US20070277281A1

US20070277281A1 - Stain guard

Info

Publication number: US20070277281A1
Application number: US11/447,382
Authority: US
Inventors: James M. Fitzgerald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-05
Filing date: 2006-06-05
Publication date: 2007-12-06

Abstract

A stain guard prevents stain or damage to a garment or an article of clothing. The stain guard includes a thin sheet having a predetermined size and shape configured to be worn over the garment or the article of clothing. The stain guard includes adhesives applied to selected areas on one side of the thin sheet. One or more peel-off strips or patches cover the adhesives. The peel-off strips or patches are removed to expose the adhesives to attach the stain guard to the garment or the article of clothing.

The stain guard can be made from a plastic, a cellophane or other suitable materials. The stain guard can be made into various sizes to fit individuals having different sizes. The stain guard can be dispensed from a roll of perforated stain guards so that individual pieces can be torn from the perforated roll for use. The stain guard can also be dispensed from a box of stain guards.

Description

This invention relates generally to a stain guard, and more particularly to a stain guard to prevent stain or damage to a garment or an article of clothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Napkins and bibs are often used to protect a garment or an article of clothing from stain or damage due to spilled or dripped food during meal time. Napkins are typically stuffed in a shirt while bibs are typically tied around the neck to protect the shirt from stain. Napkins and bibs can also be used to protect a garment or an article of clothing in a laboratory or in an operating room.
However, napkins and bibs are not discreet as they must be stuffed in a shirt or tied around the neck. Also, napkins and bibs do not match formal outfits such as suits or dresses. Also, napkins and bibs are not comfortable to wear as they are stuffed in a shirt or tied around the neck. Also, napkins and bibs are designed to prevent damage or stain to a limited area of a garment or an article or clothing, and they cannot be conveniently moved or shifted to prevent stain or damage to other areas of a garment or an article of clothing.
Accordingly, there is a need for an alternative to napkins and bibs that does not have the foregoing disadvantages. There is a need for a stain guard to prevent stain or damage to a garment or an article of clothing. There is a need for a stain guard that is discreet and comfortable. There is a need for a stain guard that can be worn with formal outfits such as suits or dresses. There is a need for a stain guard that can be moved or shifted to prevent stain or damage to various selected areas of a garment or an article of clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 illustrates a stain guard or shield in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows peel-off strips being removed from a stain guard.

FIG. 3 shows the stain guard being worn over a garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various features of the stain guard will now be described. Throughout the description, implementation-specific details of the stain guard will be given. These details are provided to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is set in the claims section.
FIG. 1 illustrates a stain guard or shield 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The stain guard 100 is made from a thin sheet of plastic, cellophane or other suitable material. The stain guard 100 is designed to be worn over a garment or an article of clothing during meal time. The stain guard 100 prevents staining or damage to a garment or an article of clothing caused by dripped, splashed or spilled food. The stain guard 100 can also be worn at work or at laboratories to protect a garment or an article of clothing from oil, chemicals and other liquids.
In one embodiment, adhesive are applied to one side of the sheet to allow the sheet to stick to a garment or an article of clothing. In one embodiment, two or more strips 104 of a clear adhesive are applied to one side of the sheet. The adhesive is covered with one or more peel-off strips or patches 108. The peel-off strips or patches 108 are removed to expose the adhesive.
In one embodiment, the stain guard 100 is transparent, which makes it less conspicuous than a typical bib or napkin, and thus can be worn over a dress or a suit. The stain guard 100 is versatile as it protects a garment or an article of clothing in a restaurant, in an airplane, in a hospital, and in many other places. The stain guard 100 can be easily moved or shifted to prevent stain or damage to various selected areas of a garment or an article of clothing. The stain guard 100 can be carried in a bag or in a purse. In one embodiment, the stain guard 100 is disposable, i.e., the stain guard 100 is disposed after use.
In one embodiment, the stain guard 100 has a rectangular shape. The stain guard 100 can have other shapes suitable to be worn over a garment or an article of clothing. The stain guard 100 can be made into various sizes to fit individuals with different size.
In one embodiment, the stain guard 100 is dispensed from a perforated roll. The perforated roll can be retained by a roll dispenser. As will be appreciated, the perforations can be spaced according to the predetermined size of the stain guard 100. The stain guard 100 can be dispensed from a box such as a tissue box.
The stain guard 100 is suitable for garment protection during formal and informal dining, sports event dining, in-flight dining, or at-work dining. Food service establishments such as restaurants and fast food chains may provide the stain guard to customers as a courtesy. The stain guard 100 can also be used by medical personnel in operating rooms and by patients during meal time. Other uses of the stain guard 100 will be recognized by those skilled in the art.
FIG. 2 shows the peel-off strips being removed from a stain guard to expose the adhesives. FIG. 3 shows the stain guard being worn over a garment.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stain guard to prevent stain or damage to a garment or an article of clothing, comprising:

a thin sheet having a predetermined size and shape configured to be worn over the garment or article of clothing;

adhesive applied to selected areas on one side of the thin sheet; and

one or more peel-off strips or patches placed to cover the adhesive, the peel-off strips or patches configured to be removed to expose the adhesive on the thin sheet,

wherein the peel-off strips or patches are removed from the thin sheet to attach the thin sheet to the garment or the article of clothing.

2. The stain guard of claim 1, wherein the thin sheet is made from a plastic material.

3. The stain guard of claim 1, wherein the thin sheet is made from a transparent plastic material.

4. The stain guard of claim 1, wherein the thin sheet is made from a cellophane material.

5. The stain guard of claim 1, wherein the thin sheet has a rectangular shape.

6. The stain guard of claim 1, wherein the thin sheet has a predetermined length and width.

7. The stain guard of claim 1, further comprising a perforation at one edge of the thin sheet to tear the stain guard from a perforated roll of stain guard.

8. A perforated roll of stain guard to prevent stain or damage to a garment or an article of clothing, comprising:

a roll dispenser configured to retain the perforated roll of stain guard, wherein the stain guard comprising:

a perforated edge to tear the stain guard from the roll;

adhesive applied to selected areas on one side of the thin sheet;

9. The perforated roll of stain guard of claim 8, wherein the thin sheet is made from a plastic material.

10. The perforated roll of stain guard of claim 8, wherein the thin sheet is made from a transparent plastic material.

11. The perforated roll of stain guard of claim 8, wherein the thin sheet is made from a cellophane material.

12. The perforated roll of stain guard of claim 8, wherein the thin sheet has a rectangular shape.

13. The perforated roll of stain guard of claim 8, wherein the thin sheet has a predetermined length and width.

14. A method of using a stain guard to prevent stain or damage to a garment or an article of clothing, the method comprising the steps of:

removing one or more peel-off strips or patches from the stain guard to expose adhesives on the stain guard;

placing the stain guard over the garment or the article and attaching the stain guard to the garment or the article,

wherein the stain guard comprises:

a thin sheet having a predetermined size and shape configured to be worn over the garment or the article of clothing;

the adhesive applied to selected areas on one side of the thin sheet; and

the peel-off strips or patches placed to cover the adhesive, the peel-off strips or patches configured to be removed to expose the adhesive on the thin sheet.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the thin sheet is made from a plastic material.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the thin sheet is made from a transparent plastic material.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the thin sheet is made from a cellophane material.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the thin sheet has a rectangular shape.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the thin sheet has a predetermined length and width.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the thin sheet further comprises a perforation at one edge of the thin sheet to tear the stain guard from a perforated roll of stain guard.