US2830297A - Protective garment - Google Patents

Description

April 15, 1958 R. N. SABYEE PROTECTIVE GARMENT Filed Oct. 19, 1954 United States 2,830,297 Patented Apr. 15, 1958 2,830,297 PROTECTIVEVGARMENT Application October 19, 1954, Serial No. 463,091 4 Claims. or. 2-49 The present invention relates generally to a protective garment and is particularly directed to an improved form of article adaptable for use in the protection of clothing which includes a'tie or tape for attaching such protective article to the person.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of protective garment or article comprising a flexible sheet and an attaching tape fixed to thesheet. Another object is to provide an improved method of making a protective article of the type described. Additional objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure progresses with respect to the accompanying drawings, wherein a bib structure has been chosen to illustrate the principles of the invention. r

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the back side of a bib embodying certain of the principles of the present invention, prior to the attachment of the tie.

Figure 2 is a view of the completed and folded bib.

Figure 3 illustrates a step in the formation of the bib. 3

Figure 4 is a view of a modified form of in Figures 13.

Figure 5 is bib. V

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of still another modified form of the invention.

With reference first to Figures 1-3, it is seen that one embodiment chosen to ill trate the principles of the present invention is in the nature of a bib 8, such as is worn about the neck to prevent food or other substances from soiling the Wearers clothing. In the production of such an article it is, of course, important to minimize the manufacturing cost without detracting from the usefulness of the article. Generally, this has been achieved with the illustrated article through the simplification of the mode of attachment of the tie or tape to the flexible protective sheet 10. The tying string or tape 12 is disposed over a corner portion of the sheet 10 and the corner is then lapped over the tape 12 andxfixed in position by the use of an adhesive, orby heat sealing together facing portions of the folded corner and the sheet which include a thermoplastic material,,in. a. manner aflixing the. tie tape12 in position on the. protective sheet 10. I

The illustrated embodiment of Figures. 1-3 is in. the. form of a disposable bib, wherein the sheet 10 comprises an absorbent facing 14, such as tissue, and an impervious backing 16 of thermoplastic material. The facing 14 is preferably made of a multi-ply tissue sheet, in order to provide adequate absorbency to retain fluid material, which is suitably embossed to prevent separation of the tissue plies and, also, to enhance the appearance of the bib. Furthermore, the embossed tissue facing is readily printable and, consequently, a bib of this type may pro.- vide a relatively inexpensive advertising medium.

In some instances it may not be necessary or desirable to provide an impervious backing for the bib. Howthe bib shown a view of another modified .form of the ever, if such a backing is desired, it has been found that a satisfactory and economical sheet may be formed by embedding cellulose fibers in a continuous film of polyethylene, with the fibers extending into but not through the film. Of course, other types of fibers and other thermoplastics may be used, or a sheet of thermoplastic material without fibers might be used. As will be seen hereinafter, the use of a backing containing a heat-scalable substance obviates the need for any subsequent application of an adhesive or thermoplastic in aflixing the tie 12 to the bib.

In adapting the thermoplastically backed sheet 10 to use as a bib, the tie 12 is disposed across a corner 18 of the sheet at the back and the corner 18 is then folded over the tie, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1. This places two sections of the thermoplastic surface of the backing sheet 16 in contact with each other, as well as in contact with the tie 12 which is disposed adjacent the fold line. The tie 12 is then secured in position on the bib and, at the same time, a neck-conforming portion is provided along the line of the fold by the application of heat and pressure to the overlapping corner to bond the latter to the back of the sheet 10. The tie 12 may be of any suitable shape and material, but it is preferable to utilize a flat, paper tape for this purpose. The

latter has the advantage of being economical, it bonds well to the thermoplastic backing, posable.

With reference particularly to Figures 2 and 3, it Will be seen that the disposable bib 8 just described is particularly simple to form and fold for packaging or storage. Having a rectangular sheet 10 of the thermoplastic backed tissue, the sheet is first folded in alternate directions along one or more equally spaced, parallel lines 20 (Figure 1) which are also parallel to a pair of the side edges of the sheet (Figure 3). This folding is done in a manner such that the thermoplastic surface is left exposed on at least one side of the folded sheet. The elongated folded sheet thus formed is then folded in half, in a direction normal to that of the initial folding, along the line indicated at 22.

In the described embodiment (Figures l-3) the bib surface is now reduced to one-eighth of its full size, thereby making it easier to handle and of a size which is better adapted for packaging. The tie tape 12 is then placed diagonally across the free corner portion 18 of the exposed thermoplastic back of the folded bib, and the corner is folded over the tie tape to a position adjacent the folded edge of the bib. The folded corner and the. underlying tie section are then sealed in position by suitable means, such as through the application of a heated platen. It has been found that a satisfactory bond can thus be established at the folded corner without having the heat penetrate to inner portions of the folded bib in suificient intensity to affect the remainder of the bib.

