41D13/04 Publication date: 27 May 1998 Journal No.: 1428 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 complete specification Title of Invention: Baby-bathing aid Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: ARABELLA CAROLINE MICHELL, 1 Remenham Terrace, Remenham Hill, Henley-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 3EN, United Kingdom 29 846 8 (KG14979P.SPE) BftBY-SftTffXW? ftXP This invention relates to a baby-bathing aid, which is worn over one's normal clothes and allows the user to use both hands when removing a baby or child from a bath. It is envisaged the aid could be used for children from birth to an age of around ten years.

In US-A-2879514, there is disclosed an apron device for protecting a mother while bathing a baby. This is formed of a large, one piece L-shaped towelling robe which has a drape portion which is unwound by the mother from around her body, and wrapped around a baby to be dried, whereupon the device can then be released in its entirety from the mother completely by detaching a neck piece. This has the disadvantage that.the apron device then no longer protects the mother while she is drying the baby.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved baby-bathing aid.

According to the present invention, I provide a baby-bathing aid comprising a first part in the form of an apron having a skirt portion and which can be worn by a person bathing a baby, and a second part in the form of a towel portion, characterised in that the baby bathing aid is in two parts with the towel portion being detachably connectable to the skirt portion so that when it is connected to the skirt portion it overlies at least a major part of the skirt portion, and when it is fully detached therefrom, it may be used to wrap around and/or dry a baby, leaving the apron to protect the person bathing the baby.

When the towel portion is detached from the skirt portion for drying a baby, the apron with its skirt portion will still protect the wearer from getting wet. Furthermore, the present invention has a major advantage over the one piece apron device of US-A-2879514, in that if the towel portion has been removed from the apron, it can be replaced by another, dry towel portion, i.e. if more than AMENDED SHEET 298468 one baby is to be bathed.

Preferably, the apron is of largely standard design with a bib portion upstanding from a central upper edge region of the skirt portion, and having an upper loop which slips over a user's head, and a pair of strings or ties extending outwardly from each side edge of the upper edge of the skirt portion, which can be tied or otherwise joined around the user's waist.

Preferably, the towel portion is connected to the apron by means of VELCRO strips (VELCRO is a Registered Trade Mark), preferably there being a continuous length of VELCRO strip on the front face of the apron portion at waist level and a co-operating continuous strip of VELCRO along a central top edge region of the towel portion.

The towel portion may be larger than the skirt portion and the bib portion may have a patch pocket thereon, together with a loop to which a user's wrist watch may be connected whilst bathing a baby.

The apron may be internally lined with a waterproof membrane, and both the apron and towel portions may be provided with a hanging loop.

A preferred embodiment of the safety baby-bathing aid according to the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an apron, and FIGURE 2 is an underneath view of a towel portion detached from the apron.

In the drawings, the apron 1 has a skirt portion 2, to an upper edge of which an upstanding bib portion 3 is attached, there being the usual loop 5 connected to the top corners of the bib portion 3, which may have a length of about 42cm so that it can be slipped easily over a wearer's (user's) head. The bib portion may measure about 26cm high by 25.5cm wide, and a patch pocket 7 approximately 17cm square may be attached centrally to its face. A logo patch or manufacturer's label may be attached to the pocket 7. A loop 8 may be connected to the bib portion 3 to which a AMENDED SHEET 298468 wristwatch may be attached during bathing of a baby.

Two ties or strings 9 are attached to the top edge of the skirt portion 2 (total length approximately 200cm), as extensions of a strengthened waistband. The skirt portion 2 may measure approximately 69cm wide and 63cm high and at the waist may be gathered in (as shown in Figure 1) relative to the lower edge, so as to have a width of about 39cm. A length of VELCRO strip is attached to the waistband and the first part of each tie 9, as shown at 11.

A rectangular towelling panel 13, which may be larger than the skirt portion 2, e.g. about 110cm wide by 80cm high, is detachably connectable to the skirt portion 2 by a VELCRO strip 15 located centrally on a rear top edge portion of the panel 13. The towelling panel 13 can subsequently be used as a normal towel to dry the baby or child after bathing. Furthermore, when attached tc the skirt portion 2, it ensures that the apron 1 does not get too wet when bathing a baby or child, and it also keeps the apron l dry while drying the baby or child.

It will of course be appreciated that both the apron 1 and towelling panel 13 may be used independently as an apron and a towel respectively; also, each can be used for purposes other than bathing babies or young children.

