WO2007088366A1

WO2007088366A1 - Apron

Info

Publication number: WO2007088366A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/000344
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Thomas Plant (Birmingham) Limited; Mckay, Kevin
Priority date: 2006-02-03
Filing date: 2007-02-01
Publication date: 2007-08-09
Also published as: GB0701894D0; GB2434734A; GB2434735A; GB0602216D0

Abstract

An apron (1) is described having a plurality of folds (2) therein and magnet means (3; 3a to 3d; 3f) for holding the apron (1) in a folded configuration.

Description

Title: Apron

Description of Invention

This invention relates to an apron, particularly a wearable apron for a person, e.g. a kitchen apron for use whilst preparing food or a medical apron for use in a hospital. More particularly, this invention relates to an apron which provides for convenient storage thereof.

In the past aprons have been stored either folded arbitrarily or hung untidily.

Similarly, aprons displayed for sale tend to be presented hung untidily from the neck loop and this has a negative impact on their desirability to the consumer.

Few, if any, efforts have been made to provide a tidier or more conveniently storable apron.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an apron having a plurality of folds therein and magnet means for holding the apron in a folded configuration.

Further features are set out in claims 2 to 8 as appended hereto.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a kitchen apron having the step of folding the kitchen apron to form a folded kitchen apron and the step of providing magnetic material on or within material of the kitchen apron or material for forming the apron, such that the resulting kitchen apron is adapted to promote a predetermined folded configuration for storage, and the magnetic material is adapted to hold the apron in the folded configuration.

Specific and non-limiting examples of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a front view of an apron according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a second embodiment an apron according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apron of figure 1 being worn by a person;

Figure 4 is a third embodiment of an apron according to the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a front view of the apron of figure 1 in a folded configuration.

In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For the purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, some well known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an apron 1 , e.g. a kitchen apron, which is made of a textile material, e.g. cotton. The apron 1 may, alternatively, be manufactured from plastics or a composite material.

The apron 1 has a neck support or hoop 5 and a pair of straps 4, one strap 4 positioned at each side of the apron 1 , for tying around a wearer's waist whilst the apron 1 is being used.

The apron 1 is provided with a plurality of folds 2 which in this example are pleats in the material of the apron 1 which are substantially parallel to each other and extend lengthways of the apron 1 (i.e. vertically when the apron 1 is worn - see figure 3). If the apron 1 was manufactured from plastics the folds 2 could instead be made by heat treatment.

The folds 2 are configured to permit the apron 1 to adopt a folded configuration (see figure 5), which in this example is concertinaed, in which the apron 1 is more readily storable. The term 'folded configuration' means any configuration of the apron in which it has been folded from its usual 'in use' condition.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1 the apron 1 is provided with magnet means in the form of a pair of magnet elements 3, one magnet element 3 provided at each side of the apron 1 near the strap 4. As shown in figure 5, when the apron 1 is in its folded configuration the magnet elements 3 attract each other, through the material of the apron 1 , to hold the apron 1 in the folded, concertinaed, configuration.

In the embodiment shown in figure 2 the apron 1 has eight magnet elements 3 which are arranged in two substantially parallel rows or paths of four magnet elements 3a to 3d, each row of which extends across the apron 1. Each row includes a first pair of magnet elements 3a, 3b, one magnet element 3a, 3b positioned at each side of the apron 1 and a further pair of magnet elements 3c, 3d positioned between the first pair of magnet elements 3a, 3b. The provision of two rows of magnet elements 3a to d provides for improved holding of the apron 1 in the folded configuration.

Advantageously the magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d, if provided with sufficient magnetic strength, can assist in folding of the apron 1 to the folded configuration. The magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d may be strong enough such that when the apron 1 is removed from a wearer's neck the magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d automatically fold the apron 1 to the folded configuration. The straps 4 thus prevent the apron 1 from adopting the folded configuration whilst the apron 1 is tied around a wearer's waist. If the magnetic strength of the magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d is not sufficiently strong, it may be necessary for the wearer to push together opposite sides A, B of the apron 1 together so that the apron 1 adopts the folded configuration. However, the folds 2 may be configured such that the apron 1 will tend automatically to move to the folded configuration, irrespective of whether the magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d are provided with sufficient magnetic strength.