It is seen, therefore, that the entire bib 8 can be formed by simple operations which are unhampered by the presence of the tie tape 12, since the latter is readily applied. after the bib is. entirely folded for packaging? This feature makes the bib particularly adaptable to large scale production on an economical basis.

A modified form of bib construction is shown in Figure 4, which is of reduced scale as compared with Figures 1-3. In the modified arrangement the bib may be formed of the same sheet 10 which is described above and which has an absorbent facing 14 of multi-ply tissues and an impervious backing 16 of thermoplastic material. However, the folded corner portion, indicated at 24, is considerably larger than the corresponding corner 18 of the previous construction.

and is readily disin the making of aprons a'nd'the like. 'As will be apparent,

the modified form of bib affords all of the advantages discussed with respect to the embodiment of Figure 1. In the bib shown in Figure 4, less folding is required, but a greater surface area is also presented in the finally folded bib and, therefore, necessitates a package of greater surface area than in the previously described form.

A further modification is shown in Figure 5, wherein a flexible sheet of material 26 is used which does not have an entire backing of heat-scalable material. In such case.

there is provided a bondable strip 28 along one or both sides of the fold line 30 at which the corner portion 32 is to be folded over the tape 12. .The strip 28 may be in the form of an adhesive substance which is printed, or otherwise applied, on the bib sheet'26 either during the initial formation of the sheet or at any time in the process of folding the sheet prior to the final attachment of the tape 12. The strip 28 may also comprise an area of heat-sealable material which can be bonded to itself and to the tape 12 by the application of heat to the folded corner, in the manner described above with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 2.

Still another modification is illustrated in Figure 6, wherein the tie tape 12 is positioned in spaced relation to the folded corner edge of the sheet 33, and the folded over corner portion 34 is sealed only in the area, indicated at 36, extending to and including the tape but not extending to the edge of the folded corner. This may be particularly preferred in instances wherein it is desired to have a very soft edge along the portion of the bib that isto be placed around the neck. In the previously described forms of bib the sealing of the folded over corners 18, 24 and 32 will produce a crease along the folded edge and may,

therefore, provide a certain amount of stiffness along such edge. In a construction such as is shown in Figure 6, there is no need for creasing the sheet along the folded edge of the corner 26 andthe latter will, therefore,.pre sent a relatively soft edge of absorbent materiaL,

It is seen from the foregoing, therefore, that a bib constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention requires no die outs in forming the neck-receiving portion of the bib, there is no sewing of thetie tape to the body of the bib, and the tie may be automatically positioned on the bib'by the folding and sealing of a corner portion in overlapping relation thereto. Furthermore, the simple application of the tie tape may readily be made the final step inproduction and, therefore, the tie is not present to interfere with any of the folding operations during the early stages of bib formation. As a result, there is offered a form of bib construction which is extremely economical in cost and which lends itself readily to mass production. A

Moreover, the disclosed bib structure provides for double strength in the normal area'of wear adjacent the neck, as well as double protection against penetration of fluids in this area, through the presence of the folded corner portion which secures the tie tape in position.

Although shown and described with respect to particular embodiments and materials, it will be apparent that other modified forms of construction and other materials may be used without departing from the principles of this invention.

I claim: 1. A protective garment comprising a sheet of absorbent material having a backing of thermoplastic material,

bib being generally rectangular said sheet being formed to present at least one corner portion, an attaching tape disposed across said one corner on the side having said thermoplastic backing, and

said one corner being folded over said tape and heat sealed in position to thereby afiix said attaching tape to the bib between facing portions of said thermoplastic material, with the neckreceiving edge portion formed there by presenting a surface of said absorbent material along its length.

2. A disposable bib comprising a sheet of absorbent material having a backing of thermoplastic material, said sheet having a shape presenting at least one corner portion, an attaching tape disposed across said one corner portion on the side having said thermoplastic backing, and said one corner being folded over said tape along a line spaced from said tape and with said tape sealed in position between facing portions of said thermoplastic material, to thereby affix said attaching tape to the bib and present a neck-receiving portion of said absorbent material for the bib.

3. A disposable bib comprising a multi-ply fibrous tissue sheet having a continuous backing of thermoplastic polyethyene film, fibers, of said sheet being embedded in said film so as to connect said backing to said sheet, said in shape and having an attaching tape disposed across one corner thereof on the side having said backing, ,said' one corner being folded over said tape and heat sealed in position to thereby 'affix said attaching tape to said bib' between facing portions of said backing, with the neck-receiving edge portion formed thereby presenting a surface of said tissue along its entire length.

4. A. disposable bib comprising a multi-ply fibrous tis- 1 sue sheet having a continuous backing of thermoplastic film, the fibers of said sheet being embedded in said back- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,618,208 Lichter Feb. 22, 1927 2,206,412 Levy July 2,1940 2,423,581 Clark July 8, 1947 2,438,771 Topjian Mar. 30, 1948 2,523,323 Privott Sept. 26, 1950 Sept. 26, 1950 2,523,565 Gardner being heat sealed together ad-'

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