The above-mentioned measurements mean that the apron is designed to fit any average sized adult female, e.g. a person with a height of about 163cm and an average waist measurement. The VELCRO strip is about 67cm long, which allows for most female waist measurements plus clothing without the VELCRO becoming involved in the tying behind the user of the ties 9, the avoidance of which would make the apron too loose. The apron 1 is preferably made of a low pile absorbent towelling material of either 100% cotton or cotton synthetic fibre mix. The edges of the apron 1 are preferably bound with a contrasting colour cotton or cotton mix bias tape, whilst the edges of the towel may be finished with a non contrasting colour cotton or cotton mix bias binding.

The waistband of the apron 1 and/or the ties 9 may be AMENDED SH-.T &B4 4 of a contrasting colour to the rest of the apron (although bib portion 5 and skirt portion 2 may be of different colours). It is preferred that the edge binding on the apron 1 will be of a contrasting colour to the rest of the 5 apron, whereas that on the towelling panel 13 will be of the sane colour as the rest of the panel 13. This helps to distinguish the towelling panel 13 from the apron l, especially when both are formed of white towelling material.

A loop (not shown) is preferably provided on the 10 centre front of the towelling panel 13, which serves both to enable the panel 13 to be centred on the apron 1 when attaching it to the apron 1, and also allows the panel 13 to be hung up, e.g. on a hook.

Preferably, the smoother "looped" strip of the two co-15 operating VELCRO strips 11, 15 is attached to the towelling panel 13, and the harsher "hooked" portion is attached to the apron waistband. This reduces the risk of hurting a baby wh£n drying the baby with the towelling panel 13.

Although the invention has been described by way of example it will be 20 appreciated that improvements and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Intellectual Property Office of NZ IS MAR 1998 received 298468

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A baby-bathing aid comprising a first part in the form of an apron (1) having a skirt portion (2) and which can be 5 worn by a person bathing a baby, and a second part in the form of a towel portion (13), characterised in that the baby bathing aid is in two parts with the towel portion (18) being detachably connectable to the skirt portion (2) so that when it is connected to the skirt portion it overlies 10 at least a major part of the skirt portion, and when it is fully detached therefrom, it may be used to wrap around and/or dry a baby, leaving the apron to protect the person bathing the baby. 15

2. A baby-bathing aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the . apron (1) has a bib portion (3), the skirt portion (2) and means (9) for securing the apron in place to cover a major portion of the front of the body of a wearer. 20

3. A baby-bathing aid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the towel portion (13)- is connected to the apron (1) by means of one or more pairs of complemeritary releasable self-adhesive areas, pads or strips (11,15), which are immediately releasable with one hand, such as VELCRO strips 25 (VELCRO is a Registered Trade Mark).

4. A baby-bathing aid according to claim 3, wherein there is a continuous length of self-adhesive strip (11) on the front face of the apron (1) a*t waist' level and a co-30 operating or complementary continuous self-adhesive strip (15) along a central top edge region of the towel portion 35 wherein the towel portion (13) is larger than the skirt portion (2). . (13).

5. A baby-bathing aid according to any one of claims 1-4 N.Z. PATENT OFFICE 20 MAY 1997 END OF CLAIMS received # 6 °h6q

6. A baby-bathing aid according to any one of claims 3-5 wherein dependent on claim 2, wherein the bib portion of the apron (1) has a patch pocket (7) thereon, together with a loop (8) to which a wrist watch may be connected whilst a 5 baby is being bathed.

7. A baby-bathing aid according to claim 6, wherein the patch pocket (7) is sealable by complementary self-adhesive strips such as VELCRO strips. 10

8. A baby-bathing aid according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the apron (1) is internally lined with a waterproof membrane. 15

9. A baby-bathing aid according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein both the apron (1) and towel portion (13) are provided with a hanging loop (not shown).

10. Use of the baby-bathing aid according to any one of 20 claims 1-9 wherein the apron (1) in use covers a major part of the front of a person who is bathing a baby, and wherein, after the towel portion (13) has been detached from the skirt portion (2) to dry the baby after the baby has been bathed, the apron will still protect the person from getting 25 wet while the baby is being dried using the detached towel portion (13).

11. A baby bathing aid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Intellectual Property AIUC offlce of N END OF CLAIMS 19 MAR 1998 received