The apron 1 is openable from the folded configuration by pulling opposite sides, e.g. at A, B, of the apron 1 away from each other. Of course pulling on any positions either side of the folds 2 may be sufficient to open the apron 1. However, points A and B, being adjacent the magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d is considered ideal and the straps 4 will typically be pulled by the wearer to open the apron 1.

Figure 4 shows a variation of the apron of figure 1 in that it has non-parallel folds or pleats 2. These result in the bottom of the apron 1 being wider in the folded configuration than the top of the apron 1. Curves, corners and nonlinear seams are also possible and may provide different styles or particular effects. It is also possible for seams to cross one another if care is used to ensure a desired folded configuration. The apron 1 in figure 5, instead of having a pair of magnet elements 3, or a row of magnet elements 3a to 3d, has a continuous magnetic element 3f which extends transversely across a general direction of the folds 2. The magnetic element 3f, when the apron 1 is in the folded configuration, holds each fold 2 relative to its adjacent folds 2 so that the apron is held securely in the folded configuration.

Although in Figure 5 the apron 1 is shown in a folded configuration and hung from a hook by the neck support or hoop 5, the apron 1 could, instead, be stowed in a drawer folded, and the straps can be left free, wrapped or tied. A half apron in which the upper portion is absent is also possible based on the same principles. The magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d and 3f may be provided with sufficient magnetic strength to attach the apron 1 to a vertical ferromagnetic surface such as a fridge door. Each pair of magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d may include at least one magnetic element and optionally a passive magnet element such as an element of non-magnetised ferromagnetic material (e.g. steel).

The magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d are preferably all magnetic. The term magnet is intended to include composite and non-rigid materials such as those composed of filamental or particulate magnetised ferromagnetic material. Polymers having aligned magnetic particles therein may be used, and particulate magnets may be provided within the cloth or polymer. A final possibility is the provision of the whole or substantial part of the apron being magnetised, for example by infusing the cloth or material of the apron with magnetic particles, perhaps mixed with an adhesive or setting agent. In the latter case the magnet elements form strips corresponding to the apron pleats, and placed side by side form a path of magnet elements.

In any embodiment the magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d and 3f may be provided in or on the apron in a pre-magnetised state, and may either be magnetised in- situ or may be provided specifically for being magnetised in-situ.

As an alternative or in addition to the magnet elements 3, 3a to 3d and 3f, it is also possible to use Velcro™ or a substitute fastening surface to retain the apron in a concertina folded arrangement. Hook-type and loop-type sections of Velcro ™ may be attached to the apron, preferably forming a path across the apron pleats. The sections of Velcro ™ may be provided as discrete elements, or as a continuous strip with its type alternating between hook-type and loop- type.

The straps 4 may be substituted by at least one strap in combination with a fastening device, which may itself operate by magnetic attraction, the simplest example being that the strap is provided with a magnet at its end to fasten the strap around a user's back.

The folds 2 may be straight, curved or non-linear. The folds 2 may be seams, i.e. a joint between two strips of material or a permanent fold in the material of the apron 1. In either case the seams/folds may be provided by heat- treatment, by stitching or by substitute means.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An apron (1) having a plurality of folds (2) therein and magnet means (3; 3a to 3d; 3f) for holding the apron in a folded configuration.

2. An apron (1) according to claim 1 wherein the magnet means aids folding of the apron (1) to folded configuration.

3. An apron (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2 where the magnet means (3; 3a to 3d; 3f) extends transversely across a general direction of the folds (2).

4. An apron (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the folds (2) are configured so that in the folded configuration the apron (1) is concertinaed.

5. An apron(1) according to any preceding claim wherein the magnet means (3; 3a to 3d; 3f) includes at least two elements.

6. An apron (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the magnet means includes a substantially continuous path of magnetic material (3f) which extends across the apron (1).

7. An apron (1) according to any preceding claim wherein the folds (2) define a plurality of elongate segments, and wherein the apron (1) is openable from the folded configuration by pulling opposite sides (A, B) of the apron (1) away from each other.

8. A method of manufacturing a kitchen apron (1) having the step of folding the kitchen apron (1) to form a folded kitchen apron and the step of providing magnetic material (3; 3a to 3d; 3f) on or within material of the kitchen apron (1) or material for forming the apron (1), such that the resulting kitchen apron (1) is adapted to promote a pre-determined folded configuration for storage, and the magnetic material is adapted to hold the apron (1) in the folded configuration.

9. An apron substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.