US3404407A

US3404407A - Tie-less bib

Info

Publication number: US3404407A
Application number: US499011A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lapidus Saul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-10-20
Filing date: 1965-10-20
Publication date: 1968-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1985-10-08

Description

Oct. 8, 1968 LAPiDUS 3,404,407

T I! Iii-LESS IS [I3 Filed Oct. 20, 1965 VINVENTOR. $404 LAP/00$ United States Patent 3,404,407 TIE-LESS BIB Saul Lapidus, 313 W. 74th St., New York, N.Y. 10023 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 499,011 2 Claims. (Cl. 249) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tie-less bib made from a sheet of elastic stretchable material such as polyurethane.

This invention relates to bibs and more particularly to a tie-less bib for infants.

Tie-less bibs are well known in the art as evidenced by US. Patents 3,016,544 and 3,032,773. However, known bibs comprise resiliently biased opposed neck-encircling members which are annoying to the wearer. Further, they are relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture. Other prior art tie-less bibs comprise paper bibs having perforated portions which open to permit the wearers head therethrough. However, once the perforations are opened, a large aperture remains so that such a bib does not satisfactorily fully protect the wearers chest. This is a particular problem as concerns an infants bib. Further, such bibs are generally not reusable.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved bib which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tieless bib which is comfortable to wear and provides adequate protection to the wearer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tieless infants bib comprising stretchable, absorbent material, such as polyurethane material, which can be passed over the infants head, does not comprise annoying opposing members, and provides adequate protection from spilled liquids or solids.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a tie-less bib formed out of a single layer or sheet of material.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a bib consisting solely of polyurethane material and having an aperture of a size which will not permit an intended wearer to insert his head therethrough, said polyurethane material being adapted to stretch to enlarge the aperture sufficiently to pass over the wearers head and then flex to provide adequate protection for the wearer.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a bib in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the bib of FIG- URE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the bib of FIGURE 1.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention, a bib is provided which comprises a bib-shaped sheet 12 of elastic stretchable material. The illustrated bib comprises polyurethane. The sheet may be generally rectangularly shaped and have rounded corners, frills, pockets, designs, etc., which will aid in producing an attractive and marketable appearance.

The bib is extremely simple to manufacture since it merely comprises a sheet of polyurethane, for example a sheet of one quarter inch thick polyurethane. The sheet then has an aperture 14 stamped centrally of the longitudinal sides of the rectangle and approximate one of the short sides of the rectangle. The aperture may have a variety of shapes, but preferably either has a circular or elliptical shape. The size of the aperture should be smaller than the head of the intended wearer and sufficiently large to permit the wearer to comfortably wear the bib. Though, generally, the aperture would be larger than the neck of the wearer, this is not essential. For example, it has been found that bibs according to the invention which comprise apertures smaller than the necks of the wearers can be comfortably worn. This is so since the material does not rapidly spring back to its normal size or become too tight. This may be contrasted with bibs comprising opposing members which necessarily must be fairly rigid as it is the members which form the aperture itself.

The pliable material is stretched in passing the bib over the wearers head and flexes to approximately its normal shape when released to provide a sheet of material covering the wearers chest. The bib starts approximate the front of the neck of the wearer (see FIGURE 3) and ends at a desired position, such as approximately in the middle of the wearers abdomen. It is to be noted that when a child or infant wears the bib, the aperture should be of a size which protects the infants chest almost to the neck so that food falling from his chin will be caught by the bib. Further, the absorbency of the material aids in stopping food from falling or dripping to the floor.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages, most pliant materials tend to cling to the wearer and remain in position. Further, they are easy to clean and can be used many times.

While I have described above the principles of my in vention in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention, as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A tie-less bib of one piece construction made of a unitary single layer, flat planar sheet of elastic stretchable absorbent synthetic plastic foam material of a size adapted to cover at least a portion of the front of an intended wearers trunk, said sheet having an aperture formed therein, the inner surface of which comprises an uninterrupted profile, so that no cuts radiate therefrom, said aperture being adjacent one of the shorter sides of said sheet and substantially equidistant from the long sides, said aperture being substantially circular and normally of a size which will accommodate the neck of an intended wearer with said sides normally permitting an intended wearer to insert his head therethrough by enlargement of the size of said aperture by stretching of the material, said stretched material at the aperture returning to approximately its normal size around the neck of the wearer and adapted to provide a protective covering which starts approximately flush with the neck of the wearer.

"Patented Oct 8, 1968 2. A tie-less bib according to claim 1, in which said sheet of material consists of a sheet of polyurethane foam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,067,428 12/ 1962 Baker et a1. 2-52 1,497,685 6/1924 Hoyme. 1,636,122 7/1927 Brown 248 2,694,199 Sanders 2-49 Chagnon 24 Rice 248 Barager 2--49 Hill.

Piazze 249 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